A legal loophole today prevented police from prosecuting a man eating a doughnut in broad daylight. The legal loophole was confirmed by a police spokesman, who confirmed that eating baked goods in the middle of the day was not an offence.
“”While it is not illegal, police do not encourage people to drink alcohol while driving and they would certainly stop them and check their alcohol consumption,” said Ms Richardson.”
And this is equally stupid talk from the cop. Why didn’t they say “police discourage people”?
“A couple who have watched far too many US-made police dramas were stunned to discover that the New Zealand legal system isn’t just like it is on Special Victims Unit”.
Priceless.
It is a great way to wind up stuffed shirts and tut-tutting old dears in other cars.
At traffic lights have you window down, arm resting on the door, take a gulp out of a bottle of Lion Red, give them a naughty/letcherous wink and ask them if they want a swig too!
A great way to start a weekend in a good mood.
I’m surprised people are surprised. But then again, I’m not really surprised as so many people do so little thinking. Most people just follow the popular girls around, which only achieves…. well, um ….. not sure actually …. nothing.
But then again, Iâm not really surprised as so many people do so little thinking.
Actually, I’m thinking that’s a case of people doing too much thinking. They don’t like something and think that it should be illegal and so decide that it is. And then act as if it is and then get surprised and upset when they find out that it isn’t.
I now wouldn’t be surprised if National put through an emergency law change making it illegal to drink while driving.
no no …. they’ll pass a law not only making it illegal, but conscripting them into the army. Show ’em some discipline! Those pesky beneficiaries could also be drafted in the same way (to make them productive).
still …. we should not be giving them original ideas outside of their learned ideology and dogma
This is a story about England’s schools, but it could just as well describe the razing of state provision throughout the world. In the name of freedom, public assets are being forcibly removed from popular control and handed to unelected oligarchs.
All over England, schools are being obliged to become academies: supposedly autonomous bodies which are often “sponsored” (the government’s euphemism for controlled) by foundations established by exceedingly rich people. The break-up of the education system in this country, like the dismantling of the NHS, reflects no widespread public demand. It is imposed, through threats, bribes and fake consultations, from on high.
Sounds exactly like what is happening to NZs schools courtesy of this government.
Stuff.co.nz this morning – “Parata ignored Education Ministry warning”. (Christchurch)
No. Key and Joyce ignored Education Ministry warnings. Just not interested. “We’ll do what WE want to do. Period.”
The morning on which she wakes up as plain old Lady Gardiner draws closer. Oh the shame.
Not for Key though. Lauded for decisiveness by his puppies in the media he’ll be happy as. The story about the story will be bigger than the story. Mr Bean’s cousin Gower probably has what he fancies is a definitive one-liner already written.
Key’s denial that his gushing acolyte Parata is cannon fodder was a Freudian lie.
Yep she ignored advice that the demographics were still changing in Chch post-earthquake and that the changes needed to wait to see where those demographics settled.
Pretty fucking obvious.
So why have they not done that? Why have they barged ahead?
To think a quarter of a century ago, I almost bought a house off her ‘better half’ alongside a wife that was a little smarter than Hekia. There goes a lucky escape! I’m glad I trust my instincts especially as I write, that eternal sage of the 4th Estate (ONE Network News) reports that the U.S. “Stoke Exchange” has reached an ALL TIME high, not seen since the GFC. I’m not sure they see the significance in what they just pronounced either.
And here we have the NaCts puffing up the benefits of esset sales … those mum in dead vestas should have confdince … that same sort of confdince they had in all those finance companies that went tits-up (pardon the expression QoT but it is actually the image I want to portray – as in those with tits being on the bottom bunk in every sense) – substitute expression as you see fit (perhaps instead of mum in dead vestas – substitute “soft-cocks”)
“They have a fund with a couple of hundred million in it,” enthused Kassianos, a former US economics professor who assumed the mayorship of Homer’s fabled isle three years ago. “And as far as I know they want to buy all 18 of the islands, the whole lot.
“There is a stupid law because in Greece we do everything upside down</B," lamented Kassianos. "That law says that whatever the size of your land, your home can be no bigger than 250 sq m. The emir has reacted to this saying his WC is 250 sq m and his kitchen alone has to be 1,000 sq m, because otherwise how is he going to feed all his guests?"
To appease the locals, the Qatari, who is also being heavily courted by the government to invest in Greece, has promised to come bearing gifts. “His people said ‘what present can we give you?’ and I said the island needs water desperately,” said Kassianos. “A study to lay a pipeline from the mainland is already under way. That’s not bad when we’ve been trying to get a new port here for the past 40 years.”
Welfare reforms and health sector reforms: How the dots can be joined together –
In 2007 and 2008 the National Party repeatedly fed the media with selected few stories about âGP bullyingâ – by claimants of the sickness benefit. Work and Incomeâs Principal Health Advisor Dr Bratt seemed to grab that topic up quite willingly then. Now though it seems GPs get âbulliedâ (or rather âconvinced to doâ) what MSD and WINZ under the present government want them to do.
Since National’s been in government, theyâve appointed and promote selected professional people into key jobs in the public health and welfare sectors. Most, if not all, appear to be resolute proponents for adopting a âfirmâ approach to health care and welfare. It can all be sourced back to similar moves made in the UK under the auspices of Professor Mansel Aylward, former UK DWP Chief Medical Officer, now consulting MSD and at least one NZ Health Board. He’s still in charge of a department at Cardiff University.
These key persons are resolutely pushing ahead with an already decided agenda behind the scenes, by bringing in changes in training, recruiting, lobbying and influencing existing and prospective medical practitioners and other health professionals. The welfare reforms before Parliament are just part of the greater agenda. The Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Act is largely only intended to deliver the âframeworkâ for the UK system in welfare and work capacity assessments done by selected medical professionals, that is intended to be introduced. The Select Committee process with hearing submissions is likely to change little, like with other bills the NatACT government has hammered through already.
Here are another abundance of sources for info that can enlighten readers: http://www.nzohna.org.nz/uploaded/Dr%20David%20Beaumont%20New%20Horizons%2013%209%202012.pdf
(Presentation by Dr David Beaumont: âWelfare Reform in New Zealand â Relevance to the Workplaceââ as part of a forum called âNew Horizons: Rebuilding Health and Safety on Solid Groundâ; Christchurch 13 September 2012)
http://nz.linkedin.com/pub/david-beaumont/2a/780/943
(Linked In page of Dr Beaumont, formerly also working for âAtos Origin Healthcareâ in the UK. He’s been promoting the UK style medical and work capacity tests for many years; he’s also been advising MSD here in NZ)
http://www.healthworkforce.govt.nz/about-us/board-members
(Dr Des Gorman, well known from his advisory role to ACC for many years, and for some highly controversial recommendations. He’s now also âbossâ of âHealth Work Force NZâ, set up to develop recruitment and training strategies for health sector employees in the NZ health sector)
When I read your comments Xtasy, I wonder if these designated doctors are open to being struck off, or at least, reprimanded, in cases where their zeal puts a patient’s life or health in danger.
Also, the cutting of the sole parent benefit in Australia once the youngest child turns eight has drawn criticism from the UN as a violation of human rights.
Gillard is dismissing the report here, but someone I spoke to on the phone last night said that it now looks as if the UN attention might cause a partial back down on her part.
Gillard is in a very weak position in Oz. Stupid Labour politicians trying to appear more Right Wing ahead of elections. Is this a disease they all come down with?
Yes I would love to know what is driving this, since it is destroying centre-left parties all over the western world. Is it fear? Addiction to keeping one’s place among those in the know? Touting for corporate donations? Something else? Certainly the powerful have got a firm hold on the economic steering wheel, but that does not mean they must go unchallenged.
Its not fear or addiction, its a desire to control every aspect of human existence, via the corrupted individuals who masquerade as public servants, in NZ, and elsewhere.
The mesh of international legal treaties, agreements, and other *signed into* contracts, mean that there is likely very few people who have any idea of what NZ (as a so called sovereign nations), *obligations* to foreign entities are. We get to see many the results of the obligations, played out via *policy* and *reforms*, that much is certain.
When these international treaties, agreements and contracts, are underlayed by the thousands of domestic statutes, bills etc, how it is possible to have a clue about who is controlling what, as it relates to NZ!
It takes incredible power to engineer the social/financial breakdowns we witness around the world, and at home in NZ, power that many don’t/can’t accept exists.
In order to *defend*, first you have to know who/what your attacker is, only then can a hopeful strategy be formed!
Well part of it is when the likes of Dastiari? who’s come from a background of living hell gain influence, and who hold that “we don’t know how lucky we are” attitude. In my day …. etc., etc., etc.
And Gillard is supposed to be part of Labor’s left FFS! Tell me where that definition fits!
LABOR (Oz) dropped the “U” in Labour, and as far as I can see, Labour NZ is well on the way to doing likewise.
Gillard is toast it appears, made a mess of Kev’s mining tax dumbing it down so that after all the angst it’s pretty much offset by tax credits and generating SFA extra tax revenue.
So make way for the barking mad Abbott and his bunch of Costellos.
In principle a ‘designated doctor’ paid by MSD or WINZ has to abide to the rules set out in the Code of Ethics of the NZ Medical Association, to which Medical Council members bind themselves.
There are also these publications by the Medical Council that are of relevance:
It is absolutely recommended to bring a support person along, to take notes and be a witness if any questions may arise after an “examination”. But then the following needs to be taken note of:
Many WINZ clients sadly fail to prepare well, go unaccompanied and ill prepared, and in some cases it can be like going as a lamb to the slaughter.
Bear in mind, the H+D Commissioner only usually looks closer and investigates about one out of ten complaints. In most cases doctors over-stepping their duties and responsibilities, and breaching code and law in some way, will not be struck off, but just be warned, I would presume.
Only very serious cases may succeed to be taken to a Tribunal or court, and then it is all dependent on evidence and strength of submissions. Most beneficiaries would already feel over-stressed just preparing a strong case of complaint to the HDC Office.
What they are doing under Future Focus and the Dr Bratt led “mentoring”, “liaising with” and even “training” of GPs as designated doctors is certainly raising major legal issues already.
Just a note to point out that under earlier commissioner Ron Patterson, the HDC investigated around 40% of reported complaints (breaches of the Health and Disabilities Code).
In more recent times this number has dwindled to less than 10%. [ Sorry don’t have a ref but my friend was talking about someone’s research into this a couple of years ago. Since then it may have lowered even more.]
You can see this reduction by the number of cases the HDC reports by year on their website which have dropped off under the new commissioner, but the number of complaints have risen.
The level of stress for those on sickness and invalid benefit may actually be causing people to become dependent on drugs, alcohol, gambling and increasing family violence due to the pressure which Work and Income are creating.
The cost of housing is dragging the unemployed and the employed down and some are actually clinically depressed. People who work are dependent on WFF and other supplements, not just those who are on a main benefit.
Addressing why a person is on a benefit is the starting point.
I have personal experience of this when I was shifted by a new GP from IB back to sickness. As soon as the “pressure” began my condition began to worsen and I became increasingly disorientated and dissociated until I could barely function at all. Thankfully I eventually was placed back on IB but I live with the fear that it could happen again.
Anyone who works with me (treatment providers) know that I’m doing everything I can. I want to work because frankly it is more than money, it is a relief to belong and be with people who aren’t constantly assessing your mental state and noting down every move.
Badgering me to, “get a job, get a job get a job..”, – **WE KNOW!** doesn’t make it faster.
It’s a big like having an all knowing big brother continuously telling you what is best for you and how you should do it, except I can’t break the family bondage regardless of where I move to in the country or how many times I change my number.
What would be really helpful is if they listened to my treatment providers and did everything they could to support costs applied for rather than looking for ways to decline them. It would also help if they stayed away from me as much as possible because they are a direct cause of stress and ongoing disempowerment.
Work and Income are generally oblivious to worsening a situation. Worse still is when a psychiatrist talks through his arse.
I know what it is like to feel disconnected, commenting on the Standard does have a therapeutic value re connecting. Time and time again I see comments from people who give a damn about the type of society we live in and the direction it is going in.
Re what you wrote above:
“What would be really helpful is if they listened to my treatment providers and did everything they could to support costs applied for rather than looking for ways to decline them. It would also help if they stayed away from me as much as possible because they are a direct cause of stress and ongoing disempowerment.”
You are absolutely right, and I have been through similar experiences with a designated doctor assessment some time back, and a following MAB appeal hearing, that was already “tainted” with the new staunch “Future Focus” (“Future Fuckup”) ideology. They were meant to look rather at what I “could do” than what I “could not do”. So they pulled out some hypothetical kind of BS presumptions and claimed that such activities could be done in a job for at least 15 hours a week.
This is now happening to hundreds if not thousands of reviewed IB cases, and also are Sickness Benefit recipients increasingly considered “fit” to do at least some part time training or work.
They (MSD, WINZ and their chosen doctors) are walking an extremely thight rope there, as hypothetical work is purely speculative, and also have some scientific reports found, that GPs (who are mostly relied on as “designated doctors”) are generally not well qualified at all to make competent assessments on mentally ill for instance (apart from the personal bias many have).
Yet I would always still rather trust my own GP, or another truly NEUTRAL GP, than any of the “trained” and at least moderately biased “designated doctors” they mostly use. And re treatment and support, the actual specialists that know their work, they should be involved for sure.
So imagine the horror scenario where they will have separate work capability assessments designed by MSD, besides of medical practitioners and the likes in future. That is what they are intending to bring in, to have WINZ Health and Disability Advisors and also “outsourced” providers do the assessing. We will have the same kinds of suicides and other deaths as they had in the UK over recent years. It is CRIMINAL what they are doing.
xtasy I am going to spend a bit of time looking at all the links you have supplied. I have an interest in PTSD and complex PTSD. I am looking forward to the DSM V ( being printed in May 2013) as PTSD will have its own separate section.
Treetop: Thanks for your interest. I have no direct info on PTSD, but I am also interested in the new DSM V publication. I am concerned that some conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome are not accepted as a proper separate condition or disorder by some medical “experts”.
I just wonder how the future assessors for WINZ will treat the DSM V and what true medical specialists (not just some GPs) diagnose and say to them.
Please feel free also, yes do what you can, to spread any info and links to other interested persons. The more learn about all this, the better. There is so much at stake for the people affected.
Winston, for one, would be happy to recite it back to them and combine it with one of his own trademark phrases: ‘Yes, it’s time to move on … from the failed policies of the past that both of the old parties keep following …’.
Is anyone going to go see Hordur Torfason (as advertised on the main page)? I would have really loved to but I’ll be in Japan when he is here. If anyone goes can they do a little write up or blog so those who can’t attend can get an idea of what it was like?
Apparently women in the UK have ‘turned left’ in droves. Seamus Milne suggests that it’s probably because they are bearing the brunt of the austerity push in the public sector and more generally.
Apparently women were more likely than men to vote Conservative, historically.
Has there been any tracking of gender-based voting in the recent polls in New Zealand? I haven’t heard any reports about it. If I remember correctly, Key apparently gained women’s votes for National to an unprecedented extent in the last two elections.
The backers of a poll say John Key is losing support among women.
A Fairfax/Ipsos poll has 39% of women supporting National, with females more likely to see the prime minister as a polarising figure following issues such as the class sizes controversy.
It is difficult to quantify a trend, as the Fairfax/Ipos poll is the first of its type.
However, Fairfax points to other polls before the last election that showed 50% of women supported National.
“Women swing voters have become particularly crucial in modern New Zealand elections,” Otago University political scientist Bryce Edwards told NBR ONLINE.
“John Key will be well aware of that, and also well aware that his relatively strong performance in winning women over to National in 2008 was absolutely crucial to getting into government,” Mr Edwards said.
“His strong appeal to women swing voters, was both ideological â not being too right-wing â and not being too much of a boring traditional politician.
But the reasons given for past support of Key by women are pretty superficial -image over substance. In contrast the Guardian article focuses on the austerity policies as causing a shift to the left by women.
And yet, we have a Labour caucus leadership that is male-dominated and seems keen on pursuing some version of the mythical “Waitakere”.
Maybe the NZ party strategists are looking at the wrong focus group questions, and missing the significance of policy changes to large numbers of NZ women?
Given that, and since they seem to be better at logic and critical analysis (women I mean), I was going to ask Why Hekia, Why Paula. And I was also thinking a little ‘deeper’ than that in terms of what corrupted process has kicked in given their indigenous background that identifies with – indeed, relies on collectivity. I suspect a Cargo Cult – especially when you look at that British Colonial Uniform number that Hekia often wears. Not sure about Pulla though! Africa maybe? Leopard skin? the hunt? In any event, they’re not only aberrations, they’re both very UGLY people in every sense of the word.
Funny! as in funny as a fart – in the neighbourhood, someone is playing that Burly Chassis number “Goldfinger” as I hit the submit button.
Me thinks “Gold Digger”. As I said – very ugly specimens, in EVERY sense of the word – and best of luck to Wira – cock driven/remembering the days of the cock-driven, that he proves hisself to be.
Condolences Wira – well, maybe not! What were you thinking? Ah – OK – you weren’t actually that bright – just another (as my relatives would put it) brown Pakeha.
Actually, I think my next party vote is verging on Mana.
we only have our own worlds to look at so naturally there can be no wider inference, but i know more women who voted National than men, and of the men who did most were married to a woman who voted national and of them most of the men have changed their tune but oddly the women have not
That’s the reverse of what I always thought. I thought men were traditionally more likely to vote right-wing than women, and that right-wing parties struggled for female support.
That made sense to me because women and children are more likely to be harshly affected by right-wing policies.
What has happened to IrishBill’s suggestion that posters on The Standard start discussing and formulating some alternative policies for Labour/left ? (It was IrishBill , wasn’t it ?)
the Labour Party is coming up to its regional conferences – some time in May – which will all be
promoting various policies to take to the annual conference in November 2013.
This annual conf is being held in Christchurch and has been touted as the “policy making” conference.
So now is the time to get into thinking/discussing realistic policies for the left. Let us have your ideas please.
As a starter – perhaps we could re-think the raising of the superannuation age to 67 years ?
Is this absolutely necessary ? What alternatives could there be ? Does anyone know what Greypower thinks of that proposal ?
Yes wasn’t that a grand policy for Labour to headline it’s 2011 election campaign with, with numbers straight from Treasury Phill Goff strode the election stage proudly proclaiming that the New Zealand workers earning the least amount of wages and therefore least able to save would if they voted for Labour get done out of at least 2 years of superannuation by Labour,
Damn easy to see why Labour lost that one right, a policy so far away from Labour’s supposed working class base that if it wasn’t an actual election strategy it would have been totally laughable,
But, to the present, some policy that Labour should do more than consider,
(1), The raising of the minimum wage by $1.50 an hour each and every year that Labour is next the Government,
That alone would be an election winner that this Slippery lead National Government in no way could match and Dave could stomp the country for the next 18 months delivering such a policy which would add some meat to His present hollow mouthing’s about the bloke he met in the pub,
Labour have the Treasury report that categorically states that raising the minimum wage will not lead to job losses, National would collectively disembowel it’self rather than try and match such a policy,
(2), A building strategy that includes the addition of 4000 State Rental properties for the next ten
years to take the States portfolio to over 100,000 units,
Labour know this is needed, the numbers do not lie, for a population of 3.3 million we had 75,000 State Rentals,
For a population of 4.4 million we only have 65,000 State rentals, the number of those struggling on low wages has risen not declined and Labour need get busy building a new city north oof the Bombay Hills…
Thanks Bad12 – I’ll add your suggestions to my list, and btw – I, too, thought the super age rise was a silly and miserable policy to announce during the election campaign. It took many Labour supporters by surprise and many do not like it, nor think it necessary. There are other ways to deal with the baby boomer super bump.
Yeah tah much Jenny, my opinion is of course that these 2 areas in particular shouldn’t need including on any list by delegates, they should simply be core Party policy,
My other view, and this is off of the back of an idea i heard floated (from i think inside Labour), is that the Government spend from A to Z needs looking at in terms of monies being needlessly spent into other economies when the work, jobs, profits, and taxation from this ‘spend’ would be far more beneficial if all those billions were spent in New Zealand,
Obviously to spend all of Governments redistribution of taxation within the New Zealand economy is now problematic with all the ‘free trade agreements’ now in existence,
However, where there’s a will there is a way and from KiwiBank on down Labour should be looking at how it CAN bring that Government spend home from other economies to be spent strictly in New Zealand,
Labour should not be shy here in establishing it’s own State Owned Enterprises so as to enable the establishment of the necessary infrastructure so that the full spending of the Government is of benefit to New Zealand first and foremost…
To Bad12 “My other view, and this is off of the back of an idea i heard floated (from i think inside Labour), is that the Government spend from A to Z needs looking at in terms of monies being needlessly spent into other economies when the work, jobs, profits, and taxation from this âspendâ would be far more beneficial if all those billions were spent in New Zealand,”
This is part of the procurement policy which Labour has already adopted. ie having govt depts keep tenders to NZ tenderers not to o/seas ones – as much as possible – so the money stays here.
And of course there should be some “core Party policy” which just goes on and on until its made legal and real – but unfortunately Mr Shearer has said he’ll be looking at all Labour’s policy again –
so the matters which were touted at the 2011 gen election and supported by Labour people such as the minimum wage being $15pwk are all having to be re-looked at – re-negotiated is maybe another way of putting it. Hence the need for a “list” of basics along with new ideas.
Yeah Jenny that procurement policy is good economics, specially when we are talking up to 30 billion dollars a year,
The employment and extra income from taxation involved would be huge for this country if it were all spent in New Zealand, KiwiBank should be the Governments banker even if it needs building up with some extra cash from the Government,
The fact that the simplest of left wing policy needs negotiating in the Party is probably why i and a lot of others are now not members…
+ 1 What the hell were they thinking with a policy of raising the retirement age? That is something you would expect ACT to come with, how many blue collars would die on the job? Glad right thinking Goff is out of leader just wish he will bugger off altogether. If DC set up a real party I would join up straight away!
Brian Edwards’ open display of disaffection on “The Panel”
Radio New Zealand National, Tuesday 5 March 2013.
Jim Mora, Noelle McCarthy, Michelle Boag, Brian Edwards
“The Panel” is billed as “the news of the day in a different way”, but there’s actually little in it, other than the absence of commercial breaks, to distinguish it from the glib and hollow chatter to be found on NewstalkZB or RadioLIVE. Host Jim Mora’s determination to keep things “light” (read, “glib”) has long outworn any charms it may once have had. His guests occasionally cavil at the triteness and vacuity of the topics selected for discussion and the once-over-lightly handling of them. Raybon Kan, Gary McCormick, and Anna Chin have openly criticized the choice of topics on the air, and it’s clear by their occasional long silences, and refusals to laugh at Mora’s jokes, that many other guests are as concerned as the listeners by the lessening standards of the show.
Today, even the notoriously indulgent Dr. Brian Edwards was at the end of his patience after only a couple of minutes of pre-show banter…
MORA: Michelle, you’re looking SPLENDID in your new coat!
MICHELLE BOAG: [primly] Thank you.
MORA: Maya blue, it is.
BOAG: Is it?
MORA: I looked it up. ….[Awkward silence]…. Especially.
[Long, awkward silence…]
NOELLE McCARTHY: I would have said sky blue. Or light blue…
[Long, awkward silence…]
MORA: Light blue, yes.
BRIAN EDWARDS: Why are we DISCUSSING this?
MORA: We were just saying Michelle has on a particularly lovely Maya blue coat.
EDWARDS: We go through this every time we’re on the programme! Okay, I’m wearing a nice paisley tie and a striped shirt. All right?
MORA: Brian is looking very sartorial!
EDWARDS: Pshaw!
et cetera, ad infinitum, ad absurdum, ad nauseam….
Oh phuk! – you don’t actually expect more from Mora do you? He (or his producer), whether intenionally, or by prejudice subscibes to the Fox News way of doing things.
LOOK at the line-up for a start – WHICH amongst the ‘balance’ could remotely be called ‘of the left’ – let alone that ‘new left’ – somewhere to the right.
Pour me a Chardonnay will you?
Awe please …. pretty please ….. OK do you want me to gravel?! ANd some actually accuse RNZ of being left wing apologists!
Speaking of which, Kathryn Ryan must have negotiated the best employment deal ever (one that, thankfully results in an Arts on Sunday reliever).
How many days leave did she manage to get in her contract?
Did you hear Mora laughing at Graham Bell’s use of terms like ‘vermin’, ‘germ’ this afternoon? Really funny to dehumanise people, Jim.
I think the victims of the Rwandan massacres were called cockroaches…and of course the 3rd Reich were past masters at using language to demonise people.
What is Mora doing condoning such behaviours?
Good opinion piece in The Guardian online from Seumas Milne charting the leftward march of women voters. He points to the appointment of Frances O’Grady as the first woman leader of the Trades Union Congress in the UK. I imagine it’s no coincidence that here in NZ we have the redoubtable Helen Kelly as head of the CTU.
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I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from âserious populist discontentâ. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring âhard-working peopleâ. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to âdefend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.â To achieve this, they have pledged they âwill not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes –Â The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workersâ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
Itâs a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand mediaâs failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes –Â Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people â the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cassâs review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the âholiday highwayâ into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes –Â Thereâs a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere â mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand mediaâs failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting MÄori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that wonât compromise Beijingâs plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
2024, 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?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi MÄori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
David Farrar writes –  The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, youâd think the public service was being eviscerated.  While the mediaâs view of the cuts is incomplete, itâs also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iranâs drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
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 Zealandâs good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National governmentâs 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 TÄmaki 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 Governmentâs democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Governmentâs 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 thatâs great for the planet and great for consumers after her memberâs 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 countryâs books after Teanau Tuionoâs membersâ 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 memberâs bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Todayâs 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 Governmentâs newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealandâs 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. ...
MÄori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, MÄori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Governmentâs refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
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. âRecently 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 Teachersâ 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.  âThe 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. âScience, 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 todayâs 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. âThe Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in TaupĆ as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the TaupĆ International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. âAnticipation for the ITM TaupĆ 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. âThe 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. âThis project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sectorâs productivity,â Mr Jones says. âThe project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Governmentâs plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. âBenefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Governmentâs commitment to doubling New Zealandâs 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 Zealandâs 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. âOur 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. âNew 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 Governmentâs intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. âThe introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Todayâs 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 Governmentâs plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. âInflation 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 sectorâs role in the export-led recovery of the economy. âI 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 Governmentâs support for the revitalisation the sector.  "New Zealandâs 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. âThe 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. âMy meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singaporeâs outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.  Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpartâs almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During todayâs meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. âI am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. âPets are important members of many Kiwi families. Itâs estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iranâs shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.  âThese attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.  "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand â Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.  âDame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,â says Dr Reti. âI have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Governmentâs 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âBoosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Governmentâs plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âOur country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,â Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.  âWe cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. âThis is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âThe strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin itârule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. Â âNew Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new âFast-track Approvals Billâ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister â the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory â gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australiaâs flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But thatâs changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum âre-imaginedâ itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-oldâs seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so itâs wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhardâs rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock Youâd be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesnât require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project Youâre not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesnât fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10869480
Busy body central in this morning’s Herald.
Oh FFS that headline is stupid. It’s not a “legal loophole” at all, it’s just not illegal.
It’s like saying “man gets away with walking in a park due to legal loophole”
A legal loophole today prevented police from prosecuting a man eating a doughnut in broad daylight. The legal loophole was confirmed by a police spokesman, who confirmed that eating baked goods in the middle of the day was not an offence.
+1 đ
“”While it is not illegal, police do not encourage people to drink alcohol while driving and they would certainly stop them and check their alcohol consumption,” said Ms Richardson.”
And this is equally stupid talk from the cop. Why didn’t they say “police discourage people”?
Great to know we can carry on the OZ tradition of ‘A Traveller’ legally, good to see granny focusing on the big issues.
“A couple who have watched far too many US-made police dramas were stunned to discover that the New Zealand legal system isn’t just like it is on Special Victims Unit”.
Priceless.
It is a great way to wind up stuffed shirts and tut-tutting old dears in other cars.
At traffic lights have you window down, arm resting on the door, take a gulp out of a bottle of Lion Red, give them a naughty/letcherous wink and ask them if they want a swig too!
A great way to start a weekend in a good mood.
Need AC/DC cranking out of all speakers
Have you ever been out West Auckland CV? Some people think it is compulsory …
lol…indeed, I drove by DC’s electorate office a couple of weeks ago with the sounds cranking…”when in Rome” đ
I would have played The Animals: We Gotta Get Out of This Place…
What about Coldplay’s “Paradise”?
I’m surprised people are surprised. But then again, I’m not really surprised as so many people do so little thinking. Most people just follow the popular girls around, which only achieves…. well, um ….. not sure actually …. nothing.
Actually, I’m thinking that’s a case of people doing too much thinking. They don’t like something and think that it should be illegal and so decide that it is. And then act as if it is and then get surprised and upset when they find out that it isn’t.
I now wouldn’t be surprised if National put through an emergency law change making it illegal to drink while driving.
no no …. they’ll pass a law not only making it illegal, but conscripting them into the army. Show ’em some discipline! Those pesky beneficiaries could also be drafted in the same way (to make them productive).
still …. we should not be giving them original ideas outside of their learned ideology and dogma
I now wouldnât be surprised if National put through an emergency law change making it illegal to drink while driving.
Coffee wouldn’t let it happen.
đ
I now wouldnât be surprised if National put through an emergency law change making it illegal to drink while driving.
Only if you’re a beneficiary. You shouldn’t be drinking if you are a beneficiary. Wasting tax payers money.
Hang on though you are driving and drinking. Wasting tax payers money on a car……
What you have shoes?
your plan doesn’t work if you’re driving a Ford
Holden all the way bro.. đ
With threats and bribes, Gove forces schools to accept his phoney ‘freedom’
Sounds exactly like what is happening to NZs schools courtesy of this government.
That is no doubt why Parata is rounding off her Europe trip with a visit to England to assess the damage there so she can emulate it here.
Stuff.co.nz this morning – “Parata ignored Education Ministry warning”. (Christchurch)
No. Key and Joyce ignored Education Ministry warnings. Just not interested. “We’ll do what WE want to do. Period.”
The morning on which she wakes up as plain old Lady Gardiner draws closer. Oh the shame.
Not for Key though. Lauded for decisiveness by his puppies in the media he’ll be happy as. The story about the story will be bigger than the story. Mr Bean’s cousin Gower probably has what he fancies is a definitive one-liner already written.
Key’s denial that his gushing acolyte Parata is cannon fodder was a Freudian lie.
Yep she ignored advice that the demographics were still changing in Chch post-earthquake and that the changes needed to wait to see where those demographics settled.
Pretty fucking obvious.
So why have they not done that? Why have they barged ahead?
To think a quarter of a century ago, I almost bought a house off her ‘better half’ alongside a wife that was a little smarter than Hekia. There goes a lucky escape! I’m glad I trust my instincts especially as I write, that eternal sage of the 4th Estate (ONE Network News) reports that the U.S. “Stoke Exchange” has reached an ALL TIME high, not seen since the GFC. I’m not sure they see the significance in what they just pronounced either.
And here we have the NaCts puffing up the benefits of esset sales … those mum in dead vestas should have confdince … that same sort of confdince they had in all those finance companies that went tits-up (pardon the expression QoT but it is actually the image I want to portray – as in those with tits being on the bottom bunk in every sense) – substitute expression as you see fit (perhaps instead of mum in dead vestas – substitute “soft-cocks”)
Qatari emir buys six Greek islands for a song
No words really!
Welfare reforms and health sector reforms: How the dots can be joined together –
In 2007 and 2008 the National Party repeatedly fed the media with selected few stories about âGP bullyingâ – by claimants of the sickness benefit. Work and Incomeâs Principal Health Advisor Dr Bratt seemed to grab that topic up quite willingly then. Now though it seems GPs get âbulliedâ (or rather âconvinced to doâ) what MSD and WINZ under the present government want them to do.
Since National’s been in government, theyâve appointed and promote selected professional people into key jobs in the public health and welfare sectors. Most, if not all, appear to be resolute proponents for adopting a âfirmâ approach to health care and welfare. It can all be sourced back to similar moves made in the UK under the auspices of Professor Mansel Aylward, former UK DWP Chief Medical Officer, now consulting MSD and at least one NZ Health Board. He’s still in charge of a department at Cardiff University.
These key persons are resolutely pushing ahead with an already decided agenda behind the scenes, by bringing in changes in training, recruiting, lobbying and influencing existing and prospective medical practitioners and other health professionals. The welfare reforms before Parliament are just part of the greater agenda. The Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Act is largely only intended to deliver the âframeworkâ for the UK system in welfare and work capacity assessments done by selected medical professionals, that is intended to be introduced. The Select Committee process with hearing submissions is likely to change little, like with other bills the NatACT government has hammered through already.
Here are another abundance of sources for info that can enlighten readers:
http://www.nzohna.org.nz/uploaded/Dr%20David%20Beaumont%20New%20Horizons%2013%209%202012.pdf
(Presentation by Dr David Beaumont: âWelfare Reform in New Zealand â Relevance to the Workplaceââ as part of a forum called âNew Horizons: Rebuilding Health and Safety on Solid Groundâ; Christchurch 13 September 2012)
http://www.fitforwork.co.nz/dr-david-beaumonts-message-to-doctors-conference-medical-certification-can-be-fraught-with-problems-for-gps
(Presenting at the General Practice Conference and Medical Exhibition of 11-12 June 2011, Fit For Work Medical Director Dr David Beaumont emphasised the vital role of New Zealand GPs in âhelpingâ their patients return to work)
http://www.fitforwork.co.nz/david-beaumont-and-colleagues-presenting-on-health-benefits-of-work
(âNewsâ fr. âFit For Workâ, by Dr D. Beaumont, featuring Kevin Morris, Director, ACC, at a forum organised by AFOEM and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians; 12.05.2012)
http://nz.linkedin.com/pub/david-beaumont/2a/780/943
(Linked In page of Dr Beaumont, formerly also working for âAtos Origin Healthcareâ in the UK. He’s been promoting the UK style medical and work capacity tests for many years; he’s also been advising MSD here in NZ)
http://www.wellnz.co.nz/about_us/press_release_details.asp?pressID=36&bhcp=1
(On the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicineâs release of a new position paper, entitled âRealising the health benefits of work.â, 25.05.2010; see the known persons involved!!!)
http://www.healthworkforce.govt.nz/about-us/board-members
(Dr Des Gorman, well known from his advisory role to ACC for many years, and for some highly controversial recommendations. He’s now also âbossâ of âHealth Work Force NZâ, set up to develop recruitment and training strategies for health sector employees in the NZ health sector)
http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/staffct/staff_details.aspx?staffID=64676F72303130
(Dr Des Gorman, Associate Dean at the Medical School of Auckland Uni)
http://wellsaid.co.nz/inside-acc/prof-des-gorman-delighted-to-join-acc-board/
(now Dr Gorman is also sitting on the ACC Board, appointed by guess whom? Paula Rebstock! I am wondering, whether he is also still on the âNational Health Boardâ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QknNdOhOkr8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCecwuwCHb4
(2 older TV documentaries on ACC cases involving Dr Gorman, referring to âillness beliefâ and mental health as reasons for otherwise âphysicalâ suffering)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6930331/Rebstock-appointment-to-welfare-reform-board-concerns (stuff.co.nz on the appointment of P. Rebstock as Welfare Board chairperson)
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-medical-professionals
Paula Bennettâs speech to medical professionals, informing on the new welfare reforms, 26.09.12)
Professor Mansel Aylward â 2 links with 2 views on his work and medical âresearchâ:
https://hcml.co.uk/?p=200
http://downwithallthat.wordpress.com/category/dubious-academics-universities/cardiff-university/
http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/GP%20CME/Friday/C1%201515%20Bratt-Hawker.pdf
(and let us not forget our âdearâ MSD and WINZ Principal Health Advisor, Dr David Bratt, who likes to compare benefit dependence with drug dependence)
+1 Thankyou XTASY. They’re attacking everything that made NZ a decent place to live.
And Labour is just sitting there silent as usual
+1
When I read your comments Xtasy, I wonder if these designated doctors are open to being struck off, or at least, reprimanded, in cases where their zeal puts a patient’s life or health in danger.
Also, the cutting of the sole parent benefit in Australia once the youngest child turns eight has drawn criticism from the UN as a violation of human rights.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/govt-silent-on-poverty-report-acoss/story-fn3dxiwe-1226589883703
Gillard is dismissing the report here, but someone I spoke to on the phone last night said that it now looks as if the UN attention might cause a partial back down on her part.
Gillard is in a very weak position in Oz. Stupid Labour politicians trying to appear more Right Wing ahead of elections. Is this a disease they all come down with?
Come on CV, you what the *disease* is!
Yes I would love to know what is driving this, since it is destroying centre-left parties all over the western world. Is it fear? Addiction to keeping one’s place among those in the know? Touting for corporate donations? Something else? Certainly the powerful have got a firm hold on the economic steering wheel, but that does not mean they must go unchallenged.
Hi Olwyn,
Its not fear or addiction, its a desire to control every aspect of human existence, via the corrupted individuals who masquerade as public servants, in NZ, and elsewhere.
The mesh of international legal treaties, agreements, and other *signed into* contracts, mean that there is likely very few people who have any idea of what NZ (as a so called sovereign nations), *obligations* to foreign entities are. We get to see many the results of the obligations, played out via *policy* and *reforms*, that much is certain.
When these international treaties, agreements and contracts, are underlayed by the thousands of domestic statutes, bills etc, how it is possible to have a clue about who is controlling what, as it relates to NZ!
It takes incredible power to engineer the social/financial breakdowns we witness around the world, and at home in NZ, power that many don’t/can’t accept exists.
In order to *defend*, first you have to know who/what your attacker is, only then can a hopeful strategy be formed!
Well part of it is when the likes of Dastiari? who’s come from a background of living hell gain influence, and who hold that “we don’t know how lucky we are” attitude. In my day …. etc., etc., etc.
And Gillard is supposed to be part of Labor’s left FFS! Tell me where that definition fits!
LABOR (Oz) dropped the “U” in Labour, and as far as I can see, Labour NZ is well on the way to doing likewise.
Gillard is toast it appears, made a mess of Kev’s mining tax dumbing it down so that after all the angst it’s pretty much offset by tax credits and generating SFA extra tax revenue.
So make way for the barking mad Abbott and his bunch of Costellos.
Olwyn –
In principle a ‘designated doctor’ paid by MSD or WINZ has to abide to the rules set out in the Code of Ethics of the NZ Medical Association, to which Medical Council members bind themselves.
There are also these publications by the Medical Council that are of relevance:
http://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/News-and-Publications/Statements/Non-treating-doctors.pdf
(see particularly points 23 and 24, which may well limit the chance of taking such a practitioner to the Health and Disability Commissioner; see: http://www.hdc.org.nz/)
It is absolutely recommended to bring a support person along, to take notes and be a witness if any questions may arise after an “examination”. But then the following needs to be taken note of:
http://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/News-and-Publications/Statements/When-another-person-is-present-during-a-consultation.pdf
Many WINZ clients sadly fail to prepare well, go unaccompanied and ill prepared, and in some cases it can be like going as a lamb to the slaughter.
Bear in mind, the H+D Commissioner only usually looks closer and investigates about one out of ten complaints. In most cases doctors over-stepping their duties and responsibilities, and breaching code and law in some way, will not be struck off, but just be warned, I would presume.
Only very serious cases may succeed to be taken to a Tribunal or court, and then it is all dependent on evidence and strength of submissions. Most beneficiaries would already feel over-stressed just preparing a strong case of complaint to the HDC Office.
What they are doing under Future Focus and the Dr Bratt led “mentoring”, “liaising with” and even “training” of GPs as designated doctors is certainly raising major legal issues already.
Hi there,
Just a note to point out that under earlier commissioner Ron Patterson, the HDC investigated around 40% of reported complaints (breaches of the Health and Disabilities Code).
In more recent times this number has dwindled to less than 10%. [ Sorry don’t have a ref but my friend was talking about someone’s research into this a couple of years ago. Since then it may have lowered even more.]
You can see this reduction by the number of cases the HDC reports by year on their website which have dropped off under the new commissioner, but the number of complaints have risen.
The level of stress for those on sickness and invalid benefit may actually be causing people to become dependent on drugs, alcohol, gambling and increasing family violence due to the pressure which Work and Income are creating.
The cost of housing is dragging the unemployed and the employed down and some are actually clinically depressed. People who work are dependent on WFF and other supplements, not just those who are on a main benefit.
Addressing why a person is on a benefit is the starting point.
I have personal experience of this when I was shifted by a new GP from IB back to sickness. As soon as the “pressure” began my condition began to worsen and I became increasingly disorientated and dissociated until I could barely function at all. Thankfully I eventually was placed back on IB but I live with the fear that it could happen again.
Anyone who works with me (treatment providers) know that I’m doing everything I can. I want to work because frankly it is more than money, it is a relief to belong and be with people who aren’t constantly assessing your mental state and noting down every move.
Badgering me to, “get a job, get a job get a job..”, – **WE KNOW!** doesn’t make it faster.
It’s a big like having an all knowing big brother continuously telling you what is best for you and how you should do it, except I can’t break the family bondage regardless of where I move to in the country or how many times I change my number.
What would be really helpful is if they listened to my treatment providers and did everything they could to support costs applied for rather than looking for ways to decline them. It would also help if they stayed away from me as much as possible because they are a direct cause of stress and ongoing disempowerment.
Work and Income are generally oblivious to worsening a situation. Worse still is when a psychiatrist talks through his arse.
I know what it is like to feel disconnected, commenting on the Standard does have a therapeutic value re connecting. Time and time again I see comments from people who give a damn about the type of society we live in and the direction it is going in.
AsleepWhileWalking –
Re what you wrote above:
“What would be really helpful is if they listened to my treatment providers and did everything they could to support costs applied for rather than looking for ways to decline them. It would also help if they stayed away from me as much as possible because they are a direct cause of stress and ongoing disempowerment.”
You are absolutely right, and I have been through similar experiences with a designated doctor assessment some time back, and a following MAB appeal hearing, that was already “tainted” with the new staunch “Future Focus” (“Future Fuckup”) ideology. They were meant to look rather at what I “could do” than what I “could not do”. So they pulled out some hypothetical kind of BS presumptions and claimed that such activities could be done in a job for at least 15 hours a week.
This is now happening to hundreds if not thousands of reviewed IB cases, and also are Sickness Benefit recipients increasingly considered “fit” to do at least some part time training or work.
They (MSD, WINZ and their chosen doctors) are walking an extremely thight rope there, as hypothetical work is purely speculative, and also have some scientific reports found, that GPs (who are mostly relied on as “designated doctors”) are generally not well qualified at all to make competent assessments on mentally ill for instance (apart from the personal bias many have).
Some more interesting info on all this:
http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/rethink/article/rethink-mental-illness-new-gp-survey-shows-government-welfare
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19478286
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951586/
Yet I would always still rather trust my own GP, or another truly NEUTRAL GP, than any of the “trained” and at least moderately biased “designated doctors” they mostly use. And re treatment and support, the actual specialists that know their work, they should be involved for sure.
So imagine the horror scenario where they will have separate work capability assessments designed by MSD, besides of medical practitioners and the likes in future. That is what they are intending to bring in, to have WINZ Health and Disability Advisors and also “outsourced” providers do the assessing. We will have the same kinds of suicides and other deaths as they had in the UK over recent years. It is CRIMINAL what they are doing.
http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/rethink/article/rethink-mental-illness-new-gp-survey-shows-government-welfar
Sorry that link should work, without the e at the end!
xtasy I am going to spend a bit of time looking at all the links you have supplied. I have an interest in PTSD and complex PTSD. I am looking forward to the DSM V ( being printed in May 2013) as PTSD will have its own separate section.
Treetop: Thanks for your interest. I have no direct info on PTSD, but I am also interested in the new DSM V publication. I am concerned that some conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome are not accepted as a proper separate condition or disorder by some medical “experts”.
I just wonder how the future assessors for WINZ will treat the DSM V and what true medical specialists (not just some GPs) diagnose and say to them.
Please feel free also, yes do what you can, to spread any info and links to other interested persons. The more learn about all this, the better. There is so much at stake for the people affected.
judging by the excessive use, i think the Nats are teasing/testing their next election campaign slogan
“its time to move on”
As slogans go, it could backfire.
Winston, for one, would be happy to recite it back to them and combine it with one of his own trademark phrases: ‘Yes, it’s time to move on … from the failed policies of the past that both of the old parties keep following …’.
đ i thought the implied sarcasm was self evident
Is anyone going to go see Hordur Torfason (as advertised on the main page)? I would have really loved to but I’ll be in Japan when he is here. If anyone goes can they do a little write up or blog so those who can’t attend can get an idea of what it was like?
Cheers
Apparently women in the UK have ‘turned left’ in droves. Seamus Milne suggests that it’s probably because they are bearing the brunt of the austerity push in the public sector and more generally.
Apparently women were more likely than men to vote Conservative, historically.
Has there been any tracking of gender-based voting in the recent polls in New Zealand? I haven’t heard any reports about it. If I remember correctly, Key apparently gained women’s votes for National to an unprecedented extent in the last two elections.
Thanks for that link, Puddleglum. There are some signs of a possible shift from Key by women over the last year or so.
But the reasons given for past support of Key by women are pretty superficial -image over substance. In contrast the Guardian article focuses on the austerity policies as causing a shift to the left by women.
And yet, we have a Labour caucus leadership that is male-dominated and seems keen on pursuing some version of the mythical “Waitakere”.
Maybe the NZ party strategists are looking at the wrong focus group questions, and missing the significance of policy changes to large numbers of NZ women?
A historic shift: women have moved to the Left of men in UK politics
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/05/women-left-of-men-historic-shift
Um? Yes, CV, that’s the same article that Puddleglum linked to at the beginning of this thread, and to which I was responding.
Ah sorry, was not paying attention karol.
Given that, and since they seem to be better at logic and critical analysis (women I mean), I was going to ask Why Hekia, Why Paula. And I was also thinking a little ‘deeper’ than that in terms of what corrupted process has kicked in given their indigenous background that identifies with – indeed, relies on collectivity. I suspect a Cargo Cult – especially when you look at that British Colonial Uniform number that Hekia often wears. Not sure about Pulla though! Africa maybe? Leopard skin? the hunt? In any event, they’re not only aberrations, they’re both very UGLY people in every sense of the word.
Funny! as in funny as a fart – in the neighbourhood, someone is playing that Burly Chassis number “Goldfinger” as I hit the submit button.
Me thinks “Gold Digger”. As I said – very ugly specimens, in EVERY sense of the word – and best of luck to Wira – cock driven/remembering the days of the cock-driven, that he proves hisself to be.
Condolences Wira – well, maybe not! What were you thinking? Ah – OK – you weren’t actually that bright – just another (as my relatives would put it) brown Pakeha.
Actually, I think my next party vote is verging on Mana.
we only have our own worlds to look at so naturally there can be no wider inference, but i know more women who voted National than men, and of the men who did most were married to a woman who voted national and of them most of the men have changed their tune but oddly the women have not
That’s the reverse of what I always thought. I thought men were traditionally more likely to vote right-wing than women, and that right-wing parties struggled for female support.
That made sense to me because women and children are more likely to be harshly affected by right-wing policies.
This way around makes no sense.
RIP Hugo Chavez.
What has happened to IrishBill’s suggestion that posters on The Standard start discussing and formulating some alternative policies for Labour/left ? (It was IrishBill , wasn’t it ?)
the Labour Party is coming up to its regional conferences – some time in May – which will all be
promoting various policies to take to the annual conference in November 2013.
This annual conf is being held in Christchurch and has been touted as the “policy making” conference.
So now is the time to get into thinking/discussing realistic policies for the left. Let us have your ideas please.
As a starter – perhaps we could re-think the raising of the superannuation age to 67 years ?
Is this absolutely necessary ? What alternatives could there be ? Does anyone know what Greypower thinks of that proposal ?
Yes wasn’t that a grand policy for Labour to headline it’s 2011 election campaign with, with numbers straight from Treasury Phill Goff strode the election stage proudly proclaiming that the New Zealand workers earning the least amount of wages and therefore least able to save would if they voted for Labour get done out of at least 2 years of superannuation by Labour,
Damn easy to see why Labour lost that one right, a policy so far away from Labour’s supposed working class base that if it wasn’t an actual election strategy it would have been totally laughable,
But, to the present, some policy that Labour should do more than consider,
(1), The raising of the minimum wage by $1.50 an hour each and every year that Labour is next the Government,
That alone would be an election winner that this Slippery lead National Government in no way could match and Dave could stomp the country for the next 18 months delivering such a policy which would add some meat to His present hollow mouthing’s about the bloke he met in the pub,
Labour have the Treasury report that categorically states that raising the minimum wage will not lead to job losses, National would collectively disembowel it’self rather than try and match such a policy,
(2), A building strategy that includes the addition of 4000 State Rental properties for the next ten
years to take the States portfolio to over 100,000 units,
Labour know this is needed, the numbers do not lie, for a population of 3.3 million we had 75,000 State Rentals,
For a population of 4.4 million we only have 65,000 State rentals, the number of those struggling on low wages has risen not declined and Labour need get busy building a new city north oof the Bombay Hills…
Thanks Bad12 – I’ll add your suggestions to my list, and btw – I, too, thought the super age rise was a silly and miserable policy to announce during the election campaign. It took many Labour supporters by surprise and many do not like it, nor think it necessary. There are other ways to deal with the baby boomer super bump.
Yeah tah much Jenny, my opinion is of course that these 2 areas in particular shouldn’t need including on any list by delegates, they should simply be core Party policy,
My other view, and this is off of the back of an idea i heard floated (from i think inside Labour), is that the Government spend from A to Z needs looking at in terms of monies being needlessly spent into other economies when the work, jobs, profits, and taxation from this ‘spend’ would be far more beneficial if all those billions were spent in New Zealand,
Obviously to spend all of Governments redistribution of taxation within the New Zealand economy is now problematic with all the ‘free trade agreements’ now in existence,
However, where there’s a will there is a way and from KiwiBank on down Labour should be looking at how it CAN bring that Government spend home from other economies to be spent strictly in New Zealand,
Labour should not be shy here in establishing it’s own State Owned Enterprises so as to enable the establishment of the necessary infrastructure so that the full spending of the Government is of benefit to New Zealand first and foremost…
To Bad12 “My other view, and this is off of the back of an idea i heard floated (from i think inside Labour), is that the Government spend from A to Z needs looking at in terms of monies being needlessly spent into other economies when the work, jobs, profits, and taxation from this âspendâ would be far more beneficial if all those billions were spent in New Zealand,”
This is part of the procurement policy which Labour has already adopted. ie having govt depts keep tenders to NZ tenderers not to o/seas ones – as much as possible – so the money stays here.
And of course there should be some “core Party policy” which just goes on and on until its made legal and real – but unfortunately Mr Shearer has said he’ll be looking at all Labour’s policy again –
so the matters which were touted at the 2011 gen election and supported by Labour people such as the minimum wage being $15pwk are all having to be re-looked at – re-negotiated is maybe another way of putting it. Hence the need for a “list” of basics along with new ideas.
Yeah Jenny that procurement policy is good economics, specially when we are talking up to 30 billion dollars a year,
The employment and extra income from taxation involved would be huge for this country if it were all spent in New Zealand, KiwiBank should be the Governments banker even if it needs building up with some extra cash from the Government,
The fact that the simplest of left wing policy needs negotiating in the Party is probably why i and a lot of others are now not members…
Bad12, I find that a difficulty too …….
+ 1 What the hell were they thinking with a policy of raising the retirement age? That is something you would expect ACT to come with, how many blue collars would die on the job? Glad right thinking Goff is out of leader just wish he will bugger off altogether. If DC set up a real party I would join up straight away!
Brian Edwards’ open display of disaffection on “The Panel”
Radio New Zealand National, Tuesday 5 March 2013.
Jim Mora, Noelle McCarthy, Michelle Boag, Brian Edwards
“The Panel” is billed as “the news of the day in a different way”, but there’s actually little in it, other than the absence of commercial breaks, to distinguish it from the glib and hollow chatter to be found on NewstalkZB or RadioLIVE. Host Jim Mora’s determination to keep things “light” (read, “glib”) has long outworn any charms it may once have had. His guests occasionally cavil at the triteness and vacuity of the topics selected for discussion and the once-over-lightly handling of them. Raybon Kan, Gary McCormick, and Anna Chin have openly criticized the choice of topics on the air, and it’s clear by their occasional long silences, and refusals to laugh at Mora’s jokes, that many other guests are as concerned as the listeners by the lessening standards of the show.
Today, even the notoriously indulgent Dr. Brian Edwards was at the end of his patience after only a couple of minutes of pre-show banter…
MORA: Michelle, you’re looking SPLENDID in your new coat!
MICHELLE BOAG: [primly] Thank you.
MORA: Maya blue, it is.
BOAG: Is it?
MORA: I looked it up. ….[Awkward silence]…. Especially.
[Long, awkward silence…]
NOELLE McCARTHY: I would have said sky blue. Or light blue…
[Long, awkward silence…]
MORA: Light blue, yes.
BRIAN EDWARDS: Why are we DISCUSSING this?
MORA: We were just saying Michelle has on a particularly lovely Maya blue coat.
EDWARDS: We go through this every time we’re on the programme! Okay, I’m wearing a nice paisley tie and a striped shirt. All right?
MORA: Brian is looking very sartorial!
EDWARDS: Pshaw!
et cetera, ad infinitum, ad absurdum, ad nauseam….
Oh phuk! – you don’t actually expect more from Mora do you? He (or his producer), whether intenionally, or by prejudice subscibes to the Fox News way of doing things.
LOOK at the line-up for a start – WHICH amongst the ‘balance’ could remotely be called ‘of the left’ – let alone that ‘new left’ – somewhere to the right.
Pour me a Chardonnay will you?
Awe please …. pretty please ….. OK do you want me to gravel?! ANd some actually accuse RNZ of being left wing apologists!
Speaking of which, Kathryn Ryan must have negotiated the best employment deal ever (one that, thankfully results in an Arts on Sunday reliever).
How many days leave did she manage to get in her contract?
++Morrissey
Did you hear Mora laughing at Graham Bell’s use of terms like ‘vermin’, ‘germ’ this afternoon? Really funny to dehumanise people, Jim.
I think the victims of the Rwandan massacres were called cockroaches…and of course the 3rd Reich were past masters at using language to demonise people.
What is Mora doing condoning such behaviours?
“Brain stripping” goes well with “asset stripping”, I suppose.
National is “No Plan” Government! http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/child-poverty-no-plan.html
Good opinion piece in The Guardian online from Seumas Milne charting the leftward march of women voters. He points to the appointment of Frances O’Grady as the first woman leader of the Trades Union Congress in the UK. I imagine it’s no coincidence that here in NZ we have the redoubtable Helen Kelly as head of the CTU.
Here’s a really good article by Gordon Campbell:
http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2013/03/06/gordon-campbell-on-yesterdays-ird-victory-against-tax-avoidance/
Good watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=U_r97c_Oc6c
Go to 12 minutes, talking about the new Greenpeace boat. This is why they never get my money.
I’m sure you hate them for more than that
Greenpeace figured out that their constituency was conscientous and upper middle class.