Covid does not give a fuck about your plans
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11:20 am, September 30th, 2021 - 31 comments
Categories: act, brand key, covid-19, david seymour, health, john key, Judith Collins, national, same old national, uncategorized -
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This week has been a week of Covid plans.
On Sunday John Key (the Irish Catholic in me refuses to call anyone sir) came out with his reckons written on the back of an envelope possibly while he he was in a cafe thinking about ponytails.
His concern was clear. He and his ilk could not travel overseas and return without hindrance and for him this was a really big deal
His proposals were basically splash some money around poor people to improve vaccination rates, stop young people from accessing places they want to go to until they are vaccinated, stop using fear unless they are young, and build up our health infrastructure, the same infrastructure that his Government ran into the ground.
Then on Tuesday Act jumped into the void and announced their own policy to guide Aotearoa to post Covid nirvana. Instead of refusing to accept Covid deaths they thought we should have a few, that we should only isolate the old and the frail and those recently returning, that we should be ready to welcome everyone back by Christmas infected or not, that we should “[m]ove from chronic fear and uncertainty and get on a clear path to restoring freedom” one that will clearly involve multiple deaths and a compromised health system.
And yesterday National released its Covid opus. Clearly the policy had been developed over an extended period of time. How they must have hated it when John Key released his list of cafe reckons on Sunday.
There are two takeaway messages from the policy. Firstly National concedes that the health system could not handle the resulting surge of new cases caused if its policies were enacted.
https://twitter.com/nealejones/status/1442996932197040138
Secondly National is happy to follow Scotty Morrison’s approach to the virus.
From National’s report:
The Doherty Institute in Australia has modelled a situation where Australia gets to 70% of the eligible population being vaccinated.
Doherty noted:
In an average year of influenza, we would roughly have 600 deaths and 200,000 cases in Australia. Any death is a tragedy, but our health system can cope with this. In the COVID-19 modelling, opening up at 70% vaccine coverage of the adult population with partial public health measures, we predict 385,983 symptomatic cases and 1,457 deaths over six months. With optimal public health measures (and no lockdowns), this can be significantly reduced to 2,737 infections and 13 deaths.
Note that Doherty predicts 13 deaths over six months for Australia under such a strategy.
New Zealand has already had 27 COVID-19 deaths while pursuing an elimination strategy, and Australia has five times New Zealand’s population.
In other words, we can expect fewer deaths once we have vaccinated 70% of our population and we can avoid nationwide lockdowns.
The use of Doherty Institute analysis is interesting as it has been the subject of criticism in the past as I noted in this earlier post.
From Paul Karp at the Guardian:
Ending lockdowns and other public health restrictions once 80% of the adult population is vaccinated could result in 25,000 deaths in total and 270,000 cases of long Covid, new modelling warns.
The work by researchers at three leading Australian universities predicts more than 10 times as many deaths as the Doherty Institute modelling that underpins the national four-phase roadmap. That plan was adopted by national cabinet in July but is subject to different interpretations by state and territory leaders.
The Doherty modelling looked at the number of deaths in the first 180 days of reopening at the 70% and 80% thresholds that lead to phase B and C – when lockdowns would be “less likely” and then “highly targeted”.
The latest research models total cumulative deaths over a longer time frame during phase D of the national plan – when no restrictions remain.
Dr Zoë Hyde, an epidemiologist and co-author from the University of Western Australia, warned the new modelling – which is yet to be peer-reviewed – showed it was “simply too dangerous to treat Covid-19 like the flu” and that Australia should reach higher vaccination rates before opening up.
Hyde and co-authors Prof Quentin Grafton of the Australian National University and Prof Tom Kompas of the University of Melbourne, both economists, called for a 90% vaccination rate among all Australians, including children, and a 95% rate for vulnerable populations, including elderly people and Indigenous Australians.
To back up all of the policy releases there has been this crescendo of voices from people stuck overseas and from business people distraught that their ability to conduct business had been affected by the Government’s desire to stop many of us from dying. The fact that the economy is functioning really well does not matter. Their individual frustrations are understandable but this is a tricky virus that cannot be taken lightly.
And in a big fuck you to all of the plans and reckons the daily infection rate yesterday surged to 45 new cases. It may have been a blip, it may be as a result of loosening up of things under level three. The next few days results are going to be eagerly received.
This is why all the planning and pontificating and demanding of dates when we will open up is so meaningless. Handling this virus is a day to day exercise where you cannot delay or contemplate and you have to continuously adjust. It is like playing whack a mole but with dire consequences if you lose.
Excuse the use of the F word in this post. But some of the reckons and commentary are totally misguided and rather dangerous for large sections of the community.
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- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...5 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Child Protection Investigation Unit established
A new Child Protection Investigation Unit is being established to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “The report released by the Royal Commission into abuse in state care shows us all the risk of not acting immediately when there are serious ...8 hours ago - Speech at United States Business Summit 2024
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Ka mihi ki te mana whenua ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Kia ora and good morning everyone. Thank you Fran and Simon for inviting me here today, and importantly your leadership of this forum over several years now. I want to acknowledge David Gehrenbeck, Deputy ...8 hours ago
- Record number of submissions received on granny flat proposal
Nearly 2,000 submissions have been received on the Government’s proposals aimed at making it easier to build a granny flat of up to 60 square metres without a resource or building consent, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “This is the highest number ...10 hours ago
- District Court Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Rebecca Guthrie as a District Court Judge. Judge Guthrie was admitted to the bar in 1997 following her graduation from the University of Canterbury in 1996 (LLB, BA). She commenced her legal career in Hastings in 1997 before moving to London in ...11 hours ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
The latest Predator Free 2050 Board appointments will help to strengthen biodiversity efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced two appointments to the Board of Directors of Predator Free 2050 Limited, a key player in the wider Predator Free 2050 Programme. “The Predator ...12 hours ago
- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...12 hours ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...13 hours ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...1 day ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...1 day ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...1 day ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...1 day ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...1 day ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...1 day ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...1 day ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...1 day ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...1 day ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...1 day ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...1 day ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...2 days ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...2 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...3 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...3 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...3 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...3 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...3 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...4 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...4 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...4 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...5 days ago
- Maritime Union joins opposition to live export shipments
The Maritime Union also has zero faith in government assurances of a gold standard for ships used for the trade. ...1 hour ago - Offshore oil and gas ban ‘worst political decision’, Shane Jones says
Shane Jones says the offshore oil and gas ban is "the worst political decision" he has ever been involved with. ...2 hours ago
- Andrew Bayly ‘loser’ incident: Frantic texts, thumbs-up from PM, photo of drinking from ...
A series of frantic text messages from Andrew Bayly to government staffers amid scrutiny over his actions at a winery have been revealed. ...3 hours ago
- ACT’s David Seymour won’t ‘bow down’ to his hapū leaders
They have pleaded with the ACT leader to stop what they say are abusive violations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...5 hours ago
- Former political figure who abused teens loses name suppression
However, his name remains under wraps as he has already indicated he will appeal. ...5 hours ago
- Educating young people about social media would be far more effective than a ban – Finland can sh...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Grantham, Lecturer in Communication, Griffith University Shutterstock The federal government’s proposed social media ban for under-16s has sparked widespread debate, affecting millions of young Australians, their families and educators. But will it actually work? While the aim behind this ban ...5 hours ago - Ant stings can be painful. Here’s how to avoid getting stung this summer (and what to do if you do...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Robinson, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland AG-PHOTOS/Shutterstock With the start of summer just days away, many of us will be looking forward to long sunny days spent at the beach, by the pool, out ...5 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Crosby, Professor, Monash University Chichimaru/Shutterstock Australia has a seriously big “nest egg”. The Future Fund – our sovereign wealth fund set up in 2006 – now manages about $230 billion. Specifically, its remit is to “invest for the benefit ...5 hours ago
- Women are less likely to receive CPR than men. Training on manikins with breasts could help
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Stokes-Parish, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Bond University Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock If someone’s heart suddenly stops beating, they may only have minutes to live. Doing CPR (cardiopulmonary resusciation) can increase their chances of survival. CPR makes sure blood keeps pumping, providing oxygen to ...6 hours ago
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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. AUCKLAND 1 Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Jonathan Cape, $26) The slight, superb winner of the Booker Prize ...8 hours ago
- ‘Wanted’ for war crimes over Gaza: Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant face ICC arrest warrants
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- New Child Protection Investigation Unit announced by Children’s Minister
The unit will be up and running by early next year, Children's Minister Karen Chhour says. ...9 hours ago
- In-person submissions on Treaty Principles Bill to be at Parliament or by video call
In-person submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill will all be held at Parliament or by video call. ...9 hours ago
- ‘Got my support’ – Christopher Luxon stands by Erica Stanford after ‘stupid ...
The prime minister says it wasn't appropriate behaviour but that Erica Stanford had apologised. ...9 hours ago
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The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight, with 11 more to come. ...9 hours ago
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Labour has accused National of ignoring the evidence. ...10 hours ago
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- Gang patch ban: The first 24 hours
The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight, with 11 more to come. ...11 hours ago
- New Zealand Government Urged To Back ICC Arrest Warrants For Israeli Leaders Without Equivocation
“We are waiting for our government to announce it will arrest Netanyahu and Gallant immediately if they set foot in Aotearoa New Zealand” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. ...11 hours ago - Justice Committee Makes Further Decisions About Submissions Process For The Principles Of The Treaty...
The committee plans to hold hearings in the week starting Monday, 27 January and the weeks starting 10, 17 and 24 February 2025. ...11 hours ago
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It comes as Labour accuses National of not listening to evidence about boot camps. ...11 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Winter, Associate Professor in Political Theory, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images When Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stood in Parliament last week to apologise to survivors of abuse in care, his words were among many fine speeches by ...11 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matej Lipar, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Author provided/Google Earth Earlier this year, a caver was poring over satellite images of the Nullarbor Plain when he came across something unexpected: an enormous, mysterious scar etched ...13 hours ago
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The coalition has "absolutely no intention of listening to the evidence that comes out of their experiment", Labour MP says. ...16 hours ago
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Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago - Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate
Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago
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The Government’s economic adviser is sending a message it doesn’t want to hear – superannuation is increasingly unaffordable The post Treasury bangs the drum on ‘unsustainable’ superannuation appeared first on Newsroom. ...17 hours ago
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A man abused by a former political figure is "immensely relieved" at a government proposal to end secrecy around sex offenders' identities. ...17 hours ago
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There is plenty yet to play out, but the next election is at this rate shaping up as trio versus trio, writes Toby Manhire. A subplot of this week’s historic hīkoi mō te Tiriti has been the sight of the three opposition parties presenting a unified front. Te Pāti Māori ...17 hours ago
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Thanks Micky for some common sense. National demanding a definite date for loosening restrictions is idiotic with such a tricky virus, given how the situation can change overnight.
And Judith Collins' bizarre comment comparing people still getting into cars and driving, with thousands getting sick and hundreds dying and the health system being overwhelmed, so what's the difference, is another of her desperate ideas.
As with Covid, so with climate change. The laws of physics don't give a fuck about our proclamations and targets either. Mother nature marks for achievement, not effort.
Onya Mickey.
Needs to be a special MIQ just for haircuts.
Movember is only a month away, Ad, or has that been cancelled too?
Micky, you are correct. So many political idiots asking "Are we there yet?"
Delayed gratification begins about age four. This is often a test leaving a lolly on the table with the promise of two if they wait 'till you return……… failure rate is quite high lol but they are four years old.
What is it that Judith and the Nats don't get about the transmission of the delta virus and delaying opening to preserve those at risk lives? Are they truly four years old?
I think we would rather wait…"one visit now or lots of visits later?".. Lots of visits later thanks!!!
Well put Micky. Jeez, that photo shows Bishflap and Shane Reti looking a bit on the ropes…
At least they have a plan.
The current lot have been asleep at the wheel this whole covid outbreak and there only fallback is fear aka Doctor 7000 deaths.
Body count would suggest otherwise.
I am not sure why having a plan is a bad thing. Which is why Labour also has a plan.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-sets-out-plan-reconnect-new-zealanders-world
I hope you and all your family are vaccinated, Pataua4life, because protest all you like about the Government's plan being flexible to meet the pressures caused by the virus, they are awake to the dangers and have steered a safe course. Good luck!! You will need it as you mock the models because they don't suit your narrative.
Conspicuously absent in all the various government and opposition pronouncements is anything even vaguely resembling a credible plan with actual details for how to get our vaccination rate up over the 90% being tossed around as what is needed to relax some restrictions. Vague mutterings about maybe a vaccine passport sometime in November or later doesn't count as a plan.
The government actually has teeth. It has used those teeth to seriously curtail several of our Bill of Rights rights. It's time for the government to show it will use those teeth to give us our actual rights back.
National and ACT, and their business supporters, remind me of children on a long trip. A chorus of "are we there yet" before we have even seen what the traffic is like on the Southern motorway.
About time they fucking grow up!
National and ACT'S plan is to undermine compliance from the population. To make the govt's actions look like a waste of time.
That's treasonous given our health system can't cope with Nationals policies.Which are purely motivated because of Nationals poor polling.
Yup aren't our media doing a bang up job for them.
Look across the ditch and be thankful Collins and co are in opposition.
Nat/ACT policies will affect Maori and Pasifika the worst, as usual. All so FJK can go on holiday to Hawaii.
Great piece by Chris Trotter about how this has become a disease of poverty, so that's why Nactoids DGAF:
Bowalley Road: Blame Games.
It's funny.
When folks bring up the flu as an excuse to go easy on covid, I start to think about what we actually accept simply because it was better than it was before, rather than what we should be doing to get it even better.
So the tourism industry brings in billions each year. How many people are killed by it? Flu, rsv, environmental degradation…
Maybe we should be limiting tourist numbers.
McFlock the economy did just fine without tourism. Considering that NZers spend nearly as much travelling overseas as the income from tourism it wasn't surprising to see low unemployment and high GDP rates amongst the top in the world.
Not many tourist's will want to travel internationally the risks will be to high.
Listening to Arden and Bloomfield today was an eye-opener on the complexities of testing, checking and containment. Every question was answered with a detailed description of exactly what was happening at any hint of the virus showing itself from numbers of people affected and checked to sewerage in Tauranga and teams arriving in Kaitaia for a “ just in case “ . But really impressive was Jacinda replying with dates from memory of when places were tested and the methodology. And I bet she knows that the new variant is not called Boo as Collins thought but Mu. BTW, it’s not a worry, apparently it is not fit enough to compete with Delta. Boo is the Greek first letter of “ boofhead “ , Judiths middle name.
That’s what preferential access to data, lifelong ambition, Seventh Day Adventist sermonising role models, tertiary level comms training, New York young socialists debating practice and a controlled media presence do for a person like Jacinda.
Don't forget Social and emotional intelligence and a fantastic grasp of her role Grafton Gully and most of all the absolute respect of her peers.
Mormon, not SDA.
I note that Ireland has reached the top of Bloombers's resilience list (not "best place to be"). Ireland has a high vaccination rate and a relatively free economy and averaging about 30 covid deaths a week. Relative to where they were it looks and feels good, but hardly something that we should accept in NZ.
Over the next months we are likely to see some of these free economies start to impose restrictions again. They will be reluctant, but their hospital systems will not cope if number start to increase into winter.
NZ's plan is to be cautious because we have seen the virus throw spanners into the works everywhere else. The worst thing we can do is to throw open the borders (even to vaccinated people) and lose control.
At the moment we have a sort of control of what is happening in Auckland. There are random subclusters popping up and spreading the outbreak at the same time that older subclusters are being shut down. Level 3 can still work to eliminate the virus, but it will drag on for a while.
Yup. I’ve certainly come to conclusion that our government’s getting it absolutely right, when it comes to managing Covid-19.
Not rushing to open up, & piloting home isolation, are sensible moves. Home isolation (people being what they are) is a risk, & trialling it to see what expectations can reasonably be placed on triallees, what monitoring of their compliance is practical, & what safeguards need to be built in to the system to cater for misbehavers are all worth studying first.
Ireland has a similar pop to NZ
IRELAND
Yesterday
Total cases 388,665
Total Deaths 5,249
New Case 1,447
New deaths 40
NZ
Yesterday
Total cases 4,248
Total Deaths 27
New Case 44
New deaths 0
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
AND I don't understand how ireland has gone to No1 on the bloomberg scale and NZ dropped to 37th.
Sorry, but that is just a silly comparison.
We don't have a ferry coming in from a country (England) of 56 million people in it all week, which the later has a tunnel connected to Europe.
Fair comment re the Ferry and access to Ireland. Our ‘isolation’ is an important factor.
There is Lot of comment about we must open up.
Agree
Ardern, Bloomfield, Hipkins, Robertson, McElnay, Verrell et al. – my trust in their management of the pandemic, and in NZ health professionals, border/MIQ staff, ESR and team Kiwi in general, is based on NZ's Covid health outcomes achieved to date.
I was and still am doubtful about the wisdom of cabinet's decision to move Auckland to Covid alert level Delta 3 on 22 Sept, but they must have been under tremendous political and public pressure to do so. Hopefully the price of KFC freedums won’t be higher than either our politicians (of all flavours) or the general public imagined.
The childish impatience to return to 'normal' is so depressing – imho BAU represents a middle finger to all those trying to nudge civilisation onto a more sustainable path.
44.9% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
6.2 billion doses have been administered globally, and 26.02 million are now administered each day.
Only 2.3% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose.
Tbf, seems like what could have been planned for wasn’t given a fuck about
Can't remember which poster mentioned it, but I think they were right that Key was brought back in the spotlight on behalf of businesses both big and small.
Not the dumbest spokesman to use given the dudes popularity is obviously still there, given the media coverage of it.
TBH Businesses are caving so you can't blame them for grasping at straws.
Wage subsidies don't cover rent, insurance, ACC, mortgage, business loans blah de blah