The Bulletin: Spy agency overhaul calls, and response to March 15 inquiry report

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Response to Royal Commission report into March 15 terrorist attack, slow progress on climate change criticised internationally, and ‘digital handshake’ to be added to Covid app. The security services have come in for criticism in a Royal Commission report into the March 15 terrorist attacks, … Read more

Why scientists should welcome charges against GNS over Whakaari

But this must not be about blame, writes Shane Cronin The decision by WorkSafe, a government agency focused on workplace safety, to bring criminal charges against 13 parties in relation to last December’s eruption of Whakaari/White Island heralds a new chapter for volcano scientists in New Zealand. On December 9 2019, 22 people died and … Read more

The Bulletin: Lab testing workers strike criticised and defended

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Lab test worker strike criticised and defended, business confidence slumps, and Porirua emergency housing motel proves controversial. There has been controversy over a strike by laboratory workers this Friday, amid the wider Covid-19 outbreak. Newshub reports that the strike has been planned long in advance – since … Read more

The Bulletin: National closes year with policy blitz

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: National closes year with policy blitz, fund announced for small businesses affected by tourism disasters, and a record worker exploitation fine handed down. Perhaps it’s meant to be a counterpoint to the government’s year of delivery. The National party promised eight policy discussion documents this year, and … Read more

Where does responsibility fall for tourism on Whakaari/White Island?

Government ministers will have to start turning their attention to what could have prevented the tragedy, and what official inquiries may be necessary, writes Jo Moir for RNZ. With a myriad of government agencies and regulators involved, who is responsible for what? Health and safety regulator WorkSafe has general oversight of tourism on Whakaari – … Read more

Leading us through loss

A group of Māori women wearing pare kawakawa, wreaths of kawakawa leaves on their heads as a sign of mourning.

The leadership shown by tangata whenua at every national disaster and tragedy should be recognised and honoured by all of us, writes Catherine Delahunty. I do appreciate having a prime minister who is capable of expressing decent, human emotions when tragedies descend on us. It’s a sadly low bar that she rises above. We live … Read more

12 months of upheaval, pain and pride: on watching New Zealand from afar

It is hard to remember a year in which New Zealand was so repeatedly in global headlines, writes Kamahl Santamaria, a Kiwi journalist based in Doha. Time zones are a strange thing. You go to sleep, and then for eight hours or so, you miss out on everything happening on the other side of the … Read more

The Bulletin: A new direction for justice

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Andrew Little indicates justice system changes after reports, Auckland buses back on the road, and National release health proposals.  Two significant reports for the justice sector were released yesterday. The first was Turuki! Turuki! Transforming our Criminal Justice System from the Chester Borrows-led Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group. … Read more

The Bulletin: Bittersweet stimulus for spending advocates

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Capacity constraints loom large in spending stimulus, pilot speaks out about slow Whakaari recovery efforts, and carbon monoxide levels are high. The fundamentally conservative approach of finance minister Grant Robertson has continued, even as he has moved to loosen the purse strings. The top lines of … Read more

Why were tourists allowed on Whakaari/White Island at all?

The fatal eruption on Whakaari on Monday may force the tourism industry to review its current rules, writes tourism professor Michael Lueck.  The official death toll is six and eight people are still missing, presumed to have died, in Monday’s volcanic eruption at Whakaari/White Island. The people on the island were tourists and tour guides, … Read more

The Bulletin: How Whakaari/White Island eruption will be investigated

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: How the Whakaari eruption will be investigated, Greens ditch Budget Responsibility Rules, and more controversy for Crimson Education. There has been a lot of confusion about what investigations will take place after the Whakaari eruption, and what they will focus on. As such, today’s Bulletin will … Read more

Whakaari/White Island, 24 hours on

Twenty-four hours after the eruption on Whakaari/White Island, here’s what we know about the ongoing situation. How many people have died? Currently, the official death toll stands at five, but there are a further eight people missing, who are presumed to have died in the eruption. 31 people remain in hospital and three have been … Read more

The Bulletin: Horror toll from Whakaari/White Island eruption

A view of the Whakaari eruption from a boat just off the island

Welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Death toll from Whakaari eruption likely to rise, cabinet agrees Auckland port must move, and expensive Christchurch stadium details released. UPDATE – 7.07am: More information on the number of people on the island at the time of the eruption has been released. 47 people were there at the … Read more