There’s an equally popular and persistent myth about New Zealand/Aotearoa: that the South Island is more beautiful than the North Island. Perhaps it’s because of the Lord of the Rings movies. Or it could be because many European immigrants initially settled on the South Island in the 1950s and wrote lyrical letters home about the …
Will New Zealand’s post-COVID ‘transformation’ solve its environmental challenges?
It was certain to me that the New Zealand Labour party would win the elections. What is not certain is that Jacinda Ardern’s new government will be green enough to face the country’s massive environmental challenges. But with the return of the Green Party’s James Shaw as climate minister and a new dedicated ministry for …
Why it was essential to declare the Easter Bunny an essential service
The ultimate consolatory message combines a touch of emotion with humour, according to Dr. Madelijn Strick, Senior lecturer social psychology at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. “However, these stories are hard to come by and it is difficult to track them down. But the search is worthwhile because they make us laugh and …
Freshwater fish decimated since 1970
The earth’s waters have lost more than three-quarters of its migratory fish freshwater species since 1970. The freshwater fish species in Europe have been hit the hardest, however, the data used from the Living Planet Index project lacked sufficient data for Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America. Human activity, including the creation of dams, culverts …
