Tag: New Zealand
Spinning its wheels: the new national transport plan steers NZ back to a car-dependent past
The billions allocated for roads in the National Land Transport Programme will not see any actually built in the next three years.
‘Room for everyone’: how Kīngi Tūheitia’s message of unity offered an alternative to divisive Treaty politics
With the death of Kīngi Tūheitia at a time of heightened tensions around Māori-Crown relations, the Kingitanga movement’s founding principle of kotahitanga – unity – remains as relevant as ever.
NZ’s Space Agency is both regulator and developer of the aerospace industry – that’s a point of tension
The New Zealand Space Agency’s dual role as regulator and sector developer introduces a conflict of interest and skews the aerospace industry towards economic growth, at the cost of sustainability.
Viruses can work where antibiotics don’t – new research tells us more about how they fight bacteria
Viruses known as ‘phages’ might become an essential tool, as antibiotic-resistant bacteria threaten conventional remedies.
US voters speak many languages, but non-English campaigning remains risky for Harris and Trump
In theory, appealing to voters in their own languages makes good political sense. So why don’t more candidates do it on the campaign trail?
Satellites are making the night sky brighter – as a launch site, NZ has a duty to combat light pollution
With every satellite placed into orbit, its reflective surface increases the ambient glow of the night sky, which is now 10% brighter than if it were illuminated only by natural sources.
The World Court says Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land is illegal: 4 steps NZ can take now
If New Zealand supports a ‘rules-based international order’ its response to the International Court of Justice’s findings on the Occupied Palestinian Territories should involve deeds more than words.
A rare aid success story has brought riches to a hardscrabble corner of the Pacific. Will it last?
High cocoa prices and a revitalised industry have resulted in a boom for Bougainville. But the long-lasting benefits will only materialise if the windfalls are saved and reinvested.
A new report lays out NZ’s humanitarian duties under the laws of war – now it needs an action plan
New Zealand has been quick to voluntarily report on its compliance with international humanitarian law. Turning those words into deeds remains the challenge in a violent and insecure world.
An ambiguous foreign policy on Gaza risks undermining NZ’s global reputation
The government’s Gaza response has been caught uncomfortably between joining calls for a ceasefire at the UN and aligning with US security interests.
The struggle to unplug: why Kiwis find it so hard to disconnect from the internet
A new study reveals just how digitally dependent most New Zealanders are now. Disconnecting requires conscious effort – and it could even cost you money.
Tragedy and hope: what the abuse-in-care report will say and what has to happen now
The 16-volume royal commission report, to be made public tomorrow, will show beyond doubt how state policies and institutions have been guilty of enabling abuse. Change has to begin immediately.
The greenest games ever? How claims of Olympic sustainability hit a reef in Tahiti
Hosting the Olympic surfing half a world away from the host city of Paris has highlighted just how hard it is for mega-events to be truly environmentally sustainable.
The government wants to give local bodies more power – that should include the power to tax
Local government raises about 4% of New Zealand’s tax revenue. The equivalent in Denmark is about 36%. If the government believes in ‘localism’, it has to give councils more power to raise revenue.
Breakdancing, DJs and Tahitian surf: Paris 2024 is going for gold in Olympic innovation
Sports keep evolving – and so must the Olympic Games. But can the inclusion of new events like breakdancing and kiteboarding also create a new generation of fans?