Daily review 17/06/2020
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5:30 pm, June 17th, 2020 - 35 comments
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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 ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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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. ...3 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. ...4 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. ...4 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. ...4 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. ...5 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. ...5 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. ...6 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. ...6 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. ...6 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. ...6 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 ...6 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. ...7 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. ...7 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
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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
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
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- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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- Appointments to the ENZ board
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- Judicial appointment announced
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
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- Building consent processing times improve
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Who wants a holiday in Brazil?
Mind you you could just get yourself arrested for conspiracy for helping feed people.
Oh what a wonderful world we live in.
I really hope Woodhouse was full of shit today…
If not charges need to be laid for endangering public health.
Covid getting a toehold again through officials fucking up will be very damaging to the govt…
charges against who?
Against Michael Woodhouse? For knowing about the (alleged) close contact with the virus but doing nothing about it.
Why charge Woodhouse? He didnt let them leave,he didnt lie that they went straight too Wellington without stopping.
Now the Army call is in question,apparently it was on the cards last week.
PM and other wont front tonight,can they be more hopeless?
You guys are hilarious! It's satire, I guess (although you can't even see a joke, so maybe not).
"PM won't front" … except the press conference, media Qs, answering Qs in parliament, and so on.
But when she gives the press conferences you complain that she fronts. "Always on TV, wah wah …".
Be honest. You are delighted that there's been a stuff-up, even if people have to get sick to cheer you up. All the good news was getting you down.
The two involved IF it can be shown that they breached the conditions around their travel arrangements and they mislead govt officials about their journey.
Mistakes were made but IF they misled the health officials about their journey that delay could have grevious consequences. To me that would equate to endangering public health.
Seem to be more stories coming out about people leaving quarantine early without being tested… not good.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/coronavirus-another-ministry-of-health-botch-up-as-group-of-10-let-out-of-quarantine-early-to-attend-burial.html
Woodhouse is full of shit irrespective of what happened.
NZ wanted looser rules, they got them. I'm not sure going hard against the two women makes sense given it's not just them. Better to sort the system problems and put some better messaging out around what will happen going forward. Hard to punish citizens if the govt is messing up too.
We threw the book at the dick head who coffed in a supermarket, fuck these to selfish arseholes charge them.
fair point.
TFW your complaint alleging Bolton is going to publish classified information in his book includes a declaration that the book contains no classified information.
https://twitter.com/BoutrousTed/status/1273009590750216195
The most powerful Twitter-generator in the world just advertised Bolton's book worldwide as the books were being shipped.
His former employer is showering him with publicity all the way to the bank.
Looks like Trump is rewarding Bolton for not testifying.
The zeitgeist, summed up …
Newshub carries several stories about possible breaches of Covid-19 quarantine.
Next, Newshub carries a story about how great it would be to have lots of students coming to Queenstown, for quarantine. Boost the economy!
Yep.
nick smith aka dr custard, is officially campaigning and his catch phrase is..'a good MP' he took out a full page ad in a couple of our free weekly community papers.
If that didn't make me roar with laughter, the turn out at his campaign launch did… bugger all people compared to past launches, mostly 70+.
I'm predicting he will lose his seat this time round, it's been a long time coming but it is time.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121830581/economic-recovery-defining-issue-for-2020-election-says-nick-smith
21 new Covid cases today in Victoria.
Time for our regular reminder that the problems we've been focusing on are lapses in quarantine. So if we catch 95% of cases but miss 5%, that's definitely bad.
Whereas … a trans-Tasman bubble has NO quarantine. Arrive, walk out of the airport, it's done. So we miss 100%.
Call me crazy, but that seems a wee bit worse.
are people suggesting a trans Tasman open border with no quarantine before Australia eliminates covid? How are they rationalising that?
There's a scientific case (not political grandstanding) made here.
But it all comes back to the same point (and I know I go on about it!). In NZ we can have EITHER
– what we have now, almost no internal requirements, but closed borders
OR
– major changes to our behaviour and rules (as the linked article outlines), and some limited opening of borders.
The fantasy that the cheerleaders on the Right are peddling is that we can have our cake and eat it. It's shamefully dishonest.
What would be the major changes to our behaviour in scenario 2? I thought it was just the people coming in that had to wear masks and be tested?
The risk assessment is interesting. It's still possible that we would have a major outbreak in the first month of that right? Chance is an odd way to look at things.
People like Michael Baker have been pushing for masks to be the norm, as in some Asian countries. But it's not really something that can be policed, it's about habit more than compulsion, and that takes longer.
There are cultural and legal issues at play here, it's harder to change long-term mindsets than short-term rules. Would Kiwis adapt to living with the virus, or stick with "she'll be right"? I dunno.
Please no bubble with Australia. We would be mad to do that. That is my only hope of something good coming out of this latest case.
I agree. In fact I think quite a lot of good might come out of it.
After a month of feeling virus-free complacency had set in. It's been jolted.
A lot of the media coverage has overlooked the basic point that these women were NZ residents (or citizens), coming home. We have to keep letting them back in (and quarantine them properly, of course).
We certainly don't have to bring in a lot of other people, as well. Politicians demanding that will not be getting many votes.
+100%
IMO If any bubbles happen, the first should be with the pacific islands, to help the RSE workers.
Observer I do agree. But I think many people have some responsibility for this f..k up.
Firstly the nursing staff or whoever was supervising the people in quarantine. They need to be told "today you are having your test" and then give it to them. They needed to ask the right questions. The women themselves………who really believes that it didn't occur to to the one with asthma symptoms that she should have wondered if its covid. Through out the last three months off and on I had a dry cough, a running nose, sneezing. All the time it went through my mind that it could be covid. Wasn't worried as such as was isolating with my nearest and dearest. But when it came time to enter level two and we had a big family occasion and I still had those symptoms, I got a test. Also did they lie about the rendevous revealed by Michael Woodhouse?
Oh and livid about the guy who took the Govt to court and got this a court granted exemption. He. has a lot to answer for.
STILL REALLY LIVID
I had my say in yesterday's Open Mike so I'm not going to wind myself up again today rehashing it. Look there if you want a hint at how filthy I was (and still am) about our system releasing the two women.
But I'm inclined to be a lot more sympathetic to the guy that wanted the exemption to go see his dying father while his father was still alive. Firstly, there's a time-critical element that's just not present with the two women at issue right now who traveled after their parent's death. He was also completely symptom-free, pushing to be tested, and looking for anything else he could do to minimise the risk should he be given an exemption. Those elements were at least partly lacking with the two women.
Looks like the two COVID women from the UK are serial liars…
I trust the government puts them into mandatory quarantine (prison?) now, as they can’t be trusted, start legal actions against the pair and takes them to court as soon as as they’re out of quarantine.
Yeah pretty disgusted with their utter stupity
Dont blame the ladies for getting out.
This is a Government fiasco and the PM has to front up.
You must deliberately avoid the media all day if you think the PM doesn't "front up".
Media release from the Ministry of Health.
Update on journey between Auckland and Wellington of the recent confirmed cases of COVID-19.
https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/media-releases/update-journey-between-auckland-and-wellington-recent-confirmed-cases-covid-19
Now there is a responsible and compassionate review of what happened. Pity the MSM can't seem able to aspire to that standard of reporting.
Thanks Fireblade.
Thanks Anne. I have to temper my fury about this. But I do think they need to take some responsibility for it. Surely no one travels from somewhere like the uk without considering they pose some risk. Why did they need to have physical contact with the friends who helped them find their way. We all stayed distant from love ones for four weeks…..
If your'e feeling desperate, frightened and stressed out you don't think straight. I went down that road 25 years ago and I can look back now and appreciate my brain was not properly functioning. I think these sisters are going through the same sort of ordeal and I feel for them. It isn't helping they are being accused of lying and dishonesty. It just makes their situation a lot worse than it already is.
That's what I have taken away from the story and I know they will heal. Old Father Time is good that way.
Oh look Alexander Downer pushing more shitfuckery.