Gisborne Herald: Opening up the collection. “Only about 1 percent of Tairawhiti Museum’s collection can be exhibited in the museum at any one time but digital technology means the entire collection can be curated online….Due to be launched tomorrow, the museum’s collection website is a work in progress. The museum has more than 40,000 items catalogued in its internal collection database and these will gradually be added to the online database.”
Otago Daily Times: Google redesignates central city. “Dunedin has a new suburb. At least, according to Google. In a somewhat bemusing shift, all of central Dunedin is now The Exchange on Google. The Exchange has traditionally referred to a single block in Dunedin’s CBD, which includes John Wickliffe House.”
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena – scientific research: The New Zealand National Archives digitizes its first UAP file. “In December 2010, the New Zealand Defence Force released a number of its UAP files. This was only possible through the tireless work of Suzanne Hansen, the Director of New Zealand’s ‘UFO Focus New Zealand Research Network.’ These files were available to view in hard copy format only. Digitised copies then became available online via a news outlet. They were not digitally available through the website of Archives New Zealand. Yesterday, I thought I would take another look at Archives New Zealand and see what UAP files they have currently listed.”
AFP Fact Check: Social media posts mislead on New Zealand’s Covid-19 vaccination drive. “Multiple Facebook posts shared thousands of times in Thailand in February 2021 claim New Zealand has ‘returned to normal’ as ‘the majority of people have been vaccinated [for Covid-19]’. The posts shared screenshots of a video featuring New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern alongside a claim it shows her ‘encouraging people to do outdoor activities to prove that New Zealand has finally returned to normal’. ”
Land Information New Zealand: New search tool makes accessing land records easier. “Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has launched a new online service so anyone can find and buy property records such as titles or survey plans for an address.” Records are 5 New Zealand dollars, which is a little over $3.50 USD..
TV NZ: Chris Hipkins warns Kiwis not to share ‘fake, untrue’ social media content about Covid-19. “Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has again warned New Zealanders not to share ‘fake, untrue’ social media content about Covid-19. At today’s 1pm briefing Hipkins says incorrect information about a lockdown was circulating online last night.”
BBC: Covid-19: New Zealand and Australia agree on quarantine-free travel bubble. “New Zealand has agreed to a quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia ‘in principle’. The country’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said trips under the agreement could begin early next year. However, the much-anticipated deal will depend on the Covid-19 situation in both counties remaining as it is now.”
BBC: How New Zealand’s film industry boomed during the pandemic. “It might be found at the bottom of the globe, but New Zealand has been at the top of the movie industry in 2020. Thanks to its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country is enjoying an unprecedented boom in film production, with directors seeking safe conditions, and that most elusive thing this year – a normal life.”
USA Today: New Zealand study details COVID-19 spread on long-haul flight despite tests. “The 12-page report…follows a cluster of coronavirus cases linked to one passenger traveling on an 18-hour flight from Dubai to New Zealand in September. Though the traveler tested negative with a PCR test before the flight, researchers concluded that ‘at least four in-flight transmission events of SARS-CoV-2 likely took place’ as the pre-symptomatic yet contagious person infected at least four others. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.”
BBC: Covid: Pakistan cricket squad quarantined after positive tests in New Zealand. “Six members of Pakistan’s cricket team have tested positive for Covid-19 while on tour in New Zealand. All six have been moved from managed isolation into quarantine and the team’s exemption from social-distancing rules for training has been suspended.”
RNZ: From memes to tweets, NZ’s online Covid-19 response archived. “Memes of Ashley Bloomfield, cartoons about takeaway cravings, and official Covid-19 warnings – The National Library and the Alexander Turnbull Library are preserving millions of online digital communications to create a snapshot of Aotearoa’s response to Covid-19.”
The Spinoff: The website helping Māori access crucial data about their own communities. “A new website has consolidated data about and involving Māori, making it easier for iwi groups, trusts and Māori communities to access the statistics that impact their lives. A collaboration years in the making, the new Figure NZ and Callaghan Innovation website Pātaka Raraunga aims to make Māori data access easier for everyone. Consolidating thousands of data sets from hundreds of sources into one hub with tools, reports and graphs all about Māori, it’s been made to help Māori find out more about themselves.”
RNZ: Ngā Taonga restructures to disestablish 29 roles. “A major restructure at the national film and sound archive is being met with fears that access to New Zealand’s past will be irreversibly lost. Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision is set to disestablish 29 roles next month, replacing them with as many new roles that aim to improve public access to the historic visual and radio content. But those who spent years working in the archive’s collection say that won’t be the case.”
The Daily Swig: New Zealand launches data breach notification tool. “New Zealand’s privacy commissioner has launched a new tool to help organizations based in the country determine whether a data breach needs to be reported or not. The tool, called NotifyUs, will enable data handlers to check whether it is mandatory to report a breach under new rules.”
BBC: Covid: One-way ‘travel bubble’ opens between Australia and NZ. “The first passengers from New Zealand have arrived in Australia under new ‘travel bubble’ arrangements between the two countries. None of the passengers on the flight from Auckland to Sydney will be required to quarantine in Australia. However they will have to pay for their own quarantine in a hotel when they return to New Zealand.”
