Excellent project. Ive beeen watching the demolition and wondering if reconstruction was really going to happen !! Only 10% of staff to be apprentices though? Considering the skills shortage and the age of many tradesmen these days I think it should be much more than this. As an aside, the oldfashoined "railways" and also the "post office" were great sponges of surplus labour. Economically inefficient but socially efficient. Which would you rather have ? Take your pick.
Well, for my sins, I just sat through 49 minutes of corporate babble from Chrissie Luxon! I think I needed a babble-fish in my ear to interpret for me!
I don't recommend anyone else doing so, except from the point of self-flagellation!
But at about 10 mins to 15 mins he disses this country (what a contrast to Jacinda) and at about 35 mins he tells his audience what he thinks should be done here – deregulation!
Honestly, the man has learned nothing from 40 years of letting the market decide – leaky homes, cattle viral diseases and so on.
The context is important. Policy Exchange is a think tank that seeks to influence public policy. Luxon was a bit 'wooden', but he certainly didn't diss NZ, and the contents of the speech were mostly on point.
This man is Labour's saviour. Why would you want Labour to win the next election? Every social and economic indicator for a healthy country is, or is about to, go South. Do you want Labour burdened with another three years of trying to rule with a caucus that's tired, discredited and out of ideas? And a public that is increasingly over this government?
Listening to Luxon's speech, people who think he'll be a pushover in the leaders debates, may have to think again. Luxon is gaining more of that glib political-speak politicians are famous for. The way he weighted his talk straight away gives voters a clear demarcation of where his priorities will lie.
[please provide some back up for this statement: “Every social and economic indicator for a healthy country is, or is about to, go South.” – weka]
''As many as half the country's GP clinics are not enrolling new patients, and others are asking people to wait weeks for an appointment.''
That's just one area of our health system. Others are just as bad. That's an emergency situation in my opinion. If ordinary people are feeling the pressure, what of those from the lower socio-economic demographic of society?
“It’s a sad indictment of our country that even as 25-30,000 people are trapped living in temporary and transitional housing, the government is selling state houses to private developers,” Bernie says. “I understand they are selling it to fund long-term intensification plans, but this worsens the current problem, which is already at crisis levels, in the hopes of catching up later. The impact will be felt for generations in Health, Education and Justice outcomes.''
While National has contributed to housing problems, the fact is National aren't in government. Transitional housing has destroyed areas of Rotorua's CBD. The problem is now out of control, and I can't see the incoming National government improving matters. I have previously offered my solution to this problem.
What the boffins forecast and state is usually of no interest to the ordinary person. Economists can't even agree amongst themselves for a simple reason – they don't know. The vagaries of global events are always a sword above national economies across the globe. For an average person such as myself, what I do know is my local dairy has closed. My favourite cafe is now operating 5 days a week. Businesses I have dealt with for years are no more. Empty shops are a dime a dozen in my town. People I know are leaving our shores for good. And I break out in a sweat whenever I shop at my local supermarket. A supermarket claiming to have NZs lowest prices.
Sure our economy is still in reasonable shape. But if this is reasonable, what's it going to be like next year as our government continues to strangle our biggest export earner with red tape, while global forecasts look more dire?
Problems related to Maori. Perceptions about Maori. Maori funding. Reverse racism. These issues will be a major reason why Labour is heading back to the opposition benches. In my opinion they have been hamstrung by their Maori caucus. How else can you explain weird decisions like making Nanaia Mahuta Foreign Affairs Minister? What did Labour and NZ receive in return for such an appointment…perceptions of impropriety.
Now, I understand most people on this blog don't have a problem with this incessant focus and lush funding by Labour on things Maori. Even as their European culture is being cancelled right under their noses. What needs to be understood is many others outside of their ideological bubble do have a problem with Maori and the perceived wasted taxpayer dollars supporting them.
And let's not forget this guy below. Mikey (ZB 5.56 am 6th July 2022) said they had never had a problem getting Tukaki to appear on his show. But calls asking him to front went unanswered. Was his CV not checked because he was Maori and everything would be kapai?
[ok, I think we’re done now. The mod request wasn’t for yet another round of your anti-Labour rhetoric. You made a claim, I asked for back up. If you want to know why this sat all day on a Sunday before being released, it’s because it was going to take so much of my time reading and parsing what you said. I’m sick of the racism in your comments, sick of the trolling, sick of the continual anti-Labour reckons, and referencing vague talk back. You’ve been warned about nearly all of that multiple times and I don’t want to be spending any more of my time on this. 6 month ban – weka]
Could we have a more up to date photo?/photos? The man has gained weight and a rather belligerent expression. This pearly whites version flatters him.
He is not harmless and holds dangerous challenging views of us, to the point he could never be “representative”.
I think she must be talking about the MP for my electorate.
It is Wellingto Central and the sentences from the second one on all seem to be appropriate. A bit harsh perhaps but kindness doesn't always appear to be the norm for comments does it?
Thanks Weka, I forgot to preface those comments to the video speech by Christopher Luxon which was provided by Tony Veitch (not…). For some reason it did not connect as a reply?
“One thing I have learned is to keep our market share below 5%, and don’t undercut Gib prices. As long as we do both of those things we are OK. But as soon as we step over that line, then we have hell to pay.”
It's made in Thailand. I've used it and the only way I can fault it is the paper finish can be a bit shitty, but nothing the final skim coat won't fix.
You may have an issue if it's for work consented with Gib bracing calculations, too, but otherwise, it's a good product.
Listen carefully, young, single mothers. It's not because you are young, single mothers, it's because you are filthy and have no money.
Canterbury Property Investors Association president Shirley Berryman was surprised to hear young single mothers felt they were being discriminated against when applying for private rentals.
Beneficiaries could guarantee consistent rent payments, she said.
Landlords could not be blamed for being picky, due to current laws that made removing difficult tenants much harder, Berryman said.
“You’ll choose the ones you think will put less wear and tear on your property… some people might rank higher than others, but I can’t imagine that young solo mums are being actively avoided.”
She clearly rules out the money side by saying that beneficiaries have guaranteed income.
And she doesn't say single mums are dirty, she points out that wear and tear is an issue from an investment pov. It's not hard to understand that households with children have more wear and tear (same with dogs).
The problem here is landlord culture in NZ is weighted towards seeing housing as stock rather than homes. Landlord associations should be giving support to landlords on how to manage wear and tear, that is is a normal part of tenancy, and how to account for that in their financial management.
Underlying that is the shortage of homes, although BUILD MOAR HOUSES isn't a solution in the short and medium term if those houses are largely part of the investment market, because rents will go up. Plus the issues of opening the borders and more people coming to live here. We need whole system design changes.
She rules out a lot, but not convincingly because the problem does exist despite her denials. It's too easy for landlord advocates to dismiss reality.
Ruling out the money side is disturbing on two counts. If discrimination is not because of benefit status, it must be about cleanliness/poor parenting…and race.
Also, the Canterbury Property Investors Association appears to have a policy which encourages benefit dependency (if you are not on a benefit it we won't rent to you) which runs counter to their members' cries there are too many dole bludgers.
Property Investors Associations insist on a light touch so excepting them to provide such support is wishful thinking, and whenever there are regulatory moves from government, the shrieks to leave us alone grow louder and louder.
Benefits are a really stable form of income in low income people. If you have a rental aimed at low income people, then many beneficiaries make good tenants.
Ruling out the money side is disturbing on two counts. If discrimination is not because of benefit status, it must be about cleanliness/poor parenting…and race.
this presumes bigotry is the reason for not renting. It could also or instead be wear and tear. As I pointed out.
But sure, some landlords are bigots.
Also, the Canterbury Property Investors Association appears to have a policy which encourages benefit dependency (if you are not on a benefit it we won't rent to you)
where are you getting that from?
which runs counter to their members' cries there are too many dole bludgers.
I dunno, perhaps it is the unmarried status which is the icky thing. Seems to be a real issue for conservatives.
Berryman states, "beneficiaries could guarantee consistent rent payments". I'm sure this is the advice she gives her members and so they might like to select a beneficiary over a working single mother.
This might discourage young, single mothers in North Canterbury from looking for work.
This runs counter to prevailing right wing thought (North Canterbury landlords) that there are too many people on a benefit and not enough working.
The issues for tenants in this country, highlighted by this piece, have been going on for decades. The root of it is the amateur landlord culture which has been encouraged and allowed to become normal, Mum & Dad investors feted as beneficial providers of accomodation and morals in equal measure.
The truth is, capital gain is the only motivation, the landlord part is inconvenient and annoying. Time to drag the residential tenancy sector into the 20th, then the 21st century by ensuring it is more secure and professionally run.
"The truth is, capital gain is the only motivation, the landlord part is inconvenient and annoying. Time to drag the residential tenancy sector into the 20th, then the 21st century by ensuring it is more secure and professionally run."
What are property management companies if not professionals?
There can be no dispute they are 'professional'….and some of the worst offenders. And unfortunately also inflationary, both by their fees and incentive….all ultimately carried by the renter.
There is no one solution, and professionalism is way down the list of causes imo.
I know families who have both parents working are also struggling to find rental accommodation.
It seems understandable (note I'n not saying right or commendable) that private landlords are going to look for the lowest risk option. They'll be looking for stable income (which, as pointed out, beneficiaries have), but also looking for low-risk of damage.
Solo-parents (making a crashing generalization here) as a group have two strikes against them in the eyes of landlords: They have young kids – higher risk of both damage and general wear and tear; they may have undesirable associations (previous partner, new partner/s)
The reality is that any damage is going to come out of the landlord's pocket (even if covered by insurance, it's going to mean higher premiums) – the tenants won't have any ability to pay, even if there's a tribunal order against them.
If it's harder for families with young children to get rentals (one strike against them), then it's even more difficult for solo-parents with young children to get a rental (two strikes against them)
In a tight rental market, most landlords don't have to take the risk.
That is certainly the explanation. But it doesn't touch on a solution.
The residential tenancy sector needs to be moved away from amateur landlords, ‘at risk’ as you call them towards a much more robust and regulated industry, bigger players, economies of scale, spread risk, etc.
The solution has always been for the government to take the risk of renting to the 'higher risk' sector.
I understand that the government are working as fast as possible to increase the supply of housing, both in the state sector, and (by freeing up building practices) in the private sector as well.
More housing (both state and private), means more options for tenants, and less ability for landlords to either hike rental prices, or exclude medium-risk tenants.
Risk still exists – and needs to be managed, even by larger landlords (the bigger players, as you call them). And, indeed, the larger landlords are the ones much less likely to take a punt on a solo-mum, than a mum-and-dad operator. No personal connection, work entirely by risk profiles.
I don't see how more regulation is going to improve this further. Amateur landlords will always exist – if you make it too hard for them, they'll simply switch to Air BnB – and take their properties out of the housing market altogether.
Fairly sure plenty of multiple house owners switched to Airbnb when it was a thing, and before changes to tenancy rules. They'll return to this when the tourists come back I am sure.
One difference between larger landlords and amateur landlords is that tenanted accomodation is their thing. It's not primarily a nest egg to provide for round the world cruises later in life and deposit loans for young Johnny.
And larger landlords are more likely to provide long term tenants security of tenure rather than, as you say, switching to Airbnb on a whim.
There always will be a certain number of houses that will be tenanted for relatively short periods – for all sorts of reasons For example a deceased property might take a family or trust some years to decide what to do with it, or a family working overseas might retain a home in NZ to return to, are two common reasons that come to mind. There will be many other circumstance that arise.
In all of these cases are you advocating that the house should remain empty rather than be tenanted without long term security of tenure?
A certain number, what number is that? The collection of data on the circumstances you describe has never been done well.
These circumstances you describe do not seem like a good reason to not have long term security of tenure for the increasing number of lifetime tenants.
OK so if a rental house can only be offered with lifetime security of tenure, does this mean the landlord can never sell it?
Or more interestingly – will tenants be willing to sign up for leases with unlimited terms? Or were you imagining the contract would be entirely one sided – such that the owner of the property would be locked in for a 'lifetime' term, but the tenant could walk away whenever they liked?
Incidentally I think you would find the that big corporate landlords that we could never sell their asset would be forced to generate all of their cash flow from rents. You might find them a great deal more hard nosed about the kind of return on investment their shareholders would demand – than the ordinary mum and dad 'amateur' landlords you so despise for wanting a bit of a nest egg.
The reality is that any damage is going to come out of the landlord's pocket (even if covered by insurance, it's going to mean higher premiums
This is a sure sign they're not managing the property as a business properly. It shouldn't be out of the landlord's pocket, it should be something accounted for as an overhead/expense.
Repair and maintenance costs of a rental property are tax deductible, but this doesn’t cover the full cost, obviously, it only partially off-sets that.
I’m not aware of contingency budgets being a formal part of the business set-up of rental property. It comes down to the owner’s pocket/wallet. The best ‘contingency plan’ is to avoid negative gearing and to create a wide(r) margin between profit & loss. Insurance is wise (a must) but doesn’t cover everything.
When there’s a sudden major cost to a rental property the owner will have to finance this, either from their own pocket or through a(nother) bank loan against the property. If the mortgage against the property is already maxed out then this will severely restrict refinancing.
Why would those all be factored in but not the last one? If it’s not taken into account isn’t there a risk of the landlord not being able to afford the repair?
Ordinary wear-and-tear maintenance, yes (e.g. budget for carpet replacement every 10-15 years). Heavy soiling and/or deliberate destruction, no.
But even with usual wear-and-tear, some tenants are harder on a property than others. It makes commercial sense for the landlord to pick the ones s/he feels are going to cost less.
yes, that's what I said, landlords may be avoiding solo parents, because kids cause more wear and tear (and perhaps solo parent families are perceived as causing more than double parents families, but I'd find that weird).
However, it's not out of the landlord's pocket if they are running a business well. Wear and tear is expected, and should be budgeted for. One offs/unexpected damage are what a contingency fund is for.
From a business perspective, if you have to use your contingency funds (e.g. carpet needs to be replaced because of heavy soiling or insect damage – e.g. cockroach infestation) – then you have to build this fund up again. That money is coming from what would otherwise be profit on the investment – i.e. the landlord's pocket.
Landlords, very naturally, want to minimize both the one-off damage (hitting the contingency funds) and the wear and tear (if it takes 15 years instead of the budgeted 10 for the carpet to need replacing, then the landlord has greater profit for 5 of those years).
Young families are harder on the fittings – so, if the landlord has a choice, they they're motivated *not* to choose a family.
As I said above – for the solo-parent families – it's not the 'family' that's the added risk, it's the 'solo'.
Landlords are very rightly worried (from a business perspective) about ex and/or future partners and the baggage of violence or criminal activity they may bring. Especially as they are not allowed to ask about ex-partners (privacy) during the interview/application stage. [An ex-partner who died of cancer after a blameless life, is a very different risk to one who's in jail for violent spouse abuse and gets out in 6 months].
That's not to say that solo-parents with violent ex-partners don't deserve housing – but the added risk makes the State (or other housing charities) the appropriate landlord.
Most likely she is being economical with the truth – because of laws about discrimination.
Many beneficiaries can only afford the private market rent if they have part-time work (the others are in motels) – and they cannot do this work if they or their children are sick. A lot of the part-time work does not cover days off sick.
Johnny Ramone must have known something when he piddled in Johnny Rotten’s beer.
Former Sex Pistols singer John Lydon is surprisingly backing Tory toff Jacob Rees-Mogg to be the new Prime Minister following Boris Johnson’s resignation.
The 66-year-old punk – also known as Johnny Rotten – may have once wished for Anarchy in the UK and claimed Queen Elizabeth was presiding over a “fascist regime” but he is backing super posh Mogg, the MP for North East Somerset, to be Britain’s next political leader.
John likes Mogg, 53, because he has a “World War II put Britain first” mentality which he thinks could only be good for the nation.
"I think Ronald Reagan was the best President of my lifetime."
Johnny is quoted by The Observer as saying: “People drift towards liberalism at a young age, and I always hope they change when they see how the world really is.
One can see how the multiple property owning caucus is hurting now that the market has lost a third of the 33% pandemic gain (loose monetary policy).
There is an on message campaign by its media team to claim more immigration is required.
Janet Wilson (Stuff) claims the nursing shortage is one of the governments own making (it requires migrant nurses to wait two years before claiming residency) – ignoring the fact we have had a shortage for decades caused by DHB's not being able to afford the cost of fully staff wards and local training involving tertiary debt (only half qualify the population qualify for student allowances etc).
The poor working conditions model driving Kiwis offshore fixed by immigration is what got us into this mess. They should stop digging.
I should add, Oz Canada and the USA are also suffering their worst nursing shortages ever. So portraying migrant nurses as a solution for what is a global problem (aging western population and a pandemic virus undermining of the populations health) is bordering on the nonsensical.
There needs to be student allowances to those training as nurses (only half the population qualify) and no need to repay training debt.
Nurses have versatile jobs, but how many (have to) do (a lot of) stuff for which they have not studied & trained at all? How many do a core nursing job without other duties & responsibilities that are distracting and a waste of their skills? Sometimes they’re perceived as magical social workers that can and must fix everything & all and these sorts of expectations are misleading and frustrating.
Looking at the re-infection rates with Covid in NZ.
Not very high, as yet – but we've only had it actively circulating for less than 6 months.
The ministry said about two-thirds of the reinfections happened between one and three months after a first infection.
That's particularly concerning, as it looks as though even catching Covid doesn't give anything like even medium-term protection – and we know that vaccination is much the same.
Although it would be helpful to have a statistical analysis of the re-infections (is it predominantly groups with high levels of contact? or groups with high levels of risk? or just random members of the population!) If it's the last, it's most worrying at the societal level (e.g. you can take precautions for high levels of exposure or risk)
Recommending a 4th booster seems to be a fairly ineffective strategy (better than nothing, if you're highly vulnerable, I suppose).
The boosters are all against the original strain (not even Delta, let alone Omicron and the new variants – which have evolved a long way) – it's dubious that they'll give much (if any) new levels of protection.
And, of course, you can't even take the booster until 3 months after a Covid infection – by which time, you may well have become infected again.
I really, really want some good quality studies on long Covid (or lingering symptoms) – surely they should have some strong indications of the real numbers, rather than just projections, by now.
I especially want to know the relative risk of Long Covid from the original variants, compared to the most recent (circulating now) ones. I get the impression that it's higher – but impressions aren't data!
Unreviewed pre-print reckons it could be the presence of the spike protein long after initial infection.
Strikingly, we detect SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen in a majority of [long COVID] patients up to 12 months post-diagnosis, suggesting the presence of an active persistent SARSCoV-2 viral reservoir.
Considering that much more than 1% of the population have immune systems that are compromised in some way, numbers like this show that vaccination and/ or immunity acquired from infection, is currently working, to keep re-infection and infection rates down
It's working is it? Thank goodness our health care system isn't currently under unprecedented stress and that covid infection rates and flu rates are some of the lowest in the world! Yeah right..
"It doesn’t matter how you voted or your current political persuasion, the PM has made bold strides on the International stage that are good for NZ. If you are still hating on her despite her success, you may be a tribal right wing Troll who probably needs to get out a bit more."
I believe there are Lefties who’d also consider Ardern’s overseas ‘junkets’ as avoiding putting her own house in order first, as if it is some kinda zero-sum game and this Government is some kinda one-woman show (on the road). Particularly when Labour is slipping in the polls and they’re getting anxious about 2023. Maybe some of these are tribal left wing Trolls who probably need to get out a bit more often too and mix & mingle with the other tribal trolls out there, a meeting of tribes, if you like.
As you know, I’m not a fan at all of binary thinking. Not for one minute would I argue that the dynamics are the same across the board spectrum. It has very little to do with tribalism and describing it in such stereotypical terms, as Bradbury does, is quite telling. Unfortunately, I think, it that the unhelpful ‘comments’ coming from both sides could and probably will lead to the same outcome. As long as our story-telling stays one-dimensional, and thus our thinking and actions flowing from these, nothing much will change. I’d not label that as progressive politics …
I don't imagine a lot of the anti-vaxxers, anti-ID pols, mental health advocates, art people concerned about the lack of policy etc etc would necessarily consider themselves right wing at all. That would be a convenient fiction. There are a lot of lefties who have turned against Labour because their own individual ideological Rubicons have been crossed.
You’re right, of course, but ideology is way too big a concept for the often relatively small personal gripes & grudges that people hold, usually against something or somebody. In my book, ideology should stand for something.
Interesting piece by Tim Hayward who's professor of environmental political theory at university of Edinburgh .talks about BBC' s participation in a smear campaign against him and other academics , mentions alleged misinformation by elements of OPCW under Washingtons instruction ,considers basic understandings of what is meant by democracy and what is state propaganda , even Paul Mason gets a mention if that rings anyones bells ?!
I assume that I will be accused of being an Ardern fan boi but truth is this strategy has been developed by a very competent team of senior diplomats. She is just the deliverer of the message, and she does that very well.
Nats tend to show up how shallow they are ideologically by not grudgingly conceding that she has achieved a lot of the things in this tour that they wanted.
The assassination of Shinzo Abe has attracted condolences from many, including our own PM. But there is another side to the former Japanese PM, whose signals were not dissimilar to neo-nazi or KKK material in support of Japanese actions in WWII.
The use of the number 731 is, in the context of Asia, as plain as neo-nazi’s use of 88.
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Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney After several highly publicised alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years ...
Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels All systems are “go” for tonight’s launch of China’s next step in a carefully planned lunar exploration program. Placed on top of a powerful Long March 5 rocket, the Chang’e 6 ...
National returned a massive donation the day after a Newsroom story linked the donors to a property being investigated for operating unlawfully as a migrant workers’ hostel. The party’s 2023 donation filings, released on Friday, show it returned a $200,000 donation from Buen Holdings on August 23. That was the ...
Pacific Media Watch New Zealand has slumped to an unprecedented 19th place in the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index survey released today on World Press Freedom Day — May 3. This was a drop of six places from 13th last year when it slipped out of its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. Key facts Marriages and civil unions In ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
In this excerpt from her new memoir, Dame Susan Devoy remembers her turn as star contestant on the 2022 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. The most anxious time of every day was pre-elimination, when you knew this could be your final day on the show. I felt such contradictory emotions, ...
A week that began in triumph ended in an all-too-familiar disaster for the Green Party. Duncan Greive asks if there’s something in the mission that breaks its best and brightest. A long, strange week for the Green party began with a fantastic poll result. On one level this is hardly ...
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Fantastic ! Cmon Labour…more of this ! Ignore Nact…and just get with the Positive Action.. I’m so pleased about it. : )
Excellent project. Ive beeen watching the demolition and wondering if reconstruction was really going to happen !! Only 10% of staff to be apprentices though? Considering the skills shortage and the age of many tradesmen these days I think it should be much more than this. As an aside, the oldfashoined "railways" and also the "post office" were great sponges of surplus labour. Economically inefficient but socially efficient. Which would you rather have ? Take your pick.
Hi, absolutely MORE Apprentices ! Labour should be going for it…to put a stake through the neolib rogernomics (I was gonna say heart but …No heart )
I am ever hopeful : )
Just watch the trucking lobby PR hirelings spring into action as a result of that announcement.
Of course, it's only talk from Dr Clark; we'll have to wait and see if anything actually gets done to revive rail.
Hi, yea the Truckers lobby def have the BIG voice. However I have seen some new spine from David Clark….so I'll be watching…with Interest : )
Also…Michael Wood…is Involved. Gives me more confidence too. !
Well, for my sins, I just sat through 49 minutes of corporate babble from Chrissie Luxon! I think I needed a babble-fish in my ear to interpret for me!
I don't recommend anyone else doing so, except from the point of self-flagellation!
But at about 10 mins to 15 mins he disses this country (what a contrast to Jacinda) and at about 35 mins he tells his audience what he thinks should be done here – deregulation!
Honestly, the man has learned nothing from 40 years of letting the market decide – leaky homes, cattle viral diseases and so on.
So, you've been warned:
The context is important. Policy Exchange is a think tank that seeks to influence public policy. Luxon was a bit 'wooden', but he certainly didn't diss NZ, and the contents of the speech were mostly on point.
This man is Labour's saviour. Why would you want Labour to win the next election? Every social and economic indicator for a healthy country is, or is about to, go South. Do you want Labour burdened with another three years of trying to rule with a caucus that's tired, discredited and out of ideas? And a public that is increasingly over this government?
Listening to Luxon's speech, people who think he'll be a pushover in the leaders debates, may have to think again. Luxon is gaining more of that glib political-speak politicians are famous for. The way he weighted his talk straight away gives voters a clear demarcation of where his priorities will lie.
[please provide some back up for this statement: “Every social and economic indicator for a healthy country is, or is about to, go South.” – weka]
mod note
Backup was provided early Sunday morning, Weka. But my post wasn't published.
Health:
Quote:
''As many as half the country's GP clinics are not enrolling new patients, and others are asking people to wait weeks for an appointment.''
That's just one area of our health system. Others are just as bad. That's an emergency situation in my opinion. If ordinary people are feeling the pressure, what of those from the lower socio-economic demographic of society?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018845827/gp-crisis-about-half-nz-s-clinics-not-taking-new-patients
Housing:
Quote:
“It’s a sad indictment of our country that even as 25-30,000 people are trapped living in temporary and transitional housing, the government is selling state houses to private developers,” Bernie says. “I understand they are selling it to fund long-term intensification plans, but this worsens the current problem, which is already at crisis levels, in the hopes of catching up later. The impact will be felt for generations in Health, Education and Justice outcomes.''
While National has contributed to housing problems, the fact is National aren't in government. Transitional housing has destroyed areas of Rotorua's CBD. The problem is now out of control, and I can't see the incoming National government improving matters. I have previously offered my solution to this problem.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2206/S00076/housing-crisis-no-time-to-be-selling-public-housing-stock-monte-cecilia-housing-trust-ceo-bernie-smith-says.htm
Economy:
What the boffins forecast and state is usually of no interest to the ordinary person. Economists can't even agree amongst themselves for a simple reason – they don't know. The vagaries of global events are always a sword above national economies across the globe. For an average person such as myself, what I do know is my local dairy has closed. My favourite cafe is now operating 5 days a week. Businesses I have dealt with for years are no more. Empty shops are a dime a dozen in my town. People I know are leaving our shores for good. And I break out in a sweat whenever I shop at my local supermarket. A supermarket claiming to have NZs lowest prices.
Sure our economy is still in reasonable shape. But if this is reasonable, what's it going to be like next year as our government continues to strangle our biggest export earner with red tape, while global forecasts look more dire?
https://economics.rabobank.com/publications/2022/march/new-zealand-two-sides-of-the-same-coin/
Crime:
I've covered that ad nauseum. Enough said.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/counting-crime/
Maori:
Problems related to Maori. Perceptions about Maori. Maori funding. Reverse racism. These issues will be a major reason why Labour is heading back to the opposition benches. In my opinion they have been hamstrung by their Maori caucus. How else can you explain weird decisions like making Nanaia Mahuta Foreign Affairs Minister? What did Labour and NZ receive in return for such an appointment…perceptions of impropriety.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nanaia-mahuta-family-member-appointments-officials-launch-review-into-working-group-positions/OOJNOICEGOD724N6SZ6JW2BL7I/
Now, I understand most people on this blog don't have a problem with this incessant focus and lush funding by Labour on things Maori. Even as their European culture is being cancelled right under their noses. What needs to be understood is many others outside of their ideological bubble do have a problem with Maori and the perceived wasted taxpayer dollars supporting them.
And let's not forget this guy below. Mikey (ZB 5.56 am 6th July 2022) said they had never had a problem getting Tukaki to appear on his show. But calls asking him to front went unanswered. Was his CV not checked because he was Maori and everything would be kapai?
https://dailytelegraph.co.nz/news/investigation-reveals-matthew-tukakis-cv-wasnt-checked-before-appointment-to-top-government-job/
[ok, I think we’re done now. The mod request wasn’t for yet another round of your anti-Labour rhetoric. You made a claim, I asked for back up. If you want to know why this sat all day on a Sunday before being released, it’s because it was going to take so much of my time reading and parsing what you said. I’m sick of the racism in your comments, sick of the trolling, sick of the continual anti-Labour reckons, and referencing vague talk back. You’ve been warned about nearly all of that multiple times and I don’t want to be spending any more of my time on this. 6 month ban – weka]
mod note.
Could we have a more up to date photo?/photos? The man has gained weight and a rather belligerent expression. This pearly whites version flatters him.
He is not harmless and holds dangerous challenging views of us, to the point he could never be “representative”.
Who are you talking about?
I think she must be talking about the MP for my electorate.
It is Wellingto Central and the sentences from the second one on all seem to be appropriate. A bit harsh perhaps but kindness doesn't always appear to be the norm for comments does it?
Alwyn, this is not about kindness.
It is about an ego driven man who thinks he has all the answers.
His religious beliefs do not align with the bulk of Kiwis.
He talked several times as though he believes we are "bottom feeders" and now he says "business is soft looking to Government " Wow.
Then he says we need to open up. OK. We get HE is over covid… never gave that or the war a mention.
He has no grasp of the world complexities. He thinks trade and open borders will solve all . Tui.
Thanks Weka, I forgot to preface those comments to the video speech by Christopher Luxon which was provided by Tony Veitch (not…). For some reason it did not connect as a reply?
looks like the reply function might be acting up again. What device were you using? (and if on a mobile was it the Mobile or Desktop version?)
Leveno laptop, it may have been my oversight?
other people's comments aren't in reply either, I'll let Lprent know.
The wielding of power….
“One thing I have learned is to keep our market share below 5%, and don’t undercut Gib prices. As long as we do both of those things we are OK. But as soon as we step over that line, then we have hell to pay.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129088441/how-to-build-a-plasterboard-monopoly
The article didn't say where the competing plasterboard comes from.
Gib is reliably consistent in quality. Which is why builders like it, despite cost and supply issues.
Can't say the same for some of the imported competing products. Found plasterboard with voids, rocks and rubbish inside.
It may be a case of "be careful what you wish for".
Replacing locally manufactured quality products, with cheaper imported junk. Where have we seen that before?
Thailand…and monopolies are detrimental no matter their country of origin
It's made in Thailand. I've used it and the only way I can fault it is the paper finish can be a bit shitty, but nothing the final skim coat won't fix.
You may have an issue if it's for work consented with Gib bracing calculations, too, but otherwise, it's a good product.
Costs more to skim coat.
Predatory behaviour is rife in the NZ building supply industry.
Which is why NZ building materials are often cheaper in Oz.
Replacing with imported products is not good for our balance of trade, and we often see quality control issues.
There are other ways of addressing it.
A couple of poor sheets in a house load. Not really.
https://www.savewomenssport.com/opinion
great article by Candice Riley, a former elite athlete, debunking Shane Te Pou,s article about trans women in woman's sport
This is an excellent response – thanks for posting. When it appeared in the Herald it was behind a paywall .
Cracking job, Poots.
https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1545462827720269825
Listen carefully, young, single mothers. It's not because you are young, single mothers, it's because you are filthy and have no money.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129201897/forced-to-raise-a-baby-in-motel-room-due-to-double-whammy-of-singlemum-judgment-and-racism
She clearly rules out the money side by saying that beneficiaries have guaranteed income.
And she doesn't say single mums are dirty, she points out that wear and tear is an issue from an investment pov. It's not hard to understand that households with children have more wear and tear (same with dogs).
The problem here is landlord culture in NZ is weighted towards seeing housing as stock rather than homes. Landlord associations should be giving support to landlords on how to manage wear and tear, that is is a normal part of tenancy, and how to account for that in their financial management.
Underlying that is the shortage of homes, although BUILD MOAR HOUSES isn't a solution in the short and medium term if those houses are largely part of the investment market, because rents will go up. Plus the issues of opening the borders and more people coming to live here. We need whole system design changes.
She rules out a lot, but not convincingly because the problem does exist despite her denials. It's too easy for landlord advocates to dismiss reality.
Ruling out the money side is disturbing on two counts. If discrimination is not because of benefit status, it must be about cleanliness/poor parenting…and race.
Also, the Canterbury Property Investors Association appears to have a policy which encourages benefit dependency (if you are not on a benefit it we won't rent to you) which runs counter to their members' cries there are too many dole bludgers.
Property Investors Associations insist on a light touch so excepting them to provide such support is wishful thinking, and whenever there are regulatory moves from government, the shrieks to leave us alone grow louder and louder.
Benefits are a really stable form of income in low income people. If you have a rental aimed at low income people, then many beneficiaries make good tenants.
this presumes bigotry is the reason for not renting. It could also or instead be wear and tear. As I pointed out.
But sure, some landlords are bigots.
where are you getting that from?
and that?
I dunno, perhaps it is the unmarried status which is the icky thing. Seems to be a real issue for conservatives.
Berryman states, "beneficiaries could guarantee consistent rent payments". I'm sure this is the advice she gives her members and so they might like to select a beneficiary over a working single mother.
This might discourage young, single mothers in North Canterbury from looking for work.
This runs counter to prevailing right wing thought (North Canterbury landlords) that there are too many people on a benefit and not enough working.
The issues for tenants in this country, highlighted by this piece, have been going on for decades. The root of it is the amateur landlord culture which has been encouraged and allowed to become normal, Mum & Dad investors feted as beneficial providers of accomodation and morals in equal measure.
The truth is, capital gain is the only motivation, the landlord part is inconvenient and annoying. Time to drag the residential tenancy sector into the 20th, then the 21st century by ensuring it is more secure and professionally run.
what I'm seeing there is a number of long bows being drawn and some random reckons about the rental crisis.
I’ve set out my argument. Take it or leave it.
"The truth is, capital gain is the only motivation, the landlord part is inconvenient and annoying. Time to drag the residential tenancy sector into the 20th, then the 21st century by ensuring it is more secure and professionally run."
What are property management companies if not professionals?
Not professional enough, in my opinion, by definition working solely for the benefit of the landlord and the maximising of their income.
There can be no dispute they are 'professional'….and some of the worst offenders. And unfortunately also inflationary, both by their fees and incentive….all ultimately carried by the renter.
There is no one solution, and professionalism is way down the list of causes imo.
What's a rental aimed at low income people?
Do landlords really seek out tenants who can least afford to pay rent in an era where there are minimum standards for such property?
Not professional or even the much derided amateur ones.
The only landlords deliberately renting to the higher risk groups are either the State or specific trusts (e.g. Monte Cecilia).
A rental with rent at a price that low income people can afford. Surely this was self evident in my comment.
I know families who have both parents working are also struggling to find rental accommodation.
It seems understandable (note I'n not saying right or commendable) that private landlords are going to look for the lowest risk option. They'll be looking for stable income (which, as pointed out, beneficiaries have), but also looking for low-risk of damage.
Solo-parents (making a crashing generalization here) as a group have two strikes against them in the eyes of landlords: They have young kids – higher risk of both damage and general wear and tear; they may have undesirable associations (previous partner, new partner/s)
The reality is that any damage is going to come out of the landlord's pocket (even if covered by insurance, it's going to mean higher premiums) – the tenants won't have any ability to pay, even if there's a tribunal order against them.
If it's harder for families with young children to get rentals (one strike against them), then it's even more difficult for solo-parents with young children to get a rental (two strikes against them)
In a tight rental market, most landlords don't have to take the risk.
That is certainly the explanation. But it doesn't touch on a solution.
The residential tenancy sector needs to be moved away from amateur landlords, ‘at risk’ as you call them towards a much more robust and regulated industry, bigger players, economies of scale, spread risk, etc.
The solution has always been for the government to take the risk of renting to the 'higher risk' sector.
I understand that the government are working as fast as possible to increase the supply of housing, both in the state sector, and (by freeing up building practices) in the private sector as well.
More housing (both state and private), means more options for tenants, and less ability for landlords to either hike rental prices, or exclude medium-risk tenants.
Risk still exists – and needs to be managed, even by larger landlords (the bigger players, as you call them). And, indeed, the larger landlords are the ones much less likely to take a punt on a solo-mum, than a mum-and-dad operator. No personal connection, work entirely by risk profiles.
I don't see how more regulation is going to improve this further. Amateur landlords will always exist – if you make it too hard for them, they'll simply switch to Air BnB – and take their properties out of the housing market altogether.
Fairly sure plenty of multiple house owners switched to Airbnb when it was a thing, and before changes to tenancy rules. They'll return to this when the tourists come back I am sure.
One difference between larger landlords and amateur landlords is that tenanted accomodation is their thing. It's not primarily a nest egg to provide for round the world cruises later in life and deposit loans for young Johnny.
And larger landlords are more likely to provide long term tenants security of tenure rather than, as you say, switching to Airbnb on a whim.
There always will be a certain number of houses that will be tenanted for relatively short periods – for all sorts of reasons For example a deceased property might take a family or trust some years to decide what to do with it, or a family working overseas might retain a home in NZ to return to, are two common reasons that come to mind. There will be many other circumstance that arise.
In all of these cases are you advocating that the house should remain empty rather than be tenanted without long term security of tenure?
A certain number, what number is that? The collection of data on the circumstances you describe has never been done well.
These circumstances you describe do not seem like a good reason to not have long term security of tenure for the increasing number of lifetime tenants.
OK so if a rental house can only be offered with lifetime security of tenure, does this mean the landlord can never sell it?
Or more interestingly – will tenants be willing to sign up for leases with unlimited terms? Or were you imagining the contract would be entirely one sided – such that the owner of the property would be locked in for a 'lifetime' term, but the tenant could walk away whenever they liked?
Incidentally I think you would find the that big corporate landlords that we could never sell their asset would be forced to generate all of their cash flow from rents. You might find them a great deal more hard nosed about the kind of return on investment their shareholders would demand – than the ordinary mum and dad 'amateur' landlords you so despise for wanting a bit of a nest egg.
They have young kids – higher risk of both damage and general wear and tear; they may have undesirable associations (previous partner, new partner/s)
Yup. The second biggest insurance claim we ever had was after an an ex smashed his way through a rather expensive set of double glazed French doors.
This is a sure sign they're not managing the property as a business properly. It shouldn't be out of the landlord's pocket, it should be something accounted for as an overhead/expense.
Repair and maintenance costs of a rental property are tax deductible, but this doesn’t cover the full cost, obviously, it only partially off-sets that.
repair and maintenance costs are an overhead that should be covered by the rent as well (or capital gains I guess).
I guess they’re generally considered one-off costs, repairs, that is.
repainting inside and carpets are periodic and expected. But unexpected costs still need contingency budgeting.
I’m not aware of contingency budgets being a formal part of the business set-up of rental property. It comes down to the owner’s pocket/wallet. The best ‘contingency plan’ is to avoid negative gearing and to create a wide(r) margin between profit & loss. Insurance is wise (a must) but doesn’t cover everything.
what do you mean the owner's wallet? Do you mean the rental is being run through their personal bank account?
When there’s a sudden major cost to a rental property the owner will have to finance this, either from their own pocket or through a(nother) bank loan against the property. If the mortgage against the property is already maxed out then this will severely restrict refinancing.
Costs:
mortgage
rates
insurance
property maintenance/agent fees
maintenance (house/yard)
repairs
etc
unexpected repairs
Why would those all be factored in but not the last one? If it’s not taken into account isn’t there a risk of the landlord not being able to afford the repair?
Ordinary wear-and-tear maintenance, yes (e.g. budget for carpet replacement every 10-15 years). Heavy soiling and/or deliberate destruction, no.
But even with usual wear-and-tear, some tenants are harder on a property than others. It makes commercial sense for the landlord to pick the ones s/he feels are going to cost less.
yes, that's what I said, landlords may be avoiding solo parents, because kids cause more wear and tear (and perhaps solo parent families are perceived as causing more than double parents families, but I'd find that weird).
However, it's not out of the landlord's pocket if they are running a business well. Wear and tear is expected, and should be budgeted for. One offs/unexpected damage are what a contingency fund is for.
From a business perspective, if you have to use your contingency funds (e.g. carpet needs to be replaced because of heavy soiling or insect damage – e.g. cockroach infestation) – then you have to build this fund up again. That money is coming from what would otherwise be profit on the investment – i.e. the landlord's pocket.
Landlords, very naturally, want to minimize both the one-off damage (hitting the contingency funds) and the wear and tear (if it takes 15 years instead of the budgeted 10 for the carpet to need replacing, then the landlord has greater profit for 5 of those years).
Young families are harder on the fittings – so, if the landlord has a choice, they they're motivated *not* to choose a family.
As I said above – for the solo-parent families – it's not the 'family' that's the added risk, it's the 'solo'.
Landlords are very rightly worried (from a business perspective) about ex and/or future partners and the baggage of violence or criminal activity they may bring. Especially as they are not allowed to ask about ex-partners (privacy) during the interview/application stage. [An ex-partner who died of cancer after a blameless life, is a very different risk to one who's in jail for violent spouse abuse and gets out in 6 months].
That's not to say that solo-parents with violent ex-partners don't deserve housing – but the added risk makes the State (or other housing charities) the appropriate landlord.
Most likely she is being economical with the truth – because of laws about discrimination.
Many beneficiaries can only afford the private market rent if they have part-time work (the others are in motels) – and they cannot do this work if they or their children are sick. A lot of the part-time work does not cover days off sick.
The new UK education minister sets the tone.
https://twitter.com/clewlow_alex/status/1545151488548290560
Rishi Sunak wants to be PM so he can rebuild the economy he was in charge of up until a few days ago …
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/former-uk-finance-minister-rishi-sunak-declares-bid-to-replace-boris-johnson/8uigy5u00
Johnny Ramone must have known something when he piddled in Johnny Rotten’s beer.
Former Sex Pistols singer John Lydon is surprisingly backing Tory toff Jacob Rees-Mogg to be the new Prime Minister following Boris Johnson’s resignation.
The 66-year-old punk – also known as Johnny Rotten – may have once wished for Anarchy in the UK and claimed Queen Elizabeth was presiding over a “fascist regime” but he is backing super posh Mogg, the MP for North East Somerset, to be Britain’s next political leader.
John likes Mogg, 53, because he has a “World War II put Britain first” mentality which he thinks could only be good for the nation.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz/sex-pistols-icon-johnny-rotten-27435937
yea…well JOHNNY Ramone always was a right wing asshole….so maybe he could see….
If Joey had pissed in his beer would have been better
One can see how the multiple property owning caucus is hurting now that the market has lost a third of the 33% pandemic gain (loose monetary policy).
There is an on message campaign by its media team to claim more immigration is required.
Janet Wilson (Stuff) claims the nursing shortage is one of the governments own making (it requires migrant nurses to wait two years before claiming residency) – ignoring the fact we have had a shortage for decades caused by DHB's not being able to afford the cost of fully staff wards and local training involving tertiary debt (only half qualify the population qualify for student allowances etc).
The poor working conditions model driving Kiwis offshore fixed by immigration is what got us into this mess. They should stop digging.
I should add, Oz Canada and the USA are also suffering their worst nursing shortages ever. So portraying migrant nurses as a solution for what is a global problem (aging western population and a pandemic virus undermining of the populations health) is bordering on the nonsensical.
There needs to be student allowances to those training as nurses (only half the population qualify) and no need to repay training debt.
Nurses have versatile jobs, but how many (have to) do (a lot of) stuff for which they have not studied & trained at all? How many do a core nursing job without other duties & responsibilities that are distracting and a waste of their skills? Sometimes they’re perceived as magical social workers that can and must fix everything & all and these sorts of expectations are misleading and frustrating.
Looking at the re-infection rates with Covid in NZ.
Not very high, as yet – but we've only had it actively circulating for less than 6 months.
That's particularly concerning, as it looks as though even catching Covid doesn't give anything like even medium-term protection – and we know that vaccination is much the same.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-reinfections-14000-people-have-had-virus-twice-183-people-three-times/VLCWZSNFA2MPT2MS2NWUOMWL3Q/?c_id=1&objectid=12536749&ref=rss
Although it would be helpful to have a statistical analysis of the re-infections (is it predominantly groups with high levels of contact? or groups with high levels of risk? or just random members of the population!) If it's the last, it's most worrying at the societal level (e.g. you can take precautions for high levels of exposure or risk)
Recommending a 4th booster seems to be a fairly ineffective strategy (better than nothing, if you're highly vulnerable, I suppose).
The boosters are all against the original strain (not even Delta, let alone Omicron and the new variants – which have evolved a long way) – it's dubious that they'll give much (if any) new levels of protection.
And, of course, you can't even take the booster until 3 months after a Covid infection – by which time, you may well have become infected again.
I really, really want some good quality studies on long Covid (or lingering symptoms) – surely they should have some strong indications of the real numbers, rather than just projections, by now.
I especially want to know the relative risk of Long Covid from the original variants, compared to the most recent (circulating now) ones. I get the impression that it's higher – but impressions aren't data!
Unreviewed pre-print reckons it could be the presence of the spike protein long after initial infection.
Strikingly, we detect SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen in a majority of [long COVID] patients up to 12 months post-diagnosis, suggesting the presence of an active persistent SARSCoV-2 viral reservoir.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.14.22276401v1.full.pdf
Around 14 000 reported re-infections, over 1.4 million plus reported infections, 1%, , is hardly a "High rate of re-infection".
Which shows that immunity against re-infection after infection and/or vaccination, is working for the majority, so far anyway.
We can consider the proportions of re-infections would remain a similar order of magnitude, amongst those who don't report positive results.
14000 re-infections.
Shock horror! "immunity isn't working".
In fact numbers like this show the opposite.
Considering that much more than 1% of the population have immune systems that are compromised in some way, numbers like this show that vaccination and/ or immunity acquired from infection, is currently working, to keep re-infection and infection rates down
It's working is it? Thank goodness our health care system isn't currently under unprecedented stress and that covid infection rates and flu rates are some of the lowest in the world! Yeah right..
Do you live in a binary world?
What planet are you on.
BTW. Our health system was under stress long before covid.
Adding lots of people without adding corresponding health funding tends to do that.
Meanwhile we have ample examples around the world, of what would have happened here without lockdowns and high vaccination rates.
"It doesn’t matter how you voted or your current political persuasion, the PM has made bold strides on the International stage that are good for NZ. If you are still hating on her despite her success, you may be a tribal right wing Troll who probably needs to get out a bit more."
Bomber
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/07/09/jacindas-aotearoa-new-zealand-vs-john-keys-smug-hermit-kingdom/
I believe there are Lefties who’d also consider Ardern’s overseas ‘junkets’ as avoiding putting her own house in order first, as if it is some kinda zero-sum game and this Government is some kinda one-woman show (on the road). Particularly when Labour is slipping in the polls and they’re getting anxious about 2023. Maybe some of these are tribal left wing Trolls who probably need to get out a bit more often too and mix & mingle with the other tribal trolls out there, a meeting of tribes, if you like.
probably, but there's a whole political dynamic going on that's from the right and specific to being anti-Ardern.
As you know, I’m not a fan at all of binary thinking. Not for one minute would I argue that the dynamics are the same across the
boardspectrum. It has very little to do with tribalism and describing it in such stereotypical terms, as Bradbury does, is quite telling. Unfortunately, I think, it that the unhelpful ‘comments’ coming from both sides could and probably will lead to the same outcome. As long as our story-telling stays one-dimensional, and thus our thinking and actions flowing from these, nothing much will change. I’d not label that as progressive politics …fair enough. Tbh, I didn't read the piece, because, you know.
I was also pointing to the left and right having different dynamics, not just polar opposite ones of different degrees.
Got you!
Didn’t read the piece either
I don't imagine a lot of the anti-vaxxers, anti-ID pols, mental health advocates, art people concerned about the lack of policy etc etc would necessarily consider themselves right wing at all. That would be a convenient fiction. There are a lot of lefties who have turned against Labour because their own individual ideological Rubicons have been crossed.
You’re right, of course, but ideology is way too big a concept for the often relatively small personal gripes & grudges that people hold, usually against something or somebody. In my book, ideology should stand for something.
Indeed – there is a modicum of "What does (name) stand for?
…. well then I am against it!"
Interesting piece by Tim Hayward who's professor of environmental political theory at university of Edinburgh .talks about BBC' s participation in a smear campaign against him and other academics , mentions alleged misinformation by elements of OPCW under Washingtons instruction ,considers basic understandings of what is meant by democracy and what is state propaganda , even Paul Mason gets a mention if that rings anyones bells ?!
https://propagandainfocus.com/whose-disinformation-is-it-anyway-bbc-vs-critical-academics/
Pablo commented under his own very good piece Countering coercive politics (https://www.kiwipolitico.com/2022/07/countering-coercive-politics/):
Nats tend to show up how shallow they are ideologically by not grudgingly conceding that she has achieved a lot of the things in this tour that they wanted.
The assassination of Shinzo Abe has attracted condolences from many, including our own PM. But there is another side to the former Japanese PM, whose signals were not dissimilar to neo-nazi or KKK material in support of Japanese actions in WWII.
The use of the number 731 is, in the context of Asia, as plain as neo-nazi’s use of 88.
A Korean paper explains: Abe’s pose resurrects horrors of Unit 731 (joins.com)
Chinese netizens are celebrating his passing – there is more to this story than the braindead morons on TVOne are likely to tell NZ.
More on Abe's revisionism and denial of Japanese war crimes.
https://apjjf.org/2013/11/1/Narusawa-Muneo/3879/article.html
Thanks – a better link than mine.
Damn sad how little commentary there is on the interwebs about Abe and his party's efforts to rehabilitate Japan's brutal martial past.
heh
Sri Lanka bankrupt.
https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1545473240637792259
Rioting starts in Colombo,
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62104268
Nope…not an insurrection…
/
https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1545540246607118336