Daily review 18/05/2022

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, May 18th, 2022 - 63 comments
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63 comments on “Daily review 18/05/2022 ”

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  1. Grafton Gully 1
    18 May 2022 at 5:50 pm

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/467381/drought-in-auckland-s-rural-south-pushing-up-food-prices-growers-say

    I have a large tank to collect rainwater installed in the mid 90s drought and use it to water vege patches in an Auckland suburban backyard. You just need at least four hours sunlight, loose soil in the garden or in pots and some lime and fertilizer, which is expensive now so I'm toying with the idea of foraging dung, seaweed and the remains of filleted fish for liquid manure.

    • Robert Guyton 1.1
      18 May 2022 at 6:19 pm

      Foraging for fertiliser is fun!

      I'm collecting at the sink – nothing escapes down the drain here: coffee "swill", saucepan "wash", spoiled milk, carrot peelings, avocado skins; whatever we don't eat becomes food for our plants. As well, I'm collecting leaves from the house-spoutings, ash from the wood-fire, even beard-sheddings from my brush (ewww!) to go back into the soil and close the loop – no more losses to the waste-stations and settling-ponds of the town for me!

      • Grafton Gully 1.1.1
        18 May 2022 at 6:50 pm

        Cool we too, a kitchen bin a week into slow composting and a month or so ago into the apare so the big one can finish maturing and be spread. I find it good as a soil loosener but strangely infertile – maybe the nitrates get used up by bugs doing the composting – that's where the liquid manure should help I'm guessing. Darling Old lady next door sadly now deceased swore by it.

    • Muttonbird 1.2
      18 May 2022 at 6:29 pm

      Growing veggies in Auckland is impossible without vast caches of insecticide, nitrogen, and round the clock inspection.

      Then there's cats, snails, black birds, wind and hail.

      Bringing a crop to harvest in suburban back yard Auckland costs more in time and money than it is worth, even for someone who sort of knows what they are doing.

      • Grafton Gully 1.2.1
        18 May 2022 at 7:02 pm

        Not my experience so far and I've been doing it for years. No insecticides, if white butterfly caterpillars appear you can glean them, aphids wipe off with your fingers and snails discover where they spend the day and throw them well away from your vegetable plants and move whatever they were hiding under. You can put out beer in a saucer to attract and drown them too, but I prefer to find and throw them. Slugs are a worse pest IMO. Blackbirds and cats will stay away if you cover the young plants with mesh. Agree about wind – best if you can provide shelter or pick the best sheltered spot for the vege patch – it's all about knowing your backyard over time and planting accordingly. It seldom hails here and it has never destroyed plants in my garden. It's cheap as if you save seeds and as for time – time spent gardening is never wasted, it adds pleasure to your life and that makes you happier and more relaxed, improving your relationships with others.

        • Muttonbird 1.2.1.1
          18 May 2022 at 7:14 pm

          All good suggestions but either expensive, or not workable in a tenancy, so what do low income renters do?

          They buy McDonalds, that's what.

          • Belladonna 1.2.1.1.1
            18 May 2022 at 9:44 pm

            Pots work great for renters. You can't live off them (or not unless you have a heck of a lot), but easily enough to keep you in salad greens and herbs (both of which are expensive at the supermarket).
            If you're flash, you can get one of the fancy vegepods – but a simple planter box with a cover (net curtain over a frame will do) is going to give you much the same results.

            Let one lettuce go to seed, and you'll have more than enough to save for the next round. Local community gardens (and yes, they do exist in Auckland) will often gift seeds to those who ask.

            With a little more space, add a potato sack – (try a coffee sack from the local coffee shop) with seed potatoes (supermarket sprouting ones will do), and top up with earth as they grow. Should give you a bushel or so of spuds to help the food budget along.

            Gardening doesn't have to be full-on, boots-and-all Good Life. You can just do a bit within the capacity of your site, budget and time.

            • Muttonbird 1.2.1.1.1.1
              18 May 2022 at 11:03 pm

              Don't tell me how to do pots which you can't live off. I've done it.

              We are to work 50+ hours a week. 56 more is for sleep. The remaining 56, including a full 48 hour weekend, is for travel, homework, sport, eating, washing, shopping, walking, reading, helping neighbours, helping family, helping friends, fighting, crying, self preservation.

              And you want us to grow our own food as well? Sounds like musings of the privileged.

              • Belladonna …
                19 May 2022 at 9:19 am

                As you're not interested in solutions – I'll stop wasting my time.

                Go on spending at McDonalds.

                • Muttonbird …
                  19 May 2022 at 7:33 pm

                  You are wasting your time because the idea low income earners have the time, resources, land, and security to grow their own food in urban and suburban New Zealand is a cosy fantasy dreamt up by someone who has all those things.

                  It must be nice…

            • Populuxe1 1.2.1.1.1.2
              19 May 2022 at 12:16 am

              That's basically a single salad for some of us. We don't all have the caloric requirements of sparrows unfortunately.

      • adam 1.2.2
        19 May 2022 at 1:50 am

        Muttonbird, have found one major friend gardening I did not have in Auckland, skinks. These guys are great insects eaters, I can grow winter crops up here in Northland really well. As they have smashed the moths and butterflies population.

        I have a run away pea crop which is just great. Not to mention my broc, swedes, and beans.

        Have a worm farm, very handy to get plants happy food they love.

        Now just need to work out how to grow my Basil and Coriander over winter – thinking inside under lights.

    • weka 1.3
      18 May 2022 at 6:29 pm

      😎

      I saw recently that the council freed up regulations to allow people to install rainwater tanks in Auckland without needing consent (if the tank is connected to indoor plumbing it still needs consent).

      • Grafton Gully 1.3.1
        18 May 2022 at 7:08 pm

        We were discussing how to save grey water this evening after reading the market garden article. That would be a good source of water for the garden. I'm wondering about hand pumping it from the drain rather than fitting new plumbing, but probably won't because we don't need it that desperately at the moment – might put in another roof water tank though.

        • weka 1.3.1.1
          18 May 2022 at 8:30 pm

          more storage is wise. I used to run a hose out the laundry door to the garden (hand that the machine has a pump). Some care about where it goes and using a benign laundry powder.

  2. ianmac 2
    18 May 2022 at 6:47 pm

    It seems so sad to me that this Government seems unable to reach the people with the knowledge of the huge amount that they have achieved. Jacinda lists those achievements in Q Time in the House but it seems that what happens in the House stays in the House. This leaves the field to the misinformation of Opposition inanities and half truths. Endlessly.

    What can we/they do about it?

    • Anne 2.1
      18 May 2022 at 7:03 pm

      The government needs to stop being so cautious and speak up loud and strong. Tell it like it is. If their opponents are telling lies call them liars – not in the debating chamber of course because they're not allowed to use the word "liar". But they can use it elsewhere. My sense, right or wrong, is that they are scared of the media.

    • Ad 2.2
      18 May 2022 at 8:10 pm

      Keep making the case differentiating against National.

      And as Anne says demonstrating their impact over 5 years.

    • gypsy 2.3
      18 May 2022 at 8:25 pm

      Not much. The lived experience of New Zealanders right now is the highest inflation in 30 years, the imminent prospect of rising mortgage costs, rising gang tensions and gun crime, and record high petrol prices. Amongst others. Whether or not you believe the government can influence these things is irrelevant, the voters are getting grumpy.

      • aj 2.3.1
        18 May 2022 at 9:32 pm

        I agree gypsy. Most wavering and/or uncommitted voters have EXTREMEY short memories, and every opposition plays on that.

      • KJT 2.3.2
        19 May 2022 at 7:53 am

        That's what you would think, if you read the papers, watched TV talking heads and radio talkback. Who think it is their job to get National elected.

        Meanwhile, in the real world;

        Crime has dropped. School leavers are getting trades training and apprenticeships, We have one of the best covid responses to date. Local workers are getting jobs and even, pay rises. Small businesses, apart from the few that solely relied on tourism, are doing well. The town is "buzzing. It looks like the education for residency and cheap labour scam may end. AGW solutions are, finally, being taken seriously, instead of National's "kicking them down the road.

        Covid's effects on tourism, mortgage rates, supply chains and prices are worldwide and not solvable by our Government, any more than they could wave a magic wand and stop covid forever.

    • Incognito 2.4
      18 May 2022 at 8:27 pm

      Some of us don’t like to blow our own trumpet or that of the Government and rather give constructive criticism or otherwise when it is abundantly clear that there’s plenty of room for improvement. Perhaps that’s a characteristic trait of Lefties? However, and against my nature, here’s one of Ardern’s lists of proud achievements from QT in the House:

      • The lowest rate of COVID cases, hospitalisations, and deaths in the OECD.
      • Record low unemployment and GDP is up.
      • More than 175,000 people who have taken up the free apprenticeships and targeted trades training, and the Apprenticeship Boost subsidy has helped employers keep on more than 40,000 apprentices.
      • The largest increase to benefits in a generation and lifted incomes through the Families Package.
      • The income support changes since 2017 mean more than 100,000 families are, on average, $175 a week better off.
      • All nine child poverty indicators have improved under Labour, and 66,500 children have been lifted out of poverty since Labour’s time in office. More than 200,000 children receive free, healthy lunches in schools.

      https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20220406_050520000/1-question-no-1-prime-minister [6 April 2022]

      • Blazer 2.4.1
        18 May 2022 at 8:35 pm

        those are the 'pro's'…here are the..'cons'

        Make no mistake food and shelter affect everything…mental health,education,etc,etc..

        '

        Basic needs=food,shelter…how's the Govt doing on those two?

        Food….investigating Supermarket duopoly…!

        Huge increase in food banks helping feed the poor.

        Food price inflation for basic products that NZ produces in abundance are eye watering.

        Vegetables,meat,dairy,fish…you need to be a landlord these days to afford…them.

        Shelter…

        23,000+ living in motels

        Highest house prices in the world.

        Highest rents in the…world.

        Tinkering by a Govt overweight in landlords,while the present and long term consequences of this crisis are basically ignored.

        Only a National Govt could do…worse.

    • KJT 2.5
      19 May 2022 at 7:39 am

      Not much when the media is determined to bring the Governnment down.

      How do you publish it?

  3. Muttonbird 3
    18 May 2022 at 7:11 pm

    Ok, clearly this white guy isn't going to last long in politics.

    In a press release today, Luxton said: "The right to choose who speaks for us is our democratic birthright, but nobody told Anne Tolley, Tauranga's Marie Antoinette.

    "It's time Tauranga gave her the same treatment. The power has gone to her head, and we say off with it."

    Perhaps Rimmer might have a word in Luxon’s ear to never bring up the French Revolution again…

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018842472/tauranga-act-candidate-explains-off-with-it-statement-on-anne-tolley

    • gsays 3.1
      18 May 2022 at 7:24 pm

      What has Luxon's skin colour got anything to do with the price of fish?

      Apart from revealing what you hold in your heart.

      • Muttonbird 3.1.1
        18 May 2022 at 8:23 pm

        It's thing in Tauranga.

        Maori for Maori not welcome.

        • aj 3.1.1.1
          18 May 2022 at 9:35 pm

          Please lets not post that photo unless it's an emergency.

          crying

        • KJT 3.1.1.2
          19 May 2022 at 8:02 am

          Anyone noted the irony of a "Financial Fraud Investigator" standing for National?

          • Blade 3.1.1.2.1
            19 May 2022 at 8:35 pm

            Well, he'll be needed to work out how Robbo Hood is using his new '' debt measure protocols.'' I think I heard Robbo say it's more reflective of NZs economy. So, the old measure projected to be 40% something of GDP…is now 19% if I remember correctly.

            Yeah…sad

            • KJT 3.1.1.2.1.1
              19 May 2022 at 9:10 pm

              In line with other countries we compare with.

              None that with "Robbos new measure" US debt has dropped to just, 101% of GDP.

      • Blazer 3.1.2
        18 May 2022 at 10:35 pm

        Absolutely nothing…Luxon's appeal is shine and polish…with..Mr Sheen.

    • Stuart Munro 3.2
      18 May 2022 at 8:26 pm

      Luxon not only lacks charisma, he is a fool.

      He chose to bring up cost of living as a stick to beat Labour – and they are vulnerable on it. But not as vulnerable as National, whose long years of misrule are characterized by burgeoning living costs and a sneering disregard for consequences.

      It is difficult for NZ governments to secure 4th & 5th terms, but Luxon may make it inevitable.

    • Jester 3.3
      18 May 2022 at 10:01 pm

      Who is this Luxton you speak of? Jo Luxton? She's been around a while, she'll last.

  4. Poission 4
    18 May 2022 at 7:28 pm

    UK inflation moving to apocalyptic levels,as energy crisis impacts food costs.

    https://twitter.com/BloombergUK/status/1526807273347207169?cxt=HHwWgsC-hYbIp7AqAAAA

    Food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed 0.61 percentage points to the annual rate, with prices growing 6.7% on the year. This was the highest 12-month rate from this division since June 2011.

    Housing and household services contributed 2.76 percentage points to the CPIH 12-month inflation rate in April 2022, of which 1.86 percentage points came from electricity, gas and other fuels. This was the largest contribution from any division this month, and the largest contribution from housing and household services since the start of the National Statistics series.

    https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/april2022

    here we have budget tomorrow,CPI next week and OCR statement with an almost surely 1/2 % rise to dampen animal instincts.

  5. Ad 5
    18 May 2022 at 8:11 pm

    Knock it out of the park tomorrow Grant.

  6. joe90 6
    18 May 2022 at 8:53 pm

    Egyptian Shehab Ali poses with a 2k year old Roman era portrait of an Egyptian.

    https://twitter.com/n_aydarouss/status/1525950538411659264

    edit: the natgeo article
    https://archive.ph/9q1cl

  7. Patricia Bremner 7
    18 May 2022 at 9:22 pm

    Grant's Breakfast pre budget talk with Business was respectful. There was even a joke about Max Key from the floor.

    • Blazer 7.1
      18 May 2022 at 9:36 pm

      Grant should be P.M .

      He is more than a match for lightweights like Luxon and Seymour.

  8. aj 8
    18 May 2022 at 10:36 pm

    Did anyone watch QT this afternoon – specifically Question 10 from Simeon Brown to the Minister of Transport.

    Wood as sharp as ever but watch carefully the way looks daggers at that little twit, starting after the supplementary just after 5:25mins, and totally skewers him with his answer. I applauded that, as did the Labour-Green side of the house.

    https://ondemand.parliament.nz/parliament-tv-on-demand/?itemId=225413