Daily review 18/03/2020
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5:30 pm, March 18th, 2020 - 40 comments
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- Clean Vehicles Bill passes first checkpointThe Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill will help New Zealand drive down transport emissions by cleaning up the light vehicle fleet, Transport Minister Michael Wood says. The Bill passed its first reading today and will establish the legislative framework for key parts of the Government’s Clean Car Package, including ...2 days ago
- Funding boost supports ongoing Māori COVID-19 responseThe Government is responding to the need by whānau Māori and Māori Health providers to support their ongoing work responding to COVID-19 and to continue increasing rates of Māori vaccination, Associate Minister for Health (Māori Health), Peeni Henare and Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. This increased ...2 days ago
- Significant increase to COVID-19 penaltiesPenalties for breaches of COVID-19 orders are set to significantly increase from early November 2021 to better reflect the seriousness of any behaviour that threatens New Zealand’s response to the virus, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Throughout this Delta outbreak we’ve seen the overwhelming majority of people doing ...3 days ago
- Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill returns to ParliamentThe Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill has returned to Parliament for its second reading in an important step towards giving enforcement agencies greater power to protect New Zealanders from terrorist activity. “The Bill addresses longstanding gaps in our counter terrorism legislation that seek to protect New Zealanders and make us safer,” Justice ...3 days ago
- Joint Statement: New Zealand and Australian Trade MinistersHon Damien O'Connor MP, New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth, and Hon Dan Tehan MP, Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, met virtually on Monday 20 September to advance trans-Tasman cooperation under the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER). CER is one of the most ...3 days ago
- Prime Minister’s Post Cabinet Press Conference/COVID-19 Update opening statement***Please check against delivery*** E te tī, e te tā, nau mai rā [To all, I bid you welcome] As you will have seen earlier, today there are 22 new community cases to report; three of which are in Whakatiwai in the Hauraki area, and the remainder in ...3 days ago
- Major milestones for Māori COVID-19 vaccine rollout as new campaign launchesWhānau Ora and Associate Health (Māori Health) Minister Peeni Henare acknowledges two major milestones in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for Māori. “I am very pleased to announce more than 50 percent of eligible Māori have received their first dose and 25 per cent are now fully vaccinated,” ...4 days ago
- Government funding to fight infectious diseases$36 million for research into Covid-19 and other infectious diseases The investment will improve our readiness for future pandemics Research will focus on prevention, control, and management of infectious diseases The Government’s investing in a new Infectious Diseases Research Platform to boost Aotearoa New Zealand’s Covid-19 response and preparedness for ...5 days ago
- Quarantine-free travel with Australia to remain suspended for a further 8 weeksSuspension to be reviewed again mid to late November Decision brought forward to enable access from Australia to first tranche of around 3000 rooms in MIQ Air New Zealand working at pace to put on more flights from Australia from October The suspension of quarantine-free travel (QFT) with Australia has ...7 days ago
- Extra support for Ethnic Communities to share vaccination informationExtra support is being made available to Ethnic Communities to help them share COVID-19 vaccination information within their communities, Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan said. “We know we need to get every eligible person in New Zealand vaccinated. A fund being launched today will allow for ...7 days ago
- School holidays remain unchanged for Auckland regionSchool holidays in Auckland will continue to be held at the same time as the rest of the country, starting from Saturday, 2 October, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “I’ve carefully considered advice on the implications of shifting the dates and concluded that on balance, maintaining the status quo ...7 days ago
- Government continues crackdown on gangs and organised crimeOperation Tauwhiro extended until March 2022 Since it was launched in February, Operation Tauwhiro has resulted in: 987 firearms seized $4.99 million in cash seized 865 people charged with a firearms-related offence Gangs and organised crime groups will continue to be relentlessly targeted with the extension of Police’s successful ...7 days ago
- Speech to Body Positive 'HIV Treatments Update Seminar 2021'E ngā mana E ngā reo E ngā iwi Tēnā koutou katoa Ka huri ki ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei. Tēnā koutou. He mihi hoki ki a tatou kua tau mai nei I raro I te kaupapa o te rā. Nō reira tēnā koutou katoa Acknowledgements It’s a ...7 days ago
- Power bill changes bring fairness to chargesA key recommendation of an independent panel to make electricity charges fairer across all households will be put in place, the Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods has announced. “Phasing out the regulations on ‘low-use’ electricity plans will create a fairer playing field for all New Zealanders and encourage a ...7 days ago
- NZ economy’s strong momentum will support rebound from Delta outbreak; COVID fund replenishedThe economy showed strong momentum in the period leading up to the recent Delta COVID-19 outbreak, which bodes well for a solid economic rebound, Grant Robertson said. GDP rose 2.8 percent in the June quarter, following on from a 1.4 percent increase in the previous March quarter. This was a ...1 week ago
- Projects create benefits into the futureMaking a well-known lake swimmable and helping to halt the decline of the endangered hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins are among a suite of new projects being supported by the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme across the southern South Island, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “It’s no secret that many of our most ...1 week ago
- Opening statement for Whāriki Indigenous Small Business RoundtableKei ngā tōpito e wha o te āo e rere ana te mihi maioha ki a koutou nō tawhiti, nō tata mai e tāpiri ana ki tēnei taumata kōrero mo te ao hokohoko arā mā ngā pākihi mo ngā iwi taketake Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa – Pai Mārire. ...1 week ago
- New members appointed to KāpuiaThe Government is adding four additional members to Kāpuia, the Ministerial Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. “I’m looking forward to having Pamela MacNeill, Huia Bramley, Melani Anae and Katherine Dedo join Kāpuia and contribute to this group’s ...1 week ago
- Timeline confirmed for Emissions Reductions PlanCabinet has agreed to begin consulting on the Emissions Reduction Plan in early October and require that the final plan be released by the end of May next year in line with the 2022 Budget, the Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw confirmed today. “Cabinet’s decision allows organisations and communities ...1 week ago
- Pay parity pathway for early learning teachers confirmedPay parity conditions and higher funding rates for education and care services will come into force on 1 January, 2022, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins confirmed today. The Government signalled this work in Budget 2021. “From 1 January, 2022, centres opting into the scheme will receive government funding and be ...1 week ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Conference 2021Kia Ora tatau katoa. Ka tuku mihi ki nga nēhi, He pou Hauora o Aotearoa, E ora ai tatou. Whakatau mai I runga i te kaupapa o te ra Te NZNO conference. Tena koutou tena koutou Tena tatou katoa Good morning, and thank you inviting me ...1 week ago
- Government investment in farmer-led catchment groups sweeps past 150 mark171 catchment groups have now been invested in by the Government 31 catchment groups in the Lower North Island are receiving new support More than 5,000 farmers are focussed on restoring freshwater within a generation through involvement in catchment groups Government investment in on-the-ground efforts by farmers to improve land ...1 week ago
- Fight to protect kauri on trackThe Government is pitching in to help vital work to protect nationally significant kauri forests in Auckland, Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan says. “Ensuring the survival of these iconic trees for future generations means doing everything we can to prevent the potential spread of kauri dieback disease,” Kiri Allan said. ...1 week ago
- Joint statement of Mr Bernard Monk; Hon Andrew Little, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry,...[Note: The Parties have agreed on terms to fully and finally settle the proceeding and will jointly issue the below statement.] At the heart of this litigation are the lives of the 29 men tragically lost at the Pike River mine on 19 November 2010 and to whom we pay ...1 week ago
- More financial support for businessesToday’s decision to keep Auckland in a higher COVID Alert Level triggers a third round of the Wage Subsidy Scheme which will open for applications at 9am this Friday. “The revenue test period for this payment will be the 14th to the 27th of September. A reminder that this is ...1 week ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand provides further humanitarian support for AfghanistanAotearoa New Zealand is providing a further $3 million in humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “There is significant humanitarian need in Afghanistan, with the crisis disproportionately affecting women and girls,” said Nanaia Mahuta. The UN has estimated that 80% of the quarter of a million ...2 weeks ago
- Innovative te reo prediction tool announced in Te Wiki o Te Reo MāoriA new Māori language prediction tool will play a key role in tracking our te reo Māori revitalisation efforts, Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. He Ara Poutama mō te reo Māori (He Ara Poutama) can forecast the number of conversational and fluent speakers of te reo Māori ...2 weeks ago
- Further Government support for people to access food and essential itemsThe Government is responding to need for support in Auckland and has committed a further $10 million to help people access ongoing food and other essential items, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced today. This latest tranche is targeted at the Auckland region, helping providers and organisations to distribute ...2 weeks ago
- Half a million Pfizer vaccines from DenmarkThe Government has secured an extra half a million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from Denmark that will start arriving in New Zealand within days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “This is the second and larger agreement the Government has entered into to purchase additional vaccines to meet the ...2 weeks ago
- Inland Revenue providing essential COVID support for businessesInland Revenue is seeing increased demand for Resurgence Support Payments and other assistance schemes that it administers, but is processing applications quickly, Revenue Minister David Parker said today. David Parker said the Resurgence Support Payment, the Small Business Cashflow (loan) Scheme and the Wage Subsidy are available at the same ...2 weeks ago
- Grattan on Friday: After the deal on security, Scott Morrison turns to the shift on climate
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra One is tempted to think Scott Morrison’s hero must be Harry Houdini, the great escape artist. Put our prime minister in a corner, and he will talk his way out, or try to. After President ...1 hour ago - Josh Frydenberg prepares ground for Scott Morrison to commit to 2050 climate targetSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will prepare the way for Scott Morrison to take a target of net zero emissions by 2050 to Glasgow, when he warns on Friday capital inflow will be at risk if Australia ...1 hour ago
- Government denies it has failed Māori on Covid
The government is standing by its Covid response for Māori, despite large disparities in both the number of cases and the vaccine rollout. ...7 hours ago - Auckland Mayor Phil Goff opposes Three Waters proposal, calls for accountabilityAuckland Mayor Phil Goff has made one thing clear - the government's Three Waters Reform programme would not get his approval under the current settings. ...8 hours ago
- When fire hits, do koalas flee or stick to their tree? Answering these and other questions is vitalSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pablo Negret, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Queensland Figures released this week suggest Australia’s koala populations have plummeted by 30% in three years, and fewer than 58,000 now remain in the wild. The statement from the Australian Koala Foundation has ...9 hours ago
- Australia is no stranger to earthquakes, yet our planning polices have not adaptedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Maund, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle Southeastern Australia was yesterday rocked by a magnitude-5.8 earthquake with its epicentre near Mansfield in Victoria’s northeast. The quake, which was followed by two smaller tremors, was ...9 hours ago
- PNG prepares to impose covid lockdown in several provincesRNZ News Papua New Guinea authorities are preparing for a four-week lockdown in at least three provinces at the end of the month. The move has been prompted by a spike in covid-19 infection rates in Eastern Highlands province as well as the two provinces which sit on the border ...9 hours ago
- ‘My way or highway’ bill a product of Fiji dictatorship, says PrasadBy Luke Nacei in Suva Fiji’s pposition National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad told Parliament yesterday that the Electoral Registration of Voters (Amendment) Bill was the product of dictatorship, pseudo-democracy and the “my way or the highway” approach to governance in a bid to ensure continuity of FijiFirst rule ...9 hours ago
- In spite of relentless media negativity, NZ’s covid story is largely successfulCOMMENTARY: By Glen Johnson On August 17, a 58-year-old man from Auckland became symptomatic and tested positive for covid-19. It was New Zealand’s first community case of the coronavirus in almost six months. Within hours, the nation of five million moved into alert level four, part of its “go hard, ...9 hours ago
- Detained West Papuan activist at risk of ‘dying in jail’, UN expert warnsAsia Pacific Report newsdesk A United Nations expert has urged Indonesia to provide proper medical care to a Papuan independence activist to “keep him from dying in prison”, after reports emerged that his health had deteriorated, reports The Jakarta Post. Victor Yeimo, 39, the international spokesman for the West Papua ...9 hours ago
- Federation Of Primary Health Welcomes Todays Board Announcements
“Another positive step forward”. That’s how the Chair of New Zealand’s [1] peak body for [2] Primary Care, Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa (FPHANZ) , has reacted to the board announcements from the Government today. Steve Chadwick ...10 hours ago - Nurse, Union Voice Absent On New Health Authority BoardsThe New Zealand Nurses Organisaton's (NZNO) Kaiwhakahaere, Kerri Nuku, is concerned that the Māori Health Authority (MHA) and Health New Zealand (Health NZ) boards lack representation for nurses, kaimahi hauora, midwives, rongoā practitioners or ...10 hours ago
- Hawke's Bay Meth Bust Stunning Proof Of Why Mob Shouldn't Get Public MoneyResponding to the breaking news of a major methamphetamine bust in the Hawke’s Bay , Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Jordan Williams says: “Eight people connected to the Mongrel Mob have just been arrested for selling meth in the same community ...10 hours ago
- Business is Boring: The electrician behind 20% of NZ’s new solar installations
Lightforce’s Luke Nutting joined Simon Pound on Business is Boring this week to talk about catching New Zealand up with the rest of the world on solar power.Follow Business is Boring on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.Solar power is pretty amazing – this super abundant, super powerful ...10 hours ago - Fires review: new ABC drama helps teach important lessons about the realities of bushfires in Austra...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Clode, Associate Professor (adjunct) in Creative Writing, Flinders University Ben King/ABC Bushfires are incredibly difficult to imagine, but once experienced are impossible to forget. They are events that most people would prefer not to think about — at least ...10 hours ago
- Whānau Ora Leadership Appointed To Māori Health Authority Board...10 hours ago
- Taxpayers Will Support Bill To Stop Public Funding Of Criminal Gang EnterprisesThe New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is pleased to see Simeon Brown’s members' bill, Public Finance (Prohibition on Providing Public Funds to Gangs) Amendment Bill drawn from the Parliamentary ballot and is calling on the Government to expedite its passage ...12 hours ago
- Coalition still well ahead in NSW poll, Newspoll premiers’ ratings, and WA upper house electoral r...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne AAP/Bianca de Marchi A New South Wales state Resolve poll for The Sydney Morning Herald gave the Coalition 41% of the primary vote (down two since July), ...12 hours ago
- Beyond Zoom, Teams and video lectures — what do university students really want from online learni...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dilani Gedera, Teaching and Learning Manager, Auckland University of Technology Shutterstock As any university student, lecturer or tutor can attest, the pandemic has turned learning and teaching upside down. So it’s important we understand what happens for students when their ...12 hours ago
- Govt welcomes $7.5bn investment – from the private sector – in our digital economy, but minister...
The government has been spending money on ridding parts of the country of predators, cleaning up contaminated sites, helping NCEA students and researching cancer. But ministers of the crown – it’s pleasing to note – are acknowledging big-bucks investments from the private sector, too. Digital Economy and Communications Minister today ...12 hours ago - Statement From Rotorua Mayor Steve ChadwickMayor Steve Chadwick says confirmation there will be no additional MIQ facilities in Rotorua is great news. “It’s really good we have been listened to and I thank Minister Hipkins and his Cabinet colleagues for that. “The prospect of more MIQ ...13 hours ago
- After AUKUS, Russia sees a potential threat — and an opportunity to market its own submarinesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexey D Muraviev, Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies, Curtin University Alexei Druzhinin/AP The global opinions on the new AUKUS security pact between Australia, the US and the UK have been decidedly mixed. China and France immediately blasted ...13 hours ago
- Parliament to consider ban on public funds to gangsTwo member's bills targeting gang money and assets were drawn from the ballot at Parliament today. ...13 hours ago
- Can animals sense when an earthquake is about to happen?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Quain, Lecturer, University of Sydney He Gong/Unsplash, CC BY-SA Within minutes of Melbourne being rattled by yesterday’s earthquake, my Victorian friends reported changes in the behaviour of their animals. One friend wrote on social media that her dog ...13 hours ago
- The gutsy authenticity of We Are Lady PartsRonia Ibrahim reflects on the fearlessness of We Are Lady Parts, the comedy series about an all women Muslim punk band that hilariously smashes tired tropes. I’m one of those people who you might describe as “prudish” or “conservative” type. “Frick” is an unironic part ...13 hours ago
- In the 19th century, a man was busted for pasting photos of women’s heads on naked bodies … soun...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Lake, Research Fellow, Australian Catholic University First Lady Frances Cleveland and the wives of members of Cleveland Cabinet pose for a photo in 1897. Frances B Johnston/Library of Congress A new app can turn anyone into a porn star against their ...13 hours ago
- COVID-19 increases the chance of getting an autoimmune condition. Here’s what the science says so ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena Plebanski, Professor of Immunology, RMIT University Shutterstock SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can sometimes cause the immune system to mistakenly attack the person’s own body. This process, known as “autoimmunity”, can damage a number of different organs. ...13 hours ago
- Ageism – Not Part Of Our Future!International Day of Older Persons on 1 October each year is a day to celebrate older people – to highlight the value of all older people and to promote dignity and respect. The United Nations 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” will ...13 hours ago
- We may never be able to predict earthquakes – but we can already know enough to be preparedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hadi Ghasemi, Senior Seismologist, Geoscience Australia Yesterday’s earthquake in eastern Victoria shook the ground for hundreds of kilometres around and damaged buildings as far away as Melbourne – and took many people by surprise. While Australia doesn’t compare with seismic hotspots like ...13 hours ago
- Horowhenua On The Rise With Second CouncilMARK™ ReportLocal Government New Zealand’s CouncilMARK™ programme is giving Horowhenua District Council’s performance a tick of approval in its second independent assessment. LGNZ President Stuart Crosby says Horowhenua ratepayers can be pleased with their ...14 hours ago
- Covid-19 briefing: 'It all comes down to vaccination' – PMTools used in the future to fight Covid-19 don't need to be as disruptive as the ones used now, as long as the country achieves a high vaccination rate, says the prime minister. Watch the latest government briefing live here. ...14 hours ago
- Instagram can make teens feel bad about their body, but parents can help. Here’s howSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gemma Sharp, NHMRC Early Career Senior Research Fellow, Monash University Shutterstock Last week Facebook’s internal research revealed Instagram’s toxic effects on some young people’s body image — particularly girls. One study by Facebook of teen Instagram users in the US ...14 hours ago
- Mataatua To Be Represented On Māori Health AuthorityFiona Wiremu, Chair of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua is ecstatic that “Mataatua whānau will be better represented on a national scale, as Te Puna Ora o Mataatua Chief Executive Dr Chris Tooley has been elected to the interim Māori Health Authority board”. ...14 hours ago
- This overseas voting rule is arbitrary and stupid. It’s time to scrap it entirelyEven before Covid, the idea that spending too long away from New Zealand should lose you the right to vote made little sense. Now’s the ideal time to do away with the rule for good, argues Andrew Geddis.Covid’s arrival, and our collective response to that arrival, emphasises the fundamental importance ...14 hours ago
- Modelling: Thousands of deaths without high vaccination rates
The latest research from Te Pūnaha Matatini shows that if vaccination rates aren't high enough, New Zealand will continue to need lockdowns or see thousands of Covid-19 deaths a year, Marc Daalder reports High vaccination rates are crucial to ending the use of lockdowns, expert disease modellers have found. Te ...15 hours ago - Watch live: PM, Bloomfield provide an update on Covid-19The Prime Minister and the Director-General of Health are due to address a media briefing on the latest on the Delta outbreak. ...15 hours ago
- NZNO Award Of Honour Recognises Invaluable Enrolled Nurse LeaderThe New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is pleased to announce that the 2021 NZNO Award of Honour (presented every two years) has been awarded to Waikato-based nurse Leonie Metcalfe. The prestigious Award of Honour recognises long-standing NZNO ...15 hours ago
- Feds Gives Thumbs Up For Cross-border And Jab EffortsFederated Farmers is giving a shout out to government agencies handling the movement of essential workers across alert level boundaries, and to those DHBs and medical centres reaching out to rural people over COVID vaccinations. "With Auckland ...16 hours ago
- Former Minister Taito Phillip Field has died aged 68The former Associate Pacific Islands Affairs Minister, Taito Philip Field, has died at the age of 68. ...16 hours ago
- Who the hell comes up with Celebrity Treasure Island’s challenges?Celebs are being forced to dive for puzzle pieces, lug bags of sand through waist-high water, and work their way through mazes made of sharp sticks. Who did this? And why?Richie Barnett and Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck are pictures of concentration. The former rugby league players are facing off, tasked with balancing ...16 hours ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 20 September 2021Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than 7 days, while the 20-day series covers jobs with pay periods of 14 days or fewer. The 34-day series includes all jobs regardless of their pay period. The 34-day series ...17 hours ago
- NZMA Welcomes Health System Board AppointmentsThe groups chosen to lead New Zealand’s health system into the future are a blend of expertise, wisdom and foresight, the New Zealand Medical Association says. NZMA Chair Dr Alistair Humphrey said he welcomes the news of the Board appointments, and ...17 hours ago
- New Report Reveals Government Failing To Cut Building Pollution, Threatening Paris Climate Obligatio...The government is failing to adequately slash the carbon emissions of New Zealand’s builings, thereby threatening its ability to meet international climate change obligations reveals a new assessment report unveiled today (23 September). Just weeks before ...17 hours ago
- Māori-led Group Prepares To Occupy Mt Richmond / Ōtāhuhu To Save Hundreds Of Exotic TreesA Māori-led Māngere-Ōtāhuhu community group is preparing to occupy Mt Richmond / Ōtāhuhu after learning that Auckland Council has recently issued a non-notified resource consent to allow Tūpuna Maunga Authority to fell hundreds of exotic trees ...18 hours ago
- Power firm warns Govt against against unworkable environmental limits
When NZ needs to build a new wind farm every nine months, now is not the time for ministers to impose 'experimental resets' to the energy market, says Mercury chair. Power company Mercury has hit back at "unworkable environmental limits" and the threat of energy sector reforms, saying they jeopardise further investment ...18 hours ago - Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – September 23 2021Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. You can sign up to NZ Politics Daily as well as New Zealand Political Roundup columns for free here. Today’s content Govt Covid strategy Tess McClure (Guardian): ‘Calculated risk’: ...18 hours ago
- Sixteen Year Wait For New Māori Health Authority Board Member“We’ve Come a Long Way” National Urban Māori Authority Chair Lady Tureiti Moxon and Awerangi Tamihere of Te Whānau Waipareira, a NUMA member have been named as Board appointments to the Māori Health Authority today. Sixteen years ago, Moxon ...18 hours ago
- Government announces team leading new Health NZ and Māori Health AuthorityThe team leading the establishment of the new Health New Zealand and Māori Health Authority have been announced. ...19 hours ago
- Walk shorts and dreams: Oh, to be a teacher in the 90sLinda Burgess finds a kindred spirit in Tim Heath’s memoir, The Accidental Teacher.Not far into Tim Heath’s book, I was thinking how much fun he’d be to sit next to at a dinner party. No tensions there: I’d be sitting next to him pretty much agreeing on everything. By this ...19 hours ago
- Dunne Speaks: Don't Get Too Excited By The “ute” Tax DelayThis week’s announcement that the introduction of the government’s proposed “ute” tax is being delayed by three months until 1 April next year will have been welcomed in many quarters. Those who joined the recent Groundswell protests ...19 hours ago
- Climate Commission Ignored Climate Benefits Of Cutting Synthetic NitrogenA hidden report uncovered by Greenpeace shows that the Climate Change Commission ignored its own internal advice that could cut agricultural climate emissions by a third or more. The internal Climate Commission report, titled ‘Eliminating synthetic ...19 hours ago
- Banning unvaccinated people from Parliament grounds could set precedent – expertIn an interview with media outlet Newsroom, Trevor Mallard revealed staff, the public and the media may not be allowed on the Parliamentary precinct if they were unvaccinated. ...19 hours ago
- Explainer: what exactly is the Quad and what’s on the agenda for their Washington summit?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Hall, Deputy Director (Research), Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Ryohei Moriya/Yomiuri Shimbun/AP On Friday, the leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the US will meet in Washington for the first in-person Quad summit. Hosted by US President Joe ...19 hours ago
- Calling the latest gene technologies ‘natural’ is a semantic distraction — they must still be ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Heinemann, Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Canterbury Ivan YudinTASS via Getty Images Legislators around the world are being asked to reconsider how to regulate the latest developments in gene technology, genome editing and gene silencing. ...19 hours ago
- Ivermectin shows us how hard it is to use old drugs for COVID. Here’s how to do better next timeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Baell, Research Professor in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Shutterstock Many hopes have been pinned on repurposing existing drugs, such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, to treat COVID-19. However, we shouldn’t be too ...19 hours ago
- Children learn science in nature play long before they get to school classrooms and labsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Southern Cross University The number of preschools pursuing learning through nature play is growing fast worldwide. However, the effectiveness and impacts of this approach is largely untested, and we recently completed the first large-scale study ...19 hours ago
- Australia’s banks got $188 billion in cheap loans from the RBA. Now they’re funding share buybac...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Davis, Emeritus Professor of Finance, The University of Melbourne shutter_o/Shutterstock Much has been written about the taxpayer-funded windfalls to some companies provided by the A$90 billion JobKeeper scheme. Their gains have come from grants given to them to offset ...19 hours ago
- From poo politics to rubbish disposal: 5 big questions about the International Space Station becomin...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alice Gorman, Associate Professor in Archaeology and Space Studies, Flinders University NASA, CC BY-SA On October 5, an unusual crew will fly to the International Space Station. Director Klim Shipenko and actor Yulia Peresild will spend a week and a ...19 hours ago
- We are the 10%Even if a 90% vaccination target can be achieved, hundreds of thousands of people – many of them from our most vulnerable communities – risk being left behind, writes the NZ Drug Foundation’s Sarah HelmThroughout the most recent delta outbreak, it’s been clear that vaccinations will be our collective ticket ...19 hours ago
- Live updates, September 23: Former National MP joins board of new national health authorityWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 23, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Say hello at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz.8.00am: Former National MP joins board of new national health authorityA former National MP will help lead the new national health authority, Health New Zealand.The government has this morning announced the “expert group” appointed to ...20 hours ago
- James Shaw on the road to GlasgowThe climate change minister says for all his irritations at the pace of change in government, momentum is growing to finally start emission cuts, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.The road to COP26. James Shaw is booked to fly to Glasgow at the end of next month for a United Nations ...20 hours ago
- New Zealand PM “Pleased To See” AUKUS Military PactBy Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 22 September 2021, original url: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/09/22/nzau-s22.html The Labour Party-Greens coalition government in New Zealand has cautiously welcomed the AUKUS military pact announced on September 16 by US President Joe Biden and the ...20 hours ago
- Labour MPs reject Paul Goldsmith's request for briefing on Covid-19 impact by education officia...Goldsmith says Labour voted down his request to be briefed on actions being taken by schools and the impact Covid-19 is having on exams and those with additional learning needs. ...21 hours ago
- Social housing stigma unnerves upmarket hotel developers
Uncertainty clouds a Nelson hotel development because of plans for a big community housing development nearby ...21 hours ago - A second death for autonomous sanctions – but hints of another life
The Government again kills off a bill to take action on international violators. ...22 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Thursday 23 September22 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 23 September22 hours ago
- The costs of nimbyismWhen we let housing prices drive people out of cities, it has a ripple effect on all parts of our social and economic fabric, writes economist Rosie Collins.Many well-meaning people stand in the way of more houses for the young, poor, or future generations. That’s not how they would put ...22 hours ago
- Overdue to be ‘pwned’? Here’s how to keep hackers out of your online accountsNew data shows hundreds of New Zealanders have been victims of recent cyber attacks. In the latest instalment of IRL, Dylan Reeve explores how you can avoid becoming one of them. After a balmy day lounging with her husband on a secluded Portuguese beach during a three week holiday in 2019, ...22 hours ago
- For doctors, it's the perfect storm
Between the powerful foe of Covid and the equally evasive phenomenon of misinformation are doctors like Elspeth Frascatore. Here she shares a physician's perspective. It’s not an easy time to be a patient. Indeed, it’s a time unprecedented in modern day history – with a global pandemic that to date ...23 hours ago - Peter Dunne: Government is always about politics
Labour has largely kept silent on its own views on when and how to move New Zealand to a new phase in dealing with Covid-19, relying expressly on 'officials' and 'the science'. But it can't continue to conceal its hand for long. ...23 hours ago - Why it's not awkward to be left out of AUKUS
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Promising, but bastard side-effects.
(FLASH – Sanofi offers anti-malaria Plaquenil to treat 300,000 patients.)
A renowned research professor in France has reported successful results from a new treatment for Covid-19, with early tests suggesting it can stop the virus from being contagious in just six days.
Professor Didier Raoult from infection hospital l'Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Méditerranée Infection in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), published a video explaining the trials on Monday March 16.
https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/French-researcher-in-Marseille-posts-successful-Covid-19-coronavirus-drug-trial-results
Looks like another quinine analog closely related to chloroquine that also may be a useful treatment.
Yet more reason to go back to self-medicating with gin and tonics. Lots of them. I wonder how high a blood alcohol concentration is needed for anti-viral effects?
Chloroquine (or hydroxychloroquine) plus an old HIV cocktail liponavir+ritonavir is looking very promising judging from information out of China and Queensland.
As they're all out of patent reasonably cheap as well – I wonder if the prices are set to go through the roof ?
I'll guess the quinine analogs would be easy and cheap to make – they've been used for malaria treatment for ages and poor countries would not be thrilled about paying profiteering western pharmaceutical prices for them. ISTR thinking I might have needed a top-up in Africa and checked out what was I could get locally and they were available for pennies in the dollar of what I paid in the US.
I've got no reckons for the anti-HIV drugs tho.
https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/wwwtrs/ScheduleOnline.php
HCQ is quite cheap the HIV drugs more expensive – although if effective in keeping people well and out of hospital I suspect they'll be considered cheap.
ISTR reading somewhere on the internets (so 100% totally true lol) that the required dose of quinine to be anti-malarial was something like 300 G&Ts. Per day.
But hell, worth a try.
Weren't there a bunch of people in Iran who self medicated with high amounts of alcohol and died?
Talking with some local business people today, by crikey simon has done some damage and it's only Wednesday.
True blue business people are saying that simon is an idiot and that they are happy with the governments Covid-19 plan.
P.S… that photo is awesome.
good to hear that. Would be a bad sign if he wasn't losing support over this.
Belated St Paddy's day concert for any Dropkick fans.
(starts @ 13.00)
tl;dr -we're in for a rough AF ride
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1239975682643357696.html
didn't read the report, but reading the twitter thread, one thing not mentioned is that flattening the curve in the last scenario allows time to build more hospital gear and train people.
The flaw in that of course is the fuckwits in charge of the federal government. That the states have the ability to act autonomously may mitigate some of the damage.
People finding a suitable place to self-isolate. Government could help by getting this sorted. If they can get home.
And minister of foreign affairs, Winston Peters, says at least 80,000 New Zealanders are overseas and not all of them will get home before flights grind to a halt.
and
A New Zealander returning from Australia because of Covid-19 says she's struggling to find a suitable place to self-isolate for 14 days. Holly Girven Russell is set to fly home on Monday, after she quit her job and booked flights late last week.
The Government has since urged all New Zealanders traveling overseas to return.
Girven Russell says she'll be looking for work when she arrives, but her biggest concern is finding a safe place to go into quarantine.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/covid-19/412008/coronavirus-live-covid-19-updates-in-new-zealand-and-around-the-world
She did say though that she could self isolate at her parents’ house but didn’t want to do that as her grandparents visited often. Perhaps they could be persuaded to stay away for the quarantine period?
NZ isn't short of empty houses and there will be lots of empty motels/hotels soon too. Looks more like a logistical issue to me, that will get sorted out better as we adapt.
Covid-19 and flu in NZ.
What you can do to help
While the Ministry of Health looks at other strategies for early detection of Covid-19, there is one we can all help with right now. We need every household in New Zealand to sign up to the FluTracking project. Each week you’ll be sent an email asking if anyone in your house has had a fever or cough. This information is being used as an early warning system for Covid-19.
So, in summary. If all you know about testing for infectious diseases is stuff you’ve been reading on the internet, then stop tweeting your reckons and firing off your hot takes. Sign up to FluTracking. Wash your hands. Stay at home if you start to develop any symptoms. If you’re unsure what those symptoms are, we’ve got you covered. Check out Spinoff cartoonist Toby Morris’s handy guide.
By Siouxsie Wiles • 18/03/2020
https://sciblogs.co.nz/infectious-thoughts/2020/03/18/how-testing-for-covid-19-works/
Unfortunately the privacy policy suggests that data sent to the site is governed by australian law
Yep. If they want to get most people signed up they're going to have to do better than hey go sign up.
We are approaching an election that is flavoured with many to and fro forces.
If I vote Green am I turning NZ into an Amsterdam cafe? If I vote Winston, will I be one of 4% and wasting my vote? We've got lots of forces playing on our decision this next election and I think we should be approaching it with the Convid thing pretty much put to bed.
Every other bloody thing has been put on ice, I think we should push a tiny bit of legislation through the house, shelve the election and get on with the major priority. I think such a bold move is a vote winner and just plain sensible. Lets address the elephant in the room before we decide who's the next boss.
hard to tell what's going to happen but I'd be surprised if covid is over for NZ before the election.
If National was in government would you want an election postponed?
..but I'd be surprised if covid is over for NZ before the election.
So would I. If you look at the history of epidemics and pandemics, you'll usually see waves of the disease passing through with weeks or months between.
The most obvious one was the 1918/19 pandemics which had about 4-5 waves in NZ. The pauses between the waves are from the infection transmission time and time to symptoms becoming apparent. Auckland got hit hard in terms of cases on the second wave. Wellington and much of the rest of the country on the 3rd wave after spread from Auckland.
In the case of C-19, the long non-symptomatic period (at least 7 days compared to the 2 days of 1918) will effectively spread the waves out.
Of course the comms and plans are somewhat more sophisticated this time around.
BTW: This was a pretty good read on it
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120354661/pathetically-understaffed-and-hopelessly-complacent-lessons-from-black-november
Any attempt to do that is likely to get NAct pushback for forming a government of "national unity" in other words including NAct politicians in the cabinet.
I don't think voting green ( or for decrimalising weed) is going to give us too much Amsterdam. I hate to think how much money has been spent by the cops, courts & prisons on this over the years.
If we had given just a fraction of the funds to the health system we would all by now have been advised many times that it (what follows is not strictly accurate) "makes you fat, gives you wrinkles, teeth and eyeballs turn yellow and fall out all the fun things in life don't work etc etc". until we had all submitted. Nobody would be touching the stuff.
David that is a good thought for sensible action. I second it and I bet a lot would multiple tick it. How do we get that over to the PTB? Could you write direct to the PM and suggest it. She will be surrounded by thoughts and ideas from the incumbents and might welcome some fresh ideas like a breeze from an open window. ' j.ardern @ parliament.govt.nz' corrected, will register a confirmation it has been received. After that, who knows.
All those demanding total testing (including that dickhead leading the National Party) may wish to consider the following…NZ has the capacity to undertake (at best) 1000 covid tests per day (multiple tests are often required to confirm)…at that rate for every NZer (not including tourists) it would take over 13 years to process
.
You do the maximum you're capable of processing.
You don't limit to travel-related cases.
You don't piss around with this virus.
So do these tests consume any specialised chemicals or materials that have limited stocks given that every country in the world will be wanting to test as many people as possible?
and crucial parts of the materials or gear aren't in NZ but have to come from somewhere else. Who is making the decisions about which countries get what?
Aren't they testing contacts of people with confirmed covid?
Here's a write up about tests and availability in a NZ context.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/18-03-2020/siouxsie-wiles-how-testing-for-covid-19-works/
fuck
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120393001/coronavirus-samoas-first-suspected-case-arrived-on-a-flight-from-auckland
With bells on. Shitsake.
what's going on with people being sick for a few days before they do anything. Are we still assuming it's just a cold until it's not? I guess he might of self-isolated for that time, but probably not.
Maybe they're not big media consumers.
I'm intrigued that the Aussies are processing the test in "10-20 days" when the aussie who came to wellington got his results in like a day. Seems odd, but maybe the testing shit has hit the fan over the ditch.
The Faroe Islands have tested 933 people, around 2% of island's population, with 58 testing positive. None of the 58 are in serious condition.
https://corona.fo/?_l=en
BTW I saw somewhere earlier that the first flu vaccinations are likely to be available this week. First tranche to healthworkers, compromised and over 65's?
Perhaps anybody here who might be eligible could follow up – and get vaccinated if applicable.
Already been rung by our doctor's office and invited to the first vaccination. Their initiative!
The wealthy are the problem.
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/15/815828858/coronavirus-and-the-rich-beaubien
What is wrong with the guy? ScoMo on schools stating that the virus affects young differently (maybe that was an earlier mutation?…not true now). Even if that were true it assumes young people won't spread it to their family when they get home.
https://www.news.com.au/national/scott-morrison-schools-should-remain-open/news-story/98825afacacafcd126aca1f0d8c0760b