Tobacco firms are succeeding in reversing anti-smoking policies by forming comfortable relationships with politicians, according to Professor Peter Adams from the University of Auckland School of Population Health.
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The New Zealand economy is gradually improving, helped by strong migration and increased consumer spending, according to the ASB Quarterly Economic Forecast.
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The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) will trial an unmanned surface vessel (USV) on a short-term lease from Sydney-based Ocius Technology, which designed the 6.8-metre Bluebottle.
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A partnership of aviation companies has successfully completed test flights in New Zealand of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying beyond visual line of sight in controlled airspace.
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New Zealand's Ted Manson Foundation, in conjunction with HelpAtHand and Family Success Matters, is expanding its family violence prevention programme in South Auckland, an area that sees police attend an incident of family or sexual violence every four minutes.
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Protests are set to take place across New Zealand this morning, organised by Te Pati Māori.
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To address issues with New Zealand's health system, the Digital Health Association has urged the government to establish a Digital Health Agency, arguing that digital health technologies could reduce costs, improve healthcare outcomes and tackle workforce challenges.
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The act, which had been introduced to protect future generations from tobacco addiction, is set to be repealed despite around 8% of New Zealand adults being daily smokers, among whom Māori and Pacific people are twice as likely to smoke compared to other demographics.
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New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science (NZDSOS) has responded to the Ministry of Health (MoH) data release, following a data leak by a whistleblower that suggested the government was aware of excessive deaths occurring among those who had received the Covid-19 vaccine.
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In the wake of the recent election in New Zealand which has resulted in a change of government, campaigners for the country to become a republic have called for the oath sworn by members of parliament to be changed, citing its colonial origins and the fact that it intrudes on New Zealand's democracy.
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New Zealand's University of Canterbury has developed an app to help identify and report on invasive species that threaten the country's flora and fauna.
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According to recent data from Stats NZ, travel has overtaken transportation to become New Zealand's largest service import and export. In the September 2023 quarter, travel imports totalled $1.96bn, while exports reached $2.48bn, marking a significant rise from $1.65bn and $2.43bn respectively in the June 2023 quarter. The value of travel imports has now returned to pre-Covid levels demonstrating that the sector has recovered from the impact of the pandemic. International events, such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, are thought to have been a factor in the increase. However, overall trade with China has been down in the quarter, with exports declining by $893m to $4.19bn, and imports falling by $802m to $4.52bn.
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The New Zealand Earthquake Commission (EQC) has awarded more than $1.2m in grants to support 14 research projects aimed at improving the understanding of natural hazard risks in the country. The biennial grants are awarded to projects aligned with the EQC's research investment priorities, including research that empowers people, quantifies hazards and their impacts, looks at smarter land use, governance and economics, and resilient buildings. The projects cover a range of hazards from volcanoes to landslides and will help to reduce the impact of natural hazard events on people and property. Some of the research projects include examining the history of volcanic activity in the vicinity of Aotearoa's supervolcano, coastal inundation losses on Māori assets, and the insurance settlement experiences of those affected by the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.
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Knowledge workers are increasingly at threat of replacement by AI, according to analysts. While manufacturing and blue-collar roles were seen as most vulnerable to automation, AI is now encroaching on white-collar roles too. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT could boost global GDP by 7% but replace 300m workers. One start-up, Artisan AI, is launching an AI colleague called 'Ava' to automate sales roles. Artisan AI has already raised $2m in funding. Experts say AI will increase business output, productivity and revenue, but the human toll could be job losses. Policymakers are playing catch-up to manage the economic effects of AI on jobs. It is down to society to decide whether white-collar roles are diminished by AI, and workers must have a say in its implementation, says one expert.
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A new report on arts coverage in New Zealand, entitled New Mirrors, has found that the local arts sector is under-resourced and under-valued. Compounding the issue, the decline in arts critics is creating a void where reviews of arts events are concerned, leaving artists without feedback or opportunities to build new audiences, and facing difficulties when applying for future funding. In addition, the report has found that only 3.2% of media coverage in New Zealand pertains to art forms outside of film, music and TV, despite 13.5% of all coverage being arts-focused. This compares poorly to the coverage of sport, which accounts for 25% of all coverage. The report has called for a dedicated fund for arts and culture media projects, along with the creation of an Arts Media Centre to facilitate better relationships between artists and the media.
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The cancellation of the $16bn Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme in New Zealand may boost investor confidence in the country's energy sector, according to Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie. Lake Onslow had cast a shadow over investment in natural gas, renewable gases and renewable electricity generation, he said. However, the scrapped project may now allow investors to diversify fuel sources and build a more resilient energy system, including fast-start gas peakers, necessary to balance the grid as renewable energy capacity grows.
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A whistleblower from within New Zealand's Ministry of Health has leaked data appearing to show a link between the Covid vaccine and deaths, although the ministry has labelled the information as misinformation and the police have been called in. While experts are yet to verify the findings, the incident has sparked concern over government transparency on vaccine safety. New Zealand has witnessed record high rates of hospitalisation and deaths since the vaccine rollout, yet government officials and medical professionals have largely avoided discussing these figures, instead insisting that the jabs are safe. With many now concerned that the incoming government will follow suit in burying its head in the sand on this issue, activists are urging whistleblowers in New Zealand and elsewhere to come forward with information.
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