Yesterday, Paul Henry asked our politicians, “What is the plan?”
And found them all rather flat footed.
Maybe Paul Henry needs to get Defence Force Major John Cook and Lieutenant General Tim Keating on to his show and ask them the same question. “What is the plan?”
After all they are the people charged by us to be planning our defence.
Okay, I’m quite heartened by the attitude of Paul Henry. Given his popularity, it’s fucking excellent that he’s now taking it seriously and getting pissed off.
Megan Woods saying that “these are plans that are going to take decades to implement” and praising the UK is….fucking fucked. We don’t have decades and the UK is no leading light on action around climate change.
We have 15 years to get to zero on emissions from fossil. At the same time, agriculture and land use emissions have to drop too.
Here’s a plan (in no particular order).
1. Stop separating transport from energy – they are the same fucking thing.
2. Do a ‘job audit’ and dis-establish any and all jobs that contribute to climate change while contributing nothing to the well being of society.
3. Introduce a UBI or similar to mitigate the effects of 2.
4. Legislate strict energy efficiency standards for all appliances and machinery that run on fossil (or electric derived from fossil)
5. Retrofit every single home that is expected to be standing in 2040 – 2050 so that it can withstand a likely world of +3 or +4 degrees. (That mitigates 2 as well)
6. Plunge money into R&D that’s targeted on CC mitigation.
7. Begin building the new infrastructure we will be needing and retro fitting our existing infrastructure where possible.
8. Stop subtly blaming all of us for a situation that has largely arisen because of the lifestyles and actions of a notional 10% of the population. Point the finger appropriately and (like smoking) make profligate individual fossil use unacceptable.
9. Give all scientists working on climate change a cast iron guarantee on their future funding so that they no longer feel compelled to ‘paint rosy’ pictures on our prospects.
10. Act on the basis of the hard science and stop acting on the basis of magical thinking that has future technologies delivering us workable carbon capture and storage.
11. Produce and disseminate the year on year progress on the necessary ~15% reduction from fossil.
Meanwhile, spend a worthwhile 30 min listening to what scientists and engineers are saying.
Not ‘some’ plan. ‘Some’ plan is like rounding up 11 random people to play against Real Madrid with the following game plan – “Get out there and put this round thing between those posts over there.” Unlikely to work.
Any plan has to be realistic. That probably entails a massive social/political shift. Every plan must give principle consideration to thremodynamics. Everything else – everything else – is secondary to that.
some plan is better than no plan….atleast then it can be evaluated and modified as necessary….very difficult critique and adjust something that doesn’t exist.
It also equates to an admission that something needs to be done…..do we have that now?
According to the Copenhagen Accord that the NZ government signed up to – yes.
According to the Paris Agreement that the NZ government signed up to – yes.
And they have a plan. Buy credits. Underplay the severity of the situation. Kick everything down the road into a future they’ll no longer be playing a part in. And so on.
You really think that’s better than having a clean slate? You believe that can be modified to produce something worthwhile and workable?
There is a real world problem. It’s easily understood. Our possible actions are (or should be) determined by the reality. That’s what any evaluation or critique gets stacked against; the reality – not some self referencing critique or evaluation of a plan that hasn’t taken reality into account.
The 11 guys plucked off the street to play Real Madrid. You can modify, critique, or fuck with the game plan they have till the cows come home, but no modification of the plan is going to succeed.
And I, and anyone else with even a scant understanding of the problem (never mind the scientists and the engineers here) can tell you that, at present, our governments and their plans, really are akin to 11 random Jos playing Real Madrid…there’s nothing to modify. It won’t work because it can’t work. Actually – the 11 Jos have some immeasurably small chance of pulling it off. Governments and their plans have none.
edit. Any comment on the actual suggestions I listed – or is the fall-back of ‘some plan’ just a way of ignoring the points, avoiding ‘hard shit’ and essentially shoving your head in the sand?
Bill,
I only wish we had politicians with the guts to take up your suggestions and transform our society – God knows, we need to do it.
But also, both those climate scientists referred several times to the 1% causing a disproportional amount of carbon emissions. Perhaps, as a necessary step towards your points, we need to eliminate the elite? Now, more than ever, we can’t afford the rich!
Yesterday Hooton was laying some more bait along the lines of NZF and the Greens will benefit as National falls, and that once they are both on 15% and able to form govt with Labour Peters will insist on being PM. To me that mostly looks like Hooton bullshitting and stirring, but I’d be interested in some actual analysis. Is it technically possible that a smaller party leader could be PM? How? How would the electorate react?
The question in my book is not so much could it? But rather Why not?
If the smaller parties come up in large enough numbers, if one of these smaller parties has a Leader or Co-leaders that the country would stay behind, the question is Why should a smaller party not bring the PM and the other Parties bring in the MP’s.
This is the whole point of forming a Coalition, especially if the coalition is supposed to work and last.
“The question in my book is not so much could it? But rather Why not?”
If it’s not constitutionally or legally possible, then ‘why not?’ becomes a completely different question.
My first response is that we vote in parties, not PMs, and I think most people expect the largest party to lead. If a smaller party PM was an option, that would need to be explained and debated well before the election.
Next, I would want to know how it works. Would the smaller party PM do all the governing things like appointing cabinet? Essentially the balance of power within the coalition would shift to the smaller party. Is that useful? How are the 75% of the coalition voters that didn’t vote for that party going to feel about it?
I guess it depends on what we see a PM as. I’m not in favour of a presidential style system where the leader is separate from the party. So in NZ the PM role is intrinsicaly part of the major party in the coalition.
If the PM role were to be separated from that, I’d like to see how that might work.
Co-leadership is a different issue, with a different set of questions that go with it.
Would the smaller party PM do all the governing things like appointing cabinet?
Cabinet is made of the Ministers and is thus not appointed. The only exception is that of Ministers Outside Cabinet thus cabinet is not appointed per se.
Essentially the balance of power within the coalition would shift to the smaller party.
No, the balance of power would remain unchanged.
How are the 75% of the coalition voters that didn’t vote for that party going to feel about it?
Take the present Roy Morgan poll. If things follow on that path and we get NZ1st @ 15%, Greens @ 15% and Labour at 20%. How are the 60% who didn’t vote for Labour going to feel with a Labour PM?
Personally, I think it should be set to a preferential vote once the coalition is agreed as to which party provides the PM. We might actually be surprised by the result 😈
I guess it depends on what we see a PM as. I’m not in favour of a presidential style system where the leader is separate from the party.
Interestingly enough, in NZ the PM is just another minister. They really don’t have any more power than the other ministers but they are responsible for the actions of the other ministers. I think you’ll see the conflict of interest in the PM actually being a member of a party there.
So in NZ the PM role is intrinsicaly part of the major party in the coalition.
That’s not written into law anywhere and so the PM could be whoever of whichever party the coalition decides.
“Cabinet is made of the Ministers and is thus not appointed. The only exception is that of Ministers Outside Cabinet thus cabinet is not appointed per se.”
Yes, and the leader of the party appoints MPs to various ministries. The point being that the leader of the pary chooses who is in cabinet. Are you suggesting that the PM should even if they are from a smaller party?
“No, the balance of power would remain unchanged.”
You can assert that, but do you have any evidence that that is how it would go? Or even some explanation of what you mean?
“Personally, I think it should be set to a preferential vote once the coalition is agreed as to which party provides the PM. We might actually be surprised by the result”
I would be interesting looking at changing our system, but my questions about the current system and the idea that Peters could be PM from a minority party position.
“Interestingly enough, in NZ the PM is just another minister. They really don’t have any more power than the other ministers but they are responsible for the actions of the other ministers.”
That’s a significant power difference.
I think you’ll see the conflict of interest in the PM actually being a member of a party there.”
Or the other way round. Why not explain how you see it?
Yes, and the leader of the party appoints MPs to various ministries. The point being that the leader of the pary chooses who is in cabinet. Are you suggesting that the PM should even if they are from a smaller party?
In a coalition agreement the ministers that each party has, if they have any, is stated. Each party then will choose which of their MPs is a minister.
You can assert that, but do you have any evidence that that is how it would go? Or even some explanation of what you mean?
The balance of power is determined by the number of members.
That’s a significant power difference.
The PM is responsible for the actions of ministers but he can’t tell them what to do or even how to vote. In other words, if a minister behaves badly then the PM will pull them up on that and that’s about it. They have to take the ministers word unless there is evidence to the contrary at which point The Speaker may refer them to a Privileges Committee.
Or the other way round. Why not explain how you see it?
Just look at how FJK has treated ministers of National that have obviously done corrupt things and how he treated Winston Peters at the end of the last government. The bias in favour of National is obvious.
That said, it would be hard to get anyone not connected to the party system in NZ.
i don’t know about constitutional legality, so lets leave this aside for a moment.
I really believe that if we have a proper coalition having an PM or even a Co-PM Team would not be an issue at all, as the parties should decide well before the election how these things would work and address these issues with their voter base and with the electorate at large.
The issue for me is rather would any politician be able to swallow their egos and actually act for the good of the country.
In fact, i am very much hoping that our Opposition Parties a. talk to each other, b. may even announce in due time what type of coalition they would form and who within this coalition would take over what part of government.
Ok, but in context, we’re talking about Peters and he will definitely not say before an election who he will go into coalition with, let alone do negotiations pre-election. That’s not even getting to whether Peters will work with the GP.
I get the attraction of the idea of the best MP being MP irrespective of the party, but really I wanted thoughts more in context of the next election and bearing in mind Hooton thinks its a goer.
“The issue for me is rather would any politician be able to swallow their egos and actually act for the good of the country.”
“Would the smaller party PM do all the governing things like appointing Cabinet ?”
Bear in mind, that Labour Cabinets are elected by caucus, with the PM simply allocating portfolios (whereas, with National, Cabinet is indeed chosen by the PM).
“Bear in mind, that Labour Cabinets are elected by caucus, with the PM simply allocating portfolios”
How does that work? Is cabinet a set number? I had assumed that cabinet was formed from the MPs that are ministers, and given the leader allocates portfolios he is by default appointing cabinet.
Hi murray, thanks for that link.
But it is OK tho, a Clinton spokesperson said no federal, state or local taxes were avoided. So that’s that sorted.
Contrast Clinton’s response to trump:
She claims to get tough on tax dodgers while dodging tax herself, and trump acknowledges the rort by saying he pays plenty of tax.
Just because 285000 companies reside at that address, there is nothing ro see here.
From your link: “being registered in the tiny state (Delaware) allows “companies to legally shift earnings from other states to Delaware, where they are not taxed on non-physical incomes generated outside of state.”
Got that folks? Delaware is a tax dodger’s delight. And both Hillary and Trump use it. The American voters will have a genuine choice come November. Tax Cheat A or Tax Cheat B. A curse on both their houses.
This Thom Hartmann interview with Curtis Ellis gives an insight into the rationale for the TPP and TTIP and is well worth watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veAO3u-OGZ0
Hey Lanthanide – were you paid to put up that link? If not, I’m sure you can put you hand out. Fire off an email to this Super PAC, and get your cash reward.
When two vaguely unbright people get together with an idea to make a smart video…
Anyway Lanth. Given NY and today’s results it looks likely that Clinton will get the nomination. Hardly a reason for anyone with a skerrik of humanity to celebrate though, is it?
It doesn’t add in the super delegates for the Dems – just those allocated after the Primaries or Caucasus. Sanders has been behind getting what he needs since late February. Mathematically he could still get more than Clinton but only if he won California and New Jersey by enormous margins (and pretty much everything else by the same large margins).
Yes, I’ve been following FiveThirtyEight since they launched, and on each pro-Bernie post that has been on this site, I’ve always pointed out that Bernie is behind his targets, and for most of the time, he has been slipping behind, not gaining, on Clinton.
FYI – my request for Mayor Len Brown to please reconsider the decision to decline speaking rights to Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright at the upcoming Auckland Council Governing Body meeting:
__________________________________________________
27 April 2016
Mayor Len Brown,
This is a request for you, as Chair of the Auckland Council Governing Body, to please reconsider the decision made to deny my request for speaking rights,( five minutes only), at the Public Forum section of the Auckland Council Governing Body meeting to be held (tomorrow), Thursday 28 April 2016, 9.30am at the Auckland Town Hall.
The reasons given for declining my request for ‘speaking rights’ were as follows:
“Your public input request to speak at the 28 April 2016 Governing Body meeting regarding the Auckland Transport Election Signs Bylaw 2013 has been declined for the following reasons:
· The bylaw involved a hearings process and public input is not to be used to speak about a matter that has a separate public hearings or consultation process attached to it – SO 7.7.4 b)
· The making of the bylaw is an Auckland Transport responsibility. Auckland Council has a formal delegation from Auckland Transport to enforce the bylaw and has to apply the bylaw as it is
· It is not considered appropriate for a potential mayoral candidate to speak at a Governing Body meeting regarding electoral issues.”
The reasons for which I am asking you to reconsider, are as follows:
1) “The bylaw involved a hearings process and public input is not to be used to speak about a matter that has a separate public hearings or consultation process attached to it – SO 7.7.4 b)”
a) I am requesting the revocation of the entire Auckland Transport ‘Election Signage By Law 2013’, on the basis that in my considered opinion it is ‘ultra vires’ a number of enactments, as I outlined in my original request for speaking rights, so, in my view the following does not apply ” public input is not to be used to speak about a matter that has a separate public hearings or consultation process attached to it – SO 7.7.4 b)”
b) I have given formal notification today to the Minister for Transport, Simon Bridges, that I intend to petition him to use his lawful authority vested under s.22AC of the Land Transport Act 1998, to ‘disallow’ the entire Auckland Transport ‘Election Signage By Law 2013.’
2) “The making of the bylaw is an Auckland Transport responsibility. Auckland Council has a formal delegation from Auckland Transport to enforce the bylaw and has to apply the bylaw as it is.”
a) I am questioning and challenging the lawful authority of Auckland Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Auckland Transport to make this By Law covering ‘Election Signage’ – which is arguably highly political and concerns the lawful rights of Auckland citizens and ratepayers to express a political opinion, on their private property.
b) On the face of it – what does that have to do with Auckland Transport?
c) Where under the Land Transport Act 1998, does the ‘scope’ of that Act, specifically cover election signage?
d) Where is the ‘Council control’ of Auckland Transport as a CCO?
e) Why does Auckland Council have to ‘apply the bylaw as it is’ – when arguably Auckland Transport shouldn’t have had the lawful authority to make this by law in the first place?
3) ” It is not considered appropriate for a potential mayoral candidate to speak at a Governing Body meeting regarding electoral issues.”
a) WHO exactly considered it ‘inappropriate’ for myself as a ‘potential mayoral candidate’ to speak at a Governing Body meeting regarding electoral issues’?
b) The last time I looked, my lawful rights to ‘freedom of expression’ as a citizen (albeit a ‘potential mayoral candidate’) were not thus curtailed or restricted in any way under s.14 of the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990?
c) Upon what lawful basis is relied for this (new) purported exemption / restriction for a ‘potential mayoral candidate’ such as myself?
d) I have an alternative view – that as a ‘potential mayoral candidate’ I am arguably a directly-affected party in this matter, thus arguably have even more reason to address Auckland Council on this matter.
Finally, I am trying to do things in a proper way, and avail myself of the opportunities to directly address Auckland Council, as provided in the underpinning Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
I look forward to commonsense and the ‘rule of law’ prevailing, and being given the five minutes to address the Auckland Council Governing Body, in ‘Public Forum’ as I have properly requested.
“Take your pick – an act of political genius or chaotic desperation! The Ted Cruz-John Kay-sick electoral pact to deny Donald Trump the Republican nomination is bold but also very risky. Voters may not take the bait. It would seem the GOP establishment will do anything to determine who runs in November, regardless of the base.
CrossTalking with David Paul Kuhn, Gianno Caldwell, and Ivan Eland.”
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Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 19 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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What is the plan?
http://www.newshub.co.nz/tvshows/paulhenry/pressure-on-to-reduce-greenhouse-gases-2016042611#axzz46xJo9qGS
What is the plan? II
Defence force Major equates climate change with Isis in Anzac day address.
http://thestandard.org.nz/anzac-day-2016/#comment-1165121
Yesterday, Paul Henry asked our politicians, “What is the plan?”
And found them all rather flat footed.
Maybe Paul Henry needs to get Defence Force Major John Cook and Lieutenant General Tim Keating on to his show and ask them the same question. “What is the plan?”
After all they are the people charged by us to be planning our defence.
“Aren’t they?” (raised eyebrow, Paul Henry style)
Its been interesting watching henry go from head in the sand about climate change to becoming quite vocal in the space of 6 months.
Okay, I’m quite heartened by the attitude of Paul Henry. Given his popularity, it’s fucking excellent that he’s now taking it seriously and getting pissed off.
Megan Woods saying that “these are plans that are going to take decades to implement” and praising the UK is….fucking fucked. We don’t have decades and the UK is no leading light on action around climate change.
We have 15 years to get to zero on emissions from fossil. At the same time, agriculture and land use emissions have to drop too.
Here’s a plan (in no particular order).
1. Stop separating transport from energy – they are the same fucking thing.
2. Do a ‘job audit’ and dis-establish any and all jobs that contribute to climate change while contributing nothing to the well being of society.
3. Introduce a UBI or similar to mitigate the effects of 2.
4. Legislate strict energy efficiency standards for all appliances and machinery that run on fossil (or electric derived from fossil)
5. Retrofit every single home that is expected to be standing in 2040 – 2050 so that it can withstand a likely world of +3 or +4 degrees. (That mitigates 2 as well)
6. Plunge money into R&D that’s targeted on CC mitigation.
7. Begin building the new infrastructure we will be needing and retro fitting our existing infrastructure where possible.
8. Stop subtly blaming all of us for a situation that has largely arisen because of the lifestyles and actions of a notional 10% of the population. Point the finger appropriately and (like smoking) make profligate individual fossil use unacceptable.
9. Give all scientists working on climate change a cast iron guarantee on their future funding so that they no longer feel compelled to ‘paint rosy’ pictures on our prospects.
10. Act on the basis of the hard science and stop acting on the basis of magical thinking that has future technologies delivering us workable carbon capture and storage.
11. Produce and disseminate the year on year progress on the necessary ~15% reduction from fossil.
Meanwhile, spend a worthwhile 30 min listening to what scientists and engineers are saying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svlU6p0gHgo
or at least have some plan of action…
No.
Not ‘some’ plan. ‘Some’ plan is like rounding up 11 random people to play against Real Madrid with the following game plan – “Get out there and put this round thing between those posts over there.” Unlikely to work.
Any plan has to be realistic. That probably entails a massive social/political shift. Every plan must give principle consideration to thremodynamics. Everything else – everything else – is secondary to that.
some plan is better than no plan….atleast then it can be evaluated and modified as necessary….very difficult critique and adjust something that doesn’t exist.
It also equates to an admission that something needs to be done…..do we have that now?
According to the Copenhagen Accord that the NZ government signed up to – yes.
According to the Paris Agreement that the NZ government signed up to – yes.
And they have a plan. Buy credits. Underplay the severity of the situation. Kick everything down the road into a future they’ll no longer be playing a part in. And so on.
You really think that’s better than having a clean slate? You believe that can be modified to produce something worthwhile and workable?
There is a real world problem. It’s easily understood. Our possible actions are (or should be) determined by the reality. That’s what any evaluation or critique gets stacked against; the reality – not some self referencing critique or evaluation of a plan that hasn’t taken reality into account.
The 11 guys plucked off the street to play Real Madrid. You can modify, critique, or fuck with the game plan they have till the cows come home, but no modification of the plan is going to succeed.
And I, and anyone else with even a scant understanding of the problem (never mind the scientists and the engineers here) can tell you that, at present, our governments and their plans, really are akin to 11 random Jos playing Real Madrid…there’s nothing to modify. It won’t work because it can’t work. Actually – the 11 Jos have some immeasurably small chance of pulling it off. Governments and their plans have none.
edit. Any comment on the actual suggestions I listed – or is the fall-back of ‘some plan’ just a way of ignoring the points, avoiding ‘hard shit’ and essentially shoving your head in the sand?
Avoiding hard things is now a national past time.
Bill,
I only wish we had politicians with the guts to take up your suggestions and transform our society – God knows, we need to do it.
But also, both those climate scientists referred several times to the 1% causing a disproportional amount of carbon emissions. Perhaps, as a necessary step towards your points, we need to eliminate the elite? Now, more than ever, we can’t afford the rich!
you’re welcome….carry on.
Steve Keen has put some thought into thermodynamic modelling of economics.
And to head down this road we need a financial and monetary system which is aligned with thermodynamic realities.
Currently we are running our country like it is an electronic money numbers game. Minimal relationship to physical, thermodynamic reality.
Yesterday Hooton was laying some more bait along the lines of NZF and the Greens will benefit as National falls, and that once they are both on 15% and able to form govt with Labour Peters will insist on being PM. To me that mostly looks like Hooton bullshitting and stirring, but I’d be interested in some actual analysis. Is it technically possible that a smaller party leader could be PM? How? How would the electorate react?
The question in my book is not so much could it? But rather Why not?
If the smaller parties come up in large enough numbers, if one of these smaller parties has a Leader or Co-leaders that the country would stay behind, the question is Why should a smaller party not bring the PM and the other Parties bring in the MP’s.
This is the whole point of forming a Coalition, especially if the coalition is supposed to work and last.
“The question in my book is not so much could it? But rather Why not?”
If it’s not constitutionally or legally possible, then ‘why not?’ becomes a completely different question.
My first response is that we vote in parties, not PMs, and I think most people expect the largest party to lead. If a smaller party PM was an option, that would need to be explained and debated well before the election.
Next, I would want to know how it works. Would the smaller party PM do all the governing things like appointing cabinet? Essentially the balance of power within the coalition would shift to the smaller party. Is that useful? How are the 75% of the coalition voters that didn’t vote for that party going to feel about it?
I guess it depends on what we see a PM as. I’m not in favour of a presidential style system where the leader is separate from the party. So in NZ the PM role is intrinsicaly part of the major party in the coalition.
If the PM role were to be separated from that, I’d like to see how that might work.
Co-leadership is a different issue, with a different set of questions that go with it.
Cabinet is made of the Ministers and is thus not appointed. The only exception is that of Ministers Outside Cabinet thus cabinet is not appointed per se.
No, the balance of power would remain unchanged.
Take the present Roy Morgan poll. If things follow on that path and we get NZ1st @ 15%, Greens @ 15% and Labour at 20%. How are the 60% who didn’t vote for Labour going to feel with a Labour PM?
Personally, I think it should be set to a preferential vote once the coalition is agreed as to which party provides the PM. We might actually be surprised by the result 😈
Interestingly enough, in NZ the PM is just another minister. They really don’t have any more power than the other ministers but they are responsible for the actions of the other ministers. I think you’ll see the conflict of interest in the PM actually being a member of a party there.
That’s not written into law anywhere and so the PM could be whoever of whichever party the coalition decides.
“Cabinet is made of the Ministers and is thus not appointed. The only exception is that of Ministers Outside Cabinet thus cabinet is not appointed per se.”
Yes, and the leader of the party appoints MPs to various ministries. The point being that the leader of the pary chooses who is in cabinet. Are you suggesting that the PM should even if they are from a smaller party?
“No, the balance of power would remain unchanged.”
You can assert that, but do you have any evidence that that is how it would go? Or even some explanation of what you mean?
“Personally, I think it should be set to a preferential vote once the coalition is agreed as to which party provides the PM. We might actually be surprised by the result”
I would be interesting looking at changing our system, but my questions about the current system and the idea that Peters could be PM from a minority party position.
“Interestingly enough, in NZ the PM is just another minister. They really don’t have any more power than the other ministers but they are responsible for the actions of the other ministers.”
That’s a significant power difference.
I think you’ll see the conflict of interest in the PM actually being a member of a party there.”
Or the other way round. Why not explain how you see it?
In a coalition agreement the ministers that each party has, if they have any, is stated. Each party then will choose which of their MPs is a minister.
The balance of power is determined by the number of members.
The PM is responsible for the actions of ministers but he can’t tell them what to do or even how to vote. In other words, if a minister behaves badly then the PM will pull them up on that and that’s about it. They have to take the ministers word unless there is evidence to the contrary at which point The Speaker may refer them to a Privileges Committee.
Just look at how FJK has treated ministers of National that have obviously done corrupt things and how he treated Winston Peters at the end of the last government. The bias in favour of National is obvious.
That said, it would be hard to get anyone not connected to the party system in NZ.
i don’t know about constitutional legality, so lets leave this aside for a moment.
I really believe that if we have a proper coalition having an PM or even a Co-PM Team would not be an issue at all, as the parties should decide well before the election how these things would work and address these issues with their voter base and with the electorate at large.
The issue for me is rather would any politician be able to swallow their egos and actually act for the good of the country.
In fact, i am very much hoping that our Opposition Parties a. talk to each other, b. may even announce in due time what type of coalition they would form and who within this coalition would take over what part of government.
It would leave the voters with an actual choice.
Ok, but in context, we’re talking about Peters and he will definitely not say before an election who he will go into coalition with, let alone do negotiations pre-election. That’s not even getting to whether Peters will work with the GP.
I get the attraction of the idea of the best MP being MP irrespective of the party, but really I wanted thoughts more in context of the next election and bearing in mind Hooton thinks its a goer.
“The issue for me is rather would any politician be able to swallow their egos and actually act for the good of the country.”
yeah, but Peters.
“Would the smaller party PM do all the governing things like appointing Cabinet ?”
Bear in mind, that Labour Cabinets are elected by caucus, with the PM simply allocating portfolios (whereas, with National, Cabinet is indeed chosen by the PM).
“Bear in mind, that Labour Cabinets are elected by caucus, with the PM simply allocating portfolios”
How does that work? Is cabinet a set number? I had assumed that cabinet was formed from the MPs that are ministers, and given the leader allocates portfolios he is by default appointing cabinet.
Another USA Tax Haven, this one apparently shared by both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-04-26/trump-and-hillary-refuse-explain-why-they-both-share-same-address-delaware
Hi murray, thanks for that link.
But it is OK tho, a Clinton spokesperson said no federal, state or local taxes were avoided. So that’s that sorted.
Contrast Clinton’s response to trump:
She claims to get tough on tax dodgers while dodging tax herself, and trump acknowledges the rort by saying he pays plenty of tax.
Just because 285000 companies reside at that address, there is nothing ro see here.
Murray Simmonds
From your link: “being registered in the tiny state (Delaware) allows “companies to legally shift earnings from other states to Delaware, where they are not taxed on non-physical incomes generated outside of state.”
Got that folks? Delaware is a tax dodger’s delight. And both Hillary and Trump use it. The American voters will have a genuine choice come November. Tax Cheat A or Tax Cheat B. A curse on both their houses.
This Thom Hartmann interview with Curtis Ellis gives an insight into the rationale for the TPP and TTIP and is well worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veAO3u-OGZ0
Coping with Reality.
Hard watch, but well worth it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nmy2uVb39I
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11629381
Let me save them some time and money: No compensation, now we’ve got that out of the way Peter Ellis deserves to have his case re-looked at
I’ll send you a Judith Collins mask Puckish ……… go full mode and put it on when you post.
Drink a box of her high strength roastbuster RTD’s as well ………….
Live the dream and spread her wisdom.
I’m not sure what you’re on about but at least you’re giving it a go 🙂
This excellent video is relevant to many of the Bernie cheerleaders on this site:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHS-K7OuLAc
Hey Lanthanide – were you paid to put up that link? If not, I’m sure you can put you hand out. Fire off an email to this Super PAC, and get your cash reward.
http://correctrecord.org/
When two vaguely unbright people get together with an idea to make a smart video…
Anyway Lanth. Given NY and today’s results it looks likely that Clinton will get the nomination. Hardly a reason for anyone with a skerrik of humanity to celebrate though, is it?
Sure, I’d prefer Bernie was the nominee too.
But that doesn’t give people an excuse to refuse to accept reality, as many on here have refused to do for months.
I’ve found this to be the best site for giving an indication of how close the respective nominees for both parties are to being on target:
http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/election-2016/delegate-targets/
It doesn’t add in the super delegates for the Dems – just those allocated after the Primaries or Caucasus. Sanders has been behind getting what he needs since late February. Mathematically he could still get more than Clinton but only if he won California and New Jersey by enormous margins (and pretty much everything else by the same large margins).
Yes, I’ve been following FiveThirtyEight since they launched, and on each pro-Bernie post that has been on this site, I’ve always pointed out that Bernie is behind his targets, and for most of the time, he has been slipping behind, not gaining, on Clinton.
Put this date in your Diary May 9th. then go to this link – the hits keep on coming.
https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/#_ga=1.221854872.1813182034.1460448378
FYI – my request for Mayor Len Brown to please reconsider the decision to decline speaking rights to Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright at the upcoming Auckland Council Governing Body meeting:
__________________________________________________
27 April 2016
Mayor Len Brown,
This is a request for you, as Chair of the Auckland Council Governing Body, to please reconsider the decision made to deny my request for speaking rights,( five minutes only), at the Public Forum section of the Auckland Council Governing Body meeting to be held (tomorrow), Thursday 28 April 2016, 9.30am at the Auckland Town Hall.
The reasons given for declining my request for ‘speaking rights’ were as follows:
“Your public input request to speak at the 28 April 2016 Governing Body meeting regarding the Auckland Transport Election Signs Bylaw 2013 has been declined for the following reasons:
· The bylaw involved a hearings process and public input is not to be used to speak about a matter that has a separate public hearings or consultation process attached to it – SO 7.7.4 b)
· The making of the bylaw is an Auckland Transport responsibility. Auckland Council has a formal delegation from Auckland Transport to enforce the bylaw and has to apply the bylaw as it is
· It is not considered appropriate for a potential mayoral candidate to speak at a Governing Body meeting regarding electoral issues.”
The reasons for which I am asking you to reconsider, are as follows:
1) “The bylaw involved a hearings process and public input is not to be used to speak about a matter that has a separate public hearings or consultation process attached to it – SO 7.7.4 b)”
a) I am requesting the revocation of the entire Auckland Transport ‘Election Signage By Law 2013’, on the basis that in my considered opinion it is ‘ultra vires’ a number of enactments, as I outlined in my original request for speaking rights, so, in my view the following does not apply ” public input is not to be used to speak about a matter that has a separate public hearings or consultation process attached to it – SO 7.7.4 b)”
b) I have given formal notification today to the Minister for Transport, Simon Bridges, that I intend to petition him to use his lawful authority vested under s.22AC of the Land Transport Act 1998, to ‘disallow’ the entire Auckland Transport ‘Election Signage By Law 2013.’
2) “The making of the bylaw is an Auckland Transport responsibility. Auckland Council has a formal delegation from Auckland Transport to enforce the bylaw and has to apply the bylaw as it is.”
a) I am questioning and challenging the lawful authority of Auckland Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Auckland Transport to make this By Law covering ‘Election Signage’ – which is arguably highly political and concerns the lawful rights of Auckland citizens and ratepayers to express a political opinion, on their private property.
b) On the face of it – what does that have to do with Auckland Transport?
c) Where under the Land Transport Act 1998, does the ‘scope’ of that Act, specifically cover election signage?
d) Where is the ‘Council control’ of Auckland Transport as a CCO?
e) Why does Auckland Council have to ‘apply the bylaw as it is’ – when arguably Auckland Transport shouldn’t have had the lawful authority to make this by law in the first place?
3) ” It is not considered appropriate for a potential mayoral candidate to speak at a Governing Body meeting regarding electoral issues.”
a) WHO exactly considered it ‘inappropriate’ for myself as a ‘potential mayoral candidate’ to speak at a Governing Body meeting regarding electoral issues’?
b) The last time I looked, my lawful rights to ‘freedom of expression’ as a citizen (albeit a ‘potential mayoral candidate’) were not thus curtailed or restricted in any way under s.14 of the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990?
c) Upon what lawful basis is relied for this (new) purported exemption / restriction for a ‘potential mayoral candidate’ such as myself?
d) I have an alternative view – that as a ‘potential mayoral candidate’ I am arguably a directly-affected party in this matter, thus arguably have even more reason to address Auckland Council on this matter.
Finally, I am trying to do things in a proper way, and avail myself of the opportunities to directly address Auckland Council, as provided in the underpinning Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
I look forward to commonsense and the ‘rule of law’ prevailing, and being given the five minutes to address the Auckland Council Governing Body, in ‘Public Forum’ as I have properly requested.
Kind regards
Penny Bright
………
+100 Go Penny!
‘Stop Trump Crusade’
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/341076-trump-republican-nomination-gop/
“Take your pick – an act of political genius or chaotic desperation! The Ted Cruz-John Kay-sick electoral pact to deny Donald Trump the Republican nomination is bold but also very risky. Voters may not take the bait. It would seem the GOP establishment will do anything to determine who runs in November, regardless of the base.
CrossTalking with David Paul Kuhn, Gianno Caldwell, and Ivan Eland.”