Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by bFM and VICE NZ.Poll Puts Green Party Below the Five Percent Threshold
The latest One News Colmar Brunton poll shows support for the Green Party has dropped 11 points to four percent following two green MP resignations and co-leader Metiria Turei standing aside. This puts the Greens in danger of being expelled from parliament, failing to reach the five percent threshold. Green party leader James Shaw said that the Greens "messiness" over the last couple of weeks has been a major contributing factor in their declining poll numbers. For Labour, however, the Jacinda effect is proving to be real, with the reds up 13 points in the latest poll, placing them only seven percent behind National's lead.Paua Power
A fisheries scientist is working on a plan that could restore the Paua population of Kaikoura. NIWA scientist Reyn Naylor told 95bFM that the Kaikoura earthquakes severely damaged the juvenile paua habitat. "Paua, until they're mature, live under boulders because they don't like the light. So basically if all that stuff gets uplifted, they've got nowhere to live really, and they're exposed to predators." Naylor has been experimenting with a possible solution, using concrete structures off the coast of Wellington in the hope that 50 juvenile paua will establish themselves there. If the Wellington experiment is a success, a pilot trial will be conducted near the Kaikoura coast.Parties Disagree on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement
The government has approved a negotiating mandate for the latest edition of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. The new negotiations include one less country, after the United States president Donald Trump signed a memorandum to withdraw the US from the original agreement. Trade minister Todd McClay said that New Zealand will be pushing for as few changes to the original agreement as possible. The opposition Labour party officials said they will not support the new TPP unless sections regarding procedures of investor-sale disputes are changed.Penguin Death March in Otago
An eight person penguin death march paraded through the streets of an Otago town yesterday. Members of Forest and Bird dressed in penguin suits marched to funeral music, holding signs saying "our penguins are starving" in response to the sharp decline in yellow-eyed penguin numbers seen in recent years. There are concerns that the species may become extinct from mainland New Zealand in the next 25 years if urgent action is not taken. One of the protesters, Roy Johnstone, claims that fishing is partially to blame for the declining numbers, making the birds' food source increasingly scarce. Johnstone says that the implementation of a proposed marine reserve is vital for saving the birds.CEOs Abandon Trump Over Charlottesville Response
President Trump's business advisory councils have been scrapped after CEOs representing some of America's biggest companies deserted en masse. Trump announced on Twitter Wednesday that he was "ending" both his manufacturing council and business strategy council. But more than a dozen leaders, including the heads of PepsiCo, IBM, and JPMorgan, had reportedly already decided to split, taking a stand against Trump's failure to clearly condemn white supremacists.South Korean President Warns of 'Red Line' Over Nuclear Warhead
South Korea president Moon Jae-In warned North Korea that putting a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental missile and launching it would be "crossing a red line." Moon did not explain what kind of action it would provoke and also insisted there would be no war with North Korea. "I can confidently say there will not be a war again on the Korean Peninsula."At Least 37 Killed in Venezuelan Prison Violence
Some 37 people died during a violent clash between police and prisoners at a prison in Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela. According to the state governor, Liborio Guarulla, shots were fired as security personnel attempted to regain control of the prison Tuesday night. The chief prosecutor's office, now probing the cause of the deaths, said 14 prison guards were wounded in the confrontation.Saudi Arabia to Allow Qatari Pilgrims Over the Border
Saudi Arabia will allow religious travellers from Qatar over the border to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Saudi Arabia—along with Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates—cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in June after accusing it of supporting terrorist groups. Saudi Arabia's king Salman said the nation's planes would be made available to fly "Qatari pilgrims on his expenses."Reporting by Reuben McLaren, Conor Mercer and Ollie Powell.
LOCAL NEWS
The latest One News Colmar Brunton poll shows support for the Green Party has dropped 11 points to four percent following two green MP resignations and co-leader Metiria Turei standing aside. This puts the Greens in danger of being expelled from parliament, failing to reach the five percent threshold. Green party leader James Shaw said that the Greens "messiness" over the last couple of weeks has been a major contributing factor in their declining poll numbers. For Labour, however, the Jacinda effect is proving to be real, with the reds up 13 points in the latest poll, placing them only seven percent behind National's lead.Paua Power
A fisheries scientist is working on a plan that could restore the Paua population of Kaikoura. NIWA scientist Reyn Naylor told 95bFM that the Kaikoura earthquakes severely damaged the juvenile paua habitat. "Paua, until they're mature, live under boulders because they don't like the light. So basically if all that stuff gets uplifted, they've got nowhere to live really, and they're exposed to predators." Naylor has been experimenting with a possible solution, using concrete structures off the coast of Wellington in the hope that 50 juvenile paua will establish themselves there. If the Wellington experiment is a success, a pilot trial will be conducted near the Kaikoura coast.
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The government has approved a negotiating mandate for the latest edition of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. The new negotiations include one less country, after the United States president Donald Trump signed a memorandum to withdraw the US from the original agreement. Trade minister Todd McClay said that New Zealand will be pushing for as few changes to the original agreement as possible. The opposition Labour party officials said they will not support the new TPP unless sections regarding procedures of investor-sale disputes are changed.Penguin Death March in Otago
An eight person penguin death march paraded through the streets of an Otago town yesterday. Members of Forest and Bird dressed in penguin suits marched to funeral music, holding signs saying "our penguins are starving" in response to the sharp decline in yellow-eyed penguin numbers seen in recent years. There are concerns that the species may become extinct from mainland New Zealand in the next 25 years if urgent action is not taken. One of the protesters, Roy Johnstone, claims that fishing is partially to blame for the declining numbers, making the birds' food source increasingly scarce. Johnstone says that the implementation of a proposed marine reserve is vital for saving the birds.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
President Trump's business advisory councils have been scrapped after CEOs representing some of America's biggest companies deserted en masse. Trump announced on Twitter Wednesday that he was "ending" both his manufacturing council and business strategy council. But more than a dozen leaders, including the heads of PepsiCo, IBM, and JPMorgan, had reportedly already decided to split, taking a stand against Trump's failure to clearly condemn white supremacists.South Korean President Warns of 'Red Line' Over Nuclear Warhead
South Korea president Moon Jae-In warned North Korea that putting a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental missile and launching it would be "crossing a red line." Moon did not explain what kind of action it would provoke and also insisted there would be no war with North Korea. "I can confidently say there will not be a war again on the Korean Peninsula."At Least 37 Killed in Venezuelan Prison Violence
Some 37 people died during a violent clash between police and prisoners at a prison in Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela. According to the state governor, Liborio Guarulla, shots were fired as security personnel attempted to regain control of the prison Tuesday night. The chief prosecutor's office, now probing the cause of the deaths, said 14 prison guards were wounded in the confrontation.Saudi Arabia to Allow Qatari Pilgrims Over the Border
Saudi Arabia will allow religious travellers from Qatar over the border to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Saudi Arabia—along with Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates—cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in June after accusing it of supporting terrorist groups. Saudi Arabia's king Salman said the nation's planes would be made available to fly "Qatari pilgrims on his expenses."Reporting by Reuben McLaren, Conor Mercer and Ollie Powell.