Nationals health spokes person making cheap political points.outhouse compares NZ to Singapore yet Singapore has a far worse problem than NZ. Then there is privacy Singapore is not a free democracy like NZ.
Singapore is a stuffup,due to the handling of their indentured labour force.
Singapore trails only China, India, Japan and Pakistan in Asia for the number of coronavirus infections. More than 10,000 of those infected, some 80% of its total, are foreign workers, many of whom have been placed in “isolation facilities” for people with mild symptoms such as the conference centers.
National continues with its misguided idea of what an opposition party should contribute, with relentless negativity and totally uncontructive criticism – just for the sake of trying to "win", nothing about what helps NZ. They just have nothing to add, and you can bet their brilliant crew would do no better at any of the things they criticise.
Two weeks is too long to wait for a contact tracing app for Covid-19, the National Party says.
National's health spokesperson Michael Woodhouse said the Singaporean government offered the code for its app weeks ago, and the ministry should be moving faster.
Anyone familiar with coding? I am guessing even with existing code to modify, for something of this scale two weeks is a very short time.
No doubt Woodhouse would be complaining the app ‘was rushed’ if it had been out that quick…
The penny finally dropped for me listening to Cameron Bagrie last night on Q&A justifying Simon Bridge's negative stance on the grounds that this was the opposition's job. So the justification is that you need to be oppositional even if you are just opening your mouth and letting the wind blow your tongue around. Good grief!
The technological determinists seem to think everyone has a capable mobile phone, and, if they do have one, that it's on all the time.
I have a little prepay, flip phone (AKA shell phone). Even if I could load such an ap on it, I rarely have it on, and rarely use it. Just need it for txts and those phone verification thingies.
And those people who run out of funds to renew their plan?
Plus, the PM and Bloomfield have continually stressed that contact tracing needs to be via personal communications with suspected contacts, not via an ap.
Close to 80% of the population to get close to manual contact tracing using Blutooth.
At least 40% to be of use at all with Bluetooth.
Best approach is to forget the Bluetooth and just to treat it as a diary of locations to assist memory when contract tracing. That alone would massively help because where available it will help cover memory gaps.
But to me, that just defines National. Looking for ineffective quick fixes all of the time. Like the Canterbury earthquake responses.
Best approach is to forget the Bluetooth and just to treat it as a diary of locations to assist memory when contract tracing.
God yes.
Government wants me to install an app so it can monitor my location for contact tracing? Grumpy, but OK it's for the greater good.
Government wants me to have Bluetooth switched on all the time and be charging my phone every few hours is what it would feel like? You can fuck right off, government.
Yeah, I certainly wouldn't put something from the government on my phone that has bluetooth on all the time. And I'm the kind of person that wouldn't object to things like numberplate recognition cameras all around the place, nor do I do anything with my phone or have any info on it that would be of the slightest conceivable interest to anyone else.
If bluetooth-based contact tracking became a requirement, I'd seriously look into just getting a burner phone for that alone. Which would make it more or less the same is the proposed Covid Card.
My phone bluetooth is always turned off. My phone wifi is turned off except for the few moments I need it on. My mobile data is turned off except the few moments I need it on, although since that goes to the same towers as voice and text it doesn't affect my trackability.
From one Twitter discussion I saw between tech experts, even 30% sounded OK. Not nearly as high as I expected – though intended to be alongside manual tracing not replacing it.
The infamous spyware maker from Israel NSO Group, and Cy4Gate, a company that sells surveillance tools from Italy, are actively pitching surveillance tools to contain the virus to their own governments and others around the world, Motherboard has learned.
Their systems are essentially mass surveillance tools that would help governments and health authorities keep track of the movements of every citizen, and who they get in contact with. The goal of this contact tracing method is to track the spread of the coronavirus and help governments make better decisions to counter it, such as quarantining certain areas, informing people they may have been infected, or administering tests.
Two weeks ago, Bloomberg reported that NSO Group developed a new product to track the spread of coronavirus. Now, Motherboard obtained more details about how the product—codenamed Fleming—actually works.
Michael Woodhouse is an idiot and clearly doesn't do software. Especially those designed to go out amongst millions of devices.
I do. Even after you finally get the stuff done it usually takes months to get tested and 'right'. And it has to be right because if it messes up phones then the uptake will be minimal.
Glad that they decided not to go for active BLE in the first pass. That is a very hard ask – sucks battery life , requires it to be an active service, and requires a lot of extra work to make sure that the OS doesn't shut it down. It most likely is the main reason for slow uptake of these kinds of apps.
Also it won't do what the advocates of this kind of app would like it to do. It is no panacea. As much as anything else because you can't get saturation. Many people don't carry phones with them. Many others simply won't activate it.
The manual contact tracking is still required and at much the same level. A app is only an minor add on.
Woodhouse is pretty much cementing his reputation of being an idiot tosser.
I am a complete idiot that can't do anything involving software apart from the most basic fixes for my computer.
Can you explain in laymans terms why we couldn't use the system they've pushed the button on in Australia or Singapore rather than doing it ourselves ?
So far Australia has had over 2m people download their version inside three days. The local tech community has gotten in behind and are supporting it's use.
It's a doddle to install and the user really doesn't need to do anything.
My old five year old Oppo Android phone seems to have had no impact on the battery life that I've noticed so far and works fine.
And the way it's set up it's far less intrusive than Google or FB.
With the lifting of restrictions we are entering the phase where testing and tracking are the vital tools; otherwise the effort so far could easily be wasted. Don't like the app, then keep a paper log. One or the other; but a $10k fine if you do nothing and catch it.
Delightful morning at Level 2. Wait, what's that? It's level 3? But look at what people are doing. They can read, so the government must've changed the level overnight. Welp, business as usual.
[I’ll give you more time to enjoy the delightful mornings for a whole week instead of wasting them on trolling this site – Incognito]
"Mr Assange will not be produced today because he is unwell"
A court clerk announced at Westminster Court today, during Assange's latest case hearing before Judge Vanessa Baraitser, that: "Mr Assange will not be produced today because I understand he is unwell".Assange's father John Shipton was present in court, wearing a mask: close to 80, he's in the high risk group for COVID, as is his son who has a chronic lung condition.
This is the second time Assange has not been 'present' via videolink at his own hearings due to being 'unwell', but his counsel and the judge always motor ahead, getting nowhere.
The US prosecution announced it's not against the delaying of the case until September or 'November 2', which would park the case in the midst of the US elections.
The question is: if the case is delayed again for months, will Assange continue to be held in infected Belmarsh (23-and-a-half-hours a day in solitary lockdown – a couple of deaths noted and under-staffing with scores of guards self-isolating) even though he is (a) a remand prisoner (b) has no charges against him (c) has completed his Bail Act sentence.
“Judge delays for months Assange’s extradition hearing to the US for publishing journalism. There’s no excuse for denying him bail, and keeping him in a high-security jail, unless the hope is that Belmarsh’s Covid-19 outbreak will settle his case pre-emptively.”
Of course, humankind had some weeks/months time to reflect (from link above):
“The climate crisis continues unabated,” Haustein said. “The emissions will go down this year, but the concentrations keep on rising. We are very unlikely to be able to notice any slowdown in the built-up of atmospheric GHG levels. But we have the unique chance now to reconsider our choices and use the corona crisis as a catalyst for more sustainable means of transport and energy production (via incentives, taxes, carbon prices etc).”
After seeing the traffic into Wellington this morning and reading reading article:
If emissions are down, but concentration levels are continuing to rise, then that might suggest we've crossed a tipping point somewhere and global warming is no longer "under our control"…
Yes to a degree – but as the article says there's also considerable lag in the system so any actions/activities/feedbacks take a while to become apparent beyond the massive cracks in my lawn in late April.
Emissions are down from their peak, but not negative. That concentrations are still rising just means emissions are greater than the earth's ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. That's been true since sometime in the 1800s, if not much earlier.
Emissions from our activities will never be negative Andre.
The point about Anthropogenic Global Warming and straight up Global Warming is that tipping points (once crossed) mean that warming is being driven from sources other than human activity and nothing we do can alter eventual outcomes.
I'd have thought it fairly obvious that a rise in atmospheric concentrations occurring in the face of dropping emissions (not a straight forward measurement btw because of natural, mostly seasonal fluctuations) is….not a good sign.
That concentrations are still rising even after a drop in emissions is indeed bad news, but it doesn't "suggest we've crossed a tipping point" anytime recently. That particular tipping point was crossed centuries ago.
By itself it doesn't say anything one way or the other about whether non-anthropogenic sources have recently increased or decreased, nor whether the earth's capacity to absorb CO2 has decreased or increased.
Unless your suggesting that the move from water powered mills to coal/steam powered mills back in the early to mid 1800s coincided with a non-human related source of CO2 being unleashed, then I'm a bit lost on what you might mean by "That particular tipping point was crossed centuries ago".
There has always been a degree of wriggle room in the carbon cycle – which is why major volcanic eruptions (for example) have resulted in short term destabalisations and not wholesale irreversible shifts.
I wrote "might suggestwe've crossed a tipping point somewhere" – which is true, and the only indication we will ever have (as far as I'm aware) that a tipping point has been crossed.
I quit that piece at a paragraph or two in because in spite of the fact the world was in a cooling phase before fossil emissions halted and reversed the cooling, the piece asserts that It also shows that without this human influence, by the start of the Industrial Revolution, the planet would have likely been headed for another ice age.
That aside, in relation to your first response above, the piece does at least highlight why human emissions will never be negative – agriculture will always produce methane and CO2.
Don't you appreciate Jacinda's skill at handling the Press Conference especially the question time? The only questions answered by Trump were ones from MAGA people.
Pity since the demise of Paul Holmes the ability to question PM's, ministers etc has gone from informative and being challenged to watching a bunch of compliant amateurs with a media profile the station and the personality want to maintained. Follow any political blog same comment is universal from both sides, and these are those who are politically active or seeking out info. The public at large are fed 10-30sec meaningless gotcha clips.
Where are the follow up questions ?? This comment was also applicable under Key.
I was talking to a mate today, he has been living off-grid during the lock-down.
The 'mainstream' media came up and the perilous state they find themselves in.
While this is not news, it has become apparent who the newspapers, tv and radio stations serve: the advertisers.
Recently we have had the three 'local' papers- The Dom, The Evening Standard and Feilding Herald adopt the same masthead, puzzle page etc and a lot of common content. The only discernable difference is the obituaries and the real estate for sale.
The media has made itself redundant in many peoples lives.
There are also continuing your theme, plenty of articles that come across as independent news but from reading sound more of an "advertorial", similar with "experts" they appear to be selected based on what their perception is and how that aligns with how the media is framing the story. You think the govt is crap there are media personalities you will listen/ watch. The govt is perfect you can find media that is compliant with this side as well.
IMO we need a functioning opposition (NZ has been lacking one for many years now) and a media that questions.
Whist you say the media has made itself redundant – I counter that it is more dangerous as ever due to its shallowness/personalities built on nothing ( CELEBRITIES) just look at what the US has in leadership !!
I agree that the 'news' can often be rehashed press releases and the shallow celebrity cult flavour of current events. The redundancy I mentioned is a financial one. We don't value it enough to pay for it.
Not surprising really, most by-products of the race to the bottom are unappealing.
Its been quite clear for a while that our media is controlled by the advertiser. I follow Thai politics. { More exciting than game of thrones , I think.} While the rest of the world is provided info on Thai King I have yet to see anything in our media, I can only think the travel advertises keep it from our papers
Mark Blyth covers some interesting ground here – COVID-19 and the economic effects, the nature of bailouts, internationalism and the difference between countries, etc. I was particularly interested in the idea of anti-fragility and automatic stabilisers which he touched on briefly. It's quite long, but worth it.
Thought you might be interested in this in light of a comment made a few days back…
As European leaders launch a multilateral, multi-billion-dollar effort to promote vaccines, testing, and anti-viral medicines, the U.S. withdraws from the World Health Organization and declines to join. There you have it.
Global leaders are launching an initiative with the World Health Organization (WHO) to accelerate the development of coronavirus drugs, tests and vaccines and ensure equal access to all countries, but the US is not involved. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel were among leaders participating in a video conference to announce the plan. US president Donald Trump recently criticised the WHO’s handling of the pandemic and announced a withdrawal of US funding to the organisation.
A Chinese pact with Europe and the UK over this event is also smart politics in shifting blocs of influence together – and away from the US.
In my lifetime I can't think of a developed nation that has so wilfully and swiftly disengaged from institutional co-operation at a time of global crisis as the United States has done.
The US withdrawal – and its status as the worst response by levels of infection and death in the world by a country mile – makes the oppressive regime of China look like a reasoned, co-operative, and generous international partner in a global crisis. Which takes some doing.
In my lifetime I can't think of a developed nation that has so wilfully and swiftly disengaged from institutional co-operation at a time of global crisis as the United States has done.
As I've argued before this is the direction the USA has been moving in since the end of the Cold War, a slow drift at first, but now so dramatic as to be obvious to all.
Now think through all the potential consequences of this shift. In my view none of them are good.
Had a bit of a laugh at PhD student Matthew-HeavyBreather-Hooton (@ ~6 minutes into RNZ’s Nine-to-Noon programme this morning) leading with his 'concern' that Grant Roberston might regard himself as "omniscient". Typically it's the National Party that is more inclined to pick business winners – maybe there's only room for one omniscient NZer in Hooten's 'mind'
Of as much concern is his promotion of UBI…writing off a significant portion of the population as an underclass by a mechanism carrying a different name…a repeat of the mistake of the 80s.
China might be "feeling the heat" or, more likely in my mind, is simply pissed off with the children in the room trying to cast it as "bogey man".
eg – From western news outlets and just off the top of my head – China is simultaneously charged with being too authoritarian in locking down cities, and too lax in its response. China sending covid related aid to third countries isn't humanitarianism, but cynical influence building. Scouring the world for ppe when faced with the potential for a pandemic it was trying to avert, is somehow nefarious. Then there's all the false reporting of whistle blowers who weren't actually whistle blowers. Throw in on top the charges that China didn't inform other countries about covid (when it most assuredly did), and how that contradicts bullshit being peddled by sections of the US intelligence community that the virus was "sweeping" China in November…
I read stories that the USA was doing that – exporting ppe to China around the same time it was "hi-jacking" supplies paid for by other countries, but I haven't read of China doing that.
Maybe western corporations who have production facilities in China were 'exporting' ppe to their usual customers? That what you mean? Link?
But threatening a so-called ally as China has done here is clumsy and bound to be counter-productive. Morrison had already had his idea of an inquiry rebuffed by the UK and France. Beijing’s best course of action, at least at the moment, would have been to ignore the posturing from Australia. And, of course, any threat of a boycott is unlikely to be terribly effective right now given that Australia’s economy (like everybody else’s) has pretty gone down the gurgler anyway. There’s more than a whiff of panic about the whole business.
But threatening a so-called ally as China has done …
So China is to not push back on the threats from Pompeo and fellow travelers from US allies like Australia? Is the country also meant to just 'soak up' all the Sinophobic propaganda that's been peddled by 'western' mainstream/corporate media?
If that's your thinking, maybe you missed your calling and should have applied for the role of lead advisor to Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders. 🙂
Boots on the ground story of MBIE theater – 3 days in a motel for homeless during lockdown. Then back to Work and Income that failed to house them in the first place.
The other thing you failed to pick up is that it is extremely unlikely that Grant Robertson or whoever else within the State apparatus will be able to predict with any certainty where these resources should be reallocated to. They can hazard a guess but the best way of deciding is to allow the market to dictate what areas are going to be successful or not.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
The post isn't about Hooton's reckons on Nine to Noon, and it's not there for you to derail yet again. When you can demonstrate that you understand what my posts are about, by how you comment, you will be welcome back. My suggestion is to try and not look like you only read the title or first few lines of the post.
For instance, you could have put up an argument (not simply an assertion) of how the market might work as a useful tool within Raworth's framework.
We do know for certain that way to many in the private sector have even less idea.
Forgotten the 87 share market crash, so soon.
Government is always part of allocating resources for business. Both the subsidies for dairying, the roading built for trucks, and the increase in businesses power bills with the privatisation of energy, were all Government effects on business.
Something that should be decided by democratic decision. Not the mythical "free market".
Small businesses should be allowed and helped, to rethink and re direct if necessary.
However if National really wanted to help small businesses restart and rebuild, they would have been advocating rent and loan freezes, for small businesses that couldn't trade during the lockdown, instead of moaning that the "parachute was too big" before we even reach the ground.
The co-owner of an Auckland shopping mall is raging at the "naïve" Government for continuing lockdown restrictions on retailers despite some 400,000 workers returning under COVID-19 alert level 3.
Same crowd who allowed Dan Bidiot to campaign at the mall but refused Shanan Halbert, then packed a sad and refused everyone (after Bidiot had completed campaigning there).
‘Last year, members of the Special Operations — Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, and Marine Raiders among them — operated in 141 countries, according to figures provided to TomDispatch by U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). In other words, they deployed to roughly 72% of the nations on this planet. While down from a 2017 high of 149 countries, this still represents a 135% rise from the late 2000s when America’s commandos were reportedly operating in only 60 nations.’
Apropos nothing really I learned today that 50 of the 100 states of the United States have populations no larger than NZ and many very considerably less. If NZ were a US city it would be the 2nd largest in the US after New York City followed by Los Angeles and Chicago. Which made me feel good about my country – I have in me a positive sense about the standard of leadership this country enjoys in these times. Jesus…..imagine living in America right now!
The US has 50 states. Plus Washington DC, which is separate from the states. Plus a bunch of territories, of which Puerto Rico is largest in both area and population. And yeah, our population would slot in pretty close to halfway up the list, between Alabama and Louisiana.
As far as cities goes, your ranking is correct if you go by the boundary of the legally incorporated city. Kinda like Orcland before the Supershitty amalgamation. But if you go by the population of the metropolitan area, then 4.8 million population is around 10th for metro areas in the US, similar to Phoenix AZ, Boston MA and San Francisco – Oakland CA.
The Covid-19 stats are interesting. Accepting all the stuff about accuracy and counting or not counting ones who should or should not be on lists: Random except for Michigan where there were big crazed protests about the lockdown.
Michigan: population 10 million covid cases 38,200, deaths 3,407
Louisiana: population 4.6 million covid cases 27,000, deaths 1,697
Sth Dakota: population 950,000 Covid cases 2,245, deaths 11
NZ: population 4.8 million Covid cases 1,472, deaths 19
Imagine the uproar here if our figures were like theirs. The contrast between our leader and her Ministry people's sessions and Trump's ones are as stark as the numbers.
The headline says he moved in level 4, but his story is he squeaked the move in on the Wednesday while it was still level 3. Can't be arsed checking exactly what was said about moving house at level 3 at the time.
What utter bloody nonsense, Stunted Mullet. There was very little enforcement for such things, and it is quite likely that normal Joe or Jane Blogs would never have been noticed doing that same thing. In fact, I would be willing to bet that many people did so, and had no repercussions.
You Righties are so full of bumf. I remember Key's National Govt. pretending it did a great thing for us all by lowering the alcohol driving limits. But after that, they then cut Police funding to the point where Police were unable to keep up the number of alcohol checkpoints- already too few – and they were silently reduced.
As a result, NZ became one of the very few countries in the world to lower the alcohol limits, then have an increase in the number of alcohol-related accidents.
Enforcement is what matters – the cheats stop cheating only when they know they will probably be caught. (TV ads telling them -"You will be caught!" are crap.)
The cheats will have been right in from the start with the emergency measures needed for Covid19.
Little surveillance or enforcement likely. Clark is not such a malevolent cheat – more a dopy innocent. Go find some real offenders.
He’s entitled to his opinion. Either it was pretty legal, in which case Clark needs to be fired on the spot. Or it was not, in which case Clark needs to resign immediately. There is a third possibility. If it was his third strike, that awful van of his must be crushed with his mountain bike in it. I like the way Stunned Mullet is thinking. It doesn’t leave room for doubt or errors. Oh, how much I would have to give up to have such opinions and to be free of the eternal burden of doubt and feel righteous in perpetuum!
This from Seden's PM – which sounds like typical right wing stuff, unwilling to take responsibility despite having all the stats and advisers that money can buy, or should:
"We can't legislate and ban everything. It's also a question of common sense behaviour," Stefan Löfven, the Prime Minister, said at the end of March, as Sweden laid out its recommendations.
The bars and public places are crammed with people. They are supposed to be social distancing, but they want to socialise and enjoy themselves not police themselves.
When looking at the death figures, they are noticeably higher in the 60 ups. Though the number of cases shown was highest in the 50-59 year group. Apparently they are young enough to throw it off.
Swedish deaths Covid-19 – looking at older age groups
The cases were considerable and growing larger with age in all the age groups after age 20.
They start growing in the 20-29 group at 1425 (5 deaths) which is just exceeded by the over 90s at 1,569 (546 deaths), of whom over 26% appear to have died.
Three decade groups – 40-49 years (25 deaths), 60-69 years (180 deaths), and 70-79 years (526 deaths), have similar numbers of cases – around the 2500s – with deaths rising sharply along with age.
So if I doubted the stress on age I don't any longer, as the older you get the higher the rate of infection, and the higher the death rate in those who were reasonably healthy and could have expected to have longer lives.
just watched paul henry in the most banal pointless teevy programme ever to grace tv3.
he snivelled and bleated and sucked upp to john keys in the greasiest display of fawning sycophancy I have ever seen. JOhn Key dis his very best to dun the government without seeming to poormouth the greatest peacetime NZ has ever seen.
Then the Education expert came on and praised the government and last but not least Paul Rimmington editor of National Affairs also gave the government the thumbs up.
henry had to suck it up and not before he admitted that he was kicked out of australia because they didn't like him.
Well after being beaten for a parliamentary seat by a drag queen and being removed from air over there I would just shut up but not him.
Yes RP. I was channel surfing and stayed to watch Key spouting to Henry. As usual if you tried to assess the importance of Key's words it was like Scotch mist. He did think we should enhance our trade with China but a lot of words to say so little. And putting all our eggs in China's basket is not such a good idea anyway.
Sounds like Key was talking about an Easter eggs hunt for grown-ups. 'They are acshually just down by my swimming pool and through the sculpture garden….etc'
Families tolerate tin garages through winter while comfy insulated holiday houses stand empty.
We need to get smart with this Airbnb etc gig, spin it to suit everyone. Servicing an Airbnb place, cleaning, greeting guests etc could pay for the temp housing for a displaced family through the peak season.
There are ways we can make the arrows we have in our quiver work for all of us and I think that's what most of us want. A toy with all the trimmings is no fun on your tod.
I think Cindy and Ash's plan is genius. The one thing that traditionally gets better fast is virus testing. Soon, it will be bullet-proof.
Testing at our one international airport, attached luxury quarantine hotel should it be needed. The globe's virus free destination. The paranoid, diabetic and dickey heart stricken will flock. Sheesh, bars will be getting $20 a pint and housekeepers $30 an hour.
If the 19 swirls and lingers around the globe. I think our government have poised us well.
If Jacinda was Trump she would be saying "Despite you all being dicks, I've been able to position us so that once we're all through this temporary bullshit, you n' me, we're gonna be Rockstars." The only difference is, as opposed to Don, beaut guy, I think Jacinda can turn us all into rockstars.
Productivity is linked to wages low wages low productivity high wages the business owners invest in more efficient plant. Low wages they just hire more cheap Labour.
Thanks to the all of the teams for their great mahi in keeping the virus at bay.
That's good Internet for rual places getting $16 million investment boost.
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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, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
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. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
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 ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
“Our exporters should, therefore, be deeply concerned that the Fast-track Approvals Bill was not assessed for consistency with any of our free trade commitments prior to being introduced to the House,” says Gary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Environmental ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. 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 ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
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Nationals health spokes person making cheap political points.outhouse compares NZ to Singapore yet Singapore has a far worse problem than NZ. Then there is privacy Singapore is not a free democracy like NZ.
Singapore is a stuffup,due to the handling of their indentured labour force.
Singapore trails only China, India, Japan and Pakistan in Asia for the number of coronavirus infections. More than 10,000 of those infected, some 80% of its total, are foreign workers, many of whom have been placed in “isolation facilities” for people with mild symptoms such as the conference centers.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-singapore-temp-hos-idUSKCN22805B
National continues with its misguided idea of what an opposition party should contribute, with relentless negativity and totally uncontructive criticism – just for the sake of trying to "win", nothing about what helps NZ. They just have nothing to add, and you can bet their brilliant crew would do no better at any of the things they criticise.
Covid-19 contact tracing app: National decries slow pace
Anyone familiar with coding? I am guessing even with existing code to modify, for something of this scale two weeks is a very short time.
No doubt Woodhouse would be complaining the app ‘was rushed’ if it had been out that quick…
The penny finally dropped for me listening to Cameron Bagrie last night on Q&A justifying Simon Bridge's negative stance on the grounds that this was the opposition's job. So the justification is that you need to be oppositional even if you are just opening your mouth and letting the wind blow your tongue around. Good grief!
Novapay
The technological determinists seem to think everyone has a capable mobile phone, and, if they do have one, that it's on all the time.
I have a little prepay, flip phone (AKA shell phone). Even if I could load such an ap on it, I rarely have it on, and rarely use it. Just need it for txts and those phone verification thingies.
And those people who run out of funds to renew their plan?
Plus, the PM and Bloomfield have continually stressed that contact tracing needs to be via personal communications with suspected contacts, not via an ap.
For contact tracing apps to work overall, not everyone needs to use them.
What percentage approx needs to use them?
My guesstimate…
Close to 80% of the population to get close to manual contact tracing using Blutooth.
At least 40% to be of use at all with Bluetooth.
Best approach is to forget the Bluetooth and just to treat it as a diary of locations to assist memory when contract tracing. That alone would massively help because where available it will help cover memory gaps.
But to me, that just defines National. Looking for ineffective quick fixes all of the time. Like the Canterbury earthquake responses.
Thanks. As an oldie, I intend not to go out and about any more than I need to. Keeping my own diary of contacts seems as useful to me as an ap.
Best approach is to forget the Bluetooth and just to treat it as a diary of locations to assist memory when contract tracing.
God yes.
Government wants me to install an app so it can monitor my location for contact tracing? Grumpy, but OK it's for the greater good.
Government wants me to have Bluetooth switched on all the time and be charging my phone every few hours is what it would feel like? You can fuck right off, government.
Yeah, I certainly wouldn't put something from the government on my phone that has bluetooth on all the time. And I'm the kind of person that wouldn't object to things like numberplate recognition cameras all around the place, nor do I do anything with my phone or have any info on it that would be of the slightest conceivable interest to anyone else.
If bluetooth-based contact tracking became a requirement, I'd seriously look into just getting a burner phone for that alone. Which would make it more or less the same is the proposed Covid Card.
how do you see it differently from other things like widespread numberplate recognition cameras?
Entry vector for malware. Both from the government and malicious non-state actors.
It would be gathering data at several levels deeper in detail and more definitively personal.
The protection for the public is in the arrangements around it, not the tech as such. But the battery drain sounds like a PITA in any case.
Ever seen a smart motorway? They are scanning your bluetooth signals and other data.
Same with wifi. You don't need to connect. Your phone is constantly sending becons.
Your phone compensates for this, but you can track people easily.
My phone bluetooth is always turned off. My phone wifi is turned off except for the few moments I need it on. My mobile data is turned off except the few moments I need it on, although since that goes to the same towers as voice and text it doesn't affect my trackability.
From one Twitter discussion I saw between tech experts, even 30% sounded OK. Not nearly as high as I expected – though intended to be alongside manual tracing not replacing it.
A cautionary tale about the monetisation of whizz-bang C19 tracking and one of the organisations involved.
https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/1254198212430368769
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1254198212430368769.html
The infamous spyware maker from Israel NSO Group, and Cy4Gate, a company that sells surveillance tools from Italy, are actively pitching surveillance tools to contain the virus to their own governments and others around the world, Motherboard has learned.
Their systems are essentially mass surveillance tools that would help governments and health authorities keep track of the movements of every citizen, and who they get in contact with. The goal of this contact tracing method is to track the spread of the coronavirus and help governments make better decisions to counter it, such as quarantining certain areas, informing people they may have been infected, or administering tests.
Two weeks ago, Bloomberg reported that NSO Group developed a new product to track the spread of coronavirus. Now, Motherboard obtained more details about how the product—codenamed Fleming—actually works.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/epg9jm/nso-covid-19-surveillance-tech-software-tracking-infected-privacy-experts-worried
Michael Woodhouse is an idiot and clearly doesn't do software. Especially those designed to go out amongst millions of devices.
I do. Even after you finally get the stuff done it usually takes months to get tested and 'right'. And it has to be right because if it messes up phones then the uptake will be minimal.
Glad that they decided not to go for active BLE in the first pass. That is a very hard ask – sucks battery life , requires it to be an active service, and requires a lot of extra work to make sure that the OS doesn't shut it down. It most likely is the main reason for slow uptake of these kinds of apps.
Also it won't do what the advocates of this kind of app would like it to do. It is no panacea. As much as anything else because you can't get saturation. Many people don't carry phones with them. Many others simply won't activate it.
The manual contact tracking is still required and at much the same level. A app is only an minor add on.
Woodhouse is pretty much cementing his reputation of being an idiot tosser.
QFT
That said, the more people who will download it and use it correctly, the more helpful it will be.
I am a complete idiot that can't do anything involving software apart from the most basic fixes for my computer.
Can you explain in laymans terms why we couldn't use the system they've pushed the button on in Australia or Singapore rather than doing it ourselves ?
So far Australia has had over 2m people download their version inside three days. The local tech community has gotten in behind and are supporting it's use.
It's a doddle to install and the user really doesn't need to do anything.
My old five year old Oppo Android phone seems to have had no impact on the battery life that I've noticed so far and works fine.
And the way it's set up it's far less intrusive than Google or FB.
With the lifting of restrictions we are entering the phase where testing and tracking are the vital tools; otherwise the effort so far could easily be wasted. Don't like the app, then keep a paper log. One or the other; but a $10k fine if you do nothing and catch it.
Nick Smith's email is causing Bridges more grief
Delightful morning at Level 2. Wait, what's that? It's level 3? But look at what people are doing. They can read, so the government must've changed the level overnight. Welp, business as usual.
[I’ll give you more time to enjoy the delightful mornings for a whole week instead of wasting them on trolling this site – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 8:06 AM.
Even the revised TPPA had extensive clauses for business to sue Govts for loss of profits did it not?
China can expect an avalanche of law suits I guess.
And China was in the revised TPPA?
Are you intent on getting a dumb troll trying cause a flame war ban? I guess it helps with the moron cred levels eh?
Good thing I am off duty today.
You're right it isn't.RCEP is the deal involving China.Don't get excited.
"Mr Assange will not be produced today because he is unwell"
A court clerk announced at Westminster Court today, during Assange's latest case hearing before Judge Vanessa Baraitser, that: "Mr Assange will not be produced today because I understand he is unwell".Assange's father John Shipton was present in court, wearing a mask: close to 80, he's in the high risk group for COVID, as is his son who has a chronic lung condition.
This is the second time Assange has not been 'present' via videolink at his own hearings due to being 'unwell', but his counsel and the judge always motor ahead, getting nowhere.
The US prosecution announced it's not against the delaying of the case until September or 'November 2', which would park the case in the midst of the US elections.
The question is: if the case is delayed again for months, will Assange continue to be held in infected Belmarsh (23-and-a-half-hours a day in solitary lockdown – a couple of deaths noted and under-staffing with scores of guards self-isolating) even though he is (a) a remand prisoner (b) has no charges against him (c) has completed his Bail Act sentence.
Assange defence lawyer Ed Fitzgerald's opening statement, this morning: https://bridgesforfreedom.media/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EF-Opening-remarks-for-renewed-application-to-adjourn-24-04-20-4-updated.pdf
Jonathan Cook tweets:
“Judge delays for months Assange’s extradition hearing to the US for publishing journalism. There’s no excuse for denying him bail, and keeping him in a high-security jail, unless the hope is that Belmarsh’s Covid-19 outbreak will settle his case pre-emptively.”
https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/thread/1588008120.html
Thanks for the update.
Another one deported from Aussie and back to NZ, this time it's Ray Elise, Pres of Victorian Rebels MC
Elise has a record in NZ of carrying an imitation firearm and unlawfully presenting it at a person.
No wonder Australia want trans-Tasman borders re-opened. So they can resume exporting crime.
Looks like the heating of the planet is going to continue:
Meteorologists say 2020 on course to be hottest year since records began
Of course, humankind had some weeks/months time to reflect (from link above):
After seeing the traffic into Wellington this morning and reading reading article:
Traffic returns to Auckland roads
There's very little hope we avoid disaster, we continue trying our best to "Pollute ourselves to Prosperity".
If emissions are down, but concentration levels are continuing to rise, then that might suggest we've crossed a tipping point somewhere and global warming is no longer "under our control"…
Yes to a degree – but as the article says there's also considerable lag in the system so any actions/activities/feedbacks take a while to become apparent beyond the massive cracks in my lawn in late April.
Emissions are down from their peak, but not negative. That concentrations are still rising just means emissions are greater than the earth's ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. That's been true since sometime in the 1800s, if not much earlier.
Emissions from our activities will never be negative Andre.
The point about Anthropogenic Global Warming and straight up Global Warming is that tipping points (once crossed) mean that warming is being driven from sources other than human activity and nothing we do can alter eventual outcomes.
I'd have thought it fairly obvious that a rise in atmospheric concentrations occurring in the face of dropping emissions (not a straight forward measurement btw because of natural, mostly seasonal fluctuations) is….not a good sign.
That concentrations are still rising even after a drop in emissions is indeed bad news, but it doesn't "suggest we've crossed a tipping point" anytime recently. That particular tipping point was crossed centuries ago.
By itself it doesn't say anything one way or the other about whether non-anthropogenic sources have recently increased or decreased, nor whether the earth's capacity to absorb CO2 has decreased or increased.
Unless your suggesting that the move from water powered mills to coal/steam powered mills back in the early to mid 1800s coincided with a non-human related source of CO2 being unleashed, then I'm a bit lost on what you might mean by "That particular tipping point was crossed centuries ago".
There has always been a degree of wriggle room in the carbon cycle – which is why major volcanic eruptions (for example) have resulted in short term destabalisations and not wholesale irreversible shifts.
I wrote "might suggest we've crossed a tipping point somewhere" – which is true, and the only indication we will ever have (as far as I'm aware) that a tipping point has been crossed.
There is some evidence of ancient agriculture going back millenia causing detectable global warming.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180906141507.htm
I quit that piece at a paragraph or two in because in spite of the fact the world was in a cooling phase before fossil emissions halted and reversed the cooling, the piece asserts that It also shows that without this human influence, by the start of the Industrial Revolution, the planet would have likely been headed for another ice age.
That aside, in relation to your first response above, the piece does at least highlight why human emissions will never be negative – agriculture will always produce methane and CO2.
Trump Live – I think.
After two days of ranting on twitter, trump is doing a presser, looks like it's about to start.
Here's a link (with open chat) if you wish to watch a live stream. Edit the chat is full of Maga people.
Those people behind him on the podium are even scarier.
The chap on the right does have a great deal of the look of a ventriloquists dummy about him.
Unfortunately, he's far more dangerous than a ventriloquist's dummy. He would be in prison, of course, if the United States was not run by gangsters.
https://theintercept.com/2017/01/03/treasury-nominee-steve-mnuchins-bank-accused-of-widespread-misconduct-in-leaked-memo/
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/mnuchins-onewest-bank-has-long-record-of-mortgage-foreclosures-2017-8?r=US&IR=T
Don't you appreciate Jacinda's skill at handling the Press Conference especially the question time? The only questions answered by Trump were ones from MAGA people.
Rambling Rose the Chump Trump.
I have often smiled to myself at these press conferences, when the Prime Minister is using the journo's first name to get their question.
Similarly, with us being a small nation, you almost feel the PM knows the folk that have passed away during the last month or so.
Pity since the demise of Paul Holmes the ability to question PM's, ministers etc has gone from informative and being challenged to watching a bunch of compliant amateurs with a media profile the station and the personality want to maintained. Follow any political blog same comment is universal from both sides, and these are those who are politically active or seeking out info. The public at large are fed 10-30sec meaningless gotcha clips.
Where are the follow up questions ?? This comment was also applicable under Key.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/04/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-disagrees-with-frontline-health-workers-saying-there-s-an-issue-with-flu-vaccine-supplies.html
I was talking to a mate today, he has been living off-grid during the lock-down.
The 'mainstream' media came up and the perilous state they find themselves in.
While this is not news, it has become apparent who the newspapers, tv and radio stations serve: the advertisers.
Recently we have had the three 'local' papers- The Dom, The Evening Standard and Feilding Herald adopt the same masthead, puzzle page etc and a lot of common content. The only discernable difference is the obituaries and the real estate for sale.
The media has made itself redundant in many peoples lives.
There are also continuing your theme, plenty of articles that come across as independent news but from reading sound more of an "advertorial", similar with "experts" they appear to be selected based on what their perception is and how that aligns with how the media is framing the story. You think the govt is crap there are media personalities you will listen/ watch. The govt is perfect you can find media that is compliant with this side as well.
IMO we need a functioning opposition (NZ has been lacking one for many years now) and a media that questions.
Whist you say the media has made itself redundant – I counter that it is more dangerous as ever due to its shallowness/personalities built on nothing ( CELEBRITIES) just look at what the US has in leadership !!
I agree that the 'news' can often be rehashed press releases and the shallow celebrity cult flavour of current events. The redundancy I mentioned is a financial one. We don't value it enough to pay for it.
Not surprising really, most by-products of the race to the bottom are unappealing.
Well said, Hero…
Its been quite clear for a while that our media is controlled by the advertiser. I follow Thai politics. { More exciting than game of thrones , I think.} While the rest of the world is provided info on Thai King I have yet to see anything in our media, I can only think the travel advertises keep it from our papers
Tatler, “Thailand protests as King takes holiday during pandemic“
eTurbo News, “Long Live the King of Thailand in Bavaria with his Harem of 20 Beautiful Ladies”
Digi24, “Regele Thailandei s-a izolat alături de 20 de femei. A închiriat în Germania un hotel întreg pentru haremul său”
Aftenposten, “Murring mot monark: Kongen bor på hotell utenlands under pandemien”
The Independent, “Coronavirus: Thai king self-isolates in Alpine hotel with harem of 20 women amid pandemic”
Mail Online, “King of Thailand self-isolates from coronavirus by hiring out entire luxury German hotel for him and his entourage including a harem of 20 concubines”
Looks like he's crashing after an all-nighter on the fry.
https://twitter.com/AdamParkhomenko/status/1254875425223950342
High as a kite and up up in the sky.
His Surgeon General must give him some nice drugs judging by his eyes.
Mark Blyth covers some interesting ground here – COVID-19 and the economic effects, the nature of bailouts, internationalism and the difference between countries, etc. I was particularly interested in the idea of anti-fragility and automatic stabilisers which he touched on briefly. It's quite long, but worth it.
Blyth does economics with black humour so well
@ Ad.
Thought you might be interested in this in light of a comment made a few days back…
As European leaders launch a multilateral, multi-billion-dollar effort to promote vaccines, testing, and anti-viral medicines, the U.S. withdraws from the World Health Organization and declines to join. There you have it.
And from the link in that article…
Global leaders are launching an initiative with the World Health Organization (WHO) to accelerate the development of coronavirus drugs, tests and vaccines and ensure equal access to all countries, but the US is not involved. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel were among leaders participating in a video conference to announce the plan. US president Donald Trump recently criticised the WHO’s handling of the pandemic and announced a withdrawal of US funding to the organisation.
Cheers Bill.
A Chinese pact with Europe and the UK over this event is also smart politics in shifting blocs of influence together – and away from the US.
In my lifetime I can't think of a developed nation that has so wilfully and swiftly disengaged from institutional co-operation at a time of global crisis as the United States has done.
The US withdrawal – and its status as the worst response by levels of infection and death in the world by a country mile – makes the oppressive regime of China look like a reasoned, co-operative, and generous international partner in a global crisis. Which takes some doing.
Ad WW1 and WW2.Particularly helping arm Germany to the teeth.Ford IBM etc .The US reluctance to work with its Allies.
That was more isolationism being the status quo, moving towards participation, though.
This is almost like Pershing disembarked in France, only to find a telegram from POTUS ordering everyone back to the US because he'd changed his mind.
I specified 'my lifetime'. You may be a little older than I.
Pretty hard to argue that the US didn't cooperate with Allies in the second half of both wars.
In my lifetime I can't think of a developed nation that has so wilfully and swiftly disengaged from institutional co-operation at a time of global crisis as the United States has done.
As I've argued before this is the direction the USA has been moving in since the end of the Cold War, a slow drift at first, but now so dramatic as to be obvious to all.
Now think through all the potential consequences of this shift. In my view none of them are good.
Stunted Mullet Privacy, Network capability,apps are an add on reliant of mass uptake.Then having enough people to Trace.
Had a bit of a laugh at PhD student Matthew-HeavyBreather-Hooton (@ ~6 minutes into RNZ’s Nine-to-Noon programme this morning) leading with his 'concern' that Grant Roberston might regard himself as "omniscient". Typically it's the National Party that is more inclined to pick business winners – maybe there's only room for one omniscient NZer in Hooten's 'mind'
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018744289/political-commentators-hooton-and-jones
Of as much concern is his promotion of UBI…writing off a significant portion of the population as an underclass by a mechanism carrying a different name…a repeat of the mistake of the 80s.
Whoops – @14 minutes – sorry.
China must be feeling the heat, its ambassador to Canberra has dispensed with the usual diplomatic niceties and flat-out threatened Australia with billions of dollars in boycotts if the government there persists with its ‘foolish’ plan for an inquiry into the causes and origins of the pandemic.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-could-lose-billions-from-chinese-government-boycott-threat-20200427-p54nmh.html
China might be "feeling the heat" or, more likely in my mind, is simply pissed off with the children in the room trying to cast it as "bogey man".
eg – From western news outlets and just off the top of my head – China is simultaneously charged with being too authoritarian in locking down cities, and too lax in its response. China sending covid related aid to third countries isn't humanitarianism, but cynical influence building. Scouring the world for ppe when faced with the potential for a pandemic it was trying to avert, is somehow nefarious. Then there's all the false reporting of whistle blowers who weren't actually whistle blowers. Throw in on top the charges that China didn't inform other countries about covid (when it most assuredly did), and how that contradicts bullshit being peddled by sections of the US intelligence community that the virus was "sweeping" China in November…
I could go on.
It is kind of weird to besimultaneously hunting for ppe overseas and exporting the stuff.
I read stories that the USA was doing that – exporting ppe to China around the same time it was "hi-jacking" supplies paid for by other countries, but I haven't read of China doing that.
Maybe western corporations who have production facilities in China were 'exporting' ppe to their usual customers? That what you mean? Link?
I’m sure you could go on and on Bill.
But threatening a so-called ally as China has done here is clumsy and bound to be counter-productive. Morrison had already had his idea of an inquiry rebuffed by the UK and France. Beijing’s best course of action, at least at the moment, would have been to ignore the posturing from Australia. And, of course, any threat of a boycott is unlikely to be terribly effective right now given that Australia’s economy (like everybody else’s) has pretty gone down the gurgler anyway. There’s more than a whiff of panic about the whole business.
But threatening a so-called ally as China has done …
So China is to not push back on the threats from Pompeo and fellow travelers from US allies like Australia? Is the country also meant to just 'soak up' all the Sinophobic propaganda that's been peddled by 'western' mainstream/corporate media?
If that's your thinking, maybe you missed your calling and should have applied for the role of lead advisor to Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders. 🙂
Now is the time for NZ to stand up and – move quietly to the back of the room. Maybe order some popcorn.
Inspirational leadership there, Gabby.. (You may well be right.)
The Berejiklian government may spend up to $500 million to support the housing market in New South Wales
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-government-may-buy-up-spare-housing-in-500-million-stimulus-plan-20200427-p54noc.html
Boots on the ground story of MBIE theater – 3 days in a motel for homeless during lockdown. Then back to Work and Income that failed to house them in the first place.
Anyone else spoken to some homeless people?
The other thing you failed to pick up is that it is extremely unlikely that Grant Robertson or whoever else within the State apparatus will be able to predict with any certainty where these resources should be reallocated to. They can hazard a guess but the best way of deciding is to allow the market to dictate what areas are going to be successful or not.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
The post isn't about Hooton's reckons on Nine to Noon, and it's not there for you to derail yet again. When you can demonstrate that you understand what my posts are about, by how you comment, you will be welcome back. My suggestion is to try and not look like you only read the title or first few lines of the post.
For instance, you could have put up an argument (not simply an assertion) of how the market might work as a useful tool within Raworth's framework.
We do know for certain that way to many in the private sector have even less idea.
Forgotten the 87 share market crash, so soon.
Government is always part of allocating resources for business. Both the subsidies for dairying, the roading built for trucks, and the increase in businesses power bills with the privatisation of energy, were all Government effects on business.
Something that should be decided by democratic decision. Not the mythical "free market".
Small businesses should be allowed and helped, to rethink and re direct if necessary.
However if National really wanted to help small businesses restart and rebuild, they would have been advocating rent and loan freezes, for small businesses that couldn't trade during the lockdown, instead of moaning that the "parachute was too big" before we even reach the ground.
Glenfield Mall politicking again:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/04/glenfield-mall-owner-rages-at-na-ve-government-over-retail-restrictions-under-covid-19-alert-level-3.html
Same crowd who allowed Dan Bidiot to campaign at the mall but refused Shanan Halbert, then packed a sad and refused everyone (after Bidiot had completed campaigning there).
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/05/security-called-into-northcote-by-election-mall-confrontation.html
Re the Glenfield Mall owners and the fact that they reduced the rent of some tenants "…forcing them to dip into their own savings".
Yeah, right. Everybody shed a tear for the poor impoverished mall owners.
The same co-owner who didn't have much sympathy for the Goldcorp shareholders / owners of misplaced gold back in 1987 ?
https://twitter.com/GGrucilla/status/1254957402014625792
I do not know if this would be doable, I think National would do much better if David Seymour was the National party leader.
That's just nasty, Treetop.
At least, no underling is writing emails to David Seymour in criticism, the advantage of being a one-man act.
Seymour does well for a one man act. He is a person I would watch.
And they won't. Because on the whole they know it works.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Oh I think there is plenty of State assets left to privatise. Have you heard of Landcorp?
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Trump the Isolationist
‘Last year, members of the Special Operations — Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, and Marine Raiders among them — operated in 141 countries, according to figures provided to TomDispatch by U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). In other words, they deployed to roughly 72% of the nations on this planet. While down from a 2017 high of 149 countries, this still represents a 135% rise from the late 2000s when America’s commandos were reportedly operating in only 60 nations.’
https://www.salon.com/2020/04/01/americas-global-military-presence-skyrockets-under-trump-us-commandos-now-deployed-to-141-nations_partner/
https://www.lobster-magazine.co.uk/free/lobster79/lob79-view-from-the-bridge.pdf
Do not bail out the property investors!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018744348/small-businesses-need-more-govt-help-mall-owner
Apropos nothing really I learned today that 50 of the 100 states of the United States have populations no larger than NZ and many very considerably less. If NZ were a US city it would be the 2nd largest in the US after New York City followed by Los Angeles and Chicago. Which made me feel good about my country – I have in me a positive sense about the standard of leadership this country enjoys in these times. Jesus…..imagine living in America right now!
Probably better to look at metropolitan areas to assess relative population sizes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_statistical_areas#United_States
Err, wut?
The US has 50 states. Plus Washington DC, which is separate from the states. Plus a bunch of territories, of which Puerto Rico is largest in both area and population. And yeah, our population would slot in pretty close to halfway up the list, between Alabama and Louisiana.
As far as cities goes, your ranking is correct if you go by the boundary of the legally incorporated city. Kinda like Orcland before the Supershitty amalgamation. But if you go by the population of the metropolitan area, then 4.8 million population is around 10th for metro areas in the US, similar to Phoenix AZ, Boston MA and San Francisco – Oakland CA.
The Covid-19 stats are interesting. Accepting all the stuff about accuracy and counting or not counting ones who should or should not be on lists: Random except for Michigan where there were big crazed protests about the lockdown.
Michigan: population 10 million covid cases 38,200, deaths 3,407
Louisiana: population 4.6 million covid cases 27,000, deaths 1,697
Sth Dakota: population 950,000 Covid cases 2,245, deaths 11
NZ: population 4.8 million Covid cases 1,472, deaths 19
Imagine the uproar here if our figures were like theirs. The contrast between our leader and her Ministry people's sessions and Trump's ones are as stark as the numbers.
Addendum: We have to be mindful of different circumstances in the United States.
Loiusiana's stats speak for themselves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTrXqdpoDcw
And they have God on their side.
Can someone sack this muppet.
Health Minister David Clark moved house during level 4 lockdown
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12328085
Don't care if it's a storm in a teacup, any one of us normal Joe or Jane Blogs would've been kicked to touch by now.
The headline says he moved in level 4, but his story is he squeaked the move in on the Wednesday while it was still level 3. Can't be arsed checking exactly what was said about moving house at level 3 at the time.
What utter bloody nonsense, Stunted Mullet. There was very little enforcement for such things, and it is quite likely that normal Joe or Jane Blogs would never have been noticed doing that same thing. In fact, I would be willing to bet that many people did so, and had no repercussions.
You Righties are so full of bumf. I remember Key's National Govt. pretending it did a great thing for us all by lowering the alcohol driving limits. But after that, they then cut Police funding to the point where Police were unable to keep up the number of alcohol checkpoints- already too few – and they were silently reduced.
As a result, NZ became one of the very few countries in the world to lower the alcohol limits, then have an increase in the number of alcohol-related accidents.
Enforcement is what matters – the cheats stop cheating only when they know they will probably be caught. (TV ads telling them -"You will be caught!" are crap.)
The cheats will have been right in from the start with the emergency measures needed for Covid19.
Little surveillance or enforcement likely. Clark is not such a malevolent cheat – more a dopy innocent. Go find some real offenders.
Fortunately you're as entitled to your opinion as I am to mine.
The discerning look for educated thoughtful opinion out of the free-for-all of rampant confusion to be found in blogs.
I suspect you are being damned with faint praise there, Stunted Mullet. Or something like that..
I remember Brownlee "barging through" airport security, them were the days huh?
It doesn't compare with the two previous stories, especially the "beach breach", which he was rightly criticised for.
He literally walked a few hundred metres from a home to an office, like Ardern and Bloomfield in Wellington.
Simon Bridges drove a few hundred km from a home to an office.
David Clark had a bad internet connection at his old house.
Fireblade, he used the old house as his office.
To the Stunned Mullet. The move was largely done prior to the lockdown, he didnt break the rules.
But but but – that doesn't suit Mullet's agenda! Expect no response.
He’s entitled to his opinion. Either it was pretty legal, in which case Clark needs to be fired on the spot. Or it was not, in which case Clark needs to resign immediately. There is a third possibility. If it was his third strike, that awful van of his must be crushed with his mountain bike in it. I like the way Stunned Mullet is thinking. It doesn’t leave room for doubt or errors. Oh, how much I would have to give up to have such opinions and to be free of the eternal burden of doubt and feel righteous in perpetuum!
'One may smile, and be a villain' .. Shakespeare?
Mona Lisa
This from Seden's PM – which sounds like typical right wing stuff, unwilling to take responsibility despite having all the stats and advisers that money can buy, or should:
"We can't legislate and ban everything. It's also a question of common sense behaviour," Stefan Löfven, the Prime Minister, said at the end of March, as Sweden laid out its recommendations.
The bars and public places are crammed with people. They are supposed to be social distancing, but they want to socialise and enjoy themselves not police themselves.
When looking at the death figures, they are noticeably higher in the 60 ups. Though the number of cases shown was highest in the 50-59 year group. Apparently they are young enough to throw it off.
Swedish deaths Covid-19 – looking at older age groups
as at Apr.27/20:
Lower ages were in single figures.
40-49 had 25 deaths
50-59 had 78 deaths
Much higher in age 60-69 with 180 deaths,
70-79 with 526 deaths
80-90 with 906 deaths
In the 90 years and over the deaths were 546.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107913/number-of-coronavirus-deaths-in-sweden-by-age-groups/
The cases were considerable and growing larger with age in all the age groups after age 20.
They start growing in the 20-29 group at 1425 (5 deaths) which is just exceeded by the over 90s at 1,569 (546 deaths), of whom over 26% appear to have died.
Three decade groups – 40-49 years (25 deaths), 60-69 years (180 deaths), and 70-79 years (526 deaths), have similar numbers of cases – around the 2500s – with deaths rising sharply along with age.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107905/number-of-coronavirus-cases-in-sweden-by-age-groups/
So if I doubted the stress on age I don't any longer, as the older you get the higher the rate of infection, and the higher the death rate in those who were reasonably healthy and could have expected to have longer lives.
just watched paul henry in the most banal pointless teevy programme ever to grace tv3.
he snivelled and bleated and sucked upp to john keys in the greasiest display of fawning sycophancy I have ever seen. JOhn Key dis his very best to dun the government without seeming to poormouth the greatest peacetime NZ has ever seen.
Then the Education expert came on and praised the government and last but not least Paul Rimmington editor of National Affairs also gave the government the thumbs up.
henry had to suck it up and not before he admitted that he was kicked out of australia because they didn't like him.
Well after being beaten for a parliamentary seat by a drag queen and being removed from air over there I would just shut up but not him.
henry was so noxious, he was beaten by a drag queen in a conservative nat electorate. even his fellow travellers hated him!
Yes RP. I was channel surfing and stayed to watch Key spouting to Henry. As usual if you tried to assess the importance of Key's words it was like Scotch mist. He did think we should enhance our trade with China but a lot of words to say so little. And putting all our eggs in China's basket is not such a good idea anyway.
Sounds like Key was talking about an Easter eggs hunt for grown-ups. 'They are acshually just down by my swimming pool and through the sculpture garden….etc'
Never have I exchanged so many smiles as the last few weeks. The way we've pulled together has made me feel closer to you, hi, I'm Dave.
I'm finding kindness a bit contagious.
Families tolerate tin garages through winter while comfy insulated holiday houses stand empty.
We need to get smart with this Airbnb etc gig, spin it to suit everyone. Servicing an Airbnb place, cleaning, greeting guests etc could pay for the temp housing for a displaced family through the peak season.
There are ways we can make the arrows we have in our quiver work for all of us and I think that's what most of us want. A toy with all the trimmings is no fun on your tod.
I think Cindy and Ash's plan is genius. The one thing that traditionally gets better fast is virus testing. Soon, it will be bullet-proof.
Testing at our one international airport, attached luxury quarantine hotel should it be needed. The globe's virus free destination. The paranoid, diabetic and dickey heart stricken will flock. Sheesh, bars will be getting $20 a pint and housekeepers $30 an hour.
If the 19 swirls and lingers around the globe. I think our government have poised us well.
If Jacinda was Trump she would be saying "Despite you all being dicks, I've been able to position us so that once we're all through this temporary bullshit, you n' me, we're gonna be Rockstars." The only difference is, as opposed to Don, beaut guy, I think Jacinda can turn us all into rockstars.
"StAy aT HoMe! SaVE LiVEs!
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Productivity is linked to wages low wages low productivity high wages the business owners invest in more efficient plant. Low wages they just hire more cheap Labour.
Thanks to the all of the teams for their great mahi in keeping the virus at bay.
That's good Internet for rual places getting $16 million investment boost.
Ka kite Ano. 😇
Kia Ora Newshub.
Correct A 1 in 100 year pandemic who do we have to thank for the state of our health systems.
Its good to see some Kiwis who lost their jobs in Britain have taken jobs cleaning hospital.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Its good now tangata can have 10 people at a tangi in level 3 isolation.
The new economy is going to be very different from the past.
Yes Tangata call you health service if you have not been able to get appointment during level 4 isolation.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
There you go our public health systems has been under funded for decades.
Correct Maori and Pacific health stats ie the poorest part of our community are sad.
Well correct our Prime minister has been quite busy in the last 2 years.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Newshub.
75 years since the end of World War 2.
Robots dogs patrols Awsome how technology is developing.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
People will have to look outside the square box to find solution to their problems cause by viruses isolation.
Buying Maori made is cool.
Ka kite Ano
Awesome the Maori studios making Maori cartoons that's the way.
https://youtu.be/qQfetkoGrpU
Kia Ora Newshub.
That will be good more funding for Pharmac.
Kia Kaha David.
That good more workers for Doc to do some great mahi.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
It will be good to see weed legalised to stop our Rangatahi being thrown to the wolfs.
Mother day today it will be awesome when they have equality Mana Wahine.
Mauri poi cool get more Maori into Kapa Haka.
Ka kite Ano