New Zealand’s rental standards rightly target cold and damp. A changing climate means overheating, shade and safe cooling should become part of the next healthy-homes conversation
Tag: New Zealand
Water reform will be judged underground, not in Parliament
New Zealand can redesign water entities and funding rules, but public trust will depend on asset knowledge, workforce capacity, transparent pricing and fewer failures
School attendance is improving. New Zealand still needs to understand who is missing
Term 1 attendance improved again, but a national percentage cannot explain illness, transport, anxiety, exclusion or the cumulative cost of missing one day a fortnight
New Zealand needs a right to repair that works after the warranty ends
Owners should be able to obtain parts, manuals and fair diagnostic access without turning every broken appliance into electronic waste
Regional buses are social infrastructure, not a leftover service
A bus that runs only when convenient for the operator cannot support work, education, health or ageing in place
New Zealand rooftop solar needs a market households can understand
Falling panel costs are not enough. Households need clear export prices, finance, standards and honest advice about batteries and winter output
New Zealand needs a public register of government algorithms
A voluntary charter is a useful start. Public confidence now requires a searchable record of high-impact automated systems, their purpose, data and review routes.
New Zealand’s supermarket problem is about bargaining power, not only shelf prices
Cheaper groceries matter, but durable competition also depends on sites, wholesale access, supplier terms, data and the ability of new retailers to scale.
New Zealand’s car-crushing law is a test of deterrence, evidence and restraint
New powers target dangerous convoys, racing and fleeing drivers. Their legitimacy will depend on precise evidence and whether severe penalties actually improve safety.
Auckland should not price peak travel until it can explain the bargain
Time-of-use charging can work, but Aucklanders deserve a plain bargain: what they pay, what improves and what protections come first.