Photo: Pupils from Te Kura o Manunui school, Brookfield with their art pieces and John Hodgson of the Friendship Society. Credit: Brydie Thompson. Brookfield’s Te Kura o Manunui pupils have been diving deep into Chinese culture. Students like Devon, Ryley, Caleb, and Chanel have discovered that colours, especially red, have special meanings in China. They’ve […]

Arts and culture offer comfort and joy, especially during challenging times. They promote wellbeing, unite communities, and strengthen social bonds. However, New Zealand’s creative sector is in a crisis. Even though the government has given an extra NZ$22 million to Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, the sector’s financial challenges point to a lack of broader […]

In recent years, more people have become aware of social enterprises – companies driven by purposes beyond just profit. These companies often benefit their communities and meet social needs, avoiding the need for state intervention. Steven Moe and Wayne Tukiri suggest that New Zealand can learn from Māori cultural practices to understand and shape its […]

A recent survey by the Asia New Zealand Foundation revealed that when New Zealanders think about Asia, China is the first country that comes to mind, associated strongly with food. However, feelings towards China are mixed, with 37% finding China threatening and 30% perceiving it as friendly. The survey, titled “New Zealanders’ Perception of Asia […]

New Zealand’s tertiary education faces a crisis following the pandemic. The government’s underfunding is leading universities to make large job cuts. This threatens the study of Asia and Asian languages at the university level. In recent years, New Zealand universities built a strong foundation in Asian studies. However, AUT, Otago, Massey, and Victoria University of […]

Finance Minister Grant Robertson and National’s finance spokeswoman Nicola Willis are to debate key financial topics tomorrow, focusing on small business issues. This event will be moderated by Liam Dann from NZME. New Zealand businesses, hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, now face new challenges: rising costs, increased inflation, and a spike in retail crime. A […]

National has proposed a plan to enhance international education. The plan suggests increasing the working hours for overseas students in New Zealand from 20 to 24 hours per week. Additionally, it offers expanded work rights and quicker visa processing for those paying an extra fee. Penny Simmonds, National’s tertiary spokesperson, stated that this will raise […]

The Government has announced plans to make teaching methods for maths, reading, and writing the same across all schools. Education Minister Jan Tinetti said this change ensures that all students, no matter which school they attend, receive the same education. The current curriculum varies in teaching core subjects, causing differences between schools. The new rules […]

Overview: Each year, over 300,000 New Zealanders enroll in tertiary education institutions including universities, polytechs, and wānanga. Most domestic students receive government subsidies on their fees. Additionally, many students use Studylink, a service offering interest-free loans or student allowances. This year, universities faced funding deficits, leading to staff and student cuts. In response, the government […]

The current runway at the town's airport was too short to land large planes during the Cyclone Gabrielle response.