Gray on the failure of Health NZ and Māori Health Authority: “Well funded, well-intentioned, but poorly structured and executed”
Blogger and political commentator Haimona Gray critiques the failures of Health NZ and the Māori Health Authority: “The reality is we as a nation have spent billions to take our public health services backwards.” Gray writes: “Some will argue that the Māori Health Authority was not given enough time to prove its concept, but when you contrast both to the NZ Super Fund – which initially faced partisan push-back but also had a clear value proposition and is now highly regarded across the political spectrum – you see the seams.”
New Zealand universities consider free speech policies
New Zealand universities are increasingly considering standalone free speech policies, spurred by the University of Otago’s recent statement and an anticipated amendment to the Education and Training Act 2020.
The Free Speech Union has engaged with most universities, praising Otago’s policy as the “gold standard.”
Dr Robert W. Malone discusses the concept of surveillance capitalism: an economic system where companies like Google and Facebook exploit personal data to predict and influence human behaviour for economic and political gain. This is different from the traditional economic model where producing goods and services is the primary goal.
Eyes in the sky! How drones are revolutionising emergency response times but also privacy concerns
Drones are set to revolutionise emergency response times. They have proven to be faster than ambulances in arriving on the scene two-thirds of the time according to a Swedish study.
Programs like the one in Clemmons, North Carolina, are deploying drones to deliver automated external defibrillators (AEDs) ahead of ambulances.
US professor wins USD$2.4m settlement after DEI criticism
A professor at Bakersfield College in California has secured a USD$2.4m (NZD$4.1m) settlement after facing disciplinary action for questioning the use of grant funds for social justice initiatives. Matthew Garrett, formerly a tenured history professor, will receive monthly payments over the next 20 years and a one-time payment for back wages and medical benefits.
Why political donations in New Zealand have tripled
Political donations in New Zealand surged in 2023, with the six parties in Parliament raising almost $25m, nearly triple the amount declared in 2017. It’s not so much that the parties are getting more, but that new reporting rules require them to say more about what they’re getting.
Climate change or poor infrastructure to be blamed for Port Waikato coastal erosion?
Coastal erosion threatens Port Waikato homes and residences. Some say they’re ‘climate change refugees’, but others aren’t so sure.
Malcolm Beattie, president of Sunset Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, attributes the erosion to man-made interventions. “They should’ve let Mother Nature just be, as it was sand … we would never have these problems,” he told the media.
