And next up… did you see the one about ‘voice risk analysis’ aka lie detectors being used over the phone to work out whether people are lying about their need for council benefits in Cornwall? It’s even too much for a Tory councillor who has resigned over it.
“It is clearly right that Cornwall council takes a strong line against people who deliberately mis-claim tax benefits but in this case I am more concerned about the impact on the vast majority of honest claimants.”…
Private outsourcing company Capita says on its website that VRA is “capable of identifying stress and emotion in a caller’s voice pattern”. The contract will cost the taxpayer about £50,000 but is intended to save many times that amount in preventing false claims, according to Cornwall council which states that research carried out in other areas of the country suggests 4%of single person benefit discounts could be false claims.
Trained assessors, specialist technology for calling 30,000 households? Yeah…right. Sounds like atos spin.
Research carries out in other parts of the country also show VRA, or lie detectors by phone, is not suitable in a ‘benefits environment’. But Cornwall is not letting that wee point stop it.
A year or two ago the WINZ call centre was trialling a system of voice recognition. I think you had a choice to register and then they recorded your voice and so whenever you phoned in after that they knew it was you. Needless to say, my response to that was fuck off, but it makes sense now why they were trialling it. I haven’t come across it for a while though so I’m guessing they dropped it.
It does sound more stupid than usual – especially when you look at the numbers it’s clear the people doing some kind of psychological assessment on the data are call centre operators.
If it’s anything like atos, it’ll be suspension until appeal rather than the other way around.
UK documentary maker and activist Harry Fear will be speaking in Auckland
Where: Lecture Room B28, Auckland University Library Alfred Street
Time: 7pm Thursday 7 February
Harry Fear and veteran Kiwi activist Roger Fowler were on a fact-finding mission in Gaza when the recent Israeli bombing raids took place. They will speak about their experiences.
*Legendary reggae band ‘Unity Pacific’ will be playing
Its called trying to gain a targets trust…this way the spin can be effective, if people realise its all poppy-cock that he speaks, he becomes less effective as a spin doctor. Sadly, I have witnessed some here starting to think Hooton is making sense, this is not good. He never does.
Lanth. We get this kind of response after his every speech. How much value must people continue to place upon rhetoric? (Look at Obama for example!) And so it goes on every time, with the obligatory IF IF IF . . .
4.30pm News with Jeff Bryant Tuesday 18 November 2012
A potential flashpoint is brewing between Labour and the Greens with David Shearer squashing Green plans for quantitative easing if the two go into coalition after the next election.
The Green’s want to drive down the value of the New Zealand dollar by getting the Reserve Bank to print more money which could be used to buy earthquake bonds and rebuild the EQC.
Mr Shearer told Radiolive’s Duncan Garner thats not an option;
“What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”
David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.
Perhaps that is what Shearer was referring to when is the speech…..
Well I am committed to this future.
There is simply no other option.
That is why I have asked my colleagues to develop a clear plan to diversify our economy.
A plan we can put in front of New Zealanders, not airy fairy concepts.
All of these areas – jobs, education, housing and building a new economy – are critical to rebuilding our second largest city.
I am committed to rebuilding Christchurch from the grassroots up, not the Beehive down.
That’s why I’ll be talking to Cantabrians about how they see their future.
To ensure their voices are heard.
That’s what we’ll work on in the coming months.
These ideas will make a difference.
These are ideas National simply can’t see.
Airy Fairy ideas (traitor words) – DS confirms his loyalty to the continuation of the neo liberal agenda, he was, is, and will remain and agent of the establishment, its that simple!
“David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”
That’s odd, considering that a couple of days ago in his State of the Nation speech Shearer said:
“We’ll make changes to monetary policy so that our job-creating businesses aren’t undermined by our exchange rate.”
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“David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”
That suggests to me that Shearer believes “the economy” is some kind of discrete, independent entity which will somehow run itself perfectly well as long as its left alone – presumably shaped by some “invisible hand”. If he ever gets to be Prime Minister he will, on day one, be faced with “the economy” bequeathed to him by National which, according to him, he won’t ‘interfer with’ by trying any new ideas.
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“David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”
A couple of days ago in his State of the Nation speech David Shearer said: “We are on the cusp of a new era – when new thinking and leadership is needed to build wealth we can all share in.”
By the sounds of it Labour have caught up with the idea that the RBA should be widened in scope beyond just inflation targets. I.e. you make unemployment and quality of life targets part of the objective, and the RB will do a bit of autonomous QE.
A few years old as an idea (they probably resisted it while in power), but at least they’re only 5 or 10 years out of date – not the 150 that Nact are 🙂
Not sure how much of the idea follows on from the monetary policy + noninterference statements – could just be teafleaf reading on my part.
A potential flashpoint is brewing between Labour and the Greens with David Shearer squashing Green plans for quantitative easing if the two go into coalition after the next election.
The Green’s want to drive down the value of the New Zealand dollar by getting the Reserve Bank to print more money which could be used to buy earthquake bonds and rebuild the EQC.
Mr Shearer told Radiolive’s Duncan Garner thats not an option;
Why are the Greens wasting their political capital on this sort of ephemera, when the future of humanity itself hangs in the balance, threatened by permanent climate change?
“What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”
Placing decisions which belong properly to government beyond the reach of a government accountable to the people is undemocratic, and in fact represents the very essence of fascism.
I didn’t hear him this morning, but I noticed on Morning Report last week that Shearer is getting better with his communication. I think he must have been working on it over the summer and with some robust policy developed I think it would be easier for him to give firm answers than waffle to fill the air.
“What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”
What David is saying, is that having the RBNZ/OoDM, as private, is the best solution, as thats what his masters are telling him to say. The tools government gets controlled with is Graeme Wheeler, ex World Banker, relaying messages. David will be given no tools to the RBNZ, which is why he has not mentioned them in the speech, he is talking bull shit!
David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.
Here David emphasises that market driven ideology will continue, and that he is owned, and speaking on behalf of *the market* controllers!
David will strickly adhere to the *best practice* frameworks, and there will be no *airy fairy ideas*, (such as what is right/best for NZ), coming from his mouth, or via Labour Party policy!
David Shearer, like John Key, and so many others pretending to be politicians (hence the continued atrocious performances), are TRAITORS!
LOLZ, Hooten, on today’s RadioNZ National Nine to Noon seems to have laughably lost the over-sized plum that has Him at times thinking He speaks with the voice of the Lord of the Manor,
Unfortunately for Hooten the ‘plum’ voice has had Him at times sounding more like a transvestite in training,
Wonder if Hooties had the offending ‘plum’ surgically removed or did the recent ‘pricking’ of that ones over-blown ego here at the Standard result in it’s shriveling…
I am sure that you have considered that for Labour to get into power they will actually need to appeal to the voters in the centre of the political spectrum (assuming a relatively equal number of voters on either side of the centre). Once having one the election they will be able implement nore left wing policies on the basis that their coalition partners are further to the left than they are and as always there will be some negotiation and collaboration in forming the new govt.
If they ignore the centre (which I don’t think they are) they will quite simply lose the election and their policies won’t really matter for another three years……..
You seem to be saying they should campaign on policies they don’t believe in in order to gain power, so that once in power they can implement policies they do believe in, even if it means breaking election promises.
Trevor hosted a media event in his Electorate football ground for his Leader at which a “Hands on” strategy was the theme.
Does Shearer have the right team around him to firstly detail such policies and secondly execute them when in power?
Trevor’s last job was to build a new sports stadium on Auckland’s waterfront. Truly great idea, appealingly executed.
Who in Shearer’s team jumps out of bed in the morning with a passion to undo and never repeat the mistakes of the past 30 years?
Who in Shearer’s team jumps out of bed in the morning with a plan that is relevant to those who don’t want to own a house? Don’t relate to third level education? Don’t see a future in NZ?
KV
Yesterday I found there was so much in Shearer’s speech that offended and appalled me that I was dumbstruck.
Far from tearing it down and nit-picking to find fault, I felt overwhelmed. I’d have to go through line by line and write a bloody dissertation on all the things that were wrong with that speech.
But of course it was the picture that was painted of what and who was and wasn’t important. Maybe outside of the context of the speech as a whole, the line about the “success” of a person being the first one in the family to graduate university, wouldn’t have grated like it did.
I felt like saying that my father has a couple of degrees yet for some reason we’re all pretty proud that my brother was the first member of the generations of my family to be able to build a house, and my sisters, the first to be able to teach young children how to read and write and do sums and feel confident learning to learn, and most of all that our severely disabled sister was able to learn to read against the odds and that for a few years, before all the wonderful Rogernomic reforms, was able to work in the community and earn a wage to pay the mortgage on her own home.
Pity they don’t have degrees. Their work is and was a kind of anti-success, a generational downward-mobility. It is in the subtext of that speech, – winners – yay, losers unmentionable, strive, aspire, compete, be the best and look after number one, (in the most narrow and conventional terms imaginable that is).
Beltway Labour, you’re only any good if you have a university education. Ever wonder why the Beltway can’t connect to ordinary people worth a damn? Seen the attitude in Young Labour as well. When they find out some kid is “just” a tradie or school leaver noses get turned up real quick. Pathetic and elitist.
A few years ago a former Labour candidate (I think the person has now walked from the Party) once approached a (now retired) senior Labour politician asking for advice on… how to go about becoming a candidate. The first question the prospective candidate was asked:
“ Do you have a university degree?” The candidate replied “yes”.
“Oh, that’s OK then” said the senior politician. “You really need a degree to become a Labour candidate nowadays“.
Pathetic and elitist you say. I would add to that… sad and astoundingly stupid!
That’s even more pathetic than you know, because the people I see starting at university come from all sorts of disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Do you have a university degree?” is really code for: “Are you an unthreateningly, comfortably middle class professional of the sort that clogs Public Address? You’ve never been a sex worker, a drug user, in prison, chronically ill, an artist, epileptic, suffering from a disorder, a sole parent, too dark a shade of brown… or actually gained a degree, but one that’s in boring science and not sexy law or commerce? Right?”
I’ve had a parade of students who tick several of those boxes pass before me and gain degrees, and they’re exactly the sort Labour needs (I can think of one in particular… and another… and another… and more) but I can imagine them saying “Yes” to that MP’s question and then seeing him squirm in his seat and vacillate “Weeeeeellll…. that’s good, that’s a good life story… you’re a battler for sure, but, well, your story’s a bit complicated and for all your… well, virtues… there are some people who won’t be able to understand… Well, for example, I wish you’d overcome… given up something less likely to make the wrong sort of headlines… people won’t understand… perhaps if you’d just quit smoking perhaps? Cigarettes! Cigarettes, I mean! Yes, yes, I know what you do – did – is legal now, and you did it to have money to raise your child… but that takes a long time to explain and you can’t do that in a soundbite and some people – not me of course – some people are going to be, um moralistic about it… they’ll call you a… well, I won’t say that word, but can you imagine it? It would be so hard for you to hear it every day. Oh you did? On talk radio, I mean… on TV, or Kiwiblog… And you have a degree too? Hmmm, yes, I have to say, we’ve many high quality candidates, so don’t feel that we think the less of you when we select this recent marketing graduate who’s been working on my staff for… weeks… now. They’re good, they’re really good and put the hard yards into the party…. um, yes… and they look good on television (yes, I know, I’m not so very slim now either – too many Bellamy’s meals, ha ha!)… and that counts when they’re being interviewed in front of a Ponsonby cafe where we think we can turn the vote around… though mind you, they’re serving an apprenticeship still, so we’ll put them in a nice safe seat or a high list position… Anyway, good luck and keep up the good work! You’re an inspiration!”
I’ve had a few professional-type job interviews with middle-class, university-educated academics that have gone pretty much along those lines and ended up with ‘so where would you fit?’ or ‘because you’re a solo-parent I can’t risk that you’ll take time off when the children are sick’.
Funnily enough for more manual jobs don’t care who I am, just whether I could do the job and stay… those employers think with a couple of degrees I’m over-qualified.
Im probably the only one in the world who finds the practise of celebrating the anniversary of geo-political entities (the Provinces) that were abolished in the mid-19th Century completely absurd. I cannot think of any other non-federallised country that has holidays in different parts of the country on different days.
Though the actual abolishment of the provincial anniversary and their replacement with a more relevant national holidays would be unlikely, due the the events that take place on these days. So carry on inhabitants of the former Auckland Province, enjoy your holiday. You might want to take the time to read up on the old Provinces.
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I dont think the changes to the WOF system is going to lead to the downfall of civilisation as the testing and mechanical barons say they will, but they will turn out to be a false economy. The inspections will end up being much more tougher, resulting in bigger financial hits for car owners (rather than costs being spread through the year).
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Captain mumblefuck is already backtracking on KiwiBuild, and the rednecks are pouring vitirol on the greens, forgetting about their generous familiy benefit capitalisation and State Advances loans. Labour should just focus on increasing the state house build, and give assistance to those who wish to buy their state houses (and chop the renewable tenancies — also perhaps extend the IRR to community provider?). This should in itself dampen the housing market.
“but they will turn out to be a false economy. The inspections will end up being much more tougher, resulting in bigger financial hits for car owners (rather than costs being spread through the year).”
A guy made the point this morning that arguable the 6 monthly WOF system had been acting as a crutch, because people only worried about the state of their car on those 2 days each year, instead of paying more attention to it throughout the year. I think this is likely to be true, but we probably won’t see any move back to owner-responsibility for a good 5-7 years I’d guess.
I’m concerned about lack of inspections of cars – how many people know nothing about what they’re meant to check. But what I’m really worried about is the self-regulated inspections of trucks. Reducing regulation in safety critical elements hasn’t worked in other industries and it won’t work in the transport industry either.
Perfect example of a poor policy launch, and dare I suggest typical of current inept back room management.
The big roll out policy, the press, the media attention, good voter vibes, then whoops, what I meant to say was…
I wish Shearer would spend as much time in Auckland as he does in the Hutt Valley. Funny how the three power-brokers in caucus are the MP for Wellington Central and the two MPs for the Hutt Valley – little wonder Shearer is hardly ever in Auckland.
NACTs degrading our society again. Cutting the wof system down. At present new vehicles only need a once a year, then go to six monthly after the first six years. There is talk about cars being built to be safer these days. Well air bags are for when there is an accident, and the whole purpose of wofs is to keep vital parts in good working order lessening accident possibility. That’s what I like for me, and to know that the other vehicles on the road have been vetted and in reasonable condition.
Instead we get deregulation, the Reno style of political decision making. Go fast towards your goal, don’t worry about possible obstacles – sounds like this new idea is just a rerun of the Roger Douglas thinking.
Novopay – Education is apparently the second ‘successful’ service manufactured by clever clogs in Australia for us, the first being for NZ Post which I heard is not a go’er either.
Charter Schools – discussion on radionz this morning with someone from academic circles called John, and principal from a middle school in Wanganui, the fortunate area to receive government monetary assistance to keep a private school viable, didn’t impress me with the need for the current legislation. Academic John pointed out that there is provision for alternative schools in a 1989 act, and that there has been changes made to the current legislation which seems to make it more radical. Alternative schools, under the state system, are needed for some students and there are some presently. Surely just changes to the enabling 1989 act were all that is necessary.
The government is into makework it seems to me. They don’t wish to support building a better future for us but need to appear to do something so they fiddle with things we already have and that broadly are successful. Result conditions further downgraded. What a shower.
So Key is now an expert on road safety and vehicle maintenance.
(Wonder if he has acshully ever looked under the bonnet of a car, let alone changed a wheel).
Surely vehicle testing is self financing.
So this is all about saving costs for the fleet owners.
For the average punter, this great saving over a ten year cycle will be about $40.00 dollars per year (on today’s testing rates).
As for me, my car is fairly new but I shall be continuing with a six monthly check-up thank you Johnny Boy and it will continue to be done independently of my regular service.
…and apparently the AA have said that their membership is unanimously in support of the new system. Not this member and would love to know when they commissioned that survey.
1)”So key is now an expert on road safety and vehicle maintenance”……exactly,.lol, he would have never had to ride in an unroadworthy car in his life. What would he know.
2)I was also baffled at the results of that AA survey, and no, they never asked this member either.
3)It’s beyond me that we would purposely reduce safety checking in cars. Our car is 20 years old so will still be getting a 6 monthly check under the changes to WOF requirements. Even if it fell into the post 2000 age we woulds still be getting it checked every 6 months, certainly not once a year. To leave it up to faith that your not brand new car is road safe in another year is just plain fool hardy. One thought I’m having is around the number of sales reps that are on our roads every day driving huge distances. Unless you work for a large company or a multi national you will be driving an older model car, one that fits into that post 2000 rego cut off point. Your car could be as old as 14 years and will now only require checking once a year. I know of companies who have laid off staff and reorganised their reps territories since the recession. The reps now have to cover much larger areas than previously. This is dangerous for two reasons: they are more fatigued when they are on the road and the wear and tear on the car is increasing. A deteriorating part that could have been picked up in at a 6 month check will now be left a year. Will that part make it the car unsafe for the driver and other road users.?Quite possibly!
4 and finally)betcha Peter Dunne had something do with voting for change. Don’t know if you saw Keith Webb, one of the directors of the MTA on 3 news last night, discussing the flaws of this change. As he’s my mechanic, we’ve had chats about these changes. Last year he took a bald tyre over to Peter Dunne’s office to demonstrate to him the difference between checking a tyre at 6 months and 12 months. The wear would have been picked up at 6 months, but depending on mileage could be at a point where its almost shredding in a further 6 months. Did PD care? No he did not. The only good outcome was that there will be one less person voting for PD in the Ohariu electorate vote next year. – the mechanic told me that he won’t be voting PD again. (Thats great but I hope the rest of the electorate wakes up before then)
So, now there will be more potentially unsound cars in our roads. Thanks National Govt for putting safety first. Not.
logie97
I thought that the AA guy sounded like a free market density. When he said stuff about individual responsibility the hairs on my neck prickled. I thought AA was supposed to be conservative in favour of safety and providing services for motorists and travellers.
He seemed to think that it was an unneeded expense to have these regular checks and it would save AA members money. If anyone didn’t get a service and repair done, well they ought to and make regular checks, or they were irresponsible. It can be easy to overlook stuff, that’s what we have the WOF for and everyone has been expected to have one when appropriate for the age of their car. So we all benefit from the universality with properly serviced cars.
I think the next reorganisation should happen in parliament. The MPs seats should be taken out and sold in the interests of ergonomics etc. It is supposed to be healthier to be standing instead of sitting for long periods. So just leaning shelves in front of each MP would be sufficient and some of the fat cats might start losing weight by just standing and therefore proving they are alive.
It would be wise for us to have a separate transport police force again. I’m going to lose all my respect for police if I have to put up with them doing more petty surveillance on cars and drivers for misdemeanours.
The people police used to be the government body who helped the non law breakers and citizens dealt with them occasionally and relatively happily. The government has turned them into a bunch who are in everybody’s face all the time, sirens and lights flashing multiple times a day and booze road blocks where they have a catch rate of about 5% so 95% stopped are being unnecessarily harrassed. And then they can pick you up for out-dated certificates and fine you. It’s not good to have these tax gatherers at you all the time. In the bible Jesus was the only friendly face to a tax gatherer. They might find that the people divide against them – the rich on one side and the majority on the other.
And then the government is so bloody careless about trying to improve any situation that impacts on ordinary people, they don’t even put the drunken bums through retraining programs. It seems they just like catching people out and punishing, fining them etc. Like in the Simpsons when annoyed by Homer Mr Burns answer is ‘I’ll loose the dogs”. I see that with such a laissez faire government that is likely to become a reality as people become angry and desperate.
I have no problem with the drink driving checks, but the issue I have is the use of traffic duties to boost the individual officers’ activity quotas.
The classic example I saw a few years ago was when a 2-cop car (how many of those are left) pulled someone over for a pretty blatant red light issue. Fair enough.
While one officer was dealing with the other car, his partner pulled over all the cars on a busy street and asked to see D/Ls – just “papers, please”, no fitness checks or anything.
Of course, each of those counted as traffic duty, so their stats were up – but really there was only one actual case of “traffic duty”, the rest were just pointless ID checks.
What problem did Shearer fix yesterday ?
The 1 million non voters were connected to labour?
Those who are moving to greens coming back?
The Caucus re-united?
Talent inspired to transform the country?
No, no.
The Wellington gaggle feel reassured??
Yes, yes
This is what the revolutionary Marxists in Aotearoa this will happen to the Labour Party.
The global capitalist crisis and NZs perilous economic situation has activated a class war inside the Labour Party such as not seen since the late 1980s over Rogernomics. The onset of crisis in 2007 and Labour’s defeat by a right-moving National -ACT-Maori Party Coalition in 2008 and 2011 has thrown the party into an internal crisis. The ‘old guard’ continue to ‘oppose’ the NACTs by competing for the same middle ground, while a ‘new guard’ has emerged dedicated to return Labour to its traditional parliamentary socialism. The scene is set for Labour to split between the ‘right’ and the ‘left’. We examine the significance of this impending split for the development of class struggle in Aotearoa/NZ…
Affordable housing $300,000 or less for everyone under kiwibuild…..as long as you want your house to be an apartment with only two bedrooms…otherwise it will be up to $550,000….was Bill English right when he said Labour were being dishonest with their $300,000 figure…i guess he was…
I can’t remember the ‘mechanical’ ins and outs of it, but the Northern Hemisphere can apparently expect to experience weather systems that ‘sit’ for far longer due to AGW. So heatwaves and droughts and rains last much longer than was previously considered normal.
And anyway, for some reason the weather forecast the other day ( I don’t usually listen in) struck me as odd insofar as it was very short because the same weather was expected over the entire country whereas there is usually quite a variation. And in todays ‘stuff’
Which has got me wondering whether the Southern Hemisphere can expect similar to the Northern Hemisphere and have periods of long ‘sameness’ as weather systems basically slow and stall due to the effects of AGW.
Don’t think so, because there is no massive continent ie euroasia in the South. Plus Antarctica is a continent so not warming nearly as fast as the Arcrtic.
The jet streams are the result of heat energy moving from the torrid equator to the freezing poles. Because the Arctic is warming ( faster than anywhere as predicted by modelling ) there is less differentiation between it and the equator = less heat energy transfer = slower jet stream.
A slower jet stream means slower weather patterns dragged along at lower levels. Plus like a slow moving river the northern jet stream is meandering more, channeling cold air from further north to further south ie snow in North Africa for the first time in decades or more , and vice versa sucking hot air up from further south to the north ie Russian drought worst in hundreds of years.
Is it possible to not like or believe in the leader of a political party but still support the objectives and ethos of a party – its kaupapa – and still vote for them.
For instance, Hone has alienated some with his remarks and some don’t like him personally or they spin it is the Hone Party – yet when Mana’s policies and objectives are looked at, even though Hone is a turn-off for an individual – the plans and policies may be a turn-on. And the other way around – I love the leader but not sure about the policies. I’m interested because of my discussions with mcflock on another thread. And because I want to increase the votes for Mana and the left whether people like Hone or not.
Hi marty mars. I wrote an epic length response to your question. When I clicked on submit comment I lost the site and my reply to you. I’m not going to repeat it all again but instead just abreviate what I said and refer to your example of the Mana Party and its leader Hone Harawira.
Brief reply to your question: It would depend on the individuals liklihood to be influenced by the persona of a party’s leader over the substance of their policy. What is more important to them?
Its not a perfect example but consider how Epsom voters strategically voted JB for their electorate to in order for National to still hold the sway of power. JB wasn’t well regarded as a whole by the voters but they saw him as a vehicle for upholding their own kaupapa. They got what they wanted despite not having much in the way of respect for their elected representative.
My two cents worth: Personally and historically my view of a leader has taken a back seat to the policy, objectives and ethos of the party. The next election will be my 10th as a voter. It will be my first, NOT party voting Labour. This is mainly because their direction isn’t enough to sustain me as a voter. However, this time I can’t deny that the persona of the leader was the triggering factor for my choice – for the many and varied reasons already discussed on The Standard.
I like Hone Harawira. I like the kaupapa and policies of Mana. It is the party that most closely aligns with my social and political view. Despite that my party vote is going to that rising star, The Greens, who in the past I’ve always given my electorate vote. I wish you luck with your efforts to increase their votes. It would be great if they picked up a few extra seats. Heres to a good left win in 2014 – even if it does seem like a distant future.
I don’t see much policy difference between the Greens, Mana, or the Alliance, and Labour aren’t too far behind.
So basically it comes down to nitpicking personalities, policy order, and what their actions say as well as their words.
For me, it’s not so much “not supporting” party A, as much as simply deciding at the toss that Party B of the bunch is better suited to my perspective.
Kathleen Wynne has won the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party and is set to become the province’s first female premier, after a closely fought race with Sandra Pupatello.
Wynne, the 59-year-old MPP for Don Valley West, is a long-time party member who has had several cabinet roles, including minister of transportation and minister of education.
She has vowed to bring back the legislature on Feb. 19, saying Ontarians are not looking for another election.
Wynne, who is openly gay, had earlier asked delegates in an opening speech: “Can a gay woman win?”
read an article in the Dom recently quoting “Race Against The Machine” and that works’ relevance to the rapidly increasing loss globally of “middle class” employment roles due to technological advances (bring it on you Far.side right wing capitalist commentary clowns)
Here’s another one: very skilled and very cheap Chinese and Indian labour taking over software development, routine legal/accounting/accounts work, administration roles, IT technicians etc
Corporations and shareholders which outsource local jobs get to make bigger and bigger profits even as local communities fail.
A relative was on the phone to Telstra/Vodafone needing help. Turns out the call was being taken in Manila! She was pissed off, told them that as a New Zealander she was disappointed about it and would be looking for a company that employed NZers. The Filipino girl on the other end was like “I help you! I help you!”
Yup, a lot of major big systems upgrades and customisations have been done in Indian code shops by oracle, SAP etc for years as its the only way they can take the work from local crowds.
Major utilities and others happily take advantage of this, it’s not like they care about quality anyway, being a monopoly does that.
interesting, i’m sans all two-way communication devices in my whare now (just sneaking on at PL, so can’t link) however, RNZ is very informative if one ignores most of what passes for opinion and concentrates on seasoned,comparitively objective,commentary on local and global issues; also there is “Press Display” at the PL and the dailys’; still not looking like a brighter future, unless one is an investor in the right commodities, and we shall see those see-saw as well this year.
btw :), a friend of mine relayed her experience of watching cs political commentary on the boob-tube and said she could not understand why the broadcasters give the likes of him and Farr-up-his-own the Time of day.(influential? like cholera is influential)
as an aside, just keep dumping chemical toxins on our pastures (and in our children) and everything will just be tickety-boo.
Yeah robotics are advancing rapidly and on the cheap – fully automated factories.
Remember that was the utopia promised by the technocrats and rationalists. Freed from the burden and drudgery of labour we would have time and energy to pursue our interest.
So will we all get to share in the wealth of this technological revolution or will it pan out more like Blade Runner?
Blade Runner (Do androids dream of electric sheep?) was fairly visionary imo.
as an aside, I was aware very early on that those who could ‘insert” into the MSM and it’s variants were baiting me, and muzza, what was with the “betrayal”? finding laudanum?
Whatever, it is encouraging to see examples of articles more challenging to the status quo appearing occasionally in our dailys’, and even some of the rw eunuchs getting a little more interested in their loss of genitalia (but thats’ those rational types for ya, it’s all about self and Interest) although a cynic Idealist might perceive the blonde bombshell, i meant, eggshell, as a political foil to J-A G…
I am thinking more along the lines of Running Man and the Robocop movies.
Far from being mindless action flicks, Robocop 1 and 2 are interesting commentaries on urban decay, privatisation, the malevolent use of technology and human experimentation by corporations, underfunding of police, outsourcing, and so on and so forth.
The Running Man, focuses on the use of reality TV to distract the masses….
Under the present socio-economic paradigm it will be more like Blade Runner (and/or what millsy said). Of course, we don’t have to keep the present socio-economic system.
The reasoning behind what some would see as the surprise sacking from the Slippery lead National Government’s Cabinet of Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson and un-HousingNZ Minister Phill ‘the mouse’ Heatley was escaping me until i listened to a RadioNZ National interview of Slippery the Prime Minister the other day,
Insisting that Heatley and Wilkinson were not given the bums rush out of the Cabinet,(Heatley with barely two hours notice), was not provoked by bad behavior the Prime Minister even gushingly described their contribution as great work which served to further bamboozle me until that is our Prime Minister uttered the words fresh young faces as part of the reasoning behind his demotion of Wilkinson and Heatley and the promotion of Nikki Kaye and Simon Bridges,
Immediately into my mind ‘flashed two simultaneous pictures, one of a group of balding old men gathered round a Cabinet table most having stapled to their various cranium the fur of one or other dead animal, mostly in numerous states of comatose rigidity and only stirring weekly at the sound of Social Development Minister Paula Benefits weekly enumeration of the numbers She has managed to drive off benefits and off-shore via the intensely effective use of Her minions creative use of the ‘new’ rules to deny people their rightful income support, heard amongst this awakening of the gathered Ministers the clashing of false teeth, the snorts as if emanating from a piggery and the odd shouted exhortation to kick the poor,
The other, pictures that flashed into my mind that is, a picture of both the Blond Nikki Kaye and Pretty Boy Simon Bridges being lead into the Cabinet room with signs round their necks which contained in bold blue lettering the words ”eye candy”, at which point transmission was lost as the sound of the sirens from a mass malfunction in at least 20 pace-makers broke my reverie,
We can well imagine Slippery the Prime Minister spending His summer holidays mulling over the problem of trying to energize a bunch of geriatric old codgers, the flotsam left over from National Governments from so long ago that no-one is sure what position they occupied or even if the aging coterie in the Cabinet room isn’t in fact a remnant left behind as the previous Labour Government decamped after their election defeat,
”Eye candy” was the chosen solution for the Prime Minister, some ”candy” for all tastes around the Cabinet table…
Lol, i know, gardening does it to me, first i am pulling weeds,then i am babbling at the plants ”no, no way” and soon after i am on my knees laughing like a loon,
Friggin dangerous places those gardens, the narrative did go on for quite some time about the bits of various dead animals that most of them have taken to stapling onto their various cranial caps, Maurice Williamson (Raccoon), Peter Dunne (Skunk), and, Slippery the Prime Minister( the soft hairs gently plucked from the anal crack of a blind donkey called Brucie),
I abridged it a bit to give my stubby little fingers a rest,(and my laptop which i have a habit of bashing instead of softly pashing), i might have to explore the issue of cranial covering further later on…
Good call. I’ve yet to see what Kate Wilkinson did wrong. She follows the neo-liberal (so hating that word right now) to the letter, and that’s not a compliment btw. If it was Pike River he would have sacked her long ago.
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 ...
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The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
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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. ...
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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. ...
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. ...
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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. ...
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Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
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The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond.By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
Popstars wasn’t just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion.It’s 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, Lecturer in Quantitative Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation, The University of Melbourne Trismegist san, Shutterstock Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbour vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/S Curtis Why are we crossing ecological boundaries that affect Earth’s fundamental life-supporting capacity? Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change? Or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a charity director outlines how she’s saving for retirement and buying secondhand. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 45 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Charity director, mum of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophie Yates, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late last year. Now a ...
It’s been called a failed experiment and a judicial straightjacket but the government says the revised three strikes law will be a more workable regime, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Three ...
New Zealand’s Palestinian community and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa are voicing alarm and disappointment with the lack of factual rigour present during the Israeli Ambassador’s appearance as a guest on TVNZ’s Q+A With Jack Tame Sunday (21/04). ...
Both ACT leader David Seymour, who played a key role in drawing up the assisted dying law, and hospice leaders say it's time the legislation was changed. ...
Public submissions on proposed gang control laws are being heard today. Rising gang membership has been cited as rationale for a crackdown – but what do we actually know about how many people belong to gangs in New Zealand?What’s all this then?A rise in the number of gang ...
Climate activists are setting their sights on an unpopular target, and hoping to bring lots of the public with them. It’s hard to miss the Majestic Princess: the enormous cruise ship, docked at Auckland’s Prince’s Wharf, looms over the nearby buildings. The ship, which can fit nearly 6,000 people, ...
The following korero between Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku, author of the newly published memoir Hine Toa, one of the year’s most important books, and Dale Husband from e-tangata, was first published in October. It traverses her involvement with the activist group Ngā Tamatoa at Auckland University in the early 1970s, her ...
In the 16 years since it was bought by the government for $690 million, KiwiRail has had several overhauls and turnaround plans worth billions of dollars. Its ambitions as a successful, profitable operator of tourism, freight and ferries have often been derailed by disasters from earthquakes to cyclones, mine explosions ...
Black Ferns trailblazer Kendra Cocksedge was on the verge of tears when her young protégé, Hannah King, unassumingly broke the news. Three-time Rugby World Cup winner Cocksedge and Lincoln agriculture student King meet every few weeks over a hot chocolate, in an enduring mentorship that’s spanned years. “Before we even ...
Opinion: We’ve kicked the tyres on the perception NZ’s economy is in a parlous state compared to Australia. We take a quick tour of relative trends in GDP, housing markets, labour markets, trade, the fiscal situation, and the outlooks for inflation and interest rates. We find the cyclical positions of ...
Opinion: Making sure developers, local and central government, and landowners are all on the same page makes sense The post A new kind of city deal appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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By Russell Palmer, RNZ News digital political journalist New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters is putting off recognition of Palestine as a state, despite opposition Labour’s formal request that he make the move. Peters said diplomatic recognition of Palestine was a matter of “when not if”, but doing so now ...
The opposition has laid into the government's plan to reintroduce a "three strikes" regime, saying it's inequitable and there's very little evidence it works. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior research associate, University of Sydney Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has ordered social media platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter) to remove graphic videos of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney last week from the site. The incident ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Turnbull, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney John Turnbull, CC BY-NC-ND In past bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, the southern region has sometimes been spared worst of the bleaching. Not this time. This year’s intense underwater heat has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Darren Gill/Mackey, Darling & Collaborators The relationship between witchcraft and teenage girls has been the subject of many books, films and television shows. Over time, the traditional image of witch as crone ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. 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 ...
Watch and weep.
The UK social security “reforms” and their devastating effects on citizens with disabilities.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Video-The-Secret-Governme-by-Mick-Meaney-130125-244.html
Soon to be enacted by a government near you.
And next up… did you see the one about ‘voice risk analysis’ aka lie detectors being used over the phone to work out whether people are lying about their need for council benefits in Cornwall? It’s even too much for a Tory councillor who has resigned over it.
Trained assessors, specialist technology for calling 30,000 households? Yeah…right. Sounds like atos spin.
Research carries out in other parts of the country also show VRA, or lie detectors by phone, is not suitable in a ‘benefits environment’. But Cornwall is not letting that wee point stop it.
A year or two ago the WINZ call centre was trialling a system of voice recognition. I think you had a choice to register and then they recorded your voice and so whenever you phoned in after that they knew it was you. Needless to say, my response to that was fuck off, but it makes sense now why they were trialling it. I haven’t come across it for a while though so I’m guessing they dropped it.
So they’re looking to see if people calling up about a benefit are stressed?
That sounds more stupid that usual.
I wonder – do people who fail the test get audited, or just automatically suspended?
It does sound more stupid than usual – especially when you look at the numbers it’s clear the people doing some kind of psychological assessment on the data are call centre operators.
If it’s anything like atos, it’ll be suspension until appeal rather than the other way around.
which would be why even a tory thinks it’s going a bit far…
‘GAZA REPORT’
UK documentary maker and activist Harry Fear will be speaking in Auckland
Where: Lecture Room B28, Auckland University Library Alfred Street
Time: 7pm Thursday 7 February
Harry Fear and veteran Kiwi activist Roger Fowler were on a fact-finding mission in Gaza when the recent Israeli bombing raids took place. They will speak about their experiences.
*Legendary reggae band ‘Unity Pacific’ will be playing
Hosted by; Auckland University Students for Justice in Palestine’
With: Kia Ora Gaza
Shearer performed better than Key on Morning Report on housing, I thought.
So Matthew did Trevor ask you to say this?
The Right’s love affair with Shearer deepens into commitment.
Its called trying to gain a targets trust…this way the spin can be effective, if people realise its all poppy-cock that he speaks, he becomes less effective as a spin doctor. Sadly, I have witnessed some here starting to think Hooton is making sense, this is not good. He never does.
Yes, good showing by Shearer this morning. IF he can keep it up, Labour might be out of the woods.
Lanth. We get this kind of response after his every speech. How much value must people continue to place upon rhetoric? (Look at Obama for example!) And so it goes on every time, with the obligatory IF IF IF . . .
Radiolive Duncan Garner – David Shearer interview
4.30pm News with Jeff Bryant Tuesday 18 November 2012
___________________________________________________________________________
Perhaps that is what Shearer was referring to when is the speech…..
Airy Fairy ideas (traitor words) – DS confirms his loyalty to the continuation of the neo liberal agenda, he was, is, and will remain and agent of the establishment, its that simple!
“David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”
That’s odd, considering that a couple of days ago in his State of the Nation speech Shearer said:
“We’ll make changes to monetary policy so that our job-creating businesses aren’t undermined by our exchange rate.”
**************************
“David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”
That suggests to me that Shearer believes “the economy” is some kind of discrete, independent entity which will somehow run itself perfectly well as long as its left alone – presumably shaped by some “invisible hand”. If he ever gets to be Prime Minister he will, on day one, be faced with “the economy” bequeathed to him by National which, according to him, he won’t ‘interfer with’ by trying any new ideas.
******************************
“David Shearer says there is a real issue when politicians get new idea’s and try to interfere with the economy.”
A couple of days ago in his State of the Nation speech David Shearer said: “We are on the cusp of a new era – when new thinking and leadership is needed to build wealth we can all share in.”
*****************************
Jesus wept.
By the sounds of it Labour have caught up with the idea that the RBA should be widened in scope beyond just inflation targets. I.e. you make unemployment and quality of life targets part of the objective, and the RB will do a bit of autonomous QE.
A few years old as an idea (they probably resisted it while in power), but at least they’re only 5 or 10 years out of date – not the 150 that Nact are 🙂
Not sure how much of the idea follows on from the monetary policy + noninterference statements – could just be teafleaf reading on my part.
Why are the Greens wasting their political capital on this sort of ephemera, when the future of humanity itself hangs in the balance, threatened by permanent climate change?
“What we want to do is to say the Reserve Bank is in the best position to make those determinations. So what we we would do is give them the tools then let them make the decisions.”
Placing decisions which belong properly to government beyond the reach of a government accountable to the people is undemocratic, and in fact represents the very essence of fascism.
I didn’t hear him this morning, but I noticed on Morning Report last week that Shearer is getting better with his communication. I think he must have been working on it over the summer and with some robust policy developed I think it would be easier for him to give firm answers than waffle to fill the air.
He may be getting better but he has gone from being warmed up Shyte to barely adequate.
And giving the odd speech is not enough.
Shearer needs to repair relationships within caucus and the rank and file. Only if he can do that will he show leadership material.
I bet the Nats cannot wait until the first debate. I hope that Labour in selecting Shearer has not selected our own Sarah Palin.
Nah, Sarah Palin was a vacuous bimbo pretending she could do the job.
Shearer most likely can do the job, he just has trouble showing us.
But what exactly is the job that he’s been asked to do, that’s what continues to trouble me.
What David is saying, is that having the RBNZ/OoDM, as private, is the best solution, as thats what his masters are telling him to say. The tools government gets controlled with is Graeme Wheeler, ex World Banker, relaying messages. David will be given no tools to the RBNZ, which is why he has not mentioned them in the speech, he is talking bull shit!
Here David emphasises that market driven ideology will continue, and that he is owned, and speaking on behalf of *the market* controllers!
David will strickly adhere to the *best practice* frameworks, and there will be no *airy fairy ideas*, (such as what is right/best for NZ), coming from his mouth, or via Labour Party policy!
David Shearer, like John Key, and so many others pretending to be politicians (hence the continued atrocious performances), are TRAITORS!
The fogies do not want to be the fall guy. It’s as if the puppet masters (fogies) write the lines and Shearer does not deliver them verbatim.
I’d just like to take the opportunity to wish both Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams all the best for their marriage, they are perfect for one another.
Come back Josie Pagani, there is a spot for you now M. Williams has joined the National Party.
LOLZ, Hooten, on today’s RadioNZ National Nine to Noon seems to have laughably lost the over-sized plum that has Him at times thinking He speaks with the voice of the Lord of the Manor,
Unfortunately for Hooten the ‘plum’ voice has had Him at times sounding more like a transvestite in training,
Wonder if Hooties had the offending ‘plum’ surgically removed or did the recent ‘pricking’ of that ones over-blown ego here at the Standard result in it’s shriveling…
I am sure that you have considered that for Labour to get into power they will actually need to appeal to the voters in the centre of the political spectrum (assuming a relatively equal number of voters on either side of the centre). Once having one the election they will be able implement nore left wing policies on the basis that their coalition partners are further to the left than they are and as always there will be some negotiation and collaboration in forming the new govt.
If they ignore the centre (which I don’t think they are) they will quite simply lose the election and their policies won’t really matter for another three years……..
5%+ from current nonvoters
You seem to be saying they should campaign on policies they don’t believe in in order to gain power, so that once in power they can implement policies they do believe in, even if it means breaking election promises.
Oh look it’s Matthew “No Spin Here” Hooten. Wouldn’t you be more effective with a pseudonym? Ah you already do that. Carry on then.
Matthew “No Spin Here” Hooton
LOL very good Mike!
Yes Matthew, isn’t it great to be paid by both sides to assist towards the same outcome.
Just spin and repeat, easy money Matty eh.
Nonsense Matthew.
Stop confusing the kids here.
Trevor hosted a media event in his Electorate football ground for his Leader at which a “Hands on” strategy was the theme.
Does Shearer have the right team around him to firstly detail such policies and secondly execute them when in power?
Trevor’s last job was to build a new sports stadium on Auckland’s waterfront. Truly great idea, appealingly executed.
Who in Shearer’s team jumps out of bed in the morning with a passion to undo and never repeat the mistakes of the past 30 years?
Who in Shearer’s team jumps out of bed in the morning with a plan that is relevant to those who don’t want to own a house? Don’t relate to third level education? Don’t see a future in NZ?
KV
Yesterday I found there was so much in Shearer’s speech that offended and appalled me that I was dumbstruck.
Far from tearing it down and nit-picking to find fault, I felt overwhelmed. I’d have to go through line by line and write a bloody dissertation on all the things that were wrong with that speech.
But of course it was the picture that was painted of what and who was and wasn’t important. Maybe outside of the context of the speech as a whole, the line about the “success” of a person being the first one in the family to graduate university, wouldn’t have grated like it did.
I felt like saying that my father has a couple of degrees yet for some reason we’re all pretty proud that my brother was the first member of the generations of my family to be able to build a house, and my sisters, the first to be able to teach young children how to read and write and do sums and feel confident learning to learn, and most of all that our severely disabled sister was able to learn to read against the odds and that for a few years, before all the wonderful Rogernomic reforms, was able to work in the community and earn a wage to pay the mortgage on her own home.
Pity they don’t have degrees. Their work is and was a kind of anti-success, a generational downward-mobility. It is in the subtext of that speech, – winners – yay, losers unmentionable, strive, aspire, compete, be the best and look after number one, (in the most narrow and conventional terms imaginable that is).
Beltway Labour, you’re only any good if you have a university education. Ever wonder why the Beltway can’t connect to ordinary people worth a damn? Seen the attitude in Young Labour as well. When they find out some kid is “just” a tradie or school leaver noses get turned up real quick. Pathetic and elitist.
Interesting comment CV…
A few years ago a former Labour candidate (I think the person has now walked from the Party) once approached a (now retired) senior Labour politician asking for advice on… how to go about becoming a candidate. The first question the prospective candidate was asked:
“ Do you have a university degree?” The candidate replied “yes”.
“Oh, that’s OK then” said the senior politician. “You really need a degree to become a Labour candidate nowadays“.
Pathetic and elitist you say. I would add to that… sad and astoundingly stupid!
That’s even more pathetic than you know, because the people I see starting at university come from all sorts of disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Do you have a university degree?” is really code for: “Are you an unthreateningly, comfortably middle class professional of the sort that clogs Public Address? You’ve never been a sex worker, a drug user, in prison, chronically ill, an artist, epileptic, suffering from a disorder, a sole parent, too dark a shade of brown… or actually gained a degree, but one that’s in boring science and not sexy law or commerce? Right?”
I’ve had a parade of students who tick several of those boxes pass before me and gain degrees, and they’re exactly the sort Labour needs (I can think of one in particular… and another… and another… and more) but I can imagine them saying “Yes” to that MP’s question and then seeing him squirm in his seat and vacillate “Weeeeeellll…. that’s good, that’s a good life story… you’re a battler for sure, but, well, your story’s a bit complicated and for all your… well, virtues… there are some people who won’t be able to understand… Well, for example, I wish you’d overcome… given up something less likely to make the wrong sort of headlines… people won’t understand… perhaps if you’d just quit smoking perhaps? Cigarettes! Cigarettes, I mean! Yes, yes, I know what you do – did – is legal now, and you did it to have money to raise your child… but that takes a long time to explain and you can’t do that in a soundbite and some people – not me of course – some people are going to be, um moralistic about it… they’ll call you a… well, I won’t say that word, but can you imagine it? It would be so hard for you to hear it every day. Oh you did? On talk radio, I mean… on TV, or Kiwiblog… And you have a degree too? Hmmm, yes, I have to say, we’ve many high quality candidates, so don’t feel that we think the less of you when we select this recent marketing graduate who’s been working on my staff for… weeks… now. They’re good, they’re really good and put the hard yards into the party…. um, yes… and they look good on television (yes, I know, I’m not so very slim now either – too many Bellamy’s meals, ha ha!)… and that counts when they’re being interviewed in front of a Ponsonby cafe where we think we can turn the vote around… though mind you, they’re serving an apprenticeship still, so we’ll put them in a nice safe seat or a high list position… Anyway, good luck and keep up the good work! You’re an inspiration!”
😀
More ‘know your place’ moments.
I’ve had a few professional-type job interviews with middle-class, university-educated academics that have gone pretty much along those lines and ended up with ‘so where would you fit?’ or ‘because you’re a solo-parent I can’t risk that you’ll take time off when the children are sick’.
Funnily enough for more manual jobs don’t care who I am, just whether I could do the job and stay… those employers think with a couple of degrees I’m over-qualified.
Im probably the only one in the world who finds the practise of celebrating the anniversary of geo-political entities (the Provinces) that were abolished in the mid-19th Century completely absurd. I cannot think of any other non-federallised country that has holidays in different parts of the country on different days.
Though the actual abolishment of the provincial anniversary and their replacement with a more relevant national holidays would be unlikely, due the the events that take place on these days. So carry on inhabitants of the former Auckland Province, enjoy your holiday. You might want to take the time to read up on the old Provinces.
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I dont think the changes to the WOF system is going to lead to the downfall of civilisation as the testing and mechanical barons say they will, but they will turn out to be a false economy. The inspections will end up being much more tougher, resulting in bigger financial hits for car owners (rather than costs being spread through the year).
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Captain mumblefuck is already backtracking on KiwiBuild, and the rednecks are pouring vitirol on the greens, forgetting about their generous familiy benefit capitalisation and State Advances loans. Labour should just focus on increasing the state house build, and give assistance to those who wish to buy their state houses (and chop the renewable tenancies — also perhaps extend the IRR to community provider?). This should in itself dampen the housing market.
“but they will turn out to be a false economy. The inspections will end up being much more tougher, resulting in bigger financial hits for car owners (rather than costs being spread through the year).”
A guy made the point this morning that arguable the 6 monthly WOF system had been acting as a crutch, because people only worried about the state of their car on those 2 days each year, instead of paying more attention to it throughout the year. I think this is likely to be true, but we probably won’t see any move back to owner-responsibility for a good 5-7 years I’d guess.
I’m concerned about lack of inspections of cars – how many people know nothing about what they’re meant to check. But what I’m really worried about is the self-regulated inspections of trucks. Reducing regulation in safety critical elements hasn’t worked in other industries and it won’t work in the transport industry either.
Shearer conceedes KiwiBuild $300K house price is only a national average, does not apply to Auckland
Standalone Auckland houses under KiwiBuild to be $550K. Smaller apartments or terraced accomodation may be $300K in some outlying areas of Auckland.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10861855
Indeed. That was clear in last night’s 3 News report. See my comment on the Good Coverage for Shearer thread.
Perfect example of a poor policy launch, and dare I suggest typical of current inept back room management.
The big roll out policy, the press, the media attention, good voter vibes, then whoops, what I meant to say was…
Really, who would do that?
I wish Shearer would spend as much time in Auckland as he does in the Hutt Valley. Funny how the three power-brokers in caucus are the MP for Wellington Central and the two MPs for the Hutt Valley – little wonder Shearer is hardly ever in Auckland.
NACTs degrading our society again. Cutting the wof system down. At present new vehicles only need a once a year, then go to six monthly after the first six years. There is talk about cars being built to be safer these days. Well air bags are for when there is an accident, and the whole purpose of wofs is to keep vital parts in good working order lessening accident possibility. That’s what I like for me, and to know that the other vehicles on the road have been vetted and in reasonable condition.
Instead we get deregulation, the Reno style of political decision making. Go fast towards your goal, don’t worry about possible obstacles – sounds like this new idea is just a rerun of the Roger Douglas thinking.
Novopay – Education is apparently the second ‘successful’ service manufactured by clever clogs in Australia for us, the first being for NZ Post which I heard is not a go’er either.
Charter Schools – discussion on radionz this morning with someone from academic circles called John, and principal from a middle school in Wanganui, the fortunate area to receive government monetary assistance to keep a private school viable, didn’t impress me with the need for the current legislation. Academic John pointed out that there is provision for alternative schools in a 1989 act, and that there has been changes made to the current legislation which seems to make it more radical. Alternative schools, under the state system, are needed for some students and there are some presently. Surely just changes to the enabling 1989 act were all that is necessary.
The government is into makework it seems to me. They don’t wish to support building a better future for us but need to appear to do something so they fiddle with things we already have and that broadly are successful. Result conditions further downgraded. What a shower.
So Key is now an expert on road safety and vehicle maintenance.
(Wonder if he has acshully ever looked under the bonnet of a car, let alone changed a wheel).
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/8230081/PM-defends-WOF-changes
Surely vehicle testing is self financing.
So this is all about saving costs for the fleet owners.
For the average punter, this great saving over a ten year cycle will be about $40.00 dollars per year (on today’s testing rates).
As for me, my car is fairly new but I shall be continuing with a six monthly check-up thank you Johnny Boy and it will continue to be done independently of my regular service.
…and apparently the AA have said that their membership is unanimously in support of the new system. Not this member and would love to know when they commissioned that survey.
Hi logie97.
1)”So key is now an expert on road safety and vehicle maintenance”……exactly,.lol, he would have never had to ride in an unroadworthy car in his life. What would he know.
2)I was also baffled at the results of that AA survey, and no, they never asked this member either.
3)It’s beyond me that we would purposely reduce safety checking in cars. Our car is 20 years old so will still be getting a 6 monthly check under the changes to WOF requirements. Even if it fell into the post 2000 age we woulds still be getting it checked every 6 months, certainly not once a year. To leave it up to faith that your not brand new car is road safe in another year is just plain fool hardy. One thought I’m having is around the number of sales reps that are on our roads every day driving huge distances. Unless you work for a large company or a multi national you will be driving an older model car, one that fits into that post 2000 rego cut off point. Your car could be as old as 14 years and will now only require checking once a year. I know of companies who have laid off staff and reorganised their reps territories since the recession. The reps now have to cover much larger areas than previously. This is dangerous for two reasons: they are more fatigued when they are on the road and the wear and tear on the car is increasing. A deteriorating part that could have been picked up in at a 6 month check will now be left a year. Will that part make it the car unsafe for the driver and other road users.?Quite possibly!
4 and finally)betcha Peter Dunne had something do with voting for change. Don’t know if you saw Keith Webb, one of the directors of the MTA on 3 news last night, discussing the flaws of this change. As he’s my mechanic, we’ve had chats about these changes. Last year he took a bald tyre over to Peter Dunne’s office to demonstrate to him the difference between checking a tyre at 6 months and 12 months. The wear would have been picked up at 6 months, but depending on mileage could be at a point where its almost shredding in a further 6 months. Did PD care? No he did not. The only good outcome was that there will be one less person voting for PD in the Ohariu electorate vote next year. – the mechanic told me that he won’t be voting PD again. (Thats great but I hope the rest of the electorate wakes up before then)
So, now there will be more potentially unsound cars in our roads. Thanks National Govt for putting safety first. Not.
logie97
I thought that the AA guy sounded like a free market density. When he said stuff about individual responsibility the hairs on my neck prickled. I thought AA was supposed to be conservative in favour of safety and providing services for motorists and travellers.
He seemed to think that it was an unneeded expense to have these regular checks and it would save AA members money. If anyone didn’t get a service and repair done, well they ought to and make regular checks, or they were irresponsible. It can be easy to overlook stuff, that’s what we have the WOF for and everyone has been expected to have one when appropriate for the age of their car. So we all benefit from the universality with properly serviced cars.
I think the next reorganisation should happen in parliament. The MPs seats should be taken out and sold in the interests of ergonomics etc. It is supposed to be healthier to be standing instead of sitting for long periods. So just leaning shelves in front of each MP would be sufficient and some of the fat cats might start losing weight by just standing and therefore proving they are alive.
“So this is all about saving costs for the fleet owners”
Yes, more corporate welfare.
“For the average punter, this great saving over a ten year cycle will be about $40.00 dollars per year (on today’s testing rates).”
As Clashman suggested yesterday the cost will most likely double for checking of older cars.
Only fleet owners? I asked myself who benefits from these changes and wonder who else.
With the “more roadside checks” by police being touted I’d suggest the Govt. coffers will benefit i.e. more tickets issued.
It would be wise for us to have a separate transport police force again. I’m going to lose all my respect for police if I have to put up with them doing more petty surveillance on cars and drivers for misdemeanours.
The people police used to be the government body who helped the non law breakers and citizens dealt with them occasionally and relatively happily. The government has turned them into a bunch who are in everybody’s face all the time, sirens and lights flashing multiple times a day and booze road blocks where they have a catch rate of about 5% so 95% stopped are being unnecessarily harrassed. And then they can pick you up for out-dated certificates and fine you. It’s not good to have these tax gatherers at you all the time. In the bible Jesus was the only friendly face to a tax gatherer. They might find that the people divide against them – the rich on one side and the majority on the other.
And then the government is so bloody careless about trying to improve any situation that impacts on ordinary people, they don’t even put the drunken bums through retraining programs. It seems they just like catching people out and punishing, fining them etc. Like in the Simpsons when annoyed by Homer Mr Burns answer is ‘I’ll loose the dogs”. I see that with such a laissez faire government that is likely to become a reality as people become angry and desperate.
I have no problem with the drink driving checks, but the issue I have is the use of traffic duties to boost the individual officers’ activity quotas.
The classic example I saw a few years ago was when a 2-cop car (how many of those are left) pulled someone over for a pretty blatant red light issue. Fair enough.
While one officer was dealing with the other car, his partner pulled over all the cars on a busy street and asked to see D/Ls – just “papers, please”, no fitness checks or anything.
Of course, each of those counted as traffic duty, so their stats were up – but really there was only one actual case of “traffic duty”, the rest were just pointless ID checks.
What problem did Shearer fix yesterday ?
The 1 million non voters were connected to labour?
Those who are moving to greens coming back?
The Caucus re-united?
Talent inspired to transform the country?
No, no.
The Wellington gaggle feel reassured??
Yes, yes
“I’m in – for the future” is the future Elizabeth.
This is what the revolutionary Marxists in Aotearoa this will happen to the Labour Party.
The global capitalist crisis and NZs perilous economic situation has activated a class war inside the Labour Party such as not seen since the late 1980s over Rogernomics. The onset of crisis in 2007 and Labour’s defeat by a right-moving National -ACT-Maori Party Coalition in 2008 and 2011 has thrown the party into an internal crisis. The ‘old guard’ continue to ‘oppose’ the NACTs by competing for the same middle ground, while a ‘new guard’ has emerged dedicated to return Labour to its traditional parliamentary socialism. The scene is set for Labour to split between the ‘right’ and the ‘left’. We examine the significance of this impending split for the development of class struggle in Aotearoa/NZ…
http://redrave.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/nz-labour-party-changing-guard.html
Affordable housing $300,000 or less for everyone under kiwibuild…..as long as you want your house to be an apartment with only two bedrooms…otherwise it will be up to $550,000….was Bill English right when he said Labour were being dishonest with their $300,000 figure…i guess he was…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10861855
I can’t remember the ‘mechanical’ ins and outs of it, but the Northern Hemisphere can apparently expect to experience weather systems that ‘sit’ for far longer due to AGW. So heatwaves and droughts and rains last much longer than was previously considered normal.
And anyway, for some reason the weather forecast the other day ( I don’t usually listen in) struck me as odd insofar as it was very short because the same weather was expected over the entire country whereas there is usually quite a variation. And in todays ‘stuff’
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8231629/End-predicted-to-capital-weather
Which has got me wondering whether the Southern Hemisphere can expect similar to the Northern Hemisphere and have periods of long ‘sameness’ as weather systems basically slow and stall due to the effects of AGW.
Don’t think so, because there is no massive continent ie euroasia in the South. Plus Antarctica is a continent so not warming nearly as fast as the Arcrtic.
The jet streams are the result of heat energy moving from the torrid equator to the freezing poles. Because the Arctic is warming ( faster than anywhere as predicted by modelling ) there is less differentiation between it and the equator = less heat energy transfer = slower jet stream.
A slower jet stream means slower weather patterns dragged along at lower levels. Plus like a slow moving river the northern jet stream is meandering more, channeling cold air from further north to further south ie snow in North Africa for the first time in decades or more , and vice versa sucking hot air up from further south to the north ie Russian drought worst in hundreds of years.
Is it possible to not like or believe in the leader of a political party but still support the objectives and ethos of a party – its kaupapa – and still vote for them.
For instance, Hone has alienated some with his remarks and some don’t like him personally or they spin it is the Hone Party – yet when Mana’s policies and objectives are looked at, even though Hone is a turn-off for an individual – the plans and policies may be a turn-on. And the other way around – I love the leader but not sure about the policies. I’m interested because of my discussions with mcflock on another thread. And because I want to increase the votes for Mana and the left whether people like Hone or not.
I’d possibly vote to get Annette Sykes into the House, and Sue Bradford.
Hi marty mars. I wrote an epic length response to your question. When I clicked on submit comment I lost the site and my reply to you. I’m not going to repeat it all again but instead just abreviate what I said and refer to your example of the Mana Party and its leader Hone Harawira.
Brief reply to your question: It would depend on the individuals liklihood to be influenced by the persona of a party’s leader over the substance of their policy. What is more important to them?
Its not a perfect example but consider how Epsom voters strategically voted JB for their electorate to in order for National to still hold the sway of power. JB wasn’t well regarded as a whole by the voters but they saw him as a vehicle for upholding their own kaupapa. They got what they wanted despite not having much in the way of respect for their elected representative.
My two cents worth: Personally and historically my view of a leader has taken a back seat to the policy, objectives and ethos of the party. The next election will be my 10th as a voter. It will be my first, NOT party voting Labour. This is mainly because their direction isn’t enough to sustain me as a voter. However, this time I can’t deny that the persona of the leader was the triggering factor for my choice – for the many and varied reasons already discussed on The Standard.
I like Hone Harawira. I like the kaupapa and policies of Mana. It is the party that most closely aligns with my social and political view. Despite that my party vote is going to that rising star, The Greens, who in the past I’ve always given my electorate vote. I wish you luck with your efforts to increase their votes. It would be great if they picked up a few extra seats. Heres to a good left win in 2014 – even if it does seem like a distant future.
I don’t see much policy difference between the Greens, Mana, or the Alliance, and Labour aren’t too far behind.
So basically it comes down to nitpicking personalities, policy order, and what their actions say as well as their words.
For me, it’s not so much “not supporting” party A, as much as simply deciding at the toss that Party B of the bunch is better suited to my perspective.
Well said!
http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/plenty-of-nothing.html
Yes, she can win.
Kathleen Wynne has won the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party and is set to become the province’s first female premier, after a closely fought race with Sandra Pupatello.
Wynne, the 59-year-old MPP for Don Valley West, is a long-time party member who has had several cabinet roles, including minister of transportation and minister of education.
She has vowed to bring back the legislature on Feb. 19, saying Ontarians are not looking for another election.
Wynne, who is openly gay, had earlier asked delegates in an opening speech: “Can a gay woman win?”
read an article in the Dom recently quoting “Race Against The Machine” and that works’ relevance to the rapidly increasing loss globally of “middle class” employment roles due to technological advances (bring it on you Far.side right wing capitalist commentary clowns)
Here’s another one: very skilled and very cheap Chinese and Indian labour taking over software development, routine legal/accounting/accounts work, administration roles, IT technicians etc
Corporations and shareholders which outsource local jobs get to make bigger and bigger profits even as local communities fail.
http://www.smh.com.au/data-point/get-used-to-it-sending-jobs-overseas-is-the-way-of-the-future-20121009-27bfh.html
A relative was on the phone to Telstra/Vodafone needing help. Turns out the call was being taken in Manila! She was pissed off, told them that as a New Zealander she was disappointed about it and would be looking for a company that employed NZers. The Filipino girl on the other end was like “I help you! I help you!”
lol
Yep they helped/drove me to a kiwi company.
Yup, a lot of major big systems upgrades and customisations have been done in Indian code shops by oracle, SAP etc for years as its the only way they can take the work from local crowds.
Major utilities and others happily take advantage of this, it’s not like they care about quality anyway, being a monopoly does that.
interesting, i’m sans all two-way communication devices in my whare now (just sneaking on at PL, so can’t link) however, RNZ is very informative if one ignores most of what passes for opinion and concentrates on seasoned,comparitively objective,commentary on local and global issues; also there is “Press Display” at the PL and the dailys’; still not looking like a brighter future, unless one is an investor in the right commodities, and we shall see those see-saw as well this year.
btw :), a friend of mine relayed her experience of watching cs political commentary on the boob-tube and said she could not understand why the broadcasters give the likes of him and Farr-up-his-own the Time of day.(influential? like cholera is influential)
as an aside, just keep dumping chemical toxins on our pastures (and in our children) and everything will just be tickety-boo.
-Back In Black
Yeah robotics are advancing rapidly and on the cheap – fully automated factories.
Remember that was the utopia promised by the technocrats and rationalists. Freed from the burden and drudgery of labour we would have time and energy to pursue our interest.
So will we all get to share in the wealth of this technological revolution or will it pan out more like Blade Runner?
Blade Runner (Do androids dream of electric sheep?) was fairly visionary imo.
as an aside, I was aware very early on that those who could ‘insert” into the MSM and it’s variants were baiting me, and muzza, what was with the “betrayal”? finding laudanum?
Whatever, it is encouraging to see examples of articles more challenging to the status quo appearing occasionally in our dailys’, and even some of the rw eunuchs getting a little more interested in their loss of genitalia (but thats’ those rational types for ya, it’s all about self and Interest) although a cynic Idealist might perceive the blonde bombshell, i meant, eggshell, as a political foil to J-A G…
I am thinking more along the lines of Running Man and the Robocop movies.
Far from being mindless action flicks, Robocop 1 and 2 are interesting commentaries on urban decay, privatisation, the malevolent use of technology and human experimentation by corporations, underfunding of police, outsourcing, and so on and so forth.
The Running Man, focuses on the use of reality TV to distract the masses….
Under the present socio-economic paradigm it will be more like Blade Runner (and/or what millsy said). Of course, we don’t have to keep the present socio-economic system.
and / that 😉
The reasoning behind what some would see as the surprise sacking from the Slippery lead National Government’s Cabinet of Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson and un-HousingNZ Minister Phill ‘the mouse’ Heatley was escaping me until i listened to a RadioNZ National interview of Slippery the Prime Minister the other day,
Insisting that Heatley and Wilkinson were not given the bums rush out of the Cabinet,(Heatley with barely two hours notice), was not provoked by bad behavior the Prime Minister even gushingly described their contribution as great work which served to further bamboozle me until that is our Prime Minister uttered the words fresh young faces as part of the reasoning behind his demotion of Wilkinson and Heatley and the promotion of Nikki Kaye and Simon Bridges,
Immediately into my mind ‘flashed two simultaneous pictures, one of a group of balding old men gathered round a Cabinet table most having stapled to their various cranium the fur of one or other dead animal, mostly in numerous states of comatose rigidity and only stirring weekly at the sound of Social Development Minister Paula Benefits weekly enumeration of the numbers She has managed to drive off benefits and off-shore via the intensely effective use of Her minions creative use of the ‘new’ rules to deny people their rightful income support, heard amongst this awakening of the gathered Ministers the clashing of false teeth, the snorts as if emanating from a piggery and the odd shouted exhortation to kick the poor,
The other, pictures that flashed into my mind that is, a picture of both the Blond Nikki Kaye and Pretty Boy Simon Bridges being lead into the Cabinet room with signs round their necks which contained in bold blue lettering the words ”eye candy”, at which point transmission was lost as the sound of the sirens from a mass malfunction in at least 20 pace-makers broke my reverie,
We can well imagine Slippery the Prime Minister spending His summer holidays mulling over the problem of trying to energize a bunch of geriatric old codgers, the flotsam left over from National Governments from so long ago that no-one is sure what position they occupied or even if the aging coterie in the Cabinet room isn’t in fact a remnant left behind as the previous Labour Government decamped after their election defeat,
”Eye candy” was the chosen solution for the Prime Minister, some ”candy” for all tastes around the Cabinet table…
lol
Lol, i know, gardening does it to me, first i am pulling weeds,then i am babbling at the plants ”no, no way” and soon after i am on my knees laughing like a loon,
Friggin dangerous places those gardens, the narrative did go on for quite some time about the bits of various dead animals that most of them have taken to stapling onto their various cranial caps, Maurice Williamson (Raccoon), Peter Dunne (Skunk), and, Slippery the Prime Minister( the soft hairs gently plucked from the anal crack of a blind donkey called Brucie),
I abridged it a bit to give my stubby little fingers a rest,(and my laptop which i have a habit of bashing instead of softly pashing), i might have to explore the issue of cranial covering further later on…
Good call. I’ve yet to see what Kate Wilkinson did wrong. She follows the neo-liberal (so hating that word right now) to the letter, and that’s not a compliment btw. If it was Pike River he would have sacked her long ago.