Tag: New Zealand
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?
Mental health targets aren’t enough – unless NZ backs them up with more detail and funding
The government’s newly announced targets to address New Zealand’s ongoing mental health crisis offer some hope, but not much detail on how they will be achieved.
Size matters: why NZ’s new housing rules risk cheap builds and shoebox apartments
Housing minister Chris Bishop says removing minimum dwelling size rules will deliver homes that are “bigger than a car”. But tiny houses might be a short-term solution that causes long-term issues.
AI search tools and chatbots may make NZ news less visible and reliable – new study
The government has revived the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, but the way AI may be skewing news results and visibility is off the table for now. My new research suggests it should be a priority.
Give way: 5 reasons why the government should slow down on raising speed limits
The government plans to increase speed limits, despite research showing the benefits of going slow. With submissions on the proposals closing next week, several important factors should guide policy
Big tech companies were open to online safety regulation – why did NZ’s government scrap the idea?
The government says the online safety framework infringed on free speech. But some of the world’s biggest tech companies have said they aren’t opposed to some form of regulation.
No-cause evictions have the potential to hurt renters – with little gain for good landlords
With submissions on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill closing next month, now is the time to consider how the changes could affect New Zealand’s 1.7 million renters.
NZ Budget 2024: ‘tax relief’ for the ‘squeezed middle’ – but who’s paying? 7 experts follow the money
Finance minister Nicola Willis made good on two promises with her first budget – tax cuts and no surprises. But the belt tightening required to do that will have longer-term consequences.
Dawn raids never died: why formal apologies and restoring NZ citizenship are still not enough
Public submissions close this week on a bill restoring citizenship to some Samoan immigrants. But despite prime ministerial apologies over the 1970s dawn raids, immigration law is largely unchanged.
NZ Budget 2024: the coalition needs a circuit breaker – the National Party most of all
Finance minister Nicola Willis is promising to chart a ‘middle course’ in her first budget. Her bigger challenge is to bring middle New Zealand along with her.
NZ is changing faster than the census can keep up – the 4 big trends to watch
The latest census figures are released this week, but the long-term trends are already clear: we will soon be more Māori and more Asian, fertility rates are dropping, and more citizens are leaving.
How to end the wasteful boom-bust cycle driving NZ’s infrastructure gap: new report
A report released next week argues the real problem with New Zealand’s inadequate infrastructure is not money – it’s the three-year political cycle. We need a 30-year, cross-party national plan.
‘Facebook probably knows I sell drugs’ – how young people’s digital footprints can threaten their future prospects
The global trade in data means minor drug dealing by 16-year-olds on social media could hurt their ability to get a job, house or insurance in their 30s.
Some say the Treaty of Waitangi divides NZ – a new survey suggests the opposite is true
Modern interpretations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi cause sometimes bitter political debate. But new research shows New Zealanders – especially younger ones – see the Treaty largely as a positive symbol.