Archive for January, 2013
So, that’s what Nats mean by creating jobs
Written By: - Date published: 7:35 am, January 15th, 2013 - 111 comments
We all know, because that Nice Man Mr Key told us, the government can’t create jobs. That is, unless it has given away $67m to international bully boys and wants to show a return on investment. Then, it can create 3,000 jobs out of thin air. It turns out, that’s where the claim that the Hobbit films created 3,000 Kiwi jobs came from. But it gets worse.
Open mike 15/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 15th, 2013 - 55 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Welcome to the Burdigalian
Written By: - Date published: 1:27 pm, January 14th, 2013 - 200 comments
Last year, in the Arctic, atmospheric CO2 concentrations were measured at 400ppm. If you search on line for historical CO2 levels, you’ll find a lot of comments that are of the opinion that 400ppm CO2 last occurred about 800 000 years ago…or maybe just a bit longer. The implication is that since that’s well within the span of human existence it doesn’t really matter too much. It’s fine; we’ve been here before.
Questions questions
Written By: - Date published: 10:21 am, January 14th, 2013 - 96 comments
What is the role of blogs in the run up to the next election? What can the community here at The Standard accomplish in that time?
Johny on ice
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, January 14th, 2013 - 55 comments
After four weeks holiday in Hawaii, John Key will briefly land in New Zealand this week before popping off on a junket to Antarctica. Now, you won’t hear a lot about this in the media – because half the press gallery is going with him and they’re just excited to go to Antarctica – but there’s all kinds of buzz coming out of the public service about how and why Key set up this trip.
Open mike 14/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 14th, 2013 - 78 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Deja vu all over again: Labour in 2014 edition
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, January 13th, 2013 - 104 comments
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again here: a Labour victory in 2014 isn’t necessarily better than a National victory in 2014.
Police Association offers a recipe for dead cops
Written By: - Date published: 12:35 pm, January 13th, 2013 - 122 comments
In December, a cop had his taser taken off him and fired at him. The Police Association said the solution is for cops to be armed. Judith Collins got it right, “if that was a gun [not a Taser] we’d probably be going to a funeral, actually, for a police officer”. On Friday, an armed cop had his gun taken off him. The Police Association’s answer: cops should pull their guns earlier.
Missing the point: Minister of Tourism fail
Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, January 13th, 2013 - 102 comments
Michael Field on Stuff, responds to a question he attributes to “Labour Party blog, The Standard” about our Minister of Tourism spending most of his holidays in Hawaii and fails to answer the question he cites. Field diverts to past PMs, ignores all Clark’s NZ holidays, and champions “Kiwi” Muldoon.
Open mike 13/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 13th, 2013 - 80 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
I know, how about a Jobs Summit
Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, January 12th, 2013 - 150 comments
Today, Fran O’Sullivan calls Key out on his complete failure on jobs: “If I have one New Year’s wish it is that John Key returns from his Hawaiian summer holiday brimming with enough determination to challenge the nation’s employers – and himself – to tackle youth unemployment.” In fact, she is the latest of the rightwing’s pundits to conclude neoliberalism has failed.
Open mike 12/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 12th, 2013 - 148 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Upcoming talk on Canadian student uprising
Written By: - Date published: 3:44 pm, January 11th, 2013 - 6 comments
This Sunday hip hop artist and political activist Darius Mirshahi will be speaking in Auckland about the political situation in Canada and how the left are organising to resist Neo-Liberalism. Later he will be performing material which has lead to attention from Glen Beck and the Canadian police.
Weekend social 11/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, January 11th, 2013 - 51 comments
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?
State housing vs home ownership
Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, January 11th, 2013 - 160 comments
Labour’s 2012 Kiwibuild policy has focused on building homes for first time buyers. Now we are told Labour’s 2011 policy pledging to increase the state housing stock still stands. This raises many questions: including do-ability and the Labour leadership’s continuing (neoliberal) focus.
Open mike 11/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 11th, 2013 - 195 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Labour’s popular housing policy
Written By: - Date published: 3:40 pm, January 10th, 2013 - 122 comments
I’m delighted to see that over 70% of respondents to a recent Herald poll, published today, think Labour’s 100,000 houses plan is “a winner for Labour”. The plan was announced by David Shearer at Labour’s November conference. I’d also like to thank Olwyn for asking some questions about Labour’s policy on housing in response to Zetetic’s post – they deserve an answer.
Mr Fail strikes again
Written By: - Date published: 11:35 am, January 10th, 2013 - 7 comments
On Monday, Steven Joyce promised lots of new jobs in the wood manufacturing industry thanks to the wonders of foreign investment and a do nothing government, and called the Left anti-jobs. On Wednesday, wood manufacturer Norske Skog sacked 110 workers. What’s Joyce’s next trick, attend a funeral, tell the departed to ‘wake up’, and blame the rest of the congregation when he doesn’t?
What’s the Right’s plan for Auckland 2013?
Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, January 10th, 2013 - 55 comments
It’s 9 months until polls close in the 2013 local body elections. Len Brown has just been rated the 7th best mayor in the world. So, who’s going to stand up from the Right? 9 months is no time to get the brand recognition needed to take the most powerful political job in the country outside Cabinet’s top 5. Does no rightie want to run because they’re sure to lose?
Nats in secret state house sell-down
Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, January 10th, 2013 - 60 comments
It turns out National’s sold off a net 251 houses since it was re-elected. The spin is that isn’t a sell-down but moving resources to where they’re needed… uh, huh…. fewer resources. Meanwhile, looks like KiwiBuild’s hugely popular. The State building affordable housing always has been. Now, if only me and my partner could afford to service a $300,000 mortgage….
Open mike 10/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 10th, 2013 - 104 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Back to work time
Written By: - Date published: 11:55 pm, January 9th, 2013 - 24 comments
Looks like people are heading back to work. I’m always surprised at how predictable the end of year pattern is on this site. In fact I can (and do) bet server maintenance on it. This year we moved fully into the cloud but did it offshore. That way we don’t pay excessive variable costs to the Southern Cross cable monopoly to pay for searchbots.
David Shearer isn’t Jesus? No sh*t, Sherlock
Written By: - Date published: 6:37 pm, January 9th, 2013 - 100 comments
I know I criticise David Shearer a lot, but if I sound bitter it’s just because I totally thought he would turn out to be Jesus.
Imperatorfish: The post I never posted
Written By: - Date published: 12:01 pm, January 9th, 2013 - 26 comments
… And even if I was wrong on that point, I went on to write, David Shearer was still not the best man for the job, because he had failed to demonstrate an ability to walk on water or bring the dead back to life. But I didn’t push the “publish” button, because I came up with an even better idea for a post…
Where the bloody hell are you?
Written By: - Date published: 9:08 am, January 9th, 2013 - 70 comments
Like here, Queensland’s tourism industry is hurting. Like ours, Queensland’s Tourism Minister thought it would be a good idea to holiday in a foreign tropical resort instead of supporting her local industry. But, there, the main newspaper responded with a devastating “where the bloody hell are you” attack that could sink her career. Here, not so much.
Climate Change & Poverty
Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, January 9th, 2013 - 54 comments
The wildfires in Australia are an immediate cause for concern. Such events will be more common as average temperatures rise. Joseph Stigliz warns of an urgent need for structural change to respond to economic decline, climate change, poverty and inequality.
It’s the market, baby
Written By: - Date published: 7:35 am, January 9th, 2013 - 319 comments
I went to the supermarket and said “I want your best meat for $9 a kg”. They said I could have pre-cooked sausages or the cheapest mince for that. But I wanted good meat! So I went to other supermarkets and butchers. Some wouldn’t sell me anything for that much, none would supply the quality I wanted. They say I’m mad. But, when this business does it, they’re the victims.
Open mike 09/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 9th, 2013 - 62 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Killing the Cullen Fund’s costing us
Written By: - Date published: 7:58 am, January 8th, 2013 - 45 comments
David Shearer recently picked up National’s policy of not contributing to the Cullen Fund while the Government’s in deficit but there’s nothing about being in deficit that alters the case for investing the Cullen Fund. As long as the return exceeds the Crown’s cost of capital, it’s worthwhile. So, how much have the canned contributions cost us so far? $1.2b.
Open mike 08/01/2013
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 8th, 2013 - 156 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Why the February vote could be very bad for Labour
Written By: - Date published: 6:55 pm, January 7th, 2013 - 300 comments
Going on previous form, Camp Shearer seem to think a successful caucus vote in February will silence all criticism of his parliamentary leadership of the Labour Party. Boy, are you all wrong.
- Global powers are grappling with ‘responsible’ use of military AI. What would that look like?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zena Assaad, Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering, Australian National University Air Force Tech. Sgt. Teri Eicher Last week, some 2,000 government officials and experts from around the world met for the REAIM (Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain) summit in ...2 days ago - Democraticising stocks: At 33, Brooke Roberts leads an investment platform valued at $500 million
At 33, Brooke Roberts leads a $500m investment platform. She believes if you have $5 to invest, you should have the same choices. ...2 days ago - New data reveals rates of family violence among those who died by suicide
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor (Practice), Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University, Monash University Shutterstock Domestic, family and sexual violence is rightly recognised as a national crisis. While the evidence base has built significantly in recent years, one important missing piece ...2 days ago
- How perpetrators of domestic violence use drugs and alcohol to control their victims
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cathy Humphreys, Professor of Social Work, The University of Melbourne panitanphoto/Shutterstock At least three decades of research on the intersection of substance use with domestic and family violence consistently shows the frequency, severity and impact of violence increases in the context ...2 days ago
- ‘Pirate birds’ force other seabirds to regurgitate fish meals. Their thieving ways could spread ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Gorta, PhD Candidate in ecology, UNSW Sydney Skuas chase a gannet to force it to regurgitate its meal Bob Brewer/Unsplash, CC BY-NC-ND It’s not easy finding food at sea. Seabirds often stay aloft, scanning the churning waters for elusive prey. Most ...2 days ago
- Are kiwi and moa recent immigrants from Australia? Neither fossils nor genetic evidence support the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images Aotearoa New Zealand is a land of birds, from the smallest of wrens to the mightiest of moa. The ancestors of some species have been here for tens ...2 days ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Bricolage/Shutterbox For many Australians, the family home is their largest financial asset. With an increasing variety of ways to tap into home equity, the temptation to access this wealth ...2 days ago
- Are credit checks for ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes enough?
Providers like Afterpay don’t have to carry out affordability tests and were recently allowed to set fees at whatever level they like, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in your inbox every weekday morning, sign up here. ...2 days ago - Nursing jobs ‘ghosted’ as Health NZ cuts costs
Te Whatu Ora insists recruitment has continued, but staff say their colleagues aren't being replaced. ...2 days ago
- Live: Focus on Government law and order efforts
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon can't put a timeframe on when law and order policies will start to reduce the number of victims. ...2 days ago
- Victims advocate urges frontline investment after increasing violence statistics
It's a stark reversal of the government's goal: 20,000 fewer victims by 2030. ...2 days ago
- The social media app you forgot about is on every kid’s phone
With nearly 95% of young New Zealanders using Snapchat, staff writer Lyric Waiwiri-Smith looks back at the rise and fall and rise of the yellow app. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that each new generation to possess a smartphone will believe the technology habits of their elders are too ...2 days ago
- Windbag: How Wellington’s bike network has grown, in three maps
Few cities have ever attempted to build a connected cycling network this quickly. Windbag is The Spinoff’s Wellington issues column, written by Wellington editor Joel MacManus. It’s made possible thanks to the support of The Spinoff Members. Wellington’s cycleway debate is an interminable bore. We’ve had the same mind-numbing arguments ...2 days ago
- Bipartisan support for constitutional change to Parliament
Years of work spanning three governments has produced a significant reform for Parliament with support from both National and Labour The post Bipartisan support for constitutional change to Parliament appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 days ago - ‘Cognitive dissonance’ over social services cuts
Social services providers mix frustration over government funding cuts with optimism that they can weather the storm The post ‘Cognitive dissonance’ over social services cuts appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 days ago
- The neoliberal attack on the Treaty of Waitangi
Opinion: The Government, led by a run-of-the-mill-corporatist, a garden-variety populist and a 10-a-penny libertarian has been considering the future of a singular and unique treaty that is at the heart of what is so special about Aotearoa New Zealand. In the guise of the Treaty Principles Bill, these politicians will ...2 days ago
- A long, personal and painful read for the minister called Goldie
Analysis: At least 15 times in its urgent report on the proposed law to tighten Māori marine customary rights, the Waitangi Tribunal called out one person The post A long, personal and painful read for the minister called Goldie appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 days ago
- East Coast forestry industry facing the axe
“Absolutely impossible” consent conditions are causing some East Coast forestry companies to “bleed money” and this could force them to move offshore.Forestry harvesting has already ground to a halt in some areas of Tairāwhiti, part of the fallout after the district was hit by devastating cyclones Hale and Gabrielle last ...2 days ago
- Brussels still sprouting same old stale economic plans
Opinion: EU plan reflects a deep-seated distrust of market forces and an over-reliance on state-driven solutions The post Brussels still sprouting same old stale economic plans appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 days ago
- ECan pushes plan change that ‘entrenches water exploitation’
Critics pan a proposed fix after a Supreme Court decision upended how water consents are considered in Canterbury The post ECan pushes plan change that ‘entrenches water exploitation’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 days ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 17 September
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, Tuesday 17 September appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 days ago
- Red tape earns quarrying spot on Jones’ critical minerals list
Controversy and consenting issues put sand and aggregate on the draft critical minerals list, alongside the likes of cobalt and vanadium The post Red tape earns quarrying spot on Jones’ critical minerals list appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 days ago
- Daily crossword, Tuesday 17 September
The post Daily crossword, Tuesday 17 September appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 days ago
- Up close and friendly with Vietnam’s war resistance Củ Chi tunnels
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By David Robie in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam’s famous Củ Chi tunnel network was on our bucket list for years. For me, it was for more than half a century, ever since I had been editor of the ...3 days ago
- Another assassination attempt, baseless claims about pets, and Taylor Swift: the US election is wild...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jared Mondschein, Director of Research, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney It has not yet been a week since the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – in which the Democrat was widely held to have bested the Republican – and ...3 days ago
- Papua New Guinea celebrates 49 years of independence from Australia
By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent, and Lydia Lewis RNZ Pacific journalist Papua New Guinea is today celebrating almost half a century of independence from Australia. The journey has not been easy, and the path since 16 September 1975 has been filled with challenges and triumphs, Prime Minister James ...3 days ago
- Australia’s new scam prevention draft is welcome – but it needs to be broader in scope
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mohiuddin Ahmed, Senior Lecturer of Computing and Security, Edith Cowan University ParinPix/Shutterstock The federal government is stepping up its fight against scams, which last year cost Australians more than A$2.7 billion. On Friday, the federal treasury released a draft scam ...3 days ago
- Hipkins loses support in latest TPU-Curia poll
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has lost support in a new Taxpayers Union-Curia poll showing small gains for National and Labour, and mostly small losses for minor parties. ...3 days ago
- What is ‘health at every size’ lifestyle counselling? How does it compare with weight-focused tr...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle Health at every size (or HAES) is a lifestyle counselling approach that promotes mindful eating and lifestyle behaviours to pursue health and wellness, without focusing on weight loss. Weight loss is ...3 days ago
- National parks and other protected areas often fail to conserve Earth’s forests, research finds
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock The destruction of nature is a global crisis. Establishing protected areas of forest is a common policy governments use to tackle the problem. Indeed most ...3 days ago
- Oscar: the tragedy and beauty of Wilde’s life, and an historic moment on the ballet stage
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yvette Grant, PhD (Dance) Candidate and Dance History Tutor, The University of Melbourne Benjamin Garrett and Callum Linnane star in Wheeldon’s new ballet production. Christopher Rogers-Wilson Christopher Wheeldon and The Australian Ballet’s Oscar, which had its world premiere in Melbourne on September ...3 days ago
- PNG police chief Manning declares emergency for Porgera
The National Papua New Guinea’s Police Commissioner David Manning has declared emergency orders to safeguard infrastructure and residents in Porgera due to escalating law and order issues brought about by illegal miners. Manning said police would be increasing the legitimate use of force to remove combatants in order ...3 days ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon holds post-Cabinet press conference
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters at Parliament after the weekly Cabinet meeting. ...3 days ago- Up close and friendly with Vietnam’s war relic Củ Chi tunnels
COMMENTARY: By David Robie Vietnam’s famous Củ Chi tunnel network was on our bucket list for years. For me, it was for more than half a century, ever since I had been editor of the Melbourne Sunday Observer, which campaigned against Australian (and New Zealand) involvement in the unjust Vietnam ...3 days ago- Government at risk of not meeting two of its nine public service targets
The government has identified education and reducing violent crime as the biggest problem areas. ...3 days ago- What would a second Trump presidency mean for the global economy?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Evan El-Amin/Shutterstock Donald Trump inherited a strong economy from President Obama and managed it poorly. Real GDP grew more slowly under Trump than it had under any ...3 days ago- Government extends alternative to tough literacy and numeracy tests
Students will have until the end of 2027 to get literacy and numeracy standards by internal assessment, rather than tests - two years later than planned. ...3 days ago- Experts oppose speed limits increase
A coalition of leading academics, health professionals and road safety experts have issued an open letter, urging the government to reconsider plans to increase speed limits. ...3 days ago- All hail Christian Cullen, ‘mysterious smooth guy’ of Celebrity Treasure Island
We’re one week into the new season, and a surprising and sulky breakout star has emerged. Before 2022, Dame Susan Devoy was known to most New Zealanders as a world champion squash player first, Race Relations Commissioner second, and Centrum spokesperson third. Her public image was serious and straight-laced: she ...3 days ago- A ‘forever language’ – te Wiki o te Reo Māori marks 52 years of extraordinary progress
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeanette King, Professor, Aotahi School of Māori and Indigenous Studies, University of Canterbury Getty Images Ko tēnei te Wiki o te Reo Māori – it’s Māori Language Week. It’s been 52 years since the landmark moment on September 14 1972, when ...3 days ago - Watch: Christopher Luxon holds post-Cabinet press conference
Recent Comments
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.