The common timber treatment CCA is made up of heavy metals copper, chromium and arsenic. They don’t decompose and leach into soil and water. Why does New Zealand still allow its use?
Jonathan Barrett, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Should the country go into debt or raise taxes to pay for disaster recovery? The best solutions might not be the most politically attractive – and that’s a problem.
Horticulture underpins the local economy in areas devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle. Climate change may mean some parts of the region will become less suitable for crop production during this century.
New Zealand’s initial elimination approach to COVID has significantly decreased the risk of hospitalisation and death. Now we need to find the right mix of measures to limit infection and reinfection.
With no end in site to the Ukraine war, and the UN largely powerless, New Zealand now faces difficult military, humanitarian, diplomatic and legal challenges.
The devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle has left a significant scar on the land in Northland, the Coromandel and Hawkes Bay. But instead of replanting pine, we should return the land to native bush.
Martin Brook, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
The beach community at Muriwai has experienced deadly landslide in the past, but houses were nevertheless allowed to be built on the debris of former slips.
Australians are in New Zealand to help out in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. After multiple big floods in Australia, our neighbours have learned a lot about resilience in the face of disaster.
Alex Lo, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Faith Chan, University of Nottingham
Flood and cyclone damage shows why turning Auckland and other urban parts of New Zealand into ‘sponge cities’ is the right idea. But overseas experience from China and beyond shows it won’t be cheap.
Radiata pine was originally a solution to land erosion – but this Number-8 wire fix is past its due date and the forestry industry will likely wear the cost of change.
Both New Zealand and Iceland kept death rates from COVID low, but used different strategies. While New Zealand relied on lockdowns and border closures, Iceland ramped up its testing capacity.
New Zealand is making some progress in its treatment of children and young people. But there is still a way to go to meet its obligations under international law.
Chris Wilson, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
A new book examining New Zealand’s extreme and alt-right movements tackles an important issue. But it could have defined its terms better and provided more evidence for its claims.
Soheil Mohseni, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Alan Brent, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
National electricity grids are vulnerable to extreme weather events and can leave entire regions without power. Microgrids can deliver better energy security in a warming world.
Storms, flooding and other climate-related events highlight the urgent need for a national managed retreat framework. Past experiences suggests it will involve many challenges.
Record flooding in Auckland revealed just how unprepared the city was for extreme weather. We need to urgently invest to future-proof our critical infrastructure .
As part of its target to cut emissions, New Zealand aims for a 20% reduction in driving by 2035, mainly through better urban planning and travel options. Why doesn’t the plan mention intercity rail?
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University