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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 Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for âfast trackâ consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill â currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes-Â The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you arenât wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said âSince we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that âNew Zealandâs economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerfulâ. They also believe that âNew Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerfulâ. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
âYou talking about me?âThe neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hallâs âGlide Timeâ caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund â When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayersâ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund â and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 âredesign of the welfare stateâ â which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty â various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being âWorking for Familiesâ, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing âon why Melissa is muteâ. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Leeâs ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – 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. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last yearâs severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labourâs environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our countryâs most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Governmentâs Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a âget out of jail freeâ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New 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. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealandâs hydrogen future, with the opening of the countryâs first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. âI want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealandâs own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealandâs energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. âThe report shows that New Zealandâs emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,â Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where heâll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Governmentâs work to restore law and order. âAttending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealandâs human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the worldâs largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. âThe reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealandâs wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin  NgÄ mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho  Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.  I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. âOur Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealandâs overseas missions.  âOur diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealandâs interests around the world,â Mr Peters says.  âI am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. Â âOver 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. âIt is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. âOur coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
âChina remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,â Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.  Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. 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 ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. Itâs not as if we havenât done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didnât say: âOh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.â No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarcticaâs glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer âyesâ to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if theyâre experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
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While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
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The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of RĆ«aumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
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The âVampireâ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigoâs Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
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Responding to the Governmentâs announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayersâ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: âThese changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Governmentâs inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop Iâve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise â with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winnerâs circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond.By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
Popstars wasnât just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion.Itâs 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume itâs because single people have insecurities that make ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Hereâs something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
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New Zealandâs Palestinian community and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa are voicing alarm and disappointment with the lack of factual rigour present during the Israeli Ambassadorâs appearance as a guest on TVNZâs Q+A With Jack Tame Sunday (21/04). ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 23 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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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.