Blog
LocalNZ Survey – Last Chance
There is still time to complete the LocalNZ survey, but you will have to hurry! The survey closes at midnight tomorrow. The responses to the survey will be a key resource for participants at the LocalNZ workshop. When it comes to issues affecting youth, answering the...
LocalNZ – Not Long Now
Less than a week now until the LocalNZ workshop begins! The event is shaping up to be something special, with 29 esteemed speakers already confirmed. On Sunday, 16 November we will have 36 young people from across the nation joining us in Wanganui, where they will...
For Your Health
Thomas Dekker once said: 'Sleep is that golden chain which ties health and our bodies together.' The connection between health and sleep is obvious, as a late night followed by an early morning will demonstrate. However, it is the long-term effects of insufficient...
A Place to Live
A PLACE TO LIVE … for the life worth having, Wanganui 16–19 November 2014 The A Place to Live conference is fast-approaching, so now is the perfect time to register! Just head to www.aplacetolive.org.nz. A Place to Live is a national event held in Wanganui which...
Yo Future Now Showing
Yo Future, an exciting new show directed by Jo Randerson, opened in Auckland last night and will be running until 25 October. The show is being put on by the production company Show Pony, who describe it thus: 'Yo Future is an ensemble of Auckland’s young people...
Ebola – Why NZ must support West Africa
The Observer recently interviewed Peter Piot about Ebola, and it is well worth a read. What is clear is that New Zealand, like all developed countries, must provide logistical support to West Africa. As a young Belgian scientist, Peter was part of the team that...
LocalNZ Survey Launched
Our LocalNZ website ‘Connecting youth committed to local government’ has recently been updated with a survey to explore issues facing youth. The survey takes around 10 minutes, and a summary of the results will be a key resource for the participants at the LocalNZ...
The last chance to enrol is today. You can’t enrol on election day.
Well, we are finally here. This is just a quick final post to share with you what a friend just told me his mum told him years ago - 'you must vote out of respect for your ancestors who fought and often died in order that you could vote.' Today is the last day to...
Candidate
Candidate, like On the Fence, is an initiative that takes the form of an online questionnaire. Users can answer policy-based questions with a 'thumbs-up' or 'thumbs-down', and are ultimately told how their opinions align with the policies of the parties. A tutorial is...
Voting … and Animal Welfare
Not long now ... In the run up to the election MPs and parties have been debating a range of issues – from economics and jobs to climate change and the environment. However, as one of the participants from EmpowerNZ informed us, very few focus on animal welfare...
Political Cuts
In the run up to the election this Saturday, 20 September, a pop-up political hair salon opened next to the i-SITE in Wellington Central for the first week of September. The salon was called ‘Political Cuts’ and gave passers-by the chance of a free haircut and space...
Towards a Strategy of Freedom
On 1 September I was fortunate to be invited to speak at the Wellington Friends of the Future launch, organised by youth-led group Generation Zero. Generation Zero recognise that carbon pollution is the challenge of their generation and are working hard today to...
A Youth Council for Antarctica
As a Southern Hemisphere nation with a long history of Antarctic exploration and research, New Zealand has a responsibility to promote the sustainable long-term management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Unfortunately, knowledge and awareness of this region...
“The Great Climate Voter Debate” Live streaming tonight 7pm
Tonight will see TV3’s Samantha Hayes host the ‘The Great Climate Voter Debate’ between politicians from the National, Labour, Green, New Zealand First and Internet Mana parties. The debate has been organised by a collaboration of New Zealand NGOs: Forest&Bird,...
Ask Away
Informed voters are key to democracy. With the election mere weeks away, many voters want to know how different parties would handle important issues if given their vote. However, relying solely on party statements and political debates can leave questions unanswered...
Government Economics Network (GEN) Conference 2014
On 5 November, Te Papa is hosting the Government Economics Network (GEN) Annual Conference for 2014. The conference will look at a range of policy areas and review how modern economic analysis methods could be used in these areas. Kim Hill from RadioNZ is due to...
Local Government New Zealand Major Issues Seminar: Regional Economic Development.
Last week I attended a Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) seminar on Regional Economic Development. LGNZ had invited some prominent speakers including Shamubeel Eaqub, principal economist at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Development and author of the...
On the Fence – Voter Engagement
This is the first in series of blogs looking at voter engagement in the run up to the 2014 National Election next month. Our first focus is the online voter questionnaire On the Fence, launched at Massey University, Wellington on Friday, 8 August. Since then it has...
One Hundred Years On From World War One
The quiet waterfront scene of the capital was momentarily disrupted on Monday, 4 August by the sound of gunfire, to mark one hundred years since New Zealand entered the First World War. Members of the Institute team gathered on the wharf alongside a crowd vying for a...
Dr Todd Capson discusses ocean acidification at the Institute
On Wednesday 2 July 2014 the Institute hosted a meeting with Dr Todd Capson, a marine scientist working with the US-based Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. This discussion has now been published as a series of videos on our Youtube channel. During the meeting Dr...
Renata Our Head of Research Heads off to Africa
Our Head of Research Renata Mokena-Lodge is leaving us for the sunny shores of Tanzania on Monday. Where she will work for American NGO; Asylum Access to provide legal advice to refugees. Asylum Access is an international non-profit organisation working towards the...
Charlotte Greenfield on Radio New Zealand Saturday Morning Show
This month we were happy to host our TalentNZ 2013 Sir Paul Callaghan Science Meets humanities Scholarship recipient Charlotte Greenfield back at the Institute. Charlotte hosted a fundraising evening for her charitable trust Ecko, of which more details are given...
Sir Paul Callaghan: reflections on New Zealand science
The Institute has recently been reflecting on this 2012 interview with the late Sir Paul Callaghan, one of New Zealand’s most remarkable scientists and a leading public figure. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is currently calling for...
One Ocean discussion evening: Bronwen Golder
On 27 May the Institute held a structured discussion evening to explore the future of ocean management in New Zealand. Over 60 attendees with a broad range of expertise heard our three speakers share their ideas and aspirations for New Zealand’s marine environment....
One Ocean discussion evening: Ann McCrone
On 27 May the Institute held a structured discussion evening to explore the future of ocean management in New Zealand. Over 60 attendees with a broad range of expertise heard our three speakers share their ideas and aspirations for New Zealand’s marine environment....
One Ocean discussion evening: James Palmer
On 27 May the Institute held a structured discussion evening to explore the future of ocean management in New Zealand. Over 60 attendees with a broad range of expertise heard our three speakers share their ideas and aspirations for New Zealand’s marine environment....
Grace White returns to university
Grace White, who has worked at the Institute since early 2011, is leaving to pursue further studies in information management with a focus on librarianship. Grace has always had an interest in books, and her experience at the Institute managing the James Duncan...
Shaping our science System – A SCANZ panel event.
“Does investment in science influence society? Can we really expect it to meet New Zealand's economic, social, environmental and cultural needs? Is it the level of investment or the areas in which the investment is made?” These are the questions which open the Science...
Wil McLellan receives Eisenhower Fellowship
Congratulations to Wil McLellan for receiving the Eisenhower Fellowship by US Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Marie Damour at the US Embassy’s Independence Day reception held in Christchurch on 9 July. Wil is the Director of the EPIC Innovation Centre in Christchurch. EPIC is...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Janice Feutz – Using the talents we have
On 11 June 2014 the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Speakers included Sam Morgan (who launched the Menu), and the...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Graeme Wong – Building a curriculum fit for the future
On 11 June 2014 the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Speakers included Sam Morgan (who launched the Menu), and the...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Andrew Coy – Showcasing soft infrastructure
On 11 June 2014 the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Speakers included Sam Morgan (who launched the Menu), and the...
Applications now open for LocalNZ
If you are between the ages of 18 and 25 and are committed to local government, think about joining us for four days of thought-provoking discussion and debate. LocalNZ: Connecting youth committed to local government is a four-day workshop that will begin on the...
US ocean expert Dr Todd Capson visits the Institute
Earlier this week the Institute was pleased to host a meeting with Dr Todd Capson, a respected American marine scientist working as a Science and Policy Advisor with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership. Also present were representatives from the Pew Charitable...
A rescue package for the high seas
In the wake of the Our Ocean conference convened by the US State Department in Washington in mid-June we are seeing some exciting and very welcome momentum towards international commitments to action on the oceans. Last week the Global Ocean Commission published a...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Colin Lynch – Identify the talent you want
On 11 June 2014, the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Speakers included Sam Morgan (who launched the Menu), and the...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Hayden Glass – Mapping the ecosystem
On 11 June 2014, the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Speakers included Sam Morgan (who launched the Menu), and the...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Mandy Simpson – Incentivising 18-25 year olds to complete their undergraduate degrees in NZ
On 11 June 2014, the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Speakers included Sam Morgan (who launched the Menu), and the...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Raf Manji – Attracting international talent
On 11 June 2014, the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Speakers included Sam Morgan (who launched the Menu), and the...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Patrick Nolan – Creating hubs
On 11 June 2014, the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Speakers included Sam Morgan (who launched the Menu), and the...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch: Sam Morgan – ‘The Talent Thing’
On 11 June 2014, the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives publication and website were launched at a public event in Wellington. Over 100 people (including MPs, mayors and councillors) attended this event. Sam Morgan launched the Menu and spoke about why creating a...
TalentNZ Newsletter Issue 3 out today!
In this issue we discuss the launch of the Menu of Initiatives, and our upcoming TalentNZ work, as we continue to look at ways to help accelerate the move toward a talent-based economy through a wide range of initiatives. If you would like to receive the...
An international focus on ocean management
Proposals for more integrated, sustainable approaches to ocean management are widespread within environmental politics. Although there is broad public support for better marine conservation measures, progress on this issue remains painfully slow, at least partly due...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch
Yesterday we launched the Menu of Initiatives publication (see below) and website. The launch was held at NZX in Wellington and featured presentations by entrepreneur Sam Morgan and other contributors to the 2013 TalentNZ Journal. Videos of the presentations will be...
Menu of Initiatives Launch: Media Release
MCGUINNESS INSTITUTE MEDIA RELEASE – 10 JUNE 2014 EMBARGO UNTIL 5.30PM WEDNESDAY, 11 JUNE 2014 TalentNZ Launch – Menu of Initiatives: Creating a place where talent wants to live The McGuinness Institute launched its latest publication and website, TalentNZ Menu of...
Future pathways for aquaculture in New Zealand
It is now six weeks since the Supreme Court released its judgement on New Zealand King Salmon’s expansion in the Marlborough Sounds. The Court found that a proposed salmon farm at Paparua, Port Gore, did not uphold the principles of the New Zealand Coastal Policy...
One Ocean event delivers a broad and deep conversation
Thank you to all those who attended and participated at the One Ocean discussion earlier this week. It was a tight squeeze with over 50 attendees present to hear our three speakers: Bronwen Golder, Director of the Global Ocean legacy from the Pew Charitable Trusts;...
International developments in ocean management
Proposals for more integrated, sustainable approaches to ocean management are far from new within environmental politics. Progress on this issue remains painfully slow, at least partly due to entrenched interests that prevent cooperation at national, regional and...
TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives launch Wednesday 11 June 2014
Join Sam Morgan and contributors of the 2013 TalentNZ Journal at the launch of our latest publication – the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu illustrates New Zealand’s talent ecosystem and showcases a broad range of possible initiatives that communities might...
TalentNZ Tour: Raf Manji speaks about immigration at the Christchurch public event
In March 2014 we toured New Zealand to discuss how we might create a talent-based economy with some of the 30 Kiwis from the 2013 TalentNZ Journal. Raf Manji is a Councillor of the Christchurch City Council and Director of the Sustento Institute and joined us to share...