Broadcaster Ryan Bridge attributes blame not just to the Labour government but also to media sensationalism, social media pressures, and blind support for lockdown policies. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

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COVID inquiry is a verdict of overreach and broken trust

Ryan Bridge of Newstalk ZB didn’t mince words about New Zealand’s Phase 1 COVID inquiry report, calling it “guilty, your honour.”

“Trust in our institutions is shot,” Bridge claims, pointing to a broken public discourse where opposing voices were drowned out. His critique paints a picture of a society polarised by lockdowns, mandates, and a “single podium of truth.”

01 December 2024

Autopilot left on due to ‘human error’ leading to HMNZS Manawanui sinking

The sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui, which hit a reef off the coast of Samoa, has been attributed to “a series of human errors,” according to an interim Court of Inquiry report.

Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding admits the auto-pilot should have been switched off resulting in the crew being unable to change the ship's direction. They failed to verify manual control status mistakenly believing a thruster control failure was to blame.

01 December 2024

Indoctrination or education? Anonymous donor gifts partisan Te Tiriti handbook to all NZ high schools

An anonymous act of generosity is bringing Understanding Te Tiriti – A Handbook of Basic Facts by lawyer Roimata Smail to every high school in New Zealand.

Smail shared, “It is my hope… that all high school students will get an opportunity to know what it took me 20 years to learn.” The donor, inspired by a presentation at Ponsonby’s Women’s Bookshop, decided to fund the nationwide distribution.

01 December 2024

TikTok restricts beauty filters for teens to tackle mental health concerns

TikTok is restricting beauty filters for users under 18 after a report revealed their impact on teen mental health. These filters are used to enhance or alter a person’s appearance in photos and videos.

Christine Grahn, TikTok’s head of public policy in Europe, announced the changes on 26 November, citing findings from Internet Matters, a UK non-profit. “The report identified new insights about teens’ use of effects and the impact this has on their sense of self,” Grahn said.

01 December 2024

Court of Appeal slams SFO ‘unnecessary, unreasonable and oppressive’ methods

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) faces criticism from the Court of Appeal for its misuse of powers in fraud investigations.

These findings caused the collapse of a high-profile fraud case against Māori trust chair Roger Pikia, which spanned nearly a decade.

Judges found the SFO’s data collection methods—targeting individuals, businesses, and even political figures—unlawful, calling them “unnecessary, unreasonable and oppressive.” The concerns put the future of its prosecutions in doubt.

01 December 2024

NZ Initiative questions Royal Society’s random research funding and diversity quotas

Dr Michael Johnston of the New Zealand Initiative has taken aim at the Royal Society Te Apārangi for its controversial approach to awarding research funding.

In his Insights Newsletter, Johnston questions the merit of projects like a study on linking celestial spheres with end-of-life experiences, which received $861,000. He writes: “A cynic might think projects focussing on, say, treating cancer or fusion energy should take higher priority.”

01 December 2024

Nanogirl Labs closes after funding dries up

Dr Michelle Dickinson, known as Nanogirl, has shared a heartfelt message expressing gratitude to supporters following the liquidation of Nanogirl Labs, the science education company she co-founded with Joe Davis in 2016.

Dedicated to promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects to young people, the social enterprise directly engaged over a million children through live events, workshops, and online programmes.