Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Helen Clark
The Only Boots on the Ground in Iran Should Be IAEA Inspectors - Helen Clark
AUCKLAND – The US-Israeli war on Iran has already destabilized the global economy and the geopolitics of the Middle East. Even more alarming, recent reporting suggests that US President Donald Trump is considering deploying ground troops, a prospect that immediately evokes memories of past failed interventions – from Vietnam to Iraq – with their high costs in American and especially local lives. © Project Syndicate visit website
Oil prices rebound after Trump comments on ‘armada’ moving to Iran spur supply worries
By Helen Clark PERTH, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Oil prices rebounded on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed threats against major Middle Eastern producer Iran, raising concerns of military action that could disrupt supplies. Brent crude futures for March rose 35 cents, or 0.55%, to $64.41 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 33 cents, or 0.56%, to $59.69 a barrel as of 0243 GMT. Both contracts slumped about 2% on Thursday.
ConocoPhillips begins natural gas drilling campaign offshore eastern Australia
ConocoPhillips begins natural gas drilling campaign offshore eastern Australia COP TDO U.S. independent ConocoPhillips COP began drilling its first exploration well as part of larger campaign searching for natural gas offshore eastern Australia, 3D Energi TDO, its junior partner in the project, said on Monday. Work began over the weekend on the Essington-1 well, which will take 32 days to drill down to 2,650 metres (8,694 feet), 3D Energi said in a filing to the ASX.
Trump Assassination Attempt - How Well Are NZ Politicians Protected?
Nik Dirga Explainer - The recent assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump sent shock waves around the globe. What kind of protection do New Zealand politicians get in a violent world? It has not risen to the level of an assassination attempt, but political violence has certainly touched Aotearoa in recent years, including during the 2022 occupation of the Parliament grounds that ended in a violent confrontation.
PHINZ Opposes Insulation Standards Rollback, Advocates For Effective Building Standards
Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ) strongly disagrees with proposals to roll back insulation standards.
Queen Charlotte Drive 1-hour Closures Early Next Week
On Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 July, Marlborough Roads Recovery have planned closures on Queen Charlotte Drive, from the Moenui Road intersection for 500m towards Havelock. The closures will be in place from 9am to 3pm with openings on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic. The closures are for the installation of anchors to a retaining wall being built at this site.
Two Penguin Chicks Born At Symbio Wildlife Park
Symbio Wildlife Park is thrilled to announce the hatching of two Little Penguin chicks. This exciting milestone marks a new chapter in our commitment to wildlife conservation and education, and we are eager to share the news with our visitors and the community. Wanda and Elouera, who hatched on June 6th, are settling in well at Symbio Wildlife Park. The pair have waddled their way into keepers hearts already.
A Career Of Outstanding Service
New Plymouth Sergeant Terry Johnson has packed a lot into his nearly 47 years of dedicated Police service and this was evident from the numerous stories and reflections shared at his retirement function late last month.
Self-reliance And Self-esteem Boosted With Benefit Sanctions
ACT is welcoming news that the use of benefit sanctions has increased by more than 50% since this time last year. “ACT’s coalition agreement secured the commitment to implement sanctions for beneficiaries who can work but refuse to take agreed steps to find a job. Now we’re seeing this policy in action,” says ACT Social Development and Employment spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar. “In most cases, the sanctions are for beneficiaries failing to show up for scheduled appointments to help them into work.
Serious Injury A Stark Reminder Of Risks When Operating On Vessels Involved In Mussel Harvesting
Maritime NZ is urging operators to have steps in place to reduce the risks to their workers when machinery is operating. This comes after an employee of Paddy Bull Limited suffered a serious injury to their arm during a post mussel-harvest clean-up operation while accessing the inside of a mussel tumbler on one of the operator’s (Paddy Bull Limited’s) barges, the Riptide . The incident occurred on a mussel farm, on the Coromandel in January 2023.
Public Health At Risk, Tax Cut Labelled Irresponsible
A move to slash the excise tax on Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) is reckless and favours big tobacco over the health of New Zealanders. This is the message from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ following news that Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has cut the excise rate on HTPs by 50 percent effective from 1 July. Foundation Medical Director Professor Bob Hancox says the move sounds like more of a win for big tobacco than a genuine attempt to reduce smoking.
Additional Savings Must Not Wait Until Budget 2025
Responding to reports that Ministers are already working on new savings initiatives for Budget 2025, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “New savings initiatives and the axing of programmes that do not deliver value to the taxpayer should be axed as soon as they are identified. Waiting until next year’s budget simply forces the taxpayer to stump up for billions of dollars in wasteful spending on projects that are already destined to be wound up.
Fonterra Exposed As Major Player In Global Attempts To Undermine Climate Action
Greenpeace Aotearoa is raising the alarm about Fonterra’s role in derailing international climate action. A new investigation has uncovered that globally, large agribusiness corporations are deploying the same playbook used by Big Tobacco and Big Oil to thwart regulations meant to protect the public interest. The new report, entitled The New Merchants of Doubt, was released by Netherlands-based Changing Markets Foundation today.
Peer Support Specialists Rolled Out In Hospitals
Five hospitals have been selected to trial a new mental health and addiction peer support service in their emergency departments as part of the Government’s commitment to increase access to mental health and addiction support for New Zealanders, says Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey. “Peer Support Specialists in EDs will assist in providing mental health support to patients that need it.
Rents Up Under National, Promises Fall Flat
National Party policies which promised to put “downward pressure” on rents are having the opposite effect. The latest figures from Stats NZ saw rents increase another 4.8% in the year to June. “Christopher Luxon and Chris Bishop have both said landlords will pass on any gains they make from National Party policies to reduce rents,” Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. “But the dip in inflation is not going to help people pay soaring rates up 9.6%, or insurance premiums, up 14%.
NZVA Backs International Welfare Group Calling For An End To The Promotion Of Extreme Body Shapes In Dogs
Advertising companies, media, and social media content producers need to stop using images that normalise dogs bred with extreme conformations that are harmful to the animals’ health and wellbeing. That’s the message from the International Collective on Extreme Conformations in Dogs ( ICECDogs), a group formed to address the issue of dogs being bred to enhance extreme body shapes to the point that they no longer resemble the dog’s ancestral appearance.
Hamilton Stormwater And Transport Corridor Plans Approved
An independent panel has approved resource consent, subject to conditions, to construct stormwater management and transport corridors in Rotokauri, Hamilton. Hounsell Holdings Limited and Hamilton City Council applied for resource consent under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020. The resource consent conditions are in the decision report on the page linked below. The decision comes 119 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.
Picket Against Cuts To Care At Village At The Park, Newtown, Wellington
E tū and NZNO members and supporters will join residents and the local community at a picket this afternoon, to send a message to Village at the Park operators Arvida that we oppose cuts to staffing hours at the residential aged care facility. The company is proposing a cut of more than 400 hours a week for care workers, nurses, and activity coordinators. These cuts are deeply opposed by workers, the residents they care for, their families, and the wider Newtown community.
Ōpōtiki Projects Work Together To Unlock Economic Potential
With Ōpōtiki harbour construction nearing completion, Ōpōtiki District Councillor Barry Howe provided an update across the ‘family of projects’ that work together to unlock the region's potential and drive the recovery of the local economy. Councillor Howe is the Chair of the Ōpōtiki Marine Advisory Group (OMAG).
Bus Crashes, SH 8 - Road Closed
State Highway 8, the Tekapo Twizel Highway, is blocked following two bus crashes. The separate, single-bus crashes happened about 100m apart, around 8:40am. There are multiple injuries, the extent of which is still being confirmed. The road is closed between Tekapo and the intersection with State Highway 80. © Scoop Media
‘Too Painful’: We Could Have Done Better On Lowering Rates - Councillor
Whanganui District Council has adopted its Long-Term Plan (LTP) for the next 10 years, setting an average residential rates increase of 13.5 percent. The average rates rise for the year ahead across all property types is 11.2 percent. That includes 8 percent for farms, 6.5 percent for lifestyle properties, and 2.3 percent for commercial properties. The decision to adopt the new 10-year plan was not unanimous. Councillor Rob Vinsen described the residential rates increase as “totally unpalatable”.
Calls For More Voting Options To Boost Pacific Turnout
Local Auckland politicians are calling for changes to the way elections are run to boost turnout among Pacific communities. An Electoral Reform Group has been established by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) to look at how to improve voter turnout by moving away from postal voting and changing to a four-year term. Henderson-Massey Local Board deputy chair Will Flavell says he is supportive of considering online voting. “It's [postal] just a ridiculous method of voting," he says.
Hydrogen will be essential to decarbonise shipping but hurdles aplenty, experts say
Asia Pacific > Hydrogen will be essential to decarbonise shipping but hurdles aplenty, experts say Hydrogen will be essential to decarbonise shipping but hurdles aplenty, experts say Published 07:32 on August 18, 2023 / Last updated at 07:39 on August 18, 2023 / Helen Clark / Asia Pacific, Australia / No Comments Carbon taxes could make the use of hydrogen as a marine fuel more economic, an expert with the Australian Maritime College at the University of Tasmania told a webinar this week.
The Australia that wants to stay coupled with China
PERTH – Beijing and Canberra are again at loggerheads after China accused it of “violently interfering” after the Australian government voiced concerns over the recent Hong Kong elections. The tiff comes as Australia reports strong iron ore and LNG exports to China, largely from the one state loudest in its calls for a reset with Beijing – Western Australia.
Webinar with Hon Kevin Rudd on China
China’s rise as a major economy and geopolitical power is of interest globally. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has studied and interacted with China since he was a student. Early on in his career he was an Australian diplomat in Beijing, and these days he is the President of the Asia Society which is headquartered in New York City. Kevin will be joining me for a conversation about contemporary China and its foreign policy at midday NZ time, next Tuesday, 19 October.
AFTER THE TAMPA
It is twenty years since a Norwegian cargo ship rescued a sinking fishing boat crammed with more than 400 asylum seekers, only to be turned away from Australia, sparking an international incident. Eventually, New Zealand offered to take 150 of those refugees, including Abbas Nazari and his family.
Australia, China trade war ensures mutual destruction
Chinese tariffs on Australian commodities have hit hard agricultural producers. Image: Twitter/NDR PERTH – Treasury Wine Estates, the largest wine company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, said in its recent annual report to shareholders that China’s new anti-dumping measures on Australian wine are a serious concern.
Hong Kong Protest City: Podcast out now
In the latest episode of the Lowy Institute’s new half-hour podcast, Rules Based Audio, I’m talking to Lowy Institute Research Fellow Ben Bland and Hong Kong-based Financial Times journalist Primrose Riordan about the roots of the ongoing political unrest in the city, and where it might end. The semi-autonomous Chinese territory is being squeezed by an increasingly authoritarian Beijing and its appointed leadership in Hong Kong, putting pressure on its autonomy and rule of law.
New Zealand wakes belatedly to its China risk
Embattled Chinese technology giant Huawei is on a new commercial offensive in New Zealand, one that playfully conflates the nation’s passion for rugby with telecommunications infrastructure. “5G without Huawei is like rugby without New Zealand,” one billboard said.
Analysts Support Strong Santos Bid
The private equity firm is offering US$4.98 per share or A$6.50, which is a 28% premium on Santos' last closing price of $5.07 and 30% overall for the past 30 days of trading. Harbour is funding this via US$7.75 billion of debt underwritten by JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley and the balance in equity from Harbour, with other managed funds from Harbour's parent EIG and from Mercurua Global Energy.
Random Data Explained: Harnessing the Benefits of TRNGs and PRNGs - Dataconomy
Data. Where would we be without it? We all know that it’s in the very DNA of our everyday life, from business to social experiences, from the smartphones in our hands to the cars we drive. Data is a driving force both directly and indirectly in our society – a fact that is becoming increasingly prevalent with the rise of technology.
China's soft power turns hard in Australia
How pervasive is China’s growing influence in Australia and how willing is Canberra to push back? The short answer: highly and not so much. Australian real estate agents rolled out the red carpet for wealthy Chinese, including with limousine tours and helicopter rides, seeking to purchase multi-million dollar properties over the recent Golden Week travel period.
From the clouds: Viet Nam’s aviation boom
Viet Nam’s growth has yoyo-ed for a decade but rarely been much under 6 percent per year. As GDP has grown and Viet Nam is now a lower-middle income country (one reason Australia cut some of its aid last year). “With such a large population of 90 million, even a small percentage of the population flying means big numbers for the industry,” Rankin says.
What’s powering the lithium boom?
The increase is being explained by the rise in demand for lithium batteries for devices and solar storage - from Tesla to an increasingly solar-dependent China. Is it too soon to call it a boom? Daniel Hynes, senior commodities analyst at ANZ said when put it into context of growth rates in other commodities, lithium “does stick as being quite promising”. Although “there’s definitely a bit of hype mixed in with this whole thing,” he told bluenotes.
Digging in to dirty data | ANZ BlueNotes
The cult of analytics seems a million miles removed from dirt, but data management is being used to map and categorise soil in the hope it will lead to greater food security, better soil health and long-term benefit to the global agriculture sector. Food security is often explained to the public in terms of environmental, climate or water security. Whilst accurate, the picture is infinitely more complex.
Is Australia really prepared for the Asian Century? | ANZ BlueNotes
We are in the Asian Century but what does that mean? For Australia, there is a challenge in simply recognising the importance of understanding Asia and the varied cultures and the languages. But what is Australia's real understanding of the region and is it greater than it might have been 20 or 30 years ago? In July the non-partisan think tank the Lowy Institute held a panel event in Melbourne to discuss the findings of its recent poll 'What Australians really think about the world'.
Successful SME secrets | ANZ BlueNotes
Small businesses are not just the lifeblood of growth in Australia and most economies, delivering true innovation and higher employment, their experiences can offer lessons for businesses of all sizes. At the recent ANZ Business Growth Seminar in Melbourne, guests heard from a number of successful CEOs about the art and science of leading a small-to-medium enterprise. For many small business operators, handling the initial growth stage can be one of the most difficult times.
ESM Goh Chok Tong on Trump and uncertainty | ANZ BlueNotes
Goh Chok Tong has had a long, distinguished career in politics and public policy in Asia, including a crucial period as the Prime Minister of Singapore, succeeding founding PM Lee Kuan Yew. Now, as the global trading landscape faces its biggest shakeup in decades, what does he expect will happen next? At a recent ANZ event in Singapore, ESM Goh sat down with BlueNotes to chat about the outlook for the region.
VIDEO: What next for the Fed? | ANZ BlueNotes
The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates as expected but all eyes are on the future as a slightly disappointed market reflects on what happens next. The FOMC has hiked for the second time in three months, lifting its target overnight interest rate by 25 basis points to a range between 0.75 per cent and 1 per cent. The move had been well telegraphed and the market was keener to see the Fed’s thoughts on future policy.
Filling the indigenous talent pipeline | ANZ BlueNotes
Down on the floodplain of the Goulburn River, in the regional town of Shepparton, a quiet revolution is taking place. There’s a bunch of indigenous kids in that town of 30,000 souls bucking the national averages for dropping out of school and missing out on jobs. Instead of ending up unemployed, they are completing high school, gaining entry to university, winning internship opportunities, and travelling nationally and internationally to meet other inspiring Indigenous leaders.
Youbionic developing low-cost 3D-printed bionic hand
3D Printing Youbionic developing low-cost 3D-printed bionic hand Helen Clark November 13, 2014 Italian start-up Youbionic has created a functional, myoelectric bionic hand using 3D printing and Arduino components. While still at prototype stage, the company says that its research will result in a prosthetic hand that costs a tenth or less than other models on the market.
Let’s empower women to participate in devt process
This week, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which remains the world’s best blueprint for achieving gender equality and empowering women.
Search for Malaysia plane resumes off Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia — A freighter and planes searched the rough seas of one of the remotest places on Earth for a missing Malaysia plane, following up on what Malaysia authorities said was the "best lead" thus far for the location of the jet. Australian satellite images detected large pieces of debris floating about 1,000 miles off the coast of Australia and halfway to the desolate islands of the Antarctic.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Helen
Contact Helen, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack