Independent Analysis and Reportage
Source: Radio New Zealand Replacing public servants with artificial intelligence could come with more costs, critics say. 123RF Replacing public servants with artificial intelligence could come with more costs that will eat into any savings, say critics. The government says the plan to cut another 8700 people sector jobs in about 40 core agencies will…
Source: Radio New Zealand Members of the KiwiHarvest Chef Collective: (from left) Peter Gordon, Brent Martin and Alfie Ingham. Supplied / KiwiHarvest Food charities warn the pressure on household budgets is now so dire it is no long a cost of living crisis – but the cost to survive. They are again asking government to…
Source: Radio New Zealand Health economists say the government will need to spend an additional $1.405 billion on health in Budget 2026 to maintain the country’s current level of service. Unsplash / RNZ Health economists say the government will need to spend an additional $1.405 billion on health in Budget 2026 if it is to…
Source: Radio New Zealand Construction business owners are feeling the pressure of market conditions most acutely. Supplied/ Unsplash – Josh Olalde Economic and political uncertainty is keeping businesses from taking advantage of near-term growth and investment opportunities, with some businesse leaders expecting to become financially insolvent over the next 12 months. A semi-annual Business Performance…
Source: Radio New Zealand Subversive art-pop group TISM has announced its first national headline tour in 30 years, after having caused nearly AU$19,000 (NZ$23,100) in damage to the Sydney Opera House. Known for anarchic live shows, TISM (short for This Is Serious Mum) trod the boards at the iconic Australian venue in mid-April for two…
Source: Radio New Zealand The bill is in the name of New Zealand First MP Jenny Marcroft. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Supporters of a bill seeking to legally define the terms “woman” and “man” say it is a matter of clarity, but opposition parties have described it as divisive and a “time warp”. The bill,…
Source: Radio New Zealand Chief executive of the New Zealand-owned recruitment agency Tribe, Bruce Pilbrow, says those whose jobs are affected might have to consider other industries. Supplied/AFP With almost 9000 public service jobs set to go, a recruitment expert says some workers will be forced into a career change. The government announced on Tuesday…
Source: Radio New Zealand The operating environment for tourism continues to shift, says Tourism Industry Aotearoa. 123rf The tourism industry will refresh its future strategy – released in 2023 – in response to the latest global tourism changes. Tourism 2050 serves as a vision statement for the industry. Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Rebecca Ingram…
Source: Radio New Zealand Christchurch buses carried 120,000 more passengers in April, compared to the year before. Supplied / Environment Canterbury Canterbury is asking the government for $5 million to improve public transport. Metro Christchurch saw a 10 percent increase in people using public transport in April, compared to the same month last year, with…
Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF A massive, co-ordinated effort to help more people into electric vehicles could reshape the country’s entire energy system, a new report says. EV advocacy group Drive Electric launched its ‘State of the Nation’ report at Parliament today, calling for consistent, cross-party policies to get more battery EVs and charging infrastructure…
Source: Radio New Zealand MPs Ricardo Menéndez March, left and Rachel Boyack, right, with Nithin Mankeel, whose five-year-old son is facing deportation. RNZ / Giles Dexter A petition with 13,000 signatures calling for an autistic 5-year-old to be allowed to stay in New Zealand has been presented to Parliament. Immigration NZ last year refused to…
Source: Radio New Zealand A century ago diphtheria was the biggest killer of children in New Zealand. AUBERT / BSIP / BSIP via AFP A disease which was once the biggest killer of children in New Zealand is having a resurgence in Australia. ABC News is reporting more than 220 cases of diphtheria in 2026,…