Russell Palmer

New Zealand, Wellington

Digital Political Journalist at Radio New Zealand (RNZ)

https://t.co/VkDCKTYxfk website tweaker. Views my own and probably wrong.

Articles

Energy and shipping decisions needed before meatworks - Chatham Islands mayor

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Russell Palmer

The Chatham Islands are welcoming attention from the government, but say energy and shipping decisions are needed before a meatworks supported by the government can proceed. Those concerns will pose a challenge to the relatively rapid timeframe Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has set for funding decisions. Jones took a delegation of more than 70 people to New Zealand's most isolated community on Wednesday, making use of the Defence Force's new C-130J Hercules delivered in September.
Energy and shipping decisions needed before meatworks - Chatham Islands mayor

1 week ago | radionz.co.nz | Russell Palmer

The Chatham Islands are welcoming attention from the government, but say energy and shipping decisions are needed before a meatworks supported by the government can proceed. Those concerns will pose a challenge to the relatively rapid timeframe Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has set for funding decisions. Jones took a delegation of more than 70 people to New Zealand's most isolated community on Wednesday, making use of the Defence Force's new C-130J Hercules delivered in September.
Violent crime data raises more questions than answers - Labour

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Russell Palmer |Lillian Hanly

The Ministry of Justice has released the data confirming the government's claim it met its target to reduce the number of violent crime victims by 20,000 by 2029. The government held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon without the data to back it up - until the Ministry released it later that night. But there are concerns around the reporting of the data, and Labour says the government has decided it has a "narrative on law and order", and it's "looking for data to fit that narrative".
Consultation starts on new draft sex education guidelines

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Russell Palmer

The government has started consulting on draft new relationships and sexuality education (RSE) guidelines for schools. Winston Peters called the previous guidelines, which had now been removed, "woke" and "out of touch". They offered guidance for teaching different age groups about consensual relationships, online bullying, sexualities, gender identities, and pornography, but were scrapped last June under the National and New Zealand First coalition deal.
Winston Peters Declines Benjamin Doyle’s Invitation To Speak Directly

2 weeks ago | business.scoop.co.nz | Russell Palmer

Article – RNZThe New Zealand First leader instead suggested the Green MP should speak to police about their private social media posts.Russell Palmer, Political ReporterWinston Peters is refusing to give up the fight after asking questions about Green MP Benjamin Doyle, who in turn is refusing to “be disappeared by hate”. Doyle broke their silence on Tuesday, saying they had received hundreds of threats, including death threats, against them and their child over recent weeks.
Winston Peters declines Benjamin Doyle's invitation to speak directly

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Russell Palmer

Winston Peters is refusing to give up the fight after asking questions about Green MP Benjamin Doyle, who in turn is refusing to "be disappeared by hate". Doyle broke their silence on Tuesday, saying they had received hundreds of threats, including death threats, against them and their child over recent weeks. The threats are over images shared on social media under Doyle's private account named "BibleBeltBussy" from before they entered Parliament in October.
'We are now in the grips of this tariff war'

2 weeks ago | sunlive.co.nz | Russell Palmer

With China and the US promising trade war escalations, it could be five to 10 years before the world adjusts to Donald Trump's tariffs, former Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell says. Other economists have drawn parallels with the Great Depression, and say New Zealand should be preparing now for a downturn. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to increase China's tariffs to 104 percent if it fails to back down from its own retaliatory tariffs.
'We are now in the grips of this tariff war' - economists warn of second-order effects

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Russell Palmer

With China and the US promising trade war escalations, it could be five to 10 years before the world adjusts to Donald Trump's tariffs, former Reserve Bank governor Michael Reddell says. Other economists have drawn parallels with the Great Depression, and say New Zealand should be preparing now for a downturn. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to increase China's tariffs to 104 percent if it fails to back down from its own retaliatory tariffs.
Waikato medical school needs to go back to tender process - Greens

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Russell Palmer

The Greens are urging the government to go back and carry out a competitive tender process as Cabinet considers whether to push ahead with a new Waikato medical school. National campaigned on building a third medical school at Waikato University. The idea is not popular with Auckland and Otago Universities, which argue it is unnecessary and that they can provide medical school placements without the cost of setting up a separate school.
Govt says first quarterly action plan on track - second may surprise

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Russell Palmer

The government says it has achieved 37 out of 40 items on its quarterly action plan - and its next one has a few new goals and milestones that may surprise.