University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, is New Zealand’s highest-ranked, largest and most comprehensive university. It is the only New Zealand university ranked in the Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings, and 137th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It is also ranked sixth globally in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings and ranked first in 2019 and 2020. Around 35 percent of the top-ranked academic researchers in New Zealand are at the University of Auckland.
New Zealand’s marine policies are scattered across multiple laws and regulatory institutions. A dedicated ministry would overcome this fragmentation and help protect vital ecosystems and resources.
Having interviewed advisers to past and present prime ministers in Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand, my new research shows how crucial it is to recruit and train staff – before an election.
Kevin Trenberth, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Climate change is relentless and largely predictable, but it is influenced by natural variability. This means the largest temperature rise usually comes at the end of an El Niño event.
Tom Baker, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Despite the claims of landlords and politicians, there is no economic consensus against rent controls. A more nuanced debate would help, given the scale of New Zealand’s housing affordability problem.
Jennifer Curtin, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Previous changes to Australian citizenship rules for Kiwis went against the history and the spirit of intertwined trans-Tasman connections. The new rules put things back on track at last.
With the pandemic-fuelled shift to online learning, many tertiary students now miss out on the social skills critical to real-world success. That could have implications for their degrees.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Jennifer Curtin, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Komathi Kolandai, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Oluwakemi Igiebor, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Suzy Morrissey, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, and Victoria Woodman, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Budget 2023 included a ‘gender snapshot’ to account for the ways investment priorities affect women differently from men. More effective, efficient and equitable, it also makes good economic sense.
Incremental and pragmatic, New Zealand’s fifth Wellbeing Budget tries to balance cost-of-living support with huge long-term investment challenges – all without frightening the inflation horses.
Belief in climate change seems to be linked to willingness to cooperate for the common good. This suggests there may be ways to bridge ideological divides to combat complex problems.
Mike Lee, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
The collapse of Rana Plaza on March 24, 2013, put the focus on fast fashion. But research shows that stressed and struggling consumers don’t have the luxury of making ethical choices.