Articles in ‘Current Affairs’

Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 12.2 percent in the June 2020 quarter, the largest quarterly fall recorded since the current series began in 1987, as the COVID-19 restrictions in place through the quarter impacted economic activity, Stats NZ said today. “The 12.2 percent fall in quarterly GDP is by far the largest on record in New Zealand,” national accounts senior manager Paul Pascoe said. · Measures to contain COVID-19 have led to…

The National Library of New Zealand is proceeding with removing about 600,000 books from its Overseas Published Collections. It is doing so in the misguided belief that these books are not important to New Zealanders and get little use. In fact, neither of these claims are true, as the library’s own statistics reveal. The Library claims that its consultation – which was mostly with other libraries – showed support for the National Library to…

The Free Speech Coalition is preparing to launch an urgent judicial review of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s decision to deem non-daily newspapers and publications not an essential service for the purposes of the COVID-19 Level-4 nationwide shutdown. · Free Speech Coalition spokesperson Jordan Williams said “No High Court is going to uphold a bureaucrat deciding what media can and cannot operate. This decision was done without any…

A lot has been made in recent times of investment in quality transport infrastructure, improved public transport and congestion reduction; all culminating in a decision between the Green Party and Labour Party arm of the Coalition Government for “rapid light rail” (modern trams) to run from the CBD to the Auckland Airport. As a member of the team at the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) and the National Co-ordinator of the Public Transport…

elocal sat down with Shane Jones at the recent New Zealand First Christmas function. Below are excerpts from that conversation. elocal: · Shane going back to the last election Winston said that capitalism no longer works. What do you think he meant by that? · SJ: · I think that the engines of growth. I’m firmly of the view are well known. It’s just how you distribute a dividend of growth. I suspect that’s what he was actually referring to…

Massive change lies ahead for voters in the Hunua electorate. Boundary alterations ahead of the 2020 and 2023 general elections will see the electorate’s name changed to Port Waikato, and its area shifted south and transformed from urban to rural. · Hunua MP Andrew Bayly’s seat will be severely impacted by the proposed changes – of all the electorates, his is probably the one changed to the greatest degree. · The population in every electorate…

“New Zealand requires a Ministry of Water.” So stated Ron Howard, a retired engineer who recently addressed the Veterans Division of the Pukekohe returned Services Association. Mr Howard provided a précis of his extensive research of the country’s water issues that have covered a 30 year span and, ironically, he has pre-empted the government, which had intended to bring out a report in June on the regionalisation of water through its 3 Waters…

Tena koutou ki a koutou a Ngapuhi E hari ana taku ngakau ki te mihi atu ki a koutou He iwi kotahi tatou No reira tena koutou. Can I begin my comments today by saying how much I appreciate your invitation? I have no doubt that some of you see me as a racist of the worst kind. It is a great tribute to you that you are nevertheless willing to have me here today, at this place of great importance in our history, even though you may disagree with…