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Boosting turnout at local elections
A plan to "refresh our local democracy" presents ideas for improving the poor voter turnout at local elections, including a return to polling booths.
Editorial
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Local government confusion
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Local government confusion
As we head towards local government elections, prospective candidates might be wondering what they could be letting themselves in for.
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The costs of keeping City Hall
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The costs of keeping City Hall
Anyone who has ever embarked on significant home renovations will know there are always two givens — it always takes longer and it always ends up costing more, than initially expected.
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Undetermined and undermined
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Undetermined and undermined
What a mess. The years of disruption and uncertainty in the polytechnic and vocational education sector have continued unabated.
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Health service hopes
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Health service hopes
Those who have been agitating for better health services for Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago believe they may finally be getting some traction.
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The cruellest side of nature
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The cruellest side of nature
Once would be bad enough.
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Home and away as Aust beckons
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Home and away as Aust beckons
Although the outpouring of people from New Zealand to Australia is nothing new, this does not make it any less concerning.
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If it ain’t broke ...
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If it ain’t broke ...
Decisions about health services which have an impact on vulnerable people must always consider much more than the immediate bottom line.
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Extinction may be no moa?
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Extinction may be no moa?
Most of us have lost someone dear.
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Stopping fraudsters worthy investment
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Stopping fraudsters worthy investment
Sadly, throughout history, whenever value has been ascribed to anything crime has soon followed.
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FamilyBoost Fizzer
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FamilyBoost Fizzer
Changes to the early childhood education FamilyBoost package announced this week cannot disguise the fact this National flagship policy has been a fizzer.
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The stuff of nightmares
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The stuff of nightmares
Warnings about picking and eating unknown fungi are handed down by many parents to children at an early age, along with other important life lessons.
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NZ heads to infinity and beyond
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NZ heads to infinity and beyond
It was difficult not to stifle a snort of derision when the government announced last week that New Zealand was about to set up a dedicated "space unit".
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Signs of life on rebuild
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Signs of life on rebuild
The Health Minister roaming about the new Dunedin hospital site last week may have been little more than a public relations exercise, but it was welcome all the same.
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A sad sign of the times
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A sad sign of the times
It's a perennial question which becomes even more insistent at this stage of the three-year cycle: Why would anyone want to be a local body councillor?
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The deal and the art
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The deal and the art
The great business sage Donald J Trump, in his classic The Art Of The Deal, wrote: ‘I always go into a deal anticipating the worst. If you plan for the worst — if you can live with the worst —...
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Less of the bombast, please
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Less of the bombast, please
Comprehensive evaluation of how local government is organised and the role it plays may be necessary, but getting a rational debate on it will be difficult.
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Fearing the next big rain
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Fearing the next big rain
The clouds gathered late last week, looming and lowering above Dunedin.
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Not ducking the punches
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Not ducking the punches
It has been 14 long years, but something akin to progress has finally been made in the wake of the death of Steve Radnoty.
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Faster treatment not always fairest
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Faster treatment not always fairest
Anyone who has struggled to get elective surgery will not be surprised a report from the Auditor-general shows the post code lottery in healthcare is in better shape than they are.