The Bulletin: Questions swirling about legality of lockdown 

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Questions swirling about legality of lockdown, Microsoft moves towards much bigger presence in NZ, and Transmission Gully in turmoil. On one level, it’s quite a bizarre question – was it legal for the whole country to be ordered to go into lockdown? The question feels strange … Read more

Siouxsie Wiles & Toby Morris: Why our run of low Covid-19 numbers does not mean jump now

It’s all about the lag. We’d be idiots to throw away what we’ve achieved. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 crisis is only possible because of the support of members. If you can, please consider joining Spinoff Members here (and score a Toby Morris tea-towel) What a milestone: two days in a row with no new … Read more

Covid-19 live updates, May 6: Surge in demand for helplines; tourist operator cuts 300 jobs

For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level three – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The Spinoff Members … Read more

The sprint to shovel-ready must not ignore the marathon

The new fast-track process for major projects will need careful drafting to balance the short-term gains with the long-term effects on climate change, writes planning expert Hamish Rennie. David Parker has announced that some large, “shovel-ready” projects will begin sooner than planned, bypassing public consultation processes under the Resource Management Act. The aim is to … Read more

Covid-19: New Zealand cases mapped and charted, May 6

The latest in our series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall. David Garcia worked with Chris to create today’s charts. These posts collate the most recent statistics and present them as charts and maps. The Ministry of Health typically publishes data updates in the early afternoon, which describe the situation at 9am … Read more

Overworked and overwhelmed: How NZ nurses coped with the 1918 pandemic

Nursing historian Pamela Wood looks at the near-impossible task facing nurses at the height of the Spanish flu pandemic. At the heart of nursing is the belief that all those who need medical care should have it, but in many overwhelmed health systems around the world it’s become necessary to triage patient care due to … Read more

We have another ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to rebuild. Will we squander it again?

The Christchurch rebuild should act as a cautionary lesson as we contemplate the upcoming post-Covid recovery, writes James Dann. In uncertain times, it can be reassuring to look back at history as a guide. As the Christchurch earthquakes – the first just shy of a decade ago – were our last major disaster, and one … Read more

The Bulletin: Disconnect between unemployment and rural worker needs

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Challenges loom in matching unemployed with rural jobs, trans-Tasman travel bubble agreed in principle, and Greens push for urgent Fair Pay Agreements. It is increasingly becoming clear that one of the country’s biggest economic challenges over the rest of the year will be matching people … Read more

Covid-19 Policy Watch: How 26 nations are responding to the crisis, in one place

Policy responses around the world are massive in scale and constantly changing. Covid-19 Policy Watch captures it in simple, easy-to-compare form. Click here to visit Policy Watch Yesterday New Zealand recorded zero new cases of Covid-19 for the second consecutive day. As almost everyone agrees, that is a tremendous achievement – albeit one that has … Read more

NZ ranked first in world for Covid-19 response communications

A global survey of the public relations industry puts the Ardern government top of the pile. As New Zealand records its second consecutive day of zero new cases of Covid-19, moving cautiously closer towards the goal of “elimination”, the government has received another international plaudit for the response – this time from public relations practitioners. … Read more

Siouxsie Wiles & Toby Morris: What we don’t know about Covid-19

We’re beginning to solve a crucial part of the puzzle: just when, and for how long, are people infectious? I’ve pointed this out before, but it’s worth repeating. With Covid-19 we are trying to understand a virus and disease we’ve never encountered before. That means there are many gaps in our knowledge. All around the … Read more

Covid-19 live updates, May 5: Ardern talks bubble with Morrison; second day in a row of zero cases

For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level three – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The Spinoff Members … Read more

Covid-19: New Zealand cases mapped and charted, May 5

The latest in our series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall. David Garcia worked with Chris to create today’s charts. This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff Members, with support from the Science Media Centre.  These posts collate the most recent statistics and present them as charts and maps. … Read more

The Bulletin: The prospect of a trans-Tasman travel bubble

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Ardern to zoom in to Australian cabinet meeting today, concerning situation arises at Waitākere Hospital, and a Zero Day finally achieved. Jacinda Ardern will make a rare appearance by a New Zealand PM at the Australian government’s cabinet meeting this morning. It’s a big moment as … Read more

Apiecalypse now: The baker battling lockdown bleakness with pastry

We’ve all been dealing with Covid-19 confinement in different ways, but Devoney Scarfe’s preferred medium is pies. Expletive-laden, delicious pies. Devoney Scarfe had had enough. She was locked down in suburban Auckland, with a husband, two kids and the dog. “Nobody was at their finest. There was a tantrum thrown because PlayStation didn’t work. Everyone … Read more

Covid-19: New Zealand cases mapped and charted, May 4

The latest in our series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall. David Garcia worked with Chris to create today’s charts. This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff Members, with support from the Science Media Centre.  These posts collate the most recent statistics and present them as charts and maps. … Read more

Milestone hit as NZ records zero new cases of Covid-19 in a day

Hopes of success for ‘elimination strategy’ grow as for the first day since mid-March no new cases are announced. ‘We cannot afford to squander all the hard work’, warns Bloomfield. The Spinoff’s coverage of Covid-19 is made possible thanks to donations from Members. Please join to support our work. For the latest developments see here. … Read more

Covid-19 isn’t quite the boon for science researchers it might seem

Covid-19 could erase the next generation of New Zealand research leaders, write a group of academics who’ve been looking into the issue. In the wake of Covid-19, the research sector is bracing for contraction. Around the world, there are already indications that universities and other public research organisations are considering shedding jobs and freezing new appointments. … Read more

Punakaiki: What the Covid-19 crisis means for a small West Coast tourist town

In a small community on a remote stretch of the West Coast, tourism operators contemplate a town without tourists. Halfway between Westport and Greymouth, Punakaiki usually heaves with rental cars, campers and buses during the summer. More than 400,000 people visit the unique geological formations known as the pancake rocks every year, according to a … Read more

The Bulletin: RMA changes please opposition, worry Greens

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Government unveils fast-tracking of RMA for infrastructure, shape of cannabis law reform announced, and Fish and Game in disarray. In what seems like one of the most unlikely headlines of the year, the government has made RMA changes that are broadly palatable to the other … Read more

Siouxsie Wiles: Toxic lies of the ‘church’ pushing bleach as a Covid miracle cure

It is incredible that it even needs saying, but whatever you do, don’t for a moment entertain the noxious lies of the so-called Genesis II Church of Health and Healing. It seems astonishing that during this pandemic there was a need to ask any health professional or scientist whether disinfectants could be used to treat … Read more

Covid-19 live updates, May 4: Level two details coming this week; PM to discuss trans-Tasman bubble tomorrow

For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level three – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The Spinoff Members … Read more

Covid-19: New Zealand cases mapped and charted, May 3

The latest in our series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall. David Garcia worked with Chris to create today’s charts. This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff Members, with support from the Science Media Centre.  These posts collate the most recent statistics and present them as charts and maps. … Read more

Did the Covid-19 crisis bork your attention span? Here’s why

TL;DR: you probably will read a book again. Maybe even write one. How’s your brain been? Quite shite? Same. Anyway, after many fits and starts and much staring out the window and also rewatching Twilight, here is a Q&A with very patient and busy clinical psychologist Dr Kimberly Falconer. (Falconer, in lockdown with her husband … Read more

Lessons from Tūhoe: How iwi can build community resilience in a crisis

PR consultant Ben Thomas has been spending time in te rohe pōtae o Te Urewera. Here he reports back from Te Uru Taumatua, the Nāi Tūhoe tribal authority, on how the iwi is utilising resources, and its community networks, to respond to the Covid-19 crisis. I was lucky enough to spend the months between September … Read more

Covid-19 live updates, May 3: Two new cases in New Zealand, Bloomfield issues warning

For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level three – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The Spinoff Members … Read more

Covid-19 live updates, May 2: Six new cases; one further death

For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level three – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The Spinoff Members … Read more

Covid-19: New Zealand cases mapped and charted, May 2

The latest in our series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall. David Garcia worked with Chris to create today’s charts. This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff Members, with support from the Science Media Centre.  These posts collate the most recent statistics and present them as charts and maps. … Read more