But on the Newstalk ZB talk show on Wednesday morning, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment deputy chief executive Paul Stocks said butchers and produce stores would not be considered an essential service.
Not a smart decision – what are they doing taking out local competition to supermarkets? Many neighbourhoods/suburbs have a dairy, butcher and grocer. (mine has a 4 Square, sort of a combo).
It’s just sad for those businesses and their local walk-in (no transport issues) customers. Needless.
Next it will be farmers markets – as if buying outdoors makes buying fruit and veges more unsafe.
Do they have a bias against locally grown and locally sold fresh food and want us to stock up on processed food out of cans or something.
And some of us would prefer the local butcher / green grocer / bakery. Far fewer people packed into these shops, fresher produce and less waiting in great long queues.
Well Farmers Markets would be wouldn't they? Unless they were in stadium size areas with strict patrolling of distance between people. This is not a holiday, this is a state of emergency, and I agree about butchers but fuck it, this sucks for everyone.
Yeah the social distancing, there are no crowds in local butchers, greengrocers – more at the supermarket – and no more crowding at an open market than at the supermarket (except for distance caused by trolleys).
Then there those without cars having to travel by PT to get to a supermarket.
Apparently they're staggering people in supermarkets, but who knows, no one knows right now, personally, when I go shopping, if I see crowds of people, I'll turn around and leave. Like I said, I agree, butchers, but they are told to shut, so they will shut. I'm just gonna deal with the here and now.
It's not just about physical closeness, but limiting the number of people we regularly come into contact with – and also limiting the number of locations, because surfaces.
You may only see the operator-owner and maybe one other staff member and maybe one other person at the local shop – butcher and greengrocer and dairy (milk) would cover shopping of fresh goods for the month (a lot of people would have already done a supermarket shop to cover their storage for pantry and freezer).
Bottom line is, the fewer places open the better. Too many businesses (and others) trying to stretch it too much. Too many seem to think they're a special case and the strict measures don't apply to them.
Supermarkets are upping their game with perspex between checkout operators & customers. Customers to load own bags, and limiting numbers in the store at anyone time.
We all need to shrink the number of places we are visiting.
I think the aim is to minimise the number of places in the public arena where cross-infection can occur.
Modelling from Uni of Sydney I saw in the SMH this morning says that compliance by at least 80% of the population needs to happen if the containment is to be successful, anything less than that and we will have put ourselves through enormous grief and trashed the economy for nothing. Our health system will still be at risk and Covid-19 will still be out there.
Supermarkets have implemented a one in, one out policy at the door with social distancing applied to the resulting queue. Expect to see a fair bit of security when you go to the supermarket to enforce this.
At the last small bakery in my area open today, they allowed only one customer inside at the any time. That single person can’t touch any produce, which is a significant distance away. Contactless payment. And the shopping is done in one or two minutes, so hardly any outside queue at all.
No way any supermarket in NZ is safer than this place to get bread.
I also think the small shop has a much better idea which of their 1-2 employees had contact with produce / places within the shop in case of infection.
This is how authoritarianism occurs. No restraints, step by step until there is total itarian) and singular focus on the objective – because any identified "weakness" is risking defeat.
And all because of fear of community spread – fear because we did not have the the testing kit resources (our pandemic planning was weak) to identify it and its extent.
The irony we are developing such capacity and may have it after the month (for a few weeks prioritised to those returning kiwis going into their lockdown).
This butcher is a decent and community-minded man who has a social conscience and is generous. I'd buy from him even if I were a vegan. I know him and I have an idea of what he does for his town. I'd have said he was too busy, in too small a serving area, and I can see why his customers were queued outside. For dinner tonight I had some of his pork belly, and tomorrow night probably his mince on a pizza. Then, I fear I won't see Mike for a month, and have to patronise the supermarket shelves more.
Just like the wine grower I praised recently, a hard worker and an ethical businessman, Mike Newman, too, puts a human face on the huge problems being faced by people dealing with the corona virus.
The Gods smiled upon NZ when Andrew Little realised Jacinda Ardern had a better chance of saving the NZ Labour Party than himself….the series of events that followed couldnt have been bet upon.
Was standing in line at PB Tech this afternoon listening to conversations 2m away. The woman behind me, apparently in health, was on the phone worried about several things among them the addicts who will basically go ballistic in a couple of days when they can't meet their needs.
Expect crime to go through the roof. Police will not be able to handle this.
I’m of the opinion that a lot more people will die during this event from non Covid-19 related circumstances than from the virus itself.
You mean illicit drugs? I wouldn't worry too much, drug addicts know what they're doing and weirdly think ahead, Divo and other dispensaries have plans in place, they're used to people not sparing them much of a thought, I doubt they thought things would change now. (ex addict, with friends still doing naughty things, not one violent criminal or thief among them).
No, I don't, but I know users. Users think ahead, users already use illicit channels to get their drugs, users are used to keeping their drug use hidden, users are used to being ignored, places like Divo and mental health workers know these people, it's quite a community, with characters and stories, some funny, some sad. I just think your fear is unwarranted, druggies lives will go on like the rest of us, I'd be more worried about the drunk home renovators quite frankly.
Except some of the ones I know would be very unhappy with being in a motel with others. They have been offered accommodation before, especially in severe weather conditions. A nice quiet space where they could come and go. But turned down – preferring to find their own space. Quite a few are suffering anxiety and prefer to be alone, which is why they sleep rough. If they can find a safe place where no one can bother them, that is their goal. Here we are hoping to be able to do a "cook up " and leave it on the front step for them to pick up every other day. if the local police agree.
I'm not saying they are all like that, but we must understand that for some this is a life that they choose, because this is how they are coping with their circumstances right now. We need to be there for when they are ready to move on.
Muttonbird – this afternoon on Radio NZ there was an interview in which the ANZ person said the interest would still accrue so no one will take a mortgage "holiday" unless they absolutely have to as it will cost them more. If renters got the same treatment, they would simply be in rent arrears and I know how hard it is to catch up if you are skint to start with. There does need to be some backup though from government of course for people to be able to make their rent payments.
I will try to find the link – not sure it's up yet.
yes I heard that too…which appeared to contradict yesterdays statement that there was an interest holiday as well
"The six-month principal and interest payment holiday for mortgage holders and small business customers whose incomes have been affected by the economic disruption from Covid-19."
yes was Robertson…he did qualify his statements by saying the banks were working on details and to wait a couple of days for them to do so….but it appears it was unnecessarily loose language
Thanks mate but the crux of the situation is that in this lockdown and post lockdown period affected renters still have to pay full rent. Affected homeowners do not have to pay anything.
you wrote…."Affected homeowners do not have to pay anything."
not the case (unless there was an interest holiday as well)….it is essentially an addition to the mortgage principle and adds both interest costs and extends the term
The only reason we are landlords is because we no longer require the small attached unit for our 'grannies'. Since then we have rented it out, electricity, water and internet included to several people. We've never charged the cost of the flat on our mortgage – because I am of the mind that housing is too expensive and thought we need to follow those values in our decisions. Three young couples have saved enough to get deposits on homes, while we have paid 65% of our income on mortgage costs.
We gave our current tenants the required six-weeks notice in three weeks ago so our son could return home, and as we try to never give notice, we gave them two weeks rent free so that they would have more money for a deposit when looking for a new place. The Covid-19 alerts have put paid to that and my son will have to stay where he is and the tenancy notice end date will be extended to include the time of the lockdown, however long it is.
If your suggestion is imposed, and we do have to take a payment holiday – god forbid – we will not be having a gift from the bank that we pass on to our tenants. We will be accruing further interest and it will not be amortised over a term of twenty five years, because we don't have that much working lives left. If we had passed on the cost of having the unit to our tenants, those couples may not have left to move into their own first homes.
Our tenants are already receiving the government wages, and their board to us takes 27% of that income. Blanket requirements such as the one you propose will include landlords who are already trying to do the right thing for tenants. And will quite honestly for us, be financial pressure that is too much to accommodate. Consider those of us who are already trying to look after their tenants at personal costs already.
Molly. You do touch on an important point. That is that there is no consistency in the landlord group in terms of what they offer in rent relief for their tenants.
Everyone would feel they were 'in this together' if there was government direction on this rather than tenants being thrown to the hounds.
I say again, my issue is with the short term discrepancy where out of work tenants have to pay full rent and out of work homeowners can defer payments.
This is crucial for the young families of the renting class.
Assuming all landlords are the same, and need to be required to do something specific because it makes sense to you, does not allow for diversity in tenant experiences, and may very well penalise those landlords who are already trying hard to do the right thing.
Once again,
“If your suggestion is imposed, and we do have to take a payment holiday – god forbid – we will not be having a gift from the bank that we pass on to our tenants. We will be accruing further interest and it will not be amortised over a term of twenty five years, because we don’t have that much working lives left.”
But if there was proper government structured guidance then landlords trying to do the right thing would not be disadvantaged at all – rather they would be joined and part of a scheme which serviced everyones needs.
And on the extra interest – this would be accounted for in a decent government scheme where tenants would pay a reduced rent for the time period which covered costs like rates and insurance and extra costs like heightened interest on the loan.
Homeowners will have to negotiate with their banks. Falling behind in rent is not a good enough reason to kick out tenants until 60 days have passed, which is almost three times as long as previously. If the current new rules are abused, I’d expect further ‘adjustments’ will be introduced by Government.
basically looks like the banks are going to suggest interest only on mortgages where they can, which makes sense to prevent the debt increasing – just delays final repayment.
Now say everyone was tossed onto that, then rents could also go down to the interest amount plus the other overheads. That way no tenant is retiring outstanding principal so rents drop with a thud. It would put domestic rentals well within benefit levels and save small business by them having hopefully on a tiny lease while income is low.In effect a gain pause button on capital movements but expenses being paid .
To implement something like this needs somebody like the ird – they have sector figures – to estimate what % of rental income is nationally swallowed by rates interest insurance and other cash overheads and then the rent freeze becomes anational rent fall of the required %
You seem to be assuming that mortgage payments on rentals are the same as on owner-occupied home loans with maximum principal payments. In addition, most loans are on fixed rates.
Well if the rental mortgage is interest only then likely to mean taking funds they are using elsewhere and yes there are fixed rates of varying amounts on mortgages as are rates insurances etc. Hence using sector averages which could be refined by region. Something is used to set the general housing top up benefit so there are figures there.
It wouldn't work perfectly for all but the current default certainly doesn't so this could be a different starting point. Then some form of top up negotiations
Then there are rental property managers – reminds one of the executives hired to remove labour so vulture capitalism (private funds) can on-sell for CG.
Fuck it pays to just turn the damn radio off after a while the extra stentorian tones of the health warnings emergency alert signals on the phone ect are giving me the shits .They're just scaring people imo and its not necessary after all the build up .anyone with half a brain has surely got the message .Today at a press conference the PM said we could go for a walk but dont talk to anyone is that being kind to each other ?ffs the other day it was sing out to your neigbour over the fence .The thought of weeks if not longer of your own company with little or no respite is bad enough without setting out to ignore people .Say hello !!
I'll still be working, I work for NZ Post, I see people waving at each other and being kind and yelling "All good?" to each other, more so than usual. Common sense, we are social animals, we adapt, give it time there will be new funny ideas people come up with (the teddy bear example below). Fuck, maybe we'll start learning morse code or sign language… I shift from despair and cynicism to cheery upbeat optimism, and yes, turn off the news!
Some of it is a bit silly, too. "Pretend you've already got the virus…" For Heaven's sake, if I've already got the virus, why on earth keep trying to avoid catching it? Some bumkum is getting made up at times..
Yes, of course that is the obvious aim. But if I am pretending that I already have it, why would I continue to wash my hands in cases where that act protects only me?
I think they got this idea from war stories where soldiers performed brave acts in the heat of action – pretending they were already dead helped clear their heads.
I don't think it suits this situation. We must all try above all to avoid catching it (if we haven't already, but do not know) and we should also do all we can to avoid spreading it. But pretending we already have it is naff to my mind.
It's hard enough for adults to fully comprehend the situation. It must be impossible for the kids. I don't live on a street front but a nice way to give them some fun counting the teddy bears.
If you do the stomp method, beware, it does comes with a slippery health warning. It does work, had to do it a few times, and my nan use to always do it, though she had willing (or press ganged) grand kids to do the mashing, and kids were tougher back then, so falling out of the bath didn't seem to matter so much.
Rinsing is the pain, not just for having to use cold water, but because it never seems to run thoroughly clean. I always found it best to rinse just one or two items, squeeze and redo, but at least you can do that from outside the tub.
I've just had a pair of relatives drop by with TV dinners and puds in case I don't always feel like cooking during the lockdown. They said there are military helicoptors flying all over Auckland tonight. Must be expecting trouble.
I popped in to my local dairy earlier today and the Indian family who own it are scared stiff. They know they are going to be at the front of the firing line when the kids high on drugs – having discovered everything is closed – start vandalising and burglarising the dairies for cigarettes and the like.
They travelled from Pt Chev to Browns Bay and then to Devonport using the Northern Motorway so maybe there was something going down further north.
Edit: I have a nephew currently training in Waiuru and he told his mother the military have been gearing up to assist the police for some weeks now. His training schedule has been halted so they are available for police assistance work. His sister (my niece) is a recently graduated cop working in Rotorua and she says things are building up there at the moment.
Big landlords, particularly those who do regular opinion pieces in the media might want to action some well publicised rent relief for their customers.
Otherwise they might look like greedy and mean charlatans…
People with holiday homes and little sense of social responsibility, heading to their holiday homes in small communities for the lock down – putting pressure on communities that don't have the health resources to support them, adding extra bodies in supermarkets, and possibly taking Covid-19 with them.
Reporter Susan Strongman has spoken to Coromandel peninsula residents, who are worried by the influx of out-of-towners they've seen in the last few days.
I do wish that was stressed a bit more, "this is NOT a holiday", we were asked to stay in our regions. They've already had to ask people to not go tramping or hunting, what's the bet we hear of a hunting tragedy and or people missing on some range, c'mon people, prove me wrong!
If we are going to require people to give up their local shops and use supermarkets – why not allow people to spread out and isolate themselves further away?
Neither local fear of the outsider (welcome each summer for business), nor resentment at others being able to use their time in this way, is a good thing. They can isolate as much there as their usual residence (not really a burden if they bring their own shopping).
Nonsense. Resources like health care are based on year round resident numbers. Great for some well-off townies to think they'll be better of in a smaller community – except the locals are a small community most of the year, and these insensitive townies are adding to their stress and vulnerability
Read what Graeme said, what if they're sick and they don't know it, and above weren't you advocating staying local? We still might see Regions, towns, even suburbs get further locked down, so maybe these holiday makers might find themselves locked in, or locked out, like in a Bollard novel. We were told to stay home, because it was the simplest thing to do, but oh no, people have to stretch definitions and be contrary. I feel for the police, having to babysit us.
They, or partner, can drive to their primary residence from the "bach" if someone feels sick.
There are not going to be any regional lockdowns – not until they can identify a singular area of community spread. They would have their own shopping with them.
Why should those foreign tourists still here be the only ones enjoying our isolated outdoor areas – these people are not in contact with anyone else going from one place to another.
""And local spread is – where it occurs easier to identify and contain. " you said. -How do you know there won’t be regional lockdowns? I’d say right now, anything is possible.
In so far as track and trace local makes for easier follow up, regional lockdowns require community testing – which we will not be doing this month (focus is on incoming kiwis for now)
Well, for one thing an itinerant population makes contact tracing a bugger.
You go bush tomorrow, someone you contacted with yesterday comes down with it on the weekend, phones are unreliable – I mean, we can hope you don't encounter anyone else and the only one in danger is you…
Well I have seen a couple – but frankly I think that report is over egging it somewhat. Today was my last last chance to go and mow the lawns at Whiritoa. The beach was pretty empty, and no where near the numbers around over the summer holidays. Tomorrow of course they won't be able to.
I see on RNZ that Virgin airlines are basically closing their New Zealand operations making redundancies but are wondering what to do with the wages ssubsidy from the government. Greed like rust seems to never sleep and why are we funding Richard Branson
To avoid queues and minimise contact time, why don’t supermarkets do the shopping for us? You give them your list (in advance), they fill your trolley, you paywave (they can even use mobile EFTPOS), collect your shoppings and drive home. My kind of shopping.
Most big supermarkets already have a click and collect system set up. The two big ones on Lincoln Rd have it. But it seems they are heavily used at the moment so the first available slots are quite a way ahead. You pay online when you place the order, no need for an unclean disease riddled mobile EFTPOS machine to even come within sneezing distance.
Good. Maybe they can increase capacity and shift from physical shopping presence to collection-only. With paywave, the only thing you touch is that disgusting piece of plastic in your wallet 😉
I have registered for Countdown. I looked at the click and collect PickUp several times and have never seen an available slot for my local supermarket- always every time-day slot booked up for the next 7 days. Ditto for home delivery, which costs more. I finally DID manage to get a home delivery for Sunday, but that was a bit of luck. Although the cost is fairly steep, but it's cheaper for a big order, and they give a discount on your first delivery.
I have a scratchy throat, on antibiotics, and been told by the GP to self isolate and to stay away from people, just in case I have a mild does of THE virus. I prefer to do my own shopping, but, will make do in this extraordinary time. I see my local Countdown have expanded the number of slots for home delivery, but it's still over subscribed – all slots full for the next 7 days.
So I am eaking out the meagre fruit & veg I have left so I last til Sunday. Have plenty of protein. I'd rather leave calling out a nephew to shop for me for another week or 2 if I can, and that should take me thru the 4 weeks.
These are not normal times, and we need to make do without some of the luxuries and on-tap stuff we are used to, in order to limit our contacts and keep ourselves and others safe
Up side is, I think I have painlessly lost a little weight. That won't hurt me in the long run.
Register for New World as well – and go with the one with the earliest, or most convenient time slot. And do so early or late to avoid difficulty logging in.
Pity, that choice can be useful. I found this week that New World was available a day quicker (and still had specials, if some were sold out by my delivery today).
They have just finished a major refit and the installed the cabinets for online ordering. About 100 I guess. Totally insufficient for even a small town of around 8000.
New World doesn't do online shopping in the South Island, where I live. I have registered with Fresh Choice here in Cromwell and getting our groceries delivered late tomorrow afternoon/early evening. No problems registering. Because I'm slow, sorting through what I wanted online took me a while, although it was very easy. But I'm sure I will get used to it. Incidently, it worked out a lot cheaper than physically shopping.
Well, maybe this is a good time to plan ahead more and better. I know many shoppers like to touch, pinch, smell, and feel produce and then put it back again for the next shopper to do the same thing again. Would you like to buy avocados, bananas or apples that have been touched by countless strangers before? There are very good apps that take the recipe and list the ingredients as a shopping list but you have to plan the meals for the week. But we shall not inconvenience shoppers, shall we? Least of all, at Alert Level 4.
It's not about feeling the fruit, it's about busy culinary minded people wanting to cook for themselves and like to be inspired when looking at produce in the supermarket for the inspiration on a lovely dish for their family.
Still, at alert level 4 no one is busy, are they? Perhaps we should all just do Ubermarkets instead and be done with any personal creativity?
We laugh at that fool because otherwise one would cry at the people he's killed through laziness and incompetence. We haven't touched the tip of the iceberg on that one.
Those were the days when filling up the trolley once a fortnight and be done with it, except for occasional re-stocking milk and fruit & vege. The less time spent in a supermarket, the better.
I have a decent sized carry bag.I also carry my own bags for veg. Knowing what I want, and where it is, I can quickly get around the store, and usually with less than 12 items go to the fast lane and check out.
Yes, I did leave off some stuff I would have liked from my Sunday home delivery order. Plus, I didn't think to get something probiotic to counter the antibiotics. But, I will get it sooner or later. The stuff I forgot is more what I like, rather than what I absolutely need.
Despite official figures reporting few to no new domestic Covid-19 cases on the Chinese mainland in recent days, authorities continue to detect more infections, with those in the city at the heart of the country’s outbreak often amounting to more than a dozen a day, Caixin has learned.
According to a member of the infectious disease prevention and control team in Wuhan, every day the city continues to record “several or more than a dozen asymptomatic infected individuals”, which are people that have tested positive for Covid-19, but do not feel ill and are excluded from published numbers.
Beware the asymptomatic.
As of Sunday (March 22), Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, had four consecutive days of zero new “confirmed cases.”
The person, who asked not to be named, said that these asymptomatic people are found by tracing the contacts of others who are infected and by screening quarantine workers who are at high risk of infection, as opposed to en masse testing.
“It’s not possible at the moment to tell if transmission has stopped,” the person said.
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Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a dark comedy: Bodkin (Netflix, May 9)An English podcaster, an Irish podcaster and American podcaster walk into a pub and…make a TV show? ...
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Pacific regionalism academic has called out New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS and says the security deal “raises serious questions for the Pacific region”. Auckland University of Technology academic Dr Marco de Jong ...
How worried should we be about the cloud? This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. I currently have a few thousand unread emails languishing in my inbox, mostly old marketing newsletters and piles of unread science journal press releases. I have a similar number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuurrianti Jalli, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication Studies, Northern State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asian governments not only have to deal with the virus but also with the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Murakami Wood, Professor of Critical Surveillance and Securities Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa The skyline of Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.(Shutterstock) There is a long history of planned city building by both governments ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
The Boil Up’s Lucinda Bennett considers the oyster – from freshness to pearls to the joy of shucking your own. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. In Carmen Maria Machado’s short story ‘Eight Bites’, a woman begins her last supper before bariatric surgery with “a cavalcade ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
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Not a smart decision – what are they doing taking out local competition to supermarkets? Many neighbourhoods/suburbs have a dairy, butcher and grocer. (mine has a 4 Square, sort of a combo).
It’s just sad for those businesses and their local walk-in (no transport issues) customers. Needless.
Next it will be farmers markets – as if buying outdoors makes buying fruit and veges more unsafe.
Do they have a bias against locally grown and locally sold fresh food and want us to stock up on processed food out of cans or something.
And some of us would prefer the local butcher / green grocer / bakery. Far fewer people packed into these shops, fresher produce and less waiting in great long queues.
Well Farmers Markets would be wouldn't they? Unless they were in stadium size areas with strict patrolling of distance between people. This is not a holiday, this is a state of emergency, and I agree about butchers but fuck it, this sucks for everyone.
i.e. Stay in your bubble. loose bubbles cost lives.
The produce is no more spread out in a supermarket, than in an outdoor market.
Not the produce, the people. The reasons playgrounds are shut as it's a place people congregate, they're trying to limit people congregating.
Yeah the social distancing, there are no crowds in local butchers, greengrocers – more at the supermarket – and no more crowding at an open market than at the supermarket (except for distance caused by trolleys).
Then there those without cars having to travel by PT to get to a supermarket.
Apparently they're staggering people in supermarkets, but who knows, no one knows right now, personally, when I go shopping, if I see crowds of people, I'll turn around and leave. Like I said, I agree, butchers, but they are told to shut, so they will shut. I'm just gonna deal with the here and now.
It's not just about physical closeness, but limiting the number of people we regularly come into contact with – and also limiting the number of locations, because surfaces.
You may only see the operator-owner and maybe one other staff member and maybe one other person at the local shop – butcher and greengrocer and dairy (milk) would cover shopping of fresh goods for the month (a lot of people would have already done a supermarket shop to cover their storage for pantry and freezer).
Bottom line is, the fewer places open the better. Too many businesses (and others) trying to stretch it too much. Too many seem to think they're a special case and the strict measures don't apply to them.
Supermarkets are upping their game with perspex between checkout operators & customers. Customers to load own bags, and limiting numbers in the store at anyone time.
We all need to shrink the number of places we are visiting.
I think the aim is to minimise the number of places in the public arena where cross-infection can occur.
Modelling from Uni of Sydney I saw in the SMH this morning says that compliance by at least 80% of the population needs to happen if the containment is to be successful, anything less than that and we will have put ourselves through enormous grief and trashed the economy for nothing. Our health system will still be at risk and Covid-19 will still be out there.
Increasing the number of people who have to use use the supermarket is not great for increasing social distancing.
And local spread is – where it occurs easier to identify and contain.
Supermarkets have implemented a one in, one out policy at the door with social distancing applied to the resulting queue. Expect to see a fair bit of security when you go to the supermarket to enforce this.
At the last small bakery in my area open today, they allowed only one customer inside at the any time. That single person can’t touch any produce, which is a significant distance away. Contactless payment. And the shopping is done in one or two minutes, so hardly any outside queue at all.
No way any supermarket in NZ is safer than this place to get bread.
I also think the small shop has a much better idea which of their 1-2 employees had contact with produce / places within the shop in case of infection.
In this case I think the government screwed up.
And “local spread” or any spread can be fully avoided if everything is shut down.
its all or nothing now, no half measures or we might as well just give up and let the thing do what it wants.
This is how authoritarianism occurs. No restraints, step by step until there is total itarian) and singular focus on the objective – because any identified "weakness" is risking defeat.
And all because of fear of community spread – fear because we did not have the the testing kit resources (our pandemic planning was weak) to identify it and its extent.
The irony we are developing such capacity and may have it after the month (for a few weeks prioritised to those returning kiwis going into their lockdown).
SPC, please put a link if you are going to cut and paste. I'm getting sick of having to ask this, but it's especially important at this time.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/120555183/coronavirus-meaters-of-marlborough-closes-as-retail-butchers-grapple-grey-area
This butcher is a decent and community-minded man who has a social conscience and is generous. I'd buy from him even if I were a vegan. I know him and I have an idea of what he does for his town. I'd have said he was too busy, in too small a serving area, and I can see why his customers were queued outside. For dinner tonight I had some of his pork belly, and tomorrow night probably his mince on a pizza. Then, I fear I won't see Mike for a month, and have to patronise the supermarket shelves more.
Just like the wine grower I praised recently, a hard worker and an ethical businessman, Mike Newman, too, puts a human face on the huge problems being faced by people dealing with the corona virus.
The Gods smiled upon NZ when Andrew Little realised Jacinda Ardern had a better chance of saving the NZ Labour Party than himself….the series of events that followed couldnt have been bet upon.
I've been thinking about this too. What Little did, and what Turei did too.
Was standing in line at PB Tech this afternoon listening to conversations 2m away. The woman behind me, apparently in health, was on the phone worried about several things among them the addicts who will basically go ballistic in a couple of days when they can't meet their needs.
Expect crime to go through the roof. Police will not be able to handle this.
I’m of the opinion that a lot more people will die during this event from non Covid-19 related circumstances than from the virus itself.
You mean illicit drugs? I wouldn't worry too much, drug addicts know what they're doing and weirdly think ahead, Divo and other dispensaries have plans in place, they're used to people not sparing them much of a thought, I doubt they thought things would change now. (ex addict, with friends still doing naughty things, not one violent criminal or thief among them).
Nice one IFL.
Do you work in primary health?
Ok if not, but what about the wider dependent community not so prepared for such an eventuality. I'm think the mass of new methamphetamine users.
No, I don't, but I know users. Users think ahead, users already use illicit channels to get their drugs, users are used to keeping their drug use hidden, users are used to being ignored, places like Divo and mental health workers know these people, it's quite a community, with characters and stories, some funny, some sad. I just think your fear is unwarranted, druggies lives will go on like the rest of us, I'd be more worried about the drunk home renovators quite frankly.
"I'd be more worried about the drunk home renovators quite frankly. "
Well you'd hope so wouldn't you. I mean, think about it.
And the homeless….?
are surprisingly being considered….at least in Auckland and Wellington if theMayors are to be believed
Goff said they will use empty motels and hotels to house rough sleepers.
Except some of the ones I know would be very unhappy with being in a motel with others. They have been offered accommodation before, especially in severe weather conditions. A nice quiet space where they could come and go. But turned down – preferring to find their own space. Quite a few are suffering anxiety and prefer to be alone, which is why they sleep rough. If they can find a safe place where no one can bother them, that is their goal. Here we are hoping to be able to do a "cook up " and leave it on the front step for them to pick up every other day. if the local police agree.
I'm not saying they are all like that, but we must understand that for some this is a life that they choose, because this is how they are coping with their circumstances right now. We need to be there for when they are ready to move on.
Government Covid-19 response to housing costs:
Homeowners = massive high level talks with banks resulting in a mortgage holiday and you don't have to pay anything while out of work.
Renters = pay full rent while you are out of work unless you personally can negotiate with your landlord.
Muttonbird – this afternoon on Radio NZ there was an interview in which the ANZ person said the interest would still accrue so no one will take a mortgage "holiday" unless they absolutely have to as it will cost them more. If renters got the same treatment, they would simply be in rent arrears and I know how hard it is to catch up if you are skint to start with. There does need to be some backup though from government of course for people to be able to make their rent payments.
I will try to find the link – not sure it's up yet.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018740152/anz-boss-assures-customers-cash-available-duing-lockdown
yes I heard that too…which appeared to contradict yesterdays statement that there was an interest holiday as well
"The six-month principal and interest payment holiday for mortgage holders and small business customers whose incomes have been affected by the economic disruption from Covid-19."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/412511/retail-banks-agree-to-a-mortgage-holiday-repayment-scheme
The comment was by Grant Robertson, wasn't it?
He is a truly masterful spinner of yarns. Just take his comments with a very large dollop of salt.
yes was Robertson…he did qualify his statements by saying the banks were working on details and to wait a couple of days for them to do so….but it appears it was unnecessarily loose language
"principal and interest" holiday
So P and I repayments would be put on hold. However, interest will still be charged on the loan itself.
Over a six month period, that is interest being charged on interest.
The deal is a bit of a rort. The best thing to do would have been to just freeze the loan for six months. No interest. No repayments.
But noooooo, the banks still gotta get their slice of fat.
it could be interpreted that way but that is unusual to separate the elements as he did
Thanks mate but the crux of the situation is that in this lockdown and post lockdown period affected renters still have to pay full rent. Affected homeowners do not have to pay anything.
I'm really tired of pointing this out.
you appear to misunderstand how a mortgage holiday works….it generally adds to your long term costs (and appears will do so in this case)
Did you actually read what I just wrote?
you wrote…."Affected homeowners do not have to pay anything."
not the case (unless there was an interest holiday as well)….it is essentially an addition to the mortgage principle and adds both interest costs and extends the term
The Warehouse said they'd remain open, the ANZ said they'd still charge interest.
If they try, let's just see what the government does.
theres always that possibility…though I expect ANZ is a little more careful than the Warehouse
We're talking about bankers, here. GFC, all that jazz.
lol…yep but I expect they have better legal advice on tap plus the experience of what happened to the big box stores….not to mention more clout
Once the chargeout is four digits an hour, is the advice really all that much more impressive?
Basically it comes down to what the government really wants: with emergency powers, legal fripparies can be waived aside.
I understand the best legal advice seldom references the law…..but perhaps a lawyer may have a different view
"In the lockdown and post lockdown period". Read it!
Hi Muttonbird,
The only reason we are landlords is because we no longer require the small attached unit for our 'grannies'. Since then we have rented it out, electricity, water and internet included to several people. We've never charged the cost of the flat on our mortgage – because I am of the mind that housing is too expensive and thought we need to follow those values in our decisions. Three young couples have saved enough to get deposits on homes, while we have paid 65% of our income on mortgage costs.
We gave our current tenants the required six-weeks notice in three weeks ago so our son could return home, and as we try to never give notice, we gave them two weeks rent free so that they would have more money for a deposit when looking for a new place. The Covid-19 alerts have put paid to that and my son will have to stay where he is and the tenancy notice end date will be extended to include the time of the lockdown, however long it is.
If your suggestion is imposed, and we do have to take a payment holiday – god forbid – we will not be having a gift from the bank that we pass on to our tenants. We will be accruing further interest and it will not be amortised over a term of twenty five years, because we don't have that much working lives left. If we had passed on the cost of having the unit to our tenants, those couples may not have left to move into their own first homes.
Our tenants are already receiving the government wages, and their board to us takes 27% of that income. Blanket requirements such as the one you propose will include landlords who are already trying to do the right thing for tenants. And will quite honestly for us, be financial pressure that is too much to accommodate. Consider those of us who are already trying to look after their tenants at personal costs already.
Molly. You do touch on an important point. That is that there is no consistency in the landlord group in terms of what they offer in rent relief for their tenants.
Everyone would feel they were 'in this together' if there was government direction on this rather than tenants being thrown to the hounds.
I say again, my issue is with the short term discrepancy where out of work tenants have to pay full rent and out of work homeowners can defer payments.
This is crucial for the young families of the renting class.
They are ignored though. As it ever was.
I also touch on another important point.
Assuming all landlords are the same, and need to be required to do something specific because it makes sense to you, does not allow for diversity in tenant experiences, and may very well penalise those landlords who are already trying hard to do the right thing.
Once again,
“If your suggestion is imposed, and we do have to take a payment holiday – god forbid – we will not be having a gift from the bank that we pass on to our tenants. We will be accruing further interest and it will not be amortised over a term of twenty five years, because we don’t have that much working lives left.”
And I also suspect that for those on higher fixed rates – it will be those higher fixed rates interest that will be charged and accrued to the loan.
But if there was proper government structured guidance then landlords trying to do the right thing would not be disadvantaged at all – rather they would be joined and part of a scheme which serviced everyones needs.
And on the extra interest – this would be accounted for in a decent government scheme where tenants would pay a reduced rent for the time period which covered costs like rates and insurance and extra costs like heightened interest on the loan.
Homeowners will have to negotiate with their banks. Falling behind in rent is not a good enough reason to kick out tenants until 60 days have passed, which is almost three times as long as previously. If the current new rules are abused, I’d expect further ‘adjustments’ will be introduced by Government.
basically looks like the banks are going to suggest interest only on mortgages where they can, which makes sense to prevent the debt increasing – just delays final repayment.
Now say everyone was tossed onto that, then rents could also go down to the interest amount plus the other overheads. That way no tenant is retiring outstanding principal so rents drop with a thud. It would put domestic rentals well within benefit levels and save small business by them having hopefully on a tiny lease while income is low.In effect a gain pause button on capital movements but expenses being paid .
To implement something like this needs somebody like the ird – they have sector figures – to estimate what % of rental income is nationally swallowed by rates interest insurance and other cash overheads and then the rent freeze becomes anational rent fall of the required %
You seem to be assuming that mortgage payments on rentals are the same as on owner-occupied home loans with maximum principal payments. In addition, most loans are on fixed rates.
Well if the rental mortgage is interest only then likely to mean taking funds they are using elsewhere and yes there are fixed rates of varying amounts on mortgages as are rates insurances etc. Hence using sector averages which could be refined by region. Something is used to set the general housing top up benefit so there are figures there.
It wouldn't work perfectly for all but the current default certainly doesn't so this could be a different starting point. Then some form of top up negotiations
Then there are rental property managers – reminds one of the executives hired to remove labour so vulture capitalism (private funds) can on-sell for CG.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12319904
Fuck it pays to just turn the damn radio off after a while the extra stentorian tones of the health warnings emergency alert signals on the phone ect are giving me the shits .They're just scaring people imo and its not necessary after all the build up .anyone with half a brain has surely got the message .Today at a press conference the PM said we could go for a walk but dont talk to anyone is that being kind to each other ?ffs the other day it was sing out to your neigbour over the fence .The thought of weeks if not longer of your own company with little or no respite is bad enough without setting out to ignore people .Say hello !!
I'll still be working, I work for NZ Post, I see people waving at each other and being kind and yelling "All good?" to each other, more so than usual. Common sense, we are social animals, we adapt, give it time there will be new funny ideas people come up with (the teddy bear example below). Fuck, maybe we'll start learning morse code or sign language… I shift from despair and cynicism to cheery upbeat optimism, and yes, turn off the news!
Say it, don't spray it weston, that's the point.
Some of it is a bit silly, too. "Pretend you've already got the virus…" For Heaven's sake, if I've already got the virus, why on earth keep trying to avoid catching it? Some bumkum is getting made up at times..
To stop you spreading it?
Exactly!
Yes, of course that is the obvious aim. But if I am pretending that I already have it, why would I continue to wash my hands in cases where that act protects only me?
I think they got this idea from war stories where soldiers performed brave acts in the heat of action – pretending they were already dead helped clear their heads.
I don't think it suits this situation. We must all try above all to avoid catching it (if we haven't already, but do not know) and we should also do all we can to avoid spreading it. But pretending we already have it is naff to my mind.
Maybe because the advice is broad, for the brightest amongst us, and the stupidest. Lockdown for Dummies.
Fair enough. I would be happier with "Imagine you already have it," rather than "Pretend". But now I'm quibbling, so I shall quietly withdraw…
I like this:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/412602/teddy-bears-in-windows-to-cheer-up-kids-during-lockdown
It's hard enough for adults to fully comprehend the situation. It must be impossible for the kids. I don't live on a street front but a nice way to give them some fun counting the teddy bears.
I already have mine
Family Fist's weed expert.
https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1242644087699726341
My washing machine is rooted. I'm going to hang the dirty laundry on the clothesline and attack it with the water blaster.
Ha!!!!
Bath tub, hot water, sprinkle of washing powder, shorts on and pretend your squishing grapes for 15 minutes.
Pain in the arse come to rinse time, mind, especially 'cause the tap has to be running and hot water is burny. Tip – use use cold water. lol
Doing the laundry in the bath tub sounds like a good idea, thanks The Al1en.
If you do the stomp method, beware, it does comes with a slippery health warning. It does work, had to do it a few times, and my nan use to always do it, though she had willing (or press ganged) grand kids to do the mashing, and kids were tougher back then, so falling out of the bath didn't seem to matter so much.
Rinsing is the pain, not just for having to use cold water, but because it never seems to run thoroughly clean. I always found it best to rinse just one or two items, squeeze and redo, but at least you can do that from outside the tub.
Followed by the leave blower. I hope you use industrial strength pegs.
leaf… 🙁
Ah, the electric ones. I’ve heard they’re even more powerful.
Fireblade @ 9
You won't have any clothes left mate. 😯
Seriously:
I've just had a pair of relatives drop by with TV dinners and puds in case I don't always feel like cooking during the lockdown. They said there are military helicoptors flying all over Auckland tonight. Must be expecting trouble.
I popped in to my local dairy earlier today and the Indian family who own it are scared stiff. They know they are going to be at the front of the firing line when the kids high on drugs – having discovered everything is closed – start vandalising and burglarising the dairies for cigarettes and the like.
Haven't heard any helicopters over Mt Eden way.
They travelled from Pt Chev to Browns Bay and then to Devonport using the Northern Motorway so maybe there was something going down further north.
Edit: I have a nephew currently training in Waiuru and he told his mother the military have been gearing up to assist the police for some weeks now. His training schedule has been halted so they are available for police assistance work. His sister (my niece) is a recently graduated cop working in Rotorua and she says things are building up there at the moment.
Interesting. A helicopter did fly overhead a few minutes ago – just passing.
Those high on drugs burglarizers will have to wait in line like the rest of us.
Big landlords, particularly those who do regular opinion pieces in the media might want to action some well publicised rent relief for their customers.
Otherwise they might look like greedy and mean charlatans…
…just saying.
Little landlords just offhand the enforcement role to rental property managers.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12319904
People with holiday homes and little sense of social responsibility, heading to their holiday homes in small communities for the lock down – putting pressure on communities that don't have the health resources to support them, adding extra bodies in supermarkets, and possibly taking Covid-19 with them.
RNZ Checkpoint
I do wish that was stressed a bit more, "this is NOT a holiday", we were asked to stay in our regions. They've already had to ask people to not go tramping or hunting, what's the bet we hear of a hunting tragedy and or people missing on some range, c'mon people, prove me wrong!
Yeah, this could turn really nasty for someone who's infected but yet to know about it, who goes bush and then gets sick.
Yeah iwi should have closed a few more areas.
If we are going to require people to give up their local shops and use supermarkets – why not allow people to spread out and isolate themselves further away?
Neither local fear of the outsider (welcome each summer for business), nor resentment at others being able to use their time in this way, is a good thing. They can isolate as much there as their usual residence (not really a burden if they bring their own shopping).
Nonsense. Resources like health care are based on year round resident numbers. Great for some well-off townies to think they'll be better of in a smaller community – except the locals are a small community most of the year, and these insensitive townies are adding to their stress and vulnerability
They are perfectly capable of driving back home for medical treatment.
Read what Graeme said, what if they're sick and they don't know it, and above weren't you advocating staying local? We still might see Regions, towns, even suburbs get further locked down, so maybe these holiday makers might find themselves locked in, or locked out, like in a Bollard novel. We were told to stay home, because it was the simplest thing to do, but oh no, people have to stretch definitions and be contrary. I feel for the police, having to babysit us.
They, or partner, can drive to their primary residence from the "bach" if someone feels sick.
There are not going to be any regional lockdowns – not until they can identify a singular area of community spread. They would have their own shopping with them.
Why should those foreign tourists still here be the only ones enjoying our isolated outdoor areas – these people are not in contact with anyone else going from one place to another.
""And local spread is – where it occurs easier to identify and contain. " you said. -How do you know there won’t be regional lockdowns? I’d say right now, anything is possible.
In so far as track and trace local makes for easier follow up, regional lockdowns require community testing – which we will not be doing this month (focus is on incoming kiwis for now)
Well, for one thing an itinerant population makes contact tracing a bugger.
You go bush tomorrow, someone you contacted with yesterday comes down with it on the weekend, phones are unreliable – I mean, we can hope you don't encounter anyone else and the only one in danger is you…
Only a problem if the bach has no landline, or poor mobile reception – there is still email to their devices.
Gawd. Would so hate for the Covid-19 fleeing wealthy to be locked out of their primary homes.
& I feel sorry for the police babysitting us.
Well I have seen a couple – but frankly I think that report is over egging it somewhat. Today was my last last chance to go and mow the lawns at Whiritoa. The beach was pretty empty, and no where near the numbers around over the summer holidays. Tomorrow of course they won't be able to.
I see on RNZ that Virgin airlines are basically closing their New Zealand operations making redundancies but are wondering what to do with the wages ssubsidy from the government. Greed like rust seems to never sleep and why are we funding Richard Branson
Branson, through Virgin Group only owns 10.42%, other owners are below. And they were fucked before this happened, don’t expect them to survive.
even 10% would be too much for this person. & I don't really see any other homeless underpaid waifs on the list deserving of my tax dollars.
To avoid queues and minimise contact time, why don’t supermarkets do the shopping for us? You give them your list (in advance), they fill your trolley, you paywave (they can even use mobile EFTPOS), collect your shoppings and drive home. My kind of shopping.
Most big supermarkets already have a click and collect system set up. The two big ones on Lincoln Rd have it. But it seems they are heavily used at the moment so the first available slots are quite a way ahead. You pay online when you place the order, no need for an unclean disease riddled mobile EFTPOS machine to even come within sneezing distance.
Good. Maybe they can increase capacity and shift from physical shopping presence to collection-only. With paywave, the only thing you touch is that disgusting piece of plastic in your wallet 😉
I have registered for Countdown. I looked at the click and collect PickUp several times and have never seen an available slot for my local supermarket- always every time-day slot booked up for the next 7 days. Ditto for home delivery, which costs more. I finally DID manage to get a home delivery for Sunday, but that was a bit of luck. Although the cost is fairly steep, but it's cheaper for a big order, and they give a discount on your first delivery.
I have a scratchy throat, on antibiotics, and been told by the GP to self isolate and to stay away from people, just in case I have a mild does of THE virus. I prefer to do my own shopping, but, will make do in this extraordinary time. I see my local Countdown have expanded the number of slots for home delivery, but it's still over subscribed – all slots full for the next 7 days.
So I am eaking out the meagre fruit & veg I have left so I last til Sunday. Have plenty of protein. I'd rather leave calling out a nephew to shop for me for another week or 2 if I can, and that should take me thru the 4 weeks.
These are not normal times, and we need to make do without some of the luxuries and on-tap stuff we are used to, in order to limit our contacts and keep ourselves and others safe
Up side is, I think I have painlessly lost a little weight. That won't hurt me in the long run.
Register for New World as well – and go with the one with the earliest, or most convenient time slot. And do so early or late to avoid difficulty logging in.
There is no New World anywhere near me. Countdown is it.
Pity, that choice can be useful. I found this week that New World was available a day quicker (and still had specials, if some were sold out by my delivery today).
It's Pac and Slave or nothing here.
They have just finished a major refit and the installed the cabinets for online ordering. About 100 I guess. Totally insufficient for even a small town of around 8000.
New World doesn't do online shopping in the South Island, where I live. I have registered with Fresh Choice here in Cromwell and getting our groceries delivered late tomorrow afternoon/early evening. No problems registering. Because I'm slow, sorting through what I wanted online took me a while, although it was very easy. But I'm sure I will get used to it. Incidently, it worked out a lot cheaper than physically shopping.
Take good care of yourself Carolyn_Nth. Keep safe.
A lot of people prefer to choose they own fruit and meat. They like to use the time in the isles to think about what they need and imagine recipes.
A lot of people don't do rigid lists.
Well, maybe this is a good time to plan ahead more and better. I know many shoppers like to touch, pinch, smell, and feel produce and then put it back again for the next shopper to do the same thing again. Would you like to buy avocados, bananas or apples that have been touched by countless strangers before? There are very good apps that take the recipe and list the ingredients as a shopping list but you have to plan the meals for the week. But we shall not inconvenience shoppers, shall we? Least of all, at Alert Level 4.
For me, it's not really about planning ahead. Seeing the thing reminds me of shit I need, or can do better than what I had actually planned.
As for poking and prodding, yeah, that's why I tend to wash any produce that doesn't peel anyway.
+ 1.
It's not about feeling the fruit, it's about busy culinary minded people wanting to cook for themselves and like to be inspired when looking at produce in the supermarket for the inspiration on a lovely dish for their family.
Still, at alert level 4 no one is busy, are they? Perhaps we should all just do Ubermarkets instead and be done with any personal creativity?
Dot a month, we're asked to sacrifice our normal patterns, and we laugh at Trump being bored of his lockdown after a week.
We laugh at that fool because otherwise one would cry at the people he's killed through laziness and incompetence. We haven't touched the tip of the iceberg on that one.
Pak’nSave allows you 30 min in the shop to get creative.
But you just said supermarkets should be taking lists.
Which is it?
You just said you like to be inspired in a supermarket. Well, you’ll have 30 min as off midnight. Knock yourself out with some exotic recipes.
Gezz 10 mins is long enough for me. 15 mins is too long.
Those were the days when filling up the trolley once a fortnight and be done with it, except for occasional re-stocking milk and fruit & vege. The less time spent in a supermarket, the better.
Actually I don't use a trolley.
I have a decent sized carry bag.I also carry my own bags for veg. Knowing what I want, and where it is, I can quickly get around the store, and usually with less than 12 items go to the fast lane and check out.
You lucky bastard
there are people in my family who go to the supermarket every day. Don't get me started.
Yes, I did leave off some stuff I would have liked from my Sunday home delivery order. Plus, I didn't think to get something probiotic to counter the antibiotics. But, I will get it sooner or later. The stuff I forgot is more what I like, rather than what I absolutely need.
Some good stuff in the google doc.
https://twitter.com/jeremyphoward/status/1242572288962240517
Despite official figures reporting few to no new domestic Covid-19 cases on the Chinese mainland in recent days, authorities continue to detect more infections, with those in the city at the heart of the country’s outbreak often amounting to more than a dozen a day, Caixin has learned.
According to a member of the infectious disease prevention and control team in Wuhan, every day the city continues to record “several or more than a dozen asymptomatic infected individuals”, which are people that have tested positive for Covid-19, but do not feel ill and are excluded from published numbers.
Beware the asymptomatic.
As of Sunday (March 22), Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, had four consecutive days of zero new “confirmed cases.”
The person, who asked not to be named, said that these asymptomatic people are found by tracing the contacts of others who are infected and by screening quarantine workers who are at high risk of infection, as opposed to en masse testing.
“It’s not possible at the moment to tell if transmission has stopped,” the person said.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/despite-official-figures-wuhan-continues-to-find-new-asymptomatic-coronavirus-cases
A classic Beatles song with a very clear video from 1966.
Paperback Writer
there's something not right about watching a video of the Beatles that looks like it was filmed last year.
Not right Stones.
Stay home, stay safe, be kind, we will get through this.
God Defend New Zealand
Te Reo Māori and English
It would be interesting to see what the birth rates are 9-10 months from now.
& divorce rates…
Prince Charles has tested positive for Covid-19.
He is currently experiencing mild symptoms and is at home in Scotland.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120576564/coronavirus-prince-charles-tests-positive-displaying-mild-symptoms