Lets start again the way modern NZ started in the beginning – with honest hard working people looking for opportunity to succeed that was no longer reachable in Britian in the 1800,s.
I well remember all those swindled English and German migrants sold land that wasn't owned, having to live in tents for years on end, sometimes as solo mums, as their children died. It was great. Not too many turned up with the equivalent of $50m in their pocket, and most towns were violent hell holes. Maori might have something to say about being shot at again, and having anything stolen off them. But your basic maths is right, if it weren't for the reality of how much it would cost to get that money here.
You must be very old to remember all that!. My pioneering ancestors didn,t mention that they met such horror in 1842 and 1852. They arrived to basic ( but expected ) primitive beginnings ( Nelson ) and successfully worked steadily to comfortable old ages.
It's a good idea – so long as this is their only citizenship and they renounce all others. And that $50m+ needs to be domiciled here.
We are about to lose the shirts off our backs economically, and we don't have enough millionaires either absolutely or proportionately to start up this country again.
I'm sure it goes against the egalitarian spirit of the left – but without some serious fresh injection of capital, the workers of New Zealand could toil away for decades and still have to rely on the state for most things in their lives.
The international (English language) media have been lauding the NZ response to the COVID-19 crisis, but looking at the worldometer stats (must admit I’ve been alternatively mesmerised and horrified over the last few weeks by the figures), there are some standout countries that have hardly been mentioned: Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong, in particular.
It’s hard to make sense of all thefigures and not easy to make easy comparisons because of so many different variables that you don’t know about: size of population, testing rate, amountof contact tracing, quarantining strategy etc., but it’s also hard to ignore Vietnam with no deaths and hardly any cases yet it’s right next to China. Taiwan similar with only 6 deaths and a population similar to Australia, Hong Kong with only 4 deaths and again hardly any cases. All 3 countries were badly affected by the SARS epidemic in 2003 and seemed to have learned from the experience. All shut down their borders in early January, 2 months before NZ, and had well thought out pandemic strategies already in place just in case another nasty zoonotic virus (one that jumps from another species) turned up, which of course it did.
Lessons to be learned by the rest of the world. Links below to articles about Taiwan and Vietnam.
For those who flunked Chinese 101, this basically says that Taiwan is part of China, and we are all ignorant and no doubt racist if we think otherwise as there is one and only one China.
Hmm, wonder how they reconcile their empire including Xinjiang and Xizang (Tibet) then. Hardly comprised of Han Tzu or historically part of China.
2021 is a dangerous year, and Xi has already stated repeatedly that within one year China will seize Taiwan back.
I just wish more Kiwis would read the local Chinese press. Racist and imperialist in the extreme. I honestly think many of our Chinese immigrants consider NZ to be just an overseas outpost of the Chinese Empire.
I just wish more Kiwis would read the local Chinese press. Racist and imperialist in the extreme.
Agreed. I cannot read the language, but I have trusted sources who do. And they tell me much the same things.
If people here think I'm stridently anti-CCP it's mainly for this reason.
I honestly think many of our Chinese immigrants consider NZ to be just an overseas outpost of the Chinese Empire.
The reality is a lot more nuanced. The overseas Chinese diaspora is deeply divided on the CCP. Many of those who oppose them fear a backlash in the West that would could scarcely help but to fail to discriminate between the various groups.
A good doco American Factory, about a Chinese business man buying a factory in USA, the way they describe the Americans is quite revealing, some quite truthful, but clearly quite racist.
Trumps presser yesterday was the most bizarre yet. Let's dim the lights, says trump as a little film starts up lamenting agent orange. It was weird. I've never seen him so defensive, he was off the hook raging at journalists who tried their best to hold him to account yesterday.
Today it looks like the presser is in the rose garden, thank goodness, can't dim the lights there, so no promotional film from POTUS.
Today's was even more unreal, he spent the longest time reading out names of big corporations. Can't even remember why now lololz, because he went on for so long. But he deliberately didn't mention microsoft, he must have beef with them.
He also spent most of the time blaming other people. It's all China's fault and the WHO because they didn't tell trump to take action and weren't transparent. It's got nothing to do with trump calling the virus a hoax or his lack of listening ability, nope, apparently everything is someone elses fault.
As well he talked up how the USA has more ICU rooms than Italy or France etc. Love to fact check on that. And he spent ages bragging about how many ventilators the USA has. Because it's a competition lolz.
Fauci was MIA, I hope he's ok.
Here's a link for a replay of today's bizarre presser in the Rose Garden.
Thanks Cinny. I got it through the Guardian link but couldn't stomach all of it. It was like listening to a drug addled nut-bar. Just awful.
Yes, I heard the latest installment of the blame game. The lies are so blatant that his followers must have the lowest IQ in the entire country to not know he is the fake.
Did you see the clip of Dr Fauci yesterday explaining what he meant by his comments the previous day concerning Trump 's original denial of the virus? He was in front of the microphone looking so small and vulnerable while two stony faced thugs stood over him just to his left. Trump and Pence. Poor man. Not surprised he didn't turn up today. He is being bullied behind the scenes. That is obvious.
Dr Fauci turns 80 this year – he has been a senior figure in US public health for a loooong time. Not sure how susceptible he is to bullying – at some point he may be forced to ‘stand down’, but I'm guessing he won’t be keen to go as long as he believes that continuing to advise Trump can do some public health good.
"He has turned down several offers to lead his agency's parent, the NIH [National Institutes of Health], and has been at the forefront of US efforts to contend with viral diseases like HIV, SARS, the 2009 swine flu pandemic, MERS, Ebola and COVID-19." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Fauci
Hi DMK, I didn't mean to infer Fauci was 'afraid' of Trump but rather he was being undermined behind the scenes – a better word than bullying.
Its a measure of the a*****e that – despite his [false] words to the contrary – Trump thinks he can push around an 80 year old with knowledge and experience he is incapable of ever attaining, and without any empathy or respect for the age of the gentleman.
Lets not forget he tweeted only a few days ago he wanted to fire Fauci because he said something Trump did not like.
Agree with all you've written Anne, just thought that Dr Fauci's age, medical expertise and record of public service were interesting. Being in their seventies would seem to be about the only thing Fauci and Trump have in common.
Identify, and if any of them catch covid and/or pass it on, hold them liable for treatment costs and consider criminal negligence or wilful endangerment charges.
Germany has drive by testing and done fairly well so far as a transit country to boot,
and in the US if you don't work you starve – and also right wing, and Donald wants a march and the Trumpists march.
Maybe the idiots are the ones pretending that they can stay home for month on end with the government sending care packages until the virus is eradicated and then they go back to live as it was before.
maybe the actual solution is somewhere inbetween.
Without knowing if any of those protesters aren't spreading covid, they're just being sour krauts and maple strops, and should heed the advice on social distancing and mass gatherings. I mean it would be really stupid to end a lock down as they want, only to have thousands more catch it because money and bau.
Though their self righteous reaction is a bit of an ah, now I get it moment.
Maybe the idiots are the ones pretending that they can stay home for month on end with the government sending care packages until the virus is eradicated and then they go back to live as it was before.
Who thinks that? Most people I'm seeing who understand the need for lock down also understand we're not going back to BAU.
Sure, though wilful breaching lock down orders are not only frustrating but ultimately dangerous to a lot of people. I hope none of them bought a surprise home to their bubbles.
Which would be tough as protesting is a right and all, and historically, most on the left would view the police on a spectrum of suspicion, but it's a deadly pandemic, and I would also expect a minimum warning of go home or be arrested would end a pointless protest like these above.
It's not the gathering to protest that bothers me, it's the blatant ignoring of the 2m distancing, and I'm guessing they're not bothering with hand washing, no face touching etc too.
I do agree, they can't really protest observing 2m spacing rules, so just like anyone too close in a queue at the moment, they'll cause some suspicion concerning their observance skills/understanding/compliance.
The liberal media show us that Chompsky's 'manufacturing concent' model is operating perfectly in it's job of protecting Biden…even here in little ol' NZ, RNZ doesn't touch this story either…
The Democratic Party seem to realise that they have coalesced around the worst possible anti-Sanders candidate. Biden is an incredibly 'target-rich environment' for Republican attack ads. There's the corruption allegations against his son (Hunter) and brother (James) – both suspected of using access to Joe as bargaining chips. There's his support for the Iraq war, for cutting social security, and for stripping people of bankruptcy protection. There's his support for NAFTA and TPPA. And now the glossed over and uninvestigated sexual abuse allegations. Not to mention an increasing tendency to flub his lines. It's going to be bloody. I guess the Democratic Party would have preferred to coalesce around Buttigieg or Klobuchar or Harris or even Bloomberg – but they weren't options after South Carolina.
What's also clear is that Sanders doesn't own his own movement. Despite endorsing Biden he can't command their obedience. To some extent, his movement will shuck him off and find a new leader – true to their likely belief in the Tolstoyan maxim that a leader is the wave pushed ahead by the ship. The age divide – Sanders winning under 45's decisively and Biden over 45's equally decisively – suggests many younger voters may simply not vote (which they are prone not to do anyway)
And Trump is going to claim victory over the 'Chinese virus' – irrespective of how many C-19 deaths there finally are. He's going to lie through his teeth about the whole thing, make a case for his own foresight and competence – and stand a good chance of being believed.
20% annually so 10% for 6 months I assume. Personally I'd have also taken a hatchet to the police commissioner and the head of the defence force who I believe earn way above the prime minister and given it to the director general of health
She could have played it like the old game, get one up on Bridges, for a moment in the news. But she informed him beforehand, gave him a chance to match her.
Taking the high ground is what works for her. It's good politics. Kicking him in the goolies plays well to the base, like some on here, but that's exactly what Bridges would do, and that's why he loses. Big picture classy versus small picture petty.
Sometimes I think that her political skills are as much underestimated by her supporters as her detractors.
Yes I flubbed a few lines. But; apart from the title, that was from memory (as I used my one editing chance on fixing that)! Surprised I did that well myself, after so many years.
If it is any consolation, anecdotally speaking, there seems to be a dramatic drop-off in numbers seeking hospital help for self-harm and suicide attempts.
I have been pondering possible reasons for this: limited or restricted access to alcohol, stronger ties to others by being connected to a bubble, a greater closeness and/or appreciation of those nearest and dearest….
Some of these may be an explanation for the drop in family harm notifications.
Biff fake-Tannin' is delaying the stimulus payments going out to Americans made unemployed by COVID-19. So they can have his shaky sharpie scrawl on them. Could be worse I s'pose, they could have been delayed further so that Dim Dotardashian got his ugly mug printed on them as well.
TOKYO: Japan urged its citizens on Wednesday (Apr 15) to stay home, as media reports warned that as many as 400,000 of them could die of the coronavirus without urgent action, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came under pressure to hand out more cash.
New Zealand is now "the envy of the world", according to the Grattan Institute, which said the country had a "realistic chance" of eliminating COVID-19 within the next couple of months.
So, it's been a strange day – apologies if I have seemed like a bear with a sore tooth at times,.. but that's pretty much accurate. I had a kernel from lunch caught in between my teeth – so I flossed it out, along with much of the tooth! Dental school (over the phone) gave me a choice between meds or extraction. Went with meds (painkillers and antibiotics until level 3 at least).
Anyway, on the way to the chemist there is this oldish crusty bloke reeling from side to side of the footpath. Shouting at the woman (normal street clothes) in front of me to get out of his way – even though it was clearly him lurching towards her. So then it's my turn…
I am wearing a zipped-up hoody, facial bandana and jeans (really not skirt weather today!). In retrospect, I may have looked a bit Islamic? He sneers at me: "If I had a gun, I'd shoot the lot of you!". That was surprising, maybe what Muslims in Dunedin put up with all the time? So I bellow back "Forget you – currant!", which he may have misheard, because he got out of my face really quickly after that.
The strange thing was that he didn't seem drunk or otherwise intoxicated. Guess it's just the stress of lockdown.. and him being an arsehole too, of course.
I heard stephen mills saying on kathrine ryans program the other day that he thought jeremey corbyn was the worst leader the uk labour party had ever had funny i thought mills was supposed to represent the lefts view on the program he was taking part in an hooten the right ??but on yer steve may as well put the boot in everyone else has .Would have thought you couldve cut corbyn a tiny bit of slack tho steve it cant have been easy for example trying to be effective in ahighly corrosive poisonous snake pit that is the uk labour party .Even going home to put your feet up must have been something of an ordeal for jc given the daily onslaught of hit pieces in maybe all of the papers by hostile corporate presstittutes taking their orders from on high by powerfull figures determined to stop you getting any traction .IM petty sure that if a labour leader in this country managed to increase membership of the party by the numbers that jeremy corbyn did over there it would be have to be regarded equally with jesus's trick of walking on water !!Supprizes me that so many people both here and there cant decide weather they are left right or in between or how low they can go to keep their noses in the trough .The uk labour part it seems is no different to the democratic party in the states in that they will even go to the extream of deliberately losing an election to maintain the status quo .Rotten to the core would be an understatement in both cases imo.
Bridges is doing a better job of opposition than the UK Labour right now, & the UK actually have problems, urgent ones, that should be called out, but UK Labour? Not a squeak…
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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 ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
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 ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he ...
What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start? Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception ...
The striking report goes far beyond the proposed repeal of the Oranga Tamariki Act’s Treaty of Waitangi provision, and its impact should be felt far beyond the unique circumstances of the claim it addresses. Earlier this week, the Waitangi Tribunal released an interim report on the government’s proposed repeal of ...
The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Monash University Ken stocker/Shutterstock In the wake of numerous killings of women allegedly by men’s violence in 2024, thousands of Australians have joined rallies across the country to demand action ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University Oleg Ivanov IL/Shutterstock Waiting times for public hospital elective surgery have been in the news ahead of this year’s federal budget. That’s the type of non-emergency surgery ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Amna Artist/Shutterstock One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia on the Black Sea, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney LanaElcova/Shutterstock Electric vehicles are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions – and air pollution – from transport. Is this view correct? Yes – but only once uptake accelerates. Despite the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Natassia Woodley, Researcher and Phd Candidate, Edith Cowan University There is widespread agreement Australia needs to do better when it comes to gender-based violence. Anger and frustration at the numbers of women being killed saw national rallies over the weekend and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Mark and Anna Photography/Shutterstock As home ownership moves further out of reach for many Australians, “rentvesting” is being touted as a lifesaver. Rentvesting is the practice of renting one property to live ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sukhmani Khorana, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Netflix The new season of Heartbreak High is garnering mixed reviews. Critics are writing about the racy story lines, comparing it to other coming-of-age series about teenage relationships and ...
Bob Carr intends to launch legal action against Winston Peters and Julie Anne Genter is facing a second allegation of bullying. Both sucked the air out of an announcement on education, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
In 1995, Sally Clark went out on her own in a bold and unorthodox attempt to join an illustrious group of equestrian riders conquering the world. In the days of glovebox road maps, brick cell phones, and the hit song How Bizarre, Clark refused to follow Sir Mark Todd, Blyth ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Beaglehole, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago niphon/Getty Images The number of people accessing medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Aotearoa New Zealand increased significantly between 2006 and 2022. But the disorder is still under-diagnosed and ...
To celebrate the start of New Zealand music month, we look back at the best local tuneage that managed to weasel its way into Hollywood productions. There’s nothing quite like the thrilling zap of recognition when New Zealand weasels its way into a glamorous Hollywood production. Crack open a Tui ...
People trust other people more than institutions. So how can the media gain that trust through journalists without losing what’s important about the institution? Anna Rawhiti-Connell reflects on two years of curating the news for The Bulletin.Amonth ago, armed cops descended on my neighbourhood as calls to “lock your ...
Opinion: PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are a class of thousands of man-made chemicals used widely in everyday consumer items such as textiles, packaging, and cookware, popular for their water, grease and stain-repellent properties. However, the very properties that make PFAS so attractive to manufacturers are also what ...
NONFICTION 1 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99)’ This is the hottest book in New Zealand, number one with a bullet in its first week, selling more than any overseas title, and demand is so huge that it’s already been reprinted. A ...
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A warning – suicide is discussed in this podcast New Zealand’s own long-running soap Shortland Street doesn’t hesitate to kill off its much-loved characters. But would TVNZ dare to kill off our favourite soap? That’s the fear as times get tough in television – even though it’s been pointed out ...
Essay: If the Crown harms children, how do you hold it accountable? Analysis by Aaron Smale in light of the Waitangi Tribunal court decision. The post The Crown versus Māori Children appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan resistance leader has condemned the United Nations role in allowing Indonesia to “integrate” the Melanesian Pacific region in what is claimed to be an “egregious act of inhumanity” on 1 May 1963. In an open letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Organisasi Papua Merdeka-OPM ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A key part of the Albanese government’s political strategy is to fill the news cycle with its presence and messaging. Ministers are deployed to the maximum, even when they’ve little to say. This week ...
Recent extreme weather events showed the importance of a well-functioning insurance system, says Commerce and Consumer Affairs minister Andrew Bayly. ...
By Jo Moir, RNZ News political editor, and Craig McCulloch, deputy political editor New Zealand’s Labour Party is demanding Winston Peters be stood down as Foreign Minister for opening up the government to legal action over his “totally unacceptable” attack on a prominent AUKUS critic. In an interview on RNZ’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Brakenridge, Postdoctoral research fellow at Swinburne University, Centre for Urban Transitions, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute The Conversation, Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock People have a pretty intuitive sense of what is healthy – standing is better than sitting, exercise is great for overall ...
The Wellington-based Reserve Force soldier is now almost three years into his New Zealand Army career with 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. ...
Caught a Bridges interview this morning.
We really dodged a bullet, avoiding having that degree of cognitive ignorance, in charge.
Sickening, watching the interveiwer treating him with deference and agreement, rather than the hostile way interviewers treat Government MP's.
We really do have a biased media.
Imagine if Bridges/ Nats were leading this, lockdown, then lift early, then lockdown, lift early etc … would have been chaos.
One of his henchmen, Paul Goldsmith, was on Kathryn Ryan's show this morning. Embarrassingly bad.
This ain't no "standard seasonal flu", they also may find the high death rate is because hospitals have been underfunded, as simple as that. And considering the UK aren't counting the residential home deaths, unlike us here. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/we-are-all-resigned-to-getting-it-nhs-staff-reveal-fears-from-the-frontlines-of-covid-19
Haven't heard an explanation why emergency rooms aren't routinely flooded with 'standard seasonal 'flu' cases.
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/influenza
In other words, it hasn’t started yet.
Flu jab nurse reckoned there will be substantially fewer cases this year because of all that hand washing and distancing we're doing.
The basic math goes like this: If NZ could attract 2000 people to invest $50m, that would raise $100b.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12324752
NO THANKYOU.!
Lets start again the way modern NZ started in the beginning – with honest hard working people looking for opportunity to succeed that was no longer reachable in Britian in the 1800,s.
Make NZ Great Again!
I well remember all those swindled English and German migrants sold land that wasn't owned, having to live in tents for years on end, sometimes as solo mums, as their children died. It was great. Not too many turned up with the equivalent of $50m in their pocket, and most towns were violent hell holes. Maori might have something to say about being shot at again, and having anything stolen off them. But your basic maths is right, if it weren't for the reality of how much it would cost to get that money here.
Can I get a hip hooray for the capitalists?
You must be very old to remember all that!. My pioneering ancestors didn,t mention that they met such horror in 1842 and 1852. They arrived to basic ( but expected ) primitive beginnings ( Nelson ) and successfully worked steadily to comfortable old ages.
It's a good idea – so long as this is their only citizenship and they renounce all others. And that $50m+ needs to be domiciled here.
We are about to lose the shirts off our backs economically, and we don't have enough millionaires either absolutely or proportionately to start up this country again.
I'm sure it goes against the egalitarian spirit of the left – but without some serious fresh injection of capital, the workers of New Zealand could toil away for decades and still have to rely on the state for most things in their lives.
Don't fret, it will happen anyway.
Europe is in for a very unsettling decade or two, there will be many well qualified people with both money and talent looking to escape.
"the workers of New Zealand could toil away for decades and still have to rely on the state for most things in their lives."
So UBI might as well start now and their toil and initiative over the next decades will quickly be constructive .
The international (English language) media have been lauding the NZ response to the COVID-19 crisis, but looking at the worldometer stats (must admit I’ve been alternatively mesmerised and horrified over the last few weeks by the figures), there are some standout countries that have hardly been mentioned: Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong, in particular.
It’s hard to make sense of all thefigures and not easy to make easy comparisons because of so many different variables that you don’t know about: size of population, testing rate, amountof contact tracing, quarantining strategy etc., but it’s also hard to ignore Vietnam with no deaths and hardly any cases yet it’s right next to China. Taiwan similar with only 6 deaths and a population similar to Australia, Hong Kong with only 4 deaths and again hardly any cases. All 3 countries were badly affected by the SARS epidemic in 2003 and seemed to have learned from the experience. All shut down their borders in early January, 2 months before NZ, and had well thought out pandemic strategies already in place just in case another nasty zoonotic virus (one that jumps from another species) turned up, which of course it did.
Lessons to be learned by the rest of the world. Links below to articles about Taiwan and Vietnam.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/asia/population-the-same-as-australia-s-but-a-fraction-of-the-coronavirus-cases-20200412-p54j67.html
https://www.dailysabah.com/world/with-no-deaths-reported-vietnams-response-to-coronavirus-pandemic-earns-praise/news
https://www.facebook.com/846555798724560/posts/2942654555781330/
There is only one China.
For those who flunked Chinese 101, this basically says that Taiwan is part of China, and we are all ignorant and no doubt racist if we think otherwise as there is one and only one China.
Hmm, wonder how they reconcile their empire including Xinjiang and Xizang (Tibet) then. Hardly comprised of Han Tzu or historically part of China.
2021 is a dangerous year, and Xi has already stated repeatedly that within one year China will seize Taiwan back.
I just wish more Kiwis would read the local Chinese press. Racist and imperialist in the extreme. I honestly think many of our Chinese immigrants consider NZ to be just an overseas outpost of the Chinese Empire.
I just wish more Kiwis would read the local Chinese press. Racist and imperialist in the extreme.
Agreed. I cannot read the language, but I have trusted sources who do. And they tell me much the same things.
If people here think I'm stridently anti-CCP it's mainly for this reason.
I honestly think many of our Chinese immigrants consider NZ to be just an overseas outpost of the Chinese Empire.
The reality is a lot more nuanced. The overseas Chinese diaspora is deeply divided on the CCP. Many of those who oppose them fear a backlash in the West that would could scarcely help but to fail to discriminate between the various groups.
A good doco American Factory, about a Chinese business man buying a factory in USA, the way they describe the Americans is quite revealing, some quite truthful, but clearly quite racist.
Sorry I should have pointed out ,scroll down for English.
Well 3 guesses why Taiwan might not get mentioned.
I hate guessing. Just tell us.
Trumps presser yesterday was the most bizarre yet. Let's dim the lights, says trump as a little film starts up lamenting agent orange. It was weird. I've never seen him so defensive, he was off the hook raging at journalists who tried their best to hold him to account yesterday.
Today it looks like the presser is in the rose garden, thank goodness, can't dim the lights there, so no promotional film from POTUS.
Can you supply a link Cinny? I have trouble finding them – lack of knowledge and know how.
I saw part of yesterday's presser and it was like something out of A in Wonderland. Un…. believable!
Covfefe
Covfefailure
Anne, I'll post a live link for tomorrow.
Today's was even more unreal, he spent the longest time reading out names of big corporations. Can't even remember why now lololz, because he went on for so long. But he deliberately didn't mention microsoft, he must have beef with them.
He also spent most of the time blaming other people. It's all China's fault and the WHO because they didn't tell trump to take action and weren't transparent. It's got nothing to do with trump calling the virus a hoax or his lack of listening ability, nope, apparently everything is someone elses fault.
As well he talked up how the USA has more ICU rooms than Italy or France etc. Love to fact check on that. And he spent ages bragging about how many ventilators the USA has. Because it's a competition lolz.
Fauci was MIA, I hope he's ok.
Here's a link for a replay of today's bizarre presser in the Rose Garden.
Thanks Cinny. I got it through the Guardian link but couldn't stomach all of it. It was like listening to a drug addled nut-bar. Just awful.
Yes, I heard the latest installment of the blame game. The lies are so blatant that his followers must have the lowest IQ in the entire country to not know he is the fake.
Did you see the clip of Dr Fauci yesterday explaining what he meant by his comments the previous day concerning Trump 's original denial of the virus? He was in front of the microphone looking so small and vulnerable while two stony faced thugs stood over him just to his left. Trump and Pence. Poor man. Not surprised he didn't turn up today. He is being bullied behind the scenes. That is obvious.
Dr Fauci turns 80 this year – he has been a senior figure in US public health for a loooong time. Not sure how susceptible he is to bullying – at some point he may be forced to ‘stand down’, but I'm guessing he won’t be keen to go as long as he believes that continuing to advise Trump can do some public health good.
Hi DMK, I didn't mean to infer Fauci was 'afraid' of Trump but rather he was being undermined behind the scenes – a better word than bullying.
Its a measure of the a*****e that – despite his [false] words to the contrary – Trump thinks he can push around an 80 year old with knowledge and experience he is incapable of ever attaining, and without any empathy or respect for the age of the gentleman.
Lets not forget he tweeted only a few days ago he wanted to fire Fauci because he said something Trump did not like.
Agree with all you've written Anne, just thought that Dr Fauci's age, medical expertise and record of public service were interesting. Being in their seventies would seem to be about the only thing Fauci and Trump have in common.
CNN's chyron writer deserves a medal and a raise.
https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/cnn-chyrons-give-persuasive-rationales-cnn-stop-airing-trumps-coronavirus
The media highlight of the day? When such a beauty comes up early you know Trump or anyone else is going to have to go really hard to compete.
Man on radio talking about Obama endorsing Biden. (That's news? You're so bereft that it's the only thing in the world to talk about? etc, etc.)
Obama's thing is a 10 minute speech, well, 'monologue' and according to the guru "There's a man who likes the sound of his own voice." !!!!!!
Mirror, mirror on the wall ….
If Michelle Obama goes around publicly endorsing Biden his lead (already good) will stretch into the far distance.
Covidiocy abounds.
https://twitter.com/DanDicksPFT/status/1249449767404363776
https://twitter.com/Terrence_STR/status/1250068818170392576
#COVIDIOTS
Identify, and if any of them catch covid and/or pass it on, hold them liable for treatment costs and consider criminal negligence or wilful endangerment charges.
Vancouver is a good size bigger than Auckland. The guy in the clip said there was a massive crowd. I think he is exaggerating.
Accordingto B.C. media it was a small group of about 20, mostly anti-vaxxers and other local right wing nut jobs.
Germany has drive by testing and done fairly well so far as a transit country to boot,
and in the US if you don't work you starve – and also right wing, and Donald wants a march and the Trumpists march.
Maybe the idiots are the ones pretending that they can stay home for month on end with the government sending care packages until the virus is eradicated and then they go back to live as it was before.
maybe the actual solution is somewhere inbetween.
Without knowing if any of those protesters aren't spreading covid, they're just being sour krauts and maple strops, and should heed the advice on social distancing and mass gatherings. I mean it would be really stupid to end a lock down as they want, only to have thousands more catch it because money and bau.
Though their self righteous reaction is a bit of an ah, now I get it moment.
Who thinks that? Most people I'm seeing who understand the need for lock down also understand we're not going back to BAU.
unfortunately it would be hard to establish who caught cv from who, so presumably endangerment or manslaughter wouldn't be a go.
Am curious what penalties Canada (or NZ) has for such behaviour in a pandemic or under a civil emergency.
Sure, though wilful breaching lock down orders are not only frustrating but ultimately dangerous to a lot of people. I hope none of them bought a surprise home to their bubbles.
I totally think the state should deal to that. If it were NZ I would expect arrests.
Which would be tough as protesting is a right and all, and historically, most on the left would view the police on a spectrum of suspicion, but it's a deadly pandemic, and I would also expect a minimum warning of go home or be arrested would end a pointless protest like these above.
It's not the gathering to protest that bothers me, it's the blatant ignoring of the 2m distancing, and I'm guessing they're not bothering with hand washing, no face touching etc too.
I do agree, they can't really protest observing 2m spacing rules, so just like anyone too close in a queue at the moment, they'll cause some suspicion concerning their observance skills/understanding/compliance.
The liberal media show us that Chompsky's 'manufacturing concent' model is operating perfectly in it's job of protecting Biden…even here in little ol' NZ, RNZ doesn't touch this story either…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63yeQ1GCzIY
The Democratic Party seem to realise that they have coalesced around the worst possible anti-Sanders candidate. Biden is an incredibly 'target-rich environment' for Republican attack ads. There's the corruption allegations against his son (Hunter) and brother (James) – both suspected of using access to Joe as bargaining chips. There's his support for the Iraq war, for cutting social security, and for stripping people of bankruptcy protection. There's his support for NAFTA and TPPA. And now the glossed over and uninvestigated sexual abuse allegations. Not to mention an increasing tendency to flub his lines. It's going to be bloody. I guess the Democratic Party would have preferred to coalesce around Buttigieg or Klobuchar or Harris or even Bloomberg – but they weren't options after South Carolina.
What's also clear is that Sanders doesn't own his own movement. Despite endorsing Biden he can't command their obedience. To some extent, his movement will shuck him off and find a new leader – true to their likely belief in the Tolstoyan maxim that a leader is the wave pushed ahead by the ship. The age divide – Sanders winning under 45's decisively and Biden over 45's equally decisively – suggests many younger voters may simply not vote (which they are prone not to do anyway)
And Trump is going to claim victory over the 'Chinese virus' – irrespective of how many C-19 deaths there finally are. He's going to lie through his teeth about the whole thing, make a case for his own foresight and competence – and stand a good chance of being believed.
Unhappy days.
Cuomo Governor of New York, "Donald Trump has declared himself as King Trump."
Midday news on 1.
Some twitter reaction to Nixon-on-bath-salts' proclamation that his "authority is total"
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-total-authority-twitter-coronavirus-pandemic_n_5e951344c5b606109f5ed818
I almost wish they would go for authoritarianism now, while there's still some fight left in people.
Meanwhile in a galaxy far away.
https://www.facebook.com/1684474681589898/posts/2847187235318631/
NZ Herald utterly gobsmacking incompetent…it's dammed obvious that proof reading is considered unnecessary
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12324961
States repeatedly it's 20% cut in salaries yet multiple examples given in $ terms are all 10% .
Oh and I’m waiting for reporters to ask Bridges and Rimmer if they will be taking cuts as well.
20% annually so 10% for 6 months I assume. Personally I'd have also taken a hatchet to the police commissioner and the head of the defence force who I believe earn way above the prime minister and given it to the director general of health
You are right as are they I've gotten old
Heard on the news Bridge's is.
If you a going to make a pointless token gesture, then they will all do it.
Assuming Rimmer is Seymour, imagine he will jump on the pointless PR band wagon.
Not sure about Winston given "The super annuation thing". Will probably say he will, which doesn't mean much.
It is a gesture, but it isn't pointless.
Ardern is smarter than that.
She could have played it like the old game, get one up on Bridges, for a moment in the news. But she informed him beforehand, gave him a chance to match her.
Taking the high ground is what works for her. It's good politics. Kicking him in the goolies plays well to the base, like some on here, but that's exactly what Bridges would do, and that's why he loses. Big picture classy versus small picture petty.
Sometimes I think that her political skills are as much underestimated by her supporters as her detractors.
Resumé
BY DOROTHY PARKER
Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.
Portrait of the Artist
By Dorothy Parker
Lead me to a quiet cell
Where never footfall rankles
With steel chains go bind me well
Make fast my wrists and ankles
O wrap my limbs with linen fair
With hempen cord go bind me
And of your mercy leave me there
Nor tell them where to find me
Bar the door there as you go
And see its bolts be double
Come back in half an hour or so
And I will be in trouble.
Yes I flubbed a few lines. But; apart from the title, that was from memory (as I used my one editing chance on fixing that)! Surprised I did that well myself, after so many years.
Trump Rocks Bohemian Rhapsody.
Oh dang! Must show Miss 15, she loves that song and loathes trump. Putin on the piano is a beautiful touch loololz.
Funny as.
Unintended Consequences:
If it is any consolation, anecdotally speaking, there seems to be a dramatic drop-off in numbers seeking hospital help for self-harm and suicide attempts.
I have been pondering possible reasons for this: limited or restricted access to alcohol, stronger ties to others by being connected to a bubble, a greater closeness and/or appreciation of those nearest and dearest….
Some of these may be an explanation for the drop in family harm notifications.
Biff fake-Tannin' is delaying the stimulus payments going out to Americans made unemployed by COVID-19. So they can have his shaky sharpie scrawl on them. Could be worse I s'pose, they could have been delayed further so that Dim Dotardashian got his ugly mug printed on them as well.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trumps-name-on-stimulus-check-irs-coronavirus_n_5e965be0c5b6ead140045899
today they declared that the money will be accessible to debt collectors.
Many people will get it via direct bank deposit 🙂 and never see a cent.
But King Trump of Trumplandia will feel all great again, having his name on a 'cheque'.
Looting the exchequer while they still can.
https://twitter.com/RBReich/status/1250165676829859840
http://archive.li/FIN3p
Not a fan generally, but this is a really good move by TOP.
https://twitter.com/top_nz/status/1250267758211653633
That's clever and all but what are these guys actually doing? Looks like ACT for the Left to me.
apparently about to release new policy on a UBI.
Of course it can get worse.
https://twitter.com/ksieff/status/1250197488159600640
https://twitter.com/tylerkingkade/status/1250068290224844800
..and worser…
TOKYO: Japan urged its citizens on Wednesday (Apr 15) to stay home, as media reports warned that as many as 400,000 of them could die of the coronavirus without urgent action, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came under pressure to hand out more cash.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/japan-citizens-isolate-reports-warn-covid-19-coronavirus-deaths-12644310
Suggestion that I put into practice today both at Work and Socially
Didn't email or txt, all interaction was by phone. Good also to just talk not just the functional txt/email.
I'm phoning two people every night.
Australia is flattening the coronavirus curve. But should we try to squash it like New Zealand?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-04-15/coronavirus-elimination-australia-new-zealand/12150302
So, it's been a strange day – apologies if I have seemed like a bear with a sore tooth at times,.. but that's pretty much accurate. I had a kernel from lunch caught in between my teeth – so I flossed it out, along with much of the tooth! Dental school (over the phone) gave me a choice between meds or extraction. Went with meds (painkillers and antibiotics until level 3 at least).
Anyway, on the way to the chemist there is this oldish crusty bloke reeling from side to side of the footpath. Shouting at the woman (normal street clothes) in front of me to get out of his way – even though it was clearly him lurching towards her. So then it's my turn…
I am wearing a zipped-up hoody, facial bandana and jeans (really not skirt weather today!). In retrospect, I may have looked a bit Islamic? He sneers at me: "If I had a gun, I'd shoot the lot of you!". That was surprising, maybe what Muslims in Dunedin put up with all the time? So I bellow back "Forget you – currant!", which he may have misheard, because he got out of my face really quickly after that.
The strange thing was that he didn't seem drunk or otherwise intoxicated. Guess it's just the stress of lockdown.. and him being an arsehole too, of course.
food for thought.
Wage subsidy spend to date 9 billion….
IMF projection 25 billion contraction NZ GDP next 12 months….
12 months interest (only) on residential mortgages NZ 13 billion…
12 months interest (only) on personal lending NZ 1.2 billion…
heh
https://twitter.com/RaybonKan/status/1250185582690439168
I heard stephen mills saying on kathrine ryans program the other day that he thought jeremey corbyn was the worst leader the uk labour party had ever had funny i thought mills was supposed to represent the lefts view on the program he was taking part in an hooten the right ??but on yer steve may as well put the boot in everyone else has .Would have thought you couldve cut corbyn a tiny bit of slack tho steve it cant have been easy for example trying to be effective in ahighly corrosive poisonous snake pit that is the uk labour party .Even going home to put your feet up must have been something of an ordeal for jc given the daily onslaught of hit pieces in maybe all of the papers by hostile corporate presstittutes taking their orders from on high by powerfull figures determined to stop you getting any traction .IM petty sure that if a labour leader in this country managed to increase membership of the party by the numbers that jeremy corbyn did over there it would be have to be regarded equally with jesus's trick of walking on water !!Supprizes me that so many people both here and there cant decide weather they are left right or in between or how low they can go to keep their noses in the trough .The uk labour part it seems is no different to the democratic party in the states in that they will even go to the extream of deliberately losing an election to maintain the status quo .Rotten to the core would be an understatement in both cases imo.
Bridges is doing a better job of opposition than the UK Labour right now, & the UK actually have problems, urgent ones, that should be called out, but UK Labour? Not a squeak…
Kia Ora Newshub.
That's is correct we can't jump to soon out of isolation.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Hopefully we can step down to level 3 in good time.
Ka pai giving the Kaumatua flue vaxcernation at their Marae.
The Raukumara need a lot of mahi to minimise the pest in it I still champion A bounty on pest.
The new Te reo teaching programs are good.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Good to hear that our farmers are still working.
I remember that person pushing for lock down next minute he wants Aotearoa to come out early.
I say the government has done a good job with the virus it's impossible to keep everyone happy.
There are a few things from the old days that could create mahi.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Newshub.
You would think that property owners will give their business tenants rent reduction in times like this.
That's good Aotearoa being involved in a international research project for the virus.
Its awesome the mahi Doc is doing in Aotearoa.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
I think it's good to use online service to help tangi with the virus isolation.
That's what it used to be like people helping people Ka pai to the guy who put out the fire.
Cool that forestry workers can go back to mahi in level 3lock down.
Awsome that tangata are protecting Te Kauri Tane Mahuta.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Newshub.
Cool those people importanting PPE gear.
Extreme weather events is going to be the new normal.
Counterfeiters of virus cures are low flogging off crap that is just a money spinner.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Kia Kaha Whanau Aotearoa is in a great place.
Ka kite Ano.
https://youtu.be/qQfetkoGrpU
Kia Ora Newshub.
You will always find some people who have a different opinion.
What fools go and dump rubbish in a cemetery.
I think ACC needs a cleanup.
That's is cool the 21st century commutation devices to make movies and waiata during the virus isolation.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Cool that their is going to be virus testing in our remote rual regions
In good time the lock down levels will lift.
Good the people getting donations and send out period products to unfortunate Wahine.
Ka kite Ano.