kinda what i’ve been wondering.que mortgage sales and farms being offloaded by desperate farmers and “investors”, especially marginal farms. remember how china pushed up the price of coal, all the while stockpiling it and the subsequent crash in price when they stopped buying? now with dairy dejavu. the banks have not been particularly responsible with lending, pouring millions into dairy conversions (including in area totally unsuited like central otago) making hay while the sun shines. well the weather has turned and is about to shit all over those hapless farmers – and our economy. whose goin to buy all these farms? i wonder.
Wouldn’t surprise me to see such happen even if it hadn’t been purposeful. The rich will always find ways to take from everyone else during times of trouble.
Just look at the those who are now part of the Chinese banking system: Don Brash, Jenny Shipley, Ruth Richardson, Chris Tremain (this one would be absurdly funny if it was’t true).
I would not be surprised if Chinese financed corporate farming rises to prominence in the next couple of years.
Yes, the main problem with the world dairy market is nobody knows what is happening in China, zero visibility. Its utterly stupid to be relying on this country for our future, that is the mistake Fonterra has made.
I don’t know but China filled its warehouses chooker full buy all accounts and are know in a position of being able to sit it out for a while while farms potentially go broke.
I am aware there’s lots of other factors pushing dairy prices down as well but was just interested to see what other comenters here thought.
One flaw in his talk is the assertion that it will force every one onto a credit card when its easier now to be cashless and not have a credit card than it was 10 years ago.
Direct transaction from account to account and I believe my eftpos card can be set up as a debit card that works like a credit card but you use you’re own money.
Ok, so overnight online banking. In my experience there are still enough places that won’t do that and require a credit card. I also use my credit card over the phone. Is there is a substitute for that (not sure if debit cards can be used like that)?
Debit cards can be used exactly the same way as credit cards and in the same places. The only difference is that debit cards don’t usually have credit on them and so you can only use money that you have in the bank.
Weka their are several different versions of cash card now even one that you transfer only the amount of the purchase so you don’t get your bank account emptied by a scam.
Debit cards – they’re eftpos cards that are linked into the Visa or Mastercard network and can be used in the same fashion as a credit card except they draw directly from your account. So far as I can tell, they are offered by the major banks, Kiwibank, TSB, the Cooperative Bank and most credit unions.
Go on to your bank website and search using the term “debit card” you should get the info if you’re interested. I’ve been far better at managing my money since I switched from using credit to debit.
Are you saying that a debit card by default can’t go into overdraft?
That’s what I’m saying. Unless you have an overdraft facility on your account.
How does the bank and/or credit card company make money from it then? Is the retailer picking that up?
Mine is with ANZ – I don’t have an annual fee on it because it’s linked with my everyday account. If it was linked with another account – like my savings – it would be $10 p.a. There is a currency conversion fee of 2.5% when buying in foreign currency, but lots of overseas retailers – like Amazon – charge in $NZD, so that can be avoided.
I would guess the retailer is picking up the charges for being on the network.
Thanks Ovid. I think when my bank originally offered me something like this it was tied into them offering me credit, so I said no. I generally don’t take my credit card to town, so having a credit facility on my eftpost card was always going to be a bad idea. That was some years ago though, I should check it out.
AFAIK store owners and businesses get killed with these debit cards because the credit card company takes their 2.5% financial industry tax on every transaction.
Banks pushed customers to replace their eftpos cards with these credit card branded debit cards because they get a cut of this action.
AFAIK store owners and businesses get killed with these debit cards because the credit card company takes their 2.5% financial industry tax on every transaction.
Which happens to be another reason why we have to shift from private bank financial system to a government bank owned financial system.
We should not have to pay private companies to use our money.
thanks CV. Is that worse than what credit card companies/banks do with credit cards? I’ve noticed a few places that now add a charge if purchasing with a credit card.
How much will the banks be allowed to charge you/ me/us for transactions on our ‘deposit’ ‘credit’ ‘eftpos’ card?
When I pay cash, i pay cash, the bank gets nothing. So in fact, ‘the cashless’ society is going to increase the cost of living by way of ‘taxing’ transactions.
its just that you don’t physically have to pull out a note of your wallet.
this is an interesting read on the cashless society that are the US American Citizens that receive SNAP and or other benefits.
Exactly – but its small business owners who bare the brunt of this financial leachery, as they end up paying % merchant fees to the credit card companies. SMEs then feel pressure to take more from employees and customers.
I pay these fees every month, but i do count these fees as a ‘cost of doing business’ and i am able to write them off at the end of the year.
Bank Cards cost money, account fees, transaction fees, replacement fees for a lost card etc etc etc. This can actually eat up quite a bit of cash at the end of the year, that only benefits the card issuing bank, but add to no service to the businesses and/or community.
A cashless society run by the banks? No thank you, they are already milking us to no end, i also don’t like the idea that my every purchase is traceable via bank statements, nor do I like the idea that my data gets a. sold of to the highest bidder or to any business that the bank works with….shared data ….or that it might get stolen.
I can see the attraction aka the Startrek button that is the intercom, the bank account and we are all paid in credits. Alas, as our current government here, and various other government overseas show daily, we first have to have the total war before the Vulcan come to Earth to give us Warp Drive and a better more enlightened future.
one major goal of a cashless society is to be able to track your commercial activities in real time, wherever you are.
This is an extension of the surveillance state.
Also in a banking shutdown like Greece just had, it leaves people with no choice but to beg the controllers of the banking and transaction networks to throw the switch back on, at any cost.
CV, the previous finance minister Cullen,was very hot on a cashless society,just shows you where his community lies, (that’s for those out there pumping his credentials) .
I am as well but I hold that all the transactions need to be done on a government server/network and not on private bank servers so that the banks don’t get to prey on the people for using their money.
even if the government is as democratically elected as the one in Russia, China, Zimbabwe, or Saudi Arabia/Iran/Iraq etc to name just a few?
No the reason people like cash is that it is almost untracable, and that most of us are able to trace their purchases with simple book keeping methods.
I would not trust the banks, nor any government with the access to ‘my’ money.
the 00 on your bank account have no value, the little bit of paper cash in the shoebox under the hotwater cupboard on the other hand has.
Actually, if the little bit of paper has value then it’s broken as cash.
Governments can ban/make obsolete any means of exchange they want. Black markets can look for other means of exchange, including cigarettes or stable currencies like USD or RMB, but in general you might equally find that cash in the shoebox useless as a means of exchange. If banning doesn’t work, refusing to honour it as legal tender and no longer integrating it into the digital economy, or even printing gazillions of it to devalue it to a point approaching zero, would seriously damage it as a means of exchange. Weimar Republic, for example.
Scrip (sometimes called chit) is a term for any substitute for legal tender and is often a form of credit. Scrips were created as company payment of employees under the truck system and also as a means of local commerce in times where regular currency is unavailable, such as remote coal towns, military bases, ships on long voyages, or occupied countries in war time. Besides company scrip, other forms of scrip include land scrip, vouchers, token coins such as subway tokens, IOUs, arcade tokens and tickets, and points on some credit cards.
Scrips have gained historical importance and become a subject of study in numismatics and exonumia due to their wide variety and recurring use. Scrip behaves similarly to a currency, and as such can be used to study monetary economics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrip
————————————————————————————————
I honestly would not want my finances at the whim of a government or a bank. In both cases we would be fucked and not in a good way. Greece, no amount of money in the bank without access is gonna pay yer rent or food.
The only way we are going cashless is if we abolish the system of money altogether and live in a Utoptia, where everyone is housed, clothed and fed the same. A Utopia where no one is rich nor poor, where all work to provide the things to live, i.e. housing, food and clothes. But thats not gonna work.
The main reasons government cash is the almost universal means of exchange within a country are the government guarantee (which historically has proved much more reliable than private enterprise guarantees) and the fact that only the government can require people by law to accept that currency as face-value means of exchange (“legal tender”).
The funny thing about scrip is that the issuer can stop honouring them, or change the value of them, and many are linked to the government currency anyway and as such are more a loan than a scrip (e.g. the balance on my bus card). The reason companies issue scrip or tokens is simply to lock the consumer into purchasing from that supplier – e.g. my coffee card.
No it wouldn’t.There was a reason why such were made illegal and national currency brought in – it’s because the private creators of money always create too much which they can’t actually back. Private creation of money inevitably leads to financial and economic collapse.
I honestly would not want my finances at the whim of a government or a bank.
And what else do you think will happen if the use of scrip would be allowed?
A Utopia where no one is rich nor poor, where all work to provide the things to live, i.e. housing, food and clothes. But thats not gonna work.
This is despite the fact that that is how the economy works anyway. The real problem is that we have rich people.
Answer me this: What good is your money (literally virtual money), if you can’t access it, if you can’t use your bank card, or if your access is blocked by a government?
I can see quite a few people barter, trade or institute on a community level something to replace all that virtual money if access is not guaranteed or made hard.
I think they call it the black economy, or the under the table economy etc.
If you can’t access your money it is no good.
The same as when banks locked their doors if there was a run on the bank in the pre-electronic days.
But the only intrinsic characteristic of money is that it is virtual, whether it’s numbers on a screen or numbers on a bit of paper.
I recall reading an article in the 1990s that described the job of an Eastern European factory manager – the economy was in the toilet, so this person’s job involved creating massive networks of barter deals in order to either pay the workers in food or useful goods rather than the toilet paper that was the national currency at the time.
A friend of mine recently brought out some family heirlooms – marks from the early 1920s. As the denominations accrued loads of zeros, the size got smaller and the quality rougher. The value of the currency wasn’t the digits, it was what you could exchange for those digits.
I think its inevitable so I would like think people in position s that could have some input into it are doing every thing possible to protect the public.
the finance sector kings and the surveillance industry kings are the ones who are making all the decisions on any such transition to a “cashless society.”
their concern for the “little person” is not notable; their concern for profit and for knowing everything about your life, while you know nothing about what they are doing, is however.
i would not be surprised if/when the ‘cashless’ society comes, that people will use script.
It has been done before, the best currency my Nana had in the after war years in Germany were cigarettes.
German ones had a bit of value, American ones like Lucky Strike could buy you heeps of stuff, Russian ciggies rolled in the pravda ….not so much buying power.
No, like the cash less office, i don’t think we are going to have a cash less society.
National’s dags being rattled by Parker on National Radio this morning.
Hope it wipes smirk off Key’s face, watching Key blatantly distract the country by accusing King And Goff of undermining Little was sickening.
Blinglish saying adjustments about Dairy industry job losses bankruptcies firesale prices for Dairy farms to be snapped up by cashed up countries with long-term agendas.
Thanks freedom. I wonder what will happen next. National Radio seems to take the lead so Mr English’s warning that National Radio is a dinosaur must send a warning.
Seems evident that the Government is happy and confident to lie with impunity regardless of contrary evidence.
Not that many years ago, an interview that held revelations involving Government Ministers’ auditioning for the role of TwoFace would have had the Ministers involved looking for new employment by the time their cars arrived to collect them from the studios. Because that’s where they were, in the studio, metaphorically at least. But Ministers barely front up for interviews anymore, unless they have a policy they want to sell, or know of a bus due any minute and who they think should be under it.
Yes, that’s an exaggeration but let’s be real here, nothing is going to happen. The MSM are showing how compliant they have become. They are lost to us. Thankfully much of the public have taken their voices on-line and are building their own fledging networks of contemporary news and analyses. Not a perfect system but imagine the MSM without the public discourse we have built amongst ourselves over the past decade or so. Having blogs & social media to parry through the melee might be a senseless struggle to some and a waste of resources to others but it does keep the battle going. Even pacifists like me understand to win a war you must stay in the fight.
Given the duplicity’s wide reaching implications for our democracy, there are plenty of unspoken questions about what else lies beneath the surface of this [and other] Government/s. But those questions are left to fade on the Editor’s to do list. Instead the Editors get their staff to scramble over each other, scratching and tearing at all the shiny things worn by all the shiny people.
At times like this there are few more rational responses than anger. The public anger that such facts should generate is so stage managed that many people are unsure what they are meant to be focusing their anger on, but they do know they are angry about something.
The Opposition, stymied by the media’s complicity, is left to struggle against a Speaker who was apparently instrumental in the co-ordination of the circumstances being discussed. Circumstances he has openly assisted the Government in avoiding as he sits as Speaker. When the opposition rise to their feet next week, and hopefully deliver carefully co-ordinated single part questions, they know full well what they will be facing. The Speaker will simply shut down any debate on the topic faster than he closed the door on ‘matters before the court’ that actually weren’t.
The PM could be asked directly about the blatantly two-faced actions taken by his Minister/s and if, by some miracle, he doesn’t launch into ‘Labour did it! Labour did it! Labour did it!’ we’ll get a shrug, a ‘you know’ then [the now tired] sneer followed by his latest version of ‘there’s always another person with a different interpretation of events’ before he wraps up by attacking another Party’s policies or making some lame joke whilst ignoring the lacklustre demands from the Speaker for him to be seated.
Yeah I guess you could say I’m less than thrilled about our prospects as a modern democratic state.
Homegrown (not in the NZ sense) is a promenade play about the radicalisation of young people living in Britain. The idea and the performance sounds great, but it will not be performed.
The National Youth Theatre (NYT) production was closed down last Thursday, with the creators saying they were given no prior warning. Director Nadia Latif and playwright Omar El-Khairy believe the production was cancelled due to external pressures, claiming both local authorities and police got involved during the development of the play.
This was about having an intelligent conversation around an issue with hysteria attached, and voices have been silenced
Nadia Latif, director
The play, which had a cast of 112 people aged between 15 and 25 – mostly from ethnic minorities – was originally due to take place in a school in Tower Hamlets, less than a mile from the Bethnal Green academy attended by Shamima Begum, Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase, the schoolgirls believed to have travelled to Syria in February.
Latif and El-Khairy had developed the play through workshops with the young actors, looking at the emotive issues of jihadi brides and attitudes towards Islam in the UK. Instead of being performed on stage to an audience, it was to be an immersive, promenade production, where the audiences could walk through the school corridors, witnessing conversations and different dramatic moments between the cast.
Theatre is a great way to get people discussing and talking, and they are missing an opportunity here.
Not to mention the involvement of 112 local young people, who discover (once again) that their voices are silent.
How heartening would it be if we could threaten companies such as Miller Argent with the “costs” of their externalities, instead of reading again about their threats to local peoples and governments to act as they see fit.
In June, councillors on Caerphilly county borough council’s planning committee unanimously rejected a recommendation by their planning officers to allow Miller Argent to exploit 6m tonnes of coal at Nant Llesg, near Rhymney, but deferred a final decision until Wednesday.
The company’s application has prompted rallies and a petition by 7,000 people against the mine.
Miller Argent has written to councillors warning them that it intends to recover all the costs it has incurred so far in its application, as well as the costs of any appeal it might make should councillors refuse its application. It is understood that these costs could amount to more than £100,000.
“We reiterate that in the event of a refusal and appeal, the substantial costs would be in no one’s interest,” the letter says. “Your officers have highlighted the potential for a substantial award of costs against the council. Miller Argent would seek to recover costs from the council.”
The Guardian’s expert on obfuscation by bureaucratese and acronym, Steven Poole, recently argued that TTIP could be a conspiracy to pull some very thick wool over our eyes. We live in an age when we’re so accustomed to being entertained that we haven’t the temperament to do the difficult work of penetrating the wool of boring. So we’re going to take that wool, roll it into a ball and leave it for the cat to play with. No, don’t look at the cat. Look at me. Focus.
And how come he can be part of it when we are not privy to the TPP?
“Fonterra chairman John Wilson’s verbal sharp-shooting skills were put to good effect at the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministerial negotiations in Maui.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11491984 (Fran O’Sullivan.)
Anybody hearing about the Turks bombing Kurdish anti-ISIS positions and the US bombing Syria to create an ISIS free safe zone? Neh, I didn’t think so! I mean why keep us posted on an area where NZ soldiers are involved in another war crime of apocalyptic proportions?
This excerpt from the Leaked TPP IP chapter would appear to be affecting Māori sovereignty.
Article QQ.E.23[95]: {Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic
Resources}
[PE/NZ/VN/BN/MX/SG/CL/MY propose[96]: 1. The parties recognise the importance and contribution
of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and biological diversity to cultural, economic
and social development.]
[[97]PE/MY/MXBN propose; NZ/AU/SG/CL oppose: 2. Each Party exercises sovereignty over their
biological [MY/BN oppose: diversity] [MY/BN propose: resources] and shall determine the access
conditions to their genetic resources and their derivatives in accordance to their domestic legislation.] http://keionline.org/sites/default/files/Section-E-PatentsUndisclosed-Data-TK-TTP-IP-Text-11May2015.pdf
Don’t forget to PROTEST AGAINST TPPA – our government is very keen to sign our sovereignty away. Just because they didn’t do it last week – they seem confident that they will next time so show the government the people mean business!
Here are the details
Hokianga
15 August protest, 11am at Kohukohu Village Green.
Whangarei
15 August protest, 11am at the Town Basin.
Auckland
15 August protest, 1pm at Aotea Square to march down Queen Street, featuring speakers and music.
Hamilton
15 August protest, Meet @ 1pm outside Cock and Bull carpark on corner of Church and Maui.
Tauranga
8 August, 10 am @ Red Square (Downtown Tauranga) for ‘Chalk n talk’.
9 August, Johns Key’s birthday bash with live music and Cake Signing the giant card.
10 August at lunch time, Banner making in Red Square.
12 August, Nag banner from cambridge rd over bridge.
13 August, signs on the road side
14th August – public meeting
15 August protest at 1pm, Red Square.
Gisborne
15 August protest, details to come.
Napier/Hastings
15 August protest, 1pm, location to be announced.
Wanganui
8 August protest, 1pm, march from Silver Ball in the market to Majestic Square.
New Plymouth
Protest planned, details to come
Palmerston North
(Before Action Week) – At 7pm on July 29th Palmerston North City Library is hosting a panel discussion on the TPPA, featuring Assoc Prof Jeff Sluka, Dr Deborak Russell and Dr Shamin Shukur (compere: Assoc Prof Bill Fish).
Art and photo exhibition planned with accompanying information, concert and talks
8 August Rally and concert, 1pm – 3:30pm in the Square in the quadrant opposite The Plaza. Keynote speech from Barry Coates, including Dr Romauld Rudzki, Dr Deborah Russell, Dr Jeff Sluka and Cr Lew Findlay, and local musicians.
14 August will be a concert in the library at 5pm, then documentary maker and investigative journalist Bryan Bruce will speak at 6pm on Poverty, Inequality & the TPPA.
Many committed P North activists will also be heading to Wellington on 15 August.
Wellington
7-13 August – The People Speak #STOPTPPA. NZ Photo exhibition (10am-5pm)
12 August – Lunchtime rally outside Parliament with politicians and speakers.
15 August – TPPA Walk Away! Protest action to stop the TPPA. Assemble at Midland Park and march to Parliament for speakers and music. More details to come.
Nelson
15 August protest at 11:00am, top of Trafalgar St – 1903 Square.
Christchurch
10 August political debate at 6pm, Canterbury Horticultural Society (57 Riccarton Avenue), featuring David Parker, Russell Norman, Fletcher Tabuteau and Marama Fox.
12 August film screening of ‘Inequality for All” by economist Robert Reich, 6pm at The Auricle (35 New Regent Street).
14 August New Economics Seminar and Expo, 7pm at Horticultural Hall.
15 August protest at 12:30pm. Location: South Hagley Park (corner Deans Ave and Riccarton Rd) marching down Riccarton Rd.
Timaru
15 August protest planned, details to come.
Dunedin
15 August protest at 1pm, marching from the Dental School to the Octagon.
Draco T Bastard:
So, you have no answer to the point that your preferred option has been tried before and failed.
Gotcha.
————————————————————————————————————————-
your answer to my question here
Answer me this: What good is your money (literally virtual money), if you can’t access it, if you can’t use your bank card, or if your access is blocked by a government?
I can see quite a few people barter, trade or institute on a community level something to replace all that virtual money if access is not guaranteed or made hard.
I think they call it the black economy, or the under the table economy etc.
————————————————————————————————————————
ok, so I have linked to a Wiki Page that explains the use of scrip / chits throught the history of banking.
I have mentioned bartering, trading, or exchanging goods at an agreed value,
I have raised my reasons as to why i am not deluded into thinking that a benevolent government would run our cashless society that you advocate (i still would love the Start Trek years, but alas i will only live the years of the war leading up to the Vulcan arriving and providing humanity with Warp Speed).
I have mentioned cigarettes as currency as used in the after war years of Germany, my mother has good memories of picking up buds, taking them home, cleaning them, re-rolling the cleaned tobacco and then using it on the black market as currency before the great new introduction of the Deutsch Mark.
And you are saying that my preferred option has not been successfully tried before? Really? I mean Really?
So I am sorry, but there are more examples of humanity using what ever they can as currency, in abscence of anything better.
And if your cashless society comes true, i bet you a hundered chits that there will be immediately a different cash form available for those that don’t want to use the government sanctioned, controlled and government depended ‘credit/debit’ cards.
You need to prove that your idea is better, and at the moment i see you failing.
The current advantage of cash over electronics isn’t trust so much as the convenience of universality – almost everyone can take cash, not everyone can take cards as that involves a cost outlay. When that advantage no longer exists, cash will slowly be phased out.
There is a hybrid option that might persist as a transitional step if manufacturing costs approach negligible: individual tokens like debit cards that have a display of their remaining balance. They can be physically exchanged, or debited (transferring between tokens would be more difficult and would require each token to be networked, although thinking about it one could organise some sort of exchange protocol that involves the token uploading and confirmation of transaction histories at merchant terminals).
That sort of thing was in the 1980s series Max Headroom, for the scifi folks out there 🙂
And you are saying that my preferred option has not been successfully tried before?
It’s been tried and failed and linked to some information on it. There’s more around on the same site if you look.
Sure, the laws that got put in place empowered the private banks which is why we need to change the laws and make it so that only the government an create money.
Hell, we technically already have your system in that the private banks create money every time a loan is made and is failing miserably.
And if your cashless society comes true, i bet you a hundered chits that there will be immediately a different cash form available for those that don’t want to use the government sanctioned, controlled and government depended ‘credit/debit’ cards.
Probably because we’ve been taught that government is bad and that stealing from them is good. Of course, stealing from the government is stealing from yourself and so you’re actually worse off.
You need to prove that your idea is better, and at the moment i see you failing.
You’re being wilfully blind.
Advantages:
1. It’s cheaper as it uses less resources
2. It’s more secure – can’t be stolen
3. Makes it easier to determine taxes
4. Makes it easier to find crime
Disadvantages:
1. It may go offline occasionally
2. Everyone will need a cellphone
“KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Southeast Asian nations want China to stop land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea, a regional official said Tuesday, but China insisted it has a right to continue the activity.
Le Luong Minh, secretary-general of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said ASEAN foreign ministers expressed concerns in a meeting Tuesday over massive Chinese island-building activities that have escalated tensions in the area…
China says it’s all their territory, a load of other nations disagree. It was in this area that Chinese and US aircraft collided in 2001. Lol, and it was the macguffin for a James Bond movie, I think The world is not enough.
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This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
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Edward Heath coverup should signal the need for an open enquiry here as the powerful wealthy elite here have covered up as well for political gain
+100 Tricledown…and in this regard this post and some comments on the Daily Blog are of interest
….seems like some “in the know” about NZ cover ups are being heavied and attempts are being made to compromise, entrap and blackmail them ….
http://frameblame.org/personal-experiences-entrapment/
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/07/19/and-then-they-came-for-rodney-hide/
Chris Hedges shows how people like Heath get away with the things they do…
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_careerists_20120723
http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/70835050/Fonterras-GlobalDairyTrade-auction-posts-10th-consecutive-fall
The price keeps dropping is it possible rural nz is being set up for a corporate raid??
kinda what i’ve been wondering.que mortgage sales and farms being offloaded by desperate farmers and “investors”, especially marginal farms. remember how china pushed up the price of coal, all the while stockpiling it and the subsequent crash in price when they stopped buying? now with dairy dejavu. the banks have not been particularly responsible with lending, pouring millions into dairy conversions (including in area totally unsuited like central otago) making hay while the sun shines. well the weather has turned and is about to shit all over those hapless farmers – and our economy. whose goin to buy all these farms? i wonder.
The farmers screwing the environment (and their workers) are probably being screwed by the banks (and insurance companies) themselves.
When it really comes down to it, it is the finance sector calls that calls the shots, we all just dance to their tune,
Wouldn’t surprise me to see such happen even if it hadn’t been purposeful. The rich will always find ways to take from everyone else during times of trouble.
And the finance sector are their key facilitators
Just look at the those who are now part of the Chinese banking system: Don Brash, Jenny Shipley, Ruth Richardson, Chris Tremain (this one would be absurdly funny if it was’t true).
I would not be surprised if Chinese financed corporate farming rises to prominence in the next couple of years.
its all just coincidence. nats just all happen to be more gifted than other nzers.
Yes, the main problem with the world dairy market is nobody knows what is happening in China, zero visibility. Its utterly stupid to be relying on this country for our future, that is the mistake Fonterra has made.
It makes you wonder what van der heyden knew when he made this comment.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/8726453/Chinese-comments-taken-out-of-context
BW It’s The market init?
I don’t know but China filled its warehouses chooker full buy all accounts and are know in a position of being able to sit it out for a while while farms potentially go broke.
I am aware there’s lots of other factors pushing dairy prices down as well but was just interested to see what other comenters here thought.
The War On Cash Is Evil – Mike Maloney
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GteG8jnIPc&utm
Banks stand to make a lot more money from a cashless society than they currently make.
One flaw in his talk is the assertion that it will force every one onto a credit card when its easier now to be cashless and not have a credit card than it was 10 years ago.
How do you buy online without a credit card?
Direct transaction from account to account and I believe my eftpos card can be set up as a debit card that works like a credit card but you use you’re own money.
I understand there is some consumer protection if you use either the credit or debit card as well.
It is a separate card but runs off the same account/s as your regular eftpos card
“Direct transaction from account to account”
How?
“and I believe my eftpos card can be set up as a debit card that works like a credit card but you use you’re own money.”
But also has a credit card type limit on it whereby you can go into debt? (You can also run a credit card off your own money)
Log in to your bank
set up payment to another persons account
Click ‘pay’
You only have the money in your account to pay with unless you have an overdraft available in which case there would also be credit available.
Ok, so overnight online banking. In my experience there are still enough places that won’t do that and require a credit card. I also use my credit card over the phone. Is there is a substitute for that (not sure if debit cards can be used like that)?
Debit cards can be used exactly the same way as credit cards and in the same places. The only difference is that debit cards don’t usually have credit on them and so you can only use money that you have in the bank.
Debit cards used to have problems. These days if they have a visa or mastercard, they appear to be accepted everywhere on the net.
Weka their are several different versions of cash card now even one that you transfer only the amount of the purchase so you don’t get your bank account emptied by a scam.
Does paypal accept them?
Debit cards – they’re eftpos cards that are linked into the Visa or Mastercard network and can be used in the same fashion as a credit card except they draw directly from your account. So far as I can tell, they are offered by the major banks, Kiwibank, TSB, the Cooperative Bank and most credit unions.
Go on to your bank website and search using the term “debit card” you should get the info if you’re interested. I’ve been far better at managing my money since I switched from using credit to debit.
Are you saying that a debit card by default can’t go into overdraft?
How does the bank and/or credit card company make money from it then? Is the retailer picking that up?
That’s what I’m saying. Unless you have an overdraft facility on your account.
Mine is with ANZ – I don’t have an annual fee on it because it’s linked with my everyday account. If it was linked with another account – like my savings – it would be $10 p.a. There is a currency conversion fee of 2.5% when buying in foreign currency, but lots of overseas retailers – like Amazon – charge in $NZD, so that can be avoided.
I would guess the retailer is picking up the charges for being on the network.
Thanks Ovid. I think when my bank originally offered me something like this it was tied into them offering me credit, so I said no. I generally don’t take my credit card to town, so having a credit facility on my eftpost card was always going to be a bad idea. That was some years ago though, I should check it out.
Basically from nebulous account charges and margins on overseas sales
AFAIK store owners and businesses get killed with these debit cards because the credit card company takes their 2.5% financial industry tax on every transaction.
Banks pushed customers to replace their eftpos cards with these credit card branded debit cards because they get a cut of this action.
Awful financial industry ticket clipping.
Which happens to be another reason why we have to shift from private bank financial system to a government bank owned financial system.
We should not have to pay private companies to use our money.
thanks CV. Is that worse than what credit card companies/banks do with credit cards? I’ve noticed a few places that now add a charge if purchasing with a credit card.
It’s exactly the same but the credit card also creates money when it’s used whereas the debit card usually doesn’t.
How much will the banks be allowed to charge you/ me/us for transactions on our ‘deposit’ ‘credit’ ‘eftpos’ card?
When I pay cash, i pay cash, the bank gets nothing. So in fact, ‘the cashless’ society is going to increase the cost of living by way of ‘taxing’ transactions.
its just that you don’t physically have to pull out a note of your wallet.
this is an interesting read on the cashless society that are the US American Citizens that receive SNAP and or other benefits.
http://prospect.org/article/how-big-banks-are-cashing-food-stamps
the banks are making a killing.
Exactly – but its small business owners who bare the brunt of this financial leachery, as they end up paying % merchant fees to the credit card companies. SMEs then feel pressure to take more from employees and customers.
To feed the financial industry vampire.
I pay these fees every month, but i do count these fees as a ‘cost of doing business’ and i am able to write them off at the end of the year.
Bank Cards cost money, account fees, transaction fees, replacement fees for a lost card etc etc etc. This can actually eat up quite a bit of cash at the end of the year, that only benefits the card issuing bank, but add to no service to the businesses and/or community.
A cashless society run by the banks? No thank you, they are already milking us to no end, i also don’t like the idea that my every purchase is traceable via bank statements, nor do I like the idea that my data gets a. sold of to the highest bidder or to any business that the bank works with….shared data ….or that it might get stolen.
I can see the attraction aka the Startrek button that is the intercom, the bank account and we are all paid in credits. Alas, as our current government here, and various other government overseas show daily, we first have to have the total war before the Vulcan come to Earth to give us Warp Drive and a better more enlightened future.
So no, Cash is still King/Queen.
one major goal of a cashless society is to be able to track your commercial activities in real time, wherever you are.
This is an extension of the surveillance state.
Also in a banking shutdown like Greece just had, it leaves people with no choice but to beg the controllers of the banking and transaction networks to throw the switch back on, at any cost.
CV, the previous finance minister Cullen,was very hot on a cashless society,just shows you where his community lies, (that’s for those out there pumping his credentials) .
I am as well but I hold that all the transactions need to be done on a government server/network and not on private bank servers so that the banks don’t get to prey on the people for using their money.
even if the government is as democratically elected as the one in Russia, China, Zimbabwe, or Saudi Arabia/Iran/Iraq etc to name just a few?
No the reason people like cash is that it is almost untracable, and that most of us are able to trace their purchases with simple book keeping methods.
I would not trust the banks, nor any government with the access to ‘my’ money.
the 00 on your bank account have no value, the little bit of paper cash in the shoebox under the hotwater cupboard on the other hand has.
Actually, if the little bit of paper has value then it’s broken as cash.
Governments can ban/make obsolete any means of exchange they want. Black markets can look for other means of exchange, including cigarettes or stable currencies like USD or RMB, but in general you might equally find that cash in the shoebox useless as a means of exchange. If banning doesn’t work, refusing to honour it as legal tender and no longer integrating it into the digital economy, or even printing gazillions of it to devalue it to a point approaching zero, would seriously damage it as a means of exchange. Weimar Republic, for example.
and this would be the answer
Scrip (sometimes called chit) is a term for any substitute for legal tender and is often a form of credit. Scrips were created as company payment of employees under the truck system and also as a means of local commerce in times where regular currency is unavailable, such as remote coal towns, military bases, ships on long voyages, or occupied countries in war time. Besides company scrip, other forms of scrip include land scrip, vouchers, token coins such as subway tokens, IOUs, arcade tokens and tickets, and points on some credit cards.
Scrips have gained historical importance and become a subject of study in numismatics and exonumia due to their wide variety and recurring use. Scrip behaves similarly to a currency, and as such can be used to study monetary economics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrip
————————————————————————————————
I honestly would not want my finances at the whim of a government or a bank. In both cases we would be fucked and not in a good way. Greece, no amount of money in the bank without access is gonna pay yer rent or food.
The only way we are going cashless is if we abolish the system of money altogether and live in a Utoptia, where everyone is housed, clothed and fed the same. A Utopia where no one is rich nor poor, where all work to provide the things to live, i.e. housing, food and clothes. But thats not gonna work.
The main reasons government cash is the almost universal means of exchange within a country are the government guarantee (which historically has proved much more reliable than private enterprise guarantees) and the fact that only the government can require people by law to accept that currency as face-value means of exchange (“legal tender”).
The funny thing about scrip is that the issuer can stop honouring them, or change the value of them, and many are linked to the government currency anyway and as such are more a loan than a scrip (e.g. the balance on my bus card). The reason companies issue scrip or tokens is simply to lock the consumer into purchasing from that supplier – e.g. my coffee card.
No it wouldn’t.There was a reason why such were made illegal and national currency brought in – it’s because the private creators of money always create too much which they can’t actually back. Private creation of money inevitably leads to financial and economic collapse.
And what else do you think will happen if the use of scrip would be allowed?
This is despite the fact that that is how the economy works anyway. The real problem is that we have rich people.
Answer me this: What good is your money (literally virtual money), if you can’t access it, if you can’t use your bank card, or if your access is blocked by a government?
I can see quite a few people barter, trade or institute on a community level something to replace all that virtual money if access is not guaranteed or made hard.
I think they call it the black economy, or the under the table economy etc.
So, you have no answer to the point that your preferred option has been tried before and failed.
Gotcha.
If you can’t access your money it is no good.
The same as when banks locked their doors if there was a run on the bank in the pre-electronic days.
But the only intrinsic characteristic of money is that it is virtual, whether it’s numbers on a screen or numbers on a bit of paper.
I recall reading an article in the 1990s that described the job of an Eastern European factory manager – the economy was in the toilet, so this person’s job involved creating massive networks of barter deals in order to either pay the workers in food or useful goods rather than the toilet paper that was the national currency at the time.
A friend of mine recently brought out some family heirlooms – marks from the early 1920s. As the denominations accrued loads of zeros, the size got smaller and the quality rougher. The value of the currency wasn’t the digits, it was what you could exchange for those digits.
Community currencies, parallel currencies, time banks, IOUs etc.
Health insurance companies might pull up your transactions and deny you cover because ‘KFC” and “McDonalds” comes up too many times…
although gift cards like the kiwipost prezzy cards don’t need id for under $100, ISTR.
hi b waghorn, with respect, there are far more flaws for us with the proposal of a cashless society.
i dont want to hand any control to another, least of all the banksters.
I think its inevitable so I would like think people in position s that could have some input into it are doing every thing possible to protect the public.
do you mean the people like the police, gcsb, or some of those ‘leaders’ in wellington?
sorry, my friend i do not share your faith in their altruism.
the finance sector kings and the surveillance industry kings are the ones who are making all the decisions on any such transition to a “cashless society.”
their concern for the “little person” is not notable; their concern for profit and for knowing everything about your life, while you know nothing about what they are doing, is however.
i would not be surprised if/when the ‘cashless’ society comes, that people will use script.
It has been done before, the best currency my Nana had in the after war years in Germany were cigarettes.
German ones had a bit of value, American ones like Lucky Strike could buy you heeps of stuff, Russian ciggies rolled in the pravda ….not so much buying power.
No, like the cash less office, i don’t think we are going to have a cash less society.
National’s dags being rattled by Parker on National Radio this morning.
Hope it wipes smirk off Key’s face, watching Key blatantly distract the country by accusing King And Goff of undermining Little was sickening.
Blinglish saying adjustments about Dairy industry job losses bankruptcies firesale prices for Dairy farms to be snapped up by cashed up countries with long-term agendas.
And you can bet this government will let nz get sold overseas instead of letting the banks take the hit and land prices fall dramatically.
Yep… they’re cheerleading a new wave of colonisation… by corporations.
Message above was in reply to b waghorn at 5.1
Funny that there is nothing re the Saudi sheep Saga (Shagger?) online in the Herald?
Just this single piece from the National section.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11491836
First up on RNZ coverage was Goff discussing the accusations from the Government
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201765180/goff-says-pm-being-deliberately-dishonest-over-saudi-debacle
The RNZ coverage presented some interesting information. This includes how [then] Agriculture Minister David Carter was publicly saying live sheep exports would not be re-instated, but according to the documents released, was involved in talks about re-instating live exports. (1:45)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201765190/govt-planned-resume-live-sheep-exports-market-with-middle-east
I do wonder how The Speaker will handle questions on this issue in Parliament next week?
& the chat with David Parker
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201765191/labour-says-saudi-sheep-deal-documents-are-embarrassing
Thanks freedom. I wonder what will happen next. National Radio seems to take the lead so Mr English’s warning that National Radio is a dinosaur must send a warning.
Seems evident that the Government is happy and confident to lie with impunity regardless of contrary evidence.
English’s interview this morning does not imbue confidence. Big pauses, super soft phrasing and when asked the big Yes/No question he started explaining explaining explaining
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201765206/minister-of-finance,-bill-english
and we all know what it means when politicians start waffling instead of saying Yes or No
so the speaker is duplicitous at best and a liar at worst and he is the sole arbiter of MPs behaviour?
you couldnt make this up.
It’s been my experience that the truth is always stranger than fiction!
Not that many years ago, an interview that held revelations involving Government Ministers’ auditioning for the role of TwoFace would have had the Ministers involved looking for new employment by the time their cars arrived to collect them from the studios. Because that’s where they were, in the studio, metaphorically at least. But Ministers barely front up for interviews anymore, unless they have a policy they want to sell, or know of a bus due any minute and who they think should be under it.
Yes, that’s an exaggeration but let’s be real here, nothing is going to happen. The MSM are showing how compliant they have become. They are lost to us. Thankfully much of the public have taken their voices on-line and are building their own fledging networks of contemporary news and analyses. Not a perfect system but imagine the MSM without the public discourse we have built amongst ourselves over the past decade or so. Having blogs & social media to parry through the melee might be a senseless struggle to some and a waste of resources to others but it does keep the battle going. Even pacifists like me understand to win a war you must stay in the fight.
Given the duplicity’s wide reaching implications for our democracy, there are plenty of unspoken questions about what else lies beneath the surface of this [and other] Government/s. But those questions are left to fade on the Editor’s to do list. Instead the Editors get their staff to scramble over each other, scratching and tearing at all the shiny things worn by all the shiny people.
At times like this there are few more rational responses than anger. The public anger that such facts should generate is so stage managed that many people are unsure what they are meant to be focusing their anger on, but they do know they are angry about something.
The Opposition, stymied by the media’s complicity, is left to struggle against a Speaker who was apparently instrumental in the co-ordination of the circumstances being discussed. Circumstances he has openly assisted the Government in avoiding as he sits as Speaker. When the opposition rise to their feet next week, and hopefully deliver carefully co-ordinated single part questions, they know full well what they will be facing. The Speaker will simply shut down any debate on the topic faster than he closed the door on ‘matters before the court’ that actually weren’t.
The PM could be asked directly about the blatantly two-faced actions taken by his Minister/s and if, by some miracle, he doesn’t launch into ‘Labour did it! Labour did it! Labour did it!’ we’ll get a shrug, a ‘you know’ then [the now tired] sneer followed by his latest version of ‘there’s always another person with a different interpretation of events’ before he wraps up by attacking another Party’s policies or making some lame joke whilst ignoring the lacklustre demands from the Speaker for him to be seated.
Yeah I guess you could say I’m less than thrilled about our prospects as a modern democratic state.
The National Youth Theatre in the UK closes down a production a fortnight before opening night.
Homegrown (not in the NZ sense) is a promenade play about the radicalisation of young people living in Britain. The idea and the performance sounds great, but it will not be performed.
Theatre is a great way to get people discussing and talking, and they are missing an opportunity here.
Not to mention the involvement of 112 local young people, who discover (once again) that their voices are silent.
Looks like the west is eagerly following the example of East German authorities.
1984
How heartening would it be if we could threaten companies such as Miller Argent with the “costs” of their externalities, instead of reading again about their threats to local peoples and governments to act as they see fit.
Coal company threatens to sue welsh borough if mine permit is denied
The Guardian’s expert on obfuscation by bureaucratese and acronym, Steven Poole, recently argued that TTIP could be a conspiracy to pull some very thick wool over our eyes. We live in an age when we’re so accustomed to being entertained that we haven’t the temperament to do the difficult work of penetrating the wool of boring. So we’re going to take that wool, roll it into a ball and leave it for the cat to play with. No, don’t look at the cat. Look at me. Focus.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/03/ttip-what-why-angry-transatlantic-trade-investment-partnership-guide
You’re so right. Isn’t this cute.
Vicious beast mauls helpless orange gourd
http://i.imgur.com/yUh8kbj.gifv
Murdoch on the TPPA
And how come he can be part of it when we are not privy to the TPP?
“Fonterra chairman John Wilson’s verbal sharp-shooting skills were put to good effect at the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministerial negotiations in Maui.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11491984 (Fran O’Sullivan.)
Brilliant.
Anybody hearing about the Turks bombing Kurdish anti-ISIS positions and the US bombing Syria to create an ISIS free safe zone? Neh, I didn’t think so! I mean why keep us posted on an area where NZ soldiers are involved in another war crime of apocalyptic proportions?
Gotta keep the customer happy.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/29/turkeys-american-lobbyists-work-defeat-military-aid-isis/
This excerpt from the Leaked TPP IP chapter would appear to be affecting Māori sovereignty.
Article QQ.E.23[95]: {Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic
Resources}
[PE/NZ/VN/BN/MX/SG/CL/MY propose[96]: 1. The parties recognise the importance and contribution
of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and biological diversity to cultural, economic
and social development.]
[[97]PE/MY/MXBN propose; NZ/AU/SG/CL oppose: 2. Each Party exercises sovereignty over their
biological [MY/BN oppose: diversity] [MY/BN propose: resources] and shall determine the access
conditions to their genetic resources and their derivatives in accordance to their domestic legislation.]
http://keionline.org/sites/default/files/Section-E-PatentsUndisclosed-Data-TK-TTP-IP-Text-11May2015.pdf
Don’t forget to PROTEST AGAINST TPPA – our government is very keen to sign our sovereignty away. Just because they didn’t do it last week – they seem confident that they will next time so show the government the people mean business!
Here are the details
Hokianga
15 August protest, 11am at Kohukohu Village Green.
Whangarei
15 August protest, 11am at the Town Basin.
Auckland
15 August protest, 1pm at Aotea Square to march down Queen Street, featuring speakers and music.
Hamilton
15 August protest, Meet @ 1pm outside Cock and Bull carpark on corner of Church and Maui.
Tauranga
8 August, 10 am @ Red Square (Downtown Tauranga) for ‘Chalk n talk’.
9 August, Johns Key’s birthday bash with live music and Cake Signing the giant card.
10 August at lunch time, Banner making in Red Square.
12 August, Nag banner from cambridge rd over bridge.
13 August, signs on the road side
14th August – public meeting
15 August protest at 1pm, Red Square.
Gisborne
15 August protest, details to come.
Napier/Hastings
15 August protest, 1pm, location to be announced.
Wanganui
8 August protest, 1pm, march from Silver Ball in the market to Majestic Square.
New Plymouth
Protest planned, details to come
Palmerston North
(Before Action Week) – At 7pm on July 29th Palmerston North City Library is hosting a panel discussion on the TPPA, featuring Assoc Prof Jeff Sluka, Dr Deborak Russell and Dr Shamin Shukur (compere: Assoc Prof Bill Fish).
Art and photo exhibition planned with accompanying information, concert and talks
8 August Rally and concert, 1pm – 3:30pm in the Square in the quadrant opposite The Plaza. Keynote speech from Barry Coates, including Dr Romauld Rudzki, Dr Deborah Russell, Dr Jeff Sluka and Cr Lew Findlay, and local musicians.
14 August will be a concert in the library at 5pm, then documentary maker and investigative journalist Bryan Bruce will speak at 6pm on Poverty, Inequality & the TPPA.
Many committed P North activists will also be heading to Wellington on 15 August.
Wellington
7-13 August – The People Speak #STOPTPPA. NZ Photo exhibition (10am-5pm)
12 August – Lunchtime rally outside Parliament with politicians and speakers.
15 August – TPPA Walk Away! Protest action to stop the TPPA. Assemble at Midland Park and march to Parliament for speakers and music. More details to come.
Nelson
15 August protest at 11:00am, top of Trafalgar St – 1903 Square.
Christchurch
10 August political debate at 6pm, Canterbury Horticultural Society (57 Riccarton Avenue), featuring David Parker, Russell Norman, Fletcher Tabuteau and Marama Fox.
12 August film screening of ‘Inequality for All” by economist Robert Reich, 6pm at The Auricle (35 New Regent Street).
14 August New Economics Seminar and Expo, 7pm at Horticultural Hall.
15 August protest at 12:30pm. Location: South Hagley Park (corner Deans Ave and Riccarton Rd) marching down Riccarton Rd.
Timaru
15 August protest planned, details to come.
Dunedin
15 August protest at 1pm, marching from the Dental School to the Octagon.
Invercargill
15 August protest, 12pm at Wachner Place.
Save NZ +100 …Thanks for the info !
Draco T Bastard:
So, you have no answer to the point that your preferred option has been tried before and failed.
Gotcha.
————————————————————————————————————————-
your answer to my question here
Answer me this: What good is your money (literally virtual money), if you can’t access it, if you can’t use your bank card, or if your access is blocked by a government?
I can see quite a few people barter, trade or institute on a community level something to replace all that virtual money if access is not guaranteed or made hard.
I think they call it the black economy, or the under the table economy etc.
————————————————————————————————————————
ok, so I have linked to a Wiki Page that explains the use of scrip / chits throught the history of banking.
I have mentioned bartering, trading, or exchanging goods at an agreed value,
I have raised my reasons as to why i am not deluded into thinking that a benevolent government would run our cashless society that you advocate (i still would love the Start Trek years, but alas i will only live the years of the war leading up to the Vulcan arriving and providing humanity with Warp Speed).
I have mentioned cigarettes as currency as used in the after war years of Germany, my mother has good memories of picking up buds, taking them home, cleaning them, re-rolling the cleaned tobacco and then using it on the black market as currency before the great new introduction of the Deutsch Mark.
And you are saying that my preferred option has not been successfully tried before? Really? I mean Really?
So I am sorry, but there are more examples of humanity using what ever they can as currency, in abscence of anything better.
And if your cashless society comes true, i bet you a hundered chits that there will be immediately a different cash form available for those that don’t want to use the government sanctioned, controlled and government depended ‘credit/debit’ cards.
You need to prove that your idea is better, and at the moment i see you failing.
Actually, nobody needs to prove a damned thing.
The current advantage of cash over electronics isn’t trust so much as the convenience of universality – almost everyone can take cash, not everyone can take cards as that involves a cost outlay. When that advantage no longer exists, cash will slowly be phased out.
There is a hybrid option that might persist as a transitional step if manufacturing costs approach negligible: individual tokens like debit cards that have a display of their remaining balance. They can be physically exchanged, or debited (transferring between tokens would be more difficult and would require each token to be networked, although thinking about it one could organise some sort of exchange protocol that involves the token uploading and confirmation of transaction histories at merchant terminals).
That sort of thing was in the 1980s series Max Headroom, for the scifi folks out there 🙂
It’s been tried and failed and linked to some information on it. There’s more around on the same site if you look.
Sure, the laws that got put in place empowered the private banks which is why we need to change the laws and make it so that only the government an create money.
Hell, we technically already have your system in that the private banks create money every time a loan is made and is failing miserably.
Probably because we’ve been taught that government is bad and that stealing from them is good. Of course, stealing from the government is stealing from yourself and so you’re actually worse off.
You’re being wilfully blind.
Advantages:
1. It’s cheaper as it uses less resources
2. It’s more secure – can’t be stolen
3. Makes it easier to determine taxes
4. Makes it easier to find crime
Disadvantages:
1. It may go offline occasionally
2. Everyone will need a cellphone
Jeeesus DTB “it can’t be stolen”
FFS someone can press a button and haircut it or take it all in a microsecond.
And that would be known and thus can be reversed.
‘ASEAN wants China to stop work in disputed sea: official’
By EILEEN NG
http://news.yahoo.com/malaysia-seeks-amicable-solution-china-sea-dispute-065959378.html
“KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Southeast Asian nations want China to stop land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea, a regional official said Tuesday, but China insisted it has a right to continue the activity.
Le Luong Minh, secretary-general of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said ASEAN foreign ministers expressed concerns in a meeting Tuesday over massive Chinese island-building activities that have escalated tensions in the area…
Related Stories
http://news.yahoo.com/philippines-wants-south-china-sea-talks-despite-chinas-072657154.html
http://news.yahoo.com/asia-security-talks-open-south-china-sea-tensions-033935769.html
http://news.yahoo.com/us-philippines-raise-territorial-row-malaysia-meet-015600913.html
http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-chinas-wang-discuss-south-china-sea-tensions-040713628.html
http://news.yahoo.com/asean-china-discuss-hotline-sea-dispute-philippines-053923198.html
lol no shit.
China says it’s all their territory, a load of other nations disagree. It was in this area that Chinese and US aircraft collided in 2001. Lol, and it was the macguffin for a James Bond movie, I think The world is not enough.
‘The world is not enough’ …huh… must get back into James Bond movies…think I missed that one
The one with Jonathan Pryce as the baddie.