Daily review 21/11/2019
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5:30 pm, November 21st, 2019 - 27 comments
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- The 1 Good Thing Left In Journalism
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...4 hours ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Monday, December 23
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...4 hours ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...1 day ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...1 day ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
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The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...6 days ago
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
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The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...6 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...6 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
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"Income adequacy "… must be the expression du jour.
Sepuloni has used it at least 6 times during her interview on rnz Checkpoint just now…make that 7. No, 8. She's now saying how much she wishes the gummint could "do something", she now talks about CPAG, now how technology issues are slowing down implementation of the recommendations of the WEAG.
Gotta love this lot.
she did also mention it had to be approved by Cabinet and included in the Budget
I get more than a whiff of the 'God helps those who help themselves .' from Carmel.
And Jacinda trots out the 'in work, in study, volunteering or caring…' line with such an aspirational tone.
Tough shit for those who are unable to work because of illness or disability. At the very fucking least they could bring the Supported Living Payment up to the level of National Super. Take it from an expert…living in a Bus is just about ibleedingdyllic on the Super. On the SLP it was just about doable….but we live the life of Riley now.
Comparatively that is.
"Income adequacy " my arse.
Sepuloni just couldn't bring herself to say "Poverty".
I thought it one of her better efforts….but my point is there will be no change pre budget regardless…and maybe not then either
Her continued refusal to actually do anything is playing right into opposition framing of the whole government. It does not take 'technology' to increase benefits immediately. Shit or get off the pot.
you appear to have missed the point….'she' dosnt control the budget
There is a big difference between saying that and pretending technology is needed.
Yeah. "Technology" What technology?
A crowbar to prise open the coffers?
technology wasnt mentioned with respect to implementation pre xmas
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018723553/social-development-minister-working-quickly-as-i-can-on-welfare-reforms
last 30 seconds
This is the part from that interview I reacted to hearing:
And I was not alone:
https://twitter.com/RMarchNZ/status/1197388544865488897
plus follow-up:
https://twitter.com/RMarchNZ/status/1197395540834521089
I guessed that was the case however in terms of explaining the lack of action post report the Minister was quite clear why it couldnt happen as fast as demanded…and that explanation was reasonable…the funds have to be released via budget process (arguably possible with a mini budget)…imagine the outcry if it were not.
The test will be what occurs at the next budget
Sepuloni told the CPAG summit on Monday that the changes were a few years out, including ‘increasing income support’. I think what we will see next year in the budget are announcements designed to up Labour’s chances of re-election. It will be fascinating to see how they manage that dilemma and whether they go in Shearer or Turei’s direction. (I suspect we will see middle way fudging).
'Work will set you free'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protestant_Ethic_and_the_Spirit_of_Capitalism
@ weka
Very likely…its important to realise that as Minister she cant rule by decree and is at the mercy of cabinet, especially the finance minister who controls the purse strings…and we know hes a Cullen acolyte which is both a positive and a negative but definitely neoliberal.
"………..its important to realise that as Minister she cant rule by decree ……"
That's very true @ Pat. What Carmel and other Munsters can do however, is to call in the SSC and CEO's of various ministries, and make it known in no uncertain terms that they are not happy chappies and chappesses, and that they consider them to be under-performing (in PRIVATE of course.)
If Munsters are being unreasonable, the SSC will have the gender-neutral cajones (with evidence) that he/she backs his/her staff and appointments, and be able to justify how and why the Munster is being unreasonable..
If he/she (the SSC and its CEO) isn't,/can’t he/she will have the good grace to ekshully take ekshun going forwid, and not merely look at ways of shunting the problem sideways. A shambles in one Munstry because of a fuckwit (albeit one its Munster pretends to have "complete faith in"), is probably going to be just as fucking useless in another. Better to try and shunt them back out to the private sector (often from whence they came).
In a 3 year election-cycle, two years in is not really good enough for a P U B L I C Service to become attuned to the policies and procedures of a new junta of erected representatives.
Never good enough for them to be frugal with the truth, or even actively try to sabotage stuff they (personally) don't happen to agree with – no matter how noice and friendly they try to present it.
After all – it's what they get paid the big bucks for (in a global marketplace for competent CEO's and his/her underlings – going forward and in this space)
The biggest criticism I'd have of this CoL is the preparedness and tolerance of complete and utter bullshit and spin they take from their "officials" going forward, It borders on the masochistic.
From memory (failing as it is), I seem to remember Jacinda saying something about how she didn't realise how long things take to get done. I hope she, and her transformational and kind government are beginning to realise that she is not the problem. It lays somewhere in the process between her and her CoL government's promises and those mandated to carry it all out.
It ain't working, and nor will it ever work despite how ever much they consider some of their administrators to be nice blokes and blokesses (many of whom are a bit like used a car salesmen – the ability to look you in the eye, and bullshit through their bleached set of crockery in a pin-striped suit with matching shirt, fresh from Barkers)
This is why I am really tiring of NZ First. I'm hoping for a Labour Green Government next time. Then there will be no excuses.
It would be clearer who is doing the foot-dragging, for sure.
Coming in late, I think she should have termed it 'Income Inadequacy'.
After all, I think that is the basic problem. To my mind, neither minimum wage nor living wage are high enough to dignify long hours of work..
Income insufficiency = poverty
+1
I could have coped with having Winston for another term (just), except the 'blokes' have started feeding off each other. SJ is a dangerous bugger. When you come across a bloke in his mid-life crisis and with an ego that huge, you can usually see where it's headed.
For those with a spare 15 mins, enjoy the hapless Nuck Smith having his arse handed to him repeatedly in #nzqt today by Andrew Little:
Yeah this is Republican level support Trump desperation but the worry I have is that it may work. These bastards do not do anything unless they think it will work. Interesting example here …
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/republican-conspiracy-theory-counterprogramming
Quite. The Nats now have permission to use parliamentary footage. You can already see some of the set-up quotes coming through in their supplementary questions.
anyone see this?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/117581382/oceania-dairy-claims-minimal-marine-effects-of-wastewater-pipeline?fbclid=IwAR0V_-wB7y-FtHmHxSfYr3gQCLDvlIZ_9XWKEgsA5BlFHjyDyOnrWmGy5zk
Green clean right?
"minimal marine effects" – sounds fishy.
Utterly irresponsible.
With an estimated 4% of world fisheries not overutilized, with local stock declines both recorded by our laughably worthless QMS, and predicted due to decreased oxygenation attendant upon global warming, with substantial but thus far not sufficiently researched effects of microplastics hanging in Damoclean fashion over the presumption that marine ecosystems are robust, now is not the time to presume that industrial wastes may be discharged as cheerfully into the sea as they have, until now, been discharged into rivers.