AUTHOR
J. R. Bruning
27 ARTICLES
J.R. Bruning is a sociologist (B.Bus.Agribusiness; MA Sociology(Res)) based in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Bruning is a trustee of Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility (PSGRNZ). Her primary research focus is on the relationship between governance, policy, and the production of scientific and technical knowledge for public good. Other writing can be found on JRBruning.Substack.com and at TalkingRisk.NZ
Labour & National had $221 million for Freshwater Improvement. They didn’t ask about the Chemicals.
New Zealand keeps rewriting environmental law without building the science frameworks to detect chemical harm. Nicola Grigg is in the middle of it. At the...
What was the threshold? Endangered birds, vaccines and the missing risk assessment
There is something extraordinary about knowing that a kākāpō, takahē or kakī exists nowhere else on Earth. Some of these populations are so small that...
Politicians: Stuck in scientific purgatory in election year
The evidence for reversing chronic disease and improving metabolic and mental health is here. New Zealand's biggest political parties aren't listening. With a general election...
An Election Agreement that has locked in a Road User Charging Revolution
A consultation on regulations for a new road user charging framework has just closed, but the public were never given the opportunity to consider...
Democracy lost and a regulatory system in retreat
Important note: The HSNO Amendment Bill and ACVM Amendment Bill submission deadlines are midnight 15 June 2026, five weeks from introduction. Centralisation of powers and no voice from human...
Does New Zealand’s Mental Health Commission understand how powerful it is?
The Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHW) Commission have enormous powers of enquiry, but the evidence suggests that they are simply resorting to information gathering...
Can whistleblowers rely on the Protected Disclosures Act?
Why a minor decision may have major ramifications - & why we rely on the courage of a single judge. Whistleblowers hold a key, but...
Densification of 5G: Risk to health and safety outside scope in Govt consultation
What fundamentally increases your risk from telecommunications devices and infrastructure? Warning: This article may be a little strident for some. It’s a question most of us...
When Sciencing is all we need
No wonder public trust in government is in freefall. This week the Farmers Weekly in a poll asked readers ‘Should the government be showing more...
Will we be blindsided by one sided science on methane mitigation?
New Chief Science Advisor spruiks methane tech, but what about the ruminant microbiome? In New Zealand, the money flows for methane mitigation – not for...
