If the help involves any more fucken dots and effort to try and work out what the hell you are raving on about exactly, no thanks Phil. Appreciate the offer though.
Well, no, phil, I’m not virgo. I prefer my chinese astrological classification. If it helps, that one describes me as the type of person who “likes to make love in a laundry chute, just to see what it feels like”. Anyway, I’ve had enough dots and blank space for the day. I’m off to do something useful.
Phil, it’s never going to happen. My girlfriend is emphatically not assisting in my ongoing search for a chute of an appropriate size and design. My last 10 advertisements for another girlfriend who might have produced a blank.
All I have gained to date is 5 trespass notices. This is why I don’t like astrology. I am considering entering politics in France, Italy or the US, where this kind of activity is likely to get me elected.
Very amusing Phil U and Arfamo. Good repartee.
Reminds me of Jewel of the Nile discussion refereed by the Jewel who was Avner Eisenberg – looking at him on google seems very funny
Phil is extrapolating from a headline in a UK sunday newspaper. The actual result on voting intention is:
Labour leads on 35 per cent, the Conservatives are 30 per cent, UKIP have19 per cent and the Lib Dems remain stalled on 8 per cent. Given the UK’s FPP voting system, the support for UKIP is illusory; they won’t actually win 19% of the seats. They may, however, cause the Tories to lose quite a few.
The upcoming European elections, which are on a proportional basis, may be more fruitful for the swivel eyed loons of UKIP. Ironic, given their hatred of Johnny Foreigner.
“Paying out KiwiSaver cash under the serious financial hardship provision benefits only the bankrupt’s creditors rather than the bankrupt themselves,.”
Stephen Joyce’s department (Business Innovation and Employment) are undermining the KIWISAVER scheme.
The ministry’s view is that a bankrupt’s KiwiSaver money should be available to pay creditors.
That will lead to money-lenders extending debt at high rates on the strength of a KIWISAVER statement.
That will screw the poorest and benefit usurious gangsters.
I’d wondered about this and looking at the article there does need to be some clearer rules. Firstly, most kiwisaver is the normal modest contributions from work. But it is possible to set up a personal kiwisaver scheme and if the dollars in it are large enough then it can be quite worthwhile (main cost are the audit requirements) so they can be set up and business people could and are hiding large dollops of assets in them.
Second problem is the ability to get at it at 65. Banks if they have a security that they can readily access leave loans outstanding, accruing interest and then take control of the estate or in this case could go for the kiwisaver at age 65. Some other pension funds require a court order to pay out.
And then there are issues around welfare benefits and care payments for the elderly etc, etc. Didn’t matter until now when kiwisaver dollars are getting up.
Yep, and frankly they should be at the top of the queue along with/just after employees. That would stop banks and the like overlending. BTW liquidation is for companies so no kiwisave rimpact
Yeah, I know a few of them as well but they’re not going to get anything out of this as they happen to be unsecured creditors. To get it so that the small business owners and contractors get paid requires a law change to make them secured and primary creditors. All this seems to do is give the banks access to someones retirement fund if they go bankrupt.
“my eyes glaze over..my ears shut down.”
No matter – you didn’t miss a thing
(i.e. despite his being challenged by the best, better, bestest pretender to the title of “ethical, incisive, public service broadcaster extraordinaire, regular and work-life balanced regular Gal or Guy”)
… oops – no wait – there’s a Mora to come – I’ll hold off just for now in aaaaantici……..pay.shun….
Basically it says that when National gets into power, they screw down on ACC and make it change it’s policies so that fewer people get the cover they are legislated to receive.
DAILY STRUGGLE: Rewa Eves has been in constant pain since she fell during the magnitude 5.9 aftershock in June 2011, but has been denied surgery by ACC and the Canterbury District Health Board will not accept her on to the surgical waiting list.
ACC, however, has refused to pay for the surgery she needs to fix her shoulders.
“They told me it’s a pre-existing condition . . . and apparently I left it too long after the fall to apply, but I didn’t know whether I was coming or going.”
Yeah, but I think they still get reassessed as the the person at teh top of the list drops off when they get their surgery. ie they’re still in the system (in effect on the waiting list without being prioritised).
So what makes it possible for a patient to be operated on in 6 months?
All this crap came about when Shipley was in charge of our health system. She actually abolished waiting lists and instead implemented a ‘booking system’.
National came very close to destroying our public health system. The falling down hospitals at the edge of every provincial town in the country attest to that.
The article above is a good example of just how stupid and callous this govt is. Refuse people surgery on ACC, put them on the second tier waiting list at the local DHB, and get the person’s GP to monitor while in limbo. Let the person deteriorate, and prevent them from being a (productive) part of society.
makes me wonder how many other earthquake victims are still waiting for treatment.
The trouble with NZ health system is that we’re still good at keeping people alive, but we’re shit at that gap between “barely alive” and “well”. People either sit in limbo waiting (but not “waiting”) for treatment, or progressively degrade in condition until they need the machine that goes “bing” (at which point we give them excellent, but much more expensive, treatment).
The cause is simply that the system has been degraded and shuffled about for decades, and the medics and administrators naturally prioritise treatment for greatest need as resources are depleted.
I was just pointing out why “resources” were being depleted from the hospital. It’s easy enough to fix but it would cost money (more hospitals, doctors, etc) thus would require higher taxes and would possibly drive up wages as unemployment decreases.
“……….waiting lists had apparently been cut after the Minister told the board that nobody was to wait for more than six months.
GP’s were referring people who never made it on to the waiting list because their case was not sufficiently urgent, she said.
“This is going to have a real blowout because we have a lot of very sick people who are not getting on to the waiting list” “.
ACC was ruthless under Labour too. Its strategy was to exit as many long term clients as possible, which included the use of private contractors to do so. A lot of this filtered through to the media in the early 2000s. It didn’t affect the broader middle class the way the Nats’ cuts have though. It’s probably why Labour don’t make too much noise about ACC now.
Not down at ACC. They are on the welfare now. 2013 annual report boasts that 2740 long term claimmants returned to “independence” whatever that means.
And I’m not so sure that ACC aren’t gaming the system. It would need more time to work out but given that the company levies (work) are going down but the earner levies (you & me in the workforce) are not to the same extent, then it’s possible that:
-treatment costs are being shoveled disproportionately onto the earners account to benefit company levies and reduce the government dollop for non earner injuries
– The release of liabilty for earnings compensation (as the boomers approach 65 the need for earnings compensation shuts down which will reduce liabilities horrendously) is being handed to employers despite both employers and employees funding it originally.
Employees fund earnings for non work accidents but the the earnings compensation is split roughly 50:50 between work and non work accidents so treatment costs and reduction in earnings liability should be shared in the same ratio.
Meanwhile, buried deep in the news reports, was a report that ACC and the Hawkes Bay Reigonal Council has entered into a pretty dodgy looking deal whereby ACC paid the HBRC a lump sum in return for ACC getting the income from their leasehold property for the next 30-odd years.
Kinda like if I owned a rental property, and rented it out for $300 a week, someone comes along and offers me $50000 in return for keeping the rent I get from it for the next 30 years.
Its effectively a loan, but not called that on the balance sheets.
I tried to find the link to put up, but it has disspeared.
It’s securitising a stream of income Millsy and has been around for a while. Imagine they assigned the property leases. Can be used to turn revenue streams into capital blocks of money.
Main problem here is that the HBRC has grabbed future council income to spend today (Ruitaniwha Dam?) and reduced choices for future elected bodies – and any problems with the details.
Does the council have to make up any shortfall in the rents, who maintains the properties, what rates of increases did they build into the rents, etc, etc and who benefits from these details.
Oh dear. I read this and suddenly get reminded of one of the main causes of the GFC.
Sell a collection of repayment obligations in return for a large chunk of money now. Gee that’s securitising a stream of income isn’t it?
There it was mortgages, here it is property leases. Tell me it aint so.
Yes I know that this is stretching things a bit, but still.
Incidentally the lease is only on the bare land, not the house so maintenance doesn’t come into it. I believe that these leases have 21 year terms after which revaluation takes place. I wouldn’t guarantee that though.
Yes, I saw Ianmac’s yesterday comment re the stuffed ACC article and was not remotely surprised by the policy direction influenced by the board “plants”.
Having accessed ACC services under Labour in 2007 and under National in 2011 – 2014 I can say I couldn’t have received more differing levels of service. (Xavier has a point at 6.2 though about Labour’s role, I was one of the lucky ones however at that point). Personal experience aside, the Nat Govt has demonstrated fairly consistently it’s contempt for the aims of ACC via their policy changes. The increasing number of people denied surgery is an example of the worst aspects of the changes to ACC.
My reply, (part of which I posted on OM last week) from Ian Lees Galloway regarding reinstating full funding for ACC physio visits was a bit luke warm and didn’t fill me with confidence for Labour’s plans to restore ACC to it’s former levels of service. Yet to hear back from Kevin Hague.
Yeah, ’cause insurance companies never back out of their obligations or contracts. There’s no track record of that happening overseas or in New Zealand in any insurance industry whatsoever.
I frequently typo my name as Lantahnide when typing quickly. It’s only because The Standard has cookies (or my browser remembers, whatever) that you don’t see it more often.
Jared Bernstein at The New York Times and then Elise Gould at EPI produced counterfactual poverty estimates showing that, had inequality not shot up in the last forty years, poverty as we measure it in the United States would have been eliminated
Basically, if we hadn’t have followed the neo-liberal fallacy and rewarded the rich for being rich we would have eliminated poverty. Instead, we’ve been increasing it.
Which more or less dovetails with predictions from the 50’s and 60’s that in the future people wouldn’t need to work and there’d be a lot of leisure time.
Instead, the leisure time has accrued to a tiny elite while the rest get crumbs and wage slavery.
most recent example being: imagine if the US Bailout Funds had actually gone where they could have done some good and were used to pay off people’s morgtages, instead of being repeatedly gifted to the criminals who leveraged off them.
Of course doing so would mean central banks having to admit the entire ponzi scheme is not helping the global economy, but enslaving it like a millstone mule, grinding out a profit for them and leaving the rest of us to scrabble for the broken chaff.
I don’t know if it’s been said here or not but George Osborne (the Most Cutting-Tory of Tories) has decided he wants to see a large above-inflation rise in the minimum wage. It’s currently at around £6.30 ($12.60 roughly) and he wants it raised by 70p ($1.40) to £7 ($14). So we have an austerity-focussed Tory Chancellor in England backing a sizable rise in the minimum wage believing businesses can take the hit and it would be good for the economy.
It’ll be interesting if Key and English sticks to tiny, in line with inflation rises.
If National thinks Labour has any traction with living wage rhetoric, they will increase minimum wage in May Budget BUT it wont be called a “lolly scramble” by the press or national’s supporters. They will puff out their chest reassured they still have a caring side.
The argument is already in place if they look to Britain. Osborne is essentially saying “we can do this because our management of the economy and the deficit was so good.”
I can see the same argument being used by English. I still don’t think they will go to $15 though. Maybe $14.50 or something. Compromise. It’s the government’s modus operandi.
It seems to be ‘fashionable’ emanating from Europe the desire to lift the living standards of the ‘have nots’ even among the hardened Tory’s, perhaps the rioting that at times has gone largely unreported,(Hamburg in Germany), and that that has been covered here by the media,(Greece etc), has shown the Tory’s the ‘writing on the wall’ if the acceleration in inequality continues on it’s current trajectory,
Listening yesterday to RadionNZ National replaying an earlier interview Chris Laidlaw with ex Prime Minister Jim Bolger that i had missed had me laughing like a loon,
Once past the waffle and excuses surrounding the actions of His time as Prime Minister Bolger talked of what has been occurring in today’s New Zealand and global economy,
What Bolger said could have been direct quotes from what we see CV and Draco commenting here at the Standard every day and i was left with the strong suspicion that old Jim might be a secret lurker and looker at what goes on here,
On inequality Bolger was adament that should such continue in this country it posed the ‘greatest danger’ to the economic well-being of NZ and in a world wide sense described Neo-Liberalism particularly in Britain as a ‘money go round attended by ‘ticket clippers’ every step of the way’,there was a lot more in such a vein and for a laugh it might be worth while going to the RadioNZ National web-site for a listen,(but you have to wade through 20 minutes of Bolger waffle to hear Jim expound socialism),
Lolz, listening to him brought to mind that old adage that a lot of ‘Lefty’s move to the right as they age’ and i thought then that perhaps the same is true of those on the right as well but in reverse…
At this moment seven pounds converts, at the mid-rate for the currency, to $13.92. Thus his desired figure is only $0.17 above the current New Zealand, which is due for revision in February and will be paid from April 1, when it woud likely go to at least $14.00. Seems like the UK is trying to catch up with New Zealand doesn’t it.
Does anyone have official, rather than anecdotal, numbers for the Cost of Living in Britain compared to New Zealand?
Average cost for renting a house in England and Wales is around 800 UK pounds per month. ($1600 per month or $400 per week according to your conversion above).
There was an article in ‘the guardian’ a week or so back comparing prices across Europe that also (from memory) included average wage comparisons.
Anyway. Average wage rates in the UK are higher than here. Problem with NZ is that far too many workers bumble along just above that min wage level.
Media Alert from Graham McCready:
_____________________________________________________________________
Graham Mc Cready, Prosecutor for New Zealand Private Prosecution Service will attend the Auckland District Court Public Office Today at 4:00PM to file:
Memorandum;
Application to make Len Brown case a test case for gifts/bribes and corrupt practices in local body politics;
Application under Section 106 of the Crimes Act 1961 to the Attorney General for NZPPS to Prosecute Len Brown under Section 105(1); or in the alternative an application for the District Court to refer that issue to the High Court to seek an order for the case to continue using the precedent in the Tito Phillip Field case;
Written Submissions; affidavits and exhibits as Required under the Criminal Procedures Act sufficient for the Court to issue a summons to Len Brown using the precedent in the John Banks case;
An urgent application for the Court to set a date for a hearing where all these matters be dealt with in open court before a District Court judge.
There will be no other charges filed against any other named defendant until all these issues are disposed off.
The filed documents will be distributed to media after filing.
Respectfully
Graham Mc Cready
Agent for NZPPS Ltd
Prosecutor
……………..
…………………
Note to media:
I will be working on these documents all day
Please refrain from phoning so I can get the job done.
____________________________________________________________________
Good luck with that, hopefully the absurd decision to go after Brown’s wife will now be seen as a step too far,
To use the Taito Phillip Field case as a precedent you will have to provide the Court with a little thing called ‘Evidence’, the Field case only succeeded because those who gifted the labour to Field gave evidence that both they and Field knew exactly why they were providing Him with such free labour,
Good luck with putting someone on the stand from any of the relevant Hotel’s or organizations who will give such evidence, without it you have no precedent and thus little chance of having this prosecution proceed,
There can be no precedent applied to Brown from the Banks case, both are entirely different matters of law requiring entirely different charges to be laid, in not declaring the ‘gifts’ Brown appears to be subject to no ‘legal remedy’ other than being ‘sanctioned’ by His Council for not declaring the gifts,
i will tho watch this little side-show develop with interest…
Retired Wellington accountant Graham McCready has dropped procedures to file legal charges against Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s wife, Shan Inglis.
[..]
Mr McCready says he found out yesterday that there’s a procedural issue of applying to the Attorney General for permission to prosecute anyone for corruption.
“If you want to know why I didn’t know before I will just tell you that I stuffed up, and that’s a very honest situation.”
Thanks Karol, my description of the charge Graham Mac,(with the help of Penny Bright),intended to lay against Brown’s wife as absurd is the ‘mild version’ of what i think of such an action and i think i made my anger pretty much clear in a comment about the matter a couple of days ago,
As a public figure Brown has to be answerable for His actions and it’s fair enough for Graham Mac to attempt to make Him answerable befor the Courts,(although i do not believe He has a show in hell of being able to satisfy even the Attorney General that He has sufficient evidence for such a charge to proceed against Brown unless He and Penny have ‘the smoking gun’ so far kept secret),
My opinion, expressed the other day, about the proposed charges against Brown’s wife seems to have come about solely because Graham Mac belatedly realized that most of the hotel accommodation was booked by Shan Inglis,(which may or may not lead the Courts to conclude that it wasn’t Len Brown who accepted such ‘gifts’ that were given,(the hotels will simply point out that for VIP’s this is normal practice),
Hopefully Browns wife will now be left alone to get on with Her life as she sees fit…
The thing about these hotel up-grades, they only have a nominal charge. There isn’t anything tangible in them. You’re still paying for the bed, the room and the servicing. They are fixed costs – an up-grade costs the hotel nothing if that room will not be sold on the night, and that tends to be the main reason why people are up-graded.
The main thing Len did wrong is not declaring the freebie’s.
But listening to L.B. on Nat. Radio with Kathryn Ryan this morning, he stills seems unable to differentiate between the public and private person. While he “was on the job” he was the Mayor, most of his liaisons were initiated while he was the Mayor, but then took place after hours.
I entirely agree with you on the matter of room upgrades, such upgrades in my opinion are only worth what Brown and His wife were prepared to pay for a night’s stay in whatever hotel(s) gave the upgrade…
English is overseas at some forum, looking to see how other countries are tackling the growing gulf between those who have and those who don’t. (Was on RNZ 10am news) Interesting, he is there for ideas – apparently our Government doesn’t have any – surprise, surprise!!
So like the green paper on “child abuse” – first a meeting, then a round of ideas, then further meetings, time for a breath and a cup of tea, more consultation, finally consult the stake holders, and then present the grand plan. Time elapsed – maybe 2 – 3 years. As for most of those in poverty, well, your guess is as good as mine, but in reality, their prognosis is not good. A bit like Paula Bennett’s guide for dealing with child abuse and child poverty – zip it sweetie.
Re the green paper on child abuse. Wise observation as per usual from you Will. And English? Ha, well perhaps he may be listening to George Osbourne? (Comment above from Disraeli Gladstone)
• She operated Easy Rider knowing that a master holding a skippers certificate was required and that the appropriate certificate was not held
• She caused or permitted the vessel to be operated in a manner which caused unnecessary danger or risk to the persons on board
• As the director of AZ1 Enterprises Ltd, she acquiesced or participated in the failure of the company to ensure that no action or inaction of any employee while at work harmed any other person on board Easy Rider
• As the director, she acquiesced or participated in the failure of the company to ensure the safety of its employees while at work on board the Easy Rider
• As the director, she acquiesced or participated in the failure of the company to ensure that no contractor or subcontractor was harmed while doing work on board.
Dv the bigger the crime the less the time.
Penny Bright Graham McCready
Why aren’t you taking the Directors of Pike River to court
Me thinks you are just in it for your own ego stroking and political gain?.
Penny for your information i have been involved in various community initiatives for most of my life the list is long fostering children,helping street kids turn their lives around, political party involvement from beating the streets to high level organization, sports teams organizing coaching playing, environmental clean ups tree planting etc etc.I belong to a community service organization we do a lot to foster young into volunteering building stronger communities most of us in this organization are fed up with the snails pace of govt action so we are working from the bottom up,
29 people died at pike river loose morals len hasn’t killed any one i don’t disagree with him facing the music.
but those board members and managers at pike river should be in gaol for a long time.
I just criticised you to get your attention.
This corporate corruption is far worse than any political scandal
this is corporate manslaughter .
you seem to be a person along with mr mcCready who could put some real criminals on trial.
Sorry it really pisses me off that no one is being held accountable for this horrific crime
can you help.
In all fairness to Penny Bright and Graham Mac, the families of the Pike River 29 have been reported as asking that ‘others’ do not mount private prosecutions against the hierarchy of the Pike River Mining Company as an attempt to prosecute that fails may prevent the families themselves from pursuing their own prosecutions in the future…
Now they’re claiming Key has an “unusual degree of integrity”
Mike Williams continues to act as Hooton’s patsy From the Left and From the Right, Radio NZ National, Monday 20 January 2014
I tuned in to this morning’s programme late, about 11:25, just in time to hear this….
MATTHEW HOOTON: John Key does operate with a degree of integrity that is unusual in politics…..
Hooton went on to burnish what is obviously a major new National Party talking point—that the prime minister is a man of integrity—making sure that he repeated that canard as many times as he could in sixty seconds. All up and down the length of the country, listeners snorted in derision, shouted in outrage, ground their teeth and shook their heads in disbelief—but in the Radio NZ studios, there was silence. There was not even the hint of a suggestion that Hooton had just committed yet another gross violation of truth. There was not a word of demur. Paul Holmes’s former high school classmate and pal Mike Williams, billed as being “From the Left”, remained silent, as did the host, Kathryn Ryan.
Admittedly I heard only the last few minutes, so perhaps I’m being harsh on Ryan and Williams. Perhaps Ryan actually said something intelligent earlier in the programme, and perhaps Mike Williams had the courage to contradict one of those sly, cynical, loaded comments that are Hooton’s speciality.
But by the sounds of the dismal three minutes or so that I heard, it sounds like it’s business as usual at National Party Radio.
“How does Hooton have a clue what integrity looks like?”
He thinks it’s something that’s stuck to the bottom of his shoe. To be gotten rid of at the first opportunity, he keeps it there along with Truthfulness and Honesty.
You couldn’t be too harsh on Williams if you tried. He is getting more and more like the proverbial wet bus ticket every time he deigns to open his mouth, if only to change feet! If onlt he would get permanent Laryngitis!
DH did you listen to the show listen( listen carefully on live stream) Williams and Ryan were silent because hootons comments were unbelievable.
both Williams and Ryan took hooton to task on every other issue.
Including Hootons comment that Key is a shoe in 2014 election pointing out key is running out of coalition partners.
Morissey only heard one comment out of context.
Just have a listen DH then come back to me if you think i was wrong.
I have listened to it again I even put on Headphones so there was no distraction, and I stand by what I said. And silence because they were what? Appalled ? They didn’t say that. In fact they said nothing. And if something is that bad to render them speechless, even after having time to think about it, still can’t come up with anything to say. Then they both deserve to be changed. And I thought Ryan is supposed to be good at this interviewing stuff.
Governments the world over are tacitly admitting the war on pot has been lost and the sooner education regulation and decriminalization enter the fray the better for all. No better proof for this than Obama’s recent comments. That said, we still seem to be facing some odd decisions. Despite this and quasi-valid decisions like it, progress is being made but any real step-change won’t occur until every last patent has been sewn up by the pharmacrats and the light turns green, so to speak.
Despite decades of stating there was no such thing, the US patent office have begun to approve patents for medicinal use of cannabinoids. Big pharma has an ever-expanding web of patent applications being duly processed. I read somewhere it is estimated that China alone has over three thousand medical-use patents under consideration. Atop this health horizon are the mountain ranges of tax dollars hemp regulation would generate, not to mention the piles of Police dollars marijuana reform would free up.
Those three elements, health, tax and policing, prove how the breadth of the approaching transformation is not able to be quantified into a quick-fix soundbite. It will require a herculean effort in stage-managed incrementalism, fortunately the MSM are well trained for this heavy lifting.
The few Hemp products available and the timid steps towards legal reformation being explored, are simple manoeuvres designed to tie down social engineering options necessary for the big international roll out. After a century of propaganda it is no easy ask to return balance to the discussion but once the patents are signed and the greenlight is given, just watch how quickly the message changes. It took almost twenty years to cement petrochemicals as the saviour of the world and turn the world against hemp, which at the time was one of the biggest Industries on the planet. Admittedly that was a different time. Flipping the message would be a lot faster and for a few, just like last time, it will again be very very profitable. Despite the social blowback from decades of lies being overcome, the lollies will be dispersed, the rules will be changed, the people will forget and the game as always will continue. The difference this time is the product they are pushing might actually help the planet.
i recently had a conversation with a cop from the far north.
we eventually got on to the subject of pot.
he was of the opinion that it would never be deriminalized/legalized, in fact there have been murmurs of it being changed from class c drug to class b.
the reasoning he gave was that the thc levels had increased from 3-5%, in the ’70s to a staggering 33%!
obviously this is all anecdotal, but an interesting insight into how the powers that be are thinking.
As you say, an anecdotal insight, but it is a sad reality expressive of the current thinking.
It is however, a bluntly innaccurate insight, designed to excite the puritans and build fear in the ignorant. It is as absurd as saying all roses are red.
hey thanx c.v., its good to be able to point out what the “experts” have discovered.
another thing, the drug foundation seems to have taken a slighltly different tack over recent years away from the knee jerk “all drugs are bad, …mmkay..” (thank you south park) to a more reasoned and considered tone.
Looks like they trying to stop ‘every joe blow’ growing thier own strong stuff and only getting weak shit (and probably full of ‘Keep it burning chemicals’ from them.) Good luck to them trying their ‘It’s all ours’ Patent bullshit down here.
Graedel’s analysis of substitutes involved ploughing through scientific literature and interviewing product designers and material scientists. The results are a sobering reminder of how critical some metals are. On seeing the data, Andrea Sella of University College London said, “This is an important wake up call.”
None of the 62 elements have substitutes that perform equally well. And some of those have no substitutes at all (or if there are substitutes, then they are inadequate). They include: rhenium, rhodium, lanthanum, europium, dysprosium, thulium, ytterbium, yttrium, strontium and thallium.
Only to those of us which didn’t realise that the world was limited to begin with – which would include economists:
Economists have long assumed that a shortage of anything will promptly lead to the development of suitable substitutes, an attitude fostered in part because there have been successful substitutions in the past, such as the cobalt and rhenium examples.
But, then, the average, run of the mill economist wouldn’t know what an economy was if they tripped over one.
That part seems to be saying that some advanced countries no longer have a growing demand for metals such as iron and aluminium. These types of metals have a massive abundance in the Earth’s Crust and are also easily recyclable. It’s implied that, therefore, these metals use is sustainable but we need to look to how those metals are produced. Iron, for example, uses a lot of coke in it’s production and so needs a supply of coal available to be produced and coal is likely to peak and then decline putting a limit on availability of steel.
Are they a massive power-play by the Chinese government? They know that fuel prices are likely to skyrocket in the next 10 years, so figure “hey, lets build new cities while the crude flows?”.
graphene very strong carbon one molecule thick able to conduct electricity and a good way to lock up carbon the rate of change in technology is gathering pace.
recycling of circuitry will become more economically viable!
As the article points out, the bulk metals such as aluminium and iron availability isn’t really a problem but once you get into the rare earths and stuff then we have a problem.
That said, this could be interesting as far as computers and cell phones go.
Alienated as I am at the moment from various goings on at RNZ, but can someone confirm for me whether or not the participants (i.e. mathew Hooten, and “I’m Inclined to Agree with you”), regulated, or should I say “regularised” by the ‘regular-work-life-balanced-Regular-Gal’ (coming in a nearby second from the world’s most (and ‘nicest’) Regular Guy – can you tell me whether they’re ekshly getting some sort of FEE for this bilge?
“Great Having you on board guys” of course, and Rinnie holds you in nice-gal-esteem, and she’ll keep ACROSS it all – y’all – of course.
But… do they get some sort of remuneration for all that first-of-the-year Nine-ton-Noon “from the right, and from the right” spin, opinion and spiel?
The trick is not to look at the words, Draco. It’s all perfectly reasonable if you understand that their core tenet is “scare the middle/lower-middle class into conservatism by implying that the State is trying to control your life while letting degenerates roam free.”
It took me a while to see the point of the screenshot – the print of “my mummy’s a criminal” bit – I couldn’t read the small print on my laptop – had to go to NZ First’s website. It’s a vid against the removal of the protection for child bashers in the section 59 Bill.
With apologizes to all my gay friends.
In England, as reported in todays NZ Herald, some twit, a Councillor, is reported as saying the flooding there is to blame on – “gay marriage.”
Colin Craig? Cameroon Brewer? anyone like that spring to mind in New Zealand. ffs, what century are we living in? do you laugh or cry? absolutely absurd.
Morrissy you missed the rest of the show listen to it on livestreaming
Mike Williams gave his best account in a long time.
Hearsay Hoodwinker was put in his place by Ryan and Williams countered every argument hooten tried to put foward its electon year williams is not agreeing anymore no more free ride smart move by Williams .
Last year williams let hooten have a free ride this year is different.
Listen to live stream of the whole show.
Even on the Peters issue hooten was rabbiting on about Keys integrety about no deal With Peters Ryan hauled him up on that saying hooten has got that wrong.
Doesn’t Hooten remember Keys change of heart.
Hollow hooter is trying to stop national potential voters supporting Peters with his dog whistle but Ryan was having none of it.
Thanks for that encouraging information, tricledrown. I did say that maybe they had performed better than they did on the few minutes I heard, and it appears that they did.
It was a rumblin’ and a swaying’ up here near the Newlands ridgeline here in Wgtn. Really glad it didn’t amount to anything. How are folks doing closer to the epi-centre in The Wairarapa?
Public Id: 2014p051675
NZDT: Monday, January 20 2014 at 3:52:42 pm
New Zealand region intensity ?: strong
Maximum intensity ?: strong
Depth: 65 km
Magnitude: 6.3
Location: 10 km north of Castlepoint
Freaky. Lost some crockery and a stereo’s gone for a burton. Off to help find the neighbour’s dog, little bugger took off down the street like a fluffyUsain Bolt.
Cheers, David, everything seems to be working ok. A couple of brick chimneys down in my street, and a powerline dropped on the railway tracks, so it did have a bit of oomph to it.
Have to say though, that if you can run across the room to save the flat screen tv, it’s not that severe a quake. Can’t remember what geonet use as the scale but that’s their word so I guess Stuff is using it.
Wow that shake at 3.50 was a disturbing one. one of my sheds is now lop sided. Am based just out of Levin . not much frazzles me but that has. Am still shaking a tad
Sorry about your shed and your nerves risildowgtn. I hope you soon begin to feel more settled and that you’re not getting the aftershocks up there. All quiet here but I think there are aftershocks going on around Manawatu. Hopefully they are not making their presence felt in Horowhenua there.
From a long 2008 Herald article all about Key’s early life unearthed by travellerev.
Ask yourself as you read this paragraph….does this ring true with someone unable to remember which he stood on during the 81 tour?
Sounds like porkies, Mr Key.
Key himself credits those early debates as sparking his interest in politics. He remembers being attracted by the fiery political arguments of the 1970s and 1980s. “They were quite intense debates – Kawerau and Kinleith and people striking over the Cook Strait ferries – all of those kind of things,” he says. “It was certainly a period of time where politics were prominent and I was fascinated by it.”
Mr Brewer said the protesters did not justify security being there.
“I don’t believe ratepayers should be funding security guards to surround the Mayor on such occasions. A few hecklers and peaceful demonstrators exercising their democratic right is no justification,” he said.
Havent heard him object to the pry ministers over use of guards? I bet they cost more than 20 bucks an hour.
3 News tonight, in Tory propaganda mode: have a go at Kim Dotcom for copyright infringEments by some Mega users: Brewer having a go at Brown, and Tory spin on the need to make more Auckland land, on the fringes of the city, for home buyers (spinning for property sepculators)….then talking up Canterbury housing upsurge.
Yes it was appalling stuff alright. No proper investigations. Just innuendo and snide inferences. I guess the truth is too boring. The decision to raise security detail around a VIP – be they prime minister or mayor of the supercity – is taken by the person/body charged with providing the security and not the VIP. The only exception is John Key who likes lots of DPS fellas around him cos it makes him feel so important.
The reality is: a senior council official would have made the decision to up security detail around Len Brown. I understand it was also partly due to the fact a cabinet minister was also present.
Terrible stuff on TV3 news Karol I agree. Rather than drawing the bleedin’ obvious conclusion from the fact (stated) that Akl house prices are over 8 times average earnings, that is that:
1. There is a speculative bubble happening in housing in Akl. 2. A CGT would help to fix this.
Instead the so-called expert they had on went on about freeing up more land.
When will they learn this is NOT the problem or the solution-rather it is the tax system we have that favours housing rather than productive investment. Even people like Gareth Morgan are now shouting this from the rooftops.
Yes Brewer a minor fly in a very large bucket of ointment is being given oxygen far above the amount He has either earned or deserves, if not for Lens indiscretions Brewer would be the unheard of nobody that he actually is,
DOCTORS and their professional organisation members seem to be reading blogs and online forums (e.g. Sciblogs, ACC Forum, even The Standard, The Daily Blog, Kiwiblog and so forth)!
They have been getting worried about stuff that has been found out, that has been raised concerns about, and they have now apparently seen a need to take actions and defend the profession, their members, and policies that organisations like the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and their Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine have started promoting since 2010. This includes their policy statement on “The Health Benefits of Work”!
It was all phased in and developed with the help of Professor Mansel Aylward, Dame Carol Black and pushed for with the help of Dr David Beaumont (President Elect of AFOEM, formerly working for ATOS!), same as Principal Health Advisor Dr David Bratt, MSD.
After launching their ideologically coloured policy and consensus statements, and follow-up ones, they have now got worried about their claims. Hence they now saw a need to specify what “work” is supposed to be “good for health”, and they have come up with a statement on “What is good work?”!?
“Background
1. As a doctor you are expected to sign a variety of medical certificates that range in purpose from confirming sickness to certifying death and are required by receiving agencies, which include employers, insurers, ACC and government departments.
2. This statement outlines the standards that you must follow when completing a medical certificate1. It may be used by the Health Practitioner’s Disciplinary Tribunal, the Council and the Health and Disability Commissioner as a standard by which your conduct is measured. A certificate you have completed may also be challenged in a New Zealand court and you may be called upon to justify your decisions.”
“Professional obligations
3. Certificates are legal documents. Any statement you certify should be completed promptly, honestly, accurately, objectively and based on clear and relevant evidence.
4. Your obligation is to the patient and to the law. Issues like the type of certificate being completed or who initiated, or pays, for the consultation must not influence your assessment and findings.
5. You must not complete a medical certificate for yourself or someone close to you.”
“Implications of certificates
6. You must be aware that completing a certificate has implications for the patient, yourself, and the agency receiving the
certificate.
7. Studies have shown that patient, family and cultural factors may influence how doctors complete certificates. Certificates may have financial implications for the patient and the recipient through benefits, employment and compensation payments and failure to complete a certificate appropriately may have a negative impact on the patient, the patient’s family
or the receiving agency. You need to be aware of these influences and recognise that you may be susceptible to them.
8. Completing a certificate may also directly affect the safety and security of others. Certifying a patient to undertake work when he or she is unfit may place the patient or the patient’s colleagues at risk.
9. Because a certificate has implications for the receiving agency, that agency might contact you for more information. You should therefore have a conversation with the patient about the information you are permitted to disclose if you are approached.”
I think that much more needs sorting out here, and the ones that have to correct their ways above all else are the top dogs sitting in the MSD and in government as a whole!
And any “research” from Professor Mansel Aylward should go straight into the waste paper bin, for shredding and recycling! Dr Bratt should himself be sacked and sent to spend the rest of his “working life” on the “dole”, I suggest, and his assets should be frozen, so he has no access to them.
The Medical Council of NZ, the RACP and AFOEM have got worried, and I wonder how MSD and WINZ are going to work with them and their doctor members in future, as they seem to be planning to be more careful with assessments and diagnosis.
So maybe that is behind the plans for WINZ to start contracted out “medical assessments” and “work capability assessments” in February this year, following the UK example with ATOS, and possibly some competition for them over there some time soon.
Keep your eyes on WINZ and what their “contracted” providers will get up to!
Any considered opinions on this one – given that NZ is perceived to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’?
_____________________________________________________________________________
EVIDENCE Attorney-General Chris Finlayson voted in favour of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — Third Reading 12 November 2013
How is this not a significant ‘conflict of interest’ for NZ Attorney-General Chris Finlayson?
Even worse that it was a ‘personal’ vote?
NZ Attorney-General Chris Finlayson voted in favour of the NZ International Convention Centre Bill (Third Reading). yet under s.106 of the NZ Crimes Act 1961,
(1)No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against any of the provisions of sections 100, 101, 104, 105, 105A,105B, 105C, and 105D without the leave of the Attorney-General, who before giving leave may make such inquiries as he or she thinks fit.
(It is s.105(1) of the Crimes Act 1961, that a private prosecution of Auckland Mayor Len Brown was received by the Auckland District Court on !5 January 2014.)
_____________________________________________________________________________
(1)Every official is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, whether within New Zealand or elsewhere, corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or herself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him or her in his or her official capacity.
(2)Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any official in respect of any act or omission by him or her in his or her official capacity.
Compare: Criminal Code (1954) s 102 (Canada)
Section 105(2): amended, on 3 May 2001, by section 7 of the Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28).
_____________________________________________________________________________
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Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney After several highly publicised alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years ...
Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels All systems are “go” for tonight’s launch of China’s next step in a carefully planned lunar exploration program. Placed on top of a powerful Long March 5 rocket, the Chang’e 6 ...
National returned a massive donation the day after a Newsroom story linked the donors to a property being investigated for operating unlawfully as a migrant workers’ hostel. The party’s 2023 donation filings, released on Friday, show it returned a $200,000 donation from Buen Holdings on August 23. That was the ...
Pacific Media Watch New Zealand has slumped to an unprecedented 19th place in the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index survey released today on World Press Freedom Day — May 3. This was a drop of six places from 13th last year when it slipped out of its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
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Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
In this excerpt from her new memoir, Dame Susan Devoy remembers her turn as star contestant on the 2022 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. The most anxious time of every day was pre-elimination, when you knew this could be your final day on the show. I felt such contradictory emotions, ...
A week that began in triumph ended in an all-too-familiar disaster for the Green Party. Duncan Greive asks if there’s something in the mission that breaks its best and brightest. A long, strange week for the Green party began with a fantastic poll result. On one level this is hardly ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he ...
What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start? Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception ...
The striking report goes far beyond the proposed repeal of the Oranga Tamariki Act’s Treaty of Waitangi provision, and its impact should be felt far beyond the unique circumstances of the claim it addresses. Earlier this week, the Waitangi Tribunal released an interim report on the government’s proposed repeal of ...
The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Monash University Ken stocker/Shutterstock In the wake of numerous killings of women allegedly by men’s violence in 2024, thousands of Australians have joined rallies across the country to demand action ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney LanaElcova/Shutterstock Electric vehicles are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions – and air pollution – from transport. Is this view correct? Yes – but only once uptake accelerates. Despite the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Natassia Woodley, Researcher and Phd Candidate, Edith Cowan University There is widespread agreement Australia needs to do better when it comes to gender-based violence. Anger and frustration at the numbers of women being killed saw national rallies over the weekend and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Mark and Anna Photography/Shutterstock As home ownership moves further out of reach for many Australians, “rentvesting” is being touted as a lifesaver. Rentvesting is the practice of renting one property to live ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sukhmani Khorana, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Netflix The new season of Heartbreak High is garnering mixed reviews. Critics are writing about the racy story lines, comparing it to other coming-of-age series about teenage relationships and ...
Bob Carr intends to launch legal action against Winston Peters and Julie Anne Genter is facing a second allegation of bullying. Both sucked the air out of an announcement on education, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
In 1995, Sally Clark went out on her own in a bold and unorthodox attempt to join an illustrious group of equestrian riders conquering the world. In the days of glovebox road maps, brick cell phones, and the hit song How Bizarre, Clark refused to follow Sir Mark Todd, Blyth ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Beaglehole, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago niphon/Getty Images The number of people accessing medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Aotearoa New Zealand increased significantly between 2006 and 2022. But the disorder is still under-diagnosed and ...
whoar..!..the far-right has topped party/pm polls in britain..
http://whoar.co.nz/2014/far-right-prty-beats-tories-and-lib-dems-in-british-poll-and-far-right-leader-beats-cameronclegg-as-favoured-for-prime-minister-ed-whoar-eh-and-good-news-for-kim-dotcom-and-should-h/
(excerpt..)
..and for the likes of kim dotcom..
..this will be very good news..
..the electorate is ripe for something/anything different..
(and funny story..!..the greens in the past would have been in pole-position to grab that opportunity..
..but..the compromises/moves to the centre the greens have taken..and their failures to be a strong different-voice..
..with their (criminal) inaction on/around the medical marijuana bill they (supposedly) supported/fought for..
..being perhaps the most damaging to that ‘outlaw/change’-meme..
..(the greens tried out an innovative new campaigning method with that medical-marijuana bill..
..it was ‘the embarrassed-silence’ mode of campaigning..
..and it wasn’t a success..on any level..
..that and their earlier skirt-lifting/winking/flirting with the idea of supporting a key/tory govt..
..pretty much put the seal on the greens becoming ‘suited-up’..)
(cont..)
phillip ure..
WTF?
what exactly are you having problems getting yr head around..there..
..arfamo..?
..need some help..?
phillip ure..
If the help involves any more fucken dots and effort to try and work out what the hell you are raving on about exactly, no thanks Phil. Appreciate the offer though.
@..arfamo..
..you do know that dot-o-phobia is covered by a.c.c…eh..?
(virgo..?..they tend to dot-o-phobia…i’ve noticed..)
phillip ure..
(virgo..?..they tend to dot-o-phobia…i’ve noticed..)
Do they? Sounds right. Heaps of scientific support for astrological personality classifications. Astrologers are amongst our best thinkers.
vigos can’t take a joke..(the evidence is building..)
..they also have issues with lateral-thinking..eh…?
..does any of that sound familiar..?
..phillip ure..
Well, no, phil, I’m not virgo. I prefer my chinese astrological classification. If it helps, that one describes me as the type of person who “likes to make love in a laundry chute, just to see what it feels like”. Anyway, I’ve had enough dots and blank space for the day. I’m off to do something useful.
..Have …
..an…
ice…
…day
Good for you Arfamo.
@..weka..
.are you cheering on arfamos’ desire to bonk in a laundry-chute..there..
..weka..?
phillip ure..
Phil, it’s never going to happen. My girlfriend is emphatically not assisting in my ongoing search for a chute of an appropriate size and design. My last 10 advertisements for another girlfriend who might have produced a blank.
@ arfamo..
..are you/they known as ‘chute-ists’..?
..and have you faced any (laundry-based) discrimination..?
..since coming out..?
..phillip ure..
All I have gained to date is 5 trespass notices. This is why I don’t like astrology. I am considering entering politics in France, Italy or the US, where this kind of activity is likely to get me elected.
the auckland mayoralty position is coming up soon..?
..there is a pattern there..
..has the object-of-desire manifestation of the incumbants’ mid-life-crisis ever been asked about their relationship..
..and/in the context of.. ‘laundry-chutes’..?
phillip ure..
Hmm. Hotels have laundry chutes. Good tip. Thanks Phil.
are there any protocols in/around your (ahem..!..)..interest..?
..there…arfmo..
..do you prefer an empty or full basket @ the bottom of the chute..?
..does ‘odour’ have a part to play in that chute-attraction/pre-chuting-suitability evaluation..?
..do you like to visit whiteware-showrooms..?
..and stroke the appliances..
..and dream of chute-ing..?
..and do your interests spread/stray into any other part /aspect..
..of the laundry-experience..?
phillip ure..
I’m sorry Phil, your questions indicate a level of interest that is getting prurient. I’m away. Try not to overdo the dots.
it’s alright..i know how to handle my dots..
..and also i’m on a form of apostrophe-methadone..
..it’s called the dash-program..
– so i am learning to substitute – eh – ?
..you should have seen me back in the day..!
..whoar…!!…..
..mainlining dots..all day..and all of the night..
..phillip ure..
Very amusing Phil U and Arfamo. Good repartee.
Reminds me of Jewel of the Nile discussion refereed by the Jewel who was Avner Eisenberg – looking at him on google seems very funny
chrs gw..
..and good on old weka for kicking it off eh..?
..and a bit of a touch of the law of unintended-consequences for that quarrelsome/destructive/hectoring native-bird..
..(of the very very pale-green/carnivorous variety..)
..eh..?
(what’s that sound..?
..is that what a ‘grinding’ weka-beak sounds like..?..)
..and weka is/must be an early short-lister –
– for todays’ foil-of-the-day-award..eh..?
phillip ure..
What?
..”..what..?..”
the very very pale-green/carnivorous native-bird..
..howled into the void..
..(there was no answer..there usually isn’t..)
..phillip ure..
Phil is extrapolating from a headline in a UK sunday newspaper. The actual result on voting intention is:
Labour leads on 35 per cent, the Conservatives are 30 per cent, UKIP have19 per cent and the Lib Dems remain stalled on 8 per cent. Given the UK’s FPP voting system, the support for UKIP is illusory; they won’t actually win 19% of the seats. They may, however, cause the Tories to lose quite a few.
The upcoming European elections, which are on a proportional basis, may be more fruitful for the swivel eyed loons of UKIP. Ironic, given their hatred of Johnny Foreigner.
Righto. Thanks for that. I think I’ll have some breakfast.
@..trp..
..i wd add that the sunday newspaper is the independent..
..hardly a rightwing-rag..
..and i think the unlying thesis of my piece..stands..
..namely how ripe for change the voters both there and here are..
..and how that ‘protest’ eu-vote..is their only outlet..
..whereas here.?.
..we have mmp..eh..?
..aren’t we lucky bunnies..?
..we can have our revolutions @ the ballot-box..
..we can throw the bastards out..
..and install whoever we so wish..
..(let us pause once again to thank those who made that happen for us..eh..?..
..rod donalds’ finest hour…eh..?..
..vale..!..rod..)
..phillip ure..
(heh..!..maybe ‘unlying’ should read ‘underlying’..eh..?..
..what a difference a ‘der’ makes..eh..?..)
..phillip ure..
“Paying out KiwiSaver cash under the serious financial hardship provision benefits only the bankrupt’s creditors rather than the bankrupt themselves,.”
Stephen Joyce’s department (Business Innovation and Employment) are undermining the KIWISAVER scheme.
The ministry’s view is that a bankrupt’s KiwiSaver money should be available to pay creditors.
That will lead to money-lenders extending debt at high rates on the strength of a KIWISAVER statement.
That will screw the poorest and benefit usurious gangsters.
See story in the NZ Herald.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11189013
I’d wondered about this and looking at the article there does need to be some clearer rules. Firstly, most kiwisaver is the normal modest contributions from work. But it is possible to set up a personal kiwisaver scheme and if the dollars in it are large enough then it can be quite worthwhile (main cost are the audit requirements) so they can be set up and business people could and are hiding large dollops of assets in them.
Second problem is the ability to get at it at 65. Banks if they have a security that they can readily access leave loans outstanding, accruing interest and then take control of the estate or in this case could go for the kiwisaver at age 65. Some other pension funds require a court order to pay out.
And then there are issues around welfare benefits and care payments for the elderly etc, etc. Didn’t matter until now when kiwisaver dollars are getting up.
Just the rich looking for more ways to take everyone else’s money off them.
So right DTB – so how sacred do we make kiwisaver funds – protected up to say $300,000 + CPI
doesnt a banrupt owe some hard working folk some money for goods or services rendered?
I know alot of hard working small business owners and sole traders who have missed out because of a bankruptcy or liquidation declaration.
Yep, and frankly they should be at the top of the queue along with/just after employees. That would stop banks and the like overlending. BTW liquidation is for companies so no kiwisave rimpact
Yeah, I know a few of them as well but they’re not going to get anything out of this as they happen to be unsecured creditors. To get it so that the small business owners and contractors get paid requires a law change to make them secured and primary creditors. All this seems to do is give the banks access to someones retirement fund if they go bankrupt.
What normal people do when the government attacks the right to protest.
Riot.
Have to say I’ve been enoying the tenor of some of your comments lately OAK 🙂
Thanks Weka 🙂
len brown on nine to noon..now..
phillip ure..
Was it worth it?
@ paul..
..nah..!..
..but that could be my bad..
..i have found that whenever brown starts spouting that aspirational-bullshit he slathers/trowels over everything..
..(with that rictus-grin firmly in place..)
..that my eyes glaze over..my ears shut down..
..and i seem to slip thru a tear in the space-time-continuum..
..and i can’t remember a single fucken thing he said..
..eh..?
..i only came back..when a ditty heralded his exit..
..blessed-relief..!..that was…
..i dunno where i go..at moments like that…
..but i do know it is somewhere where brown is not..
..(i think maybe i am allergic to aspirational-bullshit-slathering..eh..?..
..and have physical-reactions to assaults like those from brown..
..i mean..imagine being trapped with him in one of those ‘sacred-to-maori-rooms @ the town hall..?
..history has showen/proven..
..that anything could happen..
..with ‘down-trou’-brown..
..whoar..!..eh..?..)
..as i said..’my bad’..
..phillip ure..
“my eyes glaze over..my ears shut down.”
No matter – you didn’t miss a thing
(i.e. despite his being challenged by the best, better, bestest pretender to the title of “ethical, incisive, public service broadcaster extraordinaire, regular and work-life balanced regular Gal or Guy”)
… oops – no wait – there’s a Mora to come – I’ll hold off just for now in aaaaantici……..pay.shun….
This is a good read.
http://www.nationofchange.org/utah-ending-homelessness-giving-people-homes-1390056183
Solving homelessness by housing people.
Simple really.
If a hard-core right wing state government can do it, then anyone can.
+1
Ianmac posted this in Open Mike yesterday but it seems to have been overlooked. I think it’s important so re-posting:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9626111/ACC-payments-manipulated
Basically it says that when National gets into power, they screw down on ACC and make it change it’s policies so that fewer people get the cover they are legislated to receive.
AND as an example.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9626960/No-surgery-for-ailing-woman
DAILY STRUGGLE: Rewa Eves has been in constant pain since she fell during the magnitude 5.9 aftershock in June 2011, but has been denied surgery by ACC and the Canterbury District Health Board will not accept her on to the surgical waiting list.
ACC, however, has refused to pay for the surgery she needs to fix her shoulders.
“They told me it’s a pre-existing condition . . . and apparently I left it too long after the fall to apply, but I didn’t know whether I was coming or going.”
” A letter from the board’s orthopaedic department said although it was “clear [Eves] will benefit from surgery”, the board was unable to provide it.
It said public hospitals could only accept patients on to the waiting list if surgery could be provided within six months”
WTF??!? When did that happen? Is that just Canterbury DHB or are they all doing that?
I think they all are. That way you always have a six months waiting list and no priority below that. and no one can measure the unmet needs.
Yeah, but I think they still get reassessed as the the person at teh top of the list drops off when they get their surgery. ie they’re still in the system (in effect on the waiting list without being prioritised).
So what makes it possible for a patient to be operated on in 6 months?
All this crap came about when Shipley was in charge of our health system. She actually abolished waiting lists and instead implemented a ‘booking system’.
National came very close to destroying our public health system. The falling down hospitals at the edge of every provincial town in the country attest to that.
The article above is a good example of just how stupid and callous this govt is. Refuse people surgery on ACC, put them on the second tier waiting list at the local DHB, and get the person’s GP to monitor while in limbo. Let the person deteriorate, and prevent them from being a (productive) part of society.
What’s the collective cost of all that?
makes me wonder how many other earthquake victims are still waiting for treatment.
The trouble with NZ health system is that we’re still good at keeping people alive, but we’re shit at that gap between “barely alive” and “well”. People either sit in limbo waiting (but not “waiting”) for treatment, or progressively degrade in condition until they need the machine that goes “bing” (at which point we give them excellent, but much more expensive, treatment).
The cause is simply that the system has been degraded and shuffled about for decades, and the medics and administrators naturally prioritise treatment for greatest need as resources are depleted.
It’s not the resources that are depleted but the money as government after government cuts taxes on the rich.
I meant from the operational (lol) perspective, rather than the strategic perspective. But feel free to invent a disagreement where there was none.
I was just pointing out why “resources” were being depleted from the hospital. It’s easy enough to fix but it would cost money (more hospitals, doctors, etc) thus would require higher taxes and would possibly drive up wages as unemployment decreases.
“WTF??!? When did that happen? Is that just Canterbury DHB or are they all doing that?”
Well, CCDHB has certainly cut waiting lists to six months. From this article:
“Dollars before health: Faulkner”
http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
“……….waiting lists had apparently been cut after the Minister told the board that nobody was to wait for more than six months.
GP’s were referring people who never made it on to the waiting list because their case was not sufficiently urgent, she said.
“This is going to have a real blowout because we have a lot of very sick people who are not getting on to the waiting list” “.
So, yeah, Go Tony Ryall.
ACC was ruthless under Labour too. Its strategy was to exit as many long term clients as possible, which included the use of private contractors to do so. A lot of this filtered through to the media in the early 2000s. It didn’t affect the broader middle class the way the Nats’ cuts have though. It’s probably why Labour don’t make too much noise about ACC now.
+1
Doesnt anyone worry about what exactly happens to those that have been ‘exited’?
Not down at ACC. They are on the welfare now. 2013 annual report boasts that 2740 long term claimmants returned to “independence” whatever that means.
And I’m not so sure that ACC aren’t gaming the system. It would need more time to work out but given that the company levies (work) are going down but the earner levies (you & me in the workforce) are not to the same extent, then it’s possible that:
-treatment costs are being shoveled disproportionately onto the earners account to benefit company levies and reduce the government dollop for non earner injuries
– The release of liabilty for earnings compensation (as the boomers approach 65 the need for earnings compensation shuts down which will reduce liabilities horrendously) is being handed to employers despite both employers and employees funding it originally.
Employees fund earnings for non work accidents but the the earnings compensation is split roughly 50:50 between work and non work accidents so treatment costs and reduction in earnings liability should be shared in the same ratio.
If they are on welfare now, their living standard would have taken a tumble, Both ACC and the government are very heartless in doing this.
I hope someone is held to account.
read that on sunday. Am a little surprised that some seem surprised.
this is the type of “skill” that Wayne referred to in another thread as being at the heart of this govt’s economic management.
http://thestandard.org.nz/what-should-david-cunliffes-say-in-his-state-of-the-nation-speech/#comment-759799
Meanwhile, buried deep in the news reports, was a report that ACC and the Hawkes Bay Reigonal Council has entered into a pretty dodgy looking deal whereby ACC paid the HBRC a lump sum in return for ACC getting the income from their leasehold property for the next 30-odd years.
Kinda like if I owned a rental property, and rented it out for $300 a week, someone comes along and offers me $50000 in return for keeping the rent I get from it for the next 30 years.
Its effectively a loan, but not called that on the balance sheets.
I tried to find the link to put up, but it has disspeared.
It’s securitising a stream of income Millsy and has been around for a while. Imagine they assigned the property leases. Can be used to turn revenue streams into capital blocks of money.
Main problem here is that the HBRC has grabbed future council income to spend today (Ruitaniwha Dam?) and reduced choices for future elected bodies – and any problems with the details.
Does the council have to make up any shortfall in the rents, who maintains the properties, what rates of increases did they build into the rents, etc, etc and who benefits from these details.
Oh dear. I read this and suddenly get reminded of one of the main causes of the GFC.
Sell a collection of repayment obligations in return for a large chunk of money now. Gee that’s securitising a stream of income isn’t it?
There it was mortgages, here it is property leases. Tell me it aint so.
Yes I know that this is stretching things a bit, but still.
Incidentally the lease is only on the bare land, not the house so maintenance doesn’t come into it. I believe that these leases have 21 year terms after which revaluation takes place. I wouldn’t guarantee that though.
Yes, I saw Ianmac’s yesterday comment re the stuffed ACC article and was not remotely surprised by the policy direction influenced by the board “plants”.
Having accessed ACC services under Labour in 2007 and under National in 2011 – 2014 I can say I couldn’t have received more differing levels of service. (Xavier has a point at 6.2 though about Labour’s role, I was one of the lucky ones however at that point). Personal experience aside, the Nat Govt has demonstrated fairly consistently it’s contempt for the aims of ACC via their policy changes. The increasing number of people denied surgery is an example of the worst aspects of the changes to ACC.
My reply, (part of which I posted on OM last week) from Ian Lees Galloway regarding reinstating full funding for ACC physio visits was a bit luke warm and didn’t fill me with confidence for Labour’s plans to restore ACC to it’s former levels of service. Yet to hear back from Kevin Hague.
Then privatise provision – you get to choose the level of entitlements and because you have a contract they can’t be backed out of.
Tell that to AFFCO
Yeah, ’cause insurance companies never back out of their obligations or contracts. There’s no track record of that happening overseas or in New Zealand in any insurance industry whatsoever.
Give me a break.
Is your pseudo spelt right L?
No, ta. Replying from work and the cookies are picking up the typo I made first day back last Monday.
Lanthanide
Did you get discombobulated coming back from holiday? Won’t be long to Easter.
I frequently typo my name as Lantahnide when typing quickly. It’s only because The Standard has cookies (or my browser remembers, whatever) that you don’t see it more often.
We Would Have Eliminated Poverty Entirely by Now if Inequality Hadn’t Skyrocketed
Basically, if we hadn’t have followed the neo-liberal fallacy and rewarded the rich for being rich we would have eliminated poverty. Instead, we’ve been increasing it.
Which more or less dovetails with predictions from the 50’s and 60’s that in the future people wouldn’t need to work and there’d be a lot of leisure time.
Instead, the leisure time has accrued to a tiny elite while the rest get crumbs and wage slavery.
most recent example being: imagine if the US Bailout Funds had actually gone where they could have done some good and were used to pay off people’s morgtages, instead of being repeatedly gifted to the criminals who leveraged off them.
Of course doing so would mean central banks having to admit the entire ponzi scheme is not helping the global economy, but enslaving it like a millstone mule, grinding out a profit for them and leaving the rest of us to scrabble for the broken chaff.
I don’t know if it’s been said here or not but George Osborne (the Most Cutting-Tory of Tories) has decided he wants to see a large above-inflation rise in the minimum wage. It’s currently at around £6.30 ($12.60 roughly) and he wants it raised by 70p ($1.40) to £7 ($14). So we have an austerity-focussed Tory Chancellor in England backing a sizable rise in the minimum wage believing businesses can take the hit and it would be good for the economy.
It’ll be interesting if Key and English sticks to tiny, in line with inflation rises.
“It’ll be interesting if Key and English sticks to tiny, in line with inflation rises.”
You mean like the pay rises they get themselves …. ?
If National thinks Labour has any traction with living wage rhetoric, they will increase minimum wage in May Budget BUT it wont be called a “lolly scramble” by the press or national’s supporters. They will puff out their chest reassured they still have a caring side.
The argument is already in place if they look to Britain. Osborne is essentially saying “we can do this because our management of the economy and the deficit was so good.”
I can see the same argument being used by English. I still don’t think they will go to $15 though. Maybe $14.50 or something. Compromise. It’s the government’s modus operandi.
It seems to be ‘fashionable’ emanating from Europe the desire to lift the living standards of the ‘have nots’ even among the hardened Tory’s, perhaps the rioting that at times has gone largely unreported,(Hamburg in Germany), and that that has been covered here by the media,(Greece etc), has shown the Tory’s the ‘writing on the wall’ if the acceleration in inequality continues on it’s current trajectory,
Listening yesterday to RadionNZ National replaying an earlier interview Chris Laidlaw with ex Prime Minister Jim Bolger that i had missed had me laughing like a loon,
Once past the waffle and excuses surrounding the actions of His time as Prime Minister Bolger talked of what has been occurring in today’s New Zealand and global economy,
What Bolger said could have been direct quotes from what we see CV and Draco commenting here at the Standard every day and i was left with the strong suspicion that old Jim might be a secret lurker and looker at what goes on here,
On inequality Bolger was adament that should such continue in this country it posed the ‘greatest danger’ to the economic well-being of NZ and in a world wide sense described Neo-Liberalism particularly in Britain as a ‘money go round attended by ‘ticket clippers’ every step of the way’,there was a lot more in such a vein and for a laugh it might be worth while going to the RadioNZ National web-site for a listen,(but you have to wade through 20 minutes of Bolger waffle to hear Jim expound socialism),
Lolz, listening to him brought to mind that old adage that a lot of ‘Lefty’s move to the right as they age’ and i thought then that perhaps the same is true of those on the right as well but in reverse…
At this moment seven pounds converts, at the mid-rate for the currency, to $13.92. Thus his desired figure is only $0.17 above the current New Zealand, which is due for revision in February and will be paid from April 1, when it woud likely go to at least $14.00. Seems like the UK is trying to catch up with New Zealand doesn’t it.
Does anyone have official, rather than anecdotal, numbers for the Cost of Living in Britain compared to New Zealand?
Average cost for renting a house in England and Wales is around 800 UK pounds per month. ($1600 per month or $400 per week according to your conversion above).
There was an article in ‘the guardian’ a week or so back comparing prices across Europe that also (from memory) included average wage comparisons.
Anyway. Average wage rates in the UK are higher than here. Problem with NZ is that far too many workers bumble along just above that min wage level.
FYI
Media Alert from Graham McCready:
_____________________________________________________________________
Graham Mc Cready, Prosecutor for New Zealand Private Prosecution Service will attend the Auckland District Court Public Office Today at 4:00PM to file:
Memorandum;
Application to make Len Brown case a test case for gifts/bribes and corrupt practices in local body politics;
Application under Section 106 of the Crimes Act 1961 to the Attorney General for NZPPS to Prosecute Len Brown under Section 105(1); or in the alternative an application for the District Court to refer that issue to the High Court to seek an order for the case to continue using the precedent in the Tito Phillip Field case;
Written Submissions; affidavits and exhibits as Required under the Criminal Procedures Act sufficient for the Court to issue a summons to Len Brown using the precedent in the John Banks case;
An urgent application for the Court to set a date for a hearing where all these matters be dealt with in open court before a District Court judge.
There will be no other charges filed against any other named defendant until all these issues are disposed off.
The filed documents will be distributed to media after filing.
Respectfully
Graham Mc Cready
Agent for NZPPS Ltd
Prosecutor
……………..
…………………
Note to media:
I will be working on these documents all day
Please refrain from phoning so I can get the job done.
____________________________________________________________________
Good luck with that, hopefully the absurd decision to go after Brown’s wife will now be seen as a step too far,
To use the Taito Phillip Field case as a precedent you will have to provide the Court with a little thing called ‘Evidence’, the Field case only succeeded because those who gifted the labour to Field gave evidence that both they and Field knew exactly why they were providing Him with such free labour,
Good luck with putting someone on the stand from any of the relevant Hotel’s or organizations who will give such evidence, without it you have no precedent and thus little chance of having this prosecution proceed,
There can be no precedent applied to Brown from the Banks case, both are entirely different matters of law requiring entirely different charges to be laid, in not declaring the ‘gifts’ Brown appears to be subject to no ‘legal remedy’ other than being ‘sanctioned’ by His Council for not declaring the gifts,
i will tho watch this little side-show develop with interest…
bad – you nailed it! McCready drops suit against Browns. Although McCready claims his dropping of the suit is due to procedural problems.
Thanks Karol, my description of the charge Graham Mac,(with the help of Penny Bright),intended to lay against Brown’s wife as absurd is the ‘mild version’ of what i think of such an action and i think i made my anger pretty much clear in a comment about the matter a couple of days ago,
As a public figure Brown has to be answerable for His actions and it’s fair enough for Graham Mac to attempt to make Him answerable befor the Courts,(although i do not believe He has a show in hell of being able to satisfy even the Attorney General that He has sufficient evidence for such a charge to proceed against Brown unless He and Penny have ‘the smoking gun’ so far kept secret),
My opinion, expressed the other day, about the proposed charges against Brown’s wife seems to have come about solely because Graham Mac belatedly realized that most of the hotel accommodation was booked by Shan Inglis,(which may or may not lead the Courts to conclude that it wasn’t Len Brown who accepted such ‘gifts’ that were given,(the hotels will simply point out that for VIP’s this is normal practice),
Hopefully Browns wife will now be left alone to get on with Her life as she sees fit…
The thing about these hotel up-grades, they only have a nominal charge. There isn’t anything tangible in them. You’re still paying for the bed, the room and the servicing. They are fixed costs – an up-grade costs the hotel nothing if that room will not be sold on the night, and that tends to be the main reason why people are up-graded.
The main thing Len did wrong is not declaring the freebie’s.
But listening to L.B. on Nat. Radio with Kathryn Ryan this morning, he stills seems unable to differentiate between the public and private person. While he “was on the job” he was the Mayor, most of his liaisons were initiated while he was the Mayor, but then took place after hours.
I entirely agree with you on the matter of room upgrades, such upgrades in my opinion are only worth what Brown and His wife were prepared to pay for a night’s stay in whatever hotel(s) gave the upgrade…
The Herald seems obsessed by the story.
English is overseas at some forum, looking to see how other countries are tackling the growing gulf between those who have and those who don’t. (Was on RNZ 10am news) Interesting, he is there for ideas – apparently our Government doesn’t have any – surprise, surprise!!
So like the green paper on “child abuse” – first a meeting, then a round of ideas, then further meetings, time for a breath and a cup of tea, more consultation, finally consult the stake holders, and then present the grand plan. Time elapsed – maybe 2 – 3 years. As for most of those in poverty, well, your guess is as good as mine, but in reality, their prognosis is not good. A bit like Paula Bennett’s guide for dealing with child abuse and child poverty – zip it sweetie.
Re the green paper on child abuse. Wise observation as per usual from you Will. And English? Ha, well perhaps he may be listening to George Osbourne? (Comment above from Disraeli Gladstone)
In todays Herald
Apart from the first, the rest would seem to fit PIKE RIVER too.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11189193
• She operated Easy Rider knowing that a master holding a skippers certificate was required and that the appropriate certificate was not held
• She caused or permitted the vessel to be operated in a manner which caused unnecessary danger or risk to the persons on board
• As the director of AZ1 Enterprises Ltd, she acquiesced or participated in the failure of the company to ensure that no action or inaction of any employee while at work harmed any other person on board Easy Rider
• As the director, she acquiesced or participated in the failure of the company to ensure the safety of its employees while at work on board the Easy Rider
• As the director, she acquiesced or participated in the failure of the company to ensure that no contractor or subcontractor was harmed while doing work on board.
Phil ure
Trying some Dot Com.edy
Dv the bigger the crime the less the time.
Penny Bright Graham McCready
Why aren’t you taking the Directors of Pike River to court
Me thinks you are just in it for your own ego stroking and political gain?.
Whatever ‘tricledrown’ …..
Like to point a stick at anything useful you have done lately to help the public or the public interest?
When you’re ready …………………………
Penny Bright
Penny for your information i have been involved in various community initiatives for most of my life the list is long fostering children,helping street kids turn their lives around, political party involvement from beating the streets to high level organization, sports teams organizing coaching playing, environmental clean ups tree planting etc etc.I belong to a community service organization we do a lot to foster young into volunteering building stronger communities most of us in this organization are fed up with the snails pace of govt action so we are working from the bottom up,
29 people died at pike river loose morals len hasn’t killed any one i don’t disagree with him facing the music.
but those board members and managers at pike river should be in gaol for a long time.
I just criticised you to get your attention.
This corporate corruption is far worse than any political scandal
this is corporate manslaughter .
you seem to be a person along with mr mcCready who could put some real criminals on trial.
Sorry it really pisses me off that no one is being held accountable for this horrific crime
can you help.
In all fairness to Penny Bright and Graham Mac, the families of the Pike River 29 have been reported as asking that ‘others’ do not mount private prosecutions against the hierarchy of the Pike River Mining Company as an attempt to prosecute that fails may prevent the families themselves from pursuing their own prosecutions in the future…
Now they’re claiming Key has an “unusual degree of integrity”
Mike Williams continues to act as Hooton’s patsy
From the Left and From the Right, Radio NZ National, Monday 20 January 2014
I tuned in to this morning’s programme late, about 11:25, just in time to hear this….
MATTHEW HOOTON: John Key does operate with a degree of integrity that is unusual in politics…..
Hooton went on to burnish what is obviously a major new National Party talking point—that the prime minister is a man of integrity—making sure that he repeated that canard as many times as he could in sixty seconds. All up and down the length of the country, listeners snorted in derision, shouted in outrage, ground their teeth and shook their heads in disbelief—but in the Radio NZ studios, there was silence. There was not even the hint of a suggestion that Hooton had just committed yet another gross violation of truth. There was not a word of demur. Paul Holmes’s former high school classmate and pal Mike Williams, billed as being “From the Left”, remained silent, as did the host, Kathryn Ryan.
Admittedly I heard only the last few minutes, so perhaps I’m being harsh on Ryan and Williams. Perhaps Ryan actually said something intelligent earlier in the programme, and perhaps Mike Williams had the courage to contradict one of those sly, cynical, loaded comments that are Hooton’s speciality.
But by the sounds of the dismal three minutes or so that I heard, it sounds like it’s business as usual at National Party Radio.
Well, I suppose lying and getting away with it shows something about his character – usually not integrity though.
The Hooten quote should have continued with the words,”but in the realm of the sleazy backstreet used car salesman is par for the course”…
How does Hooton have a clue what integrity looks like?
Bomber had it spot on about Pagani and Williams – they are Fox Democrats.
“How does Hooton have a clue what integrity looks like?”
He thinks it’s something that’s stuck to the bottom of his shoe. To be gotten rid of at the first opportunity, he keeps it there along with Truthfulness and Honesty.
And Hootens horseshit spreads across the land
[lprent: Get the name right – it is hooton. ]
OOPPSS. A typo my bad.
http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/174227/why-misspelled-names-are-so-common-what-journalists-are-doing-to-avoid-them/
You couldn’t be too harsh on Williams if you tried. He is getting more and more like the proverbial wet bus ticket every time he deigns to open his mouth, if only to change feet! If onlt he would get permanent Laryngitis!
DH did you listen to the show listen( listen carefully on live stream) Williams and Ryan were silent because hootons comments were unbelievable.
both Williams and Ryan took hooton to task on every other issue.
Including Hootons comment that Key is a shoe in 2014 election pointing out key is running out of coalition partners.
Morissey only heard one comment out of context.
Just have a listen DH then come back to me if you think i was wrong.
I have listened to it again I even put on Headphones so there was no distraction, and I stand by what I said. And silence because they were what? Appalled ? They didn’t say that. In fact they said nothing. And if something is that bad to render them speechless, even after having time to think about it, still can’t come up with anything to say. Then they both deserve to be changed. And I thought Ryan is supposed to be good at this interviewing stuff.
Governments the world over are tacitly admitting the war on pot has been lost and the sooner education regulation and decriminalization enter the fray the better for all. No better proof for this than Obama’s recent comments. That said, we still seem to be facing some odd decisions. Despite this and quasi-valid decisions like it, progress is being made but any real step-change won’t occur until every last patent has been sewn up by the pharmacrats and the light turns green, so to speak.
Despite decades of stating there was no such thing, the US patent office have begun to approve patents for medicinal use of cannabinoids. Big pharma has an ever-expanding web of patent applications being duly processed. I read somewhere it is estimated that China alone has over three thousand medical-use patents under consideration. Atop this health horizon are the mountain ranges of tax dollars hemp regulation would generate, not to mention the piles of Police dollars marijuana reform would free up.
Those three elements, health, tax and policing, prove how the breadth of the approaching transformation is not able to be quantified into a quick-fix soundbite. It will require a herculean effort in stage-managed incrementalism, fortunately the MSM are well trained for this heavy lifting.
The few Hemp products available and the timid steps towards legal reformation being explored, are simple manoeuvres designed to tie down social engineering options necessary for the big international roll out. After a century of propaganda it is no easy ask to return balance to the discussion but once the patents are signed and the greenlight is given, just watch how quickly the message changes. It took almost twenty years to cement petrochemicals as the saviour of the world and turn the world against hemp, which at the time was one of the biggest Industries on the planet. Admittedly that was a different time. Flipping the message would be a lot faster and for a few, just like last time, it will again be very very profitable. Despite the social blowback from decades of lies being overcome, the lollies will be dispersed, the rules will be changed, the people will forget and the game as always will continue. The difference this time is the product they are pushing might actually help the planet.
i recently had a conversation with a cop from the far north.
we eventually got on to the subject of pot.
he was of the opinion that it would never be deriminalized/legalized, in fact there have been murmurs of it being changed from class c drug to class b.
the reasoning he gave was that the thc levels had increased from 3-5%, in the ’70s to a staggering 33%!
obviously this is all anecdotal, but an interesting insight into how the powers that be are thinking.
As you say, an anecdotal insight, but it is a sad reality expressive of the current thinking.
It is however, a bluntly innaccurate insight, designed to excite the puritans and build fear in the ignorant. It is as absurd as saying all roses are red.
This Drug Foundation article remarks on the supposedly increasing strength of THC levels
http://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/mythbusters/cannabis-potency
Thanks for that CV. Have heard that meme a few times now, – good to have a reference back to this article.
hey thanx c.v., its good to be able to point out what the “experts” have discovered.
another thing, the drug foundation seems to have taken a slighltly different tack over recent years away from the knee jerk “all drugs are bad, …mmkay..” (thank you south park) to a more reasoned and considered tone.
Looks like they trying to stop ‘every joe blow’ growing thier own strong stuff and only getting weak shit (and probably full of ‘Keep it burning chemicals’ from them.) Good luck to them trying their ‘It’s all ours’ Patent bullshit down here.
Metals in your smartphone have no substitutes
Only to those of us which didn’t realise that the world was limited to begin with – which would include economists:
But, then, the average, run of the mill economist wouldn’t know what an economy was if they tripped over one.
And smartphones will be the least of our worries.
Interesting point about the consumption of some bulk metals having peaked. Anyone know what that means?
Use of alternatives
Worldwide recession possibly combined with a reduction in the rate of increase in world population and/or high consumption populations?
Take your pick.
That part seems to be saying that some advanced countries no longer have a growing demand for metals such as iron and aluminium. These types of metals have a massive abundance in the Earth’s Crust and are also easily recyclable. It’s implied that, therefore, these metals use is sustainable but we need to look to how those metals are produced. Iron, for example, uses a lot of coke in it’s production and so needs a supply of coal available to be produced and coal is likely to peak and then decline putting a limit on availability of steel.
China uses half of the world’s cement, ostensibly to build infrastructure and new developments. But also things like ghost cities.
If that bubble is about to collapse, there will be a major reduction in the use of things like structural and reinforcing steel.
I really wonder about those ghost cities.
Are they a massive power-play by the Chinese government? They know that fuel prices are likely to skyrocket in the next 10 years, so figure “hey, lets build new cities while the crude flows?”.
Those ghost cities are going to be great places for industrial hubs sooner or later.
Badly aging workforce demographics due to one child policy.
graphene very strong carbon one molecule thick able to conduct electricity and a good way to lock up carbon the rate of change in technology is gathering pace.
recycling of circuitry will become more economically viable!
But does it work the same way semi-conductors do?
As the article points out, the bulk metals such as aluminium and iron availability isn’t really a problem but once you get into the rare earths and stuff then we have a problem.
That said, this could be interesting as far as computers and cell phones go.
What’s the issue? Just go back to vacuum tubes and electromechanics. Civil society will do just fine, even if the iGadget crowd is despondent.
Alienated as I am at the moment from various goings on at RNZ, but can someone confirm for me whether or not the participants (i.e. mathew Hooten, and “I’m Inclined to Agree with you”), regulated, or should I say “regularised” by the ‘regular-work-life-balanced-Regular-Gal’ (coming in a nearby second from the world’s most (and ‘nicest’) Regular Guy – can you tell me whether they’re ekshly getting some sort of FEE for this bilge?
“Great Having you on board guys” of course, and Rinnie holds you in nice-gal-esteem, and she’ll keep ACROSS it all – y’all – of course.
But… do they get some sort of remuneration for all that first-of-the-year Nine-ton-Noon “from the right, and from the right” spin, opinion and spiel?
kathryn – please take another diving trip
Translation: do Hooton and Williams etc get paid for being on Nine to Noon?
Don’t know, but have wondered myself. I assume yes.
Ah …. you goet my point then weka – a hugely wafflised question asking a simple question
Anyone else confused?
A screenshot of Family First’s home page.
The trick is not to look at the words, Draco. It’s all perfectly reasonable if you understand that their core tenet is “scare the middle/lower-middle class into conservatism by implying that the State is trying to control your life while letting degenerates roam free.”
It took me a while to see the point of the screenshot – the print of “my mummy’s a criminal” bit – I couldn’t read the small print on my laptop – had to go to NZ First’s website. It’s a vid against the removal of the protection for child bashers in the section 59 Bill.
The ‘booming’ economy does not feel like it to our regions:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11188961
With apologizes to all my gay friends.
In England, as reported in todays NZ Herald, some twit, a Councillor, is reported as saying the flooding there is to blame on – “gay marriage.”
Colin Craig? Cameroon Brewer? anyone like that spring to mind in New Zealand. ffs, what century are we living in? do you laugh or cry? absolutely absurd.
Pity the poor sods who live in the same house as him.
The dirty politics behind Key and McCully’s betrayal of Tonga:
http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2014/01/letting-down-family.html
That is shameful of NZ.
Thanks for the link, was good to understand that part of Pacific cultures a bit better (fatonia).
Morrissy you missed the rest of the show listen to it on livestreaming
Mike Williams gave his best account in a long time.
Hearsay Hoodwinker was put in his place by Ryan and Williams countered every argument hooten tried to put foward its electon year williams is not agreeing anymore no more free ride smart move by Williams .
Last year williams let hooten have a free ride this year is different.
Listen to live stream of the whole show.
Even on the Peters issue hooten was rabbiting on about Keys integrety about no deal With Peters Ryan hauled him up on that saying hooten has got that wrong.
Doesn’t Hooten remember Keys change of heart.
Hollow hooter is trying to stop national potential voters supporting Peters with his dog whistle but Ryan was having none of it.
Thanks for that encouraging information, tricledrown. I did say that maybe they had performed better than they did on the few minutes I heard, and it appears that they did.
That’s great news.
i only half listened today but heard Williams with a bit of bite at least attempt to put Hooten in His place…
Big shake Central NI
Geonet data
I hope all are safe.
It was a rumblin’ and a swaying’ up here near the Newlands ridgeline here in Wgtn. Really glad it didn’t amount to anything. How are folks doing closer to the epi-centre in The Wairarapa?
Martinborough OK @ Rosie apart from a few scared shitless – a bit worse further north me thinks
Glad you’re all right Tim 🙂
Seems it was Masterton and Palmy that have suffered most
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9629660/6-3-quake-rattles-lower-North-Island
Public Id: 2014p051675
NZDT: Monday, January 20 2014 at 3:52:42 pm
New Zealand region intensity ?: strong
Maximum intensity ?: strong
Depth: 65 km
Magnitude: 6.3
Location: 10 km north of Castlepoint
Freaky. Lost some crockery and a stereo’s gone for a burton. Off to help find the neighbour’s dog, little bugger took off down the street like a fluffyUsain Bolt.
@TRP
Was quite a thump… Wasn’t rock ‘n’ roll but more like Shake baby Shake.
I do have some spare stereo bits lying around, if needed
Cheers, David, everything seems to be working ok. A couple of brick chimneys down in my street, and a powerline dropped on the railway tracks, so it did have a bit of oomph to it.
Stuff thinks it was in Welly 😉
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9629659/Severe-quake-shakes-Wellington
Have to say though, that if you can run across the room to save the flat screen tv, it’s not that severe a quake. Can’t remember what geonet use as the scale but that’s their word so I guess Stuff is using it.
Ooooh, hobbit hater alert:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11189343
Oh… and eagle has landed jokes alert.
Fly like a beagle alert!
still, it’s a bold person who walks underneath one of those. I thought seagulls were dangerous enough…
Wow that shake at 3.50 was a disturbing one. one of my sheds is now lop sided. Am based just out of Levin . not much frazzles me but that has. Am still shaking a tad
Sorry about your shed and your nerves risildowgtn. I hope you soon begin to feel more settled and that you’re not getting the aftershocks up there. All quiet here but I think there are aftershocks going on around Manawatu. Hopefully they are not making their presence felt in Horowhenua there.
Take it easy.
Yep. hope all in the area are feeling OK.
From a long 2008 Herald article all about Key’s early life unearthed by travellerev.
Ask yourself as you read this paragraph….does this ring true with someone unable to remember which he stood on during the 81 tour?
Sounds like porkies, Mr Key.
Key himself credits those early debates as sparking his interest in politics. He remembers being attracted by the fiery political arguments of the 1970s and 1980s. “They were quite intense debates – Kawerau and Kinleith and people striking over the Cook Strait ferries – all of those kind of things,” he says. “It was certainly a period of time where politics were prominent and I was fascinated by it.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-key-the-unauthorised-biography/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502247&objectid=10522310
Mr Brewer said the protesters did not justify security being there.
“I don’t believe ratepayers should be funding security guards to surround the Mayor on such occasions. A few hecklers and peaceful demonstrators exercising their democratic right is no justification,” he said.
Havent heard him object to the pry ministers over use of guards? I bet they cost more than 20 bucks an hour.
“Labour has accused Key of using the Diplomatic Protection Squad as an entourage, after its costs blew out by $800,000 in 2009/10.
Part of the $800,000 blow-out was $30,000 for squad members to accompany Key during his summer holiday to Hawaii at the end of 2009.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4968881/Clark-turned-down-diplomatic-protection-emails-show
3 News tonight, in Tory propaganda mode: have a go at Kim Dotcom for copyright infringEments by some Mega users: Brewer having a go at Brown, and Tory spin on the need to make more Auckland land, on the fringes of the city, for home buyers (spinning for property sepculators)….then talking up Canterbury housing upsurge.
Yes it was appalling stuff alright. No proper investigations. Just innuendo and snide inferences. I guess the truth is too boring. The decision to raise security detail around a VIP – be they prime minister or mayor of the supercity – is taken by the person/body charged with providing the security and not the VIP. The only exception is John Key who likes lots of DPS fellas around him cos it makes him feel so important.
The reality is: a senior council official would have made the decision to up security detail around Len Brown. I understand it was also partly due to the fact a cabinet minister was also present.
Terrible stuff on TV3 news Karol I agree. Rather than drawing the bleedin’ obvious conclusion from the fact (stated) that Akl house prices are over 8 times average earnings, that is that:
1. There is a speculative bubble happening in housing in Akl. 2. A CGT would help to fix this.
Instead the so-called expert they had on went on about freeing up more land.
When will they learn this is NOT the problem or the solution-rather it is the tax system we have that favours housing rather than productive investment. Even people like Gareth Morgan are now shouting this from the rooftops.
And Key just wanted them to look important (Like a pale an Obama clone)
Yes Brewer a minor fly in a very large bucket of ointment is being given oxygen far above the amount He has either earned or deserves, if not for Lens indiscretions Brewer would be the unheard of nobody that he actually is,
That’ll learn ya Len…
Erik Ravelo – Los Untocables
DOCTORS and their professional organisation members seem to be reading blogs and online forums (e.g. Sciblogs, ACC Forum, even The Standard, The Daily Blog, Kiwiblog and so forth)!
They have been getting worried about stuff that has been found out, that has been raised concerns about, and they have now apparently seen a need to take actions and defend the profession, their members, and policies that organisations like the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and their Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine have started promoting since 2010. This includes their policy statement on “The Health Benefits of Work”!
It was all phased in and developed with the help of Professor Mansel Aylward, Dame Carol Black and pushed for with the help of Dr David Beaumont (President Elect of AFOEM, formerly working for ATOS!), same as Principal Health Advisor Dr David Bratt, MSD.
After launching their ideologically coloured policy and consensus statements, and follow-up ones, they have now got worried about their claims. Hence they now saw a need to specify what “work” is supposed to be “good for health”, and they have come up with a statement on “What is good work?”!?
See the details from their further statement on this from Oct. 2013:
http://www.racp.org.nz/page/racp-faculties/australasian-faculty-of-occupational-and-environmental-medicine/realising-the-health-benefits-of-work/latest-news/
Download the ridiculously explained, bizarre publication they released on that: http://www.racp.org.nz/download.cfm?downloadfile=E2F6A860-D1D5-E958-6D9D641F04477400&typename=dmFile&fieldname=filename
Here a further statement to governments, employers, businesses, insurers and the likes:
http://www.racp.org.nz/download.cfm?downloadfile=E2F74DB8-95EE-6BC7-9E2C313D721B6F11&typename=dmFile&fieldname=filename
But that aside, they still stand for this, and try to justify what they said before, and what the high calibre “experts” that pushed for all this, still adhere to:
http://www.racp.org.nz/index.cfm?objectid=E1D5428F-B1BF-2C2F-7A247F80DC4F363C
Here is what the Medical Council of New Zealand saw necessary to remind their members of in September 2013:
http://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/News-and-Publications/Statement-on-medical-certification-v4.pdf
“Background
1. As a doctor you are expected to sign a variety of medical certificates that range in purpose from confirming sickness to certifying death and are required by receiving agencies, which include employers, insurers, ACC and government departments.
2. This statement outlines the standards that you must follow when completing a medical certificate1. It may be used by the Health Practitioner’s Disciplinary Tribunal, the Council and the Health and Disability Commissioner as a standard by which your conduct is measured. A certificate you have completed may also be challenged in a New Zealand court and you may be called upon to justify your decisions.”
“Professional obligations
3. Certificates are legal documents. Any statement you certify should be completed promptly, honestly, accurately, objectively and based on clear and relevant evidence.
4. Your obligation is to the patient and to the law. Issues like the type of certificate being completed or who initiated, or pays, for the consultation must not influence your assessment and findings.
5. You must not complete a medical certificate for yourself or someone close to you.”
“Implications of certificates
6. You must be aware that completing a certificate has implications for the patient, yourself, and the agency receiving the
certificate.
7. Studies have shown that patient, family and cultural factors may influence how doctors complete certificates. Certificates may have financial implications for the patient and the recipient through benefits, employment and compensation payments and failure to complete a certificate appropriately may have a negative impact on the patient, the patient’s family
or the receiving agency. You need to be aware of these influences and recognise that you may be susceptible to them.
8. Completing a certificate may also directly affect the safety and security of others. Certifying a patient to undertake work when he or she is unfit may place the patient or the patient’s colleagues at risk.
9. Because a certificate has implications for the receiving agency, that agency might contact you for more information. You should therefore have a conversation with the patient about the information you are permitted to disclose if you are approached.”
Yeah, right, the Health and Disability Commissioner will ensure rights of sick and disabled are met, is he?
http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/14923-health-and-disability-commissioner/
I would rather advise people to take doctors to court than go there!!!
I think that much more needs sorting out here, and the ones that have to correct their ways above all else are the top dogs sitting in the MSD and in government as a whole!
And any “research” from Professor Mansel Aylward should go straight into the waste paper bin, for shredding and recycling! Dr Bratt should himself be sacked and sent to spend the rest of his “working life” on the “dole”, I suggest, and his assets should be frozen, so he has no access to them.
and his assets should be frozen, so he has no access to them
I’d be ok with it if they just froze him.
The Medical Council of NZ, the RACP and AFOEM have got worried, and I wonder how MSD and WINZ are going to work with them and their doctor members in future, as they seem to be planning to be more careful with assessments and diagnosis.
So maybe that is behind the plans for WINZ to start contracted out “medical assessments” and “work capability assessments” in February this year, following the UK example with ATOS, and possibly some competition for them over there some time soon.
Keep your eyes on WINZ and what their “contracted” providers will get up to!
FYI
Any considered opinions on this one – given that NZ is perceived to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’?
_____________________________________________________________________________
EVIDENCE Attorney-General Chris Finlayson voted in favour of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — Third Reading 12 November 2013
How is this not a significant ‘conflict of interest’ for NZ Attorney-General Chris Finlayson?
Even worse that it was a ‘personal’ vote?
NZ Attorney-General Chris Finlayson voted in favour of the NZ International Convention Centre Bill (Third Reading). yet under s.106 of the NZ Crimes Act 1961,
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM328783.htm
106 Restrictions on prosecution
(1)No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against any of the provisions of sections 100, 101, 104, 105, 105A,105B, 105C, and 105D without the leave of the Attorney-General, who before giving leave may make such inquiries as he or she thinks fit.
(It is s.105(1) of the Crimes Act 1961, that a private prosecution of Auckland Mayor Len Brown was received by the Auckland District Court on !5 January 2014.)
_____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/debates/debates/50HansD_20131112_00000024/new-zealand-international-convention-centre-bill-—-third
New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — Third Reading
[Sitting date: 12 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:14549. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]
New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill
A personal vote was called for on the question, That the New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill be now read a third time.
Ayes 61
Adams (P) Dunne (P) Key (P) Simpson (P)
Ardern S (P) English (P) King C Smith (P)
Auchinvole (P) Finlayson Lee (P) Tisch (P)
Bakshi (P) Foss (P) Lotu-Iiga (P) Tolley (P)
Banks (P) Foster-Bell Macindoe Tremain (P)
Barry (P) Goldsmith (P) McClay (P) Upston (P)
Bennett D Goodhew (P) McCully (P) Wagner
Bennett P (P) Groser (P) McKelvie (P) Wilkinson (P)
Borrows (P) Guy (P) Mitchell Williamson
Bridges (P) Hauiti (P) Ngaro (P) Woodhouse
Brownlee (P) Hayes (P) O’Connor S (P) Yang (P)
Calder (P) Heatley (P) Parata (P) Young (P)
Carter (P) Henare Roy (P)
Coleman (P) Hutchison (P) Ryall (P)
Collins (P) Joyce (P) Sabin (P) Teller:
Dean (P) Kaye (P) Shanks (P) Ross
Noes 59
Ardern J (P) Harawira (P) Moroney Street (P)
Browning (P) Hipkins (P) Norman (P) Tirikatene (P)
Clark (P) Horan (P) O’Connor D (P) Turei
Clendon (P) Hughes O’Rourke (P) Turia (P)
Cosgrove (P) Huo (P) Parker (P) Twyford (P)
Cunliffe (P) Jones (P) Peters (P) Walker (P)
Curran King A Prasad (P) Wall (P)
Delahunty Lees-Galloway (P) Prosser Whaitiri
Dyson Little Robertson G (P) Williams
Faafoi Logie (P) Robertson R (P) Woods (P)
Fenton Lole-Taylor Roche
Flavell Mackey Sage (P)
Genter (P) Mahuta (P) Sharples (P)
Goff (P) Mallard (P) Shearer (P)
Graham (P) Martin Sio (P) Teller:
Hague (P) Mathers (P) Stewart Beaumont
Bill read a third time.
_____________________________________________________l
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM328753.html
105 Corruption and bribery of official
(1)Every official is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, whether within New Zealand or elsewhere, corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or herself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him or her in his or her official capacity.
(2)Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any official in respect of any act or omission by him or her in his or her official capacity.
Compare: Criminal Code (1954) s 102 (Canada)
Section 105(2): amended, on 3 May 2001, by section 7 of the Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28).
_____________________________________________________________________________
Penny Bright
Surprise, surprise – funny how Bill English wants to tax Google et al to pay their fair share of tax after Labour made the same suggestion last week http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11189319