New figures show the government has slashed resident visa numbers to the lowest seen in the last two decades. The decrease in resident numbers in the last year is largely because of delays in processing. “It’s not clear whether that is part of the way they’re bringing the numbers down because they have a target Read more
New Zealand
Orange Van: A shower and a chance to wash clothes
Monday, July 29th, 2019The van Orance Sky arrived in New Zealand in October 2018 from Australia. The van is fitted with a shower, two washing machines and a clothes dryer, and open to use for anyone living without these basic necessities. Orange Sky’works in Australia with 27 vehicles servicing 22 cities each week. Read more
Banned extremist preacher planning a trip to NZ
Thursday, July 25th, 2019
Steven Anderson, an extremist Christian preacher from the United States, is planning a visit to New Zealand. Anderson made headlines last month when he attended a ‘Make America Straight Again’ conference in Orlando, Florida. In his YouTube post, he said he now planned to conduct a soul-winning and preaching event in New Zealand. He just Read more
NZ researchers: Gender binary in sports has perhaps had its day
Thursday, July 25th, 2019
University of Otago researchers have concluded that existing gender categories in sport should perhaps be abandoned in favour of a more “nuanced” approach in the new transgender era. The authors are in favour of a radical change to what they describe as “the outdated structure of the gender division currently used in elite sport”. Associate Read more
Vatican just googled from the Bay of Plenty
Thursday, July 25th, 2019
Catholic Twitterers around the world have become increasingly curious about the author of the Twitter account Vatican Just Googled. The Catholic News Agency (CNA) says they have found him and he lives in New Zealand. CNA’s Joe Slama tweeted: “After months of mystery, the author of the account agreed to step out of the shadows Read more
Ministry of Health asks if posthumous reproduction is acceptable to Kiwis
Thursday, July 25th, 2019Opinions on whether genetic material from a dead partner could be used by their surviving partner to have a baby appear to be split as officials work to tidy up the law around the emerging issue. Two Kiwi women have so far turned to the courts to get permission to retrieve sperm from their partners. Read more
Trust established to support former Gloriavale members
Thursday, July 25th, 2019During the past six years about 70 former members of the Gloriavale community based at Haupiri, on the West Coast of the South Island, have resettled in South Canterbury, Liz Gregory says it’s now time to set up a trust to help support those who had made the “massive” decision to leave the community of Read more
Māori resolute in calls for total justice reform
Thursday, July 25th, 2019Māori have delivered a clear call for widespread justice sector reform, led by Māori, in the hopes this time the Government will listen. Laura Walters reports. A new report from justice hui representatives is resolute in its calls for total reform of the justice system, once and for all. Read more
All Black selection criteria should include moral values
Monday, July 22nd, 2019
A study from the University of Otago is calling for moral as well as social values to be considered in the rugby selection process. Associate professor Tania Cassidy and Otago graduate Ryan Rosevear say the focus of provincial unions is on player development but New Zealand Rugby (NZR) focuses primarily on improving performance. The study Read more
PM understands why massacre survivor thanked Trump
Monday, July 22nd, 2019
The prime minister of New Zealand says she is not surprised by the thanks and praise that a survivor of the terrorist attack on mosques in Christchurch offered President Trump. Farid Ahmed, who lost his wife in the shootings, was among 27 survivors of religious persecution from all over the world who met president Trump Read more