New Risks From Proposed Changes To GE LawsThe Ministry for the Environment is calling for submissions on changes to the laboratory use and importation of genetically engineered (GE) organisms. The consultation document proposes changes to how the HSNO Act regulates laboratory research of all new organisms including genetically engineered using new biotechnologies*. The Ministry for the Environment document proposing loosening regulatory oversight for GE laboratory microbes, viruses and bacteria poses a threat to people's health and the environment. These proposals weaken monitoring of lab work and open up new risks from changes in technology and biomedical applications. Reports have found that clinical microbiologists were 65 times more likely to contract meningococcal disease from their laboratory work.

Jason Donovan/TwitterJason Donovan had a no 1 hit in 1991 with which song from musical Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat?

Boom – the latest Taxpayers’ Union Poll is out and it is crippling for Labour while seeing NZ First firmly back. NATIONAL – 34.9%LABOUR – 27.1%ACT – 13%GREENS – 12%NZF – 5.8%Māori Party – 2.5%TOP – 1%TDB Recommends NewzEngine.comWell done Labour, cheers Kiri, nice work Michael, top stuff Nashy, brilliant call on the Wealth Tax Chippy. Right now, all Labour are impotently promising is GST off fresh fruit and vegetables. Political cowardice is never rewarded and until Labour makes an actual stand they will continue to slide in the Polls. Labour either shows political courage and takes GST off all food or they hand this election over to the hard Right.

The Spinoff’s longest running podcast The Real Pod has launched a new series called Remember When which takes listeners on a trip down memory lane to revisit Aotearoa’s bizarre and brilliant pop culture history. With a new episode out every Thursday Jane Yee, Alex Casey and Duncan Greive will dive deep into a different pop culture moment from our past. The Real Pod has been a bastion of local popular culture since 2015, when the trio began recapping the first season of The Bachelor NZ. The Real Pod will still be recapping present day reality television shows over on Substack, but the team felt a growing urge to pay attention to a simpler, pre-pandemic, pop culture era. Subscribe to The Real Pod Extra on Substack

Co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson kicked off the Green Party’s 2023 election campaign in Wellington today with the release of its campaign video and election slogan,The Time is Now.

Of all the residential properties sold throughout New Zealand in the second quarter of this year, 6.9% were sold for less than they had been purchased for, leaving their vendors with a loss. The percentage of properties being sold at a loss has been steadily increasing since the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021, when just 0.7% of properties were sold at a loss. In the main centres the proportion of properties being sold at a loss is greatest in Auckland at 11.2% and Hamilton 10.7%, followed by Dunedin 5.9%, Wellington 5.4%, Tauranga 4.7% and Christchurch 4.9%. Of course if 6.9% of the residential properties sold in the second quarter of this year were sold at loss, that left 93.1% that were sold for more than their purchase price, giving their vendors a capital gain. Timing keyLooking the national figures, the most obvious determinant of whether a property sold for a gain or a loss was when it was purchased.

nzherald.co.nz published this video item, entitled “Woman behind Masterton’s mysterious banners revealed | Local Focus” – below is their description. As you drive or walk around Masterton these brightly coloured banners appear out of nowhere, at a roundabout or on a fence, each one with uplifting words like “I’ve got this” or “Don’t worry be happy”. Full story: https://bit.ly/lf1624Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. Subscribe and be notified of breaking news: https://goo.gl/LP45jXCheck out our playlists: https://goo.gl/Swd249Like NZ Herald on Facebook: https://goo.gl/tUC4oqFollow NZ Herald on Instagram: https://goo.gl/oLicXeFollow NZ Herald on Twitter: https://goo.gl/Wi6mbvnzherald.co.nz YouTube Channel

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples has been blasted by a watchdog commission for spending nearly $40,000 on a farewell event for its outgoing chief executive. Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes said today: "This is a case of one agency getting it wrong." ADVERTISEMENTChief executive Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae later returned the gifts and repaid the money after he became aware of the spending. "When a mistake is made, I expect public service chief executives to own it, fix it, learn from it, and to be accountable," Hughes said. A 'culture of extravaganza' - oppositionPacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said she had confidence in the new chief executive of the ministry.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his 33-strong squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France. Between a disappointing World Cup loss in 2019 and Ian Foster's publicised dispute with NZ Rugby in 2022, one expert reckons Fozzie's turned his luck around. NZ Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul tells D'Arcy why this World Cup squad will do well come September. LISTEN ABOVE

As the local rights holder for the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, Sky is teaming up with Stuff once again to bring fans closer to all the action during the seven-week tournament. The two organisations first came together to launch an innovative cross-channel offering dedicated to FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. “Sky and Stuff Digital have built a unique relationship forged through collaboration on the FIFA Women’s World Cup™,” says Stuff Chief Executive Laura Maxwell. Sky Chief Executive Sophie Moloney says the Sky team is excited to bring the best of world rugby to Kiwi fans. The Rugby World Cup hub is live on Stuff today, while Sky’s award-winning in-house production team is well underway developing dedicated shows and stories to highlight the tournament and engage New Zealand’s rugby fandom.

A report written for the Government is reluctantly conceding there is a role for gas to be burnt to generate electricity. This transition could come at a cost, with small gas users like households or restaurants which cook with gas having to pay higher prices. The paper also says costs will make existing offshore gas fields uneconomic and the fossil gas market may need to rely on gas fields on land. And there should be more development of biogas, even though it could be more expensive than fossil gas. This involves keeping CO2 out of the atmosphere by pumping it into large underground reservoirs, such as deleted gas fields.

Wednesday, 9 August, 2023 - 11:40Sky, the local rights holder for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, and Stuff are teaming up once again to bring fans closer to the action during the seven-week tournament. The two organisations first came together to launch an innovative cross-channel offering dedicated to FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. "Sky and Stuff Digital have built a unique relationship forged through collaboration on the FIFA Women’s World Cup™," says Stuff Chief Executive Laura Maxwell. Sky Chief Executive Sophie Moloney says the Sky team is excited to bring the best of world rugby to Kiwi fans. "Sky customers will have access to all 48 Rugby World Cup 2023 matches live on Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now, and our partnership with Stuff is a brilliant way to increase access and engagement for fans across the country during the tournament.

1News published this video item, entitled “All Blacks help clean up flood-affected Hawke’s Bay marae” – below is their description. The All Blacks traded in tackling bags for spades and diggers, helping clean up on of the flooded maraes still in clean-up mode. 1News YouTube ChannelGot a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.

Bloomberg Television published this video item, entitled “China Developer Country Garden Unit Said to Wire Funds to Repay Puttable Bond” – below is their description. Bloomberg has learned that one of Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings Co.’s onshore units has wired cash to cover early repayment of a local bond. Lorretta Chen reports on Bloomberg Television. ——– Follow Bloomberg for business news & analysis, up-to-the-minute market data, features, profiles and more: http://www.bloomberg.com Connect with us on… Twitter: https://twitter.com/business Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloombergbusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergbusiness/ Bloomberg Television YouTube ChannelGot a comment? Please note comments are moderated before publication.

1News published this video item, entitled “Fears ‘hundreds’ of NZ police officers could leave to Queensland” – below is their description. Australia’s Queensland Police Service has launched what it is calling a “cheeky campaign” to poach New Zealand officers. 1News YouTube ChannelGot a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.