Hopefully the supply chain is good and can handle the extra demand so price doesn't increase and offset tax credit.
Only negative is there is also a surge in ute sales with people trying to get in before the price increase (especially Ford Rangers and Isuzu at the Field Days).
The subsidy means the retail price will increase. Increased demand means prices rise as for any product. My porridge goes up in price in winter , along with soups. Its the same business rules from the low end to the top end. Reports in media confirm the dealers are raising prices even ahead of any subsidy coming in.
That is great news. It highlights how the farming community are not being economically crushed by this Government despite all the "pretty Communist" attitudes from rural NZ. If they can still afford to be buying brand new Utes with gay abandon life must be pretty sweet. It also highlights the fact that there isn't a ban on buying Utes at this stage despite the rhetoric of Nat/Act and some of the commentators here who love to "foment mischief"
Hopefully the Car Manufacturers step up with the alternatives by the time these latest sales are passed their use-by date.
Utes are not being banned. Just being made more expensive once the tax is added on to them. Lets hope they are wrong about EV's also being increased in price due to the tax credit else it becomes a bit like the petrol stations advertising "petrol at 10c off a litre on Wednesday", when they have already increased the price to compensate.
I'm agreeing with you Jimmy.Quite a few people are talking as if they are being banned, that was my point, great that people will still have the choice and hopefully the naysayers like National Party Stalwart David Farrar, as one example, stop misrepresenting the situation. Re prices, they will only be as valuable as people are prepared to pay. If they try and charge too much, someone will come in with a cheaper option. That's how we are told Market Forces are supposed to work. They'll soon drop the prices if the vehicles stay on the shop floor.
Agree RBO how many of us can buy a new car let alone a overpriced ute? The floodgates will soon open pouring EV's and especially utes into this country just because Toyota is in denial about there overrated product doesn't mean the rest of the manufacturers will hold back. Car dealers live in the same shark pool as real estate agents and will do there utmost to rip us off.
One of New Zealand's most original artists and musicians passed away yesterday, my good mate Fane Flaws…Fane was always a willing comrade in any and all hair brained action or event I went to him with, he was one of the most beautiful, madly creative and generous humans I have ever meet…we are all really going to miss him and his extraordinary exuberant energy…so long pal.
He picked me up hitch hiking once, he was surprised I knew who he was, I was a fan of Jesus on a Stick and the RWP animation. Sorry to hear of his death and your and your friends loss.
It is the numbers that make the pest [paraphrasing Paracelsus].
It appears that the F&B report was released not so long ago. It would be so helpful if articles in MSM would provide a link to original documents and sources, for further reading if desired. It almost looks as if there is a policy of not linking off and away from the MSM website …
I'd have thought that it is an invitation to first of all be a hunter in helping reduce the number of pests and providing sport, recreation and food.
In the longer run, since these pests won't be totally eradicated, the result will be more challenging hunting; the reward being a sense of achievement rather than a quick slaughter of wild goats or whatever.
The other reward will be in the vegetative growth and beauty as the bush regenerates, for hunter, tramper, bush bathers alike, with carbon emissions decreased as a bonus.
My hunting cousin years ago welcomed deer culling as it provided a much better trophy as a result of lower numbers.
The other night I saw a video of a hunter at a British farm shooting rats with an air gun and killing them with clean headshots. It was for pest control, as poisoning kills the owls that help keeping the rat numbers down, but it made for remarkably good watching.
Your cousin is one of the very few hunters who see it that way. Most hunters see better hunting as easier hunting and want animal densities that allow them to crash through the scrub and get, or at least see, an animal within 2-300m from where they park their ute. Three day tramps into the bush aren’t part of the picture, that’s what helicopters are for.
With reduced densities giving better trophies, the species where this is most apparent is thar. That industry is built on the huge bulls that came through after the helicopter culls (absolute slaughter) in the early 80s. Prior to the cull numbers were high but heads poor, like now but today’s range is larger.
After yesterdays announcement regarding the roll out of Covid 19, and the age bands and timing. Why was there no comment that I can find as to why the roll out should not be on a geography basis, or at leats focused initially towards the Auckland region ? Auckland has experienced all the shutdowns due to outbreaks, so why not protect the entranceway to the country and fan out from there ? Just an alternative outlook
Setting up the resources needed (vaccinators, vaccination sites, logistics of vaccine supply) for each area then managing the throughput so get an even workflow seems to me to be a better way to do it than trying to do it region by region where everything would have to be moved for massive and disruptive vaccination surges in each region.
One could argue that vaccinating border-facing workers and their families was already Auckland-centric in effect, if not intent. So what you are suggesting has actually occurred but in a somewhat more targeted way?
And a different alternative idea on how the vaccine rollout should proceed popped up on Garner's show this morning. He suggested that young people should get done first rather than last because they ‘travel the world’. We don’t know whether vaccinated people can transmit the virus, but we do know that some will catch it. So his suggestion opens the possibility of young people coming home from overseas hotspots to infect their unvaccinated elders. His speculation provided an opening for Des Gorman to (as usual) piss all over the efforts of everyone who has done a good job of keeping us safe in the last 15 months. The bitter, catastrophising and consistently wrong Gorman augmented the disgracefulness of Garner's stupidity rather well.
Does Garner remember Climate Change? Gas guzzling planes polluting the sky and young people angry about it. Covid19 is rampant overseas and who would want to travel to those places. Young people are not as irresponsible as he thinks, in fact it's quite the reverse.
How many people does this guy have to kill before they stop him driving. So judge has banned him from driving until August 2022, what's the bet he's back behind the wheel next month?
Drink-drivers are just unfortunate individuals who cannot be leg-roped like the out of control animals they are; in fact all alcohol drinkers are well treated in law, compared to those committing the misdemeanour of growing cannabis.
Alcohol is great (and pollies and business leaders like it for their drug of choice and it brings in lots of taxes) – it is the enthusiastic, fun-loving members of the public who go OTT that are the problem.
A tiny number each year convicted , for ONLY a charge a growing/supply because they were dealers and suppliers.
Its in the 200 per year range from the police annual statistics , ie cannabis only numbers
The rest of the cannabis charges are because they were criminals often get all the charges possible when arrested for something else. Thats how police charging works, have all the possibilities as separate charges even though there may be only one primary charge for which they came to attention of police.
The classic case some years back, in a slightly different situation, a man was sent to jail for walking into a gallery and walking out with a valuable painting. Not mentioned his primary charge in the prison sentence was armed robber, and both were heard at the same time
and https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/124810986/timaru-man-fined-200-for-cannabis-possession
‘Police found 13g of cannabis plant split between multiple jars, scales, and $800 in Humphris’ vehicle during the traffic stop.
McDonald said, when questioned by police, Humphris stated the cannabis was for personal use and the money was to purchase the drug for a friend.”
So a firearm presented to police at one place …hmmm
Another person in a traffic stop has scales , jars and lots of cash…hmmm
Theres been a lot of rain in South island but they think w came down in last shower when its ‘personal use’
Australia and Britain have signed a deal for trade that is mini in terms of $, but large in terms of acceptance of goods not complying with Brit environmental standards.
Australian farming allows the use of 71 highly hazardous substances and thousands more types of pesticides that are currently banned in the UK, including neonicotinoids, which harm the pollinators at the root of our food system, such as bees. The environmental standards of some foods produced in Australia are so far below the standards upheld by UK farmers that these products shouldn’t be sold in the UK at all, let alone given open access to UK markets with a zero tariff, zero quota trade deal. This isn’t simply about free trade versus protectionism. It is about delivering the best results and most sustainable approach for people and the planet….
The utter shambles that has developed under Labour’s Broadcasting and Media Minister Kris Faafoi, a former TVNZ political reporter, is revealed in correspondence between his office and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage obtained under the Official Information Act….
The aide-memoire, dated Wednesday 17 February, fulfils its function by reminding the minister of his plan to report to Cabinet on the viability of “a new public media entity” in October. It then reveals something new:
“Legislation to establish a new public media entity will also disestablish TVNZ and RNZ. This legislation will also include a Charter for the new entity.”
There had been a change of plan. What had begun as the development of a business case based on merging TVNZ and RNZ had morphed into something else. It had been assumed that a merger of the two broadcasters would extend only to their news rooms, management and governance and that public radio would retain its separate structure, purpose and operations governed by its charter, newly reviewed and good for another five years.
It does seem odd, to be ditching RNZ and retaining the hapless clowns of TVNZ. Like many here I've given up on TV – life's too short for unmitigated tripe larded with inane advertising.
RNZ still retains a few shreds of dignity and professionalism – if anything it should be them taking over and restructuring the useless tv arm.
Combining the two will just drive up costs as , anyone on TV expects $50-$100k per year more .
The RNZ stories are usually of a longer format , a few minutes say , while TV is addicted to sound bites of 30 sec and an inane back and forth with the studio 'talent' along the lines 'what more can you tell us …..'
How long ago was that ? And its seen as bad management and cost cutting , not a lone extremist. Who would be the central character – in a movie sense- that awful Pike River Coal manager ?
Denise Roche doesn't hold back on her opinion of Nationals last shining light. He really did get away with some nasty stuff couched in his jokey blokey shallowness.
edit
John Key asked his thoughts on the above said airily 'Well I'm rich, so I must be right most of the time. What are you – just envious pricks?’
And he might be right – look at how Labour acted when there was opportunity – went for the money over principle or commitment to good conditions for all – shallow, not water-tight like the leaky homes we have as one of their modern-day legacies/
Winston has returned. It seems odd that he has been quiet for so long but he now seems to have found the thing he has been looking for.
The Vaccination campaign is well into the too little, too late category and the public are recognising it. Winston has an attack meme and he is going, in his inimitable style, to use it.
"the 76-year-old doyen of Kiwi politics has used it [an interview on Australian television] to slam the government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, deriding as "too late" and leaving NZ open to potential tragedy."
"We're half way through the vaccine year and we've done about a tenth of the job. That's the problem," he said.
"It's months too late. A lot of the strands right now are real dangerous. If (an outbreak) would happen we could see a tragedy again."
NZ is ranked 120th in the world for vaccine doses administered per capita – last in the developed world."
He is right of course and people in New Zealand are beginning to realise it. The rubbish about being at the front of the queue is being widely seen by the New Zealand public as a lie. Instead we are "last in the developed world".
I wonder what coverage this will get in the New Zealand media? I see the ODT is covering it but will Stuff and the Herald try and pretend it doesn't exist?
The story seems to be headline news in the Australian papers.
Hint. We are way way done the list. I didn't bother to check whether we were precisely 120th because they include places that aren't really countries but I am prepared to believe the value of 120 may be near enough. We are in about 140th place on the percentage with at least 1 vaccination. Our latest date is more recent than most so that would tend to push us up the list.
According to that article, Our World in Data, an online research publication run by Oxford University researchers, ranked Australia "113th among the world's countries for total doses per 100 residents, falling behind Kazakhstan, Cambodia and Seychelles".
So we are about the same level as Australia?
One World data, is a bit rough and ready, as like Australia NZ is using Astra Zeneca which requires 2 does per person, while other vaccines are one dose.
As we have seen last week when the claim was orchestrated by |national and echoed by Hooton that we were 'running out of vaccines'… but 1 million more early next month
We are dependent on vaccine supply , and its politics over who does or doesnt get – Europe especially preventing does leaving for 'less deserving ststes'
Of course The Vaccination campaign is "NOT" well into the too little, too late category and the public are "NOT" recognizing it. It is on track, the new Vaccines are arriving on schedule, many of us have been lucky to be Vaccinated and everyone who wants to get Vaccinated will get their turn. Rather than your relentless negativity of every issue what the Majority of the Public see is the headlines like Stuff today, of how we continue to be safe with the real headlines …
One case in Managed Isolation, none in the Community.
…unlike the headlines you and Winston are offering "If (an outbreak) would…" "we could see a tragedy…"
Sure Winston, like you, is entitled to voice his opinion but life in NZ is not the Land of the Long Black Cloud. It's actually pretty darn good, and THAT is what people see. IMHO
Hint. The topic Winston was talking about, and that I commented on, was the failure of the vaccine campaign.
You may be right about what Stuff covers. They, like the Herald aren't news outlets. They are bought and paid for Jacindamania freaks.
I found it interesting though that the majority of the comments Morning Report broadcast this morning on the vaccination program were disapproving. I imagine the people producing that program will have had a blast from their superiors to keep to the story line that the PM is a Saint and has saved us.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get vaccinations for at least the people who are most at risk from catching it. Which doesn't include healthy 40 year old people as far as I know.
We just have to hope the dangerous new variants – Delta, Vietnam & so on – don't take us by surprise in the way they have in a few other previously successful Countries where political elites complacently assumed that dodging the bullet in 2020 was the end of the matter.
The lesson that apparently still hasn't managed to penetrate among the political establishment here is that you don't play around, presume to 'control' or negotiate with this virus. You don't get to have your cake & eat it.
Bloody hell. Someone better tell Mike Hoskings that the Herald is a paid for Jacindamania freak. He won't have a Happy Day. Haha. Hint… Vaccine rollout I assume is part of a countries resilience of which NZ was voted number one a month ago.
Alwyn, do you actually read anything or just the stuff that fits with your narrative?
If you read the link provided by Red Blooded One, you’ll see a nice wee table in which NZ ranks at the top despite the relatively poor vaccination performance as shown in the right column of the table.
I think the entrance to Alwyn's mind requires a carefully cut Yale key with all angles sharply defined to ensure fit.
He talks like a relative of mine who is an alcoholic, and when away from the chateau cardboard can talk apparently lucidly criticising the useless politicians and how they can’t get anything right – ‘Projection’.
A couple of vaccinations would be nice. But I'm only in Group 3 and am being ignored. I should have been a Cabinet Minister. A bunch of them were vaccinated back in March.
And don't tell me not to worry. My sister was infected in the first outbreak.
I'm Group 3. I received my email invite to book a week ago. All good.
My understanding is the invites are still being rolled out so maybe yours is still in the pipeline. I'm in Auckland so maybe they gave us priority because we had the privilege of having more draconian lockdowns than the rest of the country.
Don't live in northland then do you anne? Ruakaka locals have to drive to kaitaia to get a jab any time in the next month. just the first one by the way.
Otherwise it's some time in august for Maori and over 50, september for non maori and over 50.
Supposedly a targeted area because of the deprivation. I'm sure a 200km+ round trip will help with the "Access" and will "alleviate" the deprivation
You're not being ignored, even if you feel it feels that way, the roll out is happening and while the country stays safe, thanks to a strict countries response we are at a position of it being very unlikely you could come into contact with someone affected. That first outbreak would have been frightening, I hope your sister has recovered fully. I am very greatful as an over 60 year old, living in the Far North to have been able to have my two jabs, but I truly believe those of you who haven't had it yet are quite safe until your jab arrives. Meantime keep scanning wherever you go, I still do, knowing that we will keep on top of this bloody Covid. This Government may not be your choice to run the country but they have kept us safe despite the criticisms. Best wishes to you Alwyn, I hope you can eventually see the silver lining that our Covid Response has given us.
Apparently there's a shortage of nurses. Apparently nurses are run off their feet. Tell you what, we'll get every nurse in the country to stop what they're doing and go into getting five million vaccinated. How would that go?
We bitched about lockdowns, we bitched about travel being off, we bitched about having to wear masks, we bitched about someone in MIQ stuffing up, we bitched about someone in MIQ being an idiot, we bitched about having to go into MIQ, we bitched that we didn't do what Taiwan did, or Sweden did, or Singapore did or Australia did, we bitched about there not being five million vaccines straight off, we're bitching about everyone not being vaccinated right now.
I remember the bitching about how terrible life was last year when the world was going to end because we were in lockdown. We were facing a life no others had faced, a suffering unimaginable and indescribable.
I wonder how our grandparents and great grandparents regarded the hellish lives we were forced to live? You know, the ones who went to the other side of the world and literally fought in the trenches in WW1. You know the ones who were in a World War for six bloody years.
Most of those finding anything they can to bitch about re vaccinations should look at themselves in the mirror and wonder that in the stuff-up, the oversight, the schemozzle, the disaster, at least one prick made it through.
There's a great line from a Randy Rainbow song , something like "I'll save the world by laying on the couch". I think some people are struggling to have a perspective.
Most of those finding anything they can to bitch about re vaccinations should look at themselves in the mirror and wonder that in the stuff-up, the oversight, the schemozzle, the disaster, at least one prick made it through.
All this moaning is why I have said, all along, that along with the Covid-19 virus we, in NZ, also have had to contend with the 'moaning Minnie or Matthew virus' that followed the virus in.
This is characterised by intense and unceasing moaning. nit picking, name-calling of those who are helping. Its after effects include a lack of gratitude, more intense moaning and, despite the anti-govt rants, is a hand permanently out for any Govt help.
Said in jest, perhaps, but sadly this moaning is fast becoming a NZ trait.
There seems to be no cure as the usual mixing around with others who might have said 'quit 'yer moaning' are closed as we huddle close to only those who agree with us.
This on who controls our country eventually, after certain procedures have been traversed. How can we get needed and thoughtful change when there is such a jiggery-pokery political system? (Allow 30 mins for reading and thinking!)
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Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
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This is good news that the government incentives are encouraging more to look at EV's.
'Mad rush' as EV sales surge in Auckland, but limited stock could hike prices | Stuff.co.nz
Hopefully the supply chain is good and can handle the extra demand so price doesn't increase and offset tax credit.
Only negative is there is also a surge in ute sales with people trying to get in before the price increase (especially Ford Rangers and Isuzu at the Field Days).
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/125470270/farmers-flock-to-buy-utes-before-clean-car-feebate-scheme-begins
The ute surge will continue as business fleets push to renew before the tax changes.
Dead Cummins bounce.
The subsidy means the retail price will increase. Increased demand means prices rise as for any product. My porridge goes up in price in winter , along with soups. Its the same business rules from the low end to the top end. Reports in media confirm the dealers are raising prices even ahead of any subsidy coming in.
That is great news. It highlights how the farming community are not being economically crushed by this Government despite all the "pretty Communist" attitudes from rural NZ. If they can still afford to be buying brand new Utes with gay abandon life must be pretty sweet. It also highlights the fact that there isn't a ban on buying Utes at this stage despite the rhetoric of Nat/Act and some of the commentators here who love to "foment mischief"
Hopefully the Car Manufacturers step up with the alternatives by the time these latest sales are passed their use-by date.
Utes are not being banned. Just being made more expensive once the tax is added on to them. Lets hope they are wrong about EV's also being increased in price due to the tax credit else it becomes a bit like the petrol stations advertising "petrol at 10c off a litre on Wednesday", when they have already increased the price to compensate.
I'm agreeing with you Jimmy.Quite a few people are talking as if they are being banned, that was my point, great that people will still have the choice and hopefully the naysayers like National Party Stalwart David Farrar, as one example, stop misrepresenting the situation. Re prices, they will only be as valuable as people are prepared to pay. If they try and charge too much, someone will come in with a cheaper option. That's how we are told Market Forces are supposed to work. They'll soon drop the prices if the vehicles stay on the shop floor.
Agree RBO how many of us can buy a new car let alone a overpriced ute? The floodgates will soon open pouring EV's and especially utes into this country just because Toyota is in denial about there overrated product doesn't mean the rest of the manufacturers will hold back. Car dealers live in the same shark pool as real estate agents and will do there utmost to rip us off.
One of New Zealand's most original artists and musicians passed away yesterday, my good mate Fane Flaws…Fane was always a willing comrade in any and all hair brained action or event I went to him with, he was one of the most beautiful, madly creative and generous humans I have ever meet…we are all really going to miss him and his extraordinary exuberant energy…so long pal.
He picked me up hitch hiking once, he was surprised I knew who he was, I was a fan of Jesus on a Stick and the RWP animation. Sorry to hear of his death and your and your friends loss.
Thanks,luckily he left us all with a huge amount of great songs and art to remember him by which helps soften the blow somewhat.
An interesting alleged link between pests and carbon sequestration of native ecosystems.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/444985/pests-destroying-native-ecosystems-ability-to-store-carbon-forest-and-bird
It is the numbers that make the pest [paraphrasing Paracelsus].
It appears that the F&B report was released not so long ago. It would be so helpful if articles in MSM would provide a link to original documents and sources, for further reading if desired. It almost looks as if there is a policy of not linking off and away from the MSM website …
https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/climate-change-and-introduced-browsers
Will be interesting to see farmer’s response to this.
On one hand it’s presenting an opportunity to decrease emissions without having to make large reductions in stock numbers.
On the other it’s taking away their toys, since most farmers are keen hunters, or aspire to be
I'd have thought that it is an invitation to first of all be a hunter in helping reduce the number of pests and providing sport, recreation and food.
In the longer run, since these pests won't be totally eradicated, the result will be more challenging hunting; the reward being a sense of achievement rather than a quick slaughter of wild goats or whatever.
The other reward will be in the vegetative growth and beauty as the bush regenerates, for hunter, tramper, bush bathers alike, with carbon emissions decreased as a bonus.
My hunting cousin years ago welcomed deer culling as it provided a much better trophy as a result of lower numbers.
The other night I saw a video of a hunter at a British farm shooting rats with an air gun and killing them with clean headshots. It was for pest control, as poisoning kills the owls that help keeping the rat numbers down, but it made for remarkably good watching.
Wekas keep the mouse population under control.
Among other things.
https://twitter.com/PredatorFreeNZ/status/1203923424835276805
https://www.nzgeo.com/audio/understanding-how-weka-could-help-with-pest-control-by-eating-rodents/
Spotlighting rats in the sheds with an air rifle…. remarkably good fun
Save the owls
Build a better mouse trap.
Your cousin is one of the very few hunters who see it that way. Most hunters see better hunting as easier hunting and want animal densities that allow them to crash through the scrub and get, or at least see, an animal within 2-300m from where they park their ute. Three day tramps into the bush aren’t part of the picture, that’s what helicopters are for.
With reduced densities giving better trophies, the species where this is most apparent is thar. That industry is built on the huge bulls that came through after the helicopter culls (absolute slaughter) in the early 80s. Prior to the cull numbers were high but heads poor, like now but today’s range is larger.
After yesterdays announcement regarding the roll out of Covid 19, and the age bands and timing. Why was there no comment that I can find as to why the roll out should not be on a geography basis, or at leats focused initially towards the Auckland region ? Auckland has experienced all the shutdowns due to outbreaks, so why not protect the entranceway to the country and fan out from there ? Just an alternative outlook
Setting up the resources needed (vaccinators, vaccination sites, logistics of vaccine supply) for each area then managing the throughput so get an even workflow seems to me to be a better way to do it than trying to do it region by region where everything would have to be moved for massive and disruptive vaccination surges in each region.
One could argue that vaccinating border-facing workers and their families was already Auckland-centric in effect, if not intent. So what you are suggesting has actually occurred but in a somewhat more targeted way?
And a different alternative idea on how the vaccine rollout should proceed popped up on Garner's show this morning. He suggested that young people should get done first rather than last because they ‘travel the world’. We don’t know whether vaccinated people can transmit the virus, but we do know that some will catch it. So his suggestion opens the possibility of young people coming home from overseas hotspots to infect their unvaccinated elders. His speculation provided an opening for Des Gorman to (as usual) piss all over the efforts of everyone who has done a good job of keeping us safe in the last 15 months. The bitter, catastrophising and consistently wrong Gorman augmented the disgracefulness of Garner's stupidity rather well.
Does Garner remember Climate Change? Gas guzzling planes polluting the sky and young people angry about it. Covid19 is rampant overseas and who would want to travel to those places. Young people are not as irresponsible as he thinks, in fact it's quite the reverse.
The virus finds the missing link if you erect barriers elsewhere, but its a good point.
How many people does this guy have to kill before they stop him driving. So judge has banned him from driving until August 2022, what's the bet he's back behind the wheel next month?
Dunedin court gives repeat drink-driver home detention for latest offence – NZ Herald
Drink-drivers are just unfortunate individuals who cannot be leg-roped like the out of control animals they are; in fact all alcohol drinkers are well treated in law, compared to those committing the misdemeanour of growing cannabis.
Alcohol is great (and pollies and business leaders like it for their drug of choice and it brings in lots of taxes) – it is the enthusiastic, fun-loving members of the public who go OTT that are the problem.
"misdemeanour of growing cannabis."
A tiny number each year convicted , for ONLY a charge a growing/supply because they were dealers and suppliers.
Its in the 200 per year range from the police annual statistics , ie cannabis only numbers
The rest of the cannabis charges are because they were criminals often get all the charges possible when arrested for something else. Thats how police charging works, have all the possibilities as separate charges even though there may be only one primary charge for which they came to attention of police.
The classic case some years back, in a slightly different situation, a man was sent to jail for walking into a gallery and walking out with a valuable painting. Not mentioned his primary charge in the prison sentence was armed robber, and both were heard at the same time
examples
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/125311399/timaru-woman-gets-discharge-and-conviction-for-cultivating-cannabis
‘According to the summary of facts, police went to Laurie’s address in Albury on January 10, 2021, for a welfare check.
“When police arrived at the address, they were threatened with the use of a firearm by an unknown occupant,” the summary says..
and
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/124810986/timaru-man-fined-200-for-cannabis-possession
‘Police found 13g of cannabis plant split between multiple jars, scales, and $800 in Humphris’ vehicle during the traffic stop.
McDonald said, when questioned by police, Humphris stated the cannabis was for personal use and the money was to purchase the drug for a friend.”
So a firearm presented to police at one place …hmmm
Another person in a traffic stop has scales , jars and lots of cash…hmmm
Theres been a lot of rain in South island but they think w came down in last shower when its ‘personal use’
Story after story , just in Stuff, covers small scale but none the less 'dealers and suppliers'
meanwhile this is the big stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/124277051/four-men-jailed-for-24-millionayear-cannabis-operation-in-northland
'Five glasshouses filled with cannabis plants, including one more than 60m wide,'
Yet its view of the cannabis supporters that its a 'misdemenour' – which doesnt exist in NZ, but suggest that its little thing
A screwed up system, gets more screwed up encouraging corruption and 'double dealing' eh ghost.
Australia and Britain have signed a deal for trade that is mini in terms of $, but large in terms of acceptance of goods not complying with Brit environmental standards.
Australian farming allows the use of 71 highly hazardous substances and thousands more types of pesticides that are currently banned in the UK, including neonicotinoids, which harm the pollinators at the root of our food system, such as bees. The environmental standards of some foods produced in Australia are so far below the standards upheld by UK farmers that these products shouldn’t be sold in the UK at all, let alone given open access to UK markets with a zero tariff, zero quota trade deal. This isn’t simply about free trade versus protectionism. It is about delivering the best results and most sustainable approach for people and the planet….
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2106/S00050/on-britains-pathetic-trade-deal-with-australia.htm
What's going on down with our public radio committed to faction-free reporting of truth and facts.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2106/S00052/rnzs-magna-charter-part-3.htm
The utter shambles that has developed under Labour’s Broadcasting and Media Minister Kris Faafoi, a former TVNZ political reporter, is revealed in correspondence between his office and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage obtained under the Official Information Act….
The aide-memoire, dated Wednesday 17 February, fulfils its function by reminding the minister of his plan to report to Cabinet on the viability of “a new public media entity” in October. It then reveals something new:
“Legislation to establish a new public media entity will also disestablish TVNZ and RNZ. This legislation will also include a Charter for the new entity.”
There had been a change of plan. What had begun as the development of a business case based on merging TVNZ and RNZ had morphed into something else. It had been assumed that a merger of the two broadcasters would extend only to their news rooms, management and governance and that public radio would retain its separate structure, purpose and operations governed by its charter, newly reviewed and good for another five years.
It does seem odd, to be ditching RNZ and retaining the hapless clowns of TVNZ. Like many here I've given up on TV – life's too short for unmitigated tripe larded with inane advertising.
RNZ still retains a few shreds of dignity and professionalism – if anything it should be them taking over and restructuring the useless tv arm.
+100 Stuart
Combining the two will just drive up costs as , anyone on TV expects $50-$100k per year more .
The RNZ stories are usually of a longer format , a few minutes say , while TV is addicted to sound bites of 30 sec and an inane back and forth with the studio 'talent' along the lines 'what more can you tell us …..'
MCH simply lost this initiative in the 2021/22 budget round, and decide to do a scold of their Minister.
What kids they are.
They should instead ask why they got rolled by Treasury in the bid process, again.
Would there be as much out rage if they decided to make a film about the Pike River mine?
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
How long ago was that ? And its seen as bad management and cost cutting , not a lone extremist. Who would be the central character – in a movie sense- that awful Pike River Coal manager ?
Could cast Andrew Little as Lyle Lanley
https://www.classhook.com/resources/1816-the-simpsons-monorail-salesman
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/matangireia/story/2018791588/series-2-episode-6-denise-roche-matangireia
Denise Roche doesn't hold back on her opinion of Nationals last shining light. He really did get away with some nasty stuff couched in his jokey blokey shallowness.
When asked to sum up John Key in one word, she replied 'Prick!'
Well said!
edit
John Key asked his thoughts on the above said airily 'Well I'm rich, so I must be right most of the time. What are you – just envious pricks?’
And he might be right – look at how Labour acted when there was opportunity – went for the money over principle or commitment to good conditions for all – shallow, not water-tight like the leaky homes we have as one of their modern-day legacies/
Winston has returned. It seems odd that he has been quiet for so long but he now seems to have found the thing he has been looking for.
The Vaccination campaign is well into the too little, too late category and the public are recognising it. Winston has an attack meme and he is going, in his inimitable style, to use it.
"the 76-year-old doyen of Kiwi politics has used it [an interview on Australian television] to slam the government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, deriding as "too late" and leaving NZ open to potential tragedy."
"We're half way through the vaccine year and we've done about a tenth of the job. That's the problem," he said.
"It's months too late. A lot of the strands right now are real dangerous. If (an outbreak) would happen we could see a tragedy again."
NZ is ranked 120th in the world for vaccine doses administered per capita – last in the developed world."
He is right of course and people in New Zealand are beginning to realise it. The rubbish about being at the front of the queue is being widely seen by the New Zealand public as a lie. Instead we are "last in the developed world".
I wonder what coverage this will get in the New Zealand media? I see the ODT is covering it but will Stuff and the Herald try and pretend it doesn't exist?
The story seems to be headline news in the Australian papers.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/peters-slams-arderns-nz-vaccine-010146638.html
Says who (apart from Peters)? Are we last on a per capita basis?
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/charting-new-zealands-vaccine-rollout
Any suggestions as to how? Placebo vaccinations?
I suggest you can check the claim here.
Hint. We are way way done the list. I didn't bother to check whether we were precisely 120th because they include places that aren't really countries but I am prepared to believe the value of 120 may be near enough. We are in about 140th place on the percentage with at least 1 vaccination. Our latest date is more recent than most so that would tend to push us up the list.
https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
But wait theres more
According to that article, Our World in Data, an online research publication run by Oxford University researchers, ranked Australia "113th among the world's countries for total doses per 100 residents, falling behind Kazakhstan, Cambodia and Seychelles".
So we are about the same level as Australia?
One World data, is a bit rough and ready, as like Australia NZ is using Astra Zeneca which requires 2 does per person, while other vaccines are one dose.
As we have seen last week when the claim was orchestrated by |national and echoed by Hooton that we were 'running out of vaccines'… but 1 million more early next month
We are dependent on vaccine supply , and its politics over who does or doesnt get – Europe especially preventing does leaving for 'less deserving ststes'
Of course The Vaccination campaign is "NOT" well into the too little, too late category and the public are "NOT" recognizing it. It is on track, the new Vaccines are arriving on schedule, many of us have been lucky to be Vaccinated and everyone who wants to get Vaccinated will get their turn. Rather than your relentless negativity of every issue what the Majority of the Public see is the headlines like Stuff today, of how we continue to be safe with the real headlines …
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300336505/covid19-one-new-case-in-managed-isolation-stewart-island-test-results-due-back
One case in Managed Isolation, none in the Community.
…unlike the headlines you and Winston are offering "If (an outbreak) would…" "we could see a tragedy…"
Sure Winston, like you, is entitled to voice his opinion but life in NZ is not the Land of the Long Black Cloud. It's actually pretty darn good, and THAT is what people see. IMHO
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/
Hint… NZ is at the top.
Hint. The topic Winston was talking about, and that I commented on, was the failure of the vaccine campaign.
You may be right about what Stuff covers. They, like the Herald aren't news outlets. They are bought and paid for Jacindamania freaks.
I found it interesting though that the majority of the comments Morning Report broadcast this morning on the vaccination program were disapproving. I imagine the people producing that program will have had a blast from their superiors to keep to the story line that the PM is a Saint and has saved us.
Well. I can see another reason why the PM wanted to get vaccinated.
Not even a bloody test for the Air New Zealand crews. How long would you give it before we have another outbreak?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300336892/covid19-all-vaccinated-air-nz-crew-now-exempt-from-isolation
Another 111 days, at least.
Sydney had been doing quite well for a decent length of time hadn't it?
And then this happened.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-coronavirus-new-restrictions-in-sydney-new-community-case/543PA4ADYNBWEHAH57H4YUGLZ4/
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get vaccinations for at least the people who are most at risk from catching it. Which doesn't include healthy 40 year old people as far as I know.
You’re a tough negotiator. I’ll take 11 days off my earlier offer, so it’ll be 100 days, at least
Jacinda will (have to) save us again from our lack of compliance and vigilance
100 days is OK Incog. I will have had both my shots by then.
Elderly have been badly let down.
We just have to hope the dangerous new variants – Delta, Vietnam & so on – don't take us by surprise in the way they have in a few other previously successful Countries where political elites complacently assumed that dodging the bullet in 2020 was the end of the matter.
The lesson that apparently still hasn't managed to penetrate among the political establishment here is that you don't play around, presume to 'control' or negotiate with this virus. You don't get to have your cake & eat it.
Travel Bubble with Oz was always too early IMO.
lol
just keep reaching for that rainbow, eh.
Bloody hell. Someone better tell Mike Hoskings that the Herald is a paid for Jacindamania freak. He won't have a Happy Day. Haha. Hint… Vaccine rollout I assume is part of a countries resilience of which NZ was voted number one a month ago.
Alwyn, do you actually read anything or just the stuff that fits with your narrative?
If you read the link provided by Red Blooded One, you’ll see a nice wee table in which NZ ranks at the top despite the relatively poor vaccination performance as shown in the right column of the table.
Of course I saw it. So what? Winston was talking about, and I was commenting on, the vaccination performance. It isn't just "relatively poor".
It is IMHO bloody terrible.
Of course, you did
If NZ is “bloody terrible”, what are the words to describe all the lower ranked countries, the rest of the World, in fact? Bloody shambolic?
I think the entrance to Alwyn's mind requires a carefully cut Yale key with all angles sharply defined to ensure fit.
He talks like a relative of mine who is an alcoholic, and when away from the chateau cardboard can talk apparently lucidly criticising the useless politicians and how they can’t get anything right – ‘Projection’.
Any suggestions as to how? Placebo vaccinations? Maybe ask Bishop, Bridges, and Collins? She might have a few contacts. Sinovac anyone – alwyn?
Are you personally scared you might catch Covid Alwyn, can we help you ease your fears in some way?
A couple of vaccinations would be nice. But I'm only in Group 3 and am being ignored. I should have been a Cabinet Minister. A bunch of them were vaccinated back in March.
And don't tell me not to worry. My sister was infected in the first outbreak.
I think it is ok to worry a little but some attacks on the Government are utterly irrational, IMHO.
As long as the MIQ barrier holds and prevents community outbreaks it’ll be steady as she goes.
Even Taiwan’s success ended abruptly. So, yes, some fears are justified.
"My sister was infected in the first outbreak."
Fair enough mate.
I'm Group 3. I received my email invite to book a week ago. All good.
My understanding is the invites are still being rolled out so maybe yours is still in the pipeline. I'm in Auckland so maybe they gave us priority because we had the privilege of having more draconian lockdowns than the rest of the country.
Don't live in northland then do you anne? Ruakaka locals have to drive to kaitaia to get a jab any time in the next month. just the first one by the way.
Otherwise it's some time in august for Maori and over 50, september for non maori and over 50.
Supposedly a targeted area because of the deprivation. I'm sure a 200km+ round trip will help with the "Access" and will "alleviate" the deprivation
Ruakaka locals have to drive to kaitaia to get a jab any time in the next month.
You can pop into town on the weekend.
Whangārei
Northland Event Centre
51 Okara Drive, Whangārei
(Please wear warm clothes and
bring an umbrella in case it is raining)
Saturday 19 June, 9am-2pm
Tuesday 22 June, 8am-7.30pm
Wednesday 23 June, 10am-5pm
Thursday 24 June, 8am-7.30pm
Saturday 26 June, 9am-2pm
https://www.northlanddhb.org.nz/home/covid-19/covid-19-northland-hub/vaccine-programme-information/
You may want to get in touch with these people:
https://www.anxiety.org.nz/
You're not being ignored, even if you feel it feels that way, the roll out is happening and while the country stays safe, thanks to a strict countries response we are at a position of it being very unlikely you could come into contact with someone affected. That first outbreak would have been frightening, I hope your sister has recovered fully. I am very greatful as an over 60 year old, living in the Far North to have been able to have my two jabs, but I truly believe those of you who haven't had it yet are quite safe until your jab arrives. Meantime keep scanning wherever you go, I still do, knowing that we will keep on top of this bloody Covid. This Government may not be your choice to run the country but they have kept us safe despite the criticisms. Best wishes to you Alwyn, I hope you can eventually see the silver lining that our Covid Response has given us.
Apparently there's a shortage of nurses. Apparently nurses are run off their feet. Tell you what, we'll get every nurse in the country to stop what they're doing and go into getting five million vaccinated. How would that go?
We bitched about lockdowns, we bitched about travel being off, we bitched about having to wear masks, we bitched about someone in MIQ stuffing up, we bitched about someone in MIQ being an idiot, we bitched about having to go into MIQ, we bitched that we didn't do what Taiwan did, or Sweden did, or Singapore did or Australia did, we bitched about there not being five million vaccines straight off, we're bitching about everyone not being vaccinated right now.
I remember the bitching about how terrible life was last year when the world was going to end because we were in lockdown. We were facing a life no others had faced, a suffering unimaginable and indescribable.
I wonder how our grandparents and great grandparents regarded the hellish lives we were forced to live? You know, the ones who went to the other side of the world and literally fought in the trenches in WW1. You know the ones who were in a World War for six bloody years.
Most of those finding anything they can to bitch about re vaccinations should look at themselves in the mirror and wonder that in the stuff-up, the oversight, the schemozzle, the disaster, at least one prick made it through.
There's a great line from a Randy Rainbow song , something like "I'll save the world by laying on the couch". I think some people are struggling to have a perspective.
Keep calm and carry on.
https://www.edexlive.com/news/2021/may/19/living-a-little-in-the-times-of-coronahere-are-11-tips-to-keep-calm-and-carry-on-during-covid-20830.html
All this moaning is why I have said, all along, that along with the Covid-19 virus we, in NZ, also have had to contend with the 'moaning Minnie or Matthew virus' that followed the virus in.
This is characterised by intense and unceasing moaning. nit picking, name-calling of those who are helping. Its after effects include a lack of gratitude, more intense moaning and, despite the anti-govt rants, is a hand permanently out for any Govt help.
Said in jest, perhaps, but sadly this moaning is fast becoming a NZ trait.
There seems to be no cure as the usual mixing around with others who might have said 'quit 'yer moaning' are closed as we huddle close to only those who agree with us.
Time for, again……
Fred Dagg.
This on who controls our country eventually, after certain procedures have been traversed. How can we get needed and thoughtful change when there is such a jiggery-pokery political system? (Allow 30 mins for reading and thinking!)
https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2021/06/18/writing-the-rights-no-right-turn-is-wrong/