Daily review 09/06/2020
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5:30 pm, June 9th, 2020 - 24 comments
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...13 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...6 days ago
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
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- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
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- Building consent processing times improve
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
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- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
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Goldsmith tells Jacinda to stick to her knitting. Ffs. Where do they get these people. Are they time travelling from the 50’s or something
Kaye has now told off Goldsmith, which will enrage the righty ranters much more than whatever Ardern said about the Warehouse. "National, too PC, get some balls" etc, etc.
If she doesn't knit herself I'll bet she appreciates those who do. A fine old NZ tradition among women and men, Maori and Pakeha.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/sewing-knitting-and-textile-crafts/page-3
OK – "stick to our knitting"is a lame business cliche I used to hear all the time in meetings a decade and more ago. It was a favourite of 2nd-rate senior managers who on uttering it believed they had reached a level of profundity unattainable by anyone else in the room. Personally I reckon Goldsmith comes from this milieu – rather than actually meaning anything sexist. But he was too stupid to realise that it might be seen as sexist.
More concerning for me is that Goldsmith seems to consider business sacrosanct – above interrogation by the people through their democratically representatives. Have to say, although there wasn't much to like about Level 4 lockdown – the sense that business was under proper democratic control and subservience to the common good, wasn't a bad feeling.
Goldsmith getting himself into all sorts of incoherent tangles trying to answer some pretty basic questions from Lisa Owen on Checkpoint.
What a dunce. (9 mins) https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018749949/sticking-to-knitting-not-the-best-phrase-to-use-goldsmith
Omg Goldsmith is woeful……..so this is the more competent team. I wonder if Nikki Kaye enjoyed taking a swipe at him to pay him back for Ngati goldsmith.
national caucus……happy days
ps it looks like National could be bringing their one size fits all to solve the economic downturn….drum roll……….tax cuts!
So embarrassing eh.
Still I expect that Goldsmith was pleased to get noticed. After all his efforts against Robertson in QT are pretty weak so like Muller he must get himself noticed so that he can astound the voters. Idiot!
He'll be presenting a big hole in the books any time soon, like a decrepid magician struggling with the top hat.
You know it is a National MP being interviewed when it flips, flaps, flops, and flounders and you just want to pull out your nostrils out with a toilet plunger whilst screaming Shake It Off by Taylor Swift at the top of your lungs. Nasal swab optional.
In fact I think we could technically call that interview a train wreck even by Muller’s standards. They say politics is a game of confidence and the Nats sure are proving that.
Has anyone heard how things are going with NZNO?
To have the implosion that occurred in the executive, going into the pandemic, hardly bodes well going into wage negotiations.
I feel for the membership of this essential workforce.
NZNO ??
NZNO = New Zealand Nurses Organisation.
Yesterday: https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/nzno-ce-rejects-resolution-dissolve-board
Thanks Sacha.
The CE is optimistic expecting new folk to want to sign on to that disfunctional cruise.
Having typed that, the idea of a Chief Executive speaking for a union may give an indication of how far adrift they are.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation.
Lone nutter or Yarpie spooks?
Sources say South Africa handed over dossier on 1986 murder, but not everyone is hopeful mystery will be solved
The findings of an investigation into one of the world’s most infamous cold cases, the 1986 assassination of Swedish prime minister Olof Palme, will finally be made public in Stockholm on Wednesday.
Palme was shot in the back at close range on a Stockholm street while walking home from the cinema with his wife Lisbeth on a February evening. The gunman disappeared into a side street and the mystery has thwarted the Swedish police ever since, giving rise to an industry built around competing speculative theories.
The two leading schools of thought are that it was a lone gunman, perhaps enraged by Palme’s social democratic politics, or a much more intricate plot involving the South African apartheid regime.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/08/case-of-sweden-murdered-pm-1986-olof-palme-south-africa
They've gone with lone nutter.
https://twitter.com/ChrChristensen/status/1270624422387503104
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stig_Engstr%C3%B6m_(assassin)
https://twitter.com/Vanessa_Kisuule/status/1270011146544783361
A post-Doctor audio episode of Doctor Who
Nardal's stuck on the ship on the edge of a black hole and Bill's on earth in the midst of the pandemic and protests.
The car crash that is Britain's pandemic response keeps getting worse.
Schools will not open until September. That's a full six months after they closed. Poor kids having the bad luck to be governed by Boris Johnson.
https://www.bbc.com/news/education-52969679
So why did JA comment on the Wharehouse and its decision to down size and shed staff. Does she have any idea how to run a company!. Does she believe the Warehouse wants to downsize and is doing so to punish the staff?, or is she just disappointed that this has happened in spite of her wonderful Government making the wage subsidy available. That money, of course going to the workers not the company. If the Warehouse has kept some of that money it will be taken to task. If Jacinda had opened her eyes and mind a little further she would have realised that other big companies are struggling as well and closing stores, Bunnings is the example. Goldsmith was wrong to belittle JA. Goldsmith was right to question her qualifications to criticise the Warehouse, and in turn ask her what else her Government was doing to help big business (big employers) survive. The wage subsidy was put there so workers could be kept employed while business recovered enough to sell the same amount of goods and services as pre Covid. In some cases that clearly isn't going to happen whether JA likes it or not.