Sondra Bacharach, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
In a new book, philosophers argue that Lego’s coloured bricks are not just a toy, but a tool that raises challenging questions about creativity, conformity and culture.
Fossilised bones discovered in New Zealand reveal an extinct penguin which may have been the largest to ever live, around the same height as an average man.
Mark C. Wilson, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Universities in New Zealand spent close to US$15 million on subscriptions to just four publishers in 2016, data that was only released following a request to the Ombudsman.
New Zealand’s plan to create the world’s first humanitarian visa for climate refugees has to consider ways people from Pacific Island nations actually want to be assisted.
As part of its 100-day priority plan, New Zealand’s new government has pledged to set a target of carbon neutrality by 2050, which means phasing out fossil fuels and products that burn them.
Improper use of antibiotics is one reason for the rise in antibiotic resistance, but new research shows that ingredients in common weed killers can also cause bacteria to become less susceptible.
Tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean each year, but a switch away from petroleum-based products to bio-derived and degradable composites could lessen marine pollution.
New Zealand’s new government wants the central bank to focus on maximising employment. But experience from other countries shows this is unlikely to change policy.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister-designate Jacinda Ardern has vowed to take retaliatory action if the Turnbull government changes fee arrangements for New Zealanders studying in Australia.
Early colonial New Zealand had no room for reprobates and was at war with Maori resisters. So between 1843 and 1853, it shipped the worst offenders across the Tasman Sea.
Valentina Dinica, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand’s wildlife and natural wonders are major draw cards for tourists, but tourism companies operating in national parks contribute little to conservation.
A new coalition government between the Labour and New Zealand First parties signals a move away from neoliberalism towards ‘capitalism with a human face’.
Cherie Lacey, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Catherine Caudwell, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
There’s a reason domestic robots are cute. It makes them appear vulnerable and in need of protection - and that makes us forget that they have unprecedented access to our personal data.
As the leaders of New Zealand’s two major parties enter coalition talks with minor parties, a reluctance to cross ideological boundaries could limit their options.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University