The Conversation - Latest News [Page 2]
Cheaper food comes with other costs – why cutting GST isn't the answer
Wednesday, 20 April 2022, 12:44 pm | The Conversation
Ending GST on some foods is being touted as a way to reduce food poverty. But cheap food comes with a high environmental and health cost. Is there a way to value food but reduce hardship? More >>
How protesters demanding ‘freedom’ from COVID restrictions ignore the way liberty really works
Wednesday, 9 March 2022, 8:59 am | The Conversation
There is a difference between ‘negative liberty’ and ‘positive liberty’. Real freedom involves unavoidable trade-offs between the two. More >>
How will NZ's law targeting sanctions against Russia work – and what are the risks?
Wednesday, 9 March 2022, 8:57 am | The Conversation
The scope of a new law targeting sanctions at Russia will need to be clear on many critical issues, including military aid to Ukraine. More >>
No, catching Omicron is not 'inevitable' – here's why we should all still avoid the virus
Wednesday, 9 March 2022, 8:49 am | The Conversation
As Omicron cases soar in New Zealand, most people can still avoid getting infected. Even if you share a household with an infected person, catching the virus is not at all inevitable. More >>
The Wellington protest is testing police independence and public tolerance – are there lessons from Canada’s crackdown?
Monday, 21 February 2022, 4:43 pm | The Conversation
The de-escalation strategy of Canadian police didn’t shift the protesters in Ottawa. With public confidence in the New Zealand police on the line, the political ramifications are serious. More >>
New Zealand is reviewing its outdated conservation laws. Here's why we must find better ways of getting people on board
Wednesday, 16 February 2022, 9:42 am | The Conversation
Conservation efforts can result in conflict between different interest groups, but outcomes could improve if we allowed a greater degree of public participation, beyond mere consultation. More >>
The occupation of NZ’s parliament grounds is a tactical challenge for police, but mass arrests are not an option
Wednesday, 16 February 2022, 9:11 am | The Conversation
With the occupation of parliament grounds entering its second week, police walk a thin blue line between enforcing the law and not inflaming the situation. More >>
Inflation is raising prices and reducing real wages – what should be done to support NZ’s low-income households?
Wednesday, 2 February 2022, 12:07 pm | The Conversation
As inflation bites, targeted relief for those most affected by the rising cost of living would be the best short-term option. More >>
The most challenging phase of the Omicron outbreak is yet to come, but NZ may be better prepared than other countries
Wednesday, 2 February 2022, 12:04 pm | The Conversation
New Zealand has managed to stamp out onward transmission of the Delta variant, which means it’s not dealing with a “double epidemic” and has a better chance to tackle Omicron’s spread. More >>
Are New Zealand’s Universities Doing Enough To Define The Limits Of Academic Freedom?
Wednesday, 24 November 2021, 9:46 am | The Conversation
The news last week that University of Auckland public health researcher Simon Thornley was retracting a co-authored paper about supposed vaccination risks during pregnancy raised deeper questions about the limits of academic freedom. More >>
Old wine in new bottles – why the NZ-UK free trade agreement fails to confront the challenges of a post-COVID world
Wednesday, 27 October 2021, 11:03 am | The Conversation
New Zealanders won’t see the full text of the UK free trade agreement until it is signed, meaning it will proceed without open public debate – despite locking in constraints on future governments. More >>
Beyond Zoom, Teams and video lectures — what do university students really want from online learning?
Monday, 4 October 2021, 10:31 am | The Conversation
Research is now showing what works — and what doesn’t — for students forced online by the pandemic. Better course design should be the next step. More >>
ANZUS without NZ? Why the new security pact between Australia, the UK and US might not be all it seems
Wednesday, 22 September 2021, 1:45 pm | The Conversation
PR exercise, elaborate purchasing agreement or genuine security pact? The new AUKUS agreement raises plenty of questions about why New Zealand missed out. More >>
New Zealand needs to go beyond fast-tracking counter-terrorism laws to reduce the risk of future attacks
Monday, 6 September 2021, 4:36 pm | The Conversation
New Zealand’s second terrorist attack in two years highlights weaknesses in existing counter-terrorism laws in preventing violent extremism. Beyond fast-tracking changes to terrorism suppression laws, there are still other areas of law and policy in New ... More >>
To get New Zealanders out of their cars we’ll need to start charging the true cost of driving
Wednesday, 18 August 2021, 10:08 am | The Conversation
In light of last week’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report confirming human activity is “unequivocally” driving global warming, here’s a striking statistic: in Auckland, road transport modes are responsible for 35% of the city’s ... More >>
As New Zealand mobilises to help in Afghanistan, its rescue response faces serious challenges
Wednesday, 18 August 2021, 10:05 am | The Conversation
The question of whether New Zealand accepts some moral responsibility to help Afghans who worked with its armed forces has now been answered . But another question remains: will high ideals be brought to earth by political and practical obstacles? To its ... More >>
The global water cycle has become more intense, and that makes New Zealand's wet regions wetter, and dry ones drier
Wednesday, 11 August 2021, 9:40 am | The Conversation
New Zealand’s climate has been changing in line with global trends over the last century, warming by 1.1. But unless we curb emissions fast, we can brace for more extreme downpours and droughts. More >>
Tuatara are ancient, slow and endangered. But their super speedy sperm could boost conservation efforts
Wednesday, 4 August 2021, 10:32 am | The Conversation
The male anatomy of tuatara, the last representatives of an ancient lineage, is unique among reptiles. They lack a penis, which has made sperm collection a major challenge – until now. More >>
Aggressive Marketing Has Driven The Rise Of The Double-cab Ute On New Zealand Streets — Time To Hit The Brakes?
Wednesday, 28 July 2021, 10:31 am | The Conversation
“Explore your inner beast.” That was the slogan used last year to sell the Ford Ranger. At 2.4 tonnes, that’s a lot of “light” truck, but the stakes are rising. This year, the 3.5 tonne Ram 1500 “eats utes for breakfast”. More >>
Climate Explained: Is New Zealand Losing Or Gaining Native Forests?
Wednesday, 14 July 2021, 10:14 am | The Conversation
Shutterstock/riekephotos Sebastian Leuzinger , Auckland University of Technology More >>