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1 week ago | 
radionz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
When the prime minister dodged Northland on Waitangi Day, he ended up getting an earful instead in the South Island. It came from Justin Tipa, the chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, in a speech at the Ōnuku Marae. "Our rangitiritanga has been ignored for decades, and the state of freshwater in our takiwā (territory) has gotten worse and worse ... and it's not good enough, and we're doing something about it."That something has just come to a conclusion.
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2 weeks ago | 
radionz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
Dumping 33 pay equity claims and telling underpaid workers to start again was always going to cause fury from those who stood to benefit from the claims - mostly women. But the government's shock and awe approach to changing the legislation has fanned the flames of anger. In a whirlwind 48 hours the law changed - no select committee, public meetings, opportunities for submissions or the usual processes laws go through.
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2 weeks ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
It's been called 'change fatigue' and the tertiary sector covering vocational education is exhausted by the meddling of successive governments. Since 2020 there have been major upheavals with vocational training and polytechnics, and the key word for those in the industry is uncertainty. There's also frustration at the amount of money spent rearranging the deckchairs for ideological reasons, instead of just getting on with the job of equipping students for work.
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1 month ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
For years now, over several terms of different governments, New Zealand's system of trust against corruption and undue influence has been tested. A revolving door of pressure groups, MPs turning into lobbyists as soon as they leave Parliament, cabinet ministers blabbing secrets to donors, dodgy fundraising, failures to declare or be open about conflicts of interests.
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1 month ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
Breast is best, but not all new parents can do that. That is why infant formula forms such a vital part of the lives of people just trying to feed their babies. The rules around the product are highly regulated - actually it is one of the most highly regulated products in the world.
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1 month ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
Chocolate eggs. Debates over shop opening hours. Traffic congestion as Kiwis take advantage of four days off in a row. Often it's the last of the summer weather, or the first of the winter blast. This is the Easter break in New Zealand that most people recognise. But it's not the same for everyone. Today The Detail looks at two very different communities who are, at this time of the year, taking part in events that are of utmost significance to them.
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1 month ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
Shareholders attempting to wrest control, restructures and redundancies, robots in charge of the website ... the New Zealand Herald is sailing some stormy seas It's a grand old lady, 162 years old, and a proud tradition of being Auckland's - and the nation's - journal of record. The New Zealand Herald has taken on advertising slumps, changes of ownership and all the same issues that have seen other media organisations collapse or shrink.
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2 months ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
Please publish Tuesday 1st April at 5am "The RMA is broken, and everyone knows it." "The RMA is akin to a gale-force head wind, battling any attempts to develop anything, anywhere." "The RMA has enabled a cottage industry of lawyers and consultants, drafting thousands of pages of papers and reports, all designed to block new roads, new wind farms, new apartments in our central cities, and farming in rural New Zealand." "It tangles progress in a web of process and absurd conditions." The...
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2 months ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
Please publish Saturday 29th March at 5am New Zealand has another funny/sad hit film on its hands, nearly 10 years after the last big one, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Tinā has cinema audiences in floods of tears, and also makes them laugh. It's heading for $4 million at the box office, which is huge for a home-grown effort. You can still see it at the cinema, and you should - freelance critic and entertainment podcaster Kate Rodger says the shared experience packs an emotional punch.
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2 months ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Alexia Russell
In Donald Trump's firing line, foreign leaders decide whether to butter up or shout back. In Donald Trump's firing line, foreign leaders decide whether to butter up or shout back. Two months into the US president's presidency, leaders around the world are picking their battle strategies: butter him up, or speak truth to power? To date, New Zealand has largely steered clear entirely, treading a careful line.
