Can we please have just one Green MP that can control themselves (like an adult), that does not require to either go on a course of "de-escalation", or need help for mental health issues and the leaders do not have to apologise for their actions.
They need to get into the 20s if they want to influence the policy direction of the next government.
The Greens achieved their best election result (15 seats, including three electorate seats) last year.
They’ve never been above 12% of the party vote, and yet have had some influence on govt policy direction in some areas. Just my opinion – like all political parties and politicians, they will continue to fall short on occasion, but remain my favorite NZ political party, in part for their longer-term focus in selected areas of concern.
If getting the policy architecture in place to facilitate implementation is one measure of political success, then the Greens have achieved credible action on many fronts.
Agreed James….but the establishment doesn't want this and will do anything to portray the Greens as a disorganised rabble.
As a Green voter for many years, I used to dream of them holding steady at 12-13 per cent. But every CC event/disaster now adds a fraction to their vote so 20 per cent is no longer a dream..
I don't care if someone says fuck in the House (the Speaker can deal with any issues around that). He didn't direct it at anyone or use it as a term of abuse.
The problem I have is the lack of discipline that leads to yet another round of MSM negative attention on the Greens. Maybe they're getting it all out of the way this year.
I get what you are saying and I share your frustration.
That said, JAG is guilty of aggressively waving some documents in a bloke's face while simultaneously committing the sin of being totally correct about what they were actually arguing about.
RMM said a potty word.
On the other hand the government is blatantly corrupt, is dismantling everything Labour does often for no other reason than because Labour did it.
Can we plz have concern trolls that out up a better example
Of far greater concern to 'us' is an MP that 'overlooked' 10s of thousands of dollars of bribes donations while chairing a committee that met his donor's interests, in my opinion.
Sometimes, it’s a fine line between a concern troll and a useful idiot and Jimmy’s obviously having an identity crisis and cannot choose. Going forward, this is important because some Mods here struggle to tell the difference.
If only you knew how often I have to put my hands in my pockets clench my jaw and walk past jimmys efforts so as to not upset you mods , you'd put me up for a saint hood.
Concurrently, the outcome of the most sadistic policies implemented by the Tories is finally getting a proper inquiry. Policies that were heavily influencing the last Nat government, and would likely have been implemented had they secured a 4th term.
You may like to check the timeline of the scandal before you get all unhappy with the Conservative Party.
The product was installed in 1999 and the prosecutions started almost immediately and ran until 2015.
There was a Labour Government there from 1997 until 2010. The system went in and the prosecutions were largely during their reign. The Conservative Party were certainly culpable for the slowness in cleaning it up but even you would agree that the real blame for it happening was Labour's?
And the MP who campaigned for justice for the postmasters was James Arbuthnot (played by Alex Jennings in the recreation), who (inconveniently for Patricia) is a Conservative.
Christchurch homeowner's house featured in social housing post
Beth said a blunder like this from the National Party was unacceptable
"If you are going to build 1500 social housing houses, then I think maybe you should have a better idea of what exactly it is you are going to be building, rather than taking an image from somewhere. Who knows how they got the image of our houses, and posting it up as something that is blatantly not true," she said
Yep. It'll be "NO frills" . After all, they are the New Victorians , who Charles Dickens would recognise as such . The phrase "Nothing so cold as Charity" will assume extra meaning in NZ under NActFirst.
Well well, well. Sunak has called a probably catastrophic early election early because the knives were out for him on the back benches. The Tories are committing seppuku – they are utterly spent, pre-occupied with interminable infighting to the extent Sunak has called a July election as an act of spite against his internal enemies and still get to California in time to see his kids into school for the new term.
Meanwhile, I see Adrian Orr has written the death note for this government – it is going to be a one term wonder because we are now looking at a three year recession. Richard Harman at Politik – the uber centrist purveyor of received wisdom – is busy peddling the line that this is all the result of Labour's COVID spending so the govt might get away with it, but the thing is Luxon wasn't elected to fix the economy via Osbornian austerity. he was elected to do something about the squeezed middle class and the cost of living crisis. He can't and anyway doesn't want to deliver on that promise so they will be toast.
Everybody knows austerity in the face of a recession leads to double (if not the Osborne tripple) dipping the recession. The conclusion should be that, yes, Luxon was elected on the promise to carry that out.
Sadly, the political situation in Great Britain is almost identical to the U.S.: a choice between two unconscionable options.
There are, of course, a few decent and honourable politicians, like George Galloway, whose recent return to parliament drove both major party leaders into displays of Blimpish outrage.
And there is Andrew Feinstein, who is trying to unseat Keir Starmer,,,
Over 200 Conservative MP's that face losing their seats have just seen an easy NZ$95k go up in smoke because Rishi has called the election 6 months early for no good reason. (A backbencher earns NZ$190k a year).
He hung on the just about the last legal moment before recognising that his Government was dead and smelling rather a lot. Still, he got all his losing MPs a pay packet for as long as he could. Too bad for New Zealand of course.
I used to know one-time PM Jack Marshall. He was a member of a Government which went to the polls after 2 years, not 3, over the waterfront issue in 1951.
He said, when asked, that the only effect in the long term was that they served for 8 years, 1949 – 1957, instead of 9 for 3 full terms from 1949 to 1958. That was the only effect.
Why should anyone hold an early election, whether the are likely to win it, or lose it?
I read that Harman comment and thought that was a bit rich, blaming it all on Covid when some of the bank commentators are unsettled by the whole tax cut scenario and the expectation that it is more likely to fuel domestic inflation, the very thing the RBNZ is trying to curb.
Exactly Nic, the Luxonites are the most likely beneficiaries of austerity, another 10% on the weekly shop means bugger all when there’s a nice multi million dollar pillow to lay one’s head on after a hard days rorting.
The local problem is Greedflation and that’s a real bastard to control.
Just in case anyone is still running the lines about "would you rather have a live daughter or a dead son?"
"Individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12.12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not (3.47% vs. 0.29%, RR 95% CI 9.20-15.96, p < 0.0001). Compared to the tubal ligation/vasectomy controls, the risk was 5.03-fold higher before propensity matching and remained significant at 4.71-fold after matching (3.50% vs. 0.74%, RR 95% CI 2.46-9.024, p < 0.0001) for the gender affirmation patients with similar results with the pharyngitis controls. Conclusion Gender-affirming surgery is significantly associated with elevated suicide attempt risks, underlining the necessity for comprehensive post-procedure psychiatric support."
FFS you cannot compare the risks of self harm and suicide post Gender-Affirming surgery to longterm contraception or a sore throat[ pharyngitis].
The self harm and suicidality exists before the surgery, do people not realize that most Gender Affirmation is not male to female but female to male. The surgery is but another form of bodily self harm as part of complex Borderline Personality Disorders.
Actually, the critical group NOT included in the study is the incidence of suicide in transgender patients who do NOT undergo affirmation surgery. If affirmation surgery decreases the incidence of suicide in trans people, then gender-affirming surgery has a positive effect overall. I don't understand why an emergency visit was included in the study. Perhaps, without the emergency visit, the stats don't look so good.
"The study involved four cohorts: cohort A, adults aged 18-60 who had gender-affirming surgery and an emergency visit (N = 1,501); cohort B, control group of adults with emergency visits but no gender-affirming surgery (N = 15,608,363); and cohort C, control group of adults with emergency visits, tubal ligation or vasectomy, but no gender-affirming surgery (N = 142,093). Propensity matching was applied to cohorts A and C."
It's irreversible (no, you cannot replace a healthy breast with an implant, you can't un-invert a penis, and you can't take skin from a neophallus and put it back on a shucked forearm, sorry if anyone loses their lunch, but this is reality)
It's performed (unless you are rich) by inexperienced surgeons, because this is what happens when the demand for a type of surgery suddenly outstrips the number of competent and experienced surgeons
It will (at a minimum) make sex awkward and may make it impossible and painful, and previous use of puberty blockers are likely to make orgasm impossible, for the rest of the patient's life.
And it's all in pursuit of an impossible goal, because men are not women and you can't stop people accurately sexing you, in the same way that you can't stop yourself from determining which way is up and which way is down.
Of course people with SDPS (Sexual Dysfunction Producing Surgery) are getting down. They are victims, they are vulnerable, they have been promised a lie by people claiming expertise and authority, and when reality hits (usually in the mid-twenties) it's too late.
It's performed (unless you are rich) by inexperienced surgeons, because this is what happens when the demand for a type of surgery suddenly outstrips the number of competent and experienced surgeons
That, and the surgeons who are doing experimental surgeries on the genitals of teenagers, without informed consent, often botching them, not really knowing how to fix that, leaving young people to face a lifetime of pain and regret, and doing that because they love the cutting edge of transhumanism.
Is that better?
#notallSRSsurgeons obviously. But we don't know how many eh, which is the point. Fuck No Debate.
True to form national are proved to be dishonest, they attacked labour for not going far enough with first home grants, I even believe they said they wouldn't cut the grants, but here we are.
Sure imported inflation was coming down and the impact of the weather events of early 2023 have gone – so we were going to get to 3% by the end of the year.
Many presumed therefore that the 5.5% OCR had done its jobs and it would go down – this year even.
This was never likely. So for them a shot across the bows.
This is because domestic inflation will hold the rate at 3% through 2025 and beyond – rates (infrastructure) and insurance (adjusting for impact on infrastructure of GW) are going up year by year at rates not seen before AND loss of (construction) workers to Oz (seeking secure jobs and better wages) increasing costs.
Chickens coming home to roost – economic growth via migrant labour inflow population increase decreases productivity (we needed investment in more efficient use of resources) and it increases infrastructure cost.
It does expose a limitation in the OCR approach – the lower imported inflation would allow a lower dollar (improved returns to exporters), if there was an alternative mechanism for internal inflation management.
Such as a reduction of the OCR to 5% and the impost of a mortgage surcharge (0.25%, then 0.5%) – the government surely needs the money.
More money paid in rent – less GST spending. Less tax off rent income (landlords giveaway). No rise in wages (25 cents an hour MW no FPA etc). Will company tax make up the shortfall …
That all said, Zollner may be right, in correcting the misplaced optimisim of a fall from the 5.5% level – a fall is still likely
That all said, Zollner may be right, in correcting the misplaced optimism of a (n early) fall from the 5.5% level – (so banks do not rush cuts), a fall is still likely (albeit in the latter half of 2025, than the first half – as even the wiser ones thought a few months ago).
Currently, minerals generate export earnings of $1 billion annually, $21 million in royalties and more than 5000 direct jobs for New Zealanders, Jones said. He wants to double export value to $2 billion by 2035 and provide more than 7000 jobs.
I presume the environmental cost met by government is far higher than the risible amount of royalties received.
Simon Court – an ACT MP – thinks if we drill for oil here we get cheaper energy – we do not refine the oil, it would have to go overseas and be refined there and sent back – it would be no cheaper to us than the world market rate.
Already, 218 MSD staff have taken voluntary redundancy. On Thursday, a new proposal emerged to cut a further 97 existing roles. But the ministry also confirmed that hundreds of staff have left, and not been replaced, since December.
All up, the ministry on Thursday confirmed that it expected to employ 700 fewer people as a result of the cost cutting measures it was proposing.
MSD deputy chief executive Nadine Kilmister said the ministry’s hiring freeze, in place since December, had led to 341 fewer people working at the ministry
The number of staff leaving straight off (to get new jobs asap and the others waiting for the voluntary redundancy option then going) is indicative of people who do not want to be clients. Nor work for a National led government.
The number of public sector employees (excluding local government) rose by 65,784 (19%) in just 6 years to 2023.
The number employed by MSD rose from 6,799 @ June 2017 to 9,077 @ June 2023, an increase of 2,277 or 33%.
The population of NZ increased by 11% between 2017 and 2023. So, MSD employee numbers rose by a factor 3 over the population growth. I'm surprised it's only 700.
In the six months to December 2023, Public Service organisations spent a total of $344.6 million in OPEX and $181.6 million in CAPEX on contractors and consultants, for a total spend of $526.2 million.
As a share of workforce spend, operating expenditure (OPEX) on contractors and consultants decreased to 9.6% in the first half of 2023/24, the lowest it’s been since measurement began (2018).
And this
Public Service contractor and consultant data for the 2017/18 year was the first to be published using our new guidance on how to report contractor and consultant expenditure. Before the new guidance, there was inconsistency in how organisations reported this expenditure.
And also
The Ministry of Social Development (up 271 FTEs, or 3.1%) across a range of service delivery initiatives, including response to the North Island Weather Events of 2023, the joint venture to eliminate family violence and sexual violence, and increasing coordination across the social sector through the establishment of the Social Sector Commissioning Hub, as well as supporting delivery of MSD’s core services.
1.no useful consultant figures until 2018 (even if only at the aggregate spend)
2.30% is less than wage increases in the period, so no apparent increase in number of consultants.
3.the reason for the staff increases in MSD in 2023 was explained.
4.as a share of workforce spend, operating expenditure (OPEX) on contractors and consultants decreased to 9.6% in the first half of 2023/24, the lowest it’s been since measurement began (2018).
One wonders if National will continue with this measurable comparison or not – so consultant spend increase is hidden.
Relevance? The figures I quoted are based on 2018 onwards because Labour were elected at the end of 2017.
Relevance? It is the increase in spending that matters.
There will always be 'reasons'.
‘As a share of the workforce’! Have you thought about what you’re saying?
The % of spend on c&c’s went down because the workforce went up at such a high rate!
Public Service contractor and consultant data for the 2017/18 year was the first to be published using our new guidance on how to report contractor and consultant expenditure. Before the new guidance, there was inconsistency in how organisations reported this expenditure.
Not relating cost increase to wage levels or inflation means the figures are without context.
The reasons – managing help after weather events and to manage down levels of reduce were rather good.
Under National will the increased cost of consultants to total spending be higher or lower relative to permanent staff number changes?
The employee data is numbers, not $'s, so inflation and wage levels are irrelevant.
To your point about consultants and contractors – spending increased 30% in 5 years, well above the rate of population growth AND the rate of inflation over the same period (21.1%).
“The reasons – managing help after weather events and to manage down levels of reduce were rather good.”
Seriously? A 33% increase in staff to manage weather events? AT MSD?
Then by your reasoning, the cost of consultants was out of control – being 50% higher than general inflation (even if it only reflected a rising cost of pay to people doing the same work as 5 years earlier).
And the measure by which we can determine if National is able to manage out of control consultancy cost.
I think this unfair, but if it is the one you will hold National to, I'll not quibble about that.
SPC it's you that raised spending on consultants. I was commenting on the growth in the workforce. But yes, spending on consultants rising 30% is out of control. And absolutely I will hold any government to account if the growth in the public sector we've seen in the past 6 years is repeated.
Stuff looks at why Ginny Anderson (moving into the role of Louisa Wall – closing a loophole in Harmful Digital Communications Act) has developed a private members bill – hoping to prod the government to do something.
Leonetti believed police needed more training to deal with stalking: I don’t think front line officers, for the most part, know what stalking is or know how harmful it is to victims."
As the victim of a stalker for a good number of years I can attest to that.
My stalker kept a close 'eye' on everything I did. There were numerous nuisance phone calls – the silent variety. My home was broken into twice and on one occasion obscene messaging left on a bathroom cabinet door. False accusations to my Public Service bosses surfaced which led to hostility towards me. I eventually had to leave.
There were numerous bizarre incidents, including mysterious injuries to pets.
It was all done covertly but I was eventually able to identify the culprit. The motivation was part political and part personal and involved at least one other person.
The police were hopeless. They had no comprehension of the huge amount of damage it did to me. They…did… not… have… a… clue.
Double dipton and his "independent "reviewers took up $500 000 out of the emergency housing fund, it'd make me laugh if only I didn't want to swear more.
Another Government attack on people with disabilities – this time school-age children. Rather than recognising and accepting that some of their specific needs might be relieved by attending out-of-school daytime programmes, the Government expects the children to comply with a strict routine/regime of school attendance. The full transcript in the following link shows the inflexible, ideological mindset of the Government and their disregard for evidence of beneficial interventions.
"10. Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) to the Minister for Disability Issues: Why have disability support funding criteria changed recently to now exclude the use of funding during school hours, and does she accept that many disabled people and children rely on flexible funding to be able to access critical support?
Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Disability Issues): ………The recent changes to the purchasing guidelines reflected the Ministry of Disabled People's view that the Ministry of Education is responsible for funding support during school hours. I sympathise with all children and families who may have different support due to the changes and I acknowledge that this may have caused distress. The independent review of disability support funding will be looking into how the whole-of-Government support work together so that disabled people get the essential support they need.
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What does she say to the mum whose 11-year-old daughter diagnosed with autism and ADHD and chronic health challenges, who relies on a special one-to-one gymnastic therapy class to help improve her muscle tone and regulate her anxiety levels, will no longer be able to access support because of this new change?
Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said, I sympathise with the impact that any changes may have had. The primary question was about the use of funding during school hours, and our Government recognises the importance of school attendance, so much so that we have set a target to ensure children are attending school—this is all children, and an expectation that all children get the education they deserve.
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What does she say to the mum whose 12-year-old son attends Mockingbird, that helps autistic children cope with school and is offered only during school hours……
Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said, I understand how challenging it is for parents. Having navigated the system as a parent of a child who needed additional support at school, I understand how challenging it is. But our Government is committed to ensuring that children are at school during school hours and that education provides a support and assistance while children are at school. It is unfortunate that important services like this are operating during school hours when we actually want children to be in school and get the support for their education at school.
……………..
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Has the Minister sought confirmation from the education Minister that her Government will fund schools to cover the cost of these programmes now that they can no longer be claimed through disability support funding, and, if not, why not?
Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said, there are different Government agencies that deliver services for disabled people. For disabled school children, the expectation is that they are at school. …..".
This sort of Ministerial Q and A performance was why the files behind Monty Python and Yes Minister emerged from the cleaners union staff servicing Whitehall.
Short version
It is now with the Education Ministry to manage costs for their care, but they require the disabled children to be in a mainstream school or special school during school hours …
when in current practice schools allow medical cause time outs (just funded from the disability budget).
Is Louise Upston going to get away with the inept performance of the sort that her predecessor was removed for? Because she is National and gets her face alongside Luxon in photos? Or because the PM does not care either?
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Respect Existence, Or Expect Resistance? There may well have been 50,000 pairs of feet “Marching For Nature” down Auckland’s Queen Street on Saturday afternoon, but the figure that impresses the Coalition Government is the 1,450,000 pairs of Auckland feet that were somewhere else.IN THE ERA OF DRONES and Artificial Intelligence, ...
Selwyn Manning and I discuss varieties of post colonial blowback and the implications its has for the rise of the Global South. Counties discussed include Palestine/Israel, France/New Caledonia, England/India, apartheid/post-apartheid South Africa and post-colonial New Zealand. It is a bit … Continue reading → ...
Hi,Today the New Zealand press is breathlessly reporting that the owners of toy company Zuru are officially New Zealand’s wealthiest people: Mat and Nick Mowbray worth an estimated $20 billion between them.While the New Zealand press loses its shit celebrating this Kiwi success story, this is a Webworm reminder that ...
TL;DR: The six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty in the past day to 8:36 pm on Monday, June 10 were:20,000 protested against the Fast-track approval bill on Saturday in Auckland, but PM Christopher Luxon says ‘sorry, but not sorry’ about the need for ...
Given the headlines around the recent findings of the ‘independent’ review of Kāinga Ora by Bill English, you might assume this post will be about social housing, Kāinga Ora’s most prominent role. While that is indeed something that requires defending, I want to talk about the other core purpose of ...
“How does it feel to beOne of the beautiful peopleNow that you know who you areWhat do you want to beAnd have you traveled very far?Far as the eye can see”Yesterday the ACT party faithful were regaled with craven boasts, sneers, and demands for even more at their annual rally.That ...
A defiant Resources Minister Shane Jones has responded to Saturday’s environmental protests by ending Labour’s offshore oil exploration ban and calling for long-term contracts with any successful explorers. The purpose would be to prevent a future Labour Government from reversing any licence the explorers might hold. Jones sees a precedent ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, June 2, 2024 thru Sat, June 8, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is Yale Climate Connection's Resources for debunking common solar and wind myths, by ...
This is where we ate our lunch last Wednesday. Never mind your châteaux and castles and whatnot, we like to enjoy a baguette in the shadow of a nuclear power plant; a station that puts out more than twice as much as Manapouri using nothing more than tiny atoms to bring ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by John Mason in collaboration with members from the Gigafact team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is the ocean acidifying? Acidification of oceans ...
The largest protest I ever went on was in the mid 90s. There were 10,000 people there that day, and I’ve never forgotten it. An enormous mass of people, chanting together. Stretching block after block, bringing traffic to a halt.But I can’t say that’s the biggest protest I’ve ever been ...
Hi there,I wanted to put all of Josh Drummond’s Webworm pieces all in one place. I love that he writes for Webworm — and all of these are a good read!David.Why Are So Many “Christians” Hellbent on Being Horrible?Why do so many objectively hideous people declare themselves “Christian”?Meeting the Master ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: On reflection, the six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty this week were:The Government-driven freeze in building new classrooms, local roads and water networks in order to save cash for tax cuts is frustrating communities facing massive population ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past somewhat interrupted week. Still on the move!Share Read more ...
Hi,One of the things I like the most about Webworm is to be able to break down the media and journalism a little, and go behind the scenes.This is one of those times.Yesterday an email arrived in my inbox from journalist Jonathan Milne, who is managing editor atNewsroom.I don’t ...
Wrote something over at 1/200 on a familiar theme of mine: The way we frame the economy as a separate, sacred force which must be sacrificed to, the way we talk about criminals as invaders who must be repelled, the constant othering of people on the benefit, people not in ...
A nice bit of news today: my 4600-word historical fantasy-horror piece, A Voyage Among the Vandals, has been accepted by Phobica Books (https://www.phobicabooks.co.uk/books) for their upcoming Pirate Horror anthology, Shivering Timbers. This one is set in the Mediterranean, during the mid-fifth century AD. Notable for having one of history’s designated ...
There was no less razzamatazz about the 2024 Budget than about earlier ones. Once again the underlying economic analysis got lost. It deserves more attention.Just to remind you, the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU), is the Treasury’s independent assessment and so can be analysed by other competent economists (although ...
There are two failings that consistently characterise a National government. One is a lack of imagination, the other is their willingness to look after their mates, no matter what harm it might do to everyone else.This is how we come to have thousands of enormous trucks carving up our roads. ...
The Kotahitanga Parliament 1897: A Māori Parliament – at least in the guise of a large and representative body dedicated to describing the shape of New Zealand’s future from a Māori perspective – would be a very good idea.THE DEMAND for a “Māori Parliament” needs to be carefully unpicked. Some Pakeha, ...
Dumbtown, is how my friend Gerard refers to people like ZB listeners - he’s not wrong.Normally on a Friday I start by looking at Mike Hosking’s moronic reckons of the week which he vomits down the throats of his audience like helpless baby birds in a nest, grateful for the ...
Should sick leave be part and parcel of the working conditions from Day One on the job, just like every other health and safety provision? Or should access to sick leave be something that only gradually accumulates, depending on how long a worker has been on the payroll? If enacted ...
“So long as we live in a democracy, economic policy can never be anything other than social-democratic.”“HEH!”, snorted Laurie, as he waved his debit card over the EFTPOS machine. “Same price as last week. I guess budgets aren’t what they used to be.”“I wouldn’t know,” replied the young barman, wearily, ...
Kotahitanga: New Zealand’s future belongs to those who do not fear a nation carved out of unity and solidarity, and are willing to trust the carvers. Some New Zealanders will be required to step up, and others, perhaps for the first time in their lives, will be expected to step ...
Welcome to another Friday roundup! Here are some recent links and stories that caught our eye, perfectly timed for your watercooler discussions and weekend reading. As always feel free to share more in the comments. Our header image this week is by Patrick Reynolds, and shows Te Komititanga from above. ...
As Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, ACT’s Brooke van Velden is fronting proposed changes to sick pay regulations and The Holiday Act. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers features talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the ...
Lowering aerosol emissions from shipping has altered clouds, with potentially drastic effects. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:New evidence is increasingly pointing at efforts ...
The best observation I’ve read this week about the deep, profound harm Trump is doingTrump has hurled threats and smears at witnesses, jurors and the judge (including his family)... [he] has tried to intimidate witnesses and delegitimize the New York courts as corrupt. In continuing to incite his mob (that ...
Do do do do do do do doDo do do do do doDi di di di di di di di di di diNature enter me…In 2018 the Labour lead government banned new oil and gas exploration in Aotearoa. A change welcomed by those who care deeply for our environment and ...
The Transport Minister is trying to push through urgent legislation that would allow him to change emissions standards for car imports without approval from Parliament, after only consulting car importers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Just as two major reports showed fossil fuel burning was warming the planet to dangerous levels and ...
This is a guest post by reader Grant A, the second of a pair about how to fix Broadway. If you missed the beginning of the show, here’s the link to Act 1 from yesterday.Yesterday, I discussed changing traffic circulation around Broadway in Newmarket. This included implementing a car-free ...
The Government’s announcement of a roadshow consultation on work health and safety is a smokescreen for its plan to throw out regulations which keep workers safe. ...
The Government has reportedly scrapped a policy that would have gone far to fix gender and ethnic pay gaps and instead is implementing a watered-down voluntary system. ...
The Government knew its changes to the school lunch programme would risk achievement, attendance, nutrition and wellbeing of New Zealand children, as well as having wider impacts on reducing child poverty, and made the changes anyway, new documents show. ...
Two months have passed since the National Government said it was a question of ”when, not if” New Zealand would recognise Palestine, in response to Labour’s call. ...
Today the coalition government has announced that a select committee inquiry into banking competition will be led by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.New Zealand First campaigned to take on foreign owned banks, and we committed to that in our coalition agreement by ensuring the inquiry has a broad ...
The National Government is doing everything it can to delay taking action on climate as it announces that years of work on agricultural emissions will start from scratch. ...
Tens of thousands of people showed up to have their voices heard and march against National’s unpopular Fast Track Approvals Bill in Auckland over the weekend. ...
The Government deciding to lift the oil and gas ban in the middle of a climate crisis is a severe step backwards that will have serious consequences for our future. ...
This week the Justice Select Committee has heard numerous submissions on the removal of Māori Wards. “I am feeling invigorated by the powerful oral submissions that I have heard throughout the week.” Said Local Government spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “People from all facets of life: whānau Māori, whānau Pākehā, rangatahi, kaumātua, ...
Today’s March for Nature sends a clear message that our country is deeply against the Fast Track Approvals Bill proceeding because the cost to the environment would be unacceptable. ...
The recent attacks on Te Pāti Māori and its MP’s are part of a continuing narrative of attack on all matters Māori. If we could respond to baseless inuendo we would. If there is any evidence then show us so we have a reason to engage in a conversation. The ...
The Government’s move to pour billions into potholes whilst remaining inactive on climate change does nothing to solve our transport system's core problems. ...
“The Government needs to provide leadership for New Zealand’s mental health sector, which appears to have lost out in the Budget despite the promises Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey made on the campaign trail,” said Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s announcement that would see some workers’ entitlement to sick leave reduce flies in the face of yet another promise National made during the election campaign. ...
Cutting a third of the staff at Ministry for the Environment will undermine years of work to clean up our fresh water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and leave us unprepared for a changing climate. ...
The National Government has shown all their talk about meeting climate targets is just hot air as they cut more than $3 billion in climate-related work, said Labour climate spokesperson Megan Woods. ...
The Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus has labelled this year’s Budget as unambitious for Māori and unapologetic in its disregard for Te Tiriti. ...
The Government’s bloody-minded commitment to delivering trickle-down tax cuts at all costs comes at the expense of investment in people and planet. ...
This year’s Budget reflects the heartlessness of the Coalition Government when it comes to Pasifika, according to the Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka (Māori and Pasifika) caucus. ...
The budget today is a sad state of affairs and the country can now see the result of Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ wrong choices and the Government’s broken promises. ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has repeatedly said she will not be borrowing for tax cuts and denied fiscal irresponsibility. Today, the budget has revealed Nicola Willis has borrowed $12 billion – and her tax cuts cost $10 billion. ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Auckland King’s Counsel Gregory Peter Blanchard as a High Court Judge. Justice Blanchard attended the University of Auckland from 1991 to 1995, graduating with an LLB (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (English). He was a solicitor with the firm that is now Dentons ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says new data released today shows encouraging growth in the health workforce, with a continued increase in the numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives joining Health New Zealand. “Frontline healthcare workers are the beating heart of the healthcare system. Increasing and retaining our health workforce ...
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has today announced a comprehensive programme to reform New Zealand's outdated and complicated firearms laws. “The Arms Act has been in place for over 40 years. It has been amended several times – in a piecemeal, and sometimes rushed way. This has resulted in outdated ...
The coalition Government is delivering record levels of targeted investment in specialist schools so children with additional needs can thrive. As part of Budget 24, $89 million has been ringfenced to redevelop specialist facilities and increase satellite classrooms for students with high needs. This includes: $63 million in depreciation funding ...
A substantial consultation on work health and safety will begin today with a roadshow across the regions over the coming months, says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden. This the first step to deliver on the commitment to reforming health and safety law and regulations, set out in ...
Forestry Minister Todd McClay, today announced the start of the Government’s plan to restore certainty and confidence in the forestry and wood processing sector. “This government will drive investment to unlock the industry’s economic potential for growth,” Mr McClay says. “Forestry’s success is critical to rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, boosting ...
Annual service charges in the forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will be cancelled for 2023/24, Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. “The sector has told me the costs imposed on forestry owners by the previous government were excessive and unreasonable and I agree,” Mr McClay says. “They have said that there ...
Introduction Thank you for having me here today and welcome to Wellington, the home of the Hurricanes, the next Super Rugby champions. Infrastructure – the challenge This government has inherited a series of big challenges in infrastructure. I don’t need to tell an audience as smart as this one that ...
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard welcomed outcomes to boost agricultural and food trade between New Zealand and China. A number of documents were signed today at Government House that will improve the business environment between New Zealand and China, and help reduce barriers, including on infant formula ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay, and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, today announced the official launch of Negotiations on Services Trade between the two countries. “The Government is focused on opening doors for services exporters to grow the New Zealand’s economy,” Mr McClay says. As part of the 2022 New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement Upgrade ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Government House in Wellington today. “I was pleased to welcome Premier Li to Wellington for his first official visit, which marks 10 years since New Zealand and China established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Mr Luxon says. “The Premier and ...
The coalition Government is taking action to reduce the gender pay gap in New Zealand through the development of a voluntary calculation tool. “Gender pay gaps have impacted women for decades, which is why we need to continue to drive change in New Zealand,” Acting Minister for Women Louise Upston ...
The coalition Government is boosting funding for Rural Support Trusts to provide more help to farmers and growers under pressure, Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced today. “A strong and thriving agricultural sector is crucial to the New Zealand economy and one of the ways to support it is to ...
Spending on contractors and consultants continues to fall and the size of the Public Service workforce has started to decrease after years of growth, according to the latest data released today by the Public Service Commission. Workforce data for the quarter from 31 December 23 to 31 March 24 shows ...
Thank you to the Law Association for inviting me to speak this morning. As a former president under its previous name — the Auckland District Law Society — I take particular satisfaction in seeing this organisation, and its members, in such good heart. As Attorney-General, I am grateful for these ...
New Zealand is committed to working closely with Timor-Leste to support its prosperity and resilience, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “This year is the 25th anniversary of New Zealand sending peacekeepers to Timor-Leste, who contributed to the country’s stabilisation and ultimately its independence,” Mr Peters says. “A quarter ...
Promoting robust competition in the banking sector is vital to rebuilding the economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “New Zealanders deserve a banking sector that is as competitive as possible. Banking services play an important role in our communities and in the economy. Kiwis rely on access to lending when ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have today announced a regulatory sector review on the approval process for new agricultural and horticultural products. “Red tape stops farmers and growers from getting access to products that have been approved by other OECD countries. ...
The Coalition Government will reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions by 1 July 2025 through a new Land Transport Rule released for public consultation today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. The draft speed limit rule will deliver on the National-ACT coalition commitment to reverse the previous government’s blanket speed limit ...
Minister Paul Goldsmith is making major leadership changes within both his Arts and Media portfolios. “I am delighted to announce Carmel Walsh will be officially stepping into the role of Chair of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, having been acting Chair since April,” Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Carmel is ...
Food and fibre export revenue is tipped to reach $54.6 billion this year and hit a record $66.6b in 2028 as the Government focuses on getting better access to markets and cutting red tape, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones say. “This achievement is testament ...
A new export exemption proposal for food businesses demonstrates the coalition Government’s commitment to reducing regulatory barriers for industry and increasing the value of New Zealand exports, which gets safe New Zealand food to more markets, says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The coalition Government has listened to the concerns ...
New Zealand and Philippines are continuing to elevate our relationship, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The leaders of New Zealand and Philippines agreed in April 2024 to lift our relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026,” Mr Peters says. “Our visit to Manila this week has been an excellent ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Brooke van Velden says paid parental leave increase from 1 July will put more money in the pockets of Kiwi parents and give them extra support as they take precious time off to bond with their newborns. The increase takes effect from 1 July 2024 ...
The number of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel deployed to the Republic of Korea is increasing, Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. NZDF will deploy up to 41 additional personnel to the Republic of Korea, increasing the size of its contribution to the United ...
New Zealand will be represented at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine by Minister Mark Mitchell in Switzerland later this week. “New Zealand strongly supports Ukraine’s efforts to build a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Minister Mitchell is a senior Cabinet Minister and ...
Farmers’ hard work is paying off in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) with the move to a national pest management plan marking strong progress in the eradication effort, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The plan, approved by the Coalition Government, was proposed by the programme partners DairyNZ, Beef ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Housing Minister Chris Bishop formally opened a new Build to Rent development in Mt Wellington this morning. “The Prime Minister and I were honoured to cut the ribbon of Resido, New Zealand’s largest Build to Rent development to date. “Build to Rent housing, like the ...
The Government will deliver on its election commitment to take agriculture out of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) and will establish a new Pastoral Sector Group to constructively tackle biogenic methane, Coalition Government Agriculture and Climate Change Ministers say. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand farmers ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Japan from 16-20 June, his first visit as Prime Minister. “Japan is incredibly important to New Zealand's prosperity. It is the world’s fourth largest economy, and our fourth largest export destination. “As you know, growing the economy is my number one priority. A strong economy means ...
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Andrew Bayly, travels to Singapore today to attend scam and fraud prevention meetings. “Scams are a growing international problem, and we are not immune in New Zealand. Organised criminal networks operate across borders, and we need to work with our Asia-Pacific partners to tackle ...
People who were displaced by severe weather events in 2022 and 2023 will be supported by the extension of Temporary Accommodation Assistance through to 30 June 2025. Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says the coalition Government is continuing to help to those who were forced out of their ...
Removing the ban on petroleum exploration beyond onshore Taranaki is part of a suite of proposed amendments to the Crown Minerals Act to deal with the energy security challenges posed by rapidly declining natural gas reserves, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “Natural gas is critical to keeping our lights on ...
New Zealand and Malaysia intend to intensify their long-standing, deep connections, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Malaysia is one of New Zealand’s oldest friends in South-East Asia – and both countries intend to get more out of the relationship," Mr Peters says. "Our connections already run deep and ...
The end of Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) motels in Rotorua is nearing another milestone as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces it will not renew consents for six of the original 13 motels, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The government is committed to stop using CEH ...
The Government is providing a narrow exemption from the discontinuation of the First Home Grant for first home buyers who may face unfair situations as a result, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The First Home Grant scheme was closed with immediate effect on 22 May 2024, with savings being reprioritised ...
Work to increase flood resilience in Hawke’s Bay can start sooner, thanks to a new fast consenting process, Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell and Environment Minister Penny Simmonds say. “Faster consenting means work to build stop banks, spillways and other infrastructure can get underway sooner, increasing flood ...
Tangata tū tangata ora, tangata noho tangata mate. Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka today announced acting Deputy Chief Judge Craig Coxhead as the new Deputy Chief Judge, and Nathan Milner as Judge of the Māori Land Court. "I want to congratulate Judge Coxhead and Mr Milner on their appointments ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, today signed three Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreements that will boost investment, grow New Zealand’s digital and green economies and increase trade between New Zealand and the 14 IPEF partners. IPEF’s partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, today signed three Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreements that will boost investment, grow New Zealand’s digital and green economies and increase trade between New Zealand and the 14 IPEF partners. IPEF’s partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP ...
As season two of The Traitors NZ approaches, we introduce the brave souls about to blag and backstab their way to $100,000. Grab your cloak and get ready to betray your closest friends, because the new season of The Traitors NZ is about to hit our screens. On July 1, ...
The House - Despite Parliament having supremacy, governments often play the boss. This week the tables will turn as ministers face up to backbenchers. ...
Insurance Council New Zealand chief executive Kris Faafoi said the council "especially support the establishment of a fast-track pathway for projects which bolster adaptation, resilience and recovery from natural hazards". ...
Downfall In a secure bunker deep under the Thames The Supreme Leader marshals his final battle plan. He is surrounded by his High Command. On the map, he points at a massed group of flags. “We will counterattack Marshal Von Starmer’s armoured column With an overwhelming show of force here!” ...
Asia Pacific Report New Zealand activists Youssef Sammour and Rana Hamida have been selected to join the volunteer crew on the international Freedom Flotilla ship Handala, currently visiting European ports and heading to break Israel’s siege of Gaza. Youssef Sammour at a recent Auckland rally for Palestine. Image: Kia Ora ...
The new secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa, is “well equipped” for the role, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says. Waqa, a former Nauru president is the first Nauruan national to assume the top job at the Forum. He began his tenure last week and was welcomed during ...
Asia Pacific Report Israel’s targeting of educational institutes across Gaza is “shameful” and contributing to a global crisis for students, says the head of an educational foundation. Talal al-Hathal, director of the Al Fakhoora Programme at Education Above All foundation in Qatar, said: “War has exacerbated the plight of Gaza’s ...
COMMENTARY: By John Hobbs The New Zealand government remains disturbingly quiet on the unfolding genocide in Gaza. New Zealand’s silence is clearly undermining its self-image as a principled and independent state within the United Nations. It is following its Anglosphere English-speaking partners (United States, UK, Canada, and Australia) in avoiding ...
Chris Bishop said on Thursday Simeon Brown had "already signalled that each of our new Roads of National Significance will be tolled". But will they? ...
The extent of WorkSafe's woes, and its deficit - and plans to cut 170 staff to plug it last year - have been revealed in a newly released Cabinet paper. ...
Striking Auckland University students called off their protest against high rent costs last week, but if a proposal from the Budget goes ahead, the price of education in New Zealand will only get worse. In a press release titled ‘Rewarding hard work in tertiary education and training‘, Minister for Tertiary ...
The miniature ladies had been coming to the Villa Soleil on Friday mornings for a year, ever since Mrs Burton suffered the stroke that made it impossible for her to attend the miniature meetings at the other ladies’ houses. On Beth’s first Friday, they alighted in the spacious high-ceilinged front ...
MONDAY First they came for me over claiming a housing allowance that was well within the rules. I tried to speak out – but was told to be silent. And now they have come for another National MP who is claiming a housing allowance which is well within the rules. ...
Businesses and workers around the country now have the opportunity to tell the Government what is, or isn’t, working when it comes to health and safety rules. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden has confirmed consultation is now open for a review of the almost 10-year-old Health and Safety ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was and the urge to win. Mōrena and welcome to The Weekend. Last week I gave a shout out to our award winning journalists on staff and this week it’s all about not being so competitive. In fairness, I don’t consider industry ...
Alex Casey looks back on a year of talking television with local celebrities.It all began with Chris Parker in a jacuzzi. Since, June 2023, Tara Ward and I have been interviewing beloved New Zealand personalities about their TV habits and memories for our My Life in TV series. We’ve ...
Post-punk quartet Ringlets share the songs that would soundtrack their perfect weekend. Picture this: it’s 11am on a Sunday morning, the sun is out, and you’re tending to the garden while listening to ‘New Life’ by Ringlets on repeat. This is the optimal way to enjoy the new single from ...
Amy Brown’s debut novel is a three-part ode to family and art-making interrupted. My Brilliant Sister is a marginalia-worthy literary tryptych – a novel in three parts, with three very distinct point of view characters – that explores creation in all its forms, from childbirth to art and everything in ...
Speed puzzling is like a marathon for the mind – intense, demanding, surprisingly exhausting. But does turning it into a sport destroy it as a relaxing pastime? Watching the highlights of the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship makes me want to be sick. Dozens of teams in matching T-shirts swarm around ...
I joined an expedition to South Georgia island, a remote and ecologically vulnerable place, with camera in hand. This is what I saw. In October of 2023, I was one of 22 “Inspiring Explorers” who ventured to remote South Georgia, a sub-antarctic island, as part of the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s ...
He earned 5c for his first cut in 1955, and $35 for his last in March. Duncan Greive recalls the life of his late barber, “Young” George Dyas, who never stopped snipping. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.‘If you’re reading this you ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Polynesia has just played host to a 15-nation “Marara” military exercise aimed at increasing “interoperability” between participating armed forces. From May 27 to June 8, the exercise involved about 1000 military from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Goldfeld, Director, Center for Community Child Health Royal Children’s Hospital; Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne; Theme Director Population Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute It’s well-known that children raised in families experiencing financial stress face greater risks of psychological and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaya Dantas, Deputy Chair, Academic Board; Dean International, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Professor of International Health, Curtin University Aleksandar Malivuk/Shutterstock Earlier this week, Moderna announced positive results for its phase 3 clinical trial of a combined vaccine against COVID and influenza. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Irina Ponomareva, Adjunct Research Fellow in Griffith Center for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR), Griffith University Irina Ponomareva Investigation of a sacred area at Avon Downs in Jangga Country, Central Queensland, has uncovered evidence of stone tool production in a place ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University Netflix Last night, millions of people will have tuned into Netflix and other streaming services to binge their favourite shows, including the (much anticipated) second part of Bridgerton season three. Streaming services such ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Fitzpatrick, Professor in International History, Flinders University In Europe, the slogan “never again fascism” is one that still resonates. The death and destruction wrought by hyper-nationalist, authoritarian states in the first half of the 20th century still haunts the nightmares of ...
Analysis - The government gets serious about the alleged misuse of census data, and there are more revelations about MPs paying rent to themselves with taxpayer dollars. ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on Minister Brooke van Velden to ensure that her review of workplace health and safety puts the voices of workers front and centre. ...
An announcement today from the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon Brooke van Velden that she will be starting a substantial consultation on work health and safety, must consider the stalled progress from government and continued absence ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Williams, Associate Professor, Griffith University, Griffith University Many a government has spent generously to woo voters in election years. Some might even say recklessly. But, even by that standard, the cash splashed this week by the Queensland Labor government under ...
Ekos is welcoming today’s statement by Forestry Minister Todd McClay on supporting the forest sector and the government’s removal of a service fee on all forests registered in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZETS). ...
Kieran McAnulty says it looks like the government "has no intention" of helping local government after a new announcement about funding for infrastructure . ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is urging the government to rethink corporate welfare for the gaming sector and direct that funding into life-saving medicines instead. ...
Te Urewera Board and Tūhoe are moving ahead with plans to re-imagine the future of Te Urewera as the homeland of Tūhoe and a place that is accessible to all New Zealanders. ...
Child rights organisation Save the Children is calling for political leaders to withdraw the Fast-Track Approvals Bill, saying it fails to uphold children’s rights and the potential negative impact on children now and in the future is too great a risk. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sasha Grishin, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Australian National University Installation view of the 2024 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® Pharaoh, a collaboration between the British Museum and the NGV, on display from June 14 – October 6 2024 at NGV International, Melbourne. ...
A poem from Vincent O’Sullivan’s posthumous collection Still Is. The white room It was not so much that I asked to leave the party, as several suggesting I might feel more comfortable, shall we say, elsewhere? They kindly made sure my glass was freshly attended, then took my arm, solicitously, ...
The Initiative pointed to stronger cost-benefit assessment, as well as revisiting the rules around personal liability for health and safety outcomes, as promising starting points for review. ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.First, a quick PSA: Unity Books has a flash new website that lets you search and purchase ...
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Can we please have just one Green MP that can control themselves (like an adult), that does not require to either go on a course of "de-escalation", or need help for mental health issues and the leaders do not have to apologise for their actions.
NZ politics live: Green MP unleashes f-bomb in Parliament | Stuff
Another MSM beat-up Jimmy; they must be really worried about the polls.
The Greens are on 12% so must be doing something right on things like policies, which the MSM seems less interested in.
12% isn't great.
They need to get into the 20s if they want to influence the policy direction of the next government.
The Greens achieved their best election result (15 seats, including three electorate seats) last year.
They’ve never been above 12% of the party vote, and yet have had some influence on govt policy direction in some areas. Just my opinion – like all political parties and politicians, they will continue to fall short on occasion, but remain my favorite NZ political party, in part for their longer-term focus in selected areas of concern.
Exactly.
If they want to move past the status of a party that props up Labour governments, then they need to exceed their 2023 result – by a large margin.
Every minor party will have policy wins. Look at NZF and Act at the moment.
But we want a Green Party that dominates a government.
Agreed James….but the establishment doesn't want this and will do anything to portray the Greens as a disorganised rabble.
As a Green voter for many years, I used to dream of them holding steady at 12-13 per cent. But every CC event/disaster now adds a fraction to their vote so 20 per cent is no longer a dream..
Oh I don't know… it's a rare thing as a voter to feel like my views and attitudes are being represented by my representative.
Jimmy we get that you have no time for the left, as your past posts are mainly whinges.
On one hand, I've never liked Riccardo Mendez-March and found him, in general, to be a political liability for the Greens.
On the other, dropping an f-bomb in Parliament is objectively hilarious and awesome.
I don't care if someone says fuck in the House (the Speaker can deal with any issues around that). He didn't direct it at anyone or use it as a term of abuse.
The problem I have is the lack of discipline that leads to yet another round of MSM negative attention on the Greens. Maybe they're getting it all out of the way this year.
Marama was just on RadioNZ news saying that all the parties swear every day in parliament.
RadioNZ introduced her comment by saying that the Greens admit that their members swear in parliament every day. WTF?
Most of it being while the person is not addressing the House.
In the House?
At the same time could we please have a National MP that can do basic maths and not forget to carry the 1?
They need your help badly Jimmy, go tiger!
Fuck !!!really that's fucking disgusting , sack the fucker immediately!!!
I get what you are saying and I share your frustration.
That said, JAG is guilty of aggressively waving some documents in a bloke's face while simultaneously committing the sin of being totally correct about what they were actually arguing about.
RMM said a potty word.
On the other hand the government is blatantly corrupt, is dismantling everything Labour does often for no other reason than because Labour did it.
Let's keep this in fucking perspective.
+100 that guy
Can we plz have concern trolls that out up a better example
Of far greater concern to 'us' is an MP that 'overlooked' 10s of thousands of dollars of
bribesdonations while chairing a committee that met his donor's interests, in my opinion.Sometimes, it’s a fine line between a concern troll and a useful idiot and Jimmy’s obviously having an identity crisis and cannot choose. Going forward, this is important because some Mods here struggle to tell the difference.
If only you knew how often I have to put my hands in my pockets clench my jaw and walk past jimmys efforts so as to not upset you mods , you'd put me up for a saint hood.
I/we didn’t know because when you put your hands in your pocket you cannot type a comment for TS. But I/we admire and appreciate your fortitude.
Tories have called an early election in the UK, early July. Tories currently trailing 20 points in polls.
https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/22/rishi-sunak-will-call-general-election-for-july-in-surprise-move-sources
edited to correct who is trailing in the polls.
Concurrently, the outcome of the most sadistic policies implemented by the Tories is finally getting a proper inquiry. Policies that were heavily influencing the last Nat government, and would likely have been implemented had they secured a 4th term.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/may/22/inquiry-to-begin-into-dwps-treatment-of-ill-and-disabled-people-on-benefits
Yes Kay, the true doco of "Mr Bates against the Post Office", gives a view of their punishing lying use of power.
You may like to check the timeline of the scandal before you get all unhappy with the Conservative Party.
The product was installed in 1999 and the prosecutions started almost immediately and ran until 2015.
There was a Labour Government there from 1997 until 2010. The system went in and the prosecutions were largely during their reign. The Conservative Party were certainly culpable for the slowness in cleaning it up but even you would agree that the real blame for it happening was Labour's?
Wouldn't you?
And the MP who campaigned for justice for the postmasters was James Arbuthnot (played by Alex Jennings in the recreation), who (inconveniently for Patricia) is a Conservative.
Don't frighten me. Tories trailing by 20 points
god, sorry. That will teach me for posting too early in the morning. Editing the commentnow.
Just clueless fwits. So fixated on their "vision" (which will be dire for the majority of NZ), that they blithely/blindly roll on, and over, all.
Again the use of "House" as opposed to "Places." Bishop and Luxon being naughty?
Well…..thats a given. Stretttching the bounds is nothing new.
Allocating $140M for 1500 houses is $100,000 per house. Sounds like a bedsit inside social housing provider building.
Yep. It'll be "NO frills" . After all, they are the New Victorians , who Charles Dickens would recognise as such . The phrase "Nothing so cold as Charity" will assume extra meaning in NZ under NActFirst.
Na itlll be nothing, just a convenient lie from national .
Well well, well. Sunak has called a probably catastrophic early election early because the knives were out for him on the back benches. The Tories are committing seppuku – they are utterly spent, pre-occupied with interminable infighting to the extent Sunak has called a July election as an act of spite against his internal enemies and still get to California in time to see his kids into school for the new term.
Meanwhile, I see Adrian Orr has written the death note for this government – it is going to be a one term wonder because we are now looking at a three year recession. Richard Harman at Politik – the uber centrist purveyor of received wisdom – is busy peddling the line that this is all the result of Labour's COVID spending so the govt might get away with it, but the thing is Luxon wasn't elected to fix the economy via Osbornian austerity. he was elected to do something about the squeezed middle class and the cost of living crisis. He can't and anyway doesn't want to deliver on that promise so they will be toast.
Everybody knows austerity in the face of a recession leads to double (if not the Osborne tripple) dipping the recession. The conclusion should be that, yes, Luxon was elected on the promise to carry that out.
Sadly, the political situation in Great Britain is almost identical to the U.S.: a choice between two unconscionable options.
There are, of course, a few decent and honourable politicians, like George Galloway, whose recent return to parliament drove both major party leaders into displays of Blimpish outrage.
And there is Andrew Feinstein, who is trying to unseat Keir Starmer,,,
https://x.com/DoubleDownNews/status/1792858765600899124
Rishi Sunak doing a 1984 Muldoon. It didn't go too well for Muldoon.
Some things never change. Its a case of… if I'm going to go down in smoke, I'll make sure the rest of you come down with me. 😉
Over 200 Conservative MP's that face losing their seats have just seen an easy NZ$95k go up in smoke because Rishi has called the election 6 months early for no good reason. (A backbencher earns NZ$190k a year).
Shame. (sarc)
They should have listened to Hipkins.
He hung on the just about the last legal moment before recognising that his Government was dead and smelling rather a lot. Still, he got all his losing MPs a pay packet for as long as he could. Too bad for New Zealand of course.
I'm gonna bet you a chocolate fish this mob if bandits in government in nz will go to the polls early .
Why on earth would they?
I used to know one-time PM Jack Marshall. He was a member of a Government which went to the polls after 2 years, not 3, over the waterfront issue in 1951.
He said, when asked, that the only effect in the long term was that they served for 8 years, 1949 – 1957, instead of 9 for 3 full terms from 1949 to 1958. That was the only effect.
Why should anyone hold an early election, whether the are likely to win it, or lose it?
Coalition collapse
I note that Harmon does not link to the RBG statement ….
https://www.politik.co.nz/orrs-warning-three-years-of-austerity/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/350286984/home-loan-cuts-story-next-year
I read that Harman comment and thought that was a bit rich, blaming it all on Covid when some of the bank commentators are unsettled by the whole tax cut scenario and the expectation that it is more likely to fuel domestic inflation, the very thing the RBNZ is trying to curb.
Exactly Nic, the Luxonites are the most likely beneficiaries of austerity, another 10% on the weekly shop means bugger all when there’s a nice multi million dollar pillow to lay one’s head on after a hard days rorting.
The local problem is Greedflation and that’s a real bastard to control.
What “Harman comment” and where??
A link would be good.
Relevant to what was discussed here a couple of days ago. Well referenced and supported.
Risk of Suicide and Self-Harm Following Gender-Affirmation Surgery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38699117/
Just in case anyone is still running the lines about "would you rather have a live daughter or a dead son?"
"Individuals who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12.12-fold higher suicide attempt risk than those who did not (3.47% vs. 0.29%, RR 95% CI 9.20-15.96, p < 0.0001). Compared to the tubal ligation/vasectomy controls, the risk was 5.03-fold higher before propensity matching and remained significant at 4.71-fold after matching (3.50% vs. 0.74%, RR 95% CI 2.46-9.024, p < 0.0001) for the gender affirmation patients with similar results with the pharyngitis controls. Conclusion Gender-affirming surgery is significantly associated with elevated suicide attempt risks, underlining the necessity for comprehensive post-procedure psychiatric support."
FFS you cannot compare the risks of self harm and suicide post Gender-Affirming surgery to longterm contraception or a sore throat[ pharyngitis].
The self harm and suicidality exists before the surgery, do people not realize that most Gender Affirmation is not male to female but female to male. The surgery is but another form of bodily self harm as part of complex Borderline Personality Disorders.
please don't put your email address in the URL field, it displays it publicly. You can leave the URL field blank.
sorry autofill
Actually, the critical group NOT included in the study is the incidence of suicide in transgender patients who do NOT undergo affirmation surgery. If affirmation surgery decreases the incidence of suicide in trans people, then gender-affirming surgery has a positive effect overall. I don't understand why an emergency visit was included in the study. Perhaps, without the emergency visit, the stats don't look so good.
"The study involved four cohorts: cohort A, adults aged 18-60 who had gender-affirming surgery and an emergency visit (N = 1,501); cohort B, control group of adults with emergency visits but no gender-affirming surgery (N = 15,608,363); and cohort C, control group of adults with emergency visits, tubal ligation or vasectomy, but no gender-affirming surgery (N = 142,093). Propensity matching was applied to cohorts A and C."
It's risky
It's irreversible (no, you cannot replace a healthy breast with an implant, you can't un-invert a penis, and you can't take skin from a neophallus and put it back on a shucked forearm, sorry if anyone loses their lunch, but this is reality)
It's performed (unless you are rich) by inexperienced surgeons, because this is what happens when the demand for a type of surgery suddenly outstrips the number of competent and experienced surgeons
It will (at a minimum) make sex awkward and may make it impossible and painful, and previous use of puberty blockers are likely to make orgasm impossible, for the rest of the patient's life.
And it's all in pursuit of an impossible goal, because men are not women and you can't stop people accurately sexing you, in the same way that you can't stop yourself from determining which way is up and which way is down.
Of course people with SDPS (Sexual Dysfunction Producing Surgery) are getting down. They are victims, they are vulnerable, they have been promised a lie by people claiming expertise and authority, and when reality hits (usually in the mid-twenties) it's too late.
That, and the Dr Frankenstein surgeons.
Seriously? We're at that level of name-calling now?
Let me rephrase then.
That, and the surgeons who are doing experimental surgeries on the genitals of teenagers, without informed consent, often botching them, not really knowing how to fix that, leaving young people to face a lifetime of pain and regret, and doing that because they love the cutting edge of transhumanism.
Is that better?
#notallSRSsurgeons obviously. But we don't know how many eh, which is the point. Fuck No Debate.
a couple of receipts from things I've seen recently.
Detrans man, Ritchie Heron's thread from today,
https://x.com/TullipR/status/1793660665426850225
The surgeon who did experimental cross genital surgery on Jazz Jennings at age 17,
https://x.com/TTExulansic/status/1792304132277317974
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/05/housing-minister-chris-bishop-admits-government-scrapping-first-home-grants-unpopular-will-cause-some-pain.html
True to form national are proved to be dishonest, they attacked labour for not going far enough with first home grants, I even believe they said they wouldn't cut the grants, but here we are.
Lets see if any of the media sock puppets take this up with our ex tobacco lobbyist housing minister.
Im sure he will have a response ready as hes skilled in these matters.
I thought they did yesterday and his smirky response was "that was then, this is now".
A please explain wouldn't hurt so bishop can dig himself in or surprise us all with an intelligent response.
I am not surprised by the RBG take.
Sure imported inflation was coming down and the impact of the weather events of early 2023 have gone – so we were going to get to 3% by the end of the year.
Many presumed therefore that the 5.5% OCR had done its jobs and it would go down – this year even.
This was never likely. So for them a shot across the bows.
This is because domestic inflation will hold the rate at 3% through 2025 and beyond – rates (infrastructure) and insurance (adjusting for impact on infrastructure of GW) are going up year by year at rates not seen before AND loss of (construction) workers to Oz (seeking secure jobs and better wages) increasing costs.
Chickens coming home to roost – economic growth via migrant labour inflow population increase decreases productivity (we needed investment in more efficient use of resources) and it increases infrastructure cost.
It does expose a limitation in the OCR approach – the lower imported inflation would allow a lower dollar (improved returns to exporters), if there was an alternative mechanism for internal inflation management.
Such as a reduction of the OCR to 5% and the impost of a mortgage surcharge (0.25%, then 0.5%) – the government surely needs the money.
More money paid in rent – less GST spending. Less tax off rent income (landlords giveaway). No rise in wages (25 cents an hour MW no FPA etc). Will company tax make up the shortfall …
That all said, Zollner may be right, in correcting the misplaced optimisim of a fall from the 5.5% level – a fall is still likely
https://www.politik.co.nz/orrs-warning-three-years-of-austerity/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/350286984/home-loan-cuts-story-next-year
That all said, Zollner may be right, in correcting the misplaced optimism of a (n early) fall from the 5.5% level – (so banks do not rush cuts), a fall is still likely (albeit in the latter half of 2025, than the first half – as even the wiser ones thought a few months ago).
I remember paying 18% on a commercial loan in 1990 ….5.5% doesn't sound so bad.
Tony Alexander looks at the economy and rides his horse away from the elephant.
https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/tony-alexander-in-the-most-dangerous-part-of-the-cycle-time-to-call-it-quits-45557
Yet more proof that we need to reinvent how we tackle inflation .
Yeah the, don't feed the Damien Grant's of this world, warning is chilling.
Sir Ian Taylor wants a smart investment plan, rather than keeping doors open to the old industry economy.
Re-wiring the nation (so extra power is not more expensive) from the farm up.
Geothermal
Bio-forestry
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/opinion-a-letter-to-shane-jones-sir-ian-taylor/MBOYHVJWEZAFNN5N5YW3R5XKNU/
https://archive.li/aHb2M
Sign of the times – Auckland inner city police have to focus on daylight robbery of food.
This is what happens when population increases by 2.9%, but economic growth is 0.6%
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/05/alleged-whittaker-s-chocolate-thief-chased-through-auckland-cbd-as-police-crack-down-on-retail-crime-hundreds-of-charges-laid.html
I presume the environmental cost met by government is far higher than the risible amount of royalties received.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/05/resources-minister-shane-jones-announces-plan-to-double-export-earnings-from-mining-says-industry-is-back-in-business.html
The growth in mining royalties is from $6.5M in 2010.
So we get stuff all from the gold then ..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3502112/6-5m-royalties-from-mining-the-cherry-on-the-top
Simon Court – an ACT MP – thinks if we drill for oil here we get cheaper energy – we do not refine the oil, it would have to go overseas and be refined there and sent back – it would be no cheaper to us than the world market rate.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/23/mining-back-in-business-with-plan-to-double-export-value-govt/
The number of staff leaving straight off (to get new jobs asap and the others waiting for the voluntary redundancy option then going) is indicative of people who do not want to be clients. Nor work for a National led government.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350287893/ministry-social-development-looks-shed-700-staff
Workforce Data – Workforce size – Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
The number of public sector employees (excluding local government) rose by 65,784 (19%) in just 6 years to 2023.
The number employed by MSD rose from 6,799 @ June 2017 to 9,077 @ June 2023, an increase of 2,277 or 33%.
The population of NZ increased by 11% between 2017 and 2023. So, MSD employee numbers rose by a factor 3 over the population growth. I'm surprised it's only 700.
Do you do consultant numbers as well?
What is the comparison from 2017 to 2023?
Oh, there is stuff you did not mention
And this
And also
From Workforce Data – Workforce size – Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission.
Total contractor and consultant spend (Opex & Capex) in the year to June 2018 = $900.2m
Total contractor and consultant spend (Opex & Capex) in the year to June 2023 = $1,268.5m
An increase in 5 years of 30%.
What was the point you were trying to make?
1.no useful consultant figures until 2018 (even if only at the aggregate spend)
2.30% is less than wage increases in the period, so no apparent increase in number of consultants.
3.the reason for the staff increases in MSD in 2023 was explained.
4.as a share of workforce spend, operating expenditure (OPEX) on contractors and consultants decreased to 9.6% in the first half of 2023/24, the lowest it’s been since measurement began (2018).
One wonders if National will continue with this measurable comparison or not – so consultant spend increase is hidden.
The % of spend on c&c’s went down because the workforce went up at such a high rate!
Reposted, read…
Not relating cost increase to wage levels or inflation means the figures are without context.
The reasons – managing help after weather events and to manage down levels of reduce were rather good.
Under National will the increased cost of consultants to total spending be higher or lower relative to permanent staff number changes?
The employee data is numbers, not $'s, so inflation and wage levels are irrelevant.
To your point about consultants and contractors – spending increased 30% in 5 years, well above the rate of population growth AND the rate of inflation over the same period (21.1%).
“The reasons – managing help after weather events and to manage down levels of reduce were rather good.”
Seriously? A 33% increase in staff to manage weather events? AT MSD?
3.1% in 2023 for that and other reasons.
Wage inflation was higher than 20%, relevance to staffing numbers as that figure is not available for consultants.
Wage inflation is irrelevant when comparing employee numbers.
Employee numbers went up 19%, when population only rose 11%.
Spending on consultants and contractors up 30% over 5 years when inflation only rose 21%.
Whichever way you spin this, whichever comparisons you use, the increase in the public sector was out of control.
Then by your reasoning, the cost of consultants was out of control – being 50% higher than general inflation (even if it only reflected a rising cost of pay to people doing the same work as 5 years earlier).
And the measure by which we can determine if National is able to manage out of control consultancy cost.
I think this unfair, but if it is the one you will hold National to, I'll not quibble about that.
SPC it's you that raised spending on consultants. I was commenting on the growth in the workforce. But yes, spending on consultants rising 30% is out of control. And absolutely I will hold any government to account if the growth in the public sector we've seen in the past 6 years is repeated.
Stuff looks at why Ginny Anderson (moving into the role of Louisa Wall – closing a loophole in Harmful Digital Communications Act) has developed a private members bill – hoping to prod the government to do something.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350281878/its-epidemic-calls-stalking-be-made-illegal-new-zealand
From the link;
As the victim of a stalker for a good number of years I can attest to that.
My stalker kept a close 'eye' on everything I did. There were numerous nuisance phone calls – the silent variety. My home was broken into twice and on one occasion obscene messaging left on a bathroom cabinet door. False accusations to my Public Service bosses surfaced which led to hostility towards me. I eventually had to leave.
There were numerous bizarre incidents, including mysterious injuries to pets.
It was all done covertly but I was eventually able to identify the culprit. The motivation was part political and part personal and involved at least one other person.
The police were hopeless. They had no comprehension of the huge amount of damage it did to me. They…did… not… have… a… clue.
In some cases it is done by those who the police would protect, rather than investigate.
Yes, the thought has crossed my mind.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/05/23/govt-paid-kainga-ora-reviewers-out-of-urgent-housing-fund/
Double dipton and his "independent "reviewers took up $500 000 out of the emergency housing fund, it'd make me laugh if only I didn't want to swear more.
$63 000 for 26 days, !!!
10 percent of a first home buyers house, for 26 fucking days , fucking hell
It made Bomber bombastic.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/05/22/here-they-come-for-state-housing-how-compromised-is-bill-english/
Susan St John responds to a Taxpayers Union email – preparing the way for the budget
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/05/21/will-the-true-debt-figure-please-stand-up/
Women in Medicine organised a panel discussion – with 3 wise men – to listen at their feet.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/05/20/guest-blog-ian-powell-health-system-synthesis-from-time-to-culture-struggle-and-hope/
Another Government attack on people with disabilities – this time school-age children. Rather than recognising and accepting that some of their specific needs might be relieved by attending out-of-school daytime programmes, the Government expects the children to comply with a strict routine/regime of school attendance. The full transcript in the following link shows the inflexible, ideological mindset of the Government and their disregard for evidence of beneficial interventions.
From Question Time today:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansarddebates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20240523_20240523_24
"10. Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) to the Minister for Disability Issues: Why have disability support funding criteria changed recently to now exclude the use of funding during school hours, and does she accept that many disabled people and children rely on flexible funding to be able to access critical support?
Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Disability Issues): ………The recent changes to the purchasing guidelines reflected the Ministry of Disabled People's view that the Ministry of Education is responsible for funding support during school hours. I sympathise with all children and families who may have different support due to the changes and I acknowledge that this may have caused distress. The independent review of disability support funding will be looking into how the whole-of-Government support work together so that disabled people get the essential support they need.
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What does she say to the mum whose 11-year-old daughter diagnosed with autism and ADHD and chronic health challenges, who relies on a special one-to-one gymnastic therapy class to help improve her muscle tone and regulate her anxiety levels, will no longer be able to access support because of this new change?
Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said, I sympathise with the impact that any changes may have had. The primary question was about the use of funding during school hours, and our Government recognises the importance of school attendance, so much so that we have set a target to ensure children are attending school—this is all children, and an expectation that all children get the education they deserve.
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What does she say to the mum whose 12-year-old son attends Mockingbird, that helps autistic children cope with school and is offered only during school hours……
Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said, I understand how challenging it is for parents. Having navigated the system as a parent of a child who needed additional support at school, I understand how challenging it is. But our Government is committed to ensuring that children are at school during school hours and that education provides a support and assistance while children are at school. It is unfortunate that important services like this are operating during school hours when we actually want children to be in school and get the support for their education at school.
……………..
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Has the Minister sought confirmation from the education Minister that her Government will fund schools to cover the cost of these programmes now that they can no longer be claimed through disability support funding, and, if not, why not?
Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said, there are different Government agencies that deliver services for disabled people. For disabled school children, the expectation is that they are at school. …..".
This sort of Ministerial Q and A performance was why the files behind Monty Python and Yes Minister emerged from the cleaners union staff servicing Whitehall.
Short version
It is now with the Education Ministry to manage costs for their care, but they require the disabled children to be in a mainstream school or special school during school hours …
when in current practice schools allow medical cause time outs (just funded from the disability budget).
Is Louise Upston going to get away with the inept performance of the sort that her predecessor was removed for? Because she is National and gets her face alongside Luxon in photos? Or because the PM does not care either?