Despite the latest onslaught of “perception building” the people seem largely unmoved, if the latest One/Colmar poll is any indication.
I checked with an ordinary person what they thought – vaguely aware of National hiccups, they think Labour (and Greens) are always moaning, and are far more interested in things happening in their everyday lives. People on politics – yawn.
Labour seem to have been trying hard out to destroy Government. Apart from most people hardly noticing, this does not present as a party capable of being successful in government themselves.
What PG do you think the role of the Opposition really is? Do you expect them to get all lovy dovy with the Government? Especially when that Government is wrecking the country at a rapid rate with the collusion of your beloved Dung. I can assure you people will notice, and they will act on it, maybe not for Labour.
You really are a benighted pillock if you believe what you wrote.
The Opposition has to try and find a good balance – holding Government to account when justified, and establishing credentials as a viable alternative.
Instead of being seen as 90% negative Labour would create a much better impression if they were 90% positive, and saved attacks for when they were really justified (and would much more effective rather than being seen as just more crying wolf) .
I think Shearer gets this, but he seems nowhere near getting old Labour working with him yet.
Whilst we have been watching the fiasco of a NACT civil war unfold rather larger events are happening in Europe. Spain is up in arms with students and young people “rioting”. Ireland is watching to see if the Irish willl cough up the cash from a “poll tax” that will effectively go straight to the banksters…bugger all have paid up or will.
The common theme of the financial fiasco is that young people through out Eurozone are unemployed, have no future prospects and are going to be expected to pick up the debts over their lifetimes. Expect (extreme) trouble.
Good poll result for the Nats in times of turmoil. Shows the public trust John Key ,and are happy with his governance in times of trouble.
To govern in the time of the second biggest insurance claim in the worlds history and still be relatively popular (51%) is a great effort. Dont believe strenuous efforts by Labour to throw mud at the wall,and hope for something to stick is really working.If Mallard ,and Andrew Little are found guilty it will only dent any rpogress Labour were making yet again
What the voting public are really looking for is for Labour to come out with Policy that shows what it is going to do, that doesn’t involve taxing the shite out of everyone again.How will it build the economy? How will it help businesses grow?
As the old adage goes the trouble with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money what then?
James do you actually think about what you say….You are aware that National borrowed the tax cuts right?
“Good poll result for the Nats in times of turmoil. Shows the public trust John Key ,and are happy with his governance in times of trouble” – The public trust John Key, which is why the lowest turnout in NZ history just a few months back, yeah they trust him James, just like the trust the rest of them..My god boy, can you try a little harder, or are you at capacity!
“How will it build the economy? How will it help businesses grow?” – Lets see, force record numbers of Kiwis offshore, businessess foreign owned, profits gauged out of Kiwis flowing offshore, charter schools, casual workforces, lockouts union busting, drilling/mining consents, asset sales…the list goes on James.
“As the old adage goes the trouble with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money what then” – So better to borrow it into existence, never account for where it went, then sell off real assets as a cover story for your offshore mates to grab the hard assets, while clocking up further interest, which will have to be paid back to those same mates who now own the assets, forcing higher prices on consumers, having to service the debt from tax cuts via tax raises in future….Bravo James, Bravo
Remember that I am not a party voter, in case you think I care about you dissing Labour et al!
“Shows the public trust John Key ,and are happy with his governance in times of trouble.”
Which, in the real world, means that National’s spin doctors are doing a wonderful job and most of the NZ public are completely ignorant of just how hard they’re getting fucked.
And the problem with capitalism is that we eventually run out of resources (Peak Oil), profit is dropping fast (Can’t grow the “economy” and so can’t pay the interest on money printed hand over fist by the private banks) and the capitalists think that they deserve everyone else’s wealth and so push most people into poverty (Talley’s and PoAL).
Actually Muzza I do agree with this enquiry the floating mortgage rate should be about 2.5% above the borrowing rate. Which means its should be around 4.5% depending on when ,and where the banks are borrowing money from.The four Australian banks last year took 4.5 billion dollars profit out of the New Zealand economy. Four companies profit( National Bank, ANZ),Westpac,BNZ ASB was greater than all the profit added up by the other 400 companies on the stock exchange that clearly shows something out of whack. I fully support Labour on this enquiry believe the Aussie banks are gouging ,as they have been accused in their own Country
Why is it that every time there is a shark attack the same old bores come out with the line … “well, you know, it is the shark’s territory, not ours …blah blah blah” as if we human’s somehow have less right to be there. As if we are somehow from another planet. This is the most hogwash bullshit unsupported blather. As fas as I can tell we have always come from this planet. Mankind has always gone into the sea, still does so now and will in the future. Mankind is as entitled as the fish to enter the sea.
Being one who has often been around sharks and in the ocean the point has been made to me countless times over the years and it is most often a point of so-called rights rather than risk. The risk is the risk and all who enter the oceanic realm are aware of that, but the claim that we somehow have less right to be there has never been adequately argued – because the argument doesn’t exist. Just a bee in my bonnet…
Well yeah. We have a right to swim in the sea, sure.
Swimmers gonna swim; sharks gonna shark.
I aint got fuck all sympathy for an argument that says the ocean is not our territory, but I’ve got even less sympathy for an argument that says it’s not the shark’s, or that we have a superior right to the territory, which amounts to the same thing.
But man oh man, if sharks were people too, they would be fucking us up for sure about that finning shit.
Lynch mobs of sharks in crazy airsuits roaming the streets thinning out our numbers.
The argument does exist. If you claim that there is a predetermined right for humans to enter the ocean to exploit it simply because we’re also from earth, you are missing one of the main problems… there are too many humans.
The rights of animals that have been on the planet a lot longer than humans will always ethically trump the rights of humans to enter areas that are not their natural environments. There are clear-cut boundaries… it is unfortunate that humans have not learnt to respect the animal kingdom and are determined to exploit the earth to the detriment of all living creatures.
Mr Jackal, you describe the issue clealy which is exactly the issue I have a problem with and have done for years. Also note that I am not talking about exploitation of the marine environment. That is a different issue.
You say this “The rights of animals that have been on the planet a lot longer than humans will always ethically trump the rights of humans to enter areas that are not their natural environments. There are clear-cut boundaries”. I disagree with that in two main areas..
I do not see time on the planet as any sort of determinant. That is a very slippery slope. How is it a determinant? And further, how on earth have sharkes been here longer anyway? If you accept evolution then you will realise that we (sharks and humans) have been here equal amounts of time, in various forms.
As for the sea not being human’s natural environment, I am not sure how that could be the case given that humans have always entered the sea – for food, for pleasure, for travel. How do you imagine it is not our natural environment? Because we cant breathe underwater? neither can whales. Is it because we don’t spend as much time in it? how time do seagulls spend on the water compared to land and air. And which would be a ducks natural environment – the water, the land or the air? I think Jackal that you are casting all sorts of dubious frameworks around an issue that for many arises simply due to some sort of misplaced guilt complex. (or possibly, due to a justified guilt complex due to the exploitation you mention, but that does not affect the issue at hand – whether the sea is our natural environment)
How is it a determinant that the time frame spent on earth is relevant you ask? I mainly mentioned this because you initially said that humans aren’t aliens. You argued that humans have as much right because were not alien to earth… how does that relate to use being alien to environments on earth?
There’s another aspect that should also be mentioned… Humans have developed technology that enables us to unnaturally exploit the natural environment. Who are we to use our technology to impede other animals from having enough time to develop as well?
There is no question that the boundaries are set by nature, and mankind has devised ways of disregarding the natural balance of our ecosystems.
You argue that the ocean is our natural environment, however humans are land based creatures… being on a boat is not our natural environment and swimming in the ocean is not our natural environment per se.
You say that you’re not talking about the exploitation of the marine environment, however your mentality that humans have more right to be in an environment that is predominated by marine creatures is highly defunct… it is what leads to overfishing, pollution and species extinction.
Your argument amounts to: I’m a human who has developed technology that allows me to exploit the environment and other animals. Therefore it is my right to do so.
Considering the mess because of so-called technological advancements, can you truly say that humans are more intelligent (or whatever you’re basing your superiority on) than animals that solely reside in their natural environments?
Humans have developed technology that enables us to unnaturally exploit the natural environment.
What’s unnatural about it? Either humans are part of nature, or they are not. If they are not, you need to explain what they are, and why they should care about nature.
Species extinction because of technological advancement is natural?
Human’s have made thousands of species extinct because our technological advancement allows us to encroach on their natural habitats. Human’s are a part of nature, many of our technological advancements are not.
I need to explain why humans should care about nature? Because humans cannot exist without the natural world. Without balance within ecological systems we cannot hope to progress.
To expand on your theory… CO2 emissions causing climate change is natural because a car is a tool we have devised to move around in and a nuclear bomb is “natural” because it is a tool we have devised to destroy other human beings. You’re being ridiculous Pascal’s bookie. Our natural inclination is to make tools, that does not mean the tools we make or the way we use them are natural.
What I’m saying is that the categories, natural/unnatural are meaningless if you think humans are part of nature.
So yeah, AGW and nuclear bombs are natural, there is nothing mystical about them.
I don’t really see any mileage in dividing the world into things human do on the one hand, and everything else on the other hand, and labelling the latter ‘natural’.
I mean where does that get you really? Should we limit ourselves to doing only natural things? But what’s that? Is a beaver’s dam natural? Is a hunter-gatherer’s skin cloak natural? Is a nature reserve natural?
A more intriguing thing to look at is our, also natural, ability to take account of things, theorise, predict consequences and adapt and refine our behaviour.
People would no doubt argue that they are “entitled” to eat fish – until all the fish are gone. Hence the increase in shark “attacks”. From the sharks’ perspective I guess they would argue that they are entitled to a square meal once in a while.
Are you saying we should be allowed to fight/kill sharks that are pestering/threatening swimmers/fishermen, or something else? Is it a nature’s authority vs human authority argument? Though I am sure you are serious, it sounded like the tuna vs lion argument for a moment. Sharks are from planet earth too, but you don’t often see them at Subway for a lunchtime sandwich, though they may have the right.
Yeah, but we don’t have gills. Does that suggest the ocean is an environment where we do not have the kind of authority we hold on land? Even with breathing aparatus, the sharks will just wait us out.
Part of nature, definitely – cf. Physics Chemistry Biology Genetics etc.
“It’s more a matter of protecting ourselves” agree and disagree – on the one hand people want to feed their families. On the other overfishing puts all of us at greater risk on many fronts, in and out of the water.
Yes humans are part of nature but the emphasis is on part – no better or worse than other parts of nature. Sharks do what sharks do and we kill them – yay for us, not.
uturn, kotahi and marty, see my reply to jackal above. The idea that we somehow have less “right” to be in the sea compared to a shark, which is the idea first raised as the problem idea, has still not been adequately made. I’m all ears though.
And just to be clear, I am not for killing them, or over-eating them, especially for fin soup (like rhino’s horns in its vulgarity and repulsiveness).
We are as entitled as sharks to be in the sea and we are entitled to protect ourselves. (as kotahi points out, “entitled” is not a good word for it but I think you get the idea).
“Because we cant breathe underwater? neither can whales.”
Try holding your breath as long as a whale, spend your life underwater, eat krill for dinner, dive as deep as a whale and survive. Still feeling like the ocean is your natural habitat? Can you openly communicate with a whale in his language and tell him where to go, when to go and how to go? Do you understand his animal instincts and needs – not only understand, but control them? The key point is habitat – what is our natural habitat. We are not whales, or sharks. Despite Kevin Costner’s attempts, we can’t survive indefinitely in the ocean, we need land, so the sea is not our natural habitat.
“how time do seagulls spend on the water compared to land and air. And which would be a ducks natural environment – the water, the land or the air?”
A duck is not a shark or a fish. Perhaps you can help by listing the elements of necessity, both physical, psychological and historical of human environments and make another list of that of the ducks. For example, what do they need to reproduce, flourish, what are their collective achievements, how do they organise their groupings. Do we find any patterns of necessity emerging? Do we find ducks drawing on cave walls, have they built using stone or iron, what materials do they use, do they mine the earth or trap water for electricity – and if they do, why do they, and what do they do with the things they create?
Why have ducks have not invaded our human habitats and conquered us? If they don’t possess the kind of minds and abilities we have, is it our evolutionary obligation to infringe their habitat without redress? Should we ever regulate our urge to claim ourselves master of everything? Is fear of being Mr.Shark’s dinner, or fear of the natural world’s pwer in general, an evolutionary balance born into us from a power greater than us? Why do we fear sharks if we are their masters?
“We are as entitled as sharks to be in the sea and we are entitled to protect ourselves. (as kotahi points out, “entitled” is not a good word for it but I think you get the idea).”
This is far more interesting than what I should be doing.
Since we have jumped from sharks to whales to ducks and seagulls, there is a PNG tribe that mutilate themselves to make their skin look like the crocodiles in the rivers they live on. It’s a right of passage, the pain of the mutilation, from boy to man, a man to a respectful hunter. Their natural habitat is on land, near rivers and estuaries, which is the source of their fishing and hunting life. But they know that Mr. Crocodile will kill them given the chance. They pray to a god that oversees crocodiles and good fortune. They understand where they sit in the ecology of their environment. They could go on a croc killing spree, but don’t, their god would be enraged and children would die; men would lose honor and the tribe would disperse. They protect themselves with prayer and precautions; historical knowledge of feeding times and animal traits, methods and tools of hunting.
Out here in the techno-western world, we’d call them stone aged. Bullets and laws surpass the power of gods, but we also have a new task of righting the imbalances we create in the natural world: we have laws that say a certain number of native trees have to be planted if we clear a site for development; we know from scientific research, not legends and religion, that killing sharks upsets a larger food chain that would not be in our best interests. We are entitled to protect ourselves, and we do, directly and indirectly.
What we often sneakily do though, is tell ourselves that a nice safe swimming beach in sub-tropical waters would supplement our beachside hotel quite nicely. If it means we have to “protect” our investment, and by association ourselves (there’s the moral skip, jump and delusion), then a few sharks must die. We are entitled to do it. Our religion of dollars and hedonism says so, right up to the point – as someone else said – that there are no more sharks and no more fishy inconveniences; the coral isn’t so bright, the snorkeling boat stops running, the sea turns brown and silty, the white sands fill with sludge and our hotel on the beach closes.
Uturn, your points are repititions of those previously made and ones which I do not accept. You claim those various features mean the sea is not our natural environment but you do not say why that is so. Perhaps you could also explain what level of engagement with the sea would make it our natural environment? Being able to hold our breath as long a whale?
Manwomankind has been entering the sea forever – that is what makes it our natural environment. It is part of us. We are entitled to be there as equally as the shark and whale. The shark also uses the air and sometimes the land (very rare). Perhaps they should not be allowed to jump into the air or charge up onto land to grab a seal. Or rather, they should not be entitled to do that. Following the reasoning of course.
Yes I did, I asked you to define a human habitat. Listen carefully: a natural human habitat contains all the things that allow reproduction and support the aspects of human life; psychological and physical and have the means to allow full expression of the human condition.
A shark jumps into the air, but gravity returns him to his natural habitat.
An orca shunts up onto land to grab a baby seal, but if he sits there for too long, he’ll die, so he forces himself back. Each has a temporary “right” to be there. But holds no authority in the air or on the land.
If the shark could hover in space, it would still not be his natural habitat. He’d need wings to catch birds to eat and an improved respiratory system. If an orca were to sit on the shore line for too long, he could not reproduce – or a passing hunter might spear him and the line would die out. Neither has an equal right to use the terrain they have temporarily visited, compared to those who normally live there. Neither has the kind of mobility and ability that humans have. Humans can go from shore to ocean and kill/take almost anything we want. We don’t even have to be hungry or in need. Fish, whales, sharks, while apparently cunning in their jumping and land skipping, are only displaying learned tricks to meet instinctual demands.
Are you saying that a man’s instinct is to be master of all, is therefore evidence that he should be master of all?
I think the problem we’re running into here, is the misconception that humans are the same as animals, that an animal analogy fits directly to a human truth. What would speed things up would be if you could outline the bee you say you have in your bonnet in specific detail. Has a naughty greenie chastised you for diving at the Poor Knights or something? It’s quite possible they were being a fifteen-thousand-steps-removed kind of silly.
” Has a naughty greenie chastised you for diving at the Poor Knights or something?” ha ha. Yes. Of a kind and place.
Your reference to natural habitats being the main place for occupation, sustenance and reproduction I don’t think supports the contention that a species has more entitlement to occupy that space than another species which hails from a different environment, although that is often the basis for the argument that humans have less entitlement to be in the sea than sharks.
To revert to ducks again.. a duck spends very little time in the water (under it) and certainly doesn;t breed there and doesn’t need to feed there, but they do go under water. I suspect few people would expect that the duck has less entitlement to go under the water than the fish who swim around their feet. In fact that is the analogy, for me. The underwater realm of the duck is as much its natural environment as is the riverbank on which it waddles. The same goes for humans and the sea.
I can’t recall specifics but the words have been along the lines “well, it is the sharks environment not yours, you have no / less right to be there. You should stay out.”
It has been pretty common over the years. I put it down to a guilt complex thanks to our species penchant for taking it all until it all gone – be it kauri forests, moas, oil, rivers, fish,…
I do not see time on the planet as any sort of determinant. That is a very slippery slope. How is it a determinant? And further, how on earth have sharkes been here longer anyway? If you accept evolution then you will realise that we (sharks and humans) have been here equal amounts of time, in various forms.
around an issue that for many arises simply due to some sort of misplaced guilt complex.
Isn’t that the same logic you use when discussing indigenous issues?
Back to the sharks – to argue that the oceans are humans natural environment argues nothing. Under that logic everywhere is part of the humans natural environment which, whilst true at one level, makes any distinction of ‘natural environment’s’ meaningless, surely.
It seems an issue of respect to me. We respect different ecosystems, environments and habitats and their inhabitants and when we enter those realms we treat them with respect not condescension. I don’t believe in our supposed godgiven right to wade in and fuck everything up for everything else.
“It seems an issue of respect to me. We respect different ecosystems, environments and habitats and their inhabitants and when we enter those realms we treat them with respect not condescension. I don’t believe in our supposed godgiven right to wade in and fuck everything up for everything else.”
I agree entirely and can’t understand why you would assume that from my point about the right to be in the sea.
One (the right to be in the sea) doesn’t mean the other (the right to dominate and exploit).
wasn’t about you vto just a generalised statement about my view on the way humans should approach different environments and so on. Although not sure what these ‘rights’ entail, i mean can’t we go to the beach now?
Oh, ok. What do those rights entail? As mentioned above the words ‘rights’ or ‘entitlement’ are not the correct description of the situation. It is more a recognition that the sea is part of the natural human environment as it is part of the fishes natural environment. It is this aspect which many deny.
Does your right to be in the sea, extend to a right to be in the sea without a risk of shark related incidents involving blood, and the chomping?
If it doesn’t, then I’m not sure there’s an argument to be had here.
Folks that talk about the shark being there first or what have you, tend to be responding to an argument that ‘the shark is at fault’, or an implication that ‘bloody sharks, what a pack of wankers, someone ought to do something, like kill heaps of sharks’.
No one disputes that you have a right to go into the sea, as long as it’s accepted that if you are really unlucky, you might get bitten by a shark. Nor does anyone dispute that you wouldn’t get bitten by a shark if you didn’t go into the sea.
In other words, go into the sea for sure, but your only grounds for complaining about shark bites is if you don’t go into the sea.
P’s b, I mentioned above, the ‘right’ includes the right to protect yourself. If the sea is accepted as part of the natural human realm then all aspects are incorporated, in your example case the aspect of individual and group protection in that environment. All creatures protect themselves of course.
So the next question is – what level of protection is right? Culling of sharks in populated areas? Repulsion devices? Nothing at all and you just roll the dice? This is where it gets tricky and the issue becomes even more difficult…
I don’t know the complete answer. I guess if you decided to go diving off Stewart Island during great white breeding time and decided to get rid of them to enable your diving to happen there is something amiss, but if you were diving somewhere and a great white came sniffing around and you took it out then it veers to the other end of the spectrum.
To get briefly buddhist on it, a human is just the universe being a human; and a shark, the universe being a shark. same shit, with fundamentally different perspectives.
Now what is a human? It’s no good going as far as saying humans are a part of nature/the universe, you have to say what part of nature/the universe humans are.
Does humanity define nature? Meh.
Was atime when we were naked apes beset by dangerous beasts, nowadays, it’s hard to say there are many truly wild large beasts left. Once the universe bes something much bigger than a housecat it runs the risk of human bits of the universe extincting it. Lions tigres bears, all exist right now, on human sufferage. We allow them space.
I’m not sure if that makes them ‘lions’ still or not.
To come down from those clouds, I think one of the main things to think about is the purpose for being in the water. If you are a subsusitence fisher putting food on your families table, I think you have alot of justification for killing a shark.
A recreational diver going out for a look see? I’m inclined to say “Well look-see and what lives in the sea muthafucka’
The shark is master of it’s own domain, if we enter their domain we get what we get and infrequently at best. I’m all for protection but if your logic is extended then you would kill off everything because of its potential to harm humans and that would be a big no no for me. You points may have some merit if a shark wandered into your street and started biting people but until then…
Hmm. God knows where this comment will land in the thread. But anyway. Any environment can be entered into to some degree or other with the proviso that we can actually survive it for some span of time or other.
Eg. A road is an environment I cross over quite often. I’ve been around longer than some drivers in their cars have, but so what? If I don’t look around, allow for the fact that a couple of tonnes of machinery under the control of an idiot is going to hurt me lots and lots if it hits me, and modify my behaviour appropriately, then I’m going to get hurt or killed.
And I can, if I want, lash out at cars that threaten my safety in spite of any reasonable precautions I’ve taken. (Panel dints tend to piss off wankers behind a wheel).
So. I can go into the sea. And get hit by rips and sharks and ‘a million and one’ other pieces of shit. And maybe I can punch the nose of a shark that is thinking of having a chew on my leg or whatever.
Jeez. What was the point of this thread again? yup. I can go where I want. And sometimes shit might happen. And if shit happens, is it my fault or something or someone elses? Kind of depends on circumstances dunnit?
Did I have any right to be on the road when I got run over and munted? Yes. Was it wise to have stepped out onto the road pissed as a newt and not looking? No. Was it my fault I got munted? And did I have the right to be on the road stone cold sober (observing the ‘common sense’ rules of the environment) when that car ‘hung a right’ and whacked me? And was it my fault I got whacked?
Who knows what rules govern the sea? You kind of takes your chances and do what you can if and when shit lands , innit?
To all those who kindly offered their opinions above, ta. But I still aint too far ahead. Pretty much the same arguments as I always come across, so not sure what the true reality is. I of course stand by my own opinion which is that the sea is part of our natural environment just as much as sandy desert, icy mountain or windy skies and we are as entitled as the birds and the dinosaurs and the fishes to be in it.
As to the other side issues, such as exploitation, senseless killing, respect for the environment etc they are surely correct. It seems however it is often these side issues which people take into account when deciding the main issue – which is the classic case of mixing up the issues and questions leading to an erroneous answer.
Now, who’s having fish for tea? And it had better not be a Talleys fish …..
Nah vto. It’s heaps ahead. I get your point about being pissed off by the ‘it be shark’s environment and you in’t got no right to be there’ shit.
So, we can go where we want. But we takes our chances.
What if we wandrered into head hunter territory? And we got whacked? Shit happens. Did we have a ‘right’ to go there? Yup. Did we have a ‘right’ to the consequences? Yup. Do we have a right to ‘go ape’ on the headhunters? Nope.
ACC VIPs get ‘preferential treatment’
By John Gibb of the Otago Daily Times
ACC has come under renewed attack over suggestions its “VIP claims” handling policy delivers better protection for the privacy of powerful decision-makers, including MPs, judges and ACC board members.
ACC under fire from a number of quarters – an I a cynic in terms of diversion and/or put the heat on ACC to undermine its credibility further for both the privacy issue and other purposes (eg privatisation). That is not to say that the matters raised in both the Herald and Stuff articles are not disturbing and serious.
“…am I a cynic in terms of diversion and/or put the heat on ACC to undermine its credibility further for both the privacy issue and other purposes (eg privatisation).”
Yes. This was a concern expressed by Millhouse a week ago. Soften up the public that ACC is a mess, (Welfare anyone?) and presto.
Guess who can supply a bit of Privatisation to fix it up? We all know that Private is better than Public – don’t we???
Maybe not concerning falling crime rates. National is just trying to take credit for what is a world wide trend that has little to do with legislation.
Given the fact that John Key isn’t responsible for the production of these statistics I’m not sure how you can imply this is a lie from him. If it was then NZ has got a lot bigger problem than just a right leaning Government you don’t like very much. Our entire system is corrupted beyond repair and will need to be rebuilt. You are surely not suggesting that are you Frank? Even you’re not that stupid surely.
From memory was it revealed a couple of years ago that National got the police to start laying charges differently i.e. if someone stole a checkbook and used 6 cheques then 6 charges (using s document for pecuniary advantage, fraud whatever) used to be laid.
As somebody who spent time working from an IT perspective on Police stats I can tell you that most of the comments here are very poorly informed. Including yours.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:08 pm
One more thing. I you (or anybody else on propaganda propagation duties) can secure me an official release from the lifetime confidentiality agreements I signed while doing that work – I’ll happily fill in the blanks that exists between the perception and the reality. Until then – all I say is that the stats are produced by police but published by the Govt of the day.
That last sentence I suspect sums it up quite nicely.
Nothing to do with Judith Collins/3 strikes/improved policing & morale of course – obviously the commissioner has been didling the figures to suit himself.
What an evil national government getting the commissioner to massage crime stats for their own purposes – likely they have been bribing crims to go straight as well so that they can do some sneaky cuts in Police numbers – typical tory scum!
Slippery has announced a bit of a Cabinet re-shuffle in the carve up of Nick Smith,s little empire following His long over-due relegation to a position on the Government bench,s that in our opinion best suits His abilities,
No surprises in any of that and the only point of interest is the further subtle dilution of the ”Brat Pack,s influence”…
Great Stats on crime for the Nats sure to be a vote retainer for them if they can keep it up. Very good result for Christchurch does that mean the crims actuall have a heart. Or they were all shaken out of Chrsitchurch excuse the pun
LOL – Jimmy you really are quite funny, much more than Gosman who tries to be clever, but simply is not! Your naivity of comment should actually be embraced, because you seem able to be able to roll even the largest of turds in glitter
What a special little guy eh….
FYI – The crime has moved from Christchurch, most likely headed to Waikato, Auckland, Nelson and Oamaru…make sense buddy?
Meh.
1% of that would be the CHCH central stats dropping by 44%. I wonder why?
And we’re at the end of the census cycle, so who knows whether their population projections include the exodus to Aus, and of course what’s the tourist population rate? And that’s without juking the stats.
Happy crime seems to be down, waiting to see if it’s for real.
Heard Stephen Franks the other day waffling on about how the Lombard Four’s crimes should not have been crimes because they lacked the intent (and knowledge). It was a bit of a discussion I think on Nat Radio but it lacked the crucial pieces …..
Our criminal laws have developed over centuries and centuries of events and instances that have been hauled up before the courts and carefully considered and decided by judges and juries.
The result is that our society has deemed certain acts to be criminal, whether or not they have any intent. This has resulted from society deeming those acts and their results to be of such grave consequence for both individuals and society as a whole that they must be sanctioned to the extent of being made a crime, no matter the lack of intent. These acts can be against both people and property. This is the result of centuries and centuries of this consideration by the wise heads of the judges and by the average of society as a whole through the jury system.
Manslaughter is one example. Making false statements when raising money from the public is another. Do those such as Stephen Franks also suggest that those who by their unintended actions kill someone should also not be subject to criminal charge? Because I have seen and heard no argument around this particularity.
He argued against something that society has developed over centuries but offered not a single decent reason as to why those centuries of consideration should be dispensed with. imo.
My perception has always been that all crimes require intent, but it is the intent to commit the act, not just of outcome. So manslaughter requires the intent to commit the act that killed someone, even if you didn’t think it would hurt them.
Similarly the lombard crew intended to sign their papers, even though they might not have known they were incorrect. The fact is that they asserted as fact something that, as far as they knew, could have been either fact or fiction. That was the intent, not the “well, they didn’t know it wasn’t true, so they didn’t do anything wrong”-type BS of Franks perspective. Which is perilously close to the:
aide: sir, this might be strictly tr-
boss: nah nah nah not listening! It’s true until I’m told otherwise, and nobody’s told me anything!
Amnesty International wants an independant investigation into nz compliance with
human rights obligations in Afghanistan,PM say’s there is no need.
This article is on the stuff site.
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles and that ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
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 Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Despite a “historic” ceasefire agreement in Papua New Guinea between Enga authorities and tribal leaders after months of bitter warfare, a young woman has been found brutally killed near Kaekin village, Wapenamanda. Despite the peace agreement and signing concluded in Port Moresby last Thursday ...
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
Are you deeply passionate about sharing Māori stories? We’re on the hunt for an experienced writer/editor to lead coverage in our Ātea section.Ātea is a deeply valued section of The Spinoff site, offering Māori perspectives and insights across politics, current affairs and culture. We are thrilled to be looking ...
By Aisha Azeemah in Suva With the lights on one of his sneakers blinking as he ran through the gallery, a little boy looked up at several works of art. One of them was a sculpture of his grandfather: the man who changed how we see the Pacific — Epeli ...
WHAT: Uber drivers are holding a rally outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington tomorrow, as the company begins its appeal against 2022’s Employment Court verdict (in a case taken jointly by FIRST Union and E tū) that four drivers were permanent ...
RNZ Pacific The Fiji Meteorological Service has a heavy rain warning still in place for the whole of the country after a weekend of flooding, although some floodwaters have receded. Flood and flash flood warnings and alerts are also in place, including a warning for all flash flood-prone areas, small ...
Responding to Grant Robertson’s recent admission on a Q+A with Jack Tame that his only regret from his time in office was that he didn’t take on more debt, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Alex Murphy, said: “Grant Robertson has now admitted that he ...
Public servant Denise Cosgrove thinks her corruption is “cute”.
Is her manager equally corrupt, or will she be seeking new employment?
Despite the latest onslaught of “perception building” the people seem largely unmoved, if the latest One/Colmar poll is any indication.
I checked with an ordinary person what they thought – vaguely aware of National hiccups, they think Labour (and Greens) are always moaning, and are far more interested in things happening in their everyday lives. People on politics – yawn.
Labour seem to have been trying hard out to destroy Government. Apart from most people hardly noticing, this does not present as a party capable of being successful in government themselves.
What PG do you think the role of the Opposition really is? Do you expect them to get all lovy dovy with the Government? Especially when that Government is wrecking the country at a rapid rate with the collusion of your beloved Dung. I can assure you people will notice, and they will act on it, maybe not for Labour.
You really are a benighted pillock if you believe what you wrote.
…and if he doesn’t believe it he’s a deceitful shill – just not a very good one.
The Opposition has to try and find a good balance – holding Government to account when justified, and establishing credentials as a viable alternative.
Instead of being seen as 90% negative Labour would create a much better impression if they were 90% positive, and saved attacks for when they were really justified (and would much more effective rather than being seen as just more crying wolf) .
I think Shearer gets this, but he seems nowhere near getting old Labour working with him yet.
Pete you do realize that politics is a sham right? Pete, pete wake up mate, there you go!
Whilst we have been watching the fiasco of a NACT civil war unfold rather larger events are happening in Europe. Spain is up in arms with students and young people “rioting”. Ireland is watching to see if the Irish willl cough up the cash from a “poll tax” that will effectively go straight to the banksters…bugger all have paid up or will.
The common theme of the financial fiasco is that young people through out Eurozone are unemployed, have no future prospects and are going to be expected to pick up the debts over their lifetimes. Expect (extreme) trouble.
Good poll result for the Nats in times of turmoil. Shows the public trust John Key ,and are happy with his governance in times of trouble.
To govern in the time of the second biggest insurance claim in the worlds history and still be relatively popular (51%) is a great effort. Dont believe strenuous efforts by Labour to throw mud at the wall,and hope for something to stick is really working.If Mallard ,and Andrew Little are found guilty it will only dent any rpogress Labour were making yet again
What the voting public are really looking for is for Labour to come out with Policy that shows what it is going to do, that doesn’t involve taxing the shite out of everyone again.How will it build the economy? How will it help businesses grow?
As the old adage goes the trouble with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money what then?
http://curiablog.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/one-news-colmar-brunton-poll-march-2012/
This is a rogue poll. Don’t believe it.
James do you actually think about what you say….You are aware that National borrowed the tax cuts right?
“Good poll result for the Nats in times of turmoil. Shows the public trust John Key ,and are happy with his governance in times of trouble” – The public trust John Key, which is why the lowest turnout in NZ history just a few months back, yeah they trust him James, just like the trust the rest of them..My god boy, can you try a little harder, or are you at capacity!
“How will it build the economy? How will it help businesses grow?” – Lets see, force record numbers of Kiwis offshore, businessess foreign owned, profits gauged out of Kiwis flowing offshore, charter schools, casual workforces, lockouts union busting, drilling/mining consents, asset sales…the list goes on James.
“As the old adage goes the trouble with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money what then” – So better to borrow it into existence, never account for where it went, then sell off real assets as a cover story for your offshore mates to grab the hard assets, while clocking up further interest, which will have to be paid back to those same mates who now own the assets, forcing higher prices on consumers, having to service the debt from tax cuts via tax raises in future….Bravo James, Bravo
Remember that I am not a party voter, in case you think I care about you dissing Labour et al!
“Shows the public trust John Key ,and are happy with his governance in times of trouble.”
Which, in the real world, means that National’s spin doctors are doing a wonderful job and most of the NZ public are completely ignorant of just how hard they’re getting fucked.
And the problem with capitalism is that we eventually run out of resources (Peak Oil), profit is dropping fast (Can’t grow the “economy” and so can’t pay the interest on money printed hand over fist by the private banks) and the capitalists think that they deserve everyone else’s wealth and so push most people into poverty (Talley’s and PoAL).
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10585911
Why did they vote against it….couldn’t imagine!
The quisling justifications for Charter schools are falling apart.
Christchurch teachers are working wonders.
Actually Muzza I do agree with this enquiry the floating mortgage rate should be about 2.5% above the borrowing rate. Which means its should be around 4.5% depending on when ,and where the banks are borrowing money from.The four Australian banks last year took 4.5 billion dollars profit out of the New Zealand economy. Four companies profit( National Bank, ANZ),Westpac,BNZ ASB was greater than all the profit added up by the other 400 companies on the stock exchange that clearly shows something out of whack. I fully support Labour on this enquiry believe the Aussie banks are gouging ,as they have been accused in their own Country
What was the percentage of undecided voters in the colmar-brunton? I can’t find that figure anywhere.
Why is it that every time there is a shark attack the same old bores come out with the line … “well, you know, it is the shark’s territory, not ours …blah blah blah” as if we human’s somehow have less right to be there. As if we are somehow from another planet. This is the most hogwash bullshit unsupported blather. As fas as I can tell we have always come from this planet. Mankind has always gone into the sea, still does so now and will in the future. Mankind is as entitled as the fish to enter the sea.
I think you’re missing the point, vto. It’s not about rights, it’s about risk.
Being one who has often been around sharks and in the ocean the point has been made to me countless times over the years and it is most often a point of so-called rights rather than risk. The risk is the risk and all who enter the oceanic realm are aware of that, but the claim that we somehow have less right to be there has never been adequately argued – because the argument doesn’t exist. Just a bee in my bonnet…
Well yeah. We have a right to swim in the sea, sure.
Swimmers gonna swim; sharks gonna shark.
I aint got fuck all sympathy for an argument that says the ocean is not our territory, but I’ve got even less sympathy for an argument that says it’s not the shark’s, or that we have a superior right to the territory, which amounts to the same thing.
But man oh man, if sharks were people too, they would be fucking us up for sure about that finning shit.
Lynch mobs of sharks in crazy airsuits roaming the streets thinning out our numbers.
What makes you think they are not already there (:
The argument does exist. If you claim that there is a predetermined right for humans to enter the ocean to exploit it simply because we’re also from earth, you are missing one of the main problems… there are too many humans.
The rights of animals that have been on the planet a lot longer than humans will always ethically trump the rights of humans to enter areas that are not their natural environments. There are clear-cut boundaries… it is unfortunate that humans have not learnt to respect the animal kingdom and are determined to exploit the earth to the detriment of all living creatures.
Mr Jackal, you describe the issue clealy which is exactly the issue I have a problem with and have done for years. Also note that I am not talking about exploitation of the marine environment. That is a different issue.
You say this “The rights of animals that have been on the planet a lot longer than humans will always ethically trump the rights of humans to enter areas that are not their natural environments. There are clear-cut boundaries”. I disagree with that in two main areas..
I do not see time on the planet as any sort of determinant. That is a very slippery slope. How is it a determinant? And further, how on earth have sharkes been here longer anyway? If you accept evolution then you will realise that we (sharks and humans) have been here equal amounts of time, in various forms.
As for the sea not being human’s natural environment, I am not sure how that could be the case given that humans have always entered the sea – for food, for pleasure, for travel. How do you imagine it is not our natural environment? Because we cant breathe underwater? neither can whales. Is it because we don’t spend as much time in it? how time do seagulls spend on the water compared to land and air. And which would be a ducks natural environment – the water, the land or the air? I think Jackal that you are casting all sorts of dubious frameworks around an issue that for many arises simply due to some sort of misplaced guilt complex. (or possibly, due to a justified guilt complex due to the exploitation you mention, but that does not affect the issue at hand – whether the sea is our natural environment)
How is it a determinant that the time frame spent on earth is relevant you ask? I mainly mentioned this because you initially said that humans aren’t aliens. You argued that humans have as much right because were not alien to earth… how does that relate to use being alien to environments on earth?
There’s another aspect that should also be mentioned… Humans have developed technology that enables us to unnaturally exploit the natural environment. Who are we to use our technology to impede other animals from having enough time to develop as well?
There is no question that the boundaries are set by nature, and mankind has devised ways of disregarding the natural balance of our ecosystems.
You argue that the ocean is our natural environment, however humans are land based creatures… being on a boat is not our natural environment and swimming in the ocean is not our natural environment per se.
You say that you’re not talking about the exploitation of the marine environment, however your mentality that humans have more right to be in an environment that is predominated by marine creatures is highly defunct… it is what leads to overfishing, pollution and species extinction.
Your argument amounts to: I’m a human who has developed technology that allows me to exploit the environment and other animals. Therefore it is my right to do so.
Considering the mess because of so-called technological advancements, can you truly say that humans are more intelligent (or whatever you’re basing your superiority on) than animals that solely reside in their natural environments?
Humans have developed technology that enables us to unnaturally exploit the natural environment.
What’s unnatural about it? Either humans are part of nature, or they are not. If they are not, you need to explain what they are, and why they should care about nature.
Species extinction because of technological advancement is natural?
Human’s have made thousands of species extinct because our technological advancement allows us to encroach on their natural habitats. Human’s are a part of nature, many of our technological advancements are not.
I need to explain why humans should care about nature? Because humans cannot exist without the natural world. Without balance within ecological systems we cannot hope to progress.
many of our technological advancements are not
Then what are they?
Tool making is natural for humans. If we are a part of nature, then so are the tools that stem from our nature.
That’s not to say that it comes without cost to our environment and what have you, but the ‘unnatural’ argument is just hogwash.
Edit: And yes, species extinction is an entirely natural by-product of the things we do.
To expand on your theory… CO2 emissions causing climate change is natural because a car is a tool we have devised to move around in and a nuclear bomb is “natural” because it is a tool we have devised to destroy other human beings. You’re being ridiculous Pascal’s bookie. Our natural inclination is to make tools, that does not mean the tools we make or the way we use them are natural.
Sort of, and sort of not.
What I’m saying is that the categories, natural/unnatural are meaningless if you think humans are part of nature.
So yeah, AGW and nuclear bombs are natural, there is nothing mystical about them.
I don’t really see any mileage in dividing the world into things human do on the one hand, and everything else on the other hand, and labelling the latter ‘natural’.
I mean where does that get you really? Should we limit ourselves to doing only natural things? But what’s that? Is a beaver’s dam natural? Is a hunter-gatherer’s skin cloak natural? Is a nature reserve natural?
A more intriguing thing to look at is our, also natural, ability to take account of things, theorise, predict consequences and adapt and refine our behaviour.
“Entitled” lol
.
lol.
what?
People would no doubt argue that they are “entitled” to eat fish – until all the fish are gone. Hence the increase in shark “attacks”. From the sharks’ perspective I guess they would argue that they are entitled to a square meal once in a while.
“We are all equal in the ocean.”
Are you saying we should be allowed to fight/kill sharks that are pestering/threatening swimmers/fishermen, or something else? Is it a nature’s authority vs human authority argument? Though I am sure you are serious, it sounded like the tuna vs lion argument for a moment. Sharks are from planet earth too, but you don’t often see them at Subway for a lunchtime sandwich, though they may have the right.
Sharks don’t visit Subway because they can’t drive cars.
My point is pretty clear. It is a subset of the argument about whether mankind is part of nature or something different.
As for killing them … It is more a case of protecting ourselves, individually or as a school, which all creatures do.
Yeah, but we don’t have gills. Does that suggest the ocean is an environment where we do not have the kind of authority we hold on land? Even with breathing aparatus, the sharks will just wait us out.
Part of nature, definitely – cf. Physics Chemistry Biology Genetics etc.
“It’s more a matter of protecting ourselves” agree and disagree – on the one hand people want to feed their families. On the other overfishing puts all of us at greater risk on many fronts, in and out of the water.
Yes humans are part of nature but the emphasis is on part – no better or worse than other parts of nature. Sharks do what sharks do and we kill them – yay for us, not.
uturn, kotahi and marty, see my reply to jackal above. The idea that we somehow have less “right” to be in the sea compared to a shark, which is the idea first raised as the problem idea, has still not been adequately made. I’m all ears though.
And just to be clear, I am not for killing them, or over-eating them, especially for fin soup (like rhino’s horns in its vulgarity and repulsiveness).
We are as entitled as sharks to be in the sea and we are entitled to protect ourselves. (as kotahi points out, “entitled” is not a good word for it but I think you get the idea).
From your post to Jackal:
“Because we cant breathe underwater? neither can whales.”
Try holding your breath as long as a whale, spend your life underwater, eat krill for dinner, dive as deep as a whale and survive. Still feeling like the ocean is your natural habitat? Can you openly communicate with a whale in his language and tell him where to go, when to go and how to go? Do you understand his animal instincts and needs – not only understand, but control them? The key point is habitat – what is our natural habitat. We are not whales, or sharks. Despite Kevin Costner’s attempts, we can’t survive indefinitely in the ocean, we need land, so the sea is not our natural habitat.
“how time do seagulls spend on the water compared to land and air. And which would be a ducks natural environment – the water, the land or the air?”
A duck is not a shark or a fish. Perhaps you can help by listing the elements of necessity, both physical, psychological and historical of human environments and make another list of that of the ducks. For example, what do they need to reproduce, flourish, what are their collective achievements, how do they organise their groupings. Do we find any patterns of necessity emerging? Do we find ducks drawing on cave walls, have they built using stone or iron, what materials do they use, do they mine the earth or trap water for electricity – and if they do, why do they, and what do they do with the things they create?
Why have ducks have not invaded our human habitats and conquered us? If they don’t possess the kind of minds and abilities we have, is it our evolutionary obligation to infringe their habitat without redress? Should we ever regulate our urge to claim ourselves master of everything? Is fear of being Mr.Shark’s dinner, or fear of the natural world’s pwer in general, an evolutionary balance born into us from a power greater than us? Why do we fear sharks if we are their masters?
“We are as entitled as sharks to be in the sea and we are entitled to protect ourselves. (as kotahi points out, “entitled” is not a good word for it but I think you get the idea).”
This is far more interesting than what I should be doing.
Since we have jumped from sharks to whales to ducks and seagulls, there is a PNG tribe that mutilate themselves to make their skin look like the crocodiles in the rivers they live on. It’s a right of passage, the pain of the mutilation, from boy to man, a man to a respectful hunter. Their natural habitat is on land, near rivers and estuaries, which is the source of their fishing and hunting life. But they know that Mr. Crocodile will kill them given the chance. They pray to a god that oversees crocodiles and good fortune. They understand where they sit in the ecology of their environment. They could go on a croc killing spree, but don’t, their god would be enraged and children would die; men would lose honor and the tribe would disperse. They protect themselves with prayer and precautions; historical knowledge of feeding times and animal traits, methods and tools of hunting.
Out here in the techno-western world, we’d call them stone aged. Bullets and laws surpass the power of gods, but we also have a new task of righting the imbalances we create in the natural world: we have laws that say a certain number of native trees have to be planted if we clear a site for development; we know from scientific research, not legends and religion, that killing sharks upsets a larger food chain that would not be in our best interests. We are entitled to protect ourselves, and we do, directly and indirectly.
What we often sneakily do though, is tell ourselves that a nice safe swimming beach in sub-tropical waters would supplement our beachside hotel quite nicely. If it means we have to “protect” our investment, and by association ourselves (there’s the moral skip, jump and delusion), then a few sharks must die. We are entitled to do it. Our religion of dollars and hedonism says so, right up to the point – as someone else said – that there are no more sharks and no more fishy inconveniences; the coral isn’t so bright, the snorkeling boat stops running, the sea turns brown and silty, the white sands fill with sludge and our hotel on the beach closes.
Uturn, your points are repititions of those previously made and ones which I do not accept. You claim those various features mean the sea is not our natural environment but you do not say why that is so. Perhaps you could also explain what level of engagement with the sea would make it our natural environment? Being able to hold our breath as long a whale?
Manwomankind has been entering the sea forever – that is what makes it our natural environment. It is part of us. We are entitled to be there as equally as the shark and whale. The shark also uses the air and sometimes the land (very rare). Perhaps they should not be allowed to jump into the air or charge up onto land to grab a seal. Or rather, they should not be entitled to do that. Following the reasoning of course.
“…but you do not say why that is so.”
Yes I did, I asked you to define a human habitat. Listen carefully: a natural human habitat contains all the things that allow reproduction and support the aspects of human life; psychological and physical and have the means to allow full expression of the human condition.
A shark jumps into the air, but gravity returns him to his natural habitat.
An orca shunts up onto land to grab a baby seal, but if he sits there for too long, he’ll die, so he forces himself back. Each has a temporary “right” to be there. But holds no authority in the air or on the land.
If the shark could hover in space, it would still not be his natural habitat. He’d need wings to catch birds to eat and an improved respiratory system. If an orca were to sit on the shore line for too long, he could not reproduce – or a passing hunter might spear him and the line would die out. Neither has an equal right to use the terrain they have temporarily visited, compared to those who normally live there. Neither has the kind of mobility and ability that humans have. Humans can go from shore to ocean and kill/take almost anything we want. We don’t even have to be hungry or in need. Fish, whales, sharks, while apparently cunning in their jumping and land skipping, are only displaying learned tricks to meet instinctual demands.
Are you saying that a man’s instinct is to be master of all, is therefore evidence that he should be master of all?
I think the problem we’re running into here, is the misconception that humans are the same as animals, that an animal analogy fits directly to a human truth. What would speed things up would be if you could outline the bee you say you have in your bonnet in specific detail. Has a naughty greenie chastised you for diving at the Poor Knights or something? It’s quite possible they were being a fifteen-thousand-steps-removed kind of silly.
” Has a naughty greenie chastised you for diving at the Poor Knights or something?” ha ha. Yes. Of a kind and place.
Your reference to natural habitats being the main place for occupation, sustenance and reproduction I don’t think supports the contention that a species has more entitlement to occupy that space than another species which hails from a different environment, although that is often the basis for the argument that humans have less entitlement to be in the sea than sharks.
To revert to ducks again.. a duck spends very little time in the water (under it) and certainly doesn;t breed there and doesn’t need to feed there, but they do go under water. I suspect few people would expect that the duck has less entitlement to go under the water than the fish who swim around their feet. In fact that is the analogy, for me. The underwater realm of the duck is as much its natural environment as is the riverbank on which it waddles. The same goes for humans and the sea.
So what did they say to you?
I can’t recall specifics but the words have been along the lines “well, it is the sharks environment not yours, you have no / less right to be there. You should stay out.”
It has been pretty common over the years. I put it down to a guilt complex thanks to our species penchant for taking it all until it all gone – be it kauri forests, moas, oil, rivers, fish,…
Isn’t that the same logic you use when discussing indigenous issues?
Back to the sharks – to argue that the oceans are humans natural environment argues nothing. Under that logic everywhere is part of the humans natural environment which, whilst true at one level, makes any distinction of ‘natural environment’s’ meaningless, surely.
“Isn’t that the same logic you use when discussing indigenous issues?” Yes, there is some overlap, but not really..
And yes the term ‘natural environment’ is generally a reference to the non-human world. It is not the best description.
It seems an issue of respect to me. We respect different ecosystems, environments and habitats and their inhabitants and when we enter those realms we treat them with respect not condescension. I don’t believe in our supposed godgiven right to wade in and fuck everything up for everything else.
“It seems an issue of respect to me. We respect different ecosystems, environments and habitats and their inhabitants and when we enter those realms we treat them with respect not condescension. I don’t believe in our supposed godgiven right to wade in and fuck everything up for everything else.”
I agree entirely and can’t understand why you would assume that from my point about the right to be in the sea.
One (the right to be in the sea) doesn’t mean the other (the right to dominate and exploit).
wasn’t about you vto just a generalised statement about my view on the way humans should approach different environments and so on. Although not sure what these ‘rights’ entail, i mean can’t we go to the beach now?
Oh, ok. What do those rights entail? As mentioned above the words ‘rights’ or ‘entitlement’ are not the correct description of the situation. It is more a recognition that the sea is part of the natural human environment as it is part of the fishes natural environment. It is this aspect which many deny.
Does your right to be in the sea, extend to a right to be in the sea without a risk of shark related incidents involving blood, and the chomping?
If it doesn’t, then I’m not sure there’s an argument to be had here.
Folks that talk about the shark being there first or what have you, tend to be responding to an argument that ‘the shark is at fault’, or an implication that ‘bloody sharks, what a pack of wankers, someone ought to do something, like kill heaps of sharks’.
No one disputes that you have a right to go into the sea, as long as it’s accepted that if you are really unlucky, you might get bitten by a shark. Nor does anyone dispute that you wouldn’t get bitten by a shark if you didn’t go into the sea.
In other words, go into the sea for sure, but your only grounds for complaining about shark bites is if you don’t go into the sea.
P’s b, I mentioned above, the ‘right’ includes the right to protect yourself. If the sea is accepted as part of the natural human realm then all aspects are incorporated, in your example case the aspect of individual and group protection in that environment. All creatures protect themselves of course.
So the next question is – what level of protection is right? Culling of sharks in populated areas? Repulsion devices? Nothing at all and you just roll the dice? This is where it gets tricky and the issue becomes even more difficult…
I don’t know the complete answer. I guess if you decided to go diving off Stewart Island during great white breeding time and decided to get rid of them to enable your diving to happen there is something amiss, but if you were diving somewhere and a great white came sniffing around and you took it out then it veers to the other end of the spectrum.
but as you agreed above, the human natural environment argument is meaningless when extended to all environments.
Yeah, it’s complicated all right.
To get briefly buddhist on it, a human is just the universe being a human; and a shark, the universe being a shark. same shit, with fundamentally different perspectives.
Now what is a human? It’s no good going as far as saying humans are a part of nature/the universe, you have to say what part of nature/the universe humans are.
Does humanity define nature? Meh.
Was atime when we were naked apes beset by dangerous beasts, nowadays, it’s hard to say there are many truly wild large beasts left. Once the universe bes something much bigger than a housecat it runs the risk of human bits of the universe extincting it. Lions tigres bears, all exist right now, on human sufferage. We allow them space.
I’m not sure if that makes them ‘lions’ still or not.
To come down from those clouds, I think one of the main things to think about is the purpose for being in the water. If you are a subsusitence fisher putting food on your families table, I think you have alot of justification for killing a shark.
A recreational diver going out for a look see? I’m inclined to say “Well look-see and what lives in the sea muthafucka’
The shark is master of it’s own domain, if we enter their domain we get what we get and infrequently at best. I’m all for protection but if your logic is extended then you would kill off everything because of its potential to harm humans and that would be a big no no for me. You points may have some merit if a shark wandered into your street and started biting people but until then…
A further note to this thread from yesterday.
Now we have a person munched by a croc in knee-deep fresh water. http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/6684651/Woman-dragged-from-crocodiles-grasp
Whose realm is this then?
Does the shark criteria apply here?
Who has the most ethical right to be at a water hole in driest Australia?
edit: not a reply to just marty but to all, if anyone around. Maybe everyone gone swimming…
All realm are cat realm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiyWXQyAJ44
Good of you to put up your own home vids felix, you are a very brave cat…
I almost came as a shark actually, but then I realized an eagle’s slightly better.
But felix aren’t you a pussycat? And wouldn’t both eagles and sharks have them for entree?
Hmm. God knows where this comment will land in the thread. But anyway. Any environment can be entered into to some degree or other with the proviso that we can actually survive it for some span of time or other.
Eg. A road is an environment I cross over quite often. I’ve been around longer than some drivers in their cars have, but so what? If I don’t look around, allow for the fact that a couple of tonnes of machinery under the control of an idiot is going to hurt me lots and lots if it hits me, and modify my behaviour appropriately, then I’m going to get hurt or killed.
And I can, if I want, lash out at cars that threaten my safety in spite of any reasonable precautions I’ve taken. (Panel dints tend to piss off wankers behind a wheel).
So. I can go into the sea. And get hit by rips and sharks and ‘a million and one’ other pieces of shit. And maybe I can punch the nose of a shark that is thinking of having a chew on my leg or whatever.
Jeez. What was the point of this thread again? yup. I can go where I want. And sometimes shit might happen. And if shit happens, is it my fault or something or someone elses? Kind of depends on circumstances dunnit?
Did I have any right to be on the road when I got run over and munted? Yes. Was it wise to have stepped out onto the road pissed as a newt and not looking? No. Was it my fault I got munted? And did I have the right to be on the road stone cold sober (observing the ‘common sense’ rules of the environment) when that car ‘hung a right’ and whacked me? And was it my fault I got whacked?
Who knows what rules govern the sea? You kind of takes your chances and do what you can if and when shit lands , innit?
I reckon so.
Sharks’ gonna shark.
To all those who kindly offered their opinions above, ta. But I still aint too far ahead. Pretty much the same arguments as I always come across, so not sure what the true reality is. I of course stand by my own opinion which is that the sea is part of our natural environment just as much as sandy desert, icy mountain or windy skies and we are as entitled as the birds and the dinosaurs and the fishes to be in it.
As to the other side issues, such as exploitation, senseless killing, respect for the environment etc they are surely correct. It seems however it is often these side issues which people take into account when deciding the main issue – which is the classic case of mixing up the issues and questions leading to an erroneous answer.
Now, who’s having fish for tea? And it had better not be a Talleys fish …..
Nah vto. It’s heaps ahead. I get your point about being pissed off by the ‘it be shark’s environment and you in’t got no right to be there’ shit.
So, we can go where we want. But we takes our chances.
What if we wandrered into head hunter territory? And we got whacked? Shit happens. Did we have a ‘right’ to go there? Yup. Did we have a ‘right’ to the consequences? Yup. Do we have a right to ‘go ape’ on the headhunters? Nope.
Fucking simple.
Agreed! 🙂
ACC VIPs get ‘preferential treatment’
By John Gibb of the Otago Daily Times
Its in their manual. ACC says it is to ensure privacy of VIP.
But why would so called VIPs get preferential treatment?
This is significant given the ACC Privacy question currently.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10796116
This Stuff article today on apparent gagging of ACC rehabilitation providers under the new system that has just come into place is also interesting – http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/6676034/ACC-gags-vocational-rehabilitation-providers
ACC under fire from a number of quarters – an I a cynic in terms of diversion and/or put the heat on ACC to undermine its credibility further for both the privacy issue and other purposes (eg privatisation). That is not to say that the matters raised in both the Herald and Stuff articles are not disturbing and serious.
deuto:
Yes. This was a concern expressed by Millhouse a week ago. Soften up the public that ACC is a mess, (Welfare anyone?) and presto.
Guess who can supply a bit of Privatisation to fix it up? We all know that Private is better than Public – don’t we???
so what does ipredict say or aren’t they taking bets on this one?
Guilty until proven innocent
The question is can we trust our so called “representatives” to act ethically and ensure that such powers are not abused?
Wow amazing that in the middle of a recession the recorded crime rate is lowest for 15 years….
A pity the same cannot be said for unemployment; governmrent debt; and better growth, eh, Muzza?
Frank actually I am sure the figures are BS, and heading up the same as those you mention…They are linked intrinsically, and I’m calling shennanigans!
Maybe not concerning falling crime rates. National is just trying to take credit for what is a world wide trend that has little to do with legislation.
Indeed, Jackal, the first question that popped into my mind when I heard that report was; “Ok, what are they NOT telling us?!”
What has it got to do with then Jackal?
Muzza… But, but, surely John Key wouldn’t lie to us… ?! 😀
Given the fact that John Key isn’t responsible for the production of these statistics I’m not sure how you can imply this is a lie from him. If it was then NZ has got a lot bigger problem than just a right leaning Government you don’t like very much. Our entire system is corrupted beyond repair and will need to be rebuilt. You are surely not suggesting that are you Frank? Even you’re not that stupid surely.
From memory was it revealed a couple of years ago that National got the police to start laying charges differently i.e. if someone stole a checkbook and used 6 cheques then 6 charges (using s document for pecuniary advantage, fraud whatever) used to be laid.
This was changed to lay only one charge.
Funnily enough (assuming it is the same burt) burt had a view on this a few years ago when Labour were in power.
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/10/crime_stats-2.html
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:54 pm
As somebody who spent time working from an IT perspective on Police stats I can tell you that most of the comments here are very poorly informed. Including yours.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:08 pm
One more thing. I you (or anybody else on propaganda propagation duties) can secure me an official release from the lifetime confidentiality agreements I signed while doing that work – I’ll happily fill in the blanks that exists between the perception and the reality. Until then – all I say is that the stats are produced by police but published by the Govt of the day.
That last sentence I suspect sums it up quite nicely.
Not much comment on here about crime rates falling
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10796158
Nothing to do with Judith Collins/3 strikes/improved policing & morale of course – obviously the commissioner has been didling the figures to suit himself.
What an evil national government getting the commissioner to massage crime stats for their own purposes – likely they have been bribing crims to go straight as well so that they can do some sneaky cuts in Police numbers – typical tory scum!
Filthy dirty corrupt disgusting cops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxlL0I5AWLI
Terrifying Felix. How can they tell which side has the most criminals?
Democracy and eternal vigilance?
B.Dolan reworks NWA’s classic “Fuck The Police” :“FILM THE POLICE”
http://bdolan.net/film-the-police-lyrics/
Slippery has announced a bit of a Cabinet re-shuffle in the carve up of Nick Smith,s little empire following His long over-due relegation to a position on the Government bench,s that in our opinion best suits His abilities,
No surprises in any of that and the only point of interest is the further subtle dilution of the ”Brat Pack,s influence”…
Great Stats on crime for the Nats sure to be a vote retainer for them if they can keep it up. Very good result for Christchurch does that mean the crims actuall have a heart. Or they were all shaken out of Chrsitchurch excuse the pun
I believe that Recorded Crime is up in Waikato and Auckland. Did you just forget to mention that James?
And in Nelson and Oamaru.
Looks like they just got exported.
LOL – Jimmy you really are quite funny, much more than Gosman who tries to be clever, but simply is not! Your naivity of comment should actually be embraced, because you seem able to be able to roll even the largest of turds in glitter
What a special little guy eh….
FYI – The crime has moved from Christchurch, most likely headed to Waikato, Auckland, Nelson and Oamaru…make sense buddy?
Meh.
1% of that would be the CHCH central stats dropping by 44%. I wonder why?
And we’re at the end of the census cycle, so who knows whether their population projections include the exodus to Aus, and of course what’s the tourist population rate? And that’s without juking the stats.
Happy crime seems to be down, waiting to see if it’s for real.
They call it leverage, but…
It looks like something else when you are posting a loss
Are the stats reported per population or ‘raw’ data?
Heard Stephen Franks the other day waffling on about how the Lombard Four’s crimes should not have been crimes because they lacked the intent (and knowledge). It was a bit of a discussion I think on Nat Radio but it lacked the crucial pieces …..
Our criminal laws have developed over centuries and centuries of events and instances that have been hauled up before the courts and carefully considered and decided by judges and juries.
The result is that our society has deemed certain acts to be criminal, whether or not they have any intent. This has resulted from society deeming those acts and their results to be of such grave consequence for both individuals and society as a whole that they must be sanctioned to the extent of being made a crime, no matter the lack of intent. These acts can be against both people and property. This is the result of centuries and centuries of this consideration by the wise heads of the judges and by the average of society as a whole through the jury system.
Manslaughter is one example. Making false statements when raising money from the public is another. Do those such as Stephen Franks also suggest that those who by their unintended actions kill someone should also not be subject to criminal charge? Because I have seen and heard no argument around this particularity.
He argued against something that society has developed over centuries but offered not a single decent reason as to why those centuries of consideration should be dispensed with. imo.
My perception has always been that all crimes require intent, but it is the intent to commit the act, not just of outcome. So manslaughter requires the intent to commit the act that killed someone, even if you didn’t think it would hurt them.
Similarly the lombard crew intended to sign their papers, even though they might not have known they were incorrect. The fact is that they asserted as fact something that, as far as they knew, could have been either fact or fiction. That was the intent, not the “well, they didn’t know it wasn’t true, so they didn’t do anything wrong”-type BS of Franks perspective. Which is perilously close to the:
defence.
The law can be an ass, but it’s not that dumb.
Amnesty International wants an independant investigation into nz compliance with
human rights obligations in Afghanistan,PM say’s there is no need.
This article is on the stuff site.
The rich create debt,the poor have to mop it up,look at greece,spain and ireland.
There is an audible grumbling in the ranks, a little like a volcano about to erupt…
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/grass-roots-of-union-movement.html