Daily Review 07/02/2019
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5:30 pm, February 7th, 2019 - 20 comments
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- Taxpayers' Union gets destroyed
The Taxpayers’ Union scored another own goal yesterday when they decided to have a go at well-known journalist David Farrier (not to be confused with David Farrar) over Government funding he’d received to make a documentary.While that slinging match isn’t really worth reporting on, being that it was mainly just ...57 mins ago - Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – “Year of the vaccine” at risk
A consensus is emerging that the Government has generally managed the Covid crisis very well over the last 18 months, but they have dropped the ball when it comes to the crucial vaccine rollout. This was nicely encapsulated in opinion polling last week showing that while 69 per cent of ...20 hours ago - Profiteering politicians delegitimise parliament
Why aren't politicians interested in actually solving the housing crisis? Because virtually the entire political class is making massive profits from it: MPs have pocketed $50 million in capital gains from their property interests in the last year amid a growing housing affordability crisis, a Stuff analysis has found. ...21 hours ago - Democracy wins in SamoaOver three months ago Samoa had an election, in which the people voted out the incumbent Human Rights Protection Party and voted in the opposition FAST Party. The incumbent Human Rights Protection Party ignored the results and clung to power, hoping to get their patsy head of state to call ...21 hours ago
- Climate Change: The solution farmers don’t want us to talk aboutRNZ this morning has a piece asking Can NZ really meet its methane emissions targets?. Posing it as a question like this frames it as difficult, more of the "but its too hard!" whine from farmers. But its not hard at all. Pretty obviously, we can meet methane reduction targets ...1 day ago
- A Conversation That Never Happened.
1 day ago - Graham Adams: Parliament is in recess but Kris Faafoi is too busy to discuss proposals for hate-spee...The Minister of Justice appears to have gone into hiding. Graham Adams provides an update on how the public debate on hate speech regulation is going, especially in terms of whether political opinion should or shouldn’t receive an exemption from new laws. It fell to RNZ to break the ...1 day ago
- Engineering A Miracle: Can Judith Collins Reprise Rob Muldoon?Miracle Worker? But Judith Collins and National cannot regain power by simply hoping for the worst. Elections are won by politicians like Rob Muldoon, who persuade the voters that the incumbent government is the worst choice.WAITING FOR THE MIRACLE, as Leonard Cohen observed, is an agonising test. Especially if its ...1 day ago
- Hearing loss and social isolation – the silent burden
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- When tough on crime goes wrongIf there’s one thing that you can safely rely on, it’s right-wing politicians grandstanding with tough on crime rhetoric. It's understandable being that such propaganda is usually a sure bet, obviously because a very large proportion of the public wants to see less crime and fewer criminals in their communities.However ...3 days ago
- Billionaire space race: the ultimate symbol of capitalism’s flawed obsession with growthTim Jackson, University of Surrey Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids, laments the Rocket Man in Elton John’s timeless classic. In fact, it’s cold as hell. But that doesn’t seem to worry a new generation of space entrepreneurs intent on colonising the “final frontier” as fast ...3 days ago
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- Andrew Geddis: Responding to Elizabeth Rata on Treaty PartnershipsIn a recent post on this site, Prof Elizabeth Rata expressed her concerns at the growth of what she terms “ethno-nationalism” and the role that the concept of a “Treaty partnership” has played in this development. She does so by telling a story about how this idea of a Treaty ...4 days ago
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- Looking for more coal is indefensibleSiberia is burning. China is flooding. Westport flooded last weekend. And against this backdrop of climate breakdown, the Southland District Council thinks its a good time to approve new coal exploration. This is a terrible idea. But its also a waste of time. Any coal discovered can never be burned ...5 days ago
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- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – The Seriousness of the rural revoltIt’s nearly a week since the “Howl of a Protest” took place throughout the country, and we’re still talking about the rural revolt. What are the farmers’ concerns? Are they legitimate? Has the rural-urban divide has become too deep, and will any of this have an impact on politics in ...5 days ago
- Extreme heat warning: what the first-ever UK Met Office alert meansChloe Brimicombe, University of Reading Summer 2021 will mark a turning point in how heat is seen by the public and communicated by experts. For the first time in its 167-year history, the UK’s Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat for much of Wales and parts ...5 days ago
- Hydrogen in Southland?New Zealand wants to move to more renewable electricity. But there's a barrier: the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. It sucks up 13% of our total electricity supply, but its continued threats to shut down create ongoing uncertainty about demand, which puts people off building the additional renewables we need. But ...5 days ago
- When an ancient volcanic ‘supereruption’ caused sudden cooling, early humans got luckyBen Black, Rutgers University and Anja Schmidt, University of Cambridge Around 74,000 years ago, a “supereruption” on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, blasted out an estimated 5,000 cubic kilometres of magma. This was the Toba eruption, the largest volcanic eruption of the past 2 million years. To put 5,000 ...5 days ago
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- Geoffrey Miller: NZ’s statement on China a shot across the bowA statement issued by the New Zealand Government alleging Chinese state involvement in hacking goes much further than a simple, pro forma endorsement of the views of New Zealand’s allies. Geoffrey Miller explains the significance. New Zealand joined Western allies on Monday by issuing a statement that called out ...7 days ago
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- Minister of Foreign Affairs makes three diplomatic appointments
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- Government backs critical health researchResearch into some of New Zealanders’ biggest health concerns including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease is getting crucial support in the latest round of health research funding, Health Minister Andrew Little announced today. The funding, awarded through the Health Research Council of New Zealand, covers 31 General Project grants ($36.64 ...4 hours ago
- New Bay of Islands hospital facilities to bring services closer to homePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Andrew Little have joined a ceremony to bless the site and workers for Phase Two of the redevelopment of the Bay of Islands Hospital in Kawakawa today. The new building will house outpatients and primary care facilities, as well as expanded renal care ...1 day ago
- Cabinet accepts Turkish authorities’ request for the managed return of three NZ citizensCabinet has agreed to the managed return of a New Zealand citizen and her two young children from Turkey, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The three have been in immigration detention in Turkey since crossing the border from Syria earlier this year. Turkey has requested that New Zealand repatriate ...1 day ago
- Govt delivers more classrooms so children can focus on learningExtra Government investment in classrooms and school building projects will enable students and teachers to focus on education rather than overcrowding as school rolls grow across the country, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis say. The pair visited Ruakākā School in Whangārei today to announce $100 ...1 day ago
- New station a platform for AirportLink to take offEvery Aucklander with access to the rail network will now have a quick and convenient trip to the airport, Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said during the official opening of the new Puhinui Interchange today. The new interchange links the rail platform with a new bus ...3 days ago
- 10 days sick leave for employees deliveredLegislation doubling employees’ minimum sick leave entitlement to 10 days comes into effect today, bringing benefits to both businesses and employees, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Our Government is delivering on a key manifesto commitment to help Kiwis and workplaces stay healthy,” Michael Wood said. “COVID-19 ...3 days ago
- Prime Minister congratulates Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on Election WinPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern tonight congratulated Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on her victory in the Samoa’s general election. “New Zealand has a special relationship with Samoa, anchored in the Treaty of Friendship. We look forward to working with Samoa’s new government in the spirit of partnership that characterises this ...4 days ago
- Quarantine Free Travel with Australia suspendedQuarantine Free Travel from all Australian states and territories to New Zealand is being suspended as the Covid situation there worsens, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. From 11.59pm today Australians will no longer be able to enter New Zealand quarantine-free. This will be ...4 days ago
- Growing conservation efforts in GisborneA big injection of Jobs for Nature funding will create much-needed jobs and financial security for families in TeTairāwhiti, and has exciting prospects for conservation in the region, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The projects target local communities most affected by the economic consequences of COVID 19 and are designed ...4 days ago
- Flood recovery given further assistanceThe Government is contributing a further $1 million to help the flood battered Buller community, Acting Emergency Management Minister Kris Faafoi announced today. “Buller is a small community which has found itself suddenly facing significant and ongoing welfare costs. While many emergency welfare costs are reimbursed by Government, this money ...5 days ago
- Funding for five projects to reduce food wasteThe Government is funding five projects to help address the growing problem of food waste, Environment Minister David Parker announced today. “New Zealand households throw away nearly 300,000 tonnes of food every year, half of which could still be eaten. By supporting these initiatives, we’re taking steps to reduce this ...5 days ago
- Temporary Accommodation Service activated for West Coast flooding eventThe Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) has been activated today - meaning residents on the West Coast of the South Island and in the Marlborough region hit by flooding over the weekend can now access help finding temporary accommodation, announced Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing) Poto Williams in Westport today. ...6 days ago
- Pause to Quarantine Free Travel from South Australia to New ZealandQuarantine Free Travel from South Australia to New Zealand will be paused from 11.59am (NZT) tonight, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced. However, people currently in the state who ordinarily live in New Zealand will be able to return on “managed return” flights starting with the next available flight, ...7 days ago
- New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity by Chinese state-sponsored actorsNew Zealand has established links between Chinese state-sponsored actors known as Advanced Persistent Threat 40 (APT40) and malicious cyber activity in New Zealand. “The GCSB has worked through a robust technical attribution process in relation to this activity. New Zealand is today joining other countries in strongly condemning this malicious ...1 week ago
- Remarks to Diplomatic CorpsIt is a pleasure to be with you all this evening. Some of you may have been surprised when you received an invitation from the Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, and I would forgive you if you were. New Zealand is unique in having established a Ministerial portfolio ...1 week ago
- Early Pfizer shipment boosts vaccine scheduleThe largest shipment of the Pfizer vaccine to date has arrived into New Zealand two days ahead of schedule, and doses are already being delivered to vaccination centres around the country, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. “The shipment of more than 370,000 doses reached New Zealand yesterday, following a ...1 week ago
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A change of wind has freshened the fire and raised its intensity in Nelson.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12201426
The sort of thing we have been discussing about different ways of farminghave met their time for acceptance. This shouldn’t – can’t happen again:
Meanwhile the farmer whose machinery is suspected to have sparked the devastating 1900ha Tasman blaze is “mortified”, fire chiefs say.
FENZ incident controller John Sutton said it was almost certain the fire was the result of agricultural machinery.
The owner was “mortified”, said Sutton who added it was a highly accidental event.
“A totally unintended consequence really.”
Sources told the Herald yesterday that the fire was sparked by a farmer tilling dry fields at around 2pm up Pigeon Valley near Wakefield, about 30km south of Nelson.
The poor farmer was just just doing what he knows, possibly a tad mad out there at that time of day a touch of sunspot making him work too hard… nobody expected a fire from discing soil.
It is a rather freakish thing to happen. I was a bit puzzled as to how someone could be tilling in this weather then it dawned on me: they have irrigation as well. If policy depicts landholders can just plug into water to irrigate they have no real incentive to hold water in the land and help mitigate drought. This lacks resilience. As insurance companies get tighter fisted about climate related matters, which they simply must to survive, it will pay to retrofit and collect your own or at least some of your own water. Resilient systems will be easier to insure, having some in-built insurance. And for you and yours, water security is right up there for basic survival and yes: productivity.
Weather events may be unpredictable, but future fires, droughts and floods are actually a given. No need to be blaming in this instance. But it is a good time to reflect on how we forest, farm and plant.
Still ongoing, this fire. Tasmania just got their first decent rain in a long time. Very happy for them. Their fights not over either, but the nightmare is less.
irrigation or no….farming is time constrained
Absolutely agree with you Pat.
On the Sunday post How to get there we are finding what can and can’t be done farmwise and waterwise. Farming will be constrained but the ones that can think and act will be able to adapt.
Pigeon Valley is riddled with stones and rocks, probably was an ancient river bed, metal rubbing against stones in these conditions would easily create sparks.
If a tinder dry summer is the new norm, maybe we need stronger rules for using machinery on land next to forests.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pigeon+Valley+7096/@-41.3700929,172.9212285,13895m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x6d3ba2c2a5f79e0d:0x500ef868479c160!2sWakefield!3b1!8m2!3d-41.4044308!4d173.0485304!3m4!1s0x6d3b9f35642330fd:0x500ef868479d130!8m2!3d-41.383764!4d173.0254841
When the forests are closed off because the fire risk is extreme (like the last couple of weeks), then perhaps all neighbouring land owners need to be personally contacted and advised not to use machinery that could create sparks.
PS… I’d say the golf course would be the most irrigated piece of land up the Pigeon Valley.
The coming times (as of now) are not a case of being contacted and ‘advised’ it is being ‘ordered’ or else. It’s not about being nice and neighbourly and all working together, it is a case of prevention of emergencies and has to be dictated.
If that’s what it takes Grey.
I can’t imagine what you’d be using machinery for at this time of year.
Mowing, track/run maintenance, driving posts……?
Chainsaw for a wind felled tree is all I can come up with.
Sleep time for me.
It’s a bit sad to acknowledge, but much of social media or news site commentariat is based around deliberate lying to influence others.
Most of the “fake news” comes from individuals of the public – and one can assume that only some of this comes from (party) shills, those paid to be influencers on media sites.
Gore Vidal laid blame in his 2008 obituary of William F. Buckley, Jr.
The unique mess that our republic is in can be, in part, attributed to a corrupt press whose roots are in mendacious news (sic) magazines like Time and Newsweek, aided by tabloids that manufacture fictional stories about actual people. This mingling of opinion and fiction has undone a media never devoted to truth. Hence, the ease with which the Republican smear-machine goes into action when they realize that yet again the party’s permanent unpopularity with the American people will cause them defeat unless they smear individually those who question the junk that the media has put into so many heads. Anyone who says “We gotta fight ’em over there or we’re gonna have to fight ’em over here.” This absurdity has been pronounced by every Republican seeking high office. The habit of lying is now a national style that started with “news” magazines that was further developed by pathological liars that proved to be “good” Entertainment on TV. But a diet of poison that has done none of us any good.
I speak ex cathedra now, ad urbe et orbe, with a warning that no society so marinated in falsity can long survive in a real world.
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/gore-vidal-speaks-seriously-ill-of-the-dead-2/
Hocking off your gold reserves seems to be the go-to move when you’re circling the gurgler.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-gold/venezuelan-government-sold-73-tonnes-of-gold-to-uae-turkey-last-year-legislator-idUSKCN1PV1XE?il=0
Lololol
Inoffizielle Mitarbeiter.
If you see something…. say something
Do I get a t-shirt if I sign up?
Lmao.
You crack me up Joe90 that was funny as.
“Residents in Wakefield are being asked to prepare to evacuate if needed. The village has an estimated population of 3000.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/110400124/live-large-forest-fire-in-nelson-intensifies
Stay safe over there.
Scarey stuff.
They are doing an incredible job making sure people are safe.
Wind seems to have gone, fingers crossed it the fire won’t make it to the village.
I’m sure they err on the side of caution in preparing people and that is good imo. And I agree – amazing work people are doing to help.
Tim Watkins musing on Waitangi Day this year:
…I’m with Peeni Henare when he frets the day may become too “bland”. The MP was speaking in the context of relations between the upper and lower marae, but his point applies more widely.
That Waitangi Day acts as a stone in our national shoe is something I’m proud of as a New Zealander. Many countries use their national days to parade – sometimes literally – banal cultural myths or ceremonies of false unity. They trade in triumphalism and grandiosity. But here in New Zealand we dare to face down our failings and demand better. We don’t always do it well; I don’t take any pleasure from Prime Minister’s being almost knocked form their feet or racist speeches from any side. But it is good that we are not complacent and smug.
https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/reflections-on-a-day-at-waitangi-and-the-c-word