The stature of NZ Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has entered the stratosphere. She is unique:
This is New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, grieving with the Muslim community as they mourn the 49 departed, & wearing a hijab in solidarity.❤️
We must look after her – a consummately valuable being at a time of crisis both planetary and local. Best way is to actively engage in kindness her word and outreach not only in the weeks ahead but always as the emerging mode of being a Kiwi.
“Troubled times, she says, are “precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.
“I know the world is bruised and bleeding,” she adds, “and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom. Like art.””
The contrast between Jacinda Ardern’s empathy and presence, and Simon Bridges this morning on Radio NZ, plus reports of Paula Bennett as Police Minister watering down the recommendations on gun reform is very telling. Glad we have this government dealing with this horrific issue!!
Simon Dallow reported on One News just now that an 18 year old guy has been charged with inciting violence in Christchurch. Mention was made of him inciting extreme violence online, and posting a photo of one of the mosques with the caption `target acquired’.
This looks like proof of an online proof of an online support system for the shooter – and possible proof of involvement of a Christchurch alt-right cell, as suggested the other day by Paul Buchanan.
In his Herald commentary Hosking joins Trotter in promoting the lone wolf theory. Inasmuch as reports on the shooting as it happened informed us that hundreds of online supporters were cheering him on during his live stream, it seems these two have adopted an untenable position.
However the Herald elsewhere clarified that the other three arrested at the time were not implicated. Merely carrying firearms. Probably regular viewers of tv crime shows.
no, apparently one was volunteering to “help” the police and someone else was picking their kid up from school with the gun as protection.
More than one typre of gun nut around that day.
He might have been the pointy end of the pyramid, but it might be an education to find out how he funded trips around the world, a flat, and a firearms collection when he “obsessively” worked out.
I’ve had a quiet day today reading lots of thoughts and opinions of people. Been great to read non older paler maler views (sorry TS dudes) so i thought I’d put a couple of links up from different voices. They’re angry, emotional, real and deep and will hopefully create a wider tapestry of views for us all.
Thank you. I especially liked this one – debating racist is a waste of time and energy.
“… An article that tries again to show the link between mainstream, fashionable Muslim-bashing and its violent manifestations on the right. An article that fillets the semantic tricks played to stop Muslims ever being complete victims: the line that Islam is not a race; the use of women’s and LBGT rights as a rhetorical stick to beat Muslims with; the cant about freedom of speech, political correctness and the danger of identity politics; the whataboutery and the strawmanning….
…It is time to stop pleading. It is time to call things what they are and not temper or apologise for the strength of the allegations, to call people racists, opportunists and complicit hatemongers even if they do grace our prestigious publications and seats of governance. It is time to do what they always accuse you of doing anyway, and “shut down the debate”.”
Yes – I have read harrowing accounts of race and religion hatred towards our Muslim brothers and sisters today. I think, up to now, I haven’t really understood their pain and alienation in our country. I feel very sad and upset by that and I determined that I will make amends by listening more, supporting more and acting more.
By Khaled Diab
Khaled Diab is a journalist and writer. He is the author of “Islam for the Politically Incorrect” and “Intimate Enemies.”
March 16
If a terrorist were to claim that their attack was intended to “add momentum to the pendulum swings of history, further destabilizing and polarizing Western society,” you might be excused in thinking the perpetrator was an Islamic extremist. But these are the words of a white supremacist and crusader.
[…]
These two hateful ideologies — white supremacy and radical Islamism — may regard themselves as polar opposites, but their worldviews resemble the other. Both are paranoid, exhibit a toxic blend of superiority and inferiority toward the other, are scornful of less extreme members of their own communities, and are nostalgic for an imagined past of cultural dominance.
[…]
A contempt for “Western” modernity is another trait shared by Islamists and the Christian far right. “The Europeans worked assiduously in trying to immerse (the world) in materialism, with their corrupting traits and murderous germs, to overwhelm those Muslim lands that their hands stretched out to,” believed al-Banna. Unintentionally echoing the founding father of political Islam, Tarrant is convinced that the West has become a “society of rampant nihilism, consumerism and individualism.”
[…]
This disdain for many aspects of modernity translates into an overwhelming yearning for a supposedly more glorious and pure past and a nostalgia for bygone imperial greatness when the world was at their command — for the days of European empire or Islamic caliphates.
The thinking and the feelings that may be behind the swirl of social media and blogging from upset and angry men and women – is it like this in their minds?
From Joe90’s link: This disdain for many aspects of modernity translates into an overwhelming yearning for a supposedly more glorious and pure past and a nostalgia for bygone imperial greatness when the world was at their command — for the days of European empire or Islamic caliphates.
Is there a nostalgia for past colonial might of Britain behind Brexit? Is it nostalgia and wishful thinking and an inability to face the world that you actually helped create, driving the extreme resentment? Disruption in others’ lives and land has been caused by unwise attacks and invasion, by or enhanced by outsiders, causing infrastructural, societal and agricultural damage that causes people to be uprooted and flee into your own domain by people who are now outsiders in your country?
Is it resentment from the grunts in the armed forces who haven’t got much out of the maneouvres and fighting, perhaps damage to their bodies and minds that is not recompensed; in the end their personal lives, and their local and nationwide economy has become poorer.
Not what you expected after all the fighting and strain on personal life and health, and then the refugees from the war you have just fought and been damaged in, they come to live in your town and end up with more help than you have received, and the other men in the town aren’t given the same opportunities and help. How do you feel seeing them prosper with deep commitment to each other? Has your society got deep commitment to you and giving you similar opportunities to flourish? You feel that you are now an annoyance to your authorities, a burden, not respected, not appreciated for putting yourselves in the way of harm, under orders and direction. Then you and your cohort seem to be consigned to being second-rate people at home.
Is that a line of thinking that would fire up and keep hot, the anomic males, in a society where employment statistics are so all encompassing that they start at one hour of paid employment a week. That may be useful for stable comparisons for the Stats Department, but measuring full-time numbers at one job of 40 hours would indicate the real situation. (If someone can give me the line of clicks I have to make to get that for the nation and for each region per quarter, and annually, I would appreciate it.)
“Some dealers get around the law by importing parts that are interchangeable between MSSAs and ‘A category’ rifles. “This enables domestic assembly and the assembler to later purchase parts such as a large-capacity magazine or pistol grip without a licence, and to turn the assembled ‘A category’ semi-automatic into a MSSA,” the police told the minister.”
Dude has attitude: “The Queensland independent senator laughed off threats from Scott Morrison, saying: “I hope it’s not too painful. What’s he going to do? Flog me with his lace hanky?”
Hmm, an admirer of Fraser. Apologist for Tarrant the other day. Questioner of the Islam texts yesterday and WTF ever was the shite you tried pull in open mike only hours ago something like racist complaints aren’t real cos Islam isn’t a race cos some judges said so.
Lawyer smarts aye. So reasonable and inquiring aren’t you.
You made a call on the Quran after reading 1 verse of it in Tarrants manifesto – WTF is wrong with you?
At best you are extremely ignorant. I’m leaning towards sociopathic game playing POS.
I think Dennis Frank is trying to be objective. But it comes over as unconcerned, even accepting. And the idea of taking bits out of the holy bibles of any religion because they seem to encourage violence is pointless to put forward. I read Dennis saying this the other day, and consider it both unwise to express at the present, and not useful as a suggestion for any time. It would arouse much anger and claims of interference in the religion and not deal with the problem. The beliefs in peoples’ minds are what need to be exposed to the air and discussed. I
Then there is the role modelling from parents and others in the person’s life. And what faction do they identify with, and is it a positive one? Is there a lack of a reasoned pathway for future life, and a lack of reasoned discussion on how to make a satisfactory life with what you have and could work towards, using your own talents.
This is what is needed, not merely redacting words out of an important, sacred document. Counselling the person when young to help them understand themselves and their talents. This would be a start to the person forming a plan for their future, knowing their strong and weak points, and being able to grow those talents and make a living from them, being appreciated as a worthwhile person. This would not lead to a pathway for that individual shooting at people in deep resentment and anger.
Dennis is not objective. He’s still doing it and he’ll keep doing it as the feedback of a bunch of people means nothing to the sound of his own word heavy nonsense and vile stirring.
Take the rosy glasses off, watch the pattern repeat.
Always playing the victim, simultaneously always on attack. And not that clever it’s mostly gibberish. Lefties vs righties, but he’s in the center. The problem with all of you is…
Look closer. Gibberish with a pin in it. Who he scratches doesn’t matter, as long as he does it. Gets to be victim again, takes the gibberish he’s made up of why that is to the next blog.
I’m glad he did it, but in classical heroism terms Abdul Aziz is pretty hard to beat – attacks armed mass murderer with a credit card reader and beats him so badly he runs off like a yellow dog – give that man a VC! And honorary membership of our armed forces if that’s a prerequisite – he was defending New Zealand – our people are our country.
i can understand why military folk may feel that.
there is an arguement to be had that when these awards were enacted, the was no notion of a ‘civilian’ on a murderous spree with military planning, gear and objectives.
Aziz’s courage can be said to eclipse military bravery as it was a very one sided encounter, in that he was essentially unarmed.
“Peter Dutton has accused the Greens of being “just as bad” as extreme right-wing nationalist senator Fraser Anning, claiming both are seeking to extract political advantage from the Christchurch terror attack. On Monday the home affairs minister equated the Greens holding him accountable for stoking anti-Islamic sentiment with Anning’s comments blaming the attack on Muslim immigration.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/18/peter-dutton-claims-greens-just-as-bad-as-fraser-anning-on-christchurch-attack
“Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi responded that it was “vile” to say the comments were in any way equivalent, while Labor leader in the Senate Penny Wong accused him of “normalising hate speech. Since the attack on Friday the Greens have gone on the front foot with leader Richard Di Natale renewing calls for a parliamentary code of conduct to stamp out hate speech and Faruqi, the first Muslim senator in Australia, criticising conservative politicians for stoking hatred. “It is politicians like Peter Dutton who have actually contributed to creating an atmosphere where hate is allowed to incubate in our society,” Faruqi told Radio National. “They can’t shrug off their responsibility.”
I’m feeling solidarity with the Oz Greens on their stance. I get that the conservatives are just trying to represent their constituents, as democracy requires of them, but their style of doing so does seem offensive. That said, I’m a centrist not a rightist.
About Oz and insults and ingrained racism against anyone of colour – Aborigines, Muslims – and anyone who wants to make change in social habits.
Oz pollie Fraser Anning says that mother of the boy who threw an egg at him should have slapped him. I’m inclined to believe that the same prescription should have been handed out to this hoity-toity ass.
Background: He and his wife own a number of hotels. He comes from landowner family with a number of properties. He is the great-grandson of a British pastoral squatter who went to Australia to acquire land. He and several of his sons soon expanded from one to amalgamating more properties.
Next bit is telling: His family was involved in the frontier conflict as they forcibly took the land from the local Aboriginal people. In response to the spearing of cattle, the Annings would ride out with firearms, attack Aboriginal campsites and capture young boys who survived in order to use them as labour on their cattle and sheep stations.[8] The Annings at times also requested the services of the local Native Police paramilitary unit to assist in clearing “blacks” off their runs.[9] Frank Hann, another pastoralist in the region who regularly participated in extrajudicial punitive raids on Aboriginals, described in his diary in 1874 how he saw “Anning just come back from hunting blacks”.[10]…
On 4 June 2018, Anning joined Katter’s Australian Party, becoming the party’s first senator;[20] however, he was expelled in October 2018 for his inflammatory rhetoric concerning immigration, including his mention of a “final solution” to the problem….
On 14 August 2018, Anning delivered his maiden speech to the Senate. In it, he called for a plebiscite to reintroduce racial and religious discrimination in immigration policy, especially with regard to excluding Muslims. He criticised “cultural Marxism”, “safe schools and gender fluidity garbage” and the abuse of the external affairs power of the Australian constitution. He also spoke in support of the right of civilians to own firearms, and the Bradfield Scheme irrigation proposal.[43]
His speech included a reference to a “final solution”, the English equivalent of the term used by the Nazi Party during preparation and execution of the Holocaust during World War II[21] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Anning
He is a vile man, and comes from a family that has apparently little conscience and sense of fairness. It is interesting to know something about the person’s background to see what path they took in forming their views.
They call Fraser Anning the “accidental” senator.
Just 19 people voted for Anning at the 2016 election. Nineteen.
He got into parliament anyway, gaining a $207,106 taxpayer-funded salary and a platform from which to spew his dangerous bile.
Yes kjt and stuff will no longer advertise guns. This is a good sign……..trade me no longer selling them either. Hats off to an industry I view with contempt
To be fair Trade Me had thought about what was the right thing to do in advertising guns. One they had banned the outright blunderbusses, and second they had decided that it was reasonable to offer a trading place for legal guns amongst the public in an open environment which would encourage people to do so openly and honestly.
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Michael Baker, University of OtagoOverjoyed. That’s not a word epidemiologists normally use, but that’s how I felt after hearing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement about New Zealand’s COVID-19 shutdown of everything except essential services for at least four weeks from midnight on Wednesday. More than anything, I just ...
How much homelessness is caused by house hoarding? We're about to find out. The pandemic has destroyed tourism, which means that house hoarders who put their hoarded properties up as short-term tourist rentals are now offering them on the ordinary rental market:Property investors are pulling properties from Airbnb to offer ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bruce Lieberman It seems like such a simple, straightforward, empowering idea: plant trees – a lot of trees – all over the world, and watch the planet’s temperature fall. Who doesn’t love a tree or two, even far more – the right ...
According to Newshub, Simon Bridges is open to joining a “grand coalition” with Labour as we hunker down to go into a month long lockdown. The idea is sound. Before now, the role of the opposition was to scrutinise and oppose. In the context of what almost amounts to a ...
Kia ora my name is Chloe Ann-King* and I am the founder of Raise the Bar, a campaign and non-profit that gives free legal aid, advocacy and tautoko to hospitality workers in Aotearoa. Right now all over our country hospo workers are being fired at will, having shifts cut or ...
We need to be lifting our game against COVID-19. You and I need to help those working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while they’re trying to lift the testing and treatment efforts. We don’t want to be playing this game running backwards. Best to play it solidly forward, from ...
Prof Tony Blakely, Prof Michael Baker, and Prof Nick WilsonThe NZ Government must do more to clearly articulate its COVID-19 strategy: eradication or ‘flattening the curve’ mitigation. But to do so means understanding the maths and ethics of both these strategies. In this blog, we adapt our work for ...
New Zealand can emulate the success of the US after the Great Depression by exploiting our own resources to turn the economy around quickly, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says. Mr. Peters told Magic Talk that New Zealand has an opportunity to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic a "superior, ...
All 45 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are either on their way back to New Zealand, or already in the country, according to Defence Minister Ron Mark."Twenty-eight personnel arrived back in New Zealand last week and are in isolation at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base in ...
The COVID-19 situation in New Zealand is moving fast - and to avoid what we've seen overseas - the Government's response must be to move fast too. We're committed to keeping New Zealanders safe and well-informed every step of the way. ...
We know people are feeling anxious about COVID-19. While the situation is serious, New Zealand has a world-class health system and we’re well-prepared to keep New Zealanders safe. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is encouraging New Zealanders overseas to stay where they are amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are reaching a point where the best option for most New Zealanders offshore is to shelter in place, by preparing to safely stay where they are.” "This includes following the instructions ...
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters is encouraging the tens of thousands of New Zealanders travelling overseas to consider sheltering in place, in light of COVID-19. “Since 18 March, we have been warning New Zealanders offshore that the window for flying ...
Ground-breaking law has passed that will decriminalise abortion and ensure women and pregnant people seeking abortions have compassionate healthcare. ...
The Green Party says that the measures announced by the Government today will help families and businesses to prioritise our collective health and wellbeing in the response to COVID-19. ...
As New Zealanders brace for a global downturn due to Covid-19, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says his Coalition Government’s rescue package "more significant" than any other he's seen around the world. The Coalition is to reveal a multi-billion-dollar stimulus plan on Tuesday afternoon designed to cushion the economic blow ...
Changes have been made to allow butchers to process pork, only for supply to supermarkets or other processors or retailers that are open, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “We carefully weighed the risk of allowing butchers to open their shops for retail customers, but the risk of spreading COVID-19 ...
Essential workers who take leave from work to comply with public health guidance are being supported with a leave scheme to ensure they will continue to receive income, say the Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway and Minister for Social Development, Carmel Sepuloni. A number of essential businesses ...
A Government WhatsApp channel has been launched to help make information more easily accessible and shareable in the fight against COVID-19. Govt.NZ, which is free to use on any mobile device, will carry information and news for the public, businesses, healthcare providers, not for profits and local government. It can ...
The Government has announced a plan to enable the safe, orderly exit of tens of thousands of stranded foreign nationals from New Zealand during the current COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said. “When we moved into lockdown a week ago, the ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says the Government is delivering on its commitment to support general practice doctors and nurses, and pharmacies on the front-line of our fight against COVID-19. "For us to overcome COVID-19, we need community health services such as general practice and community pharmacy to step up ...
Justice Susan Thomas has been appointed Chief High Court Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. She replaces Justice Geoffrey Venning who has resigned from the position. David Parker paid tribute to Justice Venning, who he said had stewarded the High Court very capably over the last five years. “On behalf ...
Businesses can start applying to their banks for loans under the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme set up to support the New Zealand economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re moving quickly to protect New Zealand businesses, jobs and the economy during this unprecedented global economic shock,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. ...
Work is underway looking at measures to speed up consents for development and infrastructure projects during the recovery from COVID 19, to provide jobs and stimulate our economy. Environment Minister David Parker said the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global crisis that will have a wide ranging and lasting impact ...
Advance payments will be made to transport construction industry contractors to retain the workforce and ensure it is ready to quickly gear up to build projects which will be vital to New Zealand’s COVID-19 economic recovery, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today. He said keeping the workforce required to build ...
The Government has tasked a group of industry leaders to seek out infrastructure projects that are ready to start as soon as the construction industry returns to normal to reduce the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones say. The Infrastructure ...
Work to scale up the health system in preparation for COVID-19 was today outlined by Health Minister David Clark, as he reported back to the new Epidemic Response Committee. “We are well placed to contain the spread of COVID-19. We have taken early and decisive action at our borders, and ...
The Government is refining its COVID-19 essential business guidance to include the distribution of news publications for communities which are hard to reach. The Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Kris Faafoi, said the move was in recognition of the importance for New Zealanders who might be harder to ...
The Government is ensuring supermarkets can open on Easter Sunday so we can buy groceries, but stay closed on Good Friday allowing workers to take a break. This provides a balanced approach and ensures we avoid large queues that two days closure may cause. “Supermarkets will be able to open ...
Following the successful conclusion of the Building Partner Capacity (BPC) mission at Taji, New Zealand defence personnel are returning to New Zealand from Iraq, in accordance with the Cabinet decision made in June 2019, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. “New Zealand is very ...
The State of National Emergency to help stop the spread of COVID-19 has been extended for a further seven days, Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare said. The initial declaration on March 25 lasted seven days and can be extended as many times as necessary. “Since we went into isolation ...
New Zealand’s ability to go hard and go early in the fight against COVID-19 has been underpinned by strong Government finances and the growing economy heading into this global pandemic, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Treasury today released the Crown financial statements for the eight months to the end ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says 36 new intensive care beds at Christchurch Hospital’s new Hagley building are being fast tracked so they are available for treatment of COVID-19 patients. The Ministry of Health is working with contractor CPB and Canterbury DHB to enable access to the hospital’s ICU, ...
The Government has fast-tracked up to $1 million to help Air New Zealand move urgent freight to and from New Zealand, with the first flight to Shanghai leaving tonight, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today. Phil Twyford says it’s crucial that trade in vital goods such as medical supplies and ...
New Zealand will temporarily remove tariffs on all medical and hygiene imports needed for the COVID-19 response. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said today that the New Zealand Customs Service will apply tariff concessions to all diagnostic reagents and testing ...
Minister of Finance Grant Robertson has clarified that the changes to the wage subsidy scheme announced yesterday mean that employers should be passing on the full subsidy to workers, except in the case where the person’s normal income is less than the level of the subsidy. “We still want employers ...
Medical face masks from the national reserve supply are now being distributed to District Health Boards, while at the same time local production is being ramped up. Yesterday more than 640,000 masks were sent to DHBS – that is an immediate two week supply, with more to follow in coming ...
The Government has made modifications to the wage subsidy scheme to ensure people don’t lose their jobs during the national lockdown. These changes will soften the impact of COVID-19 on workers, families and businesses, and position them to exit the lockdown and look to recovery, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. ...
Farmers whose herds were culled in response to the outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis will be able to minimise the tax treatment of their income in some circumstances. Revenue Minister Stuart Nash says Cabinet has agreed to change the law. It means farmers may be eligible to spread their income over ...
A $27 million dollar package, effective immediately, is being provided to social sector services and community groups to ensure they can continue to provide essential support to communities as we stay at home as a nation to stop the spread of COVID-19, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced. “At ...
“The guilty plea today will provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered by what happened on March 15,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “These guilty pleas and conviction bring accountability for what happened and also save the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured, ...
The Prime Minister is holding daily press conferences to update New Zealanders on the Government's response to COVID-19. Links to videos and transcripts of these updates below. These transcripts also include All of Government press conferences led by Director Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. 25 March: Live update from the Prime ...
Frontline Police numbers have broken through the 10,000 mark for the first time in history as officers step forward to keep the community safe during the COVID19 lockdown. “Two Police graduations in Auckland and Wellington in the past week have been conducted in unprecedented circumstances,” Police Minister Stuart Nash said. ...
Urgent legislation has been passed to support the package of economic and social measures needed to recover from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. “The COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Social Assistance Urgent Measures) Bill will cushion New Zealanders from the worst economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Revenue Minister ...
From tomorrow, Government support for farmers and growers affected by drought will be expanded and extended across the country, with access to Rural Assistance Payments (RAPS) available throughout the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chatham Islands, Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced. “These challenging conditions have ...
Parliament has passed amendments to legislation that give the Secretary of Education stronger powers to act in the fight to limit the spread of COVID-19, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “They are part of a suite of changes passed under the COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Legislation Bill,” Chris ...
Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei and Myanmar have joined forces with New Zealand and Singapore by committing to keep supply chains open and remove any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker today welcomed ...
Immediate freeze on rent increases Tenancies will not be terminated during the lock-down period, unless the parties agree, or in limited circumstances Tenants who had previously given notice can stay in their if they need to stay in the tenancy during the lock-down period Tenants will still be able to ...
As New Zealand unites to lock-down in the fight against COVID-19, the Finance Minister is urging all businesses and workers to stay connected over the next four weeks. “We understand the extreme pressure many businesses are under right now. I know most business owners think of their workers as family ...
A State of National Emergency has been declared across the country as the Government pulls out all the stops to curtail the spread of COVID-19. “Today we put in place our country’s second ever State of National Emergency as we fight a global pandemic, save New Zealanders’ lives and prevent ...
Mr Speaker I wish to make a Ministerial Statement under Standing Order 347 in relation to the recent declaration of a State of National Emergency. Having considered the advice of the Director Civil Defence Emergency Management, the Minister of Civil Defence declared a State of National Emergency for the whole of ...
People needing to travel on domestic flights, trains and Cook Strait ferries to get home before the country moves into level 4 lock-down tomorrow night will be able to continue using the passenger services until midnight on Friday, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today. Domestic passenger services, particularly ferries, have ...
The Government, retail banks and the Reserve Bank are today announcing a major financial support package for home owners and businesses affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. The package will include a six month principal and interest payment holiday for mortgage holders and SME customers whose incomes have been ...
Minister of Transport Phil Twyford has today announced details of the Government’s support package to keep key air freight moving and ensure New Zealanders retain access to essential goods during the four-week level 4 lockdown. “The Government is working with airlines and air freight operators to ensure New Zealand’s key ...
New Zealand moved up to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 – Restrict New Zealand to move up to COVID-19 Alert Level 4 – Eliminate, in 48 hours Two-staged approach to give people and businesses time to prepare Level 3, from tomorrow Non-essential businesses must close All events and gatherings must be ...
Good afternoon The Cabinet met this morning to discuss our next actions in the fight against COVID-19. Like the rest of the world, we are facing the potential for devastating impacts from this virus. But, through decisive action, and through working together, do we have a small window to get ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As the COVID-19 transforms our individual lives, we are learning a few new things about ourselves as a society. We’ve known Australians suspect authority and, like other Western countries, have come to trust government less ...
About those handles and rails and communal areas …The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 crisis is only possible because of the support of members. If you can, please consider joining Spinoff Members here.As Aotearoa enters week two of lockdown, it’s clear we’re all still working out what our “bubbles” look ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Quinn, Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is changing how we live. With a rapid increase in cases, we are now isolating in our homes to “flatten the curve”. However, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In this special hour long podcast presented by Mark Evans, professor of governance and director of Democracy 2025, the panel discusses Australian democracy with Emeritus Professor Ian Chubb and Michelle Grattan. The panel dissects the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government will provide free child care in a move aimed at ensuring parents, especially in essential services, are able to keep working. More than 945,000 families with 1.3 million children will benefit. The new ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Jackson, Education Policy Lead, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced free childcare for more than one million families, with a funding boost that aims to keep more than 13,000 childcare services across Australia open. In doing so, ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin What is Money?Keith Rankin.Money is a mystery. To most of us we receive it, we spend it, we save it, we borrow it. And if we don’t have enough, we are in trouble. Many of us think of money as if it is tangible, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, La Trobe University To control the spread of COVID-19 we need to identify as many people with the virus as possible. If we know who has it, we can isolate them so they can’t infect others and quarantine ...
By RNZ News New Zealand has had its biggest increase in one day as the Health Ministry confirms 89 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases to 797. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said today 92 people had now recovered from the coronavirus. Thirteen people ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bhiamie Williamson, Research Associate & PhD Candidate, Australian National University The catastrophic bushfire season is officially over, but governments, agencies and communities have failed to recognise the specific and disproportionate impact the fires have had on Aboriginal peoples. Addressing this in bushfire ...
PACIFIC UPDATE:By Barbara Dreaver of TVNZ There are now 147 positive cases across seven countries in the Pacific region and four deaths. In Guam, cases continue to grow, with the count now at 77, five of them health workers. The island nation is facing its own crisis on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Jin Kang, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University With #StayAtHome and social distancing now becoming a way of life, an increasing number of people are relying on the internet for work, education and entertainment. This has placed greater demand on our network infrastructure, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Klein, Professor, UNSW The spectre of large ships with people desperate to come ashore is not a new sight in Australia. In 2001, the MV Tampa infamously sought to enter Australian waters off Christmas Island to discharge more than 400 asylum ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Holden, Senior Lecturer in Dental Ethics, Law and Professionalism, University of Sydney The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way we access health care, and dental care is no exception. Dentists are no longer allowed to provide a raft of care, such ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Kirstin Mead from the Regional Business Partners’ Network.Business owners around the country will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Roberts, Associate professor (Curriculum Inquiry / Rural Education), University of Canberra Schools have been progressively moving classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there is uncertainty over what the next months may bring. This has thrown many year 12 students’ ...
The fourth in our new series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall, covering the Covid-19 epidemic within New Zealand. We’ll publish the latest set each day on The Spinoff.This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff MembersInformation about confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 ...
Employers in essential services and foreigners trying to leave New Zealand were the targets of Government announcements on Thursday afternoon Essential services who employ workers who can't go to work due to Covid-19 will be able to access the Government's funds to pay them. The scheme would allow employers in "essential services" ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Stephens, ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor of Cultural Studies, The University of Queensland Australia’s coronavirus public health messaging has been criticisedasconfusing during a time when health guidelines and regulations are changing rapidly, and educating the public about health ...
The longer we wait to restore broader economic activity, the greater the long-term loss of economic capability. We need to start thinking about 'virus-proof' workplaces and practices, says Rod Oram So far our physical economy is holding up remarkably well considering the stunning shocks we and the virus are hurling ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chelsea Bond, Senior Research Fellow, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland Among the latest coronavirus advice from the prime minister was an age-based self-isolation strategy designed to protect those considered most vulnerable in the global health crisis. The directive was ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donna Maree Cooper, Senior Lecturer QUT Law Faculty, Queensland University of Technology Separated parents are facing a range of new challenges in the wake of COVID-19. To contain the spread, the government has directed people to stay at home except when carrying ...
Today came the shocking news that Bauer Media is closing its New Zealand operation, with the loss of scores of jobs. Bauer was the publisher of most of NZ’s magazines, among them Metro, Woman’s Day, North & South, Next, Home, the Listener, Kia Ora and the NZ Women’s Weekly. Here ...
The Government’s call for infrastructure projects that are ‘ready to go’ is welcome news for Wellington, given the stalled progress to date of ‘Let’s Get Wellington Moving’, says the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. "The whole ‘Let’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mehmet Ozalp, Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University As the world faces the greatest disruption of our lifetimes, Muslims throughout the world are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron Martin, Associate Professor, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne The viral spread of mis- and disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, just like the viral spread of the disease itself, has led to unprecedented media coverage. This has included ...
Tens of thousands of visitors to New Zealand will be relieved that they now have some chance of returning home before the lockdown ends, Tourism Industry Aotearoa says. “We welcome today’s announcement by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads around the world, wartime metaphors abound. And, with what amounts to a war economy now in place, attention has inevitably turned to post-war reconstruction. It is self-evident ...
Pre-clinical trials will assess how effective and safe the potential vaccines are using an animal model before human testing. Mirjam Guesgen reports.The Australian national science agency, CSIRO, has begun testing two potential vaccines for Covid-19, with results due by June, 2020.These pre-clinical trials will assess how effective and safe the ...
Watch our live Q&A session with Dr Ayesha Verrall, a senior lecturer at Otago University who specialises in infectious diseases. Ayesha Verrall is an infectious diseases physician and senior lecturer at Otago University's Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Wellington). Dr Verrall has been monitoring the spread and impact of Covid-19 closely and ...
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says all New Zealanders have the right to be treated fairly during the COVID-19 emergency including those under lock and key. "My role as an independent watchdog will continue during the lockdown period and beyond," ...
Amalgamated Workers Union New Zealand (AWUNZ) has described a take it or leave it offer from Fletcher Building Management to staff as disgraceful. AWUNZ National Secretary Maurice Davis said the union was more than disappointed with the scheme Fletcher ...
As the Covid-19 hits NZ hard, and the country may have to be held in lockdown longer than originally intended, the issue whether the general election on September 19 should be postponed looms larger. It has already been canvassed in some media, but the PM, Jacinda Ardern, last week insisted ...
One way to pass time, which we suddenly have a lot of, is gardening. But where can you get seeds? And what do you plant in autumn? Josie Adams finds out.While it seems many New Zealanders are exercising a newfound love of jogging, some of us are more sedentary. For ...
Essential moves have been made to manage the impact of COVID-19 in New Zealand. This means significant changes to how society is operating. These unprecedented measures limit liberties and physical freedoms in order to protect the right to health and ...
The Council of Trade Unions is calling on Fletchers Building Limited to do the right thing and reverse their decision to cut the pay for their employees by up to 70%. "We are calling on one of New Zealand's biggest companies to do the right thing ...
Bernard Hickey talks to Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr about his forecast GDP could fall as much as 17 percent this year, and why the Reserve Bank should buy council bonds as well as Government bonds. Newsroom Pro Managing Editor Bernard Hickey and Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr talk ...
Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Paul Hunt, is calling on the Government to respect the rights of people it is holding for detention purposes in its response to COVID-19. People detained by the authorities have a heightened risk of infection due to living ...
Her mother’s job was a source of shame for Yawynne Yem growing up. Now checkout operators are essential workers as we hunker down against Covid-19. Any time I had to reveal my mum’s job to someone, hastened justifications would also fall out of my mouth, reeking of shame. “We’re a first-generation ...
Responding to the closure of Bauer Media, Free Speech Coalition spokesperson David Farrar says: "The loss of the New Zealand Listener, North & South Magazine, and more is a sickening blow to the diversity of our media environment." "The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eva Anagnostou-Laoutides, Associate Professor in Ancient History, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Macquarie University In the current health crisis, we might ask what needs to be cured more urgently: the virus itself or people’s poor sense of moderation. We have seen shocking ...
Lockdowns around the globe - and the correlating sink in economic productivity - have sparked a bad faith backlash founded on old numbers, bunk science and outright distortions of fact, Marc Daalder argues No one was more surprised to see that Neil Ferguson, the author of a groundbreaking paper on ...
Elimination of Covid-19 doesn't mean getting rid of it everywhere in New Zealand, the Director-General of Health says Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has hinted that different regions might end up on different alert levels when lockdown ends. Bloomfield said the lockdown goal of "elimination" didn't mean getting rid of it everywhere. ...
Sam Brooks shares central Auckland’s best-kept drinking secret, the bowling alley bastion that has become his ‘third place’.One of the first pieces I wrote for The Spinoff was a review of Metrolanes, the bowling alley bar that had quickly found a place in my heart. It is, in my mind, ...
How is Covid-19 spreading within the country? Newsroom is collating information as it's available to paint a picture of what's happening. There were 89 new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today, up from the previous day's 61 new cases. The increase from 61 to 89 is a 46 percent ...
Based on the experience of Kiwibuild, wiseacres chortle at the prospect of another Ministry of Works to design and build New Zealand infrastructure from highways and motorways to airports, power stations and railways. The prospect was raised in a Newsroom report which said: Ministers are rushing to prevent the country’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron Martin, Associate Professor, University of Melbourne The viral spread of mis- and disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, just like the viral spread of the disease itself, has led to unprecedented media coverage. This has included a welcome return to prioritising expert ...
Join Leonie Hayden as she works through the first four weeks of Scotty Morrison’s Māori Made Easy.Rāpare/ThursdayWe’re back to practising our long and short vowels, this time comparing words that are spelled the same except for the presence of a macron.Practise, practise, practise, Scotty tells us in this lesson. I ...
WHAT: An online delivery event for two petitions with a combined 95,000 signatures. The petitions call for a number of changes including for the New Zealand Government to suspend rent and mortgage payments, and to buy unoccupied homes for the homeless. ...
The outgoing Police Commissioner has admitted police have failed to carry out the level of checks on recent arrivals to NZ, supposed to be in strict self-isolation. ...
The flippant way Mike Bush responded to the epidemic response committee this morning highlights how vital it is police are held to account during the national emergency, writes Cat MacLennan Outgoing Police Commissioner Mike Bush did himself no favours with his attitude when he appeared before Parliament’s Epidemic Response Committee this ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Pubs, clubs and casinos have all been closed as part of the response to COVID-19. That means Australia’s 194,000 poker machines are now shut down. These venues, and their ...
Former editor Finlay Macdonald marks the sudden death of a title that was once part of the lifeblood of the country. Listener editors, like most magazine and newspaper editors these days, get used to living with declining circulation numbers. Ever since the Internet came along, it’s been a long, dismal ...
With the nation in lockdown and schools closed, many parents will be looking for ways to keep educating their children. Amee Parker is in her final year of a PhD looking at homeschooling, and she has some advice.As a nation we are now forced, out of necessity, to stay in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Breunig, Professor of Economics and Director, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University How would you feel if you were having a Zoom meeting with your accountant and they asked “how would you like to ...
Pacific Media Watch Police in Papua New Guinea have arrested nine alleged illegal border crossers and quarantined them in Vanimo, reports RNZ Pacific. The arrests came as East Sepik Governor Allan Bird called for “shoot to kill’ orders for illegal border crossers and a military control of areas along ...
Police have assumed extraordinary powers during the lockdown period - but with that has come questions from the public and politicians about how they are exercising those powers. Police have come under pressure to release legal advice and guidance on how they are using the emergency powers granted to them ...
In our new series The Lockdown Letters, some of New Zealand’s best writers tell us what they’ve been up to in the days of Covid-19 alert level four. Today, political commentator and essayist Morgan Godfery.IS IT DAY EIGHT?In the absence of a capitalist routine, one day bleeds into the other.In the ...
By RNZ News The publisher of some of New Zealand’s best known magazines has folded amid the economic fallout from the national coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Bauer Media, which publishes The Listener, Woman’s Day, New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, Metro, North and South and Next, says it is no longer viable ...
Sue Grey, Co-leader Of Nz Outdoors Party Supports A Ban On Rates Increases And Challenges All Politicians And Candidates To Support This The NZ Outdoors Party co-leader Sue Grey supports the call for councils to operate without rates increases at least for ...
The NZ Outdoors Party co-leader Sue Grey supports the call for councils to operate without rates increases at least for the coming financial year, and challenges all politician and candidates to unite behind this. “Our Council’s spending and increase ...
The publisher of some of the country's best known magazines has folded. Bauer Media, which has The Listener, Woman's Day, New Zealand Woman's Weekly, North and South and Next, says it's no longer viable and it's shut its doors today. Chief executive Brendon Hill said the Covid-19 lockdown had stopped magazine production and ...
Police acknowledge the findings of a report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) into an incident where an officer used excessive force following an arrest in Auckland City in 2018. On 24th August, 2018, the Police officer was called to ...
Pacific Media Watch Launched by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), “Tracker 19” is a tool made for an unprecedented global crisis. So named in reference not only to Covid-19 but also article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this project aims to evaluate the pandemic’s impacts on global ...
A recurring theme in contemporary literature is of the plague that appears suddenly from nowhere and takes hold of the world, destroying or severely damaging life in the process. In 2003 acclaimed author Margaret Atwood’s novel Oryx and Crake was ...
The Covid-19 crisis in media has claimed NZ’s biggest magazine publisher, Bauer Media.Bauer Media NZ is closing its doors permanently and with immediate effect due to the severe economic impact of Covid-19, staff have just been told via a Zoom meeting.CEO Brendon Hill was emotional as he informed staff of ...
NZ Gov't must lower road freight use because truck drivers will widely carry Covid 19 virus to our communities through open assess community transmission, and using rail less staff are used to move the same freight by comparison. Facts; Our Government ...
The government needs to step up and pay the next rates instalment to councils on behalf of property owners and businesses as part of its economic support package. People are facing unprecedented financial stress directly due to the measures implemented ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s contentEnforcing the lockdown, civil liberties Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Democracy on hold Heather Roy (Democracy Project): The Long Road Back to Full ...
More than 40 million masks are on the way to help protect frontline health workers after weeks of confusion and fear about the supply of Covid-19 equipment. ...
Daily review 18/03/2019 
by Daphna Whitmore A third of the world is under lockdown and a clear assessment of this measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 is urgently needed. With any high-stakes decisions it has to be asked what are we dealing with here? Are the measures warranted? Will they achieve their ...32 mins ago
I haven’t done a huge amount in the last few days. I’m reading The Poppy War and I’ve sort of poked at a couple of games – I started SOMA but I’m a wimp and I quit while in the first room after the brain scan. I might try it ...5 hours ago
The swan politicians may be gliding on the water, occasionally snapping at one another. Meanwhile, as the Covid19 crisis illustrates, the officials are desperately paddling below providing the real locomotion. One of the most fatuous recent grandstanding comments (of about a week ago), adding to the public’s anxieties, was ...7 hours ago
Much has been written about the importance of discretion in an emergency situation, and the concerns raised by the potential for it to be exercised arbitrarily. Given the quality of the discussion, there seemed little point in adding to it at any length. In particular, I point to the evidence ...7 hours ago
Today has felt surreal. I was all set to touch base online with my science communication students when a colleague shared the news that Bauer Media would be shutting down its publications immediately. The first link I saw implied it was Woman’s Weekly affected, and even that shocked me. But ...8 hours ago
Bogeymen, Real And Imagined: Is the number of psychopathic and sociopathic individuals in any given society truly as vanishingly small as we like to tell ourselves? Isn’t it more likely that the mass-shooters and serial-killers filling the headlines represent only the tip of a much, much larger iceberg of frightfulness? ...11 hours ago
Outgoing Police Commissioner Mike Bush appeared before the Epidemic Response Committee today, who asked him for the rules police are using to enforce the lockdown. He refused:Police Commissioner Mike Bush has admitted the advice given to Kiwis about what they're able to do during the lockdown hasn't been clear enough. ...12 hours ago
For those folk who find my other Lock-Down Diary versions too “negative” or otherwise unpalatable… Here’s a photo of my cat, . . Better? Tomorrow’s Sanitised Version: a pretty flower. . . . =fs= ...13 hours ago
46 Articles Physical science of global warming & effects Global response of evapotranspiration ratio to climate conditions and watershed characteristics in a changing environment Greenhouse effect: the relative contributions of emission height and total absorption Observations & observational methods of global warming & effects Climate change induced a ...1 day ago
Image credit: Diamond Harbour School Blogs I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or ... 2 days ago
The Covid-19 saga will no doubt produce many twists and turns for us before it is finally brought to an end. But one thing it has shown us – and what comfort it should bring us – is that our country’s government is in good hands. I am not thinking ...2 days ago
The following statement was released on March 28 by the National Network on Cuba, a coalition of 40 groups, based in the United States. In recent weeks, Cuba has deployed hundreds of medical providers to over a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, as well as to their neighbors in Latin ...2 days ago
Yesterday, New Zealand recorded its first Covid-19 related death on the West Coast. Unfortunately this is unlikely to be the only fatality, with the virus now being found in every region of the country.However despite the significant danger, people are still unfortunately breaching lockdown rules.There’s really only one main very ...4 days ago
The CV-19 (COVID) pandemic has seen the imposition of a government ordered national quarantine and the promulgation of a series of measures designed to spread the burden of pain and soften the economic blow on the most strategically important and most vulnerable sectors of society. The national narrative is framed ...5 days ago
Society-wise, aside from the specific morbidity shall we say of the medically-oriented aspects of this COVID-19 crisis, what is unfolding before the world is in more than one way an instructive study of humanity and reactions to a high intensity, high stress environment in real time. Friends, we are at ...6 days ago
Right now low waged and insecure workers are feeling the economic brunt of the looming #Covid19 Recession. In response legal advocate Toby Cooper* and hospitality and worker’s rights advocate Chloe Ann-King, are putting together a series of legal blogs about your employment rights: In this legal blog we outline some ...6 days ago
Kia ora my name is Chloe Ann-King* and I am the founder of Raise the Bar, a campaign and non-profit that gives free legal aid, advocacy and tautoko to hospitality workers in Aotearoa. Right now all over our country hospo workers are being fired at will, having shifts cut or being ...1 week ago
According to Newshub, Simon Bridges is open to joining a “grand coalition” with Labour as we hunker down to go into a month long lockdown. The idea is sound. Before now, the role of the opposition was to scrutinise and oppose. In the context of what almost amounts to a ...1 week ago
Kia ora my name is Chloe Ann-King* and I am the founder of Raise the Bar, a campaign and non-profit that gives free legal aid, advocacy and tautoko to hospitality workers in Aotearoa. Right now all over our country hospo workers are being fired at will, having shifts cut or ...1 week ago
New Zealand can emulate the success of the US after the Great Depression by exploiting our own resources to turn the economy around quickly, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says. Mr. Peters told Magic Talk that New Zealand has an opportunity to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic a "superior, ...2 days ago
The COVID-19 situation in New Zealand is moving fast - and to avoid what we've seen overseas - the Government's response must be to move fast too. We're committed to keeping New Zealanders safe and well-informed every step of the way. ...5 days ago
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The scale of what we face right now is unlike anything we have ever seen before. Overcoming it is our common purpose. ...1 week ago
Changes have been made to allow butchers to process pork, only for supply to supermarkets or other processors or retailers that are open, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “We carefully weighed the risk of allowing butchers to open their shops for retail customers, but the risk of spreading COVID-19 ...8 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As the COVID-19 transforms our individual lives, we are learning a few new things about ourselves as a society. We’ve known Australians suspect authority and, like other Western countries, have come to trust government less ...40 mins ago
About those handles and rails and communal areas …The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 crisis is only possible because of the support of members. If you can, please consider joining Spinoff Members here.As Aotearoa enters week two of lockdown, it’s clear we’re all still working out what our “bubbles” look ...1 hour ago
Employers in essential services and foreigners trying to leave New Zealand were the targets of Government announcements on Thursday afternoon Essential services who employ workers who can't go to work due to Covid-19 will be able to access the Government's funds to pay them. The scheme would allow employers in "essential services" ...8 hours ago
The longer we wait to restore broader economic activity, the greater the long-term loss of economic capability. We need to start thinking about 'virus-proof' workplaces and practices, says Rod Oram So far our physical economy is holding up remarkably well considering the stunning shocks we and the virus are hurling ...8 hours ago
The Government’s call for infrastructure projects that are ‘ready to go’ is welcome news for Wellington, given the stalled progress to date of ‘Let’s Get Wellington Moving’, says the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. "The whole ‘Let’s ...8 hours ago
The government will allow foreign nationals to travel domestically to get to international airports so that they can fly home. ...9 hours ago
Watch our live Q&A session with Dr Ayesha Verrall, a senior lecturer at Otago University who specialises in infectious diseases. Ayesha Verrall is an infectious diseases physician and senior lecturer at Otago University's Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Wellington). Dr Verrall has been monitoring the spread and impact of Covid-19 closely and ...9 hours ago
As the Covid-19 hits NZ hard, and the country may have to be held in lockdown longer than originally intended, the issue whether the general election on September 19 should be postponed looms larger. It has already been canvassed in some media, but the PM, Jacinda Ardern, last week insisted ...9 hours ago
Bernard Hickey talks to Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr about his forecast GDP could fall as much as 17 percent this year, and why the Reserve Bank should buy council bonds as well as Government bonds. Newsroom Pro Managing Editor Bernard Hickey and Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr talk ...10 hours ago
Lockdowns around the globe - and the correlating sink in economic productivity - have sparked a bad faith backlash founded on old numbers, bunk science and outright distortions of fact, Marc Daalder argues No one was more surprised to see that Neil Ferguson, the author of a groundbreaking paper on ...11 hours ago
Elimination of Covid-19 doesn't mean getting rid of it everywhere in New Zealand, the Director-General of Health says Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has hinted that different regions might end up on different alert levels when lockdown ends. Bloomfield said the lockdown goal of "elimination" didn't mean getting rid of it everywhere. ...11 hours ago
How is Covid-19 spreading within the country? Newsroom is collating information as it's available to paint a picture of what's happening. There were 89 new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today, up from the previous day's 61 new cases. The increase from 61 to 89 is a 46 percent ...11 hours ago
Based on the experience of Kiwibuild, wiseacres chortle at the prospect of another Ministry of Works to design and build New Zealand infrastructure from highways and motorways to airports, power stations and railways. The prospect was raised in a Newsroom report which said: Ministers are rushing to prevent the country’s ...11 hours ago
The flippant way Mike Bush responded to the epidemic response committee this morning highlights how vital it is police are held to account during the national emergency, writes Cat MacLennan Outgoing Police Commissioner Mike Bush did himself no favours with his attitude when he appeared before Parliament’s Epidemic Response Committee this ...12 hours ago
Former editor Finlay Macdonald marks the sudden death of a title that was once part of the lifeblood of the country. Listener editors, like most magazine and newspaper editors these days, get used to living with declining circulation numbers. Ever since the Internet came along, it’s been a long, dismal ...12 hours ago
Air New Zealand is slashing its domestic operations by 95 percent in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. ...12 hours ago
Police have assumed extraordinary powers during the lockdown period - but with that has come questions from the public and politicians about how they are exercising those powers. Police have come under pressure to release legal advice and guidance on how they are using the emergency powers granted to them ...13 hours ago
The publisher of some of the country's best known magazines has folded. Bauer Media, which has The Listener, Woman's Day, New Zealand Woman's Weekly, North and South and Next, says it's no longer viable and it's shut its doors today. Chief executive Brendon Hill said the Covid-19 lockdown had stopped magazine production and ...14 hours ago
More than 40 million masks are on the way to help protect frontline health workers after weeks of confusion and fear about the supply of Covid-19 equipment. ...16 hours ago
The stature of NZ Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has entered the stratosphere. She is unique:
Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/australia/2019/03/17/after-massacre-new-zealand-leader-shows-resolve-empathy.html
We must look after her – a consummately valuable being at a time of crisis both planetary and local. Best way is to actively engage in kindness her word and outreach not only in the weeks ahead but always as the emerging mode of being a Kiwi.
well said, Ant.
couldnt agree more.
“Troubled times, she says, are “precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.
“I know the world is bruised and bleeding,” she adds, “and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom. Like art.””
https://www.tonimorrisonsociety.org
Great words. Lead us to the activity to follow to turn them into substance.
The contrast between Jacinda Ardern’s empathy and presence, and Simon Bridges this morning on Radio NZ, plus reports of Paula Bennett as Police Minister watering down the recommendations on gun reform is very telling. Glad we have this government dealing with this horrific issue!!
Simon Dallow reported on One News just now that an 18 year old guy has been charged with inciting violence in Christchurch. Mention was made of him inciting extreme violence online, and posting a photo of one of the mosques with the caption `target acquired’.
This looks like proof of an online proof of an online support system for the shooter – and possible proof of involvement of a Christchurch alt-right cell, as suggested the other day by Paul Buchanan.
In his Herald commentary Hosking joins Trotter in promoting the lone wolf theory. Inasmuch as reports on the shooting as it happened informed us that hundreds of online supporters were cheering him on during his live stream, it seems these two have adopted an untenable position.
However the Herald elsewhere clarified that the other three arrested at the time were not implicated. Merely carrying firearms. Probably regular viewers of tv crime shows.
no, apparently one was volunteering to “help” the police and someone else was picking their kid up from school with the gun as protection.
More than one typre of gun nut around that day.
He might have been the pointy end of the pyramid, but it might be an education to find out how he funded trips around the world, a flat, and a firearms collection when he “obsessively” worked out.
Yes – where was this cunt’s money coming from? Time to make use of that unpleasantly intrusive anti-terrorism legislation.
Yes it’s a question investigators must be considering; reportedly he didn’t have a job and there was no obvious family money we know about.
It will be interesting to find out where this trail leads.
Very interesting. Let’s make sure that investigation is undertaken!
Apparently his father died a few years ago and he got an inheraitence. But how was he living in a state house (IIRC)?
Trotter’s lone wolf stuff is because he’s feeling guilty as hell for the whole free speech coalition around Southern and Molyneaux.
He was told exactly who these people are, what they say and what they promote.
I’ve had a quiet day today reading lots of thoughts and opinions of people. Been great to read non older paler maler views (sorry TS dudes) so i thought I’d put a couple of links up from different voices. They’re angry, emotional, real and deep and will hopefully create a wider tapestry of views for us all.
https://overland.org.au/2019/03/today-we-mourn-tomorrow-we-organise/
https://www.vice.com/en_nz/article/8xy34p/i-am-a-muslim-new-zealand-woman-and-i-am-as-angry-as-i-am-sad
Thanks, marty. I read the overland piece earlier in the day. Good stuff.
Be good to see any other recommended articles from other people too – any recommendations mate?
Chloe Swarbrick put up this comment from Mukseet of Massey:
Thanks that was awesome.
These are all worth a look, IMHO:
4 lessons for NZ, opinion from Al Jazeera, and two pieces from the Guardian on debating racists and the terror/technology link
Thank you. I especially liked this one – debating racist is a waste of time and energy.
“… An article that tries again to show the link between mainstream, fashionable Muslim-bashing and its violent manifestations on the right. An article that fillets the semantic tricks played to stop Muslims ever being complete victims: the line that Islam is not a race; the use of women’s and LBGT rights as a rhetorical stick to beat Muslims with; the cant about freedom of speech, political correctness and the danger of identity politics; the whataboutery and the strawmanning….
…It is time to stop pleading. It is time to call things what they are and not temper or apologise for the strength of the allegations, to call people racists, opportunists and complicit hatemongers even if they do grace our prestigious publications and seats of governance. It is time to do what they always accuse you of doing anyway, and “shut down the debate”.”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/18/christchurch-islamophobes-media-anti-muslim
From the other day:
Saziah Bashir – Christchurch mosque terror attacks a dark day of grief, shock and unspeakable heartbreak
Anjum Rahman – Islamic Women’s Council repeatedly lobbied to stem discrimination
Thank you arkie – so important those voices.
The Vice article is a tough, sobering read.
Yes – I have read harrowing accounts of race and religion hatred towards our Muslim brothers and sisters today. I think, up to now, I haven’t really understood their pain and alienation in our country. I feel very sad and upset by that and I determined that I will make amends by listening more, supporting more and acting more.
WaPo op-ed.
By Khaled Diab
Khaled Diab is a journalist and writer. He is the author of “Islam for the Politically Incorrect” and “Intimate Enemies.”
March 16
If a terrorist were to claim that their attack was intended to “add momentum to the pendulum swings of history, further destabilizing and polarizing Western society,” you might be excused in thinking the perpetrator was an Islamic extremist. But these are the words of a white supremacist and crusader.
[…]
These two hateful ideologies — white supremacy and radical Islamism — may regard themselves as polar opposites, but their worldviews resemble the other. Both are paranoid, exhibit a toxic blend of superiority and inferiority toward the other, are scornful of less extreme members of their own communities, and are nostalgic for an imagined past of cultural dominance.
[…]
A contempt for “Western” modernity is another trait shared by Islamists and the Christian far right. “The Europeans worked assiduously in trying to immerse (the world) in materialism, with their corrupting traits and murderous germs, to overwhelm those Muslim lands that their hands stretched out to,” believed al-Banna. Unintentionally echoing the founding father of political Islam, Tarrant is convinced that the West has become a “society of rampant nihilism, consumerism and individualism.”
[…]
This disdain for many aspects of modernity translates into an overwhelming yearning for a supposedly more glorious and pure past and a nostalgia for bygone imperial greatness when the world was at their command — for the days of European empire or Islamic caliphates.
http://archive.li/WWVw9
Thanks mate
The thinking and the feelings that may be behind the swirl of social media and blogging from upset and angry men and women – is it like this in their minds?
From Joe90’s link: This disdain for many aspects of modernity translates into an overwhelming yearning for a supposedly more glorious and pure past and a nostalgia for bygone imperial greatness when the world was at their command — for the days of European empire or Islamic caliphates.
Is there a nostalgia for past colonial might of Britain behind Brexit? Is it nostalgia and wishful thinking and an inability to face the world that you actually helped create, driving the extreme resentment? Disruption in others’ lives and land has been caused by unwise attacks and invasion, by or enhanced by outsiders, causing infrastructural, societal and agricultural damage that causes people to be uprooted and flee into your own domain by people who are now outsiders in your country?
Is it resentment from the grunts in the armed forces who haven’t got much out of the maneouvres and fighting, perhaps damage to their bodies and minds that is not recompensed; in the end their personal lives, and their local and nationwide economy has become poorer.
Not what you expected after all the fighting and strain on personal life and health, and then the refugees from the war you have just fought and been damaged in, they come to live in your town and end up with more help than you have received, and the other men in the town aren’t given the same opportunities and help. How do you feel seeing them prosper with deep commitment to each other? Has your society got deep commitment to you and giving you similar opportunities to flourish? You feel that you are now an annoyance to your authorities, a burden, not respected, not appreciated for putting yourselves in the way of harm, under orders and direction. Then you and your cohort seem to be consigned to being second-rate people at home.
Is that a line of thinking that would fire up and keep hot, the anomic males, in a society where employment statistics are so all encompassing that they start at one hour of paid employment a week. That may be useful for stable comparisons for the Stats Department, but measuring full-time numbers at one job of 40 hours would indicate the real situation. (If someone can give me the line of clicks I have to make to get that for the nation and for each region per quarter, and annually, I would appreciate it.)
This report of the gunshop owner’s campaign against the cops also includes a link to the ActionStation petition: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/18-03-2019/gun-city-owner-defends-sale-of-murder-weapons-as-ardern-pledges-reforms/
“Some dealers get around the law by importing parts that are interchangeable between MSSAs and ‘A category’ rifles. “This enables domestic assembly and the assembler to later purchase parts such as a large-capacity magazine or pistol grip without a licence, and to turn the assembled ‘A category’ semi-automatic into a MSSA,” the police told the minister.”
Quote of the century – (referring to the attack on Anning)
“It’s like Nazi Germany but with chickens!” First Dog on the Moon.
Dude has attitude: “The Queensland independent senator laughed off threats from Scott Morrison, saying: “I hope it’s not too painful. What’s he going to do? Flog me with his lace hanky?”
Hmm, an admirer of Fraser. Apologist for Tarrant the other day. Questioner of the Islam texts yesterday and WTF ever was the shite you tried pull in open mike only hours ago something like racist complaints aren’t real cos Islam isn’t a race cos some judges said so.
Lawyer smarts aye. So reasonable and inquiring aren’t you.
You made a call on the Quran after reading 1 verse of it in Tarrants manifesto – WTF is wrong with you?
At best you are extremely ignorant. I’m leaning towards sociopathic game playing POS.
I aint joking Dennis. What have you got to say for yourself regarding:
Sympathising with Tarrant
Admiring Fraser
Taking one verse from the context of a terrorists ramblings and thinking you’ve got a point to make about the victims religion
Finding judgment to align with your warped view Islamophobia isn’t racism thus isn’t a crime – and using this as a ‘told you so’ moment here on TS
Being a general POS who plays the victim card for being sworn at while spouting nasty divisive shit.
Like I’ve said all along. The sociopaths hide in plain sight. Their favorite past time is stirring up shit.
You have quoted the terrorist, Fraser, the judges, anyone else you admire in all this?
Thanks WTB – Dennis’s comments were bothering me too for the same reasons you express so well.
No problem. I wish I was wrong.
Dame Anne Salmond has this (kind of) guys number too.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12213747
I also say Dennis is, to use a metaphor:
The woman at the pub who plays guys against each other.
He does this by running between blogs reporting on what’s been said.
“They say you’re all ignorant”
“They say you’re a pack of snowflakes”
But always reasonable, aye.
I think Dennis Frank is trying to be objective. But it comes over as unconcerned, even accepting. And the idea of taking bits out of the holy bibles of any religion because they seem to encourage violence is pointless to put forward. I read Dennis saying this the other day, and consider it both unwise to express at the present, and not useful as a suggestion for any time. It would arouse much anger and claims of interference in the religion and not deal with the problem. The beliefs in peoples’ minds are what need to be exposed to the air and discussed. I
Then there is the role modelling from parents and others in the person’s life. And what faction do they identify with, and is it a positive one? Is there a lack of a reasoned pathway for future life, and a lack of reasoned discussion on how to make a satisfactory life with what you have and could work towards, using your own talents.
This is what is needed, not merely redacting words out of an important, sacred document. Counselling the person when young to help them understand themselves and their talents. This would be a start to the person forming a plan for their future, knowing their strong and weak points, and being able to grow those talents and make a living from them, being appreciated as a worthwhile person. This would not lead to a pathway for that individual shooting at people in deep resentment and anger.
Dennis is not objective. He’s still doing it and he’ll keep doing it as the feedback of a bunch of people means nothing to the sound of his own word heavy nonsense and vile stirring.
Take the rosy glasses off, watch the pattern repeat.
Always playing the victim, simultaneously always on attack. And not that clever it’s mostly gibberish. Lefties vs righties, but he’s in the center. The problem with all of you is…
Look closer. Gibberish with a pin in it. Who he scratches doesn’t matter, as long as he does it. Gets to be victim again, takes the gibberish he’s made up of why that is to the next blog.
Rinse and repeat.
Analling’s a right wanker sure enough franky.
The teenager who smashed the egg on his head has been formerly nominated for Australian of the Year.
I’m glad he did it, but in classical heroism terms Abdul Aziz is pretty hard to beat – attacks armed mass murderer with a credit card reader and beats him so badly he runs off like a yellow dog – give that man a VC! And honorary membership of our armed forces if that’s a prerequisite – he was defending New Zealand – our people are our country.
your call for a VC is hard to ignore Stuart.
seems highly appropriate.
I think military folk might say it would have to be the George Cross, but I don’t think VCs would be ashamed of Aziz’s company – rather the reverse.
i can understand why military folk may feel that.
there is an arguement to be had that when these awards were enacted, the was no notion of a ‘civilian’ on a murderous spree with military planning, gear and objectives.
Aziz’s courage can be said to eclipse military bravery as it was a very one sided encounter, in that he was essentially unarmed.
Bravo re egg boy becoming Australian of the year
The egg boy says that the money collected for him, will go to the Christchurch Fund. Pretty good for a 17 year old.
FDOTM – a wonderful take down of Andrew Bolt.
Is it possible to deport David Moffat?
It would be a great way to say that, despite the UN Compact, nations can still have a no ass….. rule.
Another result. Whaleoik abandons final appeal against Blomfield: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111379428/whale-oil-blogger-cameron-slater-abandons-appeal-against-defamation-court-ruling
“The court is yet to decide how much money Slater will have to pay Blomfield in damages.”
RIP Mr Surf Guitar.
“Peter Dutton has accused the Greens of being “just as bad” as extreme right-wing nationalist senator Fraser Anning, claiming both are seeking to extract political advantage from the Christchurch terror attack. On Monday the home affairs minister equated the Greens holding him accountable for stoking anti-Islamic sentiment with Anning’s comments blaming the attack on Muslim immigration.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/18/peter-dutton-claims-greens-just-as-bad-as-fraser-anning-on-christchurch-attack
“Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi responded that it was “vile” to say the comments were in any way equivalent, while Labor leader in the Senate Penny Wong accused him of “normalising hate speech. Since the attack on Friday the Greens have gone on the front foot with leader Richard Di Natale renewing calls for a parliamentary code of conduct to stamp out hate speech and Faruqi, the first Muslim senator in Australia, criticising conservative politicians for stoking hatred. “It is politicians like Peter Dutton who have actually contributed to creating an atmosphere where hate is allowed to incubate in our society,” Faruqi told Radio National. “They can’t shrug off their responsibility.”
I’m feeling solidarity with the Oz Greens on their stance. I get that the conservatives are just trying to represent their constituents, as democracy requires of them, but their style of doing so does seem offensive. That said, I’m a centrist not a rightist.
About Oz and insults and ingrained racism against anyone of colour – Aborigines, Muslims – and anyone who wants to make change in social habits.
Oz pollie Fraser Anning says that mother of the boy who threw an egg at him should have slapped him. I’m inclined to believe that the same prescription should have been handed out to this hoity-toity ass.
Background: He and his wife own a number of hotels. He comes from landowner family with a number of properties. He is the great-grandson of a British pastoral squatter who went to Australia to acquire land. He and several of his sons soon expanded from one to amalgamating more properties.
Next bit is telling:
His family was involved in the frontier conflict as they forcibly took the land from the local Aboriginal people. In response to the spearing of cattle, the Annings would ride out with firearms, attack Aboriginal campsites and capture young boys who survived in order to use them as labour on their cattle and sheep stations.[8] The Annings at times also requested the services of the local Native Police paramilitary unit to assist in clearing “blacks” off their runs.[9] Frank Hann, another pastoralist in the region who regularly participated in extrajudicial punitive raids on Aboriginals, described in his diary in 1874 how he saw “Anning just come back from hunting blacks”.[10]…
On 4 June 2018, Anning joined Katter’s Australian Party, becoming the party’s first senator;[20] however, he was expelled in October 2018 for his inflammatory rhetoric concerning immigration, including his mention of a “final solution” to the problem….
On 14 August 2018, Anning delivered his maiden speech to the Senate. In it, he called for a plebiscite to reintroduce racial and religious discrimination in immigration policy, especially with regard to excluding Muslims. He criticised “cultural Marxism”, “safe schools and gender fluidity garbage” and the abuse of the external affairs power of the Australian constitution. He also spoke in support of the right of civilians to own firearms, and the Bradfield Scheme irrigation proposal.[43]
His speech included a reference to a “final solution”, the English equivalent of the term used by the Nazi Party during preparation and execution of the Holocaust during World War II[21] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Anning
He is a vile man, and comes from a family that has apparently little conscience and sense of fairness. It is interesting to know something about the person’s background to see what path they took in forming their views.
This NZ Herald piece should be helpful in forming our ideas about political voting measures and their possible, and dangerous, outcomes.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12213587
How Fraser Anning got into parliament with 0.00 per cent of the vote.
They call Fraser Anning the “accidental” senator.
Just 19 people voted for Anning at the 2016 election. Nineteen.
He got into parliament anyway, gaining a $207,106 taxpayer-funded salary and a platform from which to spew his dangerous bile.
There are not many people who can punch someone in the face in front of cameras and not be charged with assault.
He can’t really argue self defence. Provocation maybe. Possibly ‘haywiz jars taleddle barga’ is extenuation in Strollyer.
Gabby
You triumph at Delphic pronouncements. It’s a cunning ploy to force people to stop and think.
I think the mother should’ve slapped Analling too.
Heard that both Trademe, and Hunting and Fishing, have withdrawn semi auto rifles from sale.
If that is the case, good on them.
Yes kjt and stuff will no longer advertise guns. This is a good sign……..trade me no longer selling them either. Hats off to an industry I view with contempt
To be fair Trade Me had thought about what was the right thing to do in advertising guns. One they had banned the outright blunderbusses, and second they had decided that it was reasonable to offer a trading place for legal guns amongst the public in an open environment which would encourage people to do so openly and honestly.