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1 week ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
Minister of RMA reform Chris Bishop has responded to Christchurch City Council’s alternative proposals around its district plan. His decisions have consequences for transport and house prices as the southern city grows. Where will future housing growth in Christchurch go? Will new houses be built on the outskirts of the city, or close to the centre? A decision by RMA reform minister Chris Bishop made earlier this month goes some way to answering these questions.
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3 weeks ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
Aiming to be an urbanist voice for Christchurch, Greater Ōtautahi formed last year to advocate for more public transport and affordable housing. Shanti Mathias attends a meet-up. It’s a sunny afternoon in the new Christchurch, and the third spaces are bustling. People cross Cathedral Square, passing all the scaffolding. Someone walks past with an immaculately groomed poodle, skirting around three greyhounds on leashes going in the other direction.
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3 weeks ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
A group of scientists from around the world is urging the New Zealand government to ignore a methane report it commissioned that ‘redefines the goal of climate action’. Shanti Mathias explains. I hear there’s an open letter. What’s that about? Twenty-six climate scientists have signed an open letter urging the government not to adopt a standard that would limit the amount of methane reduction New Zealand needs to achieve to reach its climate target.
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1 month ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
In the lead-up to the local elections, a new programme aims to diversify the pool of potential candidates and educate them on how to run more effective campaigns. Shanti Mathias reports. Local government has a representation problem: the candidates who run tend to be older, Pākehā homeowners who don’t necessarily reflect the communities they are responsible for.
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1 month ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
A review of the NZSO’s latest concert series, performed in Wellington and Christchurch and featuring soloist Amalia Hall. Like many orchestras, the NZSO likes to pair big name composers, like Dvořák and Bartók, with shorter pieces. The concert began with New Zealand composer Douglas Lilburn’s Aotearoa overture.
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1 month ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
MPI has proposed an increase to the amount of glyphosate allowed to be left on New Zealand wheat, barley and oats. What does this mean, and how could it impact human health and New Zealand’s exports? What is glyphosate? Glyphosate is a herbicide, often sold under the brand name “Roundup” and used to kill weeds. It can be sprayed onto plant leaves, where it will be absorbed into the leaves. It moves into the plant’s roots, where it prevents the plant from absorbing nutrients from the soil.
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1 month ago | 
theguardian.com | Shanti Mathias
Roger Beattie was diving off the Chatham Islands, about 800km east of New Zealand, when he saw his first pāua pearl. Beattie was familiar with pāua, the Māori word for abalone, and their iridescent shells of shimmering purples and greens. But the pearl that had formed inside was unlike anything he had ever seen, gleaming with layers of the pāua’s natural colours. “I just thought ‘heck, that would make amazing jewellery,’” Beattie says.
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1 month ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
A new game from NIWA uses research into flooding and economics to play out a version of our climate changed future. Only 3.2% of The Spinoff’s readership supports us financially. We need to grow that to 4% this year to keep creating the work you love. Sign up to be a member today. As the climate warms, the chance of severe floods or storm surges increases. It’s like rolling a dice, where the dice is increasingly weighted to water sloshing through gardens, into houses and over farms.
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1 month ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
With the cable that links New Zealand’s islands together electrically due for replacement, and our electricity needs expected to grow enormously, Shanti Mathias explores the major shift under way in how we generate it. Only 3.2% of The Spinoff’s readership supports us financially. We need to grow that to 4% this year to keep creating the work you love. Sign up to be a member today. Each day, a service vital to New Zealanders traverses Cook Strait carrying essential supplies.
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1 month ago | 
thespinoff.co.nz | Shanti Mathias
Last year, bike racks on buses were suddenly put out of action due to a newly discovered compliance issue. Was it a ‘knee-jerk reaction’ rooted in overregulation, and why did it take months to resolve? Shanti Mathias reports. Putting bikes on the bus is a good way to encourage people to ride: it means that if it starts raining, or if you have a mechanical issue and can’t fix it where you are, it’s easier to get back home.
