Recent Items
Your voice, our community.
Share your favourite places.
Share a great service with your neighbours.
Discuss local and national issues or create a new one. It will help you make informed choices which is better for you and the community. We want to know what you think. Some say it's even good for your health.
Create your own on-line collaborative community for your neighbourhood, club or school.
Recent Issues
Should alcohol be further regulated ?
Alcohol had already become a prominent New Zealand issue even before James Webster's tragic death.
There is no question that New Zealand has an entrenched drinking culture as do many countries. For New Zealand the problem has arguably worsened, particularly for young adults
…
Who should fund rail electrification and new electric trains ?
Both Auckland and Wellington are shopping for new electric trains. The Wellington trains are to be initially funded by the government, or the New Zealand tax payer, while the Auckland trains are expected to be funded by Auckland rate payers. Initially the ARC was planning to fund the tra
…
Do excise taxes provide the social benefits they promise ?
The excise tax on cigarettes has just increases by 10% increasing the tax take by $200 million dollars over the estimated $1 billion already collected.
The revenue from excise tax already covers medical costs to society and the increased revenue is expected to fund programmes to help people quit.
…
DRIP - a storm in a teacup, Pandora's box or foundation document
New Zealand has signed up to DRIP, The United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People.
John Key assures critics that the declaration is symbolic only implying that either it has no power to, or will not, influence New Zealand policy.
The aspirations of the declaration are to seek separa
…
Pig welfare
Mahatma Ghandi said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
In respect to animals New Zealand has a dubious record with laws protecting animals from the public but few or weak laws to insure humane farming practices. One issue is th
…
Should killing whales be legitimized to save whales ?
Whaling is a complex issue with conflicting commercial, moral, conservation and cultural dimensions. Governments juggle local votes and international relations.
The IWC (International Waling Commission) is charged with conserving whales however its power is marginal as members can choose to opt out
…
Should junk food have a health warning ?
There is no doubt that junk food feeds a world wide obesity problem including New Zealand's.
A new Zealand health survey found that one in five children were over weight and 41.7% of maori were obese. Obesity causes diabetes, impacting 1 in 5 of all adults, and heart disease. Ministry of Heal
…
Should the 'Claim of Right' law be reviewed
Ploughshares activists Adrian Leason, Peter Murnane and Sam Land were acquitted of their actions against the Waihopi Spy base on the basis that theye believed they were acting in the interests of humanity.
Many people have condemned their defense, as well as their actions, as potentially opening th
…
How do we balance the competing demands on our river systems ?
New Zealand is a country very much dependent on its rivers. Our rivers provide our main source of energy for power, water for food and industry, irrigation for agriculture, sustain our fresh water fisheries and support tourism and recreation.
Competition for limited river resources is increas
…
Should offshore companies be allowed to buy New Zealand land and farms ?
Hong Kong-listed Natural Dairy (NZ) Holdings is seeking approval from the 'Overseas Investment Office' to buy Crafar family farms - the country's largest privately owned dairy farming business.
One argument is that this should not be blocked and that the sale would be consistent with New Zeala
…
Recently added
The problem is exacerbated by too much regulation in other areas
issues - response
As a society we have outlawed almost every kind of drug already. For example marijuana, which is decriminalized in many
…
SHOWSTREET as a travel guide website
ideas
SHOWSTREET provides a fantastic travel information.
Have a look at www.showstreet.co.nz and see what this website can d
…
Returning the Urewa national park to Tohoe as a precedent
discussion
Prime Minister John Key rejected returning Te Urewa National Park to Tohoe on the grounds that it could set a precedent
…
Should alcohol be further regulated ?
issues
Alcohol had already become a prominent New Zealand issue even before James Webster's tragic death.
There is no question
…
If Wellington is funded by the taxpayer then Auckland should be too
issues - response
Wellington gets all sorts of perks as a city because it is the home of the beehive. All those public servants are workin
…
passive smoking makes smoking different from other health issues
issues - response
The idea of passive smoking has been a real boon for anti-smoking lobbyists.
It would be interesting to see the evidenc
…
Prudent to carry out due diligence on oil rig safety
news and opinion
I think we need to remember that [offshore drilling] has been going on for at least 50 years, and it has been going on
…
Solid Energy Half Marathon
events
See Huntly from the entirely new perspective of a run/walk course offering both variety and challenge. Introduced in 200
…
Public should be doing more to manage petty crime and traffic offencers
ideas
One of the reasons Australia has a much lower road toll than New Zealand is the effort their police go to to catch offen
…
report item
login to comment
Hello
'guest'
