Listening to National radio this morning & hearing the medium house price in Auckland is $535.000 shows we are in crisis with affordable housing. To hear Housing New Zealand ( a Government entity) is referring renters paying up to 80% of their income to charitable agencies such as the Sallies for financial assistance is a bloody disgrace!
Meanwhile house prices are rising at increasingly alarming rates while the job market continues to stagnate.
Government intervention to cool this unacceptable situation and to ‘create employment in the house building sector’ should be a priority one would think.
It’s a contradiction that National would have people believe that property investors will invest in power shares when the returns on property investment are booming again. This was highlighted to me recently whilst in Whangarei on holiday. I got speaking to an old guy in Whangarei who buys in what you could categorize as the first home buyers market. He buys & sells making on average 20% to 30% profit. Happy to gloat it’s setup so he avoids tax?
With a recent survey showing 70% support for Labour’s 100.000 new affordable homes policy, the question remains what is National going to do if anything?
Shearer did a good job this morning on National Radio stating Labour’s proposed solutions. Quick question: when Annette King goes to run at the Mayoralty, who will be Housing Spokesperson? It’s Labour’s best policy so far leading up to 2014. It’s going to need a solid political unit to break the mean cycle of property capitalism (particularly in Auckland).
At the moment Housing and Building are in MBIE. Shearer acknowledged this morning that working clsoely with Councils particularly Auckland is going to be critical to achieving the housing policy goal. Maybe it’s time to wrap DIA’s Local Government functions into MBIE and start to remake cities holistically, including with housing.
coronial typer: So what the hell did Shearer propose then?
You say he was on National Radio, but who did he propose to take over housing, what else did he offer but repeating, they would talk with councils???
I am sorry, you delivered no real information, which leaves us again with: An empty handed, vaguely talking, nothing offering David Shearer, on housing and much else.
Major Roberts’ crocodile tears disguises the fact that he was on the working group that recommended the changes to the state housing that we are seeing the concequences of.
I accept that they often make good submissions on proposed laws and so, they are outspoken on social failures, on shortcomings of the government, but then again, they are also “players” in the game, when it comes to getting some government hand-outs to run welfare and in future housing.
I am afraid, you cannot expect all that much of real change and ideas from an organisation with religious values, which is caring of course, but also depends on the purse strings of donors, sponsors, and also the government.
The same applies to numerous “advocacy groups”, who, as I found out, actually get money from MSD to “deliver” their “services”.
So no bloody wonder the advocates are not all that strongly outspoken against welfare and other reforms. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, right?
What is this country all about, either you have private operators and business run the show, or you have the government have its tentacles all over the place, thus keeping control of things.
NZ is screwed like this, and no matter how sincere and outspoken critics here are, all this is huff and puff into the air, right?!
Gosh it would have been great if Mallard and Robertson, the guys who ran Labour’s campaign last time, actually apologised for performing worse than the New Zealand cricket team. The’ve performed badly for about as long as each other.
Not sure when or if Shearer will do a reshuffle of responsibility, but I would have thought a basic Key Peformance indicator for the lot of whoever backs him would be: win the election.
B*ll*x to an Apology, AD!
We just want to see a sign from Shearer that he realised he had been conned by Trevir n Robertson and used by Phil and Annette.
When we see that sign then we will believe that there is a real change afoot.
Otherswise it is worse than it was under Phil.
Change David, please change your team.
You highlight 3 major issues there, if as a country we made the avoidance of tax just as criminal as the evasion of it and had the staff in the States revenue collection agency to actually force the collection of the estimated 7 billion dollars annually either avoided or evaded there would be more than enough revenue for the Government to fix what is becoming an increasingly ugly societal problem,
When tenants are forced to pay 50%+ of their income to put a roof over their heads an economic drag is created in the local economy, such money simply being a tax upon that persons production passing through the hands of the landlord class to the banks which hold the mortgage over the property and so denying the local economy the use of such money in what would be best described as the normal course of economic activity,
While i understand Labour’s proposed ‘fix’ to such a crisis of affordability where ‘most’ of what is presently being constructed, (especially in Auckland), are far larger than ‘needed’ icons of over-consumption which pushes the price of buying a home into the realm of fantasy for the lower bands of income earners, Labour propose to build far more modest housing (2 bedrooms plus garage can be built for $120,000 +land), i still feel Labour fail to grasp the fundamental problem in the rental market,
Landlords locked into a mortgage are not going to suddenly drop the price of their rental stock because a Government builds houses for sale at a lesser cost to the purchaser, those unable to access such Government largesse will still be trapped in the market for private rentals paying 50%+ of their income in rent,
Having said that, i will not be overly critical of Labour’s plan to build 100,000 of these low cost houses for sale while Labour still wrestles with it’s policy on the numbers of State owned rental houses it intends to build,
Needless to say,even the present Labour Party policy is a damn sight more than what National have signaled as it’s intention which is to as usual do nothing except provide empty rhetoric…
Two years ago, I looked into building a 70sq metre, two bedroom house minus the section, (without a garage). The lowest quote was about $150,000.
That was with the cheapest cladding, and without floorings, curtains, wall coverings etc.
I would hope Labour’s policy would involve the use of reasonably lasting materials, rather than making the cheapest buildings it is possible to create under the current regs.
They have built a number of re-locatable houses in Christchurch without garages for $100,000,(from memory they are sitting in a corner of Hagley Park),
The savings are to be found in the number of houses any organization is contracted to construct, for example, contract X company to build 2000 houses across Auckland using 4 or 5 different plans and the cost per house drops considerably,
Come to an agreement with the likes of the Auckland City Council,(as the Government), over such issues as having a single resource consent to build the 2000 houses and another considerable saving is made,
Standardize such things as the bathroom units in all the houses built and contract 1 plumbing agency to supply and install all the bathroom units in all the houses built and more savings on cost occur….
Yes, those sorts of savings (maybe $80k per house all up?) are not to be sniffed-at. I hope the many people who will take advantage of them, who would have been able to afford a house at the going rates, are suitably appreciative. (Equivalent to a gift of about five years of beneficiary income without having to go near a WINZ office!) However, I suspect they will still be advocating cutting back the meagre benefits and services to those who are genuinely in need, and feeling self righteous and superior.
But if Labour is prepared to build or buy the same numbers of state houses, I will bite my tongue about the whole middle-class welfare thing.
Yeah same, after the little discussion had here on the Standard with Labour’s Annette King last week i am holding off on my major criticism of Labour’s housing policy,(of by and for the middle class), until such time as Labour’s policy on the number of HousingNZ properties it intends to build is released,
It’s a work in progress according to Annette, but come election year if satisfactory numbers are not forthcoming i for one will be hollering as loudly as i can,
What worries me vis a vis the Labour housing policy and where the ‘land’ to build all these ‘for sale’ properties is to come from is that it will simply be a continuation of Nationals policy of bowling over State Houses and building upon the land for the children of the middle class who created the problem in the first place by piling into ‘rental investments’ …
and the National led government appear to have committed themselves to bring in “work capacity testing”, which according to the new major welfare reforms presently before Parliament are increasingly going to be outsourced, that have been designed by highly questionable “experts” previously on the payroll of controversial giant private insurer Unum Insurance .
A professor and “Sir” Mansel Aylward, as former ‘Chief Medical Officer’ for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK, played a key role in the development of the UK’s medical assessment for incapacity (the All Work Test), the Personal Capability Assessment and the Pathways to Work initiative for vocational rehabilitation.
Application of these “tests” by equally controversial private assessors ‘ATOS Healthcare’ led to many seriously disabled, injured and sick being declared “fit for work”, and over much of 2011 alone, up to about 1100 deaths (incl. suicides) by affected people not able to cope with unreasonable, unacceptable expectations and pressures, have been the shocking result.
Persons are thrown off benefits in the UK, or shifted onto lower paid benefits, as a consequence of the “reforms” there, being considered “fit for work”, while many are not and thus appeal decisions.
See the following links for details, what is involved:
Ko Awatea has been set up as the ‘Health System Innovation Centre’ for the Counties Manukau DHB, which is again proving to be instrumental in the increasing outsourcing and “privatisation” of healthcare in NZ. Professor Aylward was involved in appointing key personnel working for a panel they set up to work out health reforms here. He also appears to be advising Counties Manukau DHB in other areas.
ACC has already used a version of the above mentioned “All Work Test”, which assisted the “exit strategy” used by them to get rid of high-cost, complex claimants, who have in their thousands been shifted onto WINZ benefits, accounting for some increase in numbers on invalid’s and sickness beneficiary numbers.
Now WINZ clients with incapacities are facing an on-slaught of a similar kind as in the UK, so that under the new system, most sickness beneficiaries will end up as “job seekers” and previous invalid’s beneficiaries (long term and permanent sick and disabled) will be moved onto the “living support payment” benefit (facing harsher criterias overall).
So, many readers may not feel affected, think they may “never” fall seriously ill and lose ability to work, and may thus pay little attention. But hey, accidents happen, sickness and injury can hit us all any time, and many disabled have no choice due to their conditions.
Be alert, aware and take action, to stop this bloody madness.
I have grave concerns about the changes pushing many disabled people beyond their ability to cope, to suicide, as has happened in Britain. For those whose lives are already so difficult, and financial circumstances so precarious, this kind of assault is particularly damaging.
The policy’s accompanying rhetoric villifying the disabled, has seen numbers of hate crimes against them in Britain skyrocket also.
Who-ever wrote Shearers bene-bashing roof-painter speech must just luuuurve the proposed changes,
The fact is that such changes not only ‘screw’ the individuals targeted but also tighten the screws on the local economy as the real intention is to shift beneficiaries from higher rates of benefit payments to lower ones,
Incidently, the model was mooted by the last Labour Government, although the punitive nature of what National now intend to accomplish may not have been…
I am going to re-post the Monbiot article that I posted yesterday, because I think it offers a very good conceptualisation of what is actually going on, behind the endless squeezing of beneficiaries, the inflated house prices and the increasing precariousness of paid work. His thesis, in a nut shell, is that neoliberalism is not a failed economic policy (in which case it would be abandoned) but a successful mode of conquest.
The unfortunate thing is that under the conditions of conquest, the elites tend to side with the conquerors, while the middle class side with the elites, and the powerless get mercilessly screwed. For local elites it means a career trajectory in the upper echelons, and for the middle class a chance to clip the ticket as the wealth travels upward and outward. For the poor it means disaster, especially since the poor of the Western world lost their historical province during their post-war period when they were elevated to faux middle class.
There is always some leeway, however, between total acquiescence and punishable disobedience, and I would like to see Labour making much more daring use of that leeway, toward the protection of local citizens. Australia has done a better job of it than us because Bob Hawke was more cautious in its implementation, and did not naively cry, “Yippee! Now we are going to be the Switzerland of the South Pacific.”
Yeah of course which is why they have the likes of Shearer slagging off a sickness beneficiary, (whom i presume was actually fictional),
For those on the lower end of the economy the prospects are to be used as a tool to enrich the 1% via low wages and employment insecurity,
Meanwhile the middle class becomes as you say a ‘ticket clipper’ taxing the wages of the poor via the demand for rental accommodation which a compliant series of Governments has refused to address thus securing their retirement savings while also being directly subsidized by such things as the ‘accommodation supplement’ which they gladly pass on to the 1% via the mortgage…
The Principal Health Advisor for the Ministry of Social Development and Work and Income, who has an incredible bias and compares benefit dependence to drug dependence, he has already been preparing AND implementing the new, more rigorous, relentless “hatchet” approach in medical assessments for sickness and invalid’s beneficiaries since he took up his role in 2007.
He (with others) was TRAINING the WINZ designated doctors in sessions all over NZ since 2008, to ensure they make the decisions in the way MSD and WINZ “expect”!
He appears to have felt intensely encouraged to get bolder with his personally biased views being integrated into “presentations” and speeches he presented at major GP conferences, meetings of health professionals in general, health profession trainers and the likes, especially since National has been leading the government, and since ‘Future Focus’ was brought in under Paula Bennett and her adored “master” PM, John Key.
Just have a look at some of these “presentations” full of pseudo medical scientific claims and findings, and his personal bias:
In another PowerPoint one called “Pressure, No Pressure”, which he prepared for GPs, so they can “deal with” “pushy patients” is also still available via online search, and can be downloaded easily.
He has been reported on in NZ Doctor magazine, once on 01 August 2012, comparing benefit dependence with drug dependence, and searching his name and the name of that publication in association via Google, Yahoo or any other engine will bring about that article to read.
Strangely that man “gets away” with this blatant, blunt approach, which tells us a lot about the philosophy, “mission” and “spirit” that his employer, the MSD leadership, follow and adhere to.
So we are already there, using practically “NAZI” style labeling, stigmatizing, blaming and so forth, what will the next round of reforms and new “work capacity assessments” under the ‘Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill’ bring for sick and disabled on benefits?
I predict it will be a life of constant fear, worry, despair and hopelessness, for those powerless and not able to defend themselves. Action is therefore needed to stop all this attack on sick and disabled in NZ right now.
Dr David Bratt was appointed under Labour. Winz Regional Health Advisors are another Labour initiative. Their main function appears to be removing as many ‘clients’ as possible from Invalid to Sickness benefit. They may, or may not be health professionals. I have rheumatoid arthritis, am on IB and work part-time, however a Bratt trained GP told me ‘if I can drive, I can work’ and ‘I should be repaying the cost (to society) of a recent joint replacement.’ My condition is incurable and getting worse, I dread the coming ‘reforms’, particularly as they are likely to be accompanied by demonising the disabled as has happened in Britain.
Hi Beattie.
What you describe is a disgrace. I’m aware that it was Labour that began this nasty mode of taking resources from those those who need them most, to give them to the wealthy “reforms”. I will talk to my local MP about this and will take along information about their lethal effects in Britain. I wish I could do more. Any ideas anyone?
Kia kaha. You are not alone.
My question to the GP would be “when is Pharmac going to start adding including improved work opportunity in the benefit side of the cost-benefit analysis of the heavily restricted RA drugs that every other developed country has been handing out for over decade to patients who are not improving on standard meds?” AFAIK Pharmac only includes direct health system related costs and benefits, which means NZers have really poor access to the new standard treatments that will probably improve quality of life and work ability.
Also, you, or someone close to you, paid tax in advance for that joint replacement. Tell the of GP to F* right off. S/he has no understanding at all of of the impact of RA that is not effectively controlled (which yours isn’t, if it’s getting worse).
I am sorry to hear about your struggles. Yes, you are right, the system with Principal Health Advisor Dr Bratt, more quiet and less “prominent” Principal Disability Advisor Anne Hawker, was designed and introduced under the last Labour led government.
Bear in mind though, with most policy and measures that governments introduce, it is usually upon the “suggestion” of policy developers in such government departments and ministries, like MSD and Work and Income. Hence governments ask for ideas and get presented what “internal” “specialists” have usually already worked on and thought out.
Then governments pick what fits into their agenda.
Indeed, most RHAs and RDAs are not necessarily appropriately qualified. Some are nurses (not necessarily registered), some rehab and other professionals. Few, if any, are proper, all-round, high calibre “experts”.
They are there to look at what they usually get presented in the way of reports and certificates from client’s own doctors, specialists or else, or from the “designated doctors” (who now are largely quite biased, as the conditions WINZ expects them to work under, necessitate this).
One good example of a RDA that is qualified and experienced in some “health” and “rehab” field is the one for the Southern Region, a Tanya Rissman. She is accidentally also “acting” RHA, as they appear to have had difficulty hiring one.
Her experience and qualifications are in teaching and counselling, and she worked “with” psychologists, social workers and other “health experts”, for instance when running “Antics Ltd”, a kind of consultation and social service delivery agency, that appears to have run out of business long ago (probably due to funding issues).
She is considered to have skills in teaching kids with learning difficulties, in social work and working with others, but is hardly a GP, a surgeon, a psychologist let alone psychiatrist. Yet WINZ and MSD have kept her for years, to make recommendations (usually signed at the dotted line by case managers) about sickness and invalid’s beneficiaries, or applicants.
To get an impression of where she comes from, look at page 39 of this interesting publication:
You can also google her name, and a bit more will show, but with most RHAs and RDAs, they are very “secretive” characters, of whom not much can be found at all, last of all the register of the Medical Council or Nurses Council!
I know its the time of year when political debate dies down, but surely we can have a bit more in-depth reporting than the current yawn inducing articles that are passing for journalism in the MSM these days. I mean endless stories about Paul Holmes are one thing, but the totally uncritical analysis in our main newspaper about what National has been up to is another thing entirely. A quad bike accident is simply not front-page news people, and unless the media start to hold John Key’s government to account for their woeful performance, New Zealand will continue to go backwards under the neoliberal agenda.
‘unless the media start to hold John Key’s government to account for their woeful performance, New Zealand will continue to go backwards under the neoliberal agenda..’
don’t hold your breath, the MSM are part of the game positioned cleverly to look like ‘independants’ when they are actually assisting in in the swindle of public assets, the illusion of choice as Goerge Carlin would have said (RIP George), youtube george it’s worth it.
Holmes, Woodham, Hyde, pretty much all TVNZ and the similarly vacuous TV3, campbell has his moments but he’s easily isolated. Then there’s that whole land of red neck radio rantville.
Given recent media comments by the one for NZ First, I am wondering, whether she really can be counted to belong to “the opposition”!?
The others I have mixed feelings about, but Jan Logie I have had some positive experiences with, she is just busy with many other spokesperson responsibilities also, so that limits her focus on welfare a bit.
I did it TWICE by the way, as the system is so set up, that they seem to allow numerous participants make repeated contributions from the same computer!?
So much for “representativeness” of any survey. I did not do this out of malice, but rather just to try it, and the messages sent were more or less the same.
Yes, I most strongly recommend everybody does participate, and give MSD the answers they would least expect, that is, to tell them, hey, this will not work without involving and fairly asking the affected about how to “assist” sick and disabled into some possibly suitable work (where it may be possible).
Also, express staunchly your reservations, reject the outsourcing of work capacity assessments, the privatisation of welfare, the involvement of hatchet doctors, i.e. criticise the the assessments as they are done already by internal WiNZ advisors. Insist that the client’s own doctor, support persons, advocates and the clients themselves must be included and listened to before “helping” people (those who may be able) back into work.
Also challenge the role of employers, who are generally very biased and discriminatory, not seriously giving disabled and incapacitated sick any fair chance for dignified, paid employment. Incentives should be given to willing clients and employers to trial work, without sanctions if it does not work out for acceptable health or other reasons.
Expectation should be brought across, that whatever they do will totally comply with natural justice, the Human Rights Act, the Bill of Rights Act, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled, and so forth. I also stated they should primarily involve the affected clients AND their support organisations, leave assessments on work capacity to primarily the client’s own doctors, and to otherwise only seek further recommendations on truly independent medical experts or rehab professionals.
They should get rid of the totally biased and unreasonable Dr DAvid Bratt, they should refrain from training “designated doctors” and actually pro-creatively assist those back into work, who are genuinely able to do some work.
I strongly suggest that ALL that are concerned do the same. State the objections, justified concerns, that sickness beneficiaries should not be automatically grouped together with “job seekers” and the likes.
Rather than leave the survey over to ones that will have a bias against beneficiaries, that support the draconian measures planned, and that may thus “serve” the interests of MSD (who will largely have advised the government on what changes can and should be made!) and naturally this present government, it is a MUST to offer more truthful, objective, experience based and legally backed up information, views and suggestions.
That way more of us will be heard. Whether they will listen to us is another story of course. At least, you will have done your best and raised your voices.
Talk about loaded questions! “There is considerable evidence that work is good for wellbeing and unemployment is not. What do you think is the best way to assist disabled people or people with a health condition or mental health condition get into and stay in work?” Every question is pretty much the same.
I wonder what the big disability groups like CCS and IHC have to say about it? They should be all over this.
Helen is doing a fantastic job. She has been praised for the efforts she has made and the initives she has implemented by every international leader she has come into contact with.
She turned this county into the greatest place on earth. It is a wee bit more difficult to do that to the billions of starving people in this world. But she is getting there.
No I’m saying the report which has come from the board of UNDP says the department she runs is not doing anything for poverty (I’m just going to repeat myself since you can’t read apparently) I have no idea whether she has been doing a good job or not.
I agree with Olwyn below it is likely that she has been following what the board has instructed but they have now decided that it has not been effective.
What is far more ridiculous is to determine that the board of the UNDP is MSM and decide she is making a huge difference to poverty when the department she works for has just announced that they are not making any real difference.
There is a lack of context to the report, which seems to come from the UNDP board itself. Helen Clark is not someone who is known for doing things by halves, so I am guessing that they may be in the process of changing their priorities, and that whoever wrote the article has drawn a long bow to suggest that this amounts to criticism of Helen Clark. After all, many of her decisions would surely accord with the board’s priorities.
Also on TV3 site another headline “Civil servants beware of NZ’ – British paper.
after two brits head home after short stints in top jobs for the nact key led govt
Sorry can’t link.
Well, I cannot blame them to caution Brits coming here to take jobs, as I have been experiencing a fair bit of “bizarre” conduct in NZ government departments and private companies, when it comes to working with migrants.
The “tall poppy syndrome” is still extremely strong, it is often a network environment, where “old mates” stick together, and new ones have to cross the walk of fire, before they may be accepted.
If accepting a senior position, I am sure, there will be an immense challenge for any migrant CEO, manager or whatever, to convince and be accepted. In some cases it happens, in others it goes very wrong.
But I do not miss Grossman, for sure. Yet I am totally convinced, there is more to her swift resignation, than what Bennett tells the public. Cultural differences exist, but are just part of the whole mixture of challenges to deal with.
The article “Exposure of sex-for-fees web site underscores UK student poverty” discusses the growth of prositution among UK students struggling to meet rising fees and living costs:
‘The Independent reported recently on a web site offering students up to £15,000 a year to have sex with its clients. A reporter used a concealed camera to record a meeting with an “assessor” from SponsorAScholar.co.uk, Mark Lancaster. He explained that the level of remuneration students received depended on the sexual acts they agreed to engage in with their “sponsor.” The student was told they would have to undergo a “practical assessment” in order to qualify…. New research shows that the number of students engaged in sex work, including lap dancing, pole dancing, escorting and prostitution, has doubled over the last year, reaching 6 percent of the total.’
I wonder if any similar sites operate in NZ – where tertiary students are also loaded with huge debts – and if any similar research into student prositution has been undertaken.
New Zealand is a wealthy country by any measure. It can certainly grow enough food for everyone and enough resources to build a good roof over each head, before even starting on other matters such as a doctor for every so many souls.
So why can’t we do that?
Why can’t we New Zealanders adequately provide for all of us? What is stopping it? What has caused this bizarre and obscenely rude situation?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
Listening to National radio this morning & hearing the medium house price in Auckland is $535.000 shows we are in crisis with affordable housing. To hear Housing New Zealand ( a Government entity) is referring renters paying up to 80% of their income to charitable agencies such as the Sallies for financial assistance is a bloody disgrace!
Meanwhile house prices are rising at increasingly alarming rates while the job market continues to stagnate.
Government intervention to cool this unacceptable situation and to ‘create employment in the house building sector’ should be a priority one would think.
It’s a contradiction that National would have people believe that property investors will invest in power shares when the returns on property investment are booming again. This was highlighted to me recently whilst in Whangarei on holiday. I got speaking to an old guy in Whangarei who buys in what you could categorize as the first home buyers market. He buys & sells making on average 20% to 30% profit. Happy to gloat it’s setup so he avoids tax?
With a recent survey showing 70% support for Labour’s 100.000 new affordable homes policy, the question remains what is National going to do if anything?
Shearer did a good job this morning on National Radio stating Labour’s proposed solutions. Quick question: when Annette King goes to run at the Mayoralty, who will be Housing Spokesperson? It’s Labour’s best policy so far leading up to 2014. It’s going to need a solid political unit to break the mean cycle of property capitalism (particularly in Auckland).
At the moment Housing and Building are in MBIE. Shearer acknowledged this morning that working clsoely with Councils particularly Auckland is going to be critical to achieving the housing policy goal. Maybe it’s time to wrap DIA’s Local Government functions into MBIE and start to remake cities holistically, including with housing.
coronial typer: So what the hell did Shearer propose then?
You say he was on National Radio, but who did he propose to take over housing, what else did he offer but repeating, they would talk with councils???
I am sorry, you delivered no real information, which leaves us again with: An empty handed, vaguely talking, nothing offering David Shearer, on housing and much else.
Major Roberts’ crocodile tears disguises the fact that he was on the working group that recommended the changes to the state housing that we are seeing the concequences of.
You assume he had any actual power on the working group.
The Sallies are a weird bunch.
I accept that they often make good submissions on proposed laws and so, they are outspoken on social failures, on shortcomings of the government, but then again, they are also “players” in the game, when it comes to getting some government hand-outs to run welfare and in future housing.
I am afraid, you cannot expect all that much of real change and ideas from an organisation with religious values, which is caring of course, but also depends on the purse strings of donors, sponsors, and also the government.
The same applies to numerous “advocacy groups”, who, as I found out, actually get money from MSD to “deliver” their “services”.
So no bloody wonder the advocates are not all that strongly outspoken against welfare and other reforms. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, right?
What is this country all about, either you have private operators and business run the show, or you have the government have its tentacles all over the place, thus keeping control of things.
NZ is screwed like this, and no matter how sincere and outspoken critics here are, all this is huff and puff into the air, right?!
Albert Einstein said that “Doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result” is a definition of Insanity.
What is different between the election winning plan employed by the Labour strategy team under Phil from the one under Shearer?
KV: Correct diagnosis! No difference!
Gosh it would have been great if Mallard and Robertson, the guys who ran Labour’s campaign last time, actually apologised for performing worse than the New Zealand cricket team. The’ve performed badly for about as long as each other.
Not sure when or if Shearer will do a reshuffle of responsibility, but I would have thought a basic Key Peformance indicator for the lot of whoever backs him would be: win the election.
B*ll*x to an Apology, AD!
We just want to see a sign from Shearer that he realised he had been conned by Trevir n Robertson and used by Phil and Annette.
When we see that sign then we will believe that there is a real change afoot.
Otherswise it is worse than it was under Phil.
Change David, please change your team.
You highlight 3 major issues there, if as a country we made the avoidance of tax just as criminal as the evasion of it and had the staff in the States revenue collection agency to actually force the collection of the estimated 7 billion dollars annually either avoided or evaded there would be more than enough revenue for the Government to fix what is becoming an increasingly ugly societal problem,
When tenants are forced to pay 50%+ of their income to put a roof over their heads an economic drag is created in the local economy, such money simply being a tax upon that persons production passing through the hands of the landlord class to the banks which hold the mortgage over the property and so denying the local economy the use of such money in what would be best described as the normal course of economic activity,
While i understand Labour’s proposed ‘fix’ to such a crisis of affordability where ‘most’ of what is presently being constructed, (especially in Auckland), are far larger than ‘needed’ icons of over-consumption which pushes the price of buying a home into the realm of fantasy for the lower bands of income earners, Labour propose to build far more modest housing (2 bedrooms plus garage can be built for $120,000 +land), i still feel Labour fail to grasp the fundamental problem in the rental market,
Landlords locked into a mortgage are not going to suddenly drop the price of their rental stock because a Government builds houses for sale at a lesser cost to the purchaser, those unable to access such Government largesse will still be trapped in the market for private rentals paying 50%+ of their income in rent,
Having said that, i will not be overly critical of Labour’s plan to build 100,000 of these low cost houses for sale while Labour still wrestles with it’s policy on the numbers of State owned rental houses it intends to build,
Needless to say,even the present Labour Party policy is a damn sight more than what National have signaled as it’s intention which is to as usual do nothing except provide empty rhetoric…
Ooops, forgot to hit the reply tab, the above relates to comment (1) above…
Two years ago, I looked into building a 70sq metre, two bedroom house minus the section, (without a garage). The lowest quote was about $150,000.
That was with the cheapest cladding, and without floorings, curtains, wall coverings etc.
I would hope Labour’s policy would involve the use of reasonably lasting materials, rather than making the cheapest buildings it is possible to create under the current regs.
They have built a number of re-locatable houses in Christchurch without garages for $100,000,(from memory they are sitting in a corner of Hagley Park),
The savings are to be found in the number of houses any organization is contracted to construct, for example, contract X company to build 2000 houses across Auckland using 4 or 5 different plans and the cost per house drops considerably,
Come to an agreement with the likes of the Auckland City Council,(as the Government), over such issues as having a single resource consent to build the 2000 houses and another considerable saving is made,
Standardize such things as the bathroom units in all the houses built and contract 1 plumbing agency to supply and install all the bathroom units in all the houses built and more savings on cost occur….
Yes, those sorts of savings (maybe $80k per house all up?) are not to be sniffed-at. I hope the many people who will take advantage of them, who would have been able to afford a house at the going rates, are suitably appreciative. (Equivalent to a gift of about five years of beneficiary income without having to go near a WINZ office!) However, I suspect they will still be advocating cutting back the meagre benefits and services to those who are genuinely in need, and feeling self righteous and superior.
But if Labour is prepared to build or buy the same numbers of state houses, I will bite my tongue about the whole middle-class welfare thing.
Yeah same, after the little discussion had here on the Standard with Labour’s Annette King last week i am holding off on my major criticism of Labour’s housing policy,(of by and for the middle class), until such time as Labour’s policy on the number of HousingNZ properties it intends to build is released,
It’s a work in progress according to Annette, but come election year if satisfactory numbers are not forthcoming i for one will be hollering as loudly as i can,
What worries me vis a vis the Labour housing policy and where the ‘land’ to build all these ‘for sale’ properties is to come from is that it will simply be a continuation of Nationals policy of bowling over State Houses and building upon the land for the children of the middle class who created the problem in the first place by piling into ‘rental investments’ …
Paula Bennett –
and the National led government appear to have committed themselves to bring in “work capacity testing”, which according to the new major welfare reforms presently before Parliament are increasingly going to be outsourced, that have been designed by highly questionable “experts” previously on the payroll of controversial giant private insurer Unum Insurance .
A professor and “Sir” Mansel Aylward, as former ‘Chief Medical Officer’ for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK, played a key role in the development of the UK’s medical assessment for incapacity (the All Work Test), the Personal Capability Assessment and the Pathways to Work initiative for vocational rehabilitation.
Application of these “tests” by equally controversial private assessors ‘ATOS Healthcare’ led to many seriously disabled, injured and sick being declared “fit for work”, and over much of 2011 alone, up to about 1100 deaths (incl. suicides) by affected people not able to cope with unreasonable, unacceptable expectations and pressures, have been the shocking result.
Persons are thrown off benefits in the UK, or shifted onto lower paid benefits, as a consequence of the “reforms” there, being considered “fit for work”, while many are not and thus appeal decisions.
See the following links for details, what is involved:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8165236/Work-tests-concern-disability-organisation
http://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/687-proposed-work-tests-are-concerning
http://includingallpeople.org.nz/?p=385
http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2012/10/31/government-use-might-of-american-insurance-giant-to-destroy-uk-safety-net-by-mo-stewart-update/
(TRULY A MUST READ ARTICLE!!!)
http://atosvictimsgroup.co.uk/tag/mansel-aylward/
http://koawatea.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Ko-Awatea-white-paper-02-Independent-Commentator-Panel.pdf
http://koawatea.co.nz/ko-awatea-visitors-sir-mansel-aylward/
Ko Awatea has been set up as the ‘Health System Innovation Centre’ for the Counties Manukau DHB, which is again proving to be instrumental in the increasing outsourcing and “privatisation” of healthcare in NZ. Professor Aylward was involved in appointing key personnel working for a panel they set up to work out health reforms here. He also appears to be advising Counties Manukau DHB in other areas.
ACC has already used a version of the above mentioned “All Work Test”, which assisted the “exit strategy” used by them to get rid of high-cost, complex claimants, who have in their thousands been shifted onto WINZ benefits, accounting for some increase in numbers on invalid’s and sickness beneficiary numbers.
Now WINZ clients with incapacities are facing an on-slaught of a similar kind as in the UK, so that under the new system, most sickness beneficiaries will end up as “job seekers” and previous invalid’s beneficiaries (long term and permanent sick and disabled) will be moved onto the “living support payment” benefit (facing harsher criterias overall).
So, many readers may not feel affected, think they may “never” fall seriously ill and lose ability to work, and may thus pay little attention. But hey, accidents happen, sickness and injury can hit us all any time, and many disabled have no choice due to their conditions.
Be alert, aware and take action, to stop this bloody madness.
Xtasy
I have grave concerns about the changes pushing many disabled people beyond their ability to cope, to suicide, as has happened in Britain. For those whose lives are already so difficult, and financial circumstances so precarious, this kind of assault is particularly damaging.
The policy’s accompanying rhetoric villifying the disabled, has seen numbers of hate crimes against them in Britain skyrocket also.
Who-ever wrote Shearers bene-bashing roof-painter speech must just luuuurve the proposed changes,
The fact is that such changes not only ‘screw’ the individuals targeted but also tighten the screws on the local economy as the real intention is to shift beneficiaries from higher rates of benefit payments to lower ones,
Incidently, the model was mooted by the last Labour Government, although the punitive nature of what National now intend to accomplish may not have been…
I am going to re-post the Monbiot article that I posted yesterday, because I think it offers a very good conceptualisation of what is actually going on, behind the endless squeezing of beneficiaries, the inflated house prices and the increasing precariousness of paid work. His thesis, in a nut shell, is that neoliberalism is not a failed economic policy (in which case it would be abandoned) but a successful mode of conquest.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/14/neoliberal-theory-economic-failure
The unfortunate thing is that under the conditions of conquest, the elites tend to side with the conquerors, while the middle class side with the elites, and the powerless get mercilessly screwed. For local elites it means a career trajectory in the upper echelons, and for the middle class a chance to clip the ticket as the wealth travels upward and outward. For the poor it means disaster, especially since the poor of the Western world lost their historical province during their post-war period when they were elevated to faux middle class.
There is always some leeway, however, between total acquiescence and punishable disobedience, and I would like to see Labour making much more daring use of that leeway, toward the protection of local citizens. Australia has done a better job of it than us because Bob Hawke was more cautious in its implementation, and did not naively cry, “Yippee! Now we are going to be the Switzerland of the South Pacific.”
Yeah of course which is why they have the likes of Shearer slagging off a sickness beneficiary, (whom i presume was actually fictional),
For those on the lower end of the economy the prospects are to be used as a tool to enrich the 1% via low wages and employment insecurity,
Meanwhile the middle class becomes as you say a ‘ticket clipper’ taxing the wages of the poor via the demand for rental accommodation which a compliant series of Governments has refused to address thus securing their retirement savings while also being directly subsidized by such things as the ‘accommodation supplement’ which they gladly pass on to the 1% via the mortgage…
Lest we forget – Dr David Bratt –
The Principal Health Advisor for the Ministry of Social Development and Work and Income, who has an incredible bias and compares benefit dependence to drug dependence, he has already been preparing AND implementing the new, more rigorous, relentless “hatchet” approach in medical assessments for sickness and invalid’s beneficiaries since he took up his role in 2007.
He (with others) was TRAINING the WINZ designated doctors in sessions all over NZ since 2008, to ensure they make the decisions in the way MSD and WINZ “expect”!
He appears to have felt intensely encouraged to get bolder with his personally biased views being integrated into “presentations” and speeches he presented at major GP conferences, meetings of health professionals in general, health profession trainers and the likes, especially since National has been leading the government, and since ‘Future Focus’ was brought in under Paula Bennett and her adored “master” PM, John Key.
Just have a look at some of these “presentations” full of pseudo medical scientific claims and findings, and his personal bias:
http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/GP%20CME/Friday/C1%201515%20Bratt-Hawker.pdf
(‘Ready, Steady, Crook, Are we killing our patients with kindness?’ is that one called, from 2010)
http://igps.victoria.ac.nz/WelfareWorkingGroup/Downloads/Forum/David-Bratt-Benefit-Sunshine.pdf
(‘Benefit Sunshine’, the one from also about 2010, which was also presented at the Welfare Working Group Forum)
http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/2012/Fri_DaVinci_1400_Bratt_Medical%20Certificates%20are%20Clinical%20Instruments%20too%20-%20June%202012.pdf
(‘Medical Certificates are Clinical Instruments too’, which appears to be his most recent PDF style presentation from 2012)
In another PowerPoint one called “Pressure, No Pressure”, which he prepared for GPs, so they can “deal with” “pushy patients” is also still available via online search, and can be downloaded easily.
He has been reported on in NZ Doctor magazine, once on 01 August 2012, comparing benefit dependence with drug dependence, and searching his name and the name of that publication in association via Google, Yahoo or any other engine will bring about that article to read.
Strangely that man “gets away” with this blatant, blunt approach, which tells us a lot about the philosophy, “mission” and “spirit” that his employer, the MSD leadership, follow and adhere to.
So we are already there, using practically “NAZI” style labeling, stigmatizing, blaming and so forth, what will the next round of reforms and new “work capacity assessments” under the ‘Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill’ bring for sick and disabled on benefits?
I predict it will be a life of constant fear, worry, despair and hopelessness, for those powerless and not able to defend themselves. Action is therefore needed to stop all this attack on sick and disabled in NZ right now.
See also this for additional info:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/POST-PN-413
http://www.parliament.uk/Templates/BriefingPapers/Pages/BPPdfDownload.aspx?bp-id=POST-PN-413
Dr David Bratt was appointed under Labour. Winz Regional Health Advisors are another Labour initiative. Their main function appears to be removing as many ‘clients’ as possible from Invalid to Sickness benefit. They may, or may not be health professionals. I have rheumatoid arthritis, am on IB and work part-time, however a Bratt trained GP told me ‘if I can drive, I can work’ and ‘I should be repaying the cost (to society) of a recent joint replacement.’ My condition is incurable and getting worse, I dread the coming ‘reforms’, particularly as they are likely to be accompanied by demonising the disabled as has happened in Britain.
Hi Beattie.
What you describe is a disgrace. I’m aware that it was Labour that began this nasty mode of
taking resources from those those who need them most, to give them to the wealthy“reforms”. I will talk to my local MP about this and will take along information about their lethal effects in Britain. I wish I could do more. Any ideas anyone?Kia kaha. You are not alone.
beatie – I know how you feel.
My question to the GP would be “when is Pharmac going to start adding including improved work opportunity in the benefit side of the cost-benefit analysis of the heavily restricted RA drugs that every other developed country has been handing out for over decade to patients who are not improving on standard meds?” AFAIK Pharmac only includes direct health system related costs and benefits, which means NZers have really poor access to the new standard treatments that will probably improve quality of life and work ability.
Also, you, or someone close to you, paid tax in advance for that joint replacement. Tell the of GP to F* right off. S/he has no understanding at all of of the impact of RA that is not effectively controlled (which yours isn’t, if it’s getting worse).
Hi beatie
I am sorry to hear about your struggles. Yes, you are right, the system with Principal Health Advisor Dr Bratt, more quiet and less “prominent” Principal Disability Advisor Anne Hawker, was designed and introduced under the last Labour led government.
Bear in mind though, with most policy and measures that governments introduce, it is usually upon the “suggestion” of policy developers in such government departments and ministries, like MSD and Work and Income. Hence governments ask for ideas and get presented what “internal” “specialists” have usually already worked on and thought out.
Then governments pick what fits into their agenda.
Indeed, most RHAs and RDAs are not necessarily appropriately qualified. Some are nurses (not necessarily registered), some rehab and other professionals. Few, if any, are proper, all-round, high calibre “experts”.
They are there to look at what they usually get presented in the way of reports and certificates from client’s own doctors, specialists or else, or from the “designated doctors” (who now are largely quite biased, as the conditions WINZ expects them to work under, necessitate this).
One good example of a RDA that is qualified and experienced in some “health” and “rehab” field is the one for the Southern Region, a Tanya Rissman. She is accidentally also “acting” RHA, as they appear to have had difficulty hiring one.
Her experience and qualifications are in teaching and counselling, and she worked “with” psychologists, social workers and other “health experts”, for instance when running “Antics Ltd”, a kind of consultation and social service delivery agency, that appears to have run out of business long ago (probably due to funding issues).
She is considered to have skills in teaching kids with learning difficulties, in social work and working with others, but is hardly a GP, a surgeon, a psychologist let alone psychiatrist. Yet WINZ and MSD have kept her for years, to make recommendations (usually signed at the dotted line by case managers) about sickness and invalid’s beneficiaries, or applicants.
To get an impression of where she comes from, look at page 39 of this interesting publication:
http://alumnionline.massey.ac.nz/documents/MASSEY-Nov-2002.pdf
You can also google her name, and a bit more will show, but with most RHAs and RDAs, they are very “secretive” characters, of whom not much can be found at all, last of all the register of the Medical Council or Nurses Council!
I know its the time of year when political debate dies down, but surely we can have a bit more in-depth reporting than the current yawn inducing articles that are passing for journalism in the MSM these days. I mean endless stories about Paul Holmes are one thing, but the totally uncritical analysis in our main newspaper about what National has been up to is another thing entirely. A quad bike accident is simply not front-page news people, and unless the media start to hold John Key’s government to account for their woeful performance, New Zealand will continue to go backwards under the neoliberal agenda.
‘unless the media start to hold John Key’s government to account for their woeful performance, New Zealand will continue to go backwards under the neoliberal agenda..’
don’t hold your breath, the MSM are part of the game positioned cleverly to look like ‘independants’ when they are actually assisting in in the swindle of public assets, the illusion of choice as Goerge Carlin would have said (RIP George), youtube george it’s worth it.
Holmes, Woodham, Hyde, pretty much all TVNZ and the similarly vacuous TV3, campbell has his moments but he’s easily isolated. Then there’s that whole land of red neck radio rantville.
Love live TS.
Speaking of quiet time of year I notice this survey went up on MSD website on the 7th Jan.
http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/welfare-reform/july-2013/ill-health-disability-feedback.html
Doesn’t say how long it’s up for.
I was looking for SB stats for another post and remembered this one when I saw this.
Done.
Many thanks DoS.
If anyone has five minutes to spare, please consider filling out the survey.
Does anyone know which opposition members are on the select committee?
Yes, I did that survey. Very therapeutic, despite the loaded questions. BTW thanks for your kind response.
Opposition members are:
Jacinda Ardern, Rajen Prasad, Su’a William Sio (all Labour), Jan Logie (Greens) and Asenati Lole Taylor (NZ First).
See also:
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/Default.htm?pf=CommitteeShortName&sf=Social+Services&lgc=0
Given recent media comments by the one for NZ First, I am wondering, whether she really can be counted to belong to “the opposition”!?
The others I have mixed feelings about, but Jan Logie I have had some positive experiences with, she is just busy with many other spokesperson responsibilities also, so that limits her focus on welfare a bit.
DoS:
I did it TWICE by the way, as the system is so set up, that they seem to allow numerous participants make repeated contributions from the same computer!?
So much for “representativeness” of any survey. I did not do this out of malice, but rather just to try it, and the messages sent were more or less the same.
Yes, I most strongly recommend everybody does participate, and give MSD the answers they would least expect, that is, to tell them, hey, this will not work without involving and fairly asking the affected about how to “assist” sick and disabled into some possibly suitable work (where it may be possible).
Also, express staunchly your reservations, reject the outsourcing of work capacity assessments, the privatisation of welfare, the involvement of hatchet doctors, i.e. criticise the the assessments as they are done already by internal WiNZ advisors. Insist that the client’s own doctor, support persons, advocates and the clients themselves must be included and listened to before “helping” people (those who may be able) back into work.
Also challenge the role of employers, who are generally very biased and discriminatory, not seriously giving disabled and incapacitated sick any fair chance for dignified, paid employment. Incentives should be given to willing clients and employers to trial work, without sanctions if it does not work out for acceptable health or other reasons.
Expectation should be brought across, that whatever they do will totally comply with natural justice, the Human Rights Act, the Bill of Rights Act, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled, and so forth. I also stated they should primarily involve the affected clients AND their support organisations, leave assessments on work capacity to primarily the client’s own doctors, and to otherwise only seek further recommendations on truly independent medical experts or rehab professionals.
They should get rid of the totally biased and unreasonable Dr DAvid Bratt, they should refrain from training “designated doctors” and actually pro-creatively assist those back into work, who are genuinely able to do some work.
I strongly suggest that ALL that are concerned do the same. State the objections, justified concerns, that sickness beneficiaries should not be automatically grouped together with “job seekers” and the likes.
Rather than leave the survey over to ones that will have a bias against beneficiaries, that support the draconian measures planned, and that may thus “serve” the interests of MSD (who will largely have advised the government on what changes can and should be made!) and naturally this present government, it is a MUST to offer more truthful, objective, experience based and legally backed up information, views and suggestions.
That way more of us will be heard. Whether they will listen to us is another story of course. At least, you will have done your best and raised your voices.
Talk about loaded questions! “There is considerable evidence that work is good for wellbeing and unemployment is not. What do you think is the best way to assist disabled people or people with a health condition or mental health condition get into and stay in work?” Every question is pretty much the same.
I wonder what the big disability groups like CCS and IHC have to say about it? They should be all over this.
My loaded answer was ‘flexible employment conditions withing a proper employment contract’ Every answer pretty much the same.
They are obviously NOT, as they are likely to also depend (at least partly) on “public funds” from, guess whom? THE MINISTRY!
Is there a way to hide the fact that we are all linking from The Standard when we go to that survey? Is cutting and pasting the URL enough?
Just go straight to the MSD website, put in survey or welfare in the search box, and bingo, you have it, without any cross linkeage!
There is a scathing report for our ex PM Helen Clark from the UN, this is on TV3 website,
sorry can’t link.
Ignore that MSM bias report.
Helen is doing a fantastic job. She has been praised for the efforts she has made and the initives she has implemented by every international leader she has come into contact with.
She turned this county into the greatest place on earth. It is a wee bit more difficult to do that to the billions of starving people in this world. But she is getting there.
When did the board of UNDP become MSM? It’s essentially a report from her employers that the department she runs is doing nothing for poverty.
Are you saying that Helen Clark is doing a poor job? What an idiot
No I’m saying the report which has come from the board of UNDP says the department she runs is not doing anything for poverty (I’m just going to repeat myself since you can’t read apparently) I have no idea whether she has been doing a good job or not.
I agree with Olwyn below it is likely that she has been following what the board has instructed but they have now decided that it has not been effective.
What is far more ridiculous is to determine that the board of the UNDP is MSM and decide she is making a huge difference to poverty when the department she works for has just announced that they are not making any real difference.
There is a lack of context to the report, which seems to come from the UNDP board itself. Helen Clark is not someone who is known for doing things by halves, so I am guessing that they may be in the process of changing their priorities, and that whoever wrote the article has drawn a long bow to suggest that this amounts to criticism of Helen Clark. After all, many of her decisions would surely accord with the board’s priorities.
Also on TV3 site another headline “Civil servants beware of NZ’ – British paper.
after two brits head home after short stints in top jobs for the nact key led govt
Sorry can’t link.
Yes, this is it:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Civil-servants-beware-of-NZ–UK-paper/tabid/423/articleID/283284/Default.aspx
Well, I cannot blame them to caution Brits coming here to take jobs, as I have been experiencing a fair bit of “bizarre” conduct in NZ government departments and private companies, when it comes to working with migrants.
The “tall poppy syndrome” is still extremely strong, it is often a network environment, where “old mates” stick together, and new ones have to cross the walk of fire, before they may be accepted.
If accepting a senior position, I am sure, there will be an immense challenge for any migrant CEO, manager or whatever, to convince and be accepted. In some cases it happens, in others it goes very wrong.
But I do not miss Grossman, for sure. Yet I am totally convinced, there is more to her swift resignation, than what Bennett tells the public. Cultural differences exist, but are just part of the whole mixture of challenges to deal with.
There is a scathing report for our ex PM Helen Clark from the UN…
It transpires it covered the period prior to Helen Clark taking charge.
Don’t ever let the truth get in the way of one’s political bias…
Yep. Clark’s not even mentioned. It’s not even all that “scathing”.
This seems to be it.
The article “Exposure of sex-for-fees web site underscores UK student poverty” discusses the growth of prositution among UK students struggling to meet rising fees and living costs:
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/01/15/stud-j15.html
‘The Independent reported recently on a web site offering students up to £15,000 a year to have sex with its clients. A reporter used a concealed camera to record a meeting with an “assessor” from SponsorAScholar.co.uk, Mark Lancaster. He explained that the level of remuneration students received depended on the sexual acts they agreed to engage in with their “sponsor.” The student was told they would have to undergo a “practical assessment” in order to qualify…. New research shows that the number of students engaged in sex work, including lap dancing, pole dancing, escorting and prostitution, has doubled over the last year, reaching 6 percent of the total.’
I wonder if any similar sites operate in NZ – where tertiary students are also loaded with huge debts – and if any similar research into student prositution has been undertaken.
New Zealand is a wealthy country by any measure. It can certainly grow enough food for everyone and enough resources to build a good roof over each head, before even starting on other matters such as a doctor for every so many souls.
So why can’t we do that?
Why can’t we New Zealanders adequately provide for all of us? What is stopping it? What has caused this bizarre and obscenely rude situation?
Does anyone know?
Neo-liberalism, red-neckism with a dash of god-bothering.
Well said millsy . I would also add too much booze that slows down the brain.