Latest Politics Headlines [Page 5]
Journalism – Call For Public Funding
Friday, 1 March 2024, 3:30 pm | The Wise Response Society
Journalism should be about ascertaining truths. Ironically, the need to at least break-even financially, has resulted in ratings squeezing out quality investigative journalism. This has resulted in promotion of poorly researched and often biased ... More >>
Abandoned Mining Appeal May Mean Fast Track For Coal
Friday, 1 March 2024, 3:30 pm | Forest and Bird
A long-running court battle against a new opencast coal mine has been abandoned by the mining company today, but environmentalists are putting celebrations on hold. “While this would normally be a chance to celebrate an important victory for the ... More >>
Undoing Progress: The Disestablishment Of Te Aka Whai Ora And The Future Of Māori Health
Friday, 1 March 2024, 1:48 pm | Hapai Te Hauora
The dissolution of Te Aka Whai Ora will send Māori spiraling backward and add more pressure to a health system already buckling according to New Zealand’s largest Māori Public Health Organisation. Hapai Te Hauora CEO Jacqui Harema is disappointed ... More >>
Nuclear Free And Independent Pacific Day 2024
Friday, 1 March 2024, 1:02 pm | Peace Movement Aotearoa
Today, 1 March, is Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day, commemorated as Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day in the Marshall Islands - the 70th anniversary of the 'Bravo' nuclear bomb detonation by the United States close to the surface of Bikini Atoll, ... More >>
Te Aka Whai Ora Disestablishment ‘Damaging’ For Māori Health Equity
Friday, 1 March 2024, 10:49 am | Hei Ahuru Mowai Maori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa
Hei Āhuru Mōwai Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa is deeply disappointed in the coalition government’s recent announcement to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority. The network of Māori cancer specialists say the decision will ... More >>
ACC Cuts Will Put The Health Of New Zealanders At Risk
Friday, 1 March 2024, 9:57 am | New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
In response to news that ACC plans to cut operational spending by 6.5%, CTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Minister of Finance to prioritise the protection of essential services over irresponsible tax cuts. “These sweeping cuts at ACC ... More >>
ACC Deep Cuts Could Mean Injured People Forced To Return To Work Too Soon
Friday, 1 March 2024, 9:57 am | PSA
New Zealanders should worry that ACC is being forced to cut spending and possibly jobs which could lead to injured people being forced to return to work before they are ready. ACC’s 4000 workers, 72% of whom are women, were told this week that ... More >>
Union Stands In Solidarity With Palestinian Children On Children’s Day — Calls For Immediate Permanent Ceasefire
Friday, 1 March 2024, 9:49 am | New Zealand Educational Institute
Ahead of Children’s Day on Sunday 3 March, NZEI Te Riu Roa stands in solidarity with Palestinian children and advocates for their rights to education and peace. The country’s largest education union condemns the atrocious acts of violence that ... More >>
New Zealand Is Wrong To Designate Hamas A Terrorist Group
Thursday, 29 February 2024, 5:44 pm | Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
Today’s announcement by the government to designate Hamas a “terrorist” organisation is cowardly and wrong. The United Nations and most of the rest of world does not give Hamas this designation and neither should New Zealand. PSNA does not support ... More >>
Ministry Of Justice Wrong To Keep Public In The Dark On Proposed OIA Law Changes
Thursday, 29 February 2024, 4:02 pm | Free Speech Union
The Free Speech Union calls on the Ministry of Justice to be transparent and foster open dialogue when changing laws affecting the Official Information Act (OIA). We echo the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties’ concerns that selecting a small ... More >>
Newshub Closure A Canary In The Coalmine Warns Thinktank
Thursday, 29 February 2024, 3:02 pm | University of Auckland
The impending closure of Newshub must not be seen as an isolated event but as a large canary in a small coalmine with serious implications for our democracy, the director of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, Sir Peter Gluckman, said today. ... More >>
Newshub Closure Puts Democracy At Risk
Thursday, 29 February 2024, 12:21 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Commenting on the announcement that Newshub is set to close, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Diversity of news is always important, but particularly so in New Zealand’s case given the way in which our ... More >>
National Iwi Chairs Forum Pou Tangata Condemns Proposed Repeal Of Smokefree Environments Act
Thursday, 29 February 2024, 9:10 am | Pou Tangata
Pou Tangata of the National Iwi Chairs Forum strongly condemns the recent actions by the Government to introduce legislation in favour of repealing the Smokefree Environments Act and urges the Government to focus instead on strengthening the policies that ... More >>
Smokefree Generation To Be Trashed For Tax Cuts
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 5:12 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson ... More >>
Stand Up Issues Govt Termination Letter On 90th Day
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 3:55 pm | Stand Up
Stand Up, the youth union movement, today commemorated the Government’s 90th day in power by using its own new employment policy, the 90-day trial period, to issue Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with a termination letter outlining how his Government ... More >>
Another Missile Launched In Government’s War On Nature
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 2:59 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Government’s arrogant disregard for the natural world is again on display, this time threatening coastal waters and the ocean, as it plans to automatically extend the duration of all marine farm consents in the country. And it is giving ... More >>
OCR Shows National Need To Get Serious About Slashing Waste
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 1:50 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Responding to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s decision to hold the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 5.5%, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Kiwi families are struggling, but with the OCR looking likely to climb ... More >>
The Repeal No One Asked For
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 1:46 pm | Hapai Te Hauora
As the Coalition Government rushes to repeal the Smokefree legislation today, Aotearoa’s largest Māori Public Health Organisation are just as concerned that they do not have an effective replacement to combat smoking in the future. Hāpai Te Hauora are ... More >>
Mental Health Foundation Opposes Urgent Move To Disestablish Māori Health Authority
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 11:56 am | Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (the MHF) opposes the urgent passing of law changes to disestablish the Māori Health Authority, changes presented yesterday by Hon. Dr Shane Reti, and calls on the government to work harder than ever to meet ... More >>
The Hart Act And A Call To Arms
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 11:53 am | Ann Chapman
Let me tell you a story, one of fear, anguish, and medical miracles. Followed by a sequel of fear, anguish and medical heartlessness. It is a story about a Wellington boy who was sixteen when he got leukaemia, ten years ago. Three courses of chemotherapy ... More >>
Urgently Axing The Māori Health Authority Undermines Te Tiriti Partnership
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 11:19 am | Amnesty International
Responding to the news that legislation disestablishing the Māori Health Authority has been debated under urgency in Parliament, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand’s Campaigns Director Lisa Woods said: "This use of urgency by Parliament ... More >>
Vaping Comments The "Understatement Of The Century"
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 10:33 am | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand
The Associate Minister’s comment that vaping "got away on us" is the understatement of the century, Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Chief Executive Letitia Harding says. Casey Costello told TVNZ’s Breakfast that they were slow ... More >>
Anguish About The Outdated, Non-responsive And Inadequate Ministry Funding For Disabled Students To Succeed Is Palpable
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 10:23 am | IHC New Zealand
IHC New Zealand says families of students with intellectual disability are at breaking point as more and more principals are being hamstrung by limited funding. “I am working with families and schools most days, and the frustration and anguish about ... More >>
Potential Changes To Trust Tax Hike Shows Government Is Lawmaking On The Hoof
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 10:12 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Responding to reports that the Finance Minister wants to exempt some trusts from paying the new 39% trust tax rate, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “What is clear is that this tax hike has never been properly thought through ... More >>
Pou Tangata Appalled As Government Fast-track Te Pae Ora Legislation Without Due Process
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 9:25 am | Pou Tangata
“It is dishonourable when we come to learn about the rushed actions undertaken by the Government to pass the amendments to the Te Pae Ora Bill and accelerate the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority,” says Rahui Papa, Co-Chair of ... More >>
Outrage At Undemocratic Use Of ‘Urgency’ By Government To Scrap The Maori Health Authority
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 9:09 am | ActionStation
Democracy lobby group, ActionStation, is outraged at the Government’s decision to introduce and pass under urgency, legislation disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora - the Māori Health Authority, effectively bypassing due democratic process and ignoring ... More >>
Ngāti Kahungunu Slams The Disestablishment Of Te Aka Whai Ora
Wednesday, 28 February 2024, 8:56 am | Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc
Ngāti Kahungunu Chair Bayden Barber has slammed the coalition government's moves to disestablish Te Aka Whaiora, The Māori Health Authority, “This is a rash move from the government, disestablishing a model that was designed to shift resources ... More >>
Submissions Extended For The Misuse Of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill 2024
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 3:43 pm | Office of the Clerk of the House of Representative
The Chairperson of the Health Committee has re-opened for written submissions on the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill. Please note that only written submissions are being called for at this time. The purpose of the bill is to change ... More >>
Turning The Tables Back On The Government: 90 Day Trial Period Is Finished
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 3:42 pm | Extinction Rebellion Tamaki Makaurau
On February 28, the government has been in place for 90 days. Representing the people of Aotearoa Extinction Rebellion Tāmaki Makaurau and other groups such Stand Up Youth Union is giving them a 90 Day Letter of Termination of Employment. In Tāmaki ... More >>
Scrapping Māori Health Authority Tramples Over Te Tiriti O Waitangi
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 3:27 pm | Green Party
The Green Party condemns the Government’s latest trashing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in rushing through legislation, without any public input, that will see Te Aka Whai Ora scrapped and the health of Māori neglected. “Disbanding Te Aka Whai Ora will ... More >>
Govt GST-sharing Proposal Gets The Green Light From Councils
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 12:52 pm | Local Government NZ
Councils have welcomed the Infrastructure Minister’s comments today that the Government is considering sharing GST with councils. The comments come following extensive advocacy by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) to ensure councils have a range of funding ... More >>
Criminal Bar Association - Media Statement - Gang Proposals
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 12:21 pm | Criminal Bar Association
We need evidence-based justice policy that keeps our communities safe, while upholding a fair system of justice. The Government’s proposed new ban on gang insignia does neither of those things. “Banning gang insignia is a repeat policy that has already ... More >>
Govt Must Regulate To Protect Migrant Workers On Work Visas From Exploitation
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 12:17 pm | New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
The NZ Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is calling on Government to regulate greater protections for migrant workers including decoupling work visas from single employers, and for a comprehensive review into the policy settings of the Accredited ... More >>
Government Rips Off Motorists To Fund Truckers
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 11:50 am | The Rail Advocacy Collective
The government is considering moving away from the current fuel excise tax (FET) and move all vehicles into the same road user charge (RUC) system that all heavy and other diesel propelled vehicles use. We can only be hopeful that the oil companies ... More >>
Sex Buyers In The Spotlight In ‘Buying Her’ Film, Premieres In New Zealand
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 11:28 am | Stop Demand
As a nation that has decriminalised and normalised prostitution and the buying of sex, the film Buying Her is both powerful and relevant. A first-of-its-kind film/documentary, Buying Her explores the lives of men who buy sex and what drives them. First-hand ... More >>
Productivity Commission Releases Business By The Numbers
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 10:55 am | Productivity Commission
The New Zealand Productivity Commission | Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa has released Business by the numbers, a report looking at the performance of businesses that make up the economy. Businesses lie at the heart of the economy. They are the places where ... More >>
Review Into Administration Of Work Force Visa Scheme Released
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 10:43 am | Public Service Commission
Deputy Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott has today released the findings of a review into the administration of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme. The independent review was led by Jenn Bestwick. The objective of the review was ... More >>
Wellington Council’s $5 Million Spin Doctor Spend Papering Over The Cracks
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 9:47 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Responding to news that Wellington City Council has 54 members in its comms team, with a total annual budget of over $5 million, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Pipes are bursting, roads are crumbling, and ... More >>
Shutting Down Jurisdiction Of Waitangi Tribunal “Power Play” By Crown
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 9:20 am | Te Kohao Health
Purposely shutting down the jurisdiction of the Waitangi Tribunal through the calculated expediting of the Bill to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority will not be the end of the matter. Lead claimants are resolute in the face of the ... More >>
New Zealand Flag To Fly At Half-mast To Mark The Funeral Of Fa'anānā Efeso Collins
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 9:18 am | Ministry For Culture And Heritage
At the request of the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, the Hon Paul Goldsmith, the New Zealand Flag is to be flown at half-mast on all Government and public buildings on Thursday, 29 February 2024 to mark the funeral of Fa’anānā Efeso Collins. ... More >>
IHC Calls For End To Discriminatory Benefit System
Monday, 26 February 2024, 3:19 pm | IHC
IHC says the benefit system is unfair and adding to intellectually disabled New Zealanders experiencing worse outcomes in most areas of life. Director of Advocacy, Tania Thomas, says there’s discrimination on the grounds of age or disability and ... More >>
Intellectually Disabled Community Hidden From Government Statistics
Monday, 26 February 2024, 3:00 pm | IHC
IHC New Zealand is calling on the Ministry of Health to specifically include data on the outcomes of people with intellectual disability in its reporting. In the latest New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS) , released in December 2023, disabled people (who ... More >>
CAPHRA Calls Out Who/FCTC's Disregard For Tobacco Harm Reduction And Transparency
Monday, 26 February 2024, 1:03 pm | CAPHRA
In a striking critique of the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) today voices profound concern over the organizations' ... More >>
Mānuka Charitable Trust Says Amendments To The Geographical Indications Act Are Self-sabotage
Monday, 26 February 2024, 9:05 am | Manuka Charitable Trust
26 February, NZ: The Mānuka Charitable Trust believes the hastily drafted and truncated hearing process for the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill, contravenes protections under ... More >>
Auckland Property Investors Association Reiterates Support For Residential Property Managers Bill
Monday, 26 February 2024, 8:42 am | Auckland Property Investors Association
The Auckland Property Investors Association (APIA) stands firmly behind its endorsement of the Residential Property Managers Bill, advocating for the exclusion of landlords from the proposed regulatory framework for property managers while endorsing the ... More >>
We Oppose Gang Patch Bans
Monday, 26 February 2024, 8:39 am | NZ Council for Civil Liberties
The Council views the government’s proposals to further undermine the civil liberties of New Zealanders accused of being gang members with concern. Proposed news laws will ban the wearing of gang patches and force people accused of being gang members ... More >>
Govt Focus On Gang Wardrobes Not Good Policy
Sunday, 25 February 2024, 2:33 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The Government's re-announcement of its impractical policy on gang insignia isn't going to make it work any better, and will only put more pressure on already stretched frontline Police, justice spokesperson Duncan Webb and police spokesperson Ginny ... More >>
Kiingi Tuheitia To Attend Inaugural Meeting Of Pacific Traditional Leaders
Sunday, 25 February 2024, 11:19 am | Te Tari o te Kiingitanga
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has accepted an invitation to meet with Pacific Traditional Leaders this week, to discuss their role in a world impacted by climate change, environmental degradation, economic development, and globalisation. ... More >>
National’s Own Advice Shows Aucklanders Will Pay More, Not Less
Sunday, 25 February 2024, 11:01 am | New Zealand Labour Party
The financial tales the Coalition Government told to get elected continue to unravel as advice from the Ministry of Transport shows removing the Regional Fuel Tax will end up costing Aucklanders more. “With very little in the Coalition agreements ... More >>
Agricultural Subsidy Distortions Must Be Addressed
Friday, 23 February 2024, 3:16 pm | Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand
As the world’s Trade Ministers head to a WTO meeting in Abu Dhabi, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) is calling for an immediate capping of agricultural subsidies and urgency in reducing them to prevent and correct production and trade ... More >>
Border Security At Risk With Plans To Cut Staff At Customs
Friday, 23 February 2024, 11:04 am | Public Service Association
The Government’s plan to encourage workers at Customs to take voluntary redundancy puts at risk the vital work of the agency, facilitating a safe and smooth entry and exit through our border, supporting our exports, and keeping New Zealanders safe ... More >>
Highest Public Sector Wage Growth On Record Despite Lagging Productivity
Friday, 23 February 2024, 10:51 am | Taxpayers' Union
Responding to a report showing that public sector wage growth is the highest on record, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Despite a Government elected to trim the bureaucratic fat, public sector wage growth continues ... More >>
Wellington Councillors Need To Front Up Over $32 Million Corporate Handout
Friday, 23 February 2024, 10:02 am | Taxpayers' Union
Wellington City Council is set to decide in secret whether to use $32 million of ratepayers’ money to buy the land under the Reading cinema from its current owners - a multinational firm with real estate holdings valued at over half a billion dollars ... More >>
Government Haste Gives Unequal Access To Cultural Reports
Friday, 23 February 2024, 10:00 am | Community Law Centres
The Government has lost an opportunity to reduce the cost of funding cultural reports at sentencing, while retaining the critical role the information plays in rehabilitating offenders, says Community Law Centres Aotearoa (CLCA). “Rushing these cuts to funding ... More >>
Productivity Commission Releases Two Reports To Support Ongoing Work To Address Productivity Challenges In Aotearoa
Friday, 23 February 2024, 9:49 am | New Zealand Productivity Commission
The New Zealand Productivity Commission | Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa has recently completed two reports to support ongoing work to address the productivity challenge we face in Aotearoa New Zealand. Productivity Commission Chair, Dr Ganesh Nana says, ... More >>
War Museum Steps Up To Telling The Truth
Friday, 23 February 2024, 8:51 am | Peace Action Wellington
"The Auckland War Memorial Museum's move to a Te Tiriti-centred approach is about telling the truth of New Zealand's history. It is the right thing to do. It can't stay a dusty old colonial museum that repeats false myths about the glory of ... More >>
New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Publishes First Assessment Of The Value Of New Zealand's Infrastructure
Friday, 23 February 2024, 8:47 am | New Zealand Infrastructure Commission
With our roads, water pipes and other essential infrastructure wearing out, New Zealand needs to spend around 60% of its infrastructure investment to look after what we already have, rather than building more. This is a key finding of a new report ... More >>
Child Poverty Worsens; Retiree Liz Greive Urges Other Pensioners With High Incomes To Help.
Thursday, 22 February 2024, 1:58 pm | Share My Super
“The statistics released today show child poverty has worsened still further in New Zealand. The life and opportunities these children have are not what we, or even our children had. We must do better by them, which in turn, does better for the whole ... More >>
FACT Aotearoa Calls For Ministers To Boycott Outlets Promoting Extreme Racist Views
Thursday, 22 February 2024, 1:26 pm | FACT Aotearoa
Ministers should boycott Reality Check Radio for promoting Austrian far right activist with links to Christchurch terrorist. FACT Aotearoa is calling on Government Ministers including the Deputy Prime Minister who have appeared on Reality Check Radio to boycott ... More >>
CPAG: PM Luxon On Track To Break Election Promise On Child Poverty
Thursday, 22 February 2024, 12:39 pm | Child Poverty Action Group
Latest child poverty statistics that show an extra 23,400 children are living in material hardship are a stark warning for New Zealand with progress made in recent years now going backwards, according to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). Around ... More >>