Ralph Cooney, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Currently, most hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels but the falling cost of renewables and growing demand for energy have added momentum for clean hydrogen.
Susan St John, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Forget wealth or capital gains taxes, a straight tax on housing equity – exempting most homeowners – would be a simple and efficient way to break the circuit of inequality.
Nicola Gaston, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
The crisis in New Zealand universities is directly traceable to years of sustained underfunding and means they now lack vital research and development capacity.
Ayesha Scott, Auckland University of Technology and Aaron Gilbert, Auckland University of Technology
A new study by the Retirement Commission has identified the different personality characteristics that influence how we manage our money – you can test your own with their online quiz.
Meghan S. Miller, Australian National University; John Townend, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, and Voon Hui Lai, Australian National University
Fibre-optic cables act as densely-spaced ground-motion sensors to give earthquake scientists a close look at New Zealand’s Alpine Fault, in anticipation of its next big rupture.
Overseas experiences suggests a targeted system using smart cards for buying fruit and vegetables would be more effective than broad-brush changes to the tax system.
The concept of pūtaiao envisions a way of conducting science led by Māori and firmly embedded in the values of a Māori worldview. It offers a way towards decolonising the research system in general.
Timothy Naish, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
We are on a trajectory that takes Earth across thresholds humans have never experienced, into a climate where Antarctica’s ice shelves can no longer exist, leading to several metres of sea-level rise.
Kevin Trenberth, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
2016 was the world’s warmest year on record, due in part to a very strong El Niño event. But 2023 (and 2024) could beat that record – what should we expect?
Marine sediments are the world’s largest store of carbon, and fiords in particular are a massive sink. But New Zealand doesn’t even have an oceans policy to develop blue carbon climate policy.
While the technologies being explored under ‘pillar two’ of the AUKUS security pact are becoming clearer, New Zealand’s policy on autonomous weapons and military AI has become increasingly murky.
With a focus on ships and cargo, we are missing the opportunity to prevent pests that ride in on the wind. It is time to invest in addressing the biosecurity threats before they arrive.
Karen Fisher, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Marine governance in New Zealand is fragmented, with several agencies operating under various statutes. But a more collaborative, ecosystem-based approach to better protect the ocean is emerging.
A referendum on changing New Zealand’s parliamentary term to four years would be the third such exercise in under 60 years. Why would the outcome be any different this time?
Pressure for more housing often runs up against a desire to preserve urban heritage areas. International best practice offers ways to navigate the impasse.
It may be half-a-world away, but the war in Ukraine is escalating geopolitical tensions everywhere – including between China and the US, with major implications for New Zealand foreign policy.
Timothy Welch, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
New Zealand’s Medium Density Residential Standards already didn’t go far enough. But by abandoning bipartisan support for them, National risks throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University