Yesterday we published a critical review of First, We Make the Beast Beautiful, Australian writer Sarah Wilson’s book about her anxiety issues. Today Naomi Arnold, a fan of the book, responds. Fucking anxiety, eh. I have/have had anxiety, and so have about three dozen people I know, admire, and love, some of them brilliant and … Read more
The story of government fraudster Joanne Harrison is one of almost unbelievable greed. But in many ways as shocking, writes Peter Newport, is how her boss, Martin Matthews, ignored the whistle-blowers – and allowed Harrison to exact her revenge. Update 1pm, 3 August 2017: Martin Matthews has resigned his position as Auditor General following the publication of … Read more
Paula Bennett is reportedly keen to see tipping introduced to New Zealand. Henry Oliver explains why this is a terrible, terrible, terrible idea. There’s a lot to love about eating out in the US. The food is usually fatty, salty, sweet and delicious. And the portions are fucking huge. But there’s a downside too. When you … Read more
If Māui dolphins are a Threatened Species priority, why won’t the government act to stop their extinction, asks the WWF New Zealand’s David Tong. Kiwi, kakapo, Māui dolphins and white sharks all feature on a list of 150 priority species in a new draft Threatened Species Strategy that Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry launched earlier … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Madeleine Chapman finally gets to experience a toy fad. On Sunday I took my hangover for a walk around Sylvia Park and found myself in front of a stall selling the latest pointless toy, the Fidget Spinner. The young … Read more
The idea that we hold the atmosphere around us in trust, with a duty to protect it for future generations, is taking hold. And the debate is drawing on everything from an 18th century English jurist to contemporary activism by US peoples of colour, writes Claire Browning. Nobody owns the sky, but all of our lives depend … Read more
The exhumed skull of a 3,000-year-old Welshwomen. Nazi submarines. Ancient Spanish shipwrecks. The pre-Māori white civilisation theories of Noel Hilliam and his friends have a lot going for them. Except any plausible evidence, writes Scott Hamilton I spent part of last week at an art gallery in Manurewa, helping to put photographs on the walls. One of those … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Simon Wilson orbits a State Highway One showpiece. Ah, the Waikato, where NZTA sends its maddest roading engineers to do their worst. Which they certainly do: absurdly over-engineered exchanges at Te Kauwhata and Rangiriri, giant new motorways leading in and … Read more
In 1987, an election was held, petrol was cheaper, and people were fewer. But how much has really changed in New Zealand in 30 years? Take the quiz to test your knowledge of 1987. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
Earlier this year an otherwise liberal Auckland girls’ high school, where diversity is celebrated, invited Family First’s Bob McCoskrie in to talk about gay marriage. A gay student who was in the audience shares her experience. Update May 23 2017: Bob McCoskrie has responded to this story, disputing some of the events as depicted below. … Read more
The issue isn’t just how many homes we’re building, it’s what kind. Erin Gough, a wheelchair user, makes a plea for more accessible housing. I live on the fourth floor of a five-storey apartment building in central Wellington. It’s not fully wheelchair accessible, but it’s the most manageable I’ve been able to find in my … Read more
A prominent partnership schools manager has claimed that government partnership school champion David Seymour attempted to dissuade him from airing his concerns about the sector in writing to avoid their reaching the public domain. In an opinion piece published today on The Spinoff, Alwyn Poole, academic manager of Mt Hobson Middle School, says that David … Read more
New Zealand charter schools are achieving extraordinary things despite their tiny scale, says Alwyn Poole, academic manager at Mt Hobson Middle School. The main challenge is that opposition to the sector and governmental indifference is stalling growth just as it’s gaining traction. Further reading – Charter schools: the case against from the NZEI If education … Read more
Instead of pouring money into charter schools that on average achieve only middling results, the government should be supporting educators who know what works, writes Lynda Stuart, the president of the teacher’s union NZEI Te Riu Roa. Further reading – Charter schools: the case for from charter school provider Villa Education Trust . If you … Read more
Young jobseekers complain they are being made to work long hours for free in hopes of securing a job that never eventuates. Chris Godfrey reports. In January, Wellington student Maya Russell completed a trial at Leuven Belgium Beer Cafe in the central city, for which she says she was told she would be paid. Nearly … Read more
Mental health campaigner Mike King has quit the panel shaping strategy for suicide prevention in NZ, saying ‘It would be funny if people weren’t dying’. Below, his resignation letter in full The minister of health, Jonathan Coleman, last week rejected a report from ActionStation into NZ mental health. Speaking in parliament, he attacked the group as … Read more
New Zealand has some of the largest and most overpriced houses anywhere in the world. Motu Research affiliate Andrew Coleman looks at little-discussed tax change in 1989 which sowed the seeds for the current crisis. Everyone wants to talk about housing nowadays. Young people commiserate with their friends about rents and wonder how they’ll ever … Read more
Happy Mother’s Day! Today Sam Brooks remembers his crazy/beautiful mother, and the life lessons she left him with. she broke three ab circle pros and made the manufacturers replace them free of charge each time. she never admitted they didn't work. — Sam Brooks (@sbrookbrooks) April 30, 2017 It was my mother’s birthday a few … Read more
Bulls was an unexceptional country town until a chance discovery of a secondhand book of bovine puns changed the course of history. Jess McAllen uncovers the remarka-bull story. Like many great artists, the person who roused the small town of Bulls to paint the streets with puns will never know how iconic his work was. … Read more
How much parental leave can New Zealanders take? Do dads get paid more than mums? Is the Pope catholic? Take the quiz to find out. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
When you crunch the numbers, the feebleness of NZ’s intake becomes shamefully clear, argues Murdoch Stephens, head of the campaign to double the quota For the first few days of Trump’s presidency, Bill English fumbled around trying to get the tone right. When Trump instituted his first Muslim ban and cuts to refugee numbers, English … Read more
In our video series Kiwis of Snapchat, comedian Tom Sainsbury sources Snapchat footage of extraordinary Kiwi citizens. Today, Auckland landlord David McNeil shares some of his exciting new rental opportunities with us. Click here to watch Kiwis of Snapchat #1 featuring Jami-Lee Ross Click here to watch Kiwis of Snapchat #2 featuring Kelvin Cruickshank Click … Read more
It’s survival of the fittest in the NZ tourism industry, where some regions struggle for visitors while our biggest hotspots can hardly cope – all while our government resolutely rejects a tourist tax to help fix the places worst affected by the visitor onslaught. Little wonder New Zealanders increasingly feel that tourism is getting out … Read more
On Monday, supermarket chain Countdown announced a new company-wide policy to support its workers who are transgender, and those who are transitioning. Corporate affairs GM James Walker explains what motivated the decision. Countdown announced to its team this week that it has introduced a Transgender Transitioning Policy. We’ve had numerous messages and emails from people … Read more
Many, including the PM, were surprised this week to learn that blasphemy remains an offence under NZ law. The one and only case of prosecution dates from 1922, when John Glover was prosecuted in the Supreme Court for republishing in his paper the Maoriland Worker the anti-war poem ‘Stand-to: Good Friday Morning’ by Siegfried Sassoon … Stand-to: … Read more
In 2016 notorious criminal Arthur Taylor successfully challenged the government’s blanket ban on prisoners voting in elections. In 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s ruling that the ban is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights, however Justice Minister Andrew Little has said changing the law is currently ‘not a priority’. In 2017 … Read more
The excuses are feeble and unacceptable. We need to take sincere, authentic, practical and innovative action to reduce climate change gas emissions at home, writes Bronwyn Hayward. An Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Canterbury and a lead author for the International Panel for Climate Change special report on reducing climate change … Read more
The evidence is overwhelming: our current drug laws aren’t working. As governments worldwide admit defeat in the war on drugs, it’s past time for New Zealand to make drug law reform a priority, writes former MP Laila Harre. To my shame I voted for the Misuse of Drugs (Drug Paraphernalia) Amendment Bill in 1997. In … Read more
Inspired by the past month’s new stories, Alex Casey and Leonie Hayden are joined by special guest Alice Snedden to dive deep into period chat. With help from their legendary sponsors at BON Lifestyle, of course. With Michele still elbow-deep in beignets in New Orleans, comedian and half of Boners of the Heart Alice Snedden joins … Read more