These evil f*cks want to rip the heart out of NZ. This is not some esoteric online discussion. These cruel arseholes have to be stopped. What can we actually do about it?
I'm not interested in pounding the keyboard. I mean actually.
In case if anyone's wondering tomorrow I'm off to SS4C and a GP branch meeting.
What this govt is doing goes against pretty much against a lot of what they have learnt(been taught..(thank you..teachers..!)
Especially around areas like trashing the environment.. imperiling their very future…
And the good news is that the millennials are a demographic bulge…much like the boomers…
And if these right-wing barbarians piss off enough of them..
Those right-wing barbarians/environmental-visigoths will have shown that demographic-bulge just what they are…and they will be out of office for the foreseeable future…
If we look across the ditch, we can see the difficulty in making this a like-for-like comparison. On the face of it we have far more public servants per person than Australia – with one public servant for every 83 people compared to one in 139 in Australia.
But Australia has a federal system, where many things that we would leave to the central government are done by states, which are not included in the national figure.
Did you read the bit about Ireland, with a comparable population?
Waiting for Philip to support his ludicrous claim. Thought you demanded links, even for mundane statements like parliament oral questions?
[I was in town, on my phone, you numpty. Now that I am home I’m giving you some time out.
don’t tell moderators what to do. You have a habit of poking at moderation, what you haven’t learned yet is we will slap you don’t hard because it’s just tedious as fuck (especially when you essentially lie about moderation as you did last time).
read the Policy
start figuring out how things work here because I have no more patience with your trolling
don’t expect people to read whole articles to try and parse what you are on about. Instead, explain in your own words and use short quotes and links to back that up.
Your comment below “Public sector v public service. Swat up on the difference.” is a classic example. You may have an interesting point there, but you fail to explain what you mean. This is why I am calling it trolling. This isn’t twitter or FB, you are expected to use your words.
what really pisses me off as a moderator is that we need a better class of RWNJ here. You could easily be bringing good RW political arguments to the table, but instead continually revert to these lazy throwaway comments.
3 day ban – weka]
[Based on your reply to your Mod note early this morning that went straight into the Trash folder that Mods however can read in the back end, and to back up my fellow Mod and show my solidarity, I’ve upgraded your ban to one month.
Despite the lenient rules of engagement of this free site, which you can read in the this site’s Policy (https://thestandard.org.nz/policy/), you behave like the typical RWNJ troll who obviously doesn’t give a shit about any limitations on your own behaviour here and you blatantly ignore the clear points of the Mod note, which took time to write.
Personally, I don’t see any reason why you should be allowed to waste anymore time of other commenters and Mods here, but let’s see if this educational ban will suffice for you to keep your commenting privileges here – Incognito]
From now on, please either link, or if you were listening to broadcast, give the time of day and some detail eg the Panel at around 4.30pm were discussing…
That way people can get the context for what you are talking about.
It was on morning report..and what was read out was a comparison between nz and a bunch of other countries..
And the comparisons made were on the amount each country spends..per head of population..
And was presented to provide context ..
Now ..I am not lying…I did hear it..and I think rnz has a reasonable degree of credibility..so we can dismiss any claims of dishonesty on their part.
btw..did anyone else hear it..?
[I’m not saying you are lying. I am telling you as a moderator:
From now on, please either link, or if you were listening to broadcast, give the time of day and some detail eg the Panel at around 4.30pm were discussing.
This is so people know more specifically what you are referring to.
Stop with this tedious BS and playing the victim and link to what you heard on RNZ Morning Report. Here’s the link to the archive (https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/library), find the episode, find the segment, and then post it (i.e. the link) here.
“And it was rose who accused me of 'spreading bullshit'…”
I was clarifying for weka that it was not her who said I was lying..
Weka doesn’t suffer from the same reading comprehension deficit as you do.
And I have no idea where to find what was a context adding aside on that subject.
It shows. You don’t have to use your imagination on speculation, just read the Mod and pre-Mod notes and follow the simplest of instructions.
And unsure why you made the 'five year old' question..
Your commenting pattern here.
What exactly triggered that..?
As above, and it was a logical & predictable continuation of the moderation in response to your continued stubborn refusal to cough up a link.
And I am puzzled that nobody else on this site..also heard what was a heads-up on that topic..
All the more reason to dig up that link and show the World that you’re not making up things in your head. So far, you’ve managed to waste a lot of our time and only produced unsubstantiated reckons, hot air, and whingy-whiny replies. The only reply I want to see from you here now is the link to that illustrious segment on RNZ Morning Report, i.e., put up or shut up.
I'm one who is of the view the public service has become too large, and I'll try to make my case.
1. This blog post The complex and bloated Executive | Kiwiblog contains a link to a NZ Initiative report that compares the size of NZ's Executive with that of a group of smaller and a group of larger nations. It is a detailed analysis, including comparisons based on the number of Ministers, the number of Ministries and the number of portfolios.
The central findings are:
New Zealand has a massively outsized Executive. Taking the average of parliamentary democracies of similar size to New Zealand, we have 44% more ministers, nearly triple (282%) the number of portfolios, and one and a half times (156%) as many departments.
It is likely that this size causes a suite of serious issues in New Zealand’s policymaking institutions, particularly relating to coordination, efficiency, selection effects, and resource allocation.
The exact reasons for this increase in size are not clear, but it is likely due to a combination of factors, like the absence of legislative restrictions, political expedience, and government signaling. Given the political advantages it bestows on those in government, it will likely be difficult to rectify.
3. This data Workforce Data – Workforce size – Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission shows the growth in public sector employees since 2000. I have calculated the numbers excluding local government employees. In 2000, the number of central government employees was 254,971. In 2017 the number was 341,394. and by 2023 the count was 407,178. So, in 17 years between 2000 and 2017, the number of central government employees grew by 34%, but in just 6 years to 2023 it grew by 20%.
I don't believe for one moment we are receiving anywhere near good value for that increase, nor do I consider it remotely reasonable to assert our public service is "emaciated".
While you present an interesting thesis, there's really no empirical basis or consensus for there being a "right" size for public services, or percentage of GDP that we should be spending on it.
All we've got is a bunch of reckons and competing theories of public service organization and structure to go by.
The prevailing ideology around the public service in New Zealand for the last 40 odd years has been New Public Management (NPM), which is basically neoliberal economic theory applied to the public sector.
Its proponents are really good at making broad, dramatic statements about how it makes services more efficient and effective by introducing quasi-market systems and treating them like businesses. But there's precious little evidence it actually delivers on that.
Trust me, I spent the better part of 2 years looking really hard for some when I was doing my Master's thesis.
What the evidence does show is:
There's no single, universal prescription for the size or structure of the public sector. It depends on the economic and cultural context.
Public services and businesses are driven by fundamentally different factors. You can't just apply strategies from one to other. Because organizations don't exist in a vacuum.
Also no, you can't run your country like it's an airline.
Cutting budgets or reducing the size of the public sector doesn't introduce additional efficiencies, but instead erodes capacity and undermines the ability of organizations to deliver.
It's politically popular to focus cost savings on "back end" services such as IT, comms, or HR. But all that does is mean public sector organizations either come to reply on (expensive) consultants to deliver these or are reduced to throwing warm bodies at problems rather than leveraging technology to become more efficient or effective.
I've got plenty of issues with the NZI report you've referenced: in particular the countries they selected for comparison (e.g. Australia has massive bureaucracies at the state level that aren't counted), and the weird focus on the size of the executive – which has no relation to the number of ministries.
Where I do (sort of) agree is that the separation of services into policy and delivery arms was a huge mistake that causes enormous inefficiencies and hampers the effective co-ordination and delivery of policy.
So yeah, drink the NACT kool-aid all you want. But don't try and pretend this is anything more than a bunch of partisan reckons dressed up with some shitty research and badly formatted graphs.
"there's really no empirical basis or consensus for there being a "right" size for public services, or percentage of GDP that we should be spending on it."
"All we've got is a bunch of reckons and competing theories of public service organization and structure to go by."
Well, of course. The 'right' size of the public sector is to a fair degree ideological, and so naturally there are 'competing theories'. However there is a significant body of work that has looked at this issue over time, including papers such as 335309_OptimalSizeOfGovernment.pdf (ime.bg) (which takes a declared market based approach). The 'empirical' evidence is that NZ has a disproportionately large number of elements of our executive when compared to other countries. The 'empirical' evidence is that the number of public sector employees has risen significantly in recent years, disproportionately so when compared to an extended period of recent history covering both Labour and National led governments.
"and the weird focus on the size of the executive – which has no relation to the number of ministries."
It's not a 'weird' focus. The report covers the number of ministers, portfolios and departments. It is these elements that comprise the executive arm of government and feed into the size of the public service.
"Public services and businesses are driven by fundamentally different factors. "
They operate in the same financial and economic environment. The 20% of NZ'ers employed by the state are paid for by the 80% who are not. When the growth in public sector employees outstrips the growth in the sector that funds them, there is a problem.
They operate in the same financial and economic environment. The 20% of NZ'ers employed by the state are paid for by the 80% who are not. When the growth in public sector employees outstrips the growth in the sector that funds them, there is a problem.
The problem is when voters demand world class public services but aren't prepared to pay for them.
Or, even worse, when right wing politicians spruik bullshit theories (like the Laffer curve) about the size of the public sector to fulfil their wet dream of smashing the regulatory state. Despite the overwhelming evidence suggesting it doesn't deliver on it's promises.
It's not a 'weird' focus. The report covers the number of ministers, portfolios and departments. It is these elements that comprise the executive arm of government and feed into the size of the public service.
The size of any given cabinet is a political rather than a policy decision and s nothing to do with the size of the wider public service.
Maybe the growth in the public sector reflects a natural progression towards a size that's actually appropriate for the services it needs to provide, and demands placed on it by New Zealanders.
Have you ever entertained the notion that rather than being too large, the public sector in New Zealand may instead be too small?
"The problem is when voters demand world class public services but aren't prepared to pay for them."
It's a balance. However, it's also a problem when voters pay for world class public services and they aren't delivered.
"The size of any given cabinet is a political rather than a policy decision and s nothing to do with the size of the wider public service."
Policy decisions ARE political decisions. The size of the wider public service is a function of political decision making, and the size of the executive, the number of departments, of course they have an impact on the size of the wider public service.
Male circumcision is ritual scarification to identify in groups and out groups (viz, drop your trou in Nazi Germany). What I can never understand are the convoluted theories sprouted round the role of the female orgasm. It's obvious to me that the reproductive musculature involved in the heavy exercise of birthing obviously benefits from regular exercise of those same muscles before ((and after) their function during labour.
Yet another tribunal hearing in the UK over gender identity ideology and women's rights.
Rape crisis centre run by trans woman ‘hid sex of its counsellors’
A rape crisis centre run by a trans woman has been “illegitimately” hiding the biological sex of its counsellors from victims of sexual assault, an employment tribunal has heard.
Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, whose chief executive is Mridul Wadhwa, a trans woman and activist, was said to have used “disciplinary processes to enforce its extreme and uncompromising version of gender identity theory”.
The case of constructive dismissal centres on Roz Adams, a support worker at the charity, who is claiming she was wrongly accused of “transphobia” and endured a nine-month disciplinary process.
…
In her written evidence Adams cited the case of a 60-year-old woman who was abused as a child and only “just begun [to] talk about it”. The woman approached the crisis centre about group work and asked: “Can you reassure me it is just a woman-only group?”
The woman was repeatedly told that such meetings were “trans-inclusive”.
Cunningham said: “The tone of the conversation changed and a few days later she got an email saying: ‘You are not suitable for our services.’”
This is what happens when men are allowed in women's spaces. There is zero reason why RC services for trans women cannot be set up in parallel with women's services, other than trans identified males want validation or they want women's spaces.
The link to the Telegraph story doesn't seem to be working properly, but I was able to look it up via Duckduckgo.
I stand with Roz. How in hell did that "Whadareya" character get to be appointed to that sort of position? Cis- and trans-women have to have separate services.
My preference would be for women's refugees (and lesbian groups) to determine who they provide services/access to, with management by those born of the female sex.
Keeping out those drunk and aggressive and others deemed a risk to others – there are known cases of people having to be allowed in because of "no discrimination" and then assaulting staff – is part of a safe workplace.
Given the practice of some men who assault women to then seek to access women's prisons, this is a known risk for women's refuges.
That might mean that the LGBT+ community provide alternative safe spaces.
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Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
A Waitangi Tribunal inquiry report has warned government that a repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act could cause harm to children in care. ...
The Treasury has published today three new papers covering government consumption multipliers, automatic stabilisers and the impacts of global shocks on New Zealand’s economy. ...
Asia Pacific Report The Pacific state of Hawai’i’s House of Representatives has joined the state’s Senate in calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, becoming the first state to pass such a resolution, reports Hawaii News Now. In March, the Senate passed a ceasefire resolution with a 24–1 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ferrie, A/Prof, UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research and ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Technology Sydney PsiQuantum The Australian government has announced a pledge of approximately A$940 million (US$617 million) to PsiQuantum, a quantum computing start-up company based in Silicon Valley. Half ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia Cameron Prins/Shutterstock If you spend a lot of time exploring fitness content online, you might have come across the concept of heart rate zones. Heart rate zone training has become more ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Eugene Doyle He is the most popular Palestinian leader alive today — and yet few people in the West even know his name. Absolutely no one in Gaza or the West Bank does not know him. That difference speaks volumes about who dominates the media narrative that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will McCallum, PhD Candidate – School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University Earlier this year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of not supporting Operation Sovereign Borders – the military-led border security operation that has “closed Australia’s borders ...
By Melyne Baroi in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinea MP, Peter Isoaimo, who had been ousted by the National Court in an alleged bribery case, has been reinstated by the Supreme Court on appeal. A three-member Supreme Court bench found that the National Court had erred in finding that ...
Publisher Chris Holdaway reflects on the unique project of collecting the work of the late, terrific poet Schaeffer Lemalu. One of the nice things you can do as a truly independent publisher is to make the books that writers want to make, whatever they happen to be. That’s how I’ve ...
Those profiled in the stamp series served on overseas deployments from 1995 onwards, and all have been awarded theNew Zealand Operational Service Medal. ...
Last night’s dismal poll result for the coalition government shows the limits of trying to govern as an opposition, argues Joel MacManus. There’s a quote from the American political activist Barbara Deming: “Vengeance is not the point; change is. But the trouble is that in most people’s minds, the thought ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shireen Morris, Associate Professor and Director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab at Macquarie University Law School, Macquarie University Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock Foreign interference in Australian democracy poses a growing risk to our national sovereignty. It refers to coercive, corrupt or ...
A defendant charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining by deception in relation to a mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing has been scheduled for 14 August 2024. ...
What to say when pesky journalists ask gotcha questions like ‘can you name a single book you’ve ever read?’ and ‘did you read it, or did you just see the movie?’This week, Act Party arts spokesperson Todd Stephenson foolishly agreed to an interview with Newsroom’s Steve Braunias regarding his ...
Explainer - What will a ban on cellphones in schools achieve? Can students use them during lunch breaks? And what happens if you need to contact your child? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND In winter 2021, Australia’s frogs started dropping dead. People began posting images of dead frogs on social media. Unable to travel to investigate the deaths ...
In the year ended March 2024, 0.4 percent of home transfers were to people who didn’t hold New Zealand citizenship or a resident visa, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wasay Majid, Research Assistant , University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau New Zealand’s accommodation supplement scheme is facing scrutiny, with Social Development Minister Louise Upston recently saying “there is merit in considering whether the current settings are fair and sustainable long-term”. The ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The first prime ministerial candidate has been announced in Solomon Islands and it is not Manasseh Sogavare. The man of the hour is Jeremiah Manele, the MP for Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency in Isabel Province, who served as minister of foreign affairs in the last government. ...
Protesting the removal of bins by leaving piles of your dog’s shit for others to deal with doesn’t make you a hero – it’s precious and entitled behaviour. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve stood on the shoreline of Auckland’s Cheltenham beach, desperately trying to scoop increasingly liquid dog shit ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon will be alert to the factors driving the dire polling, but won't be waving the white flag just yet, RNZ political editor Jo Moir writes. ...
Writer, teacher and academic Vincent O’Sullivan died on Sunday 28 April. Here we gather tributes from friends, colleagues, and students who remember his extraordinary contributions. I went down to the garage tonight. There was a bird shrieking out in the bush, in the dark, maybe a kākā. Miraculously, through the ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a burnt-out corporate escapee explains how she gets by ‘working as little as possible’. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 31 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Contractor in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Schmidt, Professor of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney Albert Russ / Shutterstock The icebreaker of many a barbeque conversation is something like “what do you do for a crust?” “I teach chemistry at university,” is what we usually reply. Then silence. Our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Asher Flynn, Associate Professor of Criminology, Monash University Shutterstock Sexual harassment is often considered to be a person-to-person act, but new research shows Australians are also experiencing and perpetrating workplace harassment in large numbers through technology. Our latest study shows one ...
A petition signed by more than 16,500 people, demanding the government take stronger action to halt the genocide of Palestinians by the State of Israel, is being presented to the House of Representatives today by Hon Phil Twyford. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University jenmartin/Shutterstock April has been a bad month for the Australian environment. The Great Barrier Reef was hit, yet again, by intense coral bleaching. And Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek delayed ...
Winston Peters might not give a ‘rat’s derriere’ about last night’s poll, but it revealed the unusual absence of a honeymoon period and little payoff for the government’s action plan approach, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marco de Jong, Lecturer, Law School, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Details released by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under the Official Information Act reveal New Zealand officials have been considering involvement in AUKUS from the outset. ...
The government's treatment of Māori raised eyebrows, with countries saying New Zealand needed to do more to reduce health, education and justice inequities. ...
The age of criminal responsibility was one of numerous human rights issues raised during Aotearoa New Zealand’s UPR. Other key themes were racism and discrimination, the disproportionate representation of Māori in prison, and to uphold the UN Declaration ...
In a sitdown interview ahead of his final day at Parliament this week, the former Green Party co-leader tells RNZ about his lowest point during 2017's rough election campaign. ...
Is the fringe radio station really in a financial crisis, or is it just running a hyped-up donation drive? Fringe internet radio station Reality Check Radio was launched by the anti-vaccine mandates group Voices for Freedom in March 2023. For the next year, it undertook probably the most aggressive promotional ...
Above the Fold: On Monday, the biggest Māori screen production company faced down the biggest funder of Māori content at the High Court. It was an incredibly tense moment – then, just as quickly, it resolved. Duncan Greive breaks down a strange day in the screen sector.Yesterday morning, Māori ...
It’s a ride that’s lasted almost 30 years for mother and daughter BMX riders Nancy and Toni James, and the next stop is the World Championships in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Almost 27 years ago, Nancy and her husband Gerrard took their oldest child, Daniel, to the Waitākere BMX Club. ...
When it comes to talking about the Government’s controversial fast-track consenting process, political scientist Richard Shaw refers to the famous Chinese sci-fi novel Three-Body Problem, while RNZ’s In Depth journalist Farah Hancock talks about zombie projects. Shaw is referring to the three-party coalition Government and how the proposed legislation is ...
Opinion: The debate over single gender versus co-educational schooling has long been controversial. I went to a co-ed school and was inspired by a remarkable woman who was my maths teacher, and because of her deep knowledge and passion for the subject, I knew that maths was definitely an option ...
He won everything and he earned a knighthood and he was a senior literary figure to the point that he was a living monument to himself until his death in the weekend at 86, but there was something about Vincent O’Sullivan that flew under the radar, that was independent and ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia The rate of women killed by their partners in Australia grew by 28% from 2021–22 to 2022–23, according to new statistics released today by the Australian Institute of Criminology ...
Ministry of Disabled People employees were promised a permanent role, but were told to start packing three weeks before their fixed term contract finished, says a former employee. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Clean Energy Council / Neoen As Australia’s rapid renewable energy rollout continues, so too does debate over land use. Nationals Leader David Littleproud, for example, claimed regional areas had reached “saturation point” and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan C. Walsh, Sessional Academic, The University of Queensland Arrest for witchcraft (1866) by John PettieNGV, CC BY-NC In recent decades, governments the world over have increasingly taken action to address the dark history of witch-hunting. In western Europe, memorials to ...
By Mark Rabago, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent The US Department of Justice is being urged to condemn and cease its reliance on the “Insular Cases” — a series of US Supreme Court opinions on US territories, which have been labelled racist. Senate Judiciary Committee chair Dick ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kara Dadswell, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Victoria University Ask your son or daughter, niece, or nephew to draw you a picture of a sport coach. They will most probably draw a man. Why? Our latest research published in the Psychology of Sport ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Rinehart, Professor, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Director, Krongold Clinic (Research), Monash University Shutterstock/Brian A. Jackson “Charlie” is an eight-year-old child with autism. Her parents are worried because she often responds to requests with insults, aggression and refusal. Simple demands, such ...
These evil f*cks want to rip the heart out of NZ. This is not some esoteric online discussion. These cruel arseholes have to be stopped. What can we actually do about it?
I'm not interested in pounding the keyboard. I mean actually.
In case if anyone's wondering tomorrow I'm off to SS4C and a GP branch meeting.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350231627/nz-politics-live-government-will-require-referendums-every-recently-created-maori
We have to fight back but I don't know how or who with.
Suicide Prevention Office to close in Health Ministry cuts – union
I can't guess what the trigger(s) will be..but we are heading into a period of direct action…
I'm doing weights… getting ready..
Non-violent direct action looks to be our only option..
(It worked for Gandhi..)
I am also pinning some hopes on the millennials..
What this govt is doing goes against pretty much against a lot of what they have learnt(been taught..(thank you..teachers..!)
Especially around areas like trashing the environment.. imperiling their very future…
And the good news is that the millennials are a demographic bulge…much like the boomers…
And if these right-wing barbarians piss off enough of them..
Those right-wing barbarians/environmental-visigoths will have shown that demographic-bulge just what they are…and they will be out of office for the foreseeable future…
Racists gonna racism, I guess.
Memo to those buying into the bloated public service bullshit:
Radio nz reported today that we spend one third (per head of population) of the amount australia spends on their public service..
'bloated'..my arse…!
..more like emaciated..
So those who have drunk the kool-ade should just take a deep breath..and see this for what it is..
A right-wing attack …an attempt to further shrink the state..to further neoliberal/capitalist aims..
Radio nz reported today that we spend one third (per head of population) of the amount australia spends on their public service..
Without a link to support, even a basic sniff test would suggest that statistic is bullshit. A quick google search supports the sniff test.
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.CON.GOVT.ZS?locations=NZ-AU
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350164796/heres-what-our-63000-public-servants-actually-do-and-why-we-have-so-many-them-now
Are you deliberately spreading mistruths…
Yr first link is about something different to what I reported from rnz..
And is a textbook example of the link being used as a tool to mislead..
And I can't link to yr second one..after my critique on their output..I was blocked from their site..somewhat petty on their part..you'd think..?
How inconvenient that you can’t read the second link. It says the complete opposite of your unlinked bullshit.
From your Stuff link,
Did you read the bit about Ireland, with a comparable population?
Waiting for Philip to support his ludicrous claim. Thought you demanded links, even for mundane statements like parliament oral questions?
[I was in town, on my phone, you numpty. Now that I am home I’m giving you some time out.
3 day ban – weka]
[Based on your reply to your Mod note early this morning that went straight into the Trash folder that Mods however can read in the back end, and to back up my fellow Mod and show my solidarity, I’ve upgraded your ban to one month.
Despite the lenient rules of engagement of this free site, which you can read in the this site’s Policy (https://thestandard.org.nz/policy/), you behave like the typical RWNJ troll who obviously doesn’t give a shit about any limitations on your own behaviour here and you blatantly ignore the clear points of the Mod note, which took time to write.
You also seem to have conveniently forgotten that you had already received a Mod note previously (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-21-03-2024/#comment-1993370).
Personally, I don’t see any reason why you should be allowed to waste anymore time of other commenters and Mods here, but let’s see if this educational ban will suffice for you to keep your commenting privileges here – Incognito]
Mod note
Still waiting for the link to support your frankly ludicrous claim.
From now on, please either link, or if you were listening to broadcast, give the time of day and some detail eg the Panel at around 4.30pm were discussing…
That way people can get the context for what you are talking about.
It was on morning report..and what was read out was a comparison between nz and a bunch of other countries..
And the comparisons made were on the amount each country spends..per head of population..
And was presented to provide context ..
Now ..I am not lying…I did hear it..and I think rnz has a reasonable degree of credibility..so we can dismiss any claims of dishonesty on their part.
btw..did anyone else hear it..?
[I’m not saying you are lying. I am telling you as a moderator:
From now on, please either link, or if you were listening to broadcast, give the time of day and some detail eg the Panel at around 4.30pm were discussing.
This is so people know more specifically what you are referring to.
mod note. Please reply letting me know you have read and agree to do this going forward.
Sure..
And it was rose who accused me of 'spreading bullshit'…
FFS, Phil, are you 5 years old?
Stop with this tedious BS and playing the victim and link to what you heard on RNZ Morning Report. Here’s the link to the archive (https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/library), find the episode, find the segment, and then post it (i.e. the link) here.
Where exactly am I 'playing the victim's..?
I was clarifying for weka that it was not her who said I was lying..
And I have no idea where to find what was a context adding aside on that subject.
And unsure why you made the 'five year old' question..
What exactly triggered that..?
And I am puzzled that nobody else on this site..also heard what was a heads-up on that topic..
Hmmm, let me see:
“I was blocked from their site”
“Now ..I am not lying”
“And it was rose who accused me of 'spreading bullshit'…”
Weka doesn’t suffer from the same reading comprehension deficit as you do.
It shows. You don’t have to use your imagination on speculation, just read the Mod and pre-Mod notes and follow the simplest of instructions.
Your commenting pattern here.
As above, and it was a logical & predictable continuation of the moderation in response to your continued stubborn refusal to cough up a link.
All the more reason to dig up that link and show the World that you’re not making up things in your head. So far, you’ve managed to waste a lot of our time and only produced unsubstantiated reckons, hot air, and whingy-whiny replies. The only reply I want to see from you here now is the link to that illustrious segment on RNZ Morning Report, i.e., put up or shut up.
Hi Phillip.
I'm one who is of the view the public service has become too large, and I'll try to make my case.
1. This blog post The complex and bloated Executive | Kiwiblog contains a link to a NZ Initiative report that compares the size of NZ's Executive with that of a group of smaller and a group of larger nations. It is a detailed analysis, including comparisons based on the number of Ministers, the number of Ministries and the number of portfolios.
The central findings are:
2. There have been other recent reports showing the extent to which government spending has risen in recent years, including this Core Crown tax revenue hits 30% of GDP. Expenses 1/3 of GDP. – theFacts. Note – the graph toggles between $'s and % of GDP.
3. This data Workforce Data – Workforce size – Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission shows the growth in public sector employees since 2000. I have calculated the numbers excluding local government employees. In 2000, the number of central government employees was 254,971. In 2017 the number was 341,394. and by 2023 the count was 407,178. So, in 17 years between 2000 and 2017, the number of central government employees grew by 34%, but in just 6 years to 2023 it grew by 20%.
Public sector employees now number close to 20% of the total workforce (up from 14% in 2017 Public-Service-Workforce-Data-2017.pdf (publicservice.govt.nz))
I would also note this:
"Over the last 5 years, the overall public sector workforce increased by 15% (with central government up 15.3% and local government up 13%). This compares with an 9% growth in the private sector over the same period. " Workforce Data – Workforce size – Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
I don't believe for one moment we are receiving anywhere near good value for that increase, nor do I consider it remotely reasonable to assert our public service is "emaciated".
Hi Traveller
While you present an interesting thesis, there's really no empirical basis or consensus for there being a "right" size for public services, or percentage of GDP that we should be spending on it.
All we've got is a bunch of reckons and competing theories of public service organization and structure to go by.
The prevailing ideology around the public service in New Zealand for the last 40 odd years has been New Public Management (NPM), which is basically neoliberal economic theory applied to the public sector.
Its proponents are really good at making broad, dramatic statements about how it makes services more efficient and effective by introducing quasi-market systems and treating them like businesses. But there's precious little evidence it actually delivers on that.
Trust me, I spent the better part of 2 years looking really hard for some when I was doing my Master's thesis.
What the evidence does show is:
Also no, you can't run your country like it's an airline.
I've got plenty of issues with the NZI report you've referenced: in particular the countries they selected for comparison (e.g. Australia has massive bureaucracies at the state level that aren't counted), and the weird focus on the size of the executive – which has no relation to the number of ministries.
Where I do (sort of) agree is that the separation of services into policy and delivery arms was a huge mistake that causes enormous inefficiencies and hampers the effective co-ordination and delivery of policy.
So yeah, drink the NACT kool-aid all you want. But don't try and pretend this is anything more than a bunch of partisan reckons dressed up with some shitty research and badly formatted graphs.
"there's really no empirical basis or consensus for there being a "right" size for public services, or percentage of GDP that we should be spending on it."
"All we've got is a bunch of reckons and competing theories of public service organization and structure to go by."
Well, of course. The 'right' size of the public sector is to a fair degree ideological, and so naturally there are 'competing theories'. However there is a significant body of work that has looked at this issue over time, including papers such as 335309_OptimalSizeOfGovernment.pdf (ime.bg) (which takes a declared market based approach). The 'empirical' evidence is that NZ has a disproportionately large number of elements of our executive when compared to other countries. The 'empirical' evidence is that the number of public sector employees has risen significantly in recent years, disproportionately so when compared to an extended period of recent history covering both Labour and National led governments.
"and the weird focus on the size of the executive – which has no relation to the number of ministries."
It's not a 'weird' focus. The report covers the number of ministers, portfolios and departments. It is these elements that comprise the executive arm of government and feed into the size of the public service.
"Public services and businesses are driven by fundamentally different factors. "
They operate in the same financial and economic environment. The 20% of NZ'ers employed by the state are paid for by the 80% who are not. When the growth in public sector employees outstrips the growth in the sector that funds them, there is a problem.
The problem is when voters demand world class public services but aren't prepared to pay for them.
Or, even worse, when right wing politicians spruik bullshit theories (like the Laffer curve) about the size of the public sector to fulfil their wet dream of smashing the regulatory state. Despite the overwhelming evidence suggesting it doesn't deliver on it's promises.
The size of any given cabinet is a political rather than a policy decision and s nothing to do with the size of the wider public service.
Maybe the growth in the public sector reflects a natural progression towards a size that's actually appropriate for the services it needs to provide, and demands placed on it by New Zealanders.
Have you ever entertained the notion that rather than being too large, the public sector in New Zealand may instead be too small?
"The problem is when voters demand world class public services but aren't prepared to pay for them."
It's a balance. However, it's also a problem when voters pay for world class public services and they aren't delivered.
"The size of any given cabinet is a political rather than a policy decision and s nothing to do with the size of the wider public service."
Policy decisions ARE political decisions. The size of the wider public service is a function of political decision making, and the size of the executive, the number of departments, of course they have an impact on the size of the wider public service.
Ok, let's unpack that.
Let's say instead of delivering a public service I'm a builder and tell you that it will cost you a million dollars to build the house you want.
You agree on the price, but 3 months down the line decide you don't want to pay a million dollars and reduce the budget by 6.5%.
If that happens, and your house isn't finished, whose fault is it?
Let's restate the scenario.
Let's say that the builder has only completed a fraction of the work for the 93.5% already spent, and still "the ongoing carnage of non-achievement and non-delivery just continues on,” . Newshub Nation: National polytechnic merger Te Pūkenga buckling as it asks for more money and fails students, staff | Newshub
Let's say the builder has spent some of the budget on items that have no value to the home owner, and with "no evidence of an agreed budget" and "limited monitoring or oversight of expenditure". (Ministry of Pacific Peoples blasted for $40,000 farewell by public service watchdog | Newshub
I'd be asking the builder to stick to his or her knitting.
Wot res publica said..
This article is going to prove days, weeks, nay months of heated discussion here on TS!
Not.
https://www.queermajority.com/essays-all/was-foreskin-evolutions-great-mistake
Male circumcision is ritual scarification to identify in groups and out groups (viz, drop your trou in Nazi Germany). What I can never understand are the convoluted theories sprouted round the role of the female orgasm. It's obvious to me that the reproductive musculature involved in the heavy exercise of birthing obviously benefits from regular exercise of those same muscles before ((and after) their function during labour.
The number of girls undergoing female genital circumcision is increasing. Loss of a foreskin is mutilation, but function is maintained. Not the case with more extreme. female GM, alas.
Climate-marches across the motu tomorrow…
I plan to carry a placard that says,
“Genuinely concerned”
I couldn't find Philips link from RNZ
However I did find this :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_public_sector_size
He is absolutely correct. We have one of the LOWEST public sectors relative to most of the coutries we compare ourselves to !
NZ 11.5 %
Germany 12.9 %
USA 13.4 %
UK 22.5 %
Australia 28.9 % FFS !!
Public sector v public service. Swat up on the difference.
Sector/service?…. Last time the right did this cutting… it was called "The Sinking Lid"
Many of us had a visual of headless chickens running in tight pointless circles. MPs trying to convince reporters there was meaning to the madness.
Round after round of redundancies, encouraging "Dog eat Dog"
Those who "Lost" had to sell their assets to survive… Garage sales abounded.
Mortgagee sales were a regular feature as well as "Business Opportunities"
Predictable soulless lot not caring about the ruined lives. Just "Picking up the bargains" while spreading a narrative of "Self Help"
Voters have gone for the glitter of shiny things, paltry trinkets of tax cuts, soon gone.
Unfortunately that data is well out of date (for NZ it's from 2011). As I wrote above:
"Public sector employees now number close to 20% of the total workforce (up from 14% in 2017 Public-Service-Workforce-Data-2017.pdf (publicservice.govt.nz))"
The latest numbers I can find for Australia (Public sector growing with Australia: Australian Bureau of Statistics (afr.com)) is there it's around 16%.
In the UK it's about 17% (UK public sector employment share by region 2023 | Statista).
I stand corrected.
Yet another tribunal hearing in the UK over gender identity ideology and women's rights.
The Telegraph https://archive.is/CBPNy#selection-2733.38-2751.142
This is what happens when men are allowed in women's spaces. There is zero reason why RC services for trans women cannot be set up in parallel with women's services, other than trans identified males want validation or they want women's spaces.
The link to the Telegraph story doesn't seem to be working properly, but I was able to look it up via Duckduckgo.
I stand with Roz. How in hell did that "Whadareya" character get to be appointed to that sort of position? Cis- and trans-women have to have separate services.
My preference would be for women's refugees (and lesbian groups) to determine who they provide services/access to, with management by those born of the female sex.
Keeping out those drunk and aggressive and others deemed a risk to others – there are known cases of people having to be allowed in because of "no discrimination" and then assaulting staff – is part of a safe workplace.
Given the practice of some men who assault women to then seek to access women's prisons, this is a known risk for women's refuges.
That might mean that the LGBT+ community provide alternative safe spaces.