Mark G. Thomas Journalist Profile

Articles

Food poisoning: it's often, but not always, the chicken

Nov 7, 2024 | newsroom.co.nz | Mark G. Thomas

A few days before the media swung into full-time live coverage of the US elections, international headlines were made by the unpleasant symptoms experienced by more than 100 University of Canterbury students, suffering the unpleasant and unbecoming symptoms of a foodborne illness presumed to have been caused by a contaminated chicken dish. “It’s always the chicken,” exclaimed RNZ’s Lisa Owen on Checkpoint that evening. It is quite often, but not always.
Auckland’s risk of becoming becalmed

Nov 4, 2024 | newsroom.co.nz | Mark G. Thomas

Opinion: New Zealand had the fastest boat on the water at the recent America’s Cup. But the country’s largest city Auckland does not have such comparable speed in the international cities’ race. The World Economic Forum says cities are critical for developing competitive, innovation-driven economies, particularly those with strong infrastructure, vibrant labour markets, and a commitment to research and development.
Decoding the New Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements: What You Need to Know

Oct 3, 2024 | wallacesaunders.com | Mark G. Thomas

Starting this year, business owners have a new filing requirement to add to their to-do list. Business entities created before January 1, 2024 will need to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) by December 31, 2024. Any entity created in 2024 will need to file a report within 90 days of creation with the Secretary of State.
Auckland’s chance to stand on the international podium

Aug 19, 2024 | newsroom.co.nz | Mark G. Thomas

Comment: This year’s State of the City report on Auckland landed just as the Olympics finished. If the city had been a competitor it may have struggled to medal. Despite on field strengths with its access to green space, cultural vibrancy and improving resilience, the report revealed significant performance gaps in Auckland’s innovation ecosystem, educational outcomes and skills, transport system and economic growth.
Columbia River dams harmed salmon - now governments must invest in bringing them home

Aug 14, 2024 | indiginews.com | Mark G. Thomas |Mark Thomas |Keith Hapana Crow |Jason Andrew

This op-ed was submitted by members of the Bringing the Salmon Home initiative’s executive working group from the Secwépemc, syilx Okanagan and Ktunaxa Nations. The Columbia River was once the source of the greatest salmon runs in the world. Millions of life-giving sockeye and giant chinook swam upriver to spawn each year. The waterway’s headwaters are in British Columbia.
Project Auckland: The state of the city’s strengths today - Mark Thomas

Mar 20, 2024 | nzherald.co.nz | Mark G. Thomas

Auckland is back among the top 30 best student-friendly cities globally for the first time since 2019. Photo / Dean PurcellOPINION Auckland has internationally regarded natural assets and regularly exceeds visitor expectations. However, compared to peer cities around the world the city was assessed as mid-ranked, with challenges in its innovation ecosystem, skills supply, transport and economic growth.
City deals can drive Auckland to international levels

Dec 7, 2023 | newsroom.co.nz | Mark G. Thomas

Opinion: New Zealand’s towns and cities have long been calling for a better deal from their government. However, governments have regularly been unimpressed with councils as deal partners. The country’s poor infrastructure funding and delivery track record is at the heart of much of this, affecting climate resilience, housing, transport, water, and other urban issues.
Welsh Cladiators face a protracted fight for justice

Jul 4, 2023 | bylines.cymru | Mark G. Thomas

On 14 June of this year a small group of Welsh Cladiators assembled inside the Welsh Senedd reception area to remember the 72 victims and families of the horrific 2017 Grenfell tragedy. They were joined by a small group of supportive Senedd Members including Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds, Welsh Conservative housing lead Janet Finch Saunders, and independent MS Rhys ab Owen. Sadly and rather depressingly, no Welsh Labour MS attended the event.
Historic bomb shelter discovered at St Peter's School in Kettering gives a glimpse into the past

Jun 7, 2023 | northantstelegraph.co.uk | Mark G. Thomas

The shelter has been hidden for decades beneath overgrown vegetationAn astounding discovery has unfolded at St Peter's School in Kettering as a large World War II concrete Stanion bomb shelter was unearthed within the school grounds. The finding has ignited excitement and intrigue within the school community, captivating the imagination of students, staff and the local community.
Mark Thomas: Covering off Auckland’s future

May 4, 2023 | nzherald.co.nz | Mark G. Thomas

OpinionCovered stadiums such as Eden Park is proposing are uncommon internationally, although cities that Auckland looks to for inspiration such as Copenhagen, Melbourne and Vancouver do have them. What is common is a city successfully using a Commonwealth Games as a catalyst for significant infrastructure development, including new or redeveloped stadiums, new rail and other transport assets, and thousands of new homes.