For anyone not familiar with my stream friends, Elvira is a four foot long NZ Native Longfin Eel (Tuna, in Māori) about as round as a standard Golden Syrup tin, & Granville is about a 3 foot 6 inch long Australasian Shortfin "Tuna", a beautiful lime green & yellow colour, slightly slimmer than Elvira & with a pointier head shape.
More from the story that our new teen radio show known as RNZ and most media seem to be avoiding like the plague….
DAY TWO — ‘CIA Tried to Kill Assange;’ US: ‘He’s Only Moderately Depressed & Won’t Go to Isolation’ The two-day U.S. appeal against the denial of extradition of Julian Assange has ended in London with the U.S. promising humane prison conditions and Assange’s lawyers saying the CIA tried to kill him.
Thanks Adrian please keep the info and the links coming since noone else is bothering gonna be a long day of light rail an gender id by the looks still at least its not wall to wall covid !!
The US has a long tradition of welching on it's agreements. They have no sense of honour. NZ has been a total disappointment in its willingness to look the other way when a journalist is being killed slowly in plain sight for exposing the criminality of governments. I no longer have any faith in our much touted independence, or the calibre and courage of our politicians
So many NZers heading to the streets over our "freedom" but not one placard for Assange, one of the worst breaches of human rights in the western world
Even Navalny gets conjugal visits (3 days) in a salubrious apartment within the prison , and gets to write letters and have social media accounts.
If you get all the pesky women back into the three K's there will be no more problems and we will have gone back in to the good old times where women knew what is good for them. Or something.
Maybe higher education is not all that high, but really just a cesspit of forced affirmation of the worst. If one goes into an apprenticeship and learnes a trade they at least have something of worth.
Long March through the Institutions … Woke dogmatists, deeply immersed in Queer Theory, quietly capture administrative positions & enact profound change by stealth … no need for any of that really yucky stuff like democratic endorsement or accountability because … well … the vast majority of voters are just the most appalling deplorables who don't even remotely possess the Critical Theorists' unusually refined sensibilities… & obviously we can trust the highly privileged children of the Establishment to act in all of our best interests, can't we ?
And, of course, Wokedom’s massive downplaying of class & wealth disparities [traditionally a core concern of the Left … & by far the most consequential factor for life chances] … in favour of a total obsession with & cynical weaponizing of ethnicty & (to a lesser extent) gender … dovetails very very nicely with Corporate interests.
You must be referring to that non-democratic Parliamentary process called the Select Committee, which has through an extensive extra round of submissions on the Births Deaths and Marriages Bill. Plenty of unusually refined sensibilities faced political reality there.
Normally you are on the money Ad, but in this case your statements are inaccurate.
The BMDRR Bill went through a select committee process in 2018. When public submissions had closed, the Greens attempted to sneak through SOP 59 which is the gender self ID part of the Bill. Some women in the Green party got wind of it and that's how knowledge of this bill was made known to many feminists. Crown law saw problems with gender self id and declared the process of attempting to enact it in legislation was undemocratic and that there were potential conflicts with the Human Rights Act. Tracey Martin mothballed it.
Labour did not have anything about gender self ID in its election manifesto. Nor was I informed about it as a party member (although I was regularly asked my opinion about many of their policies). A vote compass poll before the last election showed a majority of people do not support it.
The Select Committee's Labour and Green members are clearly totally bias in favour of the bill and have shown contempt for most of the people presenting against the Bill …….Their behaviour improved after many letters to the PM. The Labour whip contacted many of us who complained and said the MPs had been spoken to and that we shouldn't have any more problems with them. Frankly their behaviour was disgusting. The clips from the select committee were shown overseas and I think it showed the NZ parliament in a poor light
Without exception every person in my network I have spoken to about Gender self ID (and I do move in more left/progressive circles0 is not aware of this legislation and they are shocked that it about to become law.
There has been an almost total black out of reporting on this bill.
I can't see anything in this process that is democratic whatsoever.
Precisely … great for signalling 'elevated' social status … often at a direct & profound cost to 'ordinary' people … aided by moral panics, purity spirals & the uber-romanticisation of intersectional 'in-groups'.
Maybe higher education is not all that high, but really just a cesspit of forced affirmation of the worst.
Maybe not everyone wading/swimming/deep diving through that "cesspit of forced affirmation of the worst" is completely beyond redemption, remembering that most registered nurses and teachers, veterinarians, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, commecial pilots, architects and engineers emerge from the so-called ‘cesspit’.
Although I'll grant you so do all our lawyers and accountants, plus a fair few MPs and small business owners.
Was simply observing that the second half of your comment @4.1.1 comes across to me as a stinky dump on our institutions of higher learning – the consequence of a (deliberate?) scatter-gun shock-jock critique, imho.
Maybe higher education is not all that high, but really just a cesspit of forced affirmation of the worst.
Then I thought about it for ~20 minutes.
Then I commented. My hope is that my comment @4.1.1.2 will help some readers here to think about how workers in higher education might perceive Sabine's comment. That is all.
Dear Molly, I (again) regret that my replies have proved unsatisfactory.
I "just read" (paraphrasing): 'higher education is really just a cesspit of forced affirmation of the worst.', and (as a former tertiary educator) saw red.
On reflection I see that Sabine was not characterising all of higher education as a cesspit, but rather just a small subset that is (thankfully) well clear of my area of expertise. Apologies to you and Sabine.
Oh, dear Molly again? (Watch out, your patronising is becoming harder to hide).
For your edification.
It is apparent to me, and possibly others, that you have made no independent efforts to find out about some of the threads you so 'innocently' wander onto.
Criticism of your 'well-thought' comments, is in regards to relevance. You seem determined to be both irrelevant and proud of it.
Redirection is a way of avoiding the topic at hand. You are an adept at that.
Providing another perspective or insight into the topic in discussion is another matter.
(As I have instilled in my children, apologies without sincerity should not be offered. Apologies without a change in behaviour are worthless. I doubt your sincerity.)
you know, maybe not seeing red at the slightest infraction is the way to go. And as Molly stated, please follow up on the story of this particular women, who by all means was vilified, harrassed, threatened with all sorts of violence – physical violence, who was not helped at all by her so called union, and who 'self selected' out of a job in order to probably not be raped, beaten and killed by someone who thought she was fair game as a TERF a transphobe and other assorted bullshit.
And yes, that higher education is a cesspit of almost religious fervent and fuck it, but these kids are not learning anything in this 'institution' other then when you just bully someone hard enough, when the threats of violence are just convincing enough, not only does the victim get to carry the burden of it all, but you win – the biggest, vilest and most unsavory bully will win, and the Union and the University will do nothing.
And that dear DMK is a cesspit. And worse even, these young people being so disserved in this institution will end up with a life time of debt, but hardly any skills, but they get to feel proud for hounding out that Terf.
And btw, i have two completed apprenticeships by the time i was 30, one in wholesale and one in accountancy. Part of that was contract law, small and large business law, accounting, customer service etc etc. No debts, but rather got paid. You ain't gonna make me feel bad about not having been to one of these overrated usurious institutions for the same gain.
Although I'll grant you so do all our lawyers and accountant
We have words like 'racist' and 'sexist' to cover those sorts of prejudice, but unfortunately I cannot think of an '-ist' word that covers that sort of prejudice.
Marion Millars case was 'discontinued' by the crown. But, and i guess that is the difference between dropped and discontinued, they crown and start this up again at a later stage.
In the meantime a new Witch was found and is forced to defend herself for 'disobedience' to the almighty penis, @femmeloves Ceri Black, and she will now have to fend of those that would love to burn an unruly witch at the stake for public entertainment.
might be a bit soon to say this, but I think the tide is turning in the UK. How that will play with the conservative political milieu remains to be seen, especially if Scotland gets independence which leaves the rest of the UK ultra conservative parlimentary wise. I know people in the UK who believe they're heading for fascism (removing protest rights is a really bad sign).
I agree Weka, I think the tide is turning in the UK. And it is very good news about Marion Miller, but she should never have been charged in the first place.
Not in NZ as there is almost a total media black out in these issues. With the exception of an excellent interview with Helen Joyce in the NZ Listener, this weeks edition I think.
Here's a short list: J K Rowling, Marion Miller Maya Forstater, Margeret Atwood, Germaine Greer,…….
And of course many many other women who have been cancelled, threatened with murder, violence and rape.
It is just that some is too stupid to actually follow through. And as I said, the crown can bring these charges again, at a different time. But for now, Marion Millar is getting the right to breathe, and she gets to keep her children.
Scotland is actually worse then England in this Gender Bullshit Saga.
I know people who believe that NZ is heading for fascism, (removing protests right is really a bad sign) _ i add this not to make fun of what you said, but people are saying exactly the same here in regards to Tamaki and his unmerry band of followers. And fwiw, in NZ our dear leader from Labour with their support group The Greens are happy to forge ahead with this bullshit, never mind the women and girls whose life are apparently not worthy of safety, and dignity to even just toilet in peace. Or for lesbians to choose a partner to their liking, freely and without fear of tra's ire and hate.
Fuck sake Sabine. In the UK the Tory government is removing protest rights permanently because they can see the shit storm coming with social breakdown and that XR aren’t going away and are replicating.
NZ has some very temporary restrictions on gatherings because of a pandemic, and even those are being phased out.
I'm also seeing red flags about the trajectory of current political discourse in NZ. I didn't pay enough attention to the introduction of the hate speech bill, but on present investigation it looks like a terrible piece of legislation. I can see it being used in a malicious way, similar to what has happened in Scotland and Northern Ireland, if interpreted in the same way by the police here.
Our society, along with many others in world who are dealing with multiple existential threats (Covid, Climate Change) alongside the foreseeable but ignored endgames of poverty, inequality, housing crisis, degraded public services and infrastructure, has a large number of people who are untethered from their normal grounding processes. Eg. For those who ground themselves with social interaction, lockdown has broken that link. The reliance on technology to replace such interactions is exposed as a trojan horse when we listen to the testimony of Frances Haugen.
My point is, we don't need the government to do anything to make some believe in fascism. There are other influential agencies out there promoting that belief, some of whom may actually have more influence on the public than our own politicians.
I don't know the answer to this.
(But a recognition from our government that this is occurring, and some ideas about how to counteract it would be a start, else every step they take without full transparency just feeds the beast in the shadows.)
The restrictions on voting in the UK, where Boris is proposing needing to produce evidence of identity is also scary. This always puts the less well off from voting.
Meanwhile the dinosaur Starter has come out against PR. Can't he see that this is both fairer and his easiest path to being PM?
I did not say to stupid to follow through, i said 'they saw it was a stupid case that would go nowhere. Sorry if that does was not clear. A ribbon ain't a noose, no matter what anyone wants to pretend. To make this a case was stupid, and going through with this case would have shown that 'stupidity' that in my book is organised harrasment by officials and their enforcers the police in order to shut down mainly women who might be upset about certain things that happen and that loose their jobs if voicing these objections. We have these issues already here see Ani O'Brian.
And as i said, i don't disagree with you not having protests atm, in fact i more often then not ask people to abstain from any large gatherings for the next two years, that would include protests. But just because we don't like this particular protest does not mean it is not in infractions on someones 'right to protests' and either we ban all of these protests under the health act or we might show a bias towards cases we personally approve of. And always please keep in mind, that as someone who grew up in Germany, who went trhough 'denazification' in school, I have my very own mind on things that might seem very outlandish to New Zealanders.
It always starts with very small things, one might call this the death of a thousand cuts. And no matter if we approve of some groups or not, we should always be very careful in giving up rights that were won with blood and tears.
‘I think the tide is turning”
I do too, and it’s thanks to people like JK Rowling and Kathleen Stock who refused to say black is white, refused to issue grovelling apologies to keep their place in employment, and refused to back down .
And in all of that still affirmed the same human rights for trans as we all have.
This also suggests a "turn" when the BBC allows a lesbian to speak about lesbians difficulties with "transbians", ie fully covked and stubbled men who want to have sex with lesbian women
I am not surprized. She endured the most vile level of harrasment and threatening behaviur. I hate to think what the impact has been for her. Told to install security cameras at her home and needing security as protection.
Kathleen Stock has been so reasonable and spoke of her fears of a backlash against Trans people because of gender ideology..
Because the police is a partner of Stonewall and diversity. And is – it appears quite happy to charge any women with a 'non crime hate incident' for stating that men ain't no women, that grooming exist, that safe guarding is needed, and can we just be sensible.
But then, if you look closely, very closely, they don't do that shit to men. I wonder why.
Well to be fair, the police in the UK is to busy investigating ribbons for nooses, and 'non crime hate incidents'. The many many hundreds of thousands of complaints to the Police for 'misgendering' someone, or for writing tweets about safe guarding children.
Vaccine effiacy study currently in pre print on the Lancet out of Sweden. In some groups vaccine efficacy drops to zero by 9 Months and potentially below zero. Pretty scary.
I think she is going to get a visit from the police shortly. Oh how I will laugh when they take her away in handcuffs and she's denied bail on the grounds she's too stupid to be set free.
came across this via the BBC (if that is still considered a reputable institution). This is in regards to vaccinated people still spreding covid and still getting it.
According to the study, which ran from September 2020 to September 2021 and included 440 households in London and Bolton doing PCR Covid tests:
People who are double jabbed have a lower, but still appreciable, risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant compared with unvaccinated people
They also appear to be just as infectious
Vaccinated people clear the infection more quickly, but their peak viral load – when people are most infectious – is similar to that seen in unvaccinated people
This may explain why they can still readily pass on the virus in household settings
this might also explain why cases in AKL are not dropping as much as expected and as fast as we might wish for it.
Thus anyone who is expected to isolate at home, depending on the size of that home, will with good chance infect anyone else in that household, no matter if they are double jabbed, single jabbed or not jabbed at all.
So please, mask up, keep physical distance, and once, twice three times santize, and stay away from large scale events no matter how hungry one is for a game of sport or a concert or a theatre production or any other gathering where transmission is easy, fast and guaranteed.
Have a look at the study I linked up there a bit, the declining efficiency to zero is prob behind the upwards march in cases amongs vaccinated people particularly males, the elderly and those with comorbidities overseas. It would ñe reasonable to expect similar patterns here.
Now they just need to come up with a means to transfer resources to where they are needed – without robbing them from other public services.
Pity Labour aren't interested in taxing wealth any time soon. Without resources there are big limits on what you can do, regardless of how you rearrange things.
The ministry for the disabled will have a commissioner for loss of jocularity to explain levity, satire and gentle mocking. He will be known as the Shaman of the Far Side……..
I sense another gravy train on the way, for paper shufflers, lawyers, consultants, managers, committees et al. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Government announces new Ministry for Disabled People
And about time. I have been advocating for this for over 30 years now as once turned 18 (in practicality 16) until you turned 65 basically any problems such as financial abuse had to be dealt with either by agencies who totally took a hands off approach – don't believe me ask them what their written policy if and when staff come across suspected abuse of clients by family members, etc. – or by the police.
Lets hope they address this issue as part of this establishment. Guidance for agencies to have policies around abuse and somewhere to report those to would be a good start.
I hate doing this. I actually do. But it has been a bug bear of mine having for a while having a deaf uncle this govt turfed the sign langauge person from question time.
Are there more interpreters available? That's why they stopped it a few months after bringing NZSL interpreters into QT. It's not like they cancelled a long-term practise, they tried it and it meant other people were missing out on services.
no longer be used during parliamentary question time because it is putting pressure on other services the small pool of interpreters offer deaf people, such as going to the doctor or school.
Government announces new Ministry for Disabled People
An announcement met with guffaws of disdain in our wee household.
(Tell you what DOS, let's review this in 30 years time and see if there's any appreciable difference in the lives of those with significant disabilities not supported by ACC.)
Little waffling on with the usual 'we will consult with disabled peoples' organisations…' bs. More korero with the organisations 'representing' disabled people who have enjoyed the largesse of the government without actually having to do much in the way of actual real advocacy.
(Peter is ready and waiting whenever they want an individual's real 'lived experience' opinion on how it should have, could have, been done. First off he'll tell them that he felt more supported and included (in some aspects) fifty one years ago when he broke his neck than he does now.)
"More korero with the organisations 'representing' disabled people who have enjoyed the largesse of the government without actually having to do much in the way of actual real advocacy"
Including referring to each other the same client so they could all get paid for the same piddly thing that they might have achieved. The established groups in bed with the government have had some very cosy arrangements in the past. Good stuff still tends to happen due to good individuals rather than structural support. Privatisation has focussed on profits rather than service and need.
I'm hopeful there is much more of a move to partnership with those with disabilities as as starting to happen with Maori. Also a mainly de-centralised regional workforce rather than a Wellington one. People who have access to local communities – not just the Chief Executives of the organisations you reference.
I guess now is the time to try and influence what it will finish up as – that is more hopeful than trying to influence the current set-up. I'll start with optimism anyway.
An 0800 number is access, it still does not mean any services were provided or that anything is getting better for those living with disability and those that care for people with disabilities.
I hope that his ministry will be doing better works then say Social Welfare, ACC, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Housing etc.
a lot of wonderful things written about supporting disabled people, mission statements, plans about how to improve things
some of that will actually work and there will definitely be disabled people whose lives improve
because Labour work from a paternalistic model rather than a power sharing one, they will miss the people who don't fit in the systems well, and probably some of those that do.
if Labour actually knew what they were doing they would have raised SLP and reinstated sickness benefit by now.
Thing I feel most nervous about is longer term plans to address the disparities between ACC, disability and illness, and that Labour will fuck this up. As bad as WINZ is, I don't trust Labour to shift income to the new department but I can see the accountants sharpening their budgeting pencils already. Welfare income via WINZ is a statutory right afaik, and health isn't. We will see if they give disabled people actual rights here.
Andrew Little said today, "The disabled had told him disability was not a health matter, it was more about being empowered." That did not sound too paternalistic.
It was the fact that feedback from the people who actually used NZSL interpreters was that they'd rather have the few NZSL interpreters available for their daily lives, rather than the few die-hards who want to watch QT live rather than (at best) at the 6pm news (with subtitles).
from your (and my) link (emphasis added):
Clerk of the House of Representatives David Wilson said a decision had been made jointly with Deaf Aotearoa to stop the service in response to concerns that resources were being stretched.
"The pool of interpreters is very small and we've been told that having interpreters at Parliament every day that the House sits is putting a lot of pressure on the services they offer in other areas like at the doctor, in schools or when getting legal advice," Wilson said.
"We've listened to those concerns and responded by returning to offering NZSL at Parliament for significant events."
Well, if one or two in an afternoon can deprive someone of communication in school in Wellington, fair to say there's a shortage that needs sorting out.
Individuals who have had two vaccine doses can be just as infectious as those who have not been jabbed.
Now let’s reflect on what I think was said by Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles (probably wants another award) I think said (parroting CNNs propaganda division again)
“This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated “
yeah but naaa Miss Wiles
Having been vaccinated I still think it’s ok for other people to have freedom of choice (some have legitimate concerns). I’m uncomfortable with any worker not being found alternative and comparable paid jobs if the refuse vaccines. I don’t think I can resolve this in my head as can see both sides. However……
Segregation via terms like “this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated” is just sanctimonious BS.
Maybe little Miss & Mrs Inclusivity (insert political party and media outlets of choice) could be, well a little more inclusive and instead say:
“this is a pandemic of the vaccinated and unvaccinated”
It ain’t so black or white is it… Experts meh (wicked problems make fools of us all)
latest from bbc
Individuals who have had two vaccine doses can be just as infectious as those who have not been jabbed.
Even if they have no or few symptoms, the chance of them transmitting the virus to other unvaccinated housemates is about two in five, or 38%.
This drops to one in four, or 25%, if housemates are also fully vaccinated.
The Lancet Infectious Diseases work shows why getting even more people vaccinated and protected is important, they say.
Unvaccinated people cannot rely on those around them being jabbed to remove their risk of getting infected, they warn.
■ Covid infection protection waning in double jabbed
Vaccines do an excellent job of preventing serious Covid illness and deaths, but are less good at stopping infections, particularly since the emergence of the more infectious Delta variant which is dominant in the UK.
And over time, the protection offered by vaccines wanes and needs boosting with further doses.
Since households are where most Covid transmission occurs, making sure every member who is eligible for a vaccine has had one and is up to date with their doses makes sense, say experts.
According to the study, which ran from September 2020 to September 2021 and included 440 households in London and Bolton doing PCR Covid tests:
■ People who are double jabbed have a lower, but still appreciable, risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant compared with unvaccinated people
■ They also appear to be just as infectious
■ Vaccinated people clear the infection more quickly, but their peak viral load – when people are most infectious – is similar to that seen in unvaccinated people
■ This may explain why they can still readily pass on the virus in household settings
Prof Ajit Lalvani, of Imperial College London, UK, who co-led the study, said: "The ongoing transmission we are seeing between vaccinated people makes it essential for unvaccinated people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from acquiring infection and severe Covid-19, especially as more people will be spending time inside in close proximity during the winter months.
"We found that susceptibility to infection increased already within a few months after the second vaccine dose – so those eligible for booster shots should get them promptly.
When one group are twenty times more likely to infect someone than the other group (and makes up a disproportionate majority of the high needs patients), calling it a plandemic of that group is pretty accurate. No amount of bullet points will change that.
Keith the vaccinated are less likely to end up in hospital and far less likely to die.
That was Ms Wiles saying the biggest number in hospital were unvaccinated, so it was "becoming the disease of the unvaccinated." Oh and those households did not use the 2m rule or masks in all likely hood and were inside.
Me, I'm not so pollyanna about our country's independence anymore.My experience on this supposedly left wing blog revealed a disturbingly anti-Assange group think.
Surprised me too though and even more so that it persists – so did the anti-rugby groupthink here surprise me.
On the other hand I actively dislike religion so I guess we all have our biases.
With Assange he s clearly being treated terribly and I find it difficult to reconcile the fight to keep people out of jail, treat prisoners more humanly, etc etc with ignoring how even people we may not like be treated in the justice system.
Quite a contrast in thinking with Brevik who actually murdered people.
“Norway is a country known for its progressive prison system, and in its ruling, the court writes that ‘the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment represents a fundamental value in a democratic society,’ and that this also applies to terrorists and killers. …
Finally the tide is turning, but too little , too late I think
The media piled on, trashing his reputation and unfortunately too many people believed it. Without that there may have been the chance of a mass grass roots movement to get him freed .Pretty disappointing to see so many joining in to put their boot in
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Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Recent extreme weather events showed the importance of a well-functioning insurance system, says Commerce and Consumer Affairs minister Andrew Bayly. ...
By Jo Moir, RNZ News political editor, and Craig McCulloch, deputy political editor New Zealand’s Labour Party is demanding Winston Peters be stood down as Foreign Minister for opening up the government to legal action over his “totally unacceptable” attack on a prominent AUKUS critic. In an interview on RNZ’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Brakenridge, Postdoctoral research fellow at Swinburne University, Centre for Urban Transitions, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute The Conversation, Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock People have a pretty intuitive sense of what is healthy – standing is better than sitting, exercise is great for overall ...
The Wellington-based Reserve Force soldier is now almost three years into his New Zealand Army career with 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. ...
"The Government needs to release the review immediately as this reckless approach to change risks disjointed decision making and creates more distress and uncertainty for staff," Fitzsimons said. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Jeremiah Manele has been elected Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, polling 31 votes to 18 over rival candidate and former opposition leader Mathew Wale with one abstention. The final result of the election by secret ballot was announced by the Governor-General, Sir David Vunagi, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priestley Habru, PhD candidate, public diplomacy, University of Adelaide Former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele has been elected the next prime minister of Solomon Islands, defeating the opposition leader, Matthew Wale, in a vote in parliament. The result is a mixed bag for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shaun Eaves, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jamey Stutz, CC BY-SA How often do mountains collapse, volcanoes erupt or ice sheets melt? For Earth scientists, these are important questions as we try ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Flood, Professor of Sociology, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Most young adult men in Australia reject traditional ideas of masculinity that endorse aggression, stoicism and homophobia. Nonetheless, the ongoing influence of those ideas continues to harm men and the people ...
The NZQA proposal released to staff today would involve a net loss of 35 roles. There are 66 roles being disestablished with 13 of those currently vacant, and 31 new roles proposed, said Fleur Fitzsimons Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga ...
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The PSA is concerned that the voluntary redundancies being offered to staff by Stats NZ will impact on the agency’s ability to deliver on its core functions. ...
Results ranged from surprisingly yum to soul-destroying. I love cooking. The kitchen is a hearth of culinary creation, of sensory delights, of gastronomic poetry. I also can’t afford anything nice. Why does a pack of instant noodles and some milk cost ten bucks? I love you, Aotearoa, but I miss ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Police in Solomon Islands are on high alert ahead of the election of the prime minister today. The two candidates for the top job are former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele at the head of the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation, which is ...
He’s fine but it feels like I’m losing a friend and it’s making me bitter. How do I say ‘enough is enough’? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzHey Hera,I’ve recently moved in with a girlfriend, her partner Steve, and his friend. We all live in a lovely little house. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Chartres, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney shutterstockAhmet Misirligul/Shutterstock You go to the gym, eat healthy and walk as much as possible. You wash your hands and get vaccinated. You control your health. This is ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Balanzategui, Senior Lecturer in Media, RMIT University ABC “Bluey mania” shows no sign of abating. Bluey’s season finale, The Sign, was the most viewed ABC program of all time on iView. A “hidden” follow-up episode, aptly named The Surprise, created ...
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The campaign will engage the community and encourage submissions on the bill to the New Zealand government by the closing submission deadline of Friday 31st of May 2024 4pm. ...
The paper raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand's political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency plays in that. ...
The Urban Habitat Collective was an attempt to built an innovative new form of apartment building in Wellington. Here’s why it failed, and why the idea could still work, writes co-founder Bronwen Newton. When we started the Urban Habitat Collective in November 2018, we thought we were starting a revolution, ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 2 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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.
Wildlife ranger in danger
For anyone not familiar with my stream friends, Elvira is a four foot long NZ Native Longfin Eel (Tuna, in Māori) about as round as a standard Golden Syrup tin, & Granville is about a 3 foot 6 inch long Australasian Shortfin "Tuna", a beautiful lime green & yellow colour, slightly slimmer than Elvira & with a pointier head shape.
NZ Native Longfins all have blue eyes.
For good commentary on Auckland's 3 light rail options to go to Cabinet, check out Matt on GreaterAuckland for the $9B, $14B, and $16B options.
Light rail veers off course – Greater Auckland
Separate post here about this topic now: https://thestandard.org.nz/auckland-light-rail-options-released/
More from the story that our new teen radio show known as RNZ and most media seem to be avoiding like the plague….
DAY TWO — ‘CIA Tried to Kill Assange;’ US: ‘He’s Only Moderately Depressed & Won’t Go to Isolation’
The two-day U.S. appeal against the denial of extradition of Julian Assange has ended in London with the U.S. promising humane prison conditions and Assange’s lawyers saying the CIA tried to kill him.
https://consortiumnews.com/2021/10/28/day-two-cia-tried-to-kill-assange-us-hes-only-moderately-depressed-wont-go-to-isolation/
Thanks Adrian please keep the info and the links coming since noone else is bothering gonna be a long day of light rail an gender id by the looks still at least its not wall to wall covid !!
LOL
The US has a long tradition of welching on it's agreements. They have no sense of honour. NZ has been a total disappointment in its willingness to look the other way when a journalist is being killed slowly in plain sight for exposing the criminality of governments. I no longer have any faith in our much touted independence, or the calibre and courage of our politicians
So many NZers heading to the streets over our "freedom" but not one placard for Assange, one of the worst breaches of human rights in the western world
Even Navalny gets conjugal visits (3 days) in a salubrious apartment within the prison , and gets to write letters and have social media accounts.
Thanks Adrian for not letting TS forget .
Kathleen Stock resigns from her position at Sussex University.
The purge continues
If you get all the pesky women back into the three K's there will be no more problems and we will have gone back in to the good old times where women knew what is good for them. Or something.
Maybe higher education is not all that high, but really just a cesspit of forced affirmation of the worst. If one goes into an apprenticeship and learnes a trade they at least have something of worth.
You have to wonder how the world changed so much so quickly that saying a man is not a woman will get you fired, in certain circles
.
Long March through the Institutions … Woke dogmatists, deeply immersed in Queer Theory, quietly capture administrative positions & enact profound change by stealth … no need for any of that really yucky stuff like democratic endorsement or accountability because … well … the vast majority of voters are just the most appalling deplorables who don't even remotely possess the Critical Theorists' unusually refined sensibilities… & obviously we can trust the highly privileged children of the Establishment to act in all of our best interests, can't we ?
And, of course, Wokedom’s massive downplaying of class & wealth disparities [traditionally a core concern of the Left … & by far the most consequential factor for life chances] … in favour of a total obsession with & cynical weaponizing of ethnicty & (to a lesser extent) gender … dovetails very very nicely with Corporate interests.
You must be referring to that non-democratic Parliamentary process called the Select Committee, which has through an extensive extra round of submissions on the Births Deaths and Marriages Bill. Plenty of unusually refined sensibilities faced political reality there.
Normally you are on the money Ad, but in this case your statements are inaccurate.
The BMDRR Bill went through a select committee process in 2018. When public submissions had closed, the Greens attempted to sneak through SOP 59 which is the gender self ID part of the Bill. Some women in the Green party got wind of it and that's how knowledge of this bill was made known to many feminists. Crown law saw problems with gender self id and declared the process of attempting to enact it in legislation was undemocratic and that there were potential conflicts with the Human Rights Act. Tracey Martin mothballed it.
Labour did not have anything about gender self ID in its election manifesto. Nor was I informed about it as a party member (although I was regularly asked my opinion about many of their policies). A vote compass poll before the last election showed a majority of people do not support it.
The Select Committee's Labour and Green members are clearly totally bias in favour of the bill and have shown contempt for most of the people presenting against the Bill …….Their behaviour improved after many letters to the PM. The Labour whip contacted many of us who complained and said the MPs had been spoken to and that we shouldn't have any more problems with them. Frankly their behaviour was disgusting. The clips from the select committee were shown overseas and I think it showed the NZ parliament in a poor light
Without exception every person in my network I have spoken to about Gender self ID (and I do move in more left/progressive circles0 is not aware of this legislation and they are shocked that it about to become law.
There has been an almost total black out of reporting on this bill.
I can't see anything in this process that is democratic whatsoever.
Luxury beliefs
.
Precisely … great for signalling 'elevated' social status … often at a direct & profound cost to 'ordinary' people … aided by moral panics, purity spirals & the uber-romanticisation of intersectional 'in-groups'.
Check out this mishmash of an article on Stuff.
Seems like the gender workshops didn't take that well
We start off with the newly correct " pregnant people," but revert to pregnant women .
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/126805433/covid19-pregnant-people-delaying-getting-vaccinated-playing-russian-roulette
Maybe not everyone wading/swimming/deep diving through that "cesspit of forced affirmation of the worst" is completely beyond redemption, remembering that most registered nurses and teachers, veterinarians, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, commecial pilots, architects and engineers emerge from the so-called ‘cesspit’.
Although I'll grant you so do all our lawyers and accountants, plus a fair few MPs and small business owners.
I note your concern and consider it irrelevant to the facts stated in this case.
Was simply observing that the second half of your comment @4.1.1 comes across to me as a stinky dump on our institutions of higher learning – the consequence of a (deliberate?) scatter-gun shock-jock critique, imho.
Again, your concern about my not giving enough respect for Institutions of 'higher' indoctrination is noted, and considered of no value.
Similarly I consider the second half of your comment @4.1.1 to be of no value – let's agree to disagree.
Your considerations are as valid as mine. That is all i agree too. 🙂
Apologies Sabine – I got the wrong end of the stick.
its all good. no harm done.
Read, just read.
Think.
Then comment.
Dear Molly, I “just read” this:
Then I thought about it for ~20 minutes.
Then I commented. My hope is that my comment @4.1.1.2 will help some readers here to think about how workers in higher education might perceive Sabine's comment. That is all.
Cherry picking one statement (and 20 min?) without putting into context, means that you wasted 20 min of your time.
Find out the full story behind the resignation of Kathleen Stock, then take some time to process, before commenting.
Your comments on this topic tend to have little or nothing to do with the main story.
Dear Molly, I (again) regret that my replies have proved unsatisfactory.
I "just read" (paraphrasing): 'higher education is really just a cesspit of forced affirmation of the worst.', and (as a former tertiary educator) saw red.
On reflection I see that Sabine was not characterising all of higher education as a cesspit, but rather just a small subset that is (thankfully) well clear of my area of expertise. Apologies to you and Sabine.
Oh, dear Molly again? (Watch out, your patronising is becoming harder to hide).
For your edification.
It is apparent to me, and possibly others, that you have made no independent efforts to find out about some of the threads you so 'innocently' wander onto.
Criticism of your 'well-thought' comments, is in regards to relevance. You seem determined to be both irrelevant and proud of it.
Redirection is a way of avoiding the topic at hand. You are an adept at that.
Providing another perspective or insight into the topic in discussion is another matter.
(As I have instilled in my children, apologies without sincerity should not be offered. Apologies without a change in behaviour are worthless. I doubt your sincerity.)
Molly – again, my apologies, however little they may count for.
OK.
Now go find out for yourself about what has transpired so that Kathleen Stock has resigned from her post at Sussex University. (Actions remember?)
(Ask for links if you don’t know where to start)
you know, maybe not seeing red at the slightest infraction is the way to go. And as Molly stated, please follow up on the story of this particular women, who by all means was vilified, harrassed, threatened with all sorts of violence – physical violence, who was not helped at all by her so called union, and who 'self selected' out of a job in order to probably not be raped, beaten and killed by someone who thought she was fair game as a TERF a transphobe and other assorted bullshit.
And yes, that higher education is a cesspit of almost religious fervent and fuck it, but these kids are not learning anything in this 'institution' other then when you just bully someone hard enough, when the threats of violence are just convincing enough, not only does the victim get to carry the burden of it all, but you win – the biggest, vilest and most unsavory bully will win, and the Union and the University will do nothing.
And that dear DMK is a cesspit. And worse even, these young people being so disserved in this institution will end up with a life time of debt, but hardly any skills, but they get to feel proud for hounding out that Terf.
And btw, i have two completed apprenticeships by the time i was 30, one in wholesale and one in accountancy. Part of that was contract law, small and large business law, accounting, customer service etc etc. No debts, but rather got paid. You ain't gonna make me feel bad about not having been to one of these overrated usurious institutions for the same gain.
Although I'll grant you so do all our lawyers and accountant
We have words like 'racist' and 'sexist' to cover those sorts of prejudice, but unfortunately I cannot think of an '-ist' word that covers that sort of prejudice.
'elit – ist'?
Marion Millars case was 'discontinued' by the crown. But, and i guess that is the difference between dropped and discontinued, they crown and start this up again at a later stage.
In the meantime a new Witch was found and is forced to defend herself for 'disobedience' to the almighty penis, @femmeloves Ceri Black, and she will now have to fend of those that would love to burn an unruly witch at the stake for public entertainment.
might be a bit soon to say this, but I think the tide is turning in the UK. How that will play with the conservative political milieu remains to be seen, especially if Scotland gets independence which leaves the rest of the UK ultra conservative parlimentary wise. I know people in the UK who believe they're heading for fascism (removing protest rights is a really bad sign).
I agree Weka, I think the tide is turning in the UK. And it is very good news about Marion Miller, but she should never have been charged in the first place.
Not in NZ as there is almost a total media black out in these issues. With the exception of an excellent interview with Helen Joyce in the NZ Listener, this weeks edition I think.
Here's a short list: J K Rowling, Marion Miller Maya Forstater, Margeret Atwood, Germaine Greer,…….
And of course many many other women who have been cancelled, threatened with murder, violence and rape.
Nope, the tide is not turning, yet.
It is just that some is too stupid to actually follow through. And as I said, the crown can bring these charges again, at a different time. But for now, Marion Millar is getting the right to breathe, and she gets to keep her children.
Scotland is actually worse then England in this Gender Bullshit Saga.
I know people who believe that NZ is heading for fascism, (removing protests right is really a bad sign) _ i add this not to make fun of what you said, but people are saying exactly the same here in regards to Tamaki and his unmerry band of followers. And fwiw, in NZ our dear leader from Labour with their support group The Greens are happy to forge ahead with this bullshit, never mind the women and girls whose life are apparently not worthy of safety, and dignity to even just toilet in peace. Or for lesbians to choose a partner to their liking, freely and without fear of tra's ire and hate.
Fuck sake Sabine. In the UK the Tory government is removing protest rights permanently because they can see the shit storm coming with social breakdown and that XR aren’t going away and are replicating.
NZ has some very temporary restrictions on gatherings because of a pandemic, and even those are being phased out.
They’re two completely different things.
I'm also seeing red flags about the trajectory of current political discourse in NZ. I didn't pay enough attention to the introduction of the hate speech bill, but on present investigation it looks like a terrible piece of legislation. I can see it being used in a malicious way, similar to what has happened in Scotland and Northern Ireland, if interpreted in the same way by the police here.
Our society, along with many others in world who are dealing with multiple existential threats (Covid, Climate Change) alongside the foreseeable but ignored endgames of poverty, inequality, housing crisis, degraded public services and infrastructure, has a large number of people who are untethered from their normal grounding processes. Eg. For those who ground themselves with social interaction, lockdown has broken that link. The reliance on technology to replace such interactions is exposed as a trojan horse when we listen to the testimony of Frances Haugen.
My point is, we don't need the government to do anything to make some believe in fascism. There are other influential agencies out there promoting that belief, some of whom may actually have more influence on the public than our own politicians.
I don't know the answer to this.
(But a recognition from our government that this is occurring, and some ideas about how to counteract it would be a start, else every step they take without full transparency just feeds the beast in the shadows.)
The restrictions on voting in the UK, where Boris is proposing needing to produce evidence of identity is also scary. This always puts the less well off from voting.
Meanwhile the dinosaur Starter has come out against PR. Can't he see that this is both fairer and his easiest path to being PM?
What evidence is there that the Crown was too stupid to follow through? As opposed to they realised the case wasn’t valid.
I did not say to stupid to follow through, i said 'they saw it was a stupid case that would go nowhere. Sorry if that does was not clear. A ribbon ain't a noose, no matter what anyone wants to pretend. To make this a case was stupid, and going through with this case would have shown that 'stupidity' that in my book is organised harrasment by officials and their enforcers the police in order to shut down mainly women who might be upset about certain things that happen and that loose their jobs if voicing these objections. We have these issues already here see Ani O'Brian.
And as i said, i don't disagree with you not having protests atm, in fact i more often then not ask people to abstain from any large gatherings for the next two years, that would include protests. But just because we don't like this particular protest does not mean it is not in infractions on someones 'right to protests' and either we ban all of these protests under the health act or we might show a bias towards cases we personally approve of. And always please keep in mind, that as someone who grew up in Germany, who went trhough 'denazification' in school, I have my very own mind on things that might seem very outlandish to New Zealanders.
It always starts with very small things, one might call this the death of a thousand cuts. And no matter if we approve of some groups or not, we should always be very careful in giving up rights that were won with blood and tears.
‘I think the tide is turning”
I do too, and it’s thanks to people like JK Rowling and Kathleen Stock who refused to say black is white, refused to issue grovelling apologies to keep their place in employment, and refused to back down .
And in all of that still affirmed the same human rights for trans as we all have.
This also suggests a "turn" when the BBC allows a lesbian to speak about lesbians difficulties with "transbians", ie fully covked and stubbled men who want to have sex with lesbian women
https://mickhartley.typepad.com/blog/2021/10/a-dirty-little-secret-that-the-lgbt-lobby-is-embarrassed-to-discuss.html
wasn't being coy . I meant to say "cocked"
… good to know. Thought for a moment there was another word in the lexicon I'd have to Google…
I am not surprized. She endured the most vile level of harrasment and threatening behaviur. I hate to think what the impact has been for her. Told to install security cameras at her home and needing security as protection.
Kathleen Stock has been so reasonable and spoke of her fears of a backlash against Trans people because of gender ideology..
How come the police can't charge these people?
Because the police is a partner of Stonewall and diversity. And is – it appears quite happy to charge any women with a 'non crime hate incident' for stating that men ain't no women, that grooming exist, that safe guarding is needed, and can we just be sensible.
But then, if you look closely, very closely, they don't do that shit to men. I wonder why.
But i guess it is easier to police' non crime hate incidents' rather then go after people who inject women in pubs with drugs, or people who rape and kill women in bright day light, or even just to police their own collegues who go by nickname such as 'the rapist'. https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/wayne-couzens-the-rapist-nickname-why-known-as-sarah-everard-killer-explained-1227129
'How come the police can't charge these people?'
Why indeed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherham_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal
Once again its women (girls) paying the price
Well to be fair, the police in the UK is to busy investigating ribbons for nooses, and 'non crime hate incidents'. The many many hundreds of thousands of complaints to the Police for 'misgendering' someone, or for writing tweets about safe guarding children.
Kinda funny how these so-called terfs get labelled as far right, right wing extremists and conservatives etc
As someone is conservative I didn't think supporting women was a right wing thing but there you go
We certainly have gone down a helluva rabbit hole
PR most of the women in SUFW are lefties(labour green voters) and femisists.
Intelligent and competent woman hounded out of her job by abuse and threats of violence.
The only thing that has changed is the topic and the extreme level of vitriol that seems to go with that.
Vaccine effiacy study currently in pre print on the Lancet out of Sweden. In some groups vaccine efficacy drops to zero by 9 Months and potentially below zero. Pretty scary.
The effectiveness against severe illness seems to remain high through 9 months, although not for men, older frail individuals, and individuals with comorbidities. This strengthens the evidence-based rationale for administration of a third booster dose.
Test
Hi Veutoviper, I still have my long handled brush and shovel
How the f' can Zuckerberg be so desperate to pull this publicity stunt? Have I missed some controversy?
Yeas Mark. Because you have told people to. They will stop calling it Facebook…………F'ing sleazy prick
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/technology/2021/10/facebook-announces-its-new-name-meta-in-shift-to-virtual-reality-focus.html
If it gets to hot, just rebrand.
Apologies for the language there btw. Some rich people just annoy me 🙂
Some people are just too stupid. I am speechless.
Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Woman claims she was able to cross Auckland border – NZ Herald
A selfie from the selfish, a twit on Twitter, bragging from a braggart. The foolish do not comprehend their stupidity.
Turns out she had an exemption letter. Now there is bound to be scrutiny, as that gem was from the Police.
I think she is going to get a visit from the police shortly. Oh how I will laugh when they take her away in handcuffs and she's denied bail on the grounds she's too stupid to be set free.
came across this via the BBC (if that is still considered a reputable institution). This is in regards to vaccinated people still spreding covid and still getting it.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59077036
this might also explain why cases in AKL are not dropping as much as expected and as fast as we might wish for it.
Thus anyone who is expected to isolate at home, depending on the size of that home, will with good chance infect anyone else in that household, no matter if they are double jabbed, single jabbed or not jabbed at all.
So please, mask up, keep physical distance, and once, twice three times santize, and stay away from large scale events no matter how hungry one is for a game of sport or a concert or a theatre production or any other gathering where transmission is easy, fast and guaranteed.
Have a look at the study I linked up there a bit, the declining efficiency to zero is prob behind the upwards march in cases amongs vaccinated people particularly males, the elderly and those with comorbidities overseas. It would ñe reasonable to expect similar patterns here.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/covid-vaccinated-likely-unjabbed-infect-cohabiters-study-suggests
Its in the guardian as well, when you combine that with waning efficiency in vulnerable groups it spells big trouble.
The current messaging will need changing given alot of adds are get jabbed for summer, for concerts etc.
Wow Labour is shifting into high gear. New Min for Disabled People announced.
Government announces new Ministry for Disabled People and accessibility law | RNZ News
Now they just need to come up with a means to transfer resources to where they are needed – without robbing them from other public services.
Pity Labour aren't interested in taxing wealth any time soon. Without resources there are big limits on what you can do, regardless of how you rearrange things.
Satire ?
I honestly can't tell anymore.
The ministry for the disabled will have a commissioner for loss of jocularity to explain levity, satire and gentle mocking. He will be known as the Shaman of the Far Side……..
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=422303365929791&set=gm.1036647456878394
Don't joke, it could happen.
That's the nature of satire………
I sense another gravy train on the way, for paper shufflers, lawyers, consultants, managers, committees et al. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Government announces new Ministry for Disabled People
And about time. I have been advocating for this for over 30 years now as once turned 18 (in practicality 16) until you turned 65 basically any problems such as financial abuse had to be dealt with either by agencies who totally took a hands off approach – don't believe me ask them what their written policy if and when staff come across suspected abuse of clients by family members, etc. – or by the police.
Lets hope they address this issue as part of this establishment. Guidance for agencies to have policies around abuse and somewhere to report those to would be a good start.
I hate doing this. I actually do. But it has been a bug bear of mine having for a while having a deaf uncle this govt turfed the sign langauge person from question time.
Have they changed their mind?
Are there more interpreters available? That's why they stopped it a few months after bringing NZSL interpreters into QT. It's not like they cancelled a long-term practise, they tried it and it meant other people were missing out on services.
"nd it meant other people were missing out on services."
What other people were missing out from having a sign language interpret in parliament at question time?
In the link
And to be perfectly frank. The cash for them them seems fairly free flowing for Ardern's daily Covid Pressers
And how are "other people missing out on services?"
As your uncle whether he'd rather watch question time with an NZSL interpreter or go to the emergency room with one.
Government announces new Ministry for Disabled People
An announcement met with guffaws of disdain in our wee household.
(Tell you what DOS, let's review this in 30 years time and see if there's any appreciable difference in the lives of those with significant disabilities not supported by ACC.)
Government announces new Ministry for Disabled People
Makes me nervous.
It's the Ministry for the Disabled, not for Disabling. You'll be OK.
that's very optimistic of you.
Little waffling on with the usual 'we will consult with disabled peoples' organisations…' bs. More korero with the organisations 'representing' disabled people who have enjoyed the largesse of the government without actually having to do much in the way of actual real advocacy.
(Peter is ready and waiting whenever they want an individual's real 'lived experience' opinion on how it should have, could have, been done. First off he'll tell them that he felt more supported and included (in some aspects) fifty one years ago when he broke his neck than he does now.)
Could the new MFDP really do worse? (Rhetorical )
"More korero with the organisations 'representing' disabled people who have enjoyed the largesse of the government without actually having to do much in the way of actual real advocacy"
Including referring to each other the same client so they could all get paid for the same piddly thing that they might have achieved. The established groups in bed with the government have had some very cosy arrangements in the past. Good stuff still tends to happen due to good individuals rather than structural support. Privatisation has focussed on profits rather than service and need.
I'm hopeful there is much more of a move to partnership with those with disabilities as as starting to happen with Maori. Also a mainly de-centralised regional workforce rather than a Wellington one. People who have access to local communities – not just the Chief Executives of the organisations you reference.
I guess now is the time to try and influence what it will finish up as – that is more hopeful than trying to influence the current set-up. I'll start with optimism anyway.
NZ is full of disabled people with massive experience in what is needed at the system level. Labour and MoH don't trust us.
Kind of curious where they will recruit management from.
to be honest, my first reaction was 'oh boy'.
An 0800 number is access, it still does not mean any services were provided or that anything is getting better for those living with disability and those that care for people with disabilities.
I hope that his ministry will be doing better works then say Social Welfare, ACC, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Housing etc.
Here's what I expect:
Thing I feel most nervous about is longer term plans to address the disparities between ACC, disability and illness, and that Labour will fuck this up. As bad as WINZ is, I don't trust Labour to shift income to the new department but I can see the accountants sharpening their budgeting pencils already. Welfare income via WINZ is a statutory right afaik, and health isn't. We will see if they give disabled people actual rights here.
Andrew Little said today, "The disabled had told him disability was not a health matter, it was more about being empowered." That did not sound too paternalistic.
Disability is very much a health issue, if it weren't these people would not be disabled.
Andrew Little, the sooner he retires into a nice and cushy board job somewhere to be never seen again the better.
I am hoping they will, but like you i just simply can't seem them getting it right for all the reasons you mentioned.
But, here is hoping.
What NZSL interpreter?
Forgive me if I am just thick, but Labour dropped them for TV
"Parliaments stops use of sign language interpreters for question time"
The party that loves the disabled
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/parliaments-stops-use-of-sign-language-interpreters-for-question-time/76QXM42WJNUQUAKC5N765GLQBA/
Yep there were not enough of them to do parliament and help deaf at the dr, school etc.
What a crock of shit. They have piled millions into Covid and are openly pretending to give a toss about the disabled
Note the date of publication was 4 Oct, 2018 12:21 PM re parliment.
Actually that would be billions
How much would NZSL be for question time.
Lets say 2 hours?
At the most 200k?
It. Wasn't. The. Cost.
It was the fact that feedback from the people who actually used NZSL interpreters was that they'd rather have the few NZSL interpreters available for their daily lives, rather than the few die-hards who want to watch QT live rather than (at best) at the 6pm news (with subtitles).
from your (and my) link (emphasis added):
die hards lol. Who here watches parliament TV?
Maybe the government should train more interpreters.
Well, if one or two in an afternoon can deprive someone of communication in school in Wellington, fair to say there's a shortage that needs sorting out.
news just in from bbc
Individuals who have had two vaccine doses can be just as infectious as those who have not been jabbed.
Now let’s reflect on what I think was said by Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles (probably wants another award) I think said (parroting CNNs propaganda division again)
“This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated “
yeah but naaa Miss Wiles
Having been vaccinated I still think it’s ok for other people to have freedom of choice (some have legitimate concerns). I’m uncomfortable with any worker not being found alternative and comparable paid jobs if the refuse vaccines. I don’t think I can resolve this in my head as can see both sides. However……
Segregation via terms like “this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated” is just sanctimonious BS.
Maybe little Miss & Mrs Inclusivity (insert political party and media outlets of choice) could be, well a little more inclusive and instead say:
“this is a pandemic of the vaccinated and unvaccinated”
It ain’t so black or white is it… Experts meh (wicked problems make fools of us all)
latest from bbc
Keep telling yourself that.
Well Mr Flock,
Your retort clearly up there with the likes of the great orators
You are my nemesis
Did you read the link, or did your ego block it from view?
you could always give a one sentence explanation.
When one group are twenty times more likely to infect someone than the other group (and makes up a disproportionate majority of the high needs patients), calling it a plandemic of that group is pretty accurate. No amount of bullet points will change that.
Keith the vaccinated are less likely to end up in hospital and far less likely to die.
That was Ms Wiles saying the biggest number in hospital were unvaccinated, so it was "becoming the disease of the unvaccinated." Oh and those households did not use the 2m rule or masks in all likely hood and were inside.
Mate we already went over this a couple of days ago.
https://osf.io/72abp/
https://thestandard.org.nz/why-vaccine-mandates-are-needed/#comment-1828069
https://theconversation.com/your-unvaccinated-friend-is-roughly-20-times-more-likely-to-give-you-covid-170448
Adrian Thornton
Here's Selwyn Manning with a long piece on the recent hearings and a group interested in providing a safe haven here in Aotearoa for J Assange .
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2021/10/29/special-report-assumptions-vs-facts-how-the-assange-case-confronts-our-biases/
Me, I'm not so pollyanna about our country's independence anymore.My experience on this supposedly left wing blog revealed a disturbingly anti-Assange group think.
Surprised me too though and even more so that it persists – so did the anti-rugby groupthink here surprise me.
On the other hand I actively dislike religion so I guess we all have our biases.
With Assange he s clearly being treated terribly and I find it difficult to reconcile the fight to keep people out of jail, treat prisoners more humanly, etc etc with ignoring how even people we may not like be treated in the justice system.
Quite a contrast in thinking with Brevik who actually murdered people.
“Norway is a country known for its progressive prison system, and in its ruling, the court writes that ‘the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment represents a fundamental value in a democratic society,’ and that this also applies to terrorists and killers. …
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/21/475106186/norwegian-mass-killer-wins-human-rights-case-over-prison-conditions
Finally the tide is turning, but too little , too late I think
The media piled on, trashing his reputation and unfortunately too many people believed it. Without that there may have been the chance of a mass grass roots movement to get him freed .Pretty disappointing to see so many joining in to put their boot in
Yes, the Norwegians take human rights seriously.
What do you you think our view of Assange should be?
Given his well publicised antics.
Not looking that shit hot for me old home town ChCh (well Kaiapoi, but same place roughly)