Social issues

Categories under Social issues

The Labour Conference

Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, November 6th, 2021 - 50 comments

Labour is this year holding its Conference on line.  There will be some attention on a proposal to allow a supermajority of Caucus to avoid members and affiliates from having a say in a future Parliamentary leader.

The Rules To Save The World

Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, November 4th, 2021 - 7 comments

Beyond the NGO emotion and singing and joyous arm waving, country leaders at COP 26 actually have to achieve stuff this week.

Covid alters Auckland

Written By: - Date published: 8:43 am, November 3rd, 2021 - 22 comments

With in-person shopping about to re-start in Auckland next week, this is the best moment we will have to reinvent Auckland: one customer at a time.

Even China is struggling with Delta

Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, November 3rd, 2021 - 8 comments

China, which has previously successfully suppressed the Covid virus, is struggling with a delta outbreak.  And questions are being asked if suppression is still viable.

We are all in this together

Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, November 2nd, 2021 - 206 comments

Increasing levels of angst at the current lockdown can be related to privilege.

COP26 is on

Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, November 1st, 2021 - 39 comments

The show is now on for Conference of Parties 26 (COP 26), where countries show each other how they will achieve the Paris Agreement climate goals. How will we do? Set in Glasgow, it will bring together negotiators from nearly every country on earth to assess progress, and to determine the scale of sacrifice we’re […]

The Entrust election debacle

Written By: - Date published: 10:43 am, October 31st, 2021 - 56 comments

National aligned C&R has shown how bad it is at running elections by running an election where less than one in ten eligible people voted.

The Covid vaccine rollout

Written By: - Date published: 10:48 am, October 30th, 2021 - 185 comments

Matt Nippert’s in depth article in the Herald this morning provides a well researched deep insight into the Government’s vaccine roll out.  And as it progresses the New Zealand response places us mid table and improving in the OECD vaccination comparison and gives us some hope that the Delta outbreak may be controlled.

ANZ Bank clearly believes that greed is good

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, October 29th, 2021 - 131 comments

ANZ Bank has  just announced a $1.92 billion profit for the year to September 30, 2021.  This is about 1% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

Good Again

Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, October 28th, 2021 - 23 comments

COVID has reminded us how good New Zealand is, and we should remember how we were reminded.

Why vaccine mandates are needed

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, October 27th, 2021 - 165 comments

The Government has announced vaccine mandates for some publicly facing businesses designed to help minimise the spread of a virus that has killed millions of people world wide.

Happy Labour Day

Written By: - Date published: 9:48 am, October 25th, 2021 - 14 comments

Happy Labour day everyone, particularly essential workers including health workers who have to work today.

In December 2022 We Will Be …

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, October 25th, 2021 - 15 comments

A year ago we were preparing for the America’s Cup and threading our way through the latest crisis quite well.  What will we be planning next year?

Get a haircut and get a real job

Written By: - Date published: 5:19 pm, October 24th, 2021 - 63 comments

While our eyes are peeled on the 90% vaccination target, the ground under our feet is shifting.

Won’t someone think of the business owners?

Written By: - Date published: 12:04 pm, October 24th, 2021 - 174 comments

This week Judith Collins was reported to be close to tears.  But not about the possibility of a significant number of deaths but by the prospect of business closures.

Mad Tuesday

Written By: - Date published: 7:58 pm, October 22nd, 2021 - 15 comments

NZ Government is jumping at the deep end by re-opening schools on Tuesday.

Friday will change Us As Citizens

Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, October 22nd, 2021 - 210 comments

While we may have been lifted out of martial lockdowns and some rights have been reinstated in limited form, we have surrendered to another more pervasive power.  The power of big data.

National’s plan – open and be damned

Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, October 21st, 2021 - 71 comments

Yesterday National released what feels like take 16 of its Covid response plan, this one focussing on business interests and setting a hard timeline for reopening.  But getting significant details wrong and rehashing failed policies previously tried in England has dampened its effect.

Covid and kindness

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, October 20th, 2021 - 127 comments

The vaccine is a bloody useful tool, not a panacea. This is a long crisis that requires us to pay heed the bigger picture.

Get Ugly

Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, October 20th, 2021 - 94 comments

Kindness will not get the country to meet its Covid vaccination goals.  It is time to change the tone.

Slater smears again

Written By: - Date published: 8:33 am, October 18th, 2021 - 104 comments

The Herald’s publication of an attack on Ardern by a wedding venue owner appears to have been sourced from Cameron Slater and brings into stark relief the Herald’s twin business model of funding serious journalism by both subscriptions and the use of click bait.

New misogyny same as the old misogyny

Written By: - Date published: 12:38 pm, October 17th, 2021 - 140 comments

At the largest feminist conference in Europe, with a major focus on male violence against women, gender identity activists chose to protest with sexualised violent language and imagery.

Jacinda Ardern: Tear Down This Wall

Written By: - Date published: 11:18 am, October 17th, 2021 - 109 comments

In the coming months Fortress New Zealand will be dismantled.  What will take its place?

Don’t be lax, get your vax

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, October 16th, 2021 - 43 comments

Posted for the big drive today for vaccinations for news and comments.  Image borrowed from Waipareira who are doing great work out west.

Why Can’t We Do More?

Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, October 16th, 2021 - 35 comments

The Government’s dramatic action taken over the past 18 months to respond to Covid and the population’s overwhelming support suggests that it should be taking similar drastic action to address poverty and climate change.

Time for Auckland to go back to level four?

Written By: - Date published: 7:55 am, October 15th, 2021 - 114 comments

With daily Covid infection rates in Tamaki Makaurau increasing it may be time for the Government to consider a short sharp lockdown to try and arrest this increase and to let vaccination rates improve.

Goudie blunders again

Written By: - Date published: 8:46 am, October 14th, 2021 - 176 comments

Thames Coromandel mayor Sandra Goudie who previously admitted not scanning where she goes has been at it again, this time stating that the Pfeizer vaccine is not good enough for her and she will be waiting for the Novovax vaccine to be available before she gets vaccinated.

Guest post: Whisper to a scream

Written By: - Date published: 6:10 am, October 13th, 2021 - 196 comments

What can you do when what you say is not what is being heard? This Guest Post by Standardista Molly explores different beliefs about femaleness and transness, and how we talk about these.

David Seymour is all class

Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, October 12th, 2021 - 71 comments

David Seymour suggested that suburbs where the vaccination rate hit 90% should be allowed extra freedom.  But an analysis suggests that the wealthiest parts of Auckland, including Remuera and Epsom would qualify, whereas the poorer parts of Auckland would struggle to qualify.

More Promises from Prime Minister Morrison

Written By: - Date published: 1:03 pm, October 11th, 2021 - 14 comments

So, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is preparing for a November resumption of international air travel.

Covid D day

Written By: - Date published: 8:38 am, October 11th, 2021 - 159 comments

Some big decisions are due to happen today.  What happens to Auckland’s Covid status?  Should the lockdown level be reduced or should the Government think about putting it back up?