Joseph Cederwall: Ten reasons to have hope for a better Media in the future

Pay Equity Settlement: Affects 5000 Mental Health Support Workers

Health Minister Dr David Clark is pleased to announce an estimated 5,000 mental health and addiction support workers will soon receive the same pay rates as care and support workers. More>>

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• CTU - Government and unions right the wrong
• PSA - Mental health and addiction support workers get equal pay

DHBs: Nurses Plan Strike Action For Next Month

Nurses across the country have confirmed a notice of a 24-hour strike, starting on 5 July. District Health Boards (DHB) were working on contingency plans following a notice to strike by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation. More>>

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• DHBs - DHBs across the country prepare for industrial action
• Capital and Coast DHB - Planning in place for NZNO strike
• NZ College of Midwives - MERAS Lodges Pay Equity Claim

Oranga Tamariki: Children's Ministry Shifts Away From Putting Kids In Care

Children's Minister Tracey Martin is signalling a shift away from putting children into care, and towards intensive intervention in a child's home. More>>

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• RNZ - Oranga Tamariki apologises for TradeMe ad
• National - Minister needs to find best carers

But No Way To Tell Why: Significant Drop In HIV Diagnoses

A new report shows that for the first time since 2011, the number of annual HIV diagnoses in New Zealand has fallen. But without funding for a repeat of ongoing surveys to monitor changes in behaviour, testing and attitudes, health workers can’t be sure what’s driving the decrease. More>>

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• NZ Govt - Major reduction in numbers of people diagnosed with HIV
• Image University of Otago - Reduction in HIV diagnoses in New Zealand

On Her Majesty's Public Service: Inquiry Into Spying Claims Extended To All Govt Agencies

In March, State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes announced an inquiry after it was revealed the firm spied on Canterbury earthquake claimants for Southern Response. The inquiry was furthered widened to include the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, who had been spying on Greenpeace staff. More>>

ALSO:

• State Services Commission - External security consultants’ inquiry broadened
• Ministry of Primary Industries - MPI Statement on SSC inquiry

Housing: Foreign Buyer Ban Gets Smoother Edges

Amendments to the government’s foreign buyer ban, if introduced, would give overseas investors more leeway to put money into New Zealand housing developments. More>>

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• NZ Govt - Foreign buyer screening law reported back
• National - Overseas Investment Amendment a dog of a Bill
• ACT - Speaker rules out foreign buyer amendment
• REINZ - REINZ welcomes softened stance on Overseas Investment Bill
• RNZ - Cap gains would cut house prices, increase ownership - study
• NZ Property Investors Federation - The correct facts about tax and rental properties
• Trade Me Limited - Property prices chill in the Super City
• Colliers International - Residential property price increases expected

Te Kuha: Govt Declines Application To Mine Conservation Land

An application to mine coal on public conservation land near Te Kuha in the Buller District has been declined, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Minister of Energy Resources Megan Woods announced today. More>>

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• Forest And Bird - Conservation land saved from coal mine
• 350 Aotearoa - Coal Mining Rejection is a Win for People-Power
• Coal Action Network - Te Kuha protection a victory for the people, climate change
• NZ Energy and Environment Business Week - ‘Green’ mining encouraged, but barriers remain

Binoy Kampmark: The Catholic Church In Resistance

Legislators troubled by the enduring force and fascination with the seal of the confessional have gotten busy, most notably in Australia. This was prompted, in no small part, by the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. More>>

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• RNZ - Breaking confession seal may not help prevent abuse: bishops

Untruth-In-Packaging: Gordon Campbell On The Media’s Problem With The Trump Circus

After shredding America’s relationships with its traditional G-7 allies, US President Donald Trump is about to sit down to pursue a ‘no nukes for lifting economic sanctions’ deal with North Korea – ie the same trade-off that Barack Obama signed with Iran, and which Trump has just torn up More>>

ALSO:

• Image - Cartoons By Steve Bolton

Fake News and political establishment leading Colombia back to war

Scoop's Joseph Cederwall Updates: On June 17th Colombia votes in the final runoff round in one of its most pivotal and closely fought Presidential elections in decades. The two remaining candidates are starkly polarised, as are the potential outcomes for Colombia and the region ... More>>

ALSO:

• Steven Cohen - Why Colombia Keeps Electing Presidents Tied to Murderers | The New Republic

Gordon Campbell: On What We Can Expect From Talks With North Korea

Whatever happens, or if nothing happens, Trump is going to declare an amazing victory, so it might be useful to try and pre-empt the bullshit and establish what if anything, this meeting will actually deliver. More>>

ALSO:

• Image - Cartoons By Steve Bolton

"Systematic Murder": Complaint Filed To ICC Over Gaza Killings

Scoop's Alastair Thompson reports: Over the past four years Kiwi journalist, investigator and human rights activist Julie Webb Pullman has trained and coordinated funding to assemble teams to collect evidence, interview witnesses and properly document thousands of individual war crimes committed in the period since Operation Protective Edge (2014). More>>

Matariki: Wellington Starts Celebrations With ReCut 5

ReCut 5 opens the calendar of Matariki ki Poneke events with this free event for the whole family to enjoy – and the estimated 15,000 out-of-towners expected to visit the capital for Saturday’s All Blacks versus France rugby test. More>>

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• Te Papa - Te Papa wants Matariki celebrated as a national event
• Electoral Commission - Half way point for Māori Electoral Option
• AucklandNZ - Great Barrier Island to host its first star festival
• Wellington City Council - New name- Te Ngākau - for Wellington’s Civic Square - Matariki events shine across the Capital - Fire, fun and fireworks for Matariki ki Pōneke
• Porirua City Council - Miromoda set to shine for Matariki
• Kapiti Coast District Council - Matariki shines on the Kāpiti Coast
• Horowhenua District Council - Vibrant programme set to celebrate Puanga Matariki
• Whangarei District Council - Annie Crummer to headline Matariki Whanau Festival
• Wintec - Māori culture meets IT to tell waka story
• Ara Institute - Matariki Makes its Mark at Ara
• Chamber Music NZ - Matariki with the Music of Ngā Taonga Puoro