Featured video: UN World Habitat Day – 2009

• The University of Auckland took part in a United Nations initiative on World Habitat Day to promote awareness of the homeless in urban cities.

  The university organised a collection of clothes and food for disadvantaged students and the homeless on October 5.

  Designs of disaster relief architecture and sustainable housing were displayed by members of Architecture for Humanity and students.

  There was also a debate on whether sustainability puts a handbrake on growth in disciplines like engineering, environmental studies and law.

  The first Monday of October every year has been designated as World Habitat Day by the United Nations.

  Video by Clay McGlaughlin and Steve Chae.

  

Waitakere tackles youth gangs

Two years ago youth gangs were a problem in Waitakere. Now, some local police are confident they have the issue under control. Officer in charge of the Henderson Youth Crime Unit, Sergeant Richard Orr, says he believes West Auckland no longer has a problem with youth gangs. “They are here, but we know who they are and [...] Continue Reading >

Childcare centres ‘institutionalising’ children

Preschool is “institutionalising” children, says an early childhood educator. Play, Observe, Record, Support, Extend & Evaluate (PORSE) managing director Jenny Yule says, at 93 per cent, New Zealand has the highest percentage in the OECD of children in centre-based early childhood care. Yule says she believes if babies had a voice they would probably say, “how would [...] Continue Reading >

Male early childhood teachers call on Government for support

Men involved in early childhood education are calling for the Government to address the lack of male teachers in New Zealand. Ministry of Education figures from October 2008 show just 1.3 per cent of early childhood teachers are men, which is the lowest rate among developed countries. Chairman of Early Childhood Men New Zealand (EC-MENz) [...] Continue Reading >

Burglary on the rise as people look for ways to get by

Genevieve Helliwell celebrated her 21st birthday in May this year with friends and family. She received gifts, both sentimental and practical, which she thought she would keep forever. Three days later, the AUT University student came home to find her room ransacked and her gifts, along with things she had built up over a lifetime, [...] Continue Reading >

Builders reluctant to become licensed because of paperwork

Less than five per cent of the expected number of builders have chosen to become licensed since voluntary licensing was introduced by the Government in November 2007. Despite the Licensed Builder Practitioner Scheme’s attempt to raise building standards it has been reluctantly adopted because of its voluntary nature and the large amount of red tape. One builder [...] Continue Reading >

Guilty pleasure now a death trap

The golden glow of summer and a seductive tan is no longer just a guilty pleasure but a real danger as sunbeds are elevated to the highest possible cancer risk level. The increased ranking has now placed sunbeds on the same level of risk as carcinogens such as tobacco, arsenic and asbestos. Cancer Society skin cancer advisor [...] Continue Reading >

Infested palm kernel arrives in New Zealand

Palm oil definitely hasn’t been the flavour of the month recently. Chocolate lovers didn’t like it and the dairy industry came in for flak for importing so much of it. But one aspect barely touched on is the possible biosecurity risk to New Zealand. Many farmers and grain importers say that palm kernel extract, or PKE [...] Continue Reading >

Day of protest against ACC – Audio

Protestors took to the streets of Auckland on Monday to demonstrate against proposed changes to ACC’s sexual abuse counselling funding. More than 200 people gathered in Albert Park to hear guest speakers and show their support for survivors of sexual abuse, before making their way on the march. The demonstration was one of four taking place around [...] Continue Reading >