In today’s NZ Herald

Smallest company looks to build biggest dammed hydro lake NZ has seen Ex-minister David Parker, electricity sector leader Keith Turner and acting Reserve Bank chair Rodger Finlay go where the Govt feared to tread: they want to finance and fast-track the multi-billion-do...

This is great news.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/24/s... #nzpol #cleanenergy

‘The benefits are huge’: $18b Northland Expressway set to transform road travel Labour Day traffic showed how travel times could be reduced with the new corridor.

So we can afford $18bn for roads but we can't afford Health care.
www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-adv...

If we build healthy soil, the rest will take care of itself.

Donald Trump’s approval rating Follow our presidential approval rating poll tracker to see how favourably Americans view Mr Trump

Presidents’ popularity tends to wane. In his second term Donald Trump’s has fallen faster than that of his recent predecessors, as our tracker shows

Ethical investing will soon become harder. Could you invest in dirty business by accident? We are often told to make informed decisions when investing. But what happens when it becomes difficult to find the information we need to make them? Damien Venuto looks into proposed legislative chan...

I thought our Government believed in transparency!
www.stuff.co.nz/money/360870... #nzpol

I agree. Sadly people switch off though to deeper levels of thought. We need to keep our messages simple to get through to the masses.

Gates is right to highlight the issue of poverty and disease. A pity that this isn't the headline. #worldpoverty #nzpol
www.thepost.co.nz/a/world-news...

It did help prepare him for Uni, but he only survived because of Art.

I visit Primary schools in NZ. They are way better than the UK in building character and should be cherished. Kids learn to cooperate, value tolerance, and have a positive and inquisitive mindset. It is great to see them learning local history and they embrace Te Reo. They are distinctly Kiwi.

I do think that the secondary system needs reform in NZ. Students do thrive on the challenge of exams, but they must be balanced with assessments over the year.

However, there was way too much content, and if he hadn't been doing Art, I don't think he would have coped as well. Art was so good for his mental health. As a teacher, I was forced to teach to the exam. It was stressful and sucked all the enjoyment out of teaching.

I was a secondary school teacher in the UK for 30 years. My very dyslexic son was the first to experience the new exam systems, where they scrapped coursework for most subjects, and results were solely on exams. My son survived and actually did quite well.

A comparison of the 2023 Curriculum Refresh written, consulted and tripled by education academis, researchers and teachers at the chalkface
V
THE 2025 abomination of a Curriculum written by a narrow group with a political agenda not fit for the NZ schooling system, students, teachers or society.

This is blatant political interference in rge New Zealand Curriculum that shouldn't be tolerated.
Education professionals should be deciding what is in the NZ Curriculum, not politicians from 8% parties pandering to the worst of NZ society to the detriment of our students.

Austerity did not bring prosperity to the UK

Alice Soper: How NZ Rugby’s top-heavy plan could topple the women’s game OPINION: Aupiki’s new timing clashes with NRLW, leaving many players out of pocket.

If my male whanau and friends are anything to go by, womens rugby is now appealing to the masses. It is depressing that those in power are yet again letting our wonderful talent down. www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/... #womensrugby, #blackferns, #alicesoper

This is shocking. Is it worse in Wellington or all over the country?

A rushed new maths curriculum doesn’t add up. The right answer is more time The third maths and stats curriculum for primary and intermediate schools in less than three years is being introduced on an unrealistic timeline.

Remember how much Labour was critised for not listening. This Government is way worse. Many schools face teacher shortages.
theconversation.com/a-rushed-new....

Ahhh. That makes sense. We are getting more of them coming to NZ now.

What are snowbirds?

Climate change not only costs billions in road repairs, flood damage, insurance premiums etc, it also has a huge impact on our way of life and professional sport. Keep reminding your neighbour's and MPs about the consequences of ignoring it. #nzpol #climatechange.
www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

The Good Guys: Marilyn Waring The National MP with the Power to Bring Down Governments

If only Marilyn Waring was younger and she was leading the Labour Party. #nzpol
annie354654.substack.com/p/the-good-g...

Most countries have a capital gains tax, so it doesn't solve the problem of inequality. However, it is fair that windfall should be taxed, but I would have set it at the GST rate to ease the resistance.

While we’re on the subject of Ronald Reagan.

The new Lily Allen album is absolutely magnificent. It’s impossible to exaggerate her influence over so many modern artistes and ‘West End Girl’ shows why. But my goodness it’s brutal. Tunes like nursery rhymes, lyrics like razor blades.

My initial thoughts are that it's an improvement, but I take your point about the Farrah Cup. I am delighted to see that Lalya Sae and Liana Mikaele-Tu are going to Harlequins ( even though as a Sarries supporter, I hate them) on a short term contract. A great experience for our forwards.

Where is the away global series being played? I would love to Jorga Miller and Co play in it. Do you think that is realistic?

How are they going to pay for repairing roads severely damaged by climate change?

No matter how many drug boats are blown up, drug smuggling is not going to disappear. On the contrary, it is probably coming to a port near you. We explain why econ.st/470OVYn

Photo: AP