However, this just might be a good thing. If states and local councils go over and above these federal laws.
An example of this , is the cities of San Francisco and Oakland are suing the world’s largest oil companies. The judge in the case has asked some questions.
It’s taking a huge amount of energy away from mitigation, to refighting the case for AGW adam – If you need to have further proof of the damage these vandals (Trump and Pruitt) have done over the past year – here is a regularly updated list compiled by National Geographic: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/how-trump-is-changing-science-environment/
Which makes the list of atrocities even more valid! If you haven’t read it you should.
I can refer you to a different site if you wish – but the atrocities carried out overturning every step towards mitigation for climate change made by Obama and cancelling every environmental protection they can think of is enormous.
The business community are getting stuck into Jacinda Ardern.
Claiming they are suffering from “uncertainty”.
In their view expressing wanting to do something positive about climate change is creating uncertainty which is bad for the economy. The implication being that the Labour led Government is bad for the economy.
Dredging up all their old stupid talking points, and attack lines.
Their viciousness shouldn’t be surprising, it is one of the reasons that we as a society cannot make the necessary changes to save ourselves and protect future generations.
Jacinda Ardern’s decision to take a walk down the steps of Parliament on Monday was well intentioned, but is symbolic of the Government’s confusion around managing an economy.
In what may be a first, the prime minister personally went to greet representatives of Greenpeace and receive a petition calling for the end of oil exploration.
Few seriously doubt that oil and gas is a sunset industry. But there still is genuine debate about whether New Zealand has the gas reserves in operational fields to manage the transition away from fossil fuels.
Personally speaking, I am one of the “few” that think that the oil and gas industry is a “sunset industry”.
And am doing my damnedest to make sure it becomes so.
We need to confront these tired old attack lines.
The smoking industry did it. To continue with their deadly but profitable busisness Instead of confronting the science head on, they deliberately set out to create uncertainty.
They want certainty, let’s give them certainty.
Let’s make it our job as activists to remove all uncertainty. And without compromise,make these greedy, self centred wreckers know, in no uncertain terms, that the age of fossil fuels will, and must end, and as soon as possible. No more delaying tactics, no more fudging and avoiding the issue. The time has come to take a stand.
Jenny, while I agree completely with your sentiments, I despair for the future of the human race!
JohnSelway’s posting above yours is suggesting that the EPA shouldn’t rely on verifiable science for decisions on protecting the environment, which effectively means doing nothing.
Ask the people of New Zealand to give up their cars for the sake of the world and you’ll get a look of blank amazement, followed probably by abuse.
We shall remain re-active when we should be being pro-active! We won’t seriously begin to do anything about mitigating climate change until it’s far too late to do anything effective.
But hey, we have to try. If it takes getting in the face of oil exploration companies to make people realise how damned serious the problem is, count me in!
“Ask the people of New Zealand to give up their cars for the sake of the world and you’ll get a look of blank amazement, followed probably by abuse.”
Of course you will unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world. First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.
“so youre saying there is no need to reduce green house gas emissions?”
No.
This is what I said…
“Of course you will unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world. First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.”
“First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.”
Repeating it dosn’t clarify it….that reads that you dont think there is evidence the world is in imminent danger but perhaps thats not what you mean to say…it would be surprising if it was.
When we do see indisputable evidence for climate change….
…northern rich countries will look to feed then house their populations at lower latitudes. As that’s were former deserts are getting increased rain, and former first world cities are under snow… …glaciers…
So you’d expect say Russia invading any port to its south, Crimea say, and be heavily invested in airports and regimes to the south, aka Turkey, Syria.
Oh, done, and done. Russia believes in climate change.
Eu, France heavily engaged in western Africa…
Only the US thinks climate change is joke, but hey aside from Mexico, where have they got to go…. …Australia.
Not sure how you get from my comment to yours but I’m certainly not a climate change denier at all, sorry to disappoint.
There’s plenty of evidence for climate change everywhere. The climate has always changed and always will. The climate has never been stable for any real amount of time.
I was simply stating that if you are going to ask everyone to give up their cars to save the world then unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world then of course they aren’t going to do it. Obviously if everyone in NZ gave up their cars tomorrow, it wouldn’t affect the world’s climate at all and it certainly wouldn’t stop the climate from changing. (Unless you’ve got evidence that it would, in which case I’ll be happy to change my viewpoint)
If you’re wanting to make peoples lives more difficult and cost them money then you need to be pretty specific else why would they do what you want them too?
good. Do it. Give us some certainty. At least then we know whats going and can plan and implement for it.
The problem isn’t expressing something positive about the reaction to climate change, it’s that Jacinda has done that and then gone and given a speech about Business as usual. Which Jacinda is the right Jacinda?
Nah – in business speak, ‘certainty’ doesn’t just mean the absence of uncertainty. It means a guarantee that policy options they are particularly opposed to are ruled out. It is a deeply coded word and contains an implicit threat – “rule out the options we don’t like, or else!”
It’s pretty funny how you think that someones behaviour, actions and stated intenions creating uncertainty is an “attack” line.
It’s also funny how you think that you are one of the ” “few” that think that the oil and gas industry is a “sunset industry”. when the states that “Few seriously doubt that oil and gas is sunset industry”
Did you just read the headline and go into full white knight outrage mode that someone had been mildly critical of the prime minister?
Two (pre-prepared?*) questions to Ardern right at the end of Question 5, Bridges to Ardern on “Does she stand by her reported statement when personally receiving a petition from Greenpeace on Monday to end oil and gas exploration that the Government was “actively considering” the issue?”
And an extract with Shaw’s two questions. * I have left in the preceding question from Bridges and Ardern’s answer as Shaw’s first question seems to partly ignore the first sentence of Ardern’s answer re Fonterra. This pretty much indicates that Shaw’s questions were pre-prepared and not reactive to the realtime flow of the discussion – and he reads both questions from a paper in the video.
Hon Simon Bridges: Speaking of the environment, what would be the cost to the climate if Fonterra were no longer able to use natural gas for most of their processing plants and had to revert back to coal in order to continue production and safeguard international food security?
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Even Fonterra has acknowledged that they need to tackle this issue head on, even if the Opposition hasn’t. I’m sure I don’t need to educate that member that there are already gas reserves that can run as far as 2046 and that the decisions around exploration permits this year would run for 14 years plus an extra 20 on top of that. This is about decisions that will affect the next 30 years. This is a Government willing to have that debate even if that last one wasn’t.
Hon James Shaw: Is the Prime Minister aware of Fonterra’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to phase out coal use entirely?
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. They share our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050—again, something that the Opposition clearly does not.
Hon James Shaw: Is looking for new fossil fuels the same thing as shutting down existing operations, and what year are the existing operations currently scheduled to wind down?
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I acknowledged, we’ve not said that we would be altering current operations, and a number of those fields actually have a shelf life that goes out as far as, potentially, 2046.
I agree Ad – and I don’t confuse Qs with the media. Just been rather in the news since Shaw’s announcement last Sunday.
In fact one of the few subjects of the five Press Releases issued by the Greens in the last week, and 23 PRs in the last month since 23 Feb that have got any traction in the media. Figures from Greens website.
Interesting how business can demand ‘certainty’ but the rest of us are completely exposed to market discipline. No certainty that our jobs won’t be downsized or outsourced to India or China. No certainty that the tax base will support a public healthcare system that can treat us in a timely, clinically up-to-date manner if we get osteoarthritis or cancer (better cripple yourself financially with that private health insurance), if you are young no certainty of ever owning a house….
An interesting vignette of privilege in action.
But … but… but the economy…. but… but… but gratitude to business.
Mind you Labour dropped taxes they hadnt proposed so scared were they of the back lash, so you cant blame business for thinking some wind and bs will get Labour to give them what they want.
As for business confidence some of that appears to be ideologically based rather than reality based
” “A net 10 percent of businesses reported a lift in own trading activity in the December 2017 quarter, an easing from the net 13 percent in the previous quarter. Previous QSBO surveys have shown business confidence tends to fall after Labour takes office, in contrast to a lift in confidence when National takes office, but the effect on actual activity has been muted. Businesses may be worried about the outlook for the New Zealand economy under the new Labour-led Government, but for now this is not reflected in demand in their own business.”
I agree. They are worried, that is why they say they are “uncertain”.
Jacinda has sent a message. Like all big issues, this won’t be settled easily, or without a fight. The big money is talking scheming and targeting any apparent weakness.
In spite of losing in Supreme Court, NZ bureaucrats are up to it again, denying Greenpeace charitable status.
We all thought things would get better under a Labour/Green/NZ First government…
“Greenpeace Executive Director, Dr Russel Norman, says the Charities Board decision not to grant the environmental organisation charity status is unsurprising given that the Board has resolutely opposed Greenpeace’s application all along, in spite of previously losing the battle in the Supreme Court.”
Good to know, but unfortunately our entire country is now plagued with half witted bureaucrats who spend their budgets on lawyers to defend their poor decisions and try to take others down.
Get rid of the rot in the public service!
TPPA is another example, what normal person thinks that lawyers can solve all their problems???
A, too many lawyers in parliament making bad decisions and thinking other lawyers will save them at great costs to the country which the country can’t afford to constantly defend a poor agreement from lazy bureaucrats who wouldn’t have an original or practical thought if their life depended on it.
The world is going to end. I’m blaming Shane Jones. You see I’ve been on MikeWatch – in the ward seeing whether Hosking will survive.
“The government doesn’t have the bank balance to bluster their way into financial catastrophe in a company they own 51 per cent of.”
If Air New Zealand “goes pear-shaped, airlines don’t lose a few million, they lose a few hundred million. The margins are tiny, the risk is huge.” We only have money for SCF, eh Mike?
Anyone’d think Jones had started World War 3 or the outspew was about his beloved Warriors – ‘Jones is a dangerous man, attack dog, Machiavellian, threatening people, thuggish, wage war, loutish assault …’
For those of us who live in the provinces, we applaud Jones’ words. We pay far more to fly Air NZ Blenheim to Wellington that it costs to fly Christchurch to Auckland. We subsidise the bigger urban flights.
Have to agree with Shane Jones on this (a first!), the NZ taxpayers owns 1/2 the airline and they should not be price gouging and cutting off domestic travel so they can spend money on sponsoring dinners for Obama for example.
Too much of corporations time is being spent brown nosing and networking for themselves to get better job offers and photo opportunities, rather than actually looking after their long term company prospects.
Air NZ should not be an airline that rips people off. Too many companies in this country are a NZ company when it suits them for marketing, but they do little to support everyone in NZ and have become used to ripping Kiwi’s off.
Fonterra is another one, I think overseas people are paying less for NZ milk and cheese than locals! It’s disgraceful! Then they wonder why Kiwis are going off milk, butter and cheese! I wonder??????? and a lot of Kiwi’s think dairy is an evil polluter – well if the company has little social conscience and is polluting while pretending they are not, of course people are not going to support the corporation!
(If the dimwits in corporate marketing have not worked this out, people are onto fake news. So maybe have substance behind any claims and actually become a good corporate citizen instead of fat cats say on 8 million posting loses, pretending they care about NZ and Kiwis.)
Yesterday some religious group was hanging around the tuck shop at Miss 13s High School handing out bibles.
Question please….. is this common in other NZ High Schools?
I’m really not down with religious propaganda being preached at school unless it’s Social Studies and they are covering and discussing all denominations.
🙂 not particularly relevant but your comment took me back 45 years to my Fourth form English teacher he told a fellow pupil to categorise the Bible – when the student defined it as a “Historical Novel” I learned firsthand what apoplexy looks like.
And isn’t apoplexy a wonderful word. I think I first found it in one of Jane Austin’s books – “Mansfield Park” ?
Anyway, I wondered what it was like and found out with a vengeance when I told my father at age 12 or 13 that I was not going to go through with “confirmation” at Bible class at our Presbyterian Church as I did not believe in Christ as my saviour and it would be hypocritical to do so.
Father was an elder in the Church and Head of Sunday School, Bible Class etc at the time – embarassing much! I thought he was going to explode. He was bright red and puffed up – and I immediately thought so this is apoplexy! LOL.
He asked me to leave him for 10 minutes to think about it. We remet at the appointed time when he had calmed down and said that it was obviously my decision to make but he wanted me to write up the reasons for my decision.
I presented him with an essay with my reasons etc, and having read it, he asked me if he could give it to the meeting of Elders of the Church (Session?). I agreed and offered to present it to them in person, which duly happened.
On the Sunday that all the rest of my age group took confirmation, I was there in the back by myself – at my own volition as parents had given me the option. At the end of the ceremony the Minister referred to the fact that I was the only one who had declined to take confirmation and summarised my essay to the whole meeting. He said that he and the other Elders were extremely impressed with the thought I had put into my decision and essay; and that they accepted my decision with respect.
My parents later told me that while they had hoped I would go through with confirmation, they were so proud of me that I was prepared to stand up and go against the flow for my own well thought out decision.
Cinny you are correct. The insidious ways they get religion into secular areas is an ongoing battle. My personal experience was a “homework group” Which turned out to be evangelical bible studies. When they changed the name to Bible Studies, their number went from 18 down to 3.
This has to be watched, as I found some Board members thought through personal bias that this was fine, and I was doing the devil’s work!! When confronted with the Education Act 1964 many were amazed. I would get told we are a Christian country.
The decision to be secular was to avoid religious confrontations. Schools are supposed to be closed for religious instruction, and parents can opt their children into or out of the programme offered, but they need to know!!
So ask your Principal who in the school makes decisions regarding religious instruction? When? Where? How often? Format and content of lessons? Who will lead these sessions? What happens to the children opted out by parents? What about religious texts bibles etc.?
The insidious ways they get religion into secular areas is an ongoing battle. My personal experience was a “homework group” Which turned out to be evangelical bible studies. When they changed the name to Bible Studies, their number went from 18 down to 3.
I’ve heard of other cases like this. It seems that these religious people are more than prepared to lie to get their indoctrination into schools (and in pretty much everything else for that matter).
I’ll start her with comparative religion i.e. many people believe in different things and different gods but your dad doesn’t believe in any of those.
We do good and treat people well not because we have to but because we want to. We don’t lie, cheat or steal because it makes others feel bad.
Something like that anyway – she’s only fucking 4 and she is still having trouble with the whole “Where do babies come from” so I might sort that out before introducing her to abstruse concepts like religion and god
Enough is enough,
I was teaching then!! From 1961 through to 2001 with time off for my family 35 years The law was altered but basically the same in the remaining Intermediates through till 2001.Cheers.
Not in NZ, but that reminded me of some bible or other getting passed out at my High School. I think they might have been those ones that hang around (or used to hang around) hotel rooms or whatever.
Anyway. One kid ripped his up. And got suspended if my memory serves me right. And this was in a non-denominational school of some 2000 pupils
That said, for a whole host of reasons, I can’t quite see that bibles would be successfully passed out in schools these days.
Your best bet would probably to speak to these people.
As far as I’m concerned handing out bibles like that at school should be illegal with a very, very large fine for the church thrown in when they do it.
An on-line news site yesterday (can’t find it now) was reporting a broad break-down of the guest list to tonight’s Obama dinner. Of particular interest to me was the fact 27 National Party MPs have been invited and only 13 Labour MPs.
Jacinda Ardern (of course) was one of the invitees but isn’t attending due to a prior engagement. David Parker – the government’s power house – is not invited yet Alfred Ngaro – the dim bulb from National – is invited. Strange.
The dinner has been arranged by the NZ/US Society who I imagine are made up of predominantly Republican orientated individuals, especially now we have a Republican backed US Ambassador. Perhaps that accounts for the disparity.
Maybe that is why the democrats are not trusted anymore, too many right wing decisions not in the interests of most American’s. (Food for thought for NZ Labour).
Remember post US financial Crisis Obama bailed out the banks, but failed to stipulate any part of the company or the money being paid back, or the executive fees being lowered.
So the banks who caused it, got bailed out, became richer and many American’s lost their job, house, savings.
Doesn’t sound like a trustworthy decision. But Obama and Key hit it off, and enjoy their golf games with so much in common.
Yes, Ad, and that is why I see the media which is commenting on the Key/Obama relationship to the detriment of PM Ardern is mischief-making.
I’d also ask who is former President Obama now when people say he is still one of the most powerful men in the world? Surely he is an elder statesman now and wise, but in terms of power beyond that accorded by respect, persuasion and reason, what has he?
Certainly the current President is disdainful, the Democrats do not have an ascendancy and corporate America is still that.
Am well aware of that Ad @ 8.1, but at a NZ level the participants in the US/NZ society probably regard themselves as having more in common with National. In other words, if they were able to vote in NZ elections they would vote National – hence the reason double the no. of Nats over Lab. invited to their little party.
Also noted Anne the cheesy little pic of bridges talking to Obama on his JOHN the pony tail pullers cellphone. What really is the purpose of Obama’s visit.? How much is it costing us? Bet it was arranged before the change of govt.
Key has been posting photos of himself and the son (forgotten his name) on Facebook knowing they will be picked up and plastered all over the media. No coincidence imo.
Another example of the attempts to belittle Jacinda (aided and abetted by the Nat media) and cut her out of the general picture… make her look like she doesn’t count… she’s not up to the job so best ignored kind of thing.
Reality for activists on the ground in Russia. This is quite depressing reading so I’m going to call for some caution for readers. The FSB is in my eyes a criminal organization hell bent on crushing any dissent, and bolstering Putan at any cost. The reality is that is at the cost of ordinary women and men right across Russia. Here are but two examples.
If you think starting a trade war with Russia will help these people. Then your deeply deluded. Governments like this, love external threats, it helps them crush the people at home.
We’re not meant to think of anything in terms of those people (ie – people just like us).
The only time we get any media exposure is when a dairy is robbed, some-one is shot or something stupid or banal can be ridden off our backs for some “human interest” story/headline.
In other words, we are meant to actively discount ourselves and are encouraged to do that at every turn.
“Big Boys”* count. Only “Big Boys” count. And we’re given endless helpful tips on discerning who the “Big Boys” are – through headlines and lead stories endlessly informing us of just how important, smart and influential those “Big Boys” are.
And so while we are discounted, marginalised and disappeared, we can nevertheless get to share in a sense of power and importance by lending our voice or support to some agenda of some “Big Boy” or other.
It’s been working a treat for quite a while now…we keep on disappearing ourselves while simultaneously lifting up those who can only survive by way of our invisibility.
The fact those stories are from sites on the margins of the internet, and the fact they represent the merest tip of what is heaped on our heads and shoveled into our lives every day by these “Big Boys” and their configurations of power – surely that shows us all we need to see, no?
*inclusive of women, but seeing as how we’re talking about systems of patriarchal power, I thought the term “Big Boy” was appropriate enough.
They spend $150,000 on a CEO selection process then get slammed for not asking an opinion of the eventual appointee’s former employee.
The former Chairman, who resigned over the matter, should also bear some of he responsibility for misappropriation of funds by that CEO in that he gave authorisation for expenditure held in large part to be unable to be authorised as legitimate business.
I hope the Serious Fraud Office will truly perform its duties here.
One of the things that is why NZ (and a lot of western countries) going down the toilet. They can not even do the most practical thing in relation to their job and nobody in the executive team does any due diligence anymore as they employ a range of ‘consultants’ to do their thinking or lack of it, for them.
As for spending $150k on one person’s recruitment – it’s not just the applicant they chose that are the crooks!!!
No wonder the health system is in trouble with these lazy dimwits at the helm paying gold for other incompetents.
C level execs employing D level execs… the rout continues
Yeah. Something about this churn/renewal in the National caucus. It stands in stark contrast to what the NZ Labour caucus did.
Sure, a few moved on, but far too many hung on in there. And in spite of leadership contests not going their way, they achieved, through a fair amount of monkey wrenching to secure a bit of fiefdom for themselves.
And I think it’s worth remembering back a few years when the suggestion that too many in the NZ Labour caucus would rather be big fish in a pond or puddle of opposition than give way to change, wasn’t by any means a marginal opinion.
All those years spent securing power instead of allowing NZ Labour to prepare for it…
And well, are we now looking at a one term government that merely hankers for the days and policies and strategies of a pre-2008 NZ Labour Party that we, the voting public, have already rejected once?
As a side bar.
What’s happened to that process of internal democratisation that was begun a few years back, but never seen through to a conclusion? Can we take it that since Ardern’s leadership hasn’t been endorsed (rubber stamped) by any membership vote yet, that it’s being viewed as “best forgotten”?
Where have resigned Labour MPs gone I wonder versus post parliament for Nats? How many keep pursuing forms of public service versus going to work in the private sector? Might be an interrsting analysis?
I think traditionally, the “revolving door” serves ex-National mps better than it does ex-NZ Labour mps.
Cullen went to Kiwi Bank, yes? (But now he’s back….along with Simpson). Clark went to the UN and is now…who knows? Goff stayed…and stayed…and stayed. (and is still in politics).
King wouldn’t let go. (What’s she up to now?)
The big names of NZ Labour are (and after an entire decade!) still very much associated with NZ Labour. All but dead ducks and their carefully managed proteges flapping…slowly and slower.
I don’t agree about a “one term government” Bill.
Jacinda and her coalition partner and supply and support group will have worked out how to appeal to the electorate in 20 20. National not so much.
Prior to his appointment as head of the Waikato DHB Dr Murray was dismissed from Fraser Health in Canada. A British Colombia government ordered review established that Fraser Health was the worst performing medical entity in all of Canada. It took 12 months to clean the outfit up after Dr Murray was shown the door.
Naturally it was going to be a disaster. I feel Dr Murray’s best defense is to point out that of course we were robbed blind, we got what we asked for. We paid $150,000 to establish that of all the available medical executives in the world, Dr Murray was the best choice. We got what we deserved.
Even with the justified expenses: The executive medical fraternity travel first class around the world on luxury holidays masquerading as conferences while the dedicated and honest nurses doing the hard yards struggle to make ends meet.
Ground these high flying chooks. Their job is running hospitals not testing the world’s Hilton suites and jet-ski facilities.
Ah, so it was in Canada. Well, you can’t go wasting money on ringing all the way to Canada, can you. After all, it was only $150,000 wasted.
I believe the protocol is to put /sarc after such a comment………..
Some years ago, I outed a con man from a position where he could have done a lot of damage. In his case, the phone number to a referee was to his own phone, which eventually got him caught, when he used the same number for his work.
It seems that he had been a con artist in business firms but instead of prosecuting
him for fraud, these firms just let him go for some other entity to pick up. We prosecuted him, and the firm that he went to work for was advised of his criminal record.
Fear of being seen to employ conmen, fear of looking stupid because firms were conned by these men, overcame their sense of responsibility to the community.
I am pleased to see the Minister of Education has the make up of the “Teacher’s Council” Bill to have 7 teachers nominated by teachers and 6 by the department.
This recognises teachers, and values their opinions.
Further steps to limit who gets the title “Teacher” according to educational qualifications. Yes Yes!! Others are coaches, instructors, teacher aides, etc.
Well done Chris.
One thing Labour and NZ First is doing well in, is primary and secondary education decisions. If only they could be more consistent with forward thinking, in other areas of policy.
Well what do you know, another rat leaving the opposition. Jonathan Colman has resigned and first thing that came to mind was “what a coincidence”.
This morning on Morning Report there was a damning report on the rotting wall linings of a Middlemore Hospital, it is contained in the wall linings as we speak but it will be dangerous to health if it works its way through to the wall surfaces. It is a bad situation for the hospital and has been left unattended for years. It has been known since 2012 or thereabouts and I thought to myself, what the hell was the last Minister of Health doing about it sitting on his behind doing sweet all.
Then, lo and behold he has quit, do these people have inside knowledge of the shit going to hit the fan or is it just their skilled way of escaping responsibility that allows this to happen. Shame on all ministers of the crown who do absolutely jack shit about their portfolios when in office.
Apparently even the hospital boilers are blowing up nearly killing people. The CFO’s just go to another DHB, and advance their careers leaving a dangerous trail of unmaintained destruction in their wake.
Apparently he is going into a role with the private sector – why would anybody want to employ such an incompetent minister, he had a high opinion of himself and was arrogant and that sums it up for him – plus his love of cigars – go figure.
Coleman is going to a job running a private sector health company. Acurity health group. There should be a period of time where his right to use the intellectual property, resources & networks built up as Ministered the Crown is restricted. Mind you’ve was no shining light as Minister so good luck to them.
Nearly a year before Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired senior FBI official Andrew McCabe for what Sessions called a “lack of candor,” McCabe oversaw a federal criminal investigation into whether Sessions lacked candor when testifying before Congress about contacts with Russian operatives, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The government has introduced legislation to ban letting fees for tenants. Also it is said that greater security of tenure and a 12 month period before rents can be raised will also be introduced before the end of the year.
Stumping up with a four week bond, a two week rental deposit and another week’s rent as a ‘letting fee’ must be very difficult for some, with moving costs on top.
” In just 10 days, the minimum wage will be increased to $16.50 per hour. This raise was one of the Government’s top priorities. It will benefit approximately 164,000 workers and their families, and will increase wages throughout the economy by $129 million per year.
We are further committed to raising the minimum wage for working New Zealanders to $20 by 2021.”
And us pensioners will have warmer homes courtesy of the winter warmth grant Starting in 2018, the Winter Energy Payment will begin from 1 July to 30 September and from 2019 for five months from 1 May to 30 September.
Who need worry so much about the coal-man, or the Coleman for that matter………..
Of Course they could have installed solar panels on the oldies houses to help them all year around, but of course that would be cutting down corporate profits and that is why in the age of carbon neutrality power companies have inexplicably been allowed to charge more for people who use solar panels. Go figure. Of course that was under a Natz government, but haven’t seen the Labour government trying to kill two birds with one stone, aka save money and save environment.
Please note – not every house, situation or season is suitable for solar panels. The energy payment will be gratefully received in this household (although we do have solar panels) as the house has to be kept extra warm for my husband who has Alzheimers and feels the cold.
Yep don’t want to reward a company manufacturing something that is sustainable and will reduce carbon footprint when the oil and gas industry need the corporate welfare so much. Coal is also popular and not too much fuss after Pike River, I see.
Newshub jonathan coleman Good ridence OUR health system are in a shambles it all about te tangata te tangata not one’s own agenda.
Wow Facebook is getting served for letting Cambridge analytics abuse the data of 50 million Americans.
The problem is its not just Facebook that has breach te tangata the people trust there are other companies that have done that as well one has to hold all the offenders to account to stop this cheating the people the 99.9 % of Common people of there democract voice Ka pai Ka kite ano
There you go Newhub works are losing there share of the money pie many thanks for reporting this I say it would be at least 10% from jobs I have worked the wages haven’t changed in 20 years rents are just about one person wage to pay per week I know things were much easier 20 years ago Ka pai Ka kite ano P.S. Anthony Joshua is sceared
The project you gave it your best Paddy good on you I heard that Obama called shonky a bad golf cheat lol The sandflys have been going hard for the last few days idiots you won’t even be able to fathom what they get up to. Your a Naki man Paddy that explains it Ka pai Ka kite ano
The project I never ever have a face book page I new it’s to open to minupulation.
Profits Of Rage one of my favourite bands they are onto it Jesse and Kanoe Ka pai Ka kite ano there song UN___THE WORLD is excerlint the video is tops to ka kite ano
For those with a serious or even passing interest in what is happening in Syria and Eastern Ghouta in particular.
It would be hard to go past this essay.
“Ghouta: Issues Behind the Apocalypse: Armed and civil rebellion, Class and Islam”
By Michael Karadjis
There is a a hell of lot to unpack here.
Maybe it would be best if you just scrolled down to the headline article that you are most interested in. And take the time to read the attached links, and footnotes.
Newshub I could not have our morning talk the Tokoroa red neck sandflys allways block my phone and another phone on the cell tower from getting the standard website disprit exclusive brethren lol we got a good sports weekend coming up Kia kaha people Duncan hope you had a good time at the Obama dinner I wish I was there he is brilliant. The health system are stressed because of shonky and his m8.
Some people should realise that they are ways we can both be winners. When Eco Maori is determined he gets his way fulls top. Stop listening to the sandflys and think of a way we both WIN I’M not the bad guy your adviser are leading you in the wrong direction there only objective is to try and damage my Mana not your wellbeing. Ka kite ano
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
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 ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
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What could possibly go wrong?
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/scott-pruitt-will-restrict-the-epas-use-of-legitimate-science/
Scott Pruitt’s year of environmental destruction
It’s fucking depressing
However, this just might be a good thing. If states and local councils go over and above these federal laws.
An example of this , is the cities of San Francisco and Oakland are suing the world’s largest oil companies. The judge in the case has asked some questions.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/21/a-judge-asks-basic-questions-about-climate-change-we-answer-them
It’s taking a huge amount of energy away from mitigation, to refighting the case for AGW adam – If you need to have further proof of the damage these vandals (Trump and Pruitt) have done over the past year – here is a regularly updated list compiled by National Geographic:
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/how-trump-is-changing-science-environment/
Urgh – Nat Geo….I have gone off them every since they were bought by Fox
Which makes the list of atrocities even more valid! If you haven’t read it you should.
I can refer you to a different site if you wish – but the atrocities carried out overturning every step towards mitigation for climate change made by Obama and cancelling every environmental protection they can think of is enormous.
And so it begins.
The business community are getting stuck into Jacinda Ardern.
Claiming they are suffering from “uncertainty”.
In their view expressing wanting to do something positive about climate change is creating uncertainty which is bad for the economy. The implication being that the Labour led Government is bad for the economy.
Dredging up all their old stupid talking points, and attack lines.
Their viciousness shouldn’t be surprising, it is one of the reasons that we as a society cannot make the necessary changes to save ourselves and protect future generations.
Personally speaking, I am one of the “few” that think that the oil and gas industry is a “sunset industry”.
And am doing my damnedest to make sure it becomes so.
We need to confront these tired old attack lines.
The smoking industry did it. To continue with their deadly but profitable busisness Instead of confronting the science head on, they deliberately set out to create uncertainty.
They want certainty, let’s give them certainty.
Let’s make it our job as activists to remove all uncertainty. And without compromise,make these greedy, self centred wreckers know, in no uncertain terms, that the age of fossil fuels will, and must end, and as soon as possible. No more delaying tactics, no more fudging and avoiding the issue. The time has come to take a stand.
Jenny, while I agree completely with your sentiments, I despair for the future of the human race!
JohnSelway’s posting above yours is suggesting that the EPA shouldn’t rely on verifiable science for decisions on protecting the environment, which effectively means doing nothing.
Ask the people of New Zealand to give up their cars for the sake of the world and you’ll get a look of blank amazement, followed probably by abuse.
We shall remain re-active when we should be being pro-active! We won’t seriously begin to do anything about mitigating climate change until it’s far too late to do anything effective.
But hey, we have to try. If it takes getting in the face of oil exploration companies to make people realise how damned serious the problem is, count me in!
“Ask the people of New Zealand to give up their cars for the sake of the world and you’ll get a look of blank amazement, followed probably by abuse.”
Of course you will unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world. First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.
so youre saying there is no need to reduce green house gas emissions?
“so youre saying there is no need to reduce green house gas emissions?”
No.
This is what I said…
“Of course you will unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world. First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.”
“First of course you would have to provide clear evidence that the world is somehow in imminent danger from something.”
Repeating it dosn’t clarify it….that reads that you dont think there is evidence the world is in imminent danger but perhaps thats not what you mean to say…it would be surprising if it was.
In your first reply you stated “so you’re saying there is no need to reduce green house gas emissions?”
That’s not what I said at all, I didn’t even mention greenhouse gas emissions. So I repeated what I stated so that you could read it again.
ah…. this game…so basically a denier…glad we cleared that up.
OMG a climate change denier! I didn’t think the species still existed!
When we do see indisputable evidence for climate change….
…northern rich countries will look to feed then house their populations at lower latitudes. As that’s were former deserts are getting increased rain, and former first world cities are under snow… …glaciers…
So you’d expect say Russia invading any port to its south, Crimea say, and be heavily invested in airports and regimes to the south, aka Turkey, Syria.
Oh, done, and done. Russia believes in climate change.
Eu, France heavily engaged in western Africa…
Only the US thinks climate change is joke, but hey aside from Mexico, where have they got to go…. …Australia.
Oh, and getting a idiot elected in the US.. Russia keeps its goals off the world agenda.
Not sure how you get from my comment to yours but I’m certainly not a climate change denier at all, sorry to disappoint.
There’s plenty of evidence for climate change everywhere. The climate has always changed and always will. The climate has never been stable for any real amount of time.
I was simply stating that if you are going to ask everyone to give up their cars to save the world then unless you provide clear evidence that giving up their cars will save the world then of course they aren’t going to do it. Obviously if everyone in NZ gave up their cars tomorrow, it wouldn’t affect the world’s climate at all and it certainly wouldn’t stop the climate from changing. (Unless you’ve got evidence that it would, in which case I’ll be happy to change my viewpoint)
If you’re wanting to make peoples lives more difficult and cost them money then you need to be pretty specific else why would they do what you want them too?
good. Do it. Give us some certainty. At least then we know whats going and can plan and implement for it.
The problem isn’t expressing something positive about the reaction to climate change, it’s that Jacinda has done that and then gone and given a speech about Business as usual. Which Jacinda is the right Jacinda?
what are you uncertain about? That you should be getting out of the fossil fuel market?
Nah – in business speak, ‘certainty’ doesn’t just mean the absence of uncertainty. It means a guarantee that policy options they are particularly opposed to are ruled out. It is a deeply coded word and contains an implicit threat – “rule out the options we don’t like, or else!”
9 years of getting everything they want… now consultation and they all squeal.
+111
There should be no uncertainty…..it has been clearly signalled…carbon neutral by 2050….all journeys begin with a first step and this is it.
If we dont take it then obviously the journey has been cancelled.
It’s pretty funny how you think that someones behaviour, actions and stated intenions creating uncertainty is an “attack” line.
It’s also funny how you think that you are one of the ” “few” that think that the oil and gas industry is a “sunset industry”. when the states that “Few seriously doubt that oil and gas is sunset industry”
Did you just read the headline and go into full white knight outrage mode that someone had been mildly critical of the prime minister?
All of this post-oil Zero Carbon Economy stuff should be falling on James Shaw.
He is working assiduously behind the scenes, but he needs to come out of the shadows. Particularly about the oil and gas industry.
It’s the first time in a while that we have seen a peak of what economic transition from oil might feel like for our regions.
It looked yesterday like the PM was covering for a Green issue. Which is fine, it’s her job as head of the government.
But its well time for the Greens to step into the mainstream media on the effects of their signature piece of legislation and its intended effects.
Oh but Shaw did step up yesterday, Ad.
Two (pre-prepared?*) questions to Ardern right at the end of Question 5, Bridges to Ardern on “Does she stand by her reported statement when personally receiving a petition from Greenpeace on Monday to end oil and gas exploration that the Government was “actively considering” the issue?”
https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=198878
Shaw comes in at about 4.18 min – less than a minute from the end of 5.12 mins.
Here is the Hansard – https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20180321_051750000/5-question-no-5-prime-minister
And an extract with Shaw’s two questions. * I have left in the preceding question from Bridges and Ardern’s answer as Shaw’s first question seems to partly ignore the first sentence of Ardern’s answer re Fonterra. This pretty much indicates that Shaw’s questions were pre-prepared and not reactive to the realtime flow of the discussion – and he reads both questions from a paper in the video.
Hon Simon Bridges: Speaking of the environment, what would be the cost to the climate if Fonterra were no longer able to use natural gas for most of their processing plants and had to revert back to coal in order to continue production and safeguard international food security?
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Even Fonterra has acknowledged that they need to tackle this issue head on, even if the Opposition hasn’t. I’m sure I don’t need to educate that member that there are already gas reserves that can run as far as 2046 and that the decisions around exploration permits this year would run for 14 years plus an extra 20 on top of that. This is about decisions that will affect the next 30 years. This is a Government willing to have that debate even if that last one wasn’t.
Hon James Shaw: Is the Prime Minister aware of Fonterra’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to phase out coal use entirely?
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. They share our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050—again, something that the Opposition clearly does not.
Hon James Shaw: Is looking for new fossil fuels the same thing as shutting down existing operations, and what year are the existing operations currently scheduled to wind down?
Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I acknowledged, we’ve not said that we would be altering current operations, and a number of those fields actually have a shelf life that goes out as far as, potentially, 2046.
Questions in the House are lovely but don’t confuse them for the media.
Shaw needs to break cover, even moreso than Jones.
I agree Ad – and I don’t confuse Qs with the media. Just been rather in the news since Shaw’s announcement last Sunday.
In fact one of the few subjects of the five Press Releases issued by the Greens in the last week, and 23 PRs in the last month since 23 Feb that have got any traction in the media. Figures from Greens website.
Exactly. Greens rarely get media coverage of their releases.
Interesting how business can demand ‘certainty’ but the rest of us are completely exposed to market discipline. No certainty that our jobs won’t be downsized or outsourced to India or China. No certainty that the tax base will support a public healthcare system that can treat us in a timely, clinically up-to-date manner if we get osteoarthritis or cancer (better cripple yourself financially with that private health insurance), if you are young no certainty of ever owning a house….
An interesting vignette of privilege in action.
No certainty about air travel in regions.
But … but… but the economy…. but… but… but gratitude to business.
Mind you Labour dropped taxes they hadnt proposed so scared were they of the back lash, so you cant blame business for thinking some wind and bs will get Labour to give them what they want.
Consumer confidence back to pre election levels
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12016263
As for business confidence some of that appears to be ideologically based rather than reality based
” “A net 10 percent of businesses reported a lift in own trading activity in the December 2017 quarter, an easing from the net 13 percent in the previous quarter. Previous QSBO surveys have shown business confidence tends to fall after Labour takes office, in contrast to a lift in confidence when National takes office, but the effect on actual activity has been muted. Businesses may be worried about the outlook for the New Zealand economy under the new Labour-led Government, but for now this is not reflected in demand in their own business.”
https://www.interest.co.nz/news/91611/nzier-business-opinion-survey-shows-usual-fall-confidence-after-labour-led-government
I agree. They are worried, that is why they say they are “uncertain”.
Jacinda has sent a message. Like all big issues, this won’t be settled easily, or without a fight. The big money is talking scheming and targeting any apparent weakness.
There is a FB “destructometer” and as of last night our time it stood at $50 billion USD and counting….
https://qz.com/1233816/facebook-has-lost-50-billion-in-market-value-over-the-past-two-days/
US will consider re-entering TPP, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/21/us-will-consider-re-entering-tpp-treasury-secretary-mnuchin-says.html?__source=sharebar%7Cfacebook&par=sharebar#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=Facebook&_gsc=6Zy6dBd
Time to get your submission in – even David Parker – says the current agreement ‘is not perfect’ and is a ‘7 out of 10’.
New Zealand deserves their politicians to get 10 out of 10 so make a submission! (link below)
US will almost certainly join, as was always predicted and that is why there is only suspension of some of the most toxic rules not deletion.
The agreement is already toxic, and delivering nothing but worsening conditions to most Kiwis!
Those with vineyards will benefit however so apparently all worth it!
https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=f04082dc6b
As I said, by the end of March the USA will be back in.
Yep. And we all know our politicians Kowtow to anybody overseas. NZ rights gone by lunchtime.
Also interesting in the context of Anne’s comment below @ 8.
When have you previously said that here on TS, adam?
Date(s) and comment nos please.
In spite of losing in Supreme Court, NZ bureaucrats are up to it again, denying Greenpeace charitable status.
We all thought things would get better under a Labour/Green/NZ First government…
“Greenpeace Executive Director, Dr Russel Norman, says the Charities Board decision not to grant the environmental organisation charity status is unsurprising given that the Board has resolutely opposed Greenpeace’s application all along, in spite of previously losing the battle in the Supreme Court.”
http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/press/Greenpeace-isnt-a-charity-its-a-necessity/
All the current board members are National Party appointments. Peeni Henare is the responsible minister.
Good to know, but unfortunately our entire country is now plagued with half witted bureaucrats who spend their budgets on lawyers to defend their poor decisions and try to take others down.
Get rid of the rot in the public service!
TPPA is another example, what normal person thinks that lawyers can solve all their problems???
A, too many lawyers in parliament making bad decisions and thinking other lawyers will save them at great costs to the country which the country can’t afford to constantly defend a poor agreement from lazy bureaucrats who wouldn’t have an original or practical thought if their life depended on it.
The world is going to end. I’m blaming Shane Jones. You see I’ve been on MikeWatch – in the ward seeing whether Hosking will survive.
“The government doesn’t have the bank balance to bluster their way into financial catastrophe in a company they own 51 per cent of.”
If Air New Zealand “goes pear-shaped, airlines don’t lose a few million, they lose a few hundred million. The margins are tiny, the risk is huge.” We only have money for SCF, eh Mike?
Anyone’d think Jones had started World War 3 or the outspew was about his beloved Warriors – ‘Jones is a dangerous man, attack dog, Machiavellian, threatening people, thuggish, wage war, loutish assault …’
For those of us who live in the provinces, we applaud Jones’ words. We pay far more to fly Air NZ Blenheim to Wellington that it costs to fly Christchurch to Auckland. We subsidise the bigger urban flights.
That’s one hell of an assertion. Can you prove it?
Can you explain why you subsides the bigger urban flights.
Have to agree with Shane Jones on this (a first!), the NZ taxpayers owns 1/2 the airline and they should not be price gouging and cutting off domestic travel so they can spend money on sponsoring dinners for Obama for example.
Too much of corporations time is being spent brown nosing and networking for themselves to get better job offers and photo opportunities, rather than actually looking after their long term company prospects.
Air NZ should not be an airline that rips people off. Too many companies in this country are a NZ company when it suits them for marketing, but they do little to support everyone in NZ and have become used to ripping Kiwi’s off.
Fonterra is another one, I think overseas people are paying less for NZ milk and cheese than locals! It’s disgraceful! Then they wonder why Kiwis are going off milk, butter and cheese! I wonder??????? and a lot of Kiwi’s think dairy is an evil polluter – well if the company has little social conscience and is polluting while pretending they are not, of course people are not going to support the corporation!
(If the dimwits in corporate marketing have not worked this out, people are onto fake news. So maybe have substance behind any claims and actually become a good corporate citizen instead of fat cats say on 8 million posting loses, pretending they care about NZ and Kiwis.)
Yesterday some religious group was hanging around the tuck shop at Miss 13s High School handing out bibles.
Question please….. is this common in other NZ High Schools?
I’m really not down with religious propaganda being preached at school unless it’s Social Studies and they are covering and discussing all denominations.
Thanks in advance.
🙂 not particularly relevant but your comment took me back 45 years to my Fourth form English teacher he told a fellow pupil to categorise the Bible – when the student defined it as a “Historical Novel” I learned firsthand what apoplexy looks like.
LMAO !!! Thanks Barfly, that was funny. It’s the little things I love about TS, like the beautiful vocab commentators use, well said 🙂
Wonderful anecdote, Barfly!
And isn’t apoplexy a wonderful word. I think I first found it in one of Jane Austin’s books – “Mansfield Park” ?
Anyway, I wondered what it was like and found out with a vengeance when I told my father at age 12 or 13 that I was not going to go through with “confirmation” at Bible class at our Presbyterian Church as I did not believe in Christ as my saviour and it would be hypocritical to do so.
Father was an elder in the Church and Head of Sunday School, Bible Class etc at the time – embarassing much! I thought he was going to explode. He was bright red and puffed up – and I immediately thought so this is apoplexy! LOL.
He asked me to leave him for 10 minutes to think about it. We remet at the appointed time when he had calmed down and said that it was obviously my decision to make but he wanted me to write up the reasons for my decision.
I presented him with an essay with my reasons etc, and having read it, he asked me if he could give it to the meeting of Elders of the Church (Session?). I agreed and offered to present it to them in person, which duly happened.
On the Sunday that all the rest of my age group took confirmation, I was there in the back by myself – at my own volition as parents had given me the option. At the end of the ceremony the Minister referred to the fact that I was the only one who had declined to take confirmation and summarised my essay to the whole meeting. He said that he and the other Elders were extremely impressed with the thought I had put into my decision and essay; and that they accepted my decision with respect.
My parents later told me that while they had hoped I would go through with confirmation, they were so proud of me that I was prepared to stand up and go against the flow for my own well thought out decision.
Great!! LOL
What was the expected answer?
It isn’t much of a novel – plot, structure and story is hard to follow.
Don’t know, Cinny, re whether it is common at other schools, but giving away bibles is usually a tactic of the Gideons or Bible Society here in NZ.
Here is a Google search re their activities in NZ
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=Gideons+nz&rlz=1C1LDJZ_enNZ499&oq=Gideons+nz&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9765j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
I also tried “handing out bibles schools nz” and there are a few interesting links in that search
https://www.google.co.nz/search?rlz=1C1LDJZ_enNZ499&ei=xs2yWrfkA4ya8wWZxqWIBw&q=handing+out+bibles+schools+nz&oq=handing+out+bibles+schools+nz&gs_l=psy-ab.12…47629.50922.0.53820.4.4.0.0.0.0.308.1098.2-3j1.4.0….0…1.1.64.psy-ab..0.3.838…0i7i30k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i160k1.0.bKuczrhGtc8
But have you asked the school itself?
I will be interested what you find out.
Cinny you are correct. The insidious ways they get religion into secular areas is an ongoing battle. My personal experience was a “homework group” Which turned out to be evangelical bible studies. When they changed the name to Bible Studies, their number went from 18 down to 3.
This has to be watched, as I found some Board members thought through personal bias that this was fine, and I was doing the devil’s work!! When confronted with the Education Act 1964 many were amazed. I would get told we are a Christian country.
The decision to be secular was to avoid religious confrontations. Schools are supposed to be closed for religious instruction, and parents can opt their children into or out of the programme offered, but they need to know!!
So ask your Principal who in the school makes decisions regarding religious instruction? When? Where? How often? Format and content of lessons? Who will lead these sessions? What happens to the children opted out by parents? What about religious texts bibles etc.?
I’ve heard of other cases like this. It seems that these religious people are more than prepared to lie to get their indoctrination into schools (and in pretty much everything else for that matter).
My young daughter has yet to ask me about God and Jesus etc but one day I’m going to have to explain to her why some people believe such silly things
Hi John, maybeI replace God with words like love, consciousness, unity .
Not using the ‘G’ word (and all the personal baggage that inevitably comes with it), can free up a dialogue.
I’ll start her with comparative religion i.e. many people believe in different things and different gods but your dad doesn’t believe in any of those.
We do good and treat people well not because we have to but because we want to. We don’t lie, cheat or steal because it makes others feel bad.
Something like that anyway – she’s only fucking 4 and she is still having trouble with the whole “Where do babies come from” so I might sort that out before introducing her to abstruse concepts like religion and god
“When confronted with the Education Act 1964 many were amazed.”
So would I be considering it was repealed in 1989.
LOL. But I believe that PB was a teacher quite a long time ago from comments she has made here on TS re her age and former profession.
Enough is enough,
I was teaching then!! From 1961 through to 2001 with time off for my family 35 years The law was altered but basically the same in the remaining Intermediates through till 2001.Cheers.
heh.
Not in NZ, but that reminded me of some bible or other getting passed out at my High School. I think they might have been those ones that hang around (or used to hang around) hotel rooms or whatever.
Anyway. One kid ripped his up. And got suspended if my memory serves me right. And this was in a non-denominational school of some 2000 pupils
That said, for a whole host of reasons, I can’t quite see that bibles would be successfully passed out in schools these days.
Gideons are the ones who put them in hotel rooms AFAIK. See 7.2
Yep – it is the Gideons
Your best bet would probably to speak to these people.
As far as I’m concerned handing out bibles like that at school should be illegal with a very, very large fine for the church thrown in when they do it.
An on-line news site yesterday (can’t find it now) was reporting a broad break-down of the guest list to tonight’s Obama dinner. Of particular interest to me was the fact 27 National Party MPs have been invited and only 13 Labour MPs.
Jacinda Ardern (of course) was one of the invitees but isn’t attending due to a prior engagement. David Parker – the government’s power house – is not invited yet Alfred Ngaro – the dim bulb from National – is invited. Strange.
The dinner has been arranged by the NZ/US Society who I imagine are made up of predominantly Republican orientated individuals, especially now we have a Republican backed US Ambassador. Perhaps that accounts for the disparity.
The US Democratic Party would comfortably span all New Zealand parties – except maybe Act.
Their churches are necessarily far broader than ours.
Maybe that is why the democrats are not trusted anymore, too many right wing decisions not in the interests of most American’s. (Food for thought for NZ Labour).
Remember post US financial Crisis Obama bailed out the banks, but failed to stipulate any part of the company or the money being paid back, or the executive fees being lowered.
So the banks who caused it, got bailed out, became richer and many American’s lost their job, house, savings.
Doesn’t sound like a trustworthy decision. But Obama and Key hit it off, and enjoy their golf games with so much in common.
Yes, Ad, and that is why I see the media which is commenting on the Key/Obama relationship to the detriment of PM Ardern is mischief-making.
I’d also ask who is former President Obama now when people say he is still one of the most powerful men in the world? Surely he is an elder statesman now and wise, but in terms of power beyond that accorded by respect, persuasion and reason, what has he?
Certainly the current President is disdainful, the Democrats do not have an ascendancy and corporate America is still that.
Am well aware of that Ad @ 8.1, but at a NZ level the participants in the US/NZ society probably regard themselves as having more in common with National. In other words, if they were able to vote in NZ elections they would vote National – hence the reason double the no. of Nats over Lab. invited to their little party.
His trip is funded by Banks which will explain the guest list
Also noted Anne the cheesy little pic of bridges talking to Obama on his JOHN the pony tail pullers cellphone. What really is the purpose of Obama’s visit.? How much is it costing us? Bet it was arranged before the change of govt.
I wish JOHN key would piss off
Key has been posting photos of himself and the son (forgotten his name) on Facebook knowing they will be picked up and plastered all over the media. No coincidence imo.
Another example of the attempts to belittle Jacinda (aided and abetted by the Nat media) and cut her out of the general picture… make her look like she doesn’t count… she’s not up to the job so best ignored kind of thing.
Reality for activists on the ground in Russia. This is quite depressing reading so I’m going to call for some caution for readers. The FSB is in my eyes a criminal organization hell bent on crushing any dissent, and bolstering Putan at any cost. The reality is that is at the cost of ordinary women and men right across Russia. Here are but two examples.
https://libcom.org/news/support-political-prisoner-anarchist-evgeny-karakashev-21032018
https://therussianreader.com/2018/03/20/emand-extension-hearing-penza-terrorists/
If you think starting a trade war with Russia will help these people. Then your deeply deluded. Governments like this, love external threats, it helps them crush the people at home.
We’re not meant to think of anything in terms of those people (ie – people just like us).
The only time we get any media exposure is when a dairy is robbed, some-one is shot or something stupid or banal can be ridden off our backs for some “human interest” story/headline.
In other words, we are meant to actively discount ourselves and are encouraged to do that at every turn.
“Big Boys”* count. Only “Big Boys” count. And we’re given endless helpful tips on discerning who the “Big Boys” are – through headlines and lead stories endlessly informing us of just how important, smart and influential those “Big Boys” are.
And so while we are discounted, marginalised and disappeared, we can nevertheless get to share in a sense of power and importance by lending our voice or support to some agenda of some “Big Boy” or other.
It’s been working a treat for quite a while now…we keep on disappearing ourselves while simultaneously lifting up those who can only survive by way of our invisibility.
The fact those stories are from sites on the margins of the internet, and the fact they represent the merest tip of what is heaped on our heads and shoveled into our lives every day by these “Big Boys” and their configurations of power – surely that shows us all we need to see, no?
*inclusive of women, but seeing as how we’re talking about systems of patriarchal power, I thought the term “Big Boy” was appropriate enough.
Very articulately put.
Thank you tracey. I have my moments 😉
Many in fact Bill
😉
+111
We cannot afford the rich.
Waikato Hospital Board processes.
They spend $150,000 on a CEO selection process then get slammed for not asking an opinion of the eventual appointee’s former employee.
The former Chairman, who resigned over the matter, should also bear some of he responsibility for misappropriation of funds by that CEO in that he gave authorisation for expenditure held in large part to be unable to be authorised as legitimate business.
I hope the Serious Fraud Office will truly perform its duties here.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/health/2018/03/more-than-half-of-former-waikato-dhb-ceo-nigel-murray-s-spending-unjustified-report.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Simcock
One of the things that is why NZ (and a lot of western countries) going down the toilet. They can not even do the most practical thing in relation to their job and nobody in the executive team does any due diligence anymore as they employ a range of ‘consultants’ to do their thinking or lack of it, for them.
As for spending $150k on one person’s recruitment – it’s not just the applicant they chose that are the crooks!!!
No wonder the health system is in trouble with these lazy dimwits at the helm paying gold for other incompetents.
C level execs employing D level execs… the rout continues
Johnathan Coleman has resigned. More sacarine BS about his great service blah blah blah but our health and hospital systems degraded under his watch
Yeah. Something about this churn/renewal in the National caucus. It stands in stark contrast to what the NZ Labour caucus did.
Sure, a few moved on, but far too many hung on in there. And in spite of leadership contests not going their way, they achieved, through a fair amount of monkey wrenching to secure a bit of fiefdom for themselves.
And I think it’s worth remembering back a few years when the suggestion that too many in the NZ Labour caucus would rather be big fish in a pond or puddle of opposition than give way to change, wasn’t by any means a marginal opinion.
All those years spent securing power instead of allowing NZ Labour to prepare for it…
And well, are we now looking at a one term government that merely hankers for the days and policies and strategies of a pre-2008 NZ Labour Party that we, the voting public, have already rejected once?
As a side bar.
What’s happened to that process of internal democratisation that was begun a few years back, but never seen through to a conclusion? Can we take it that since Ardern’s leadership hasn’t been endorsed (rubber stamped) by any membership vote yet, that it’s being viewed as “best forgotten”?
He has only been in parliament since 2005.
Where have resigned Labour MPs gone I wonder versus post parliament for Nats? How many keep pursuing forms of public service versus going to work in the private sector? Might be an interrsting analysis?
I think traditionally, the “revolving door” serves ex-National mps better than it does ex-NZ Labour mps.
Cullen went to Kiwi Bank, yes? (But now he’s back….along with Simpson). Clark went to the UN and is now…who knows? Goff stayed…and stayed…and stayed. (and is still in politics).
King wouldn’t let go. (What’s she up to now?)
The big names of NZ Labour are (and after an entire decade!) still very much associated with NZ Labour. All but dead ducks and their carefully managed proteges flapping…slowly and slower.
I don’t agree about a “one term government” Bill.
Jacinda and her coalition partner and supply and support group will have worked out how to appeal to the electorate in 20 20. National not so much.
Prior to his appointment as head of the Waikato DHB Dr Murray was dismissed from Fraser Health in Canada. A British Colombia government ordered review established that Fraser Health was the worst performing medical entity in all of Canada. It took 12 months to clean the outfit up after Dr Murray was shown the door.
Naturally it was going to be a disaster. I feel Dr Murray’s best defense is to point out that of course we were robbed blind, we got what we asked for. We paid $150,000 to establish that of all the available medical executives in the world, Dr Murray was the best choice. We got what we deserved.
Even with the justified expenses: The executive medical fraternity travel first class around the world on luxury holidays masquerading as conferences while the dedicated and honest nurses doing the hard yards struggle to make ends meet.
Ground these high flying chooks. Their job is running hospitals not testing the world’s Hilton suites and jet-ski facilities.
Ah, so it was in Canada. Well, you can’t go wasting money on ringing all the way to Canada, can you. After all, it was only $150,000 wasted.
I believe the protocol is to put /sarc after such a comment………..
Some years ago, I outed a con man from a position where he could have done a lot of damage. In his case, the phone number to a referee was to his own phone, which eventually got him caught, when he used the same number for his work.
It seems that he had been a con artist in business firms but instead of prosecuting
him for fraud, these firms just let him go for some other entity to pick up. We prosecuted him, and the firm that he went to work for was advised of his criminal record.
Fear of being seen to employ conmen, fear of looking stupid because firms were conned by these men, overcame their sense of responsibility to the community.
I am pleased to see the Minister of Education has the make up of the “Teacher’s Council” Bill to have 7 teachers nominated by teachers and 6 by the department.
This recognises teachers, and values their opinions.
Further steps to limit who gets the title “Teacher” according to educational qualifications. Yes Yes!! Others are coaches, instructors, teacher aides, etc.
Well done Chris.
One thing Labour and NZ First is doing well in, is primary and secondary education decisions. If only they could be more consistent with forward thinking, in other areas of policy.
See Colemans resigned, which will spark a by election.
Very safe Nat seat
Weren’t the Greens keen for Northcote? What about a “northland’ effort by NZ First, Labour and Greens to defeat the Natz in another ‘safe’ seat?
But he was a nice white boy….
The quiet, home-schooled son
[…]
Neighbors said the Conditt family, who live in a neat white house with a blue picket fence around the front porch,
[..]
“They are a really nice, calm family,” said retiree Jeff Reeb, who lives next door. “They have always been extremely nice.”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-blast-conditt/deadly-texas-blast-suspect-was-quiet-home-schooled-idUSKBN1GX2J0
to Joe90 at 13 ; Yes, knocks the particular threads of prejudice somewhat!
Let’s hope it causes their widespread questioning.
Jonathan Coleman has resigned from parliament. In 2017 his so-called safe National seat had the following party votes:
Nat 18005
Act 261
Total 18266
Lab 12639
Gr 2496
Nzf 2221
Total 17356
TOP 845
Only 910 between the 2 blocs. Have excluded TOP. Will be interesting to see what happens in the by-election.
Coleman is an unpleasant politician and will not be sadly missed. And he let the Health system down.
Slight correction. Jonathon Coleman was the worst performing Minister Of Health in living memory.
Bill English was worst.
Coleman was useless but Shipley was worse….theres a pattern with National and the Health portfolio
I hope he gets that throat seen to.
Well what do you know, another rat leaving the opposition. Jonathan Colman has resigned and first thing that came to mind was “what a coincidence”.
This morning on Morning Report there was a damning report on the rotting wall linings of a Middlemore Hospital, it is contained in the wall linings as we speak but it will be dangerous to health if it works its way through to the wall surfaces. It is a bad situation for the hospital and has been left unattended for years. It has been known since 2012 or thereabouts and I thought to myself, what the hell was the last Minister of Health doing about it sitting on his behind doing sweet all.
Then, lo and behold he has quit, do these people have inside knowledge of the shit going to hit the fan or is it just their skilled way of escaping responsibility that allows this to happen. Shame on all ministers of the crown who do absolutely jack shit about their portfolios when in office.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018637191/rot-mould-plagues-middlemore-hospital-buildings
Apparently even the hospital boilers are blowing up nearly killing people. The CFO’s just go to another DHB, and advance their careers leaving a dangerous trail of unmaintained destruction in their wake.
Apparently he is going into a role with the private sector – why would anybody want to employ such an incompetent minister, he had a high opinion of himself and was arrogant and that sums it up for him – plus his love of cigars – go figure.
I don’t know……Cunliffe got another job
At least Cunliffe went back to stuff he had done before
Coleman is going to a job running a private sector health company. Acurity health group. There should be a period of time where his right to use the intellectual property, resources & networks built up as Ministered the Crown is restricted. Mind you’ve was no shining light as Minister so good luck to them.
+1 Venezia
Bhutan: Only carbon negative country in the world.
I hope that link works.
Interesting…and with a slightly higher population density than NZ.
“Former US President Barack Obama is questioning Sir John Key’s counting skills in the golfing match that Team NZ won yesterday.”
Remember Key said the other day that “Obama was a stickler for the golf rules.”
This implies that Key is not such a man and Obama knows it.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12017861
Auckland Regional Fuel Tax by 1 July.
Bill introduced this afternoon.
Auckland LTP counts as consultation I presume.
Fast work Minister Twyford.
I bet some will wish it had gone to the working groups they keep cursing 😉
This is getting interesting.
Nearly a year before Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired senior FBI official Andrew McCabe for what Sessions called a “lack of candor,” McCabe oversaw a federal criminal investigation into whether Sessions lacked candor when testifying before Congress about contacts with Russian operatives, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/exclusive-fired-fbi-official-authorized-criminal-probe-sessions/story?id=53914006
More good moves from a caring government.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/03/government-moves-to-scrap-letting-fees-for-tenants.html
The government has introduced legislation to ban letting fees for tenants. Also it is said that greater security of tenure and a 12 month period before rents can be raised will also be introduced before the end of the year.
Stumping up with a four week bond, a two week rental deposit and another week’s rent as a ‘letting fee’ must be very difficult for some, with moving costs on top.
And more happy news.
” In just 10 days, the minimum wage will be increased to $16.50 per hour. This raise was one of the Government’s top priorities. It will benefit approximately 164,000 workers and their families, and will increase wages throughout the economy by $129 million per year.
We are further committed to raising the minimum wage for working New Zealanders to $20 by 2021.”
And us pensioners will have warmer homes courtesy of the winter warmth grant Starting in 2018, the Winter Energy Payment will begin from 1 July to 30 September and from 2019 for five months from 1 May to 30 September.
Who need worry so much about the coal-man, or the Coleman for that matter………..
Of Course they could have installed solar panels on the oldies houses to help them all year around, but of course that would be cutting down corporate profits and that is why in the age of carbon neutrality power companies have inexplicably been allowed to charge more for people who use solar panels. Go figure. Of course that was under a Natz government, but haven’t seen the Labour government trying to kill two birds with one stone, aka save money and save environment.
Please note – not every house, situation or season is suitable for solar panels. The energy payment will be gratefully received in this household (although we do have solar panels) as the house has to be kept extra warm for my husband who has Alzheimers and feels the cold.
Pleased you are going to get the winter payment Firepig. Keep well.
That would’ve been lovely for the solar panel manufacturing corporates savey.
Yep don’t want to reward a company manufacturing something that is sustainable and will reduce carbon footprint when the oil and gas industry need the corporate welfare so much. Coal is also popular and not too much fuss after Pike River, I see.
Yup how far into a solar panel’s lifespan does it exceed in output the energy expended in its manufacture savey?
If I want to, I could use the payments for the next two years and pay for a sixth PV panel.
That would provide enough PV generation to run a 1 kw heater during the middle of the day for 18 minutes every hour the sun shone.
A solar panel is not the best way to provide heat in the middle of a winter’s night.
Of course they help with the overall power bill, but you still have to have enough money to heat the house. That is what the money is for.
The individual owner decides how to use it. Rather clever idea, that- let the citizen consumer decide.
Do I install another panel? Or use the $30 to buy power to heat the house, all day and night? Or wood? Or gas? Or whisky?
Hmmmmmm…………
Newshub jonathan coleman Good ridence OUR health system are in a shambles it all about te tangata te tangata not one’s own agenda.
Wow Facebook is getting served for letting Cambridge analytics abuse the data of 50 million Americans.
The problem is its not just Facebook that has breach te tangata the people trust there are other companies that have done that as well one has to hold all the offenders to account to stop this cheating the people the 99.9 % of Common people of there democract voice Ka pai Ka kite ano
There you go Newhub works are losing there share of the money pie many thanks for reporting this I say it would be at least 10% from jobs I have worked the wages haven’t changed in 20 years rents are just about one person wage to pay per week I know things were much easier 20 years ago Ka pai Ka kite ano P.S. Anthony Joshua is sceared
The project you gave it your best Paddy good on you I heard that Obama called shonky a bad golf cheat lol The sandflys have been going hard for the last few days idiots you won’t even be able to fathom what they get up to. Your a Naki man Paddy that explains it Ka pai Ka kite ano
The project I never ever have a face book page I new it’s to open to minupulation.
Profits Of Rage one of my favourite bands they are onto it Jesse and Kanoe Ka pai Ka kite ano there song UN___THE WORLD is excerlint the video is tops to ka kite ano
For those with a serious or even passing interest in what is happening in Syria and Eastern Ghouta in particular.
It would be hard to go past this essay.
“Ghouta: Issues Behind the Apocalypse: Armed and civil rebellion, Class and Islam”
By Michael Karadjis
There is a a hell of lot to unpack here.
Maybe it would be best if you just scrolled down to the headline article that you are most interested in. And take the time to read the attached links, and footnotes.
https://mkaradjis.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/ghouta-issues-behind-the-apocalypse-armed-and-civil-rebellion-class-and-islam/
Newshub I could not have our morning talk the Tokoroa red neck sandflys allways block my phone and another phone on the cell tower from getting the standard website disprit exclusive brethren lol we got a good sports weekend coming up Kia kaha people Duncan hope you had a good time at the Obama dinner I wish I was there he is brilliant. The health system are stressed because of shonky and his m8.
Some people should realise that they are ways we can both be winners. When Eco Maori is determined he gets his way fulls top. Stop listening to the sandflys and think of a way we both WIN I’M not the bad guy your adviser are leading you in the wrong direction there only objective is to try and damage my Mana not your wellbeing. Ka kite ano