The Friday Poem: ‘My grief is like a never-ending anticipation of impending dooms’

A new poem by Ted Greensmith-West. My grief is like a never-ending anticipation of impending dooms The dark hand that lurks behind the curtain is like Dorothy in photonegative with snarled teeth and pigtails… and acts as the constant reminder that Cole is dead forever now, like dust. // The chance of falling in love … Read more

Figure for Wellington Water losses ‘does not exist’ – Acting chair

https://www.effectiveratecpm.com/xdvtd6yxqb?key=9554404018c26e6f076623874c1aa864 Acting chair of the Wellington Water Committee Ros Connelly. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker The acting chair of the Wellington Water Committee says uncovering the extent of money lost in the agency’s contracting and consulting process is “onerous” and will hamper critical work Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy says an assurance of high level … Read more

Schools ‘in limbo’ after removal of relationship and sexuality guidelines

Ditching the ‘woke’ guidelines was in the NZ First coalition agreement so not unexpected, but the lack of any replacement has teachers and health advocates concerned. The Ministry of Education has removed relationship and sexuality teaching guidelines, with no replacement in sight – a move that has been labelled a “huge step backwards” that “sends … Read more

What Trump’s trade war could mean for New Zealand

In pursuit of ‘fairness’ for the US, the president could send his country into recession – and throw New Zealand’s hoped-for recovery into reverse, writes Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A new salvo in Trump’s trade war President Donald Trump ratcheted up … Read more

‘I don’t think he’s a nice person’: Whanau hits back at Luxon’s ‘lame-o’ comment

The Wellington mayor is sick of being the government’s punching bag. Tory Whanau has criticised prime minister Chris Luxon’s character in an interview with The Spinoff, saying, “I don’t think he’s a nice person”. It comes after Luxon called Wellington’s councils “pretty lame-o” for not submitting a proposal for a regional deal, which could offer … Read more