Daily review 23/10/2020
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5:30 pm, October 23rd, 2020 - 20 comments
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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 ...17 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 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. ...5 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. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
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- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
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- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...5 days ago
- A busy year in the House
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...5 days ago
- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
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- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...5 days ago
- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
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- Vanuatu quake: Warnings as bad weather threat looms for Port Vila
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Good news I think?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/429024/mpi-to-toughen-rules-governing-export-of-live-animals-by-ship
All live shipments were banned after that event, pending the inquiry.
The Ministry said there will now be extra requirements on exporters.
Not banned though. Not decreasing gradually, and controls on stocking becoming harder. One could balance the other, and then stop the trade.
and
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/429035/offshore-oil-field-supply-company-goes-into-liquidation
Background on Taranaki oil field and how corporates don't want to accept responsibility for the harm that inevitably arises from extractions like this.
Aug.20 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/423182/taranaki-s-tui-oil-field-survey-request-shows-split-pipe
May.20 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/416939/oil-tanker-off-taranaki-poses-spill-risk-that-could-cost-taxpayers
Apr.20 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/413778/oil-firm-must-clean-up-before-leaving-taranaki-says-high-court
Mar.20 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/411463/iwi-furious-at-company-s-plan-to-leave-oil-production-equipment-on-taranaki-sea-floor
Seems a sensible direction – we want some livestock movement for breeding purposes and the like. But perhaps not 5000 and up bulk carriers. It will be interesting to see what kind of options are available, though whatever impelled the captain of the Gulf Livestock 1 to steam directly into a tropical storm needs to be addressed as well.
In many cases we can just ship semen around the globe.
Makes a lot more sense if you want our genetics in another countries herd’s to cross the two so they’re locally adapted and specialised.
We can also export some genetic tech for markers they can identify for specific traits in their dams etc.
No need for shiploads of stock, really.
we can just ship semen around the globe
Though that may be true in some cases, I imagine it is not universally true. Shorter voyages, such as that between NZ and Australia, need not fatally stress stock – and some recipient countries may not be set up for artificial insemination on any scale.
And even semen can present risks.
There are two issues to me, the loss of the vessel, and the size and character of the mass transport. The loss suggests poor character on the part of the vessel owners. But were Strait Shipping for example, to move a hundred cows across to Oz over a couple of days in fair weather, I don't think there would be cause for outrage.
I heard on the ZB news earlier tonight that 24,000 happy healthy animals were ready to be shipped overseas. I thought these shipments were a thing of the past until I recently saw the news about the sinking of the ship containing thousands of cows.
Just thinking – maybe this is how we deal with a glut when overstocked farmers dump loads of cows on the market at once due to drought, lack of feed type issues. Works get clogged up.
Only thoughts. No idea really.
I fervently hope the Covid Genie is not "out of the bottle" A scary fortnight to see if we have contained this
Remember the jobs of others’ rely on us signing in with pen or app.
I just cannot believe international ship crews have been wandering in without quarantining.
They are unseen, they don't bear scrutiny – like Taiwan's guest workers, or Singapore's.
Little urges people to report labour issues on these vessels as if he wasn't perfectly well aware of them. As if I had not been writing to his colleagues about them at length for decades. If Labour had not been suborned by industry inducements and neoliberal prosperity fictions they'd have resolved the slave ship issue under Clark.
and not just the slave ships…all the other industries that survive on the exploitation of internationally mobile labour
Quite right.
I'm not quite as well-informed about them though, so I couldn't advocate for them as well.
fair enough, but the same argument applies…its not as if they dont know about any of them, though they try to behave as if they dont.
It will never be contained. Wear a mask, use the covid ap, physically distance and WASH YOUR HANDS.
Ues do that and as well we keep alert and trying to contain and eliminate.
The rate of infection in isolation is the worst it has been. There would be a reason for this, a high viral load or an highly infectious strain. I have been watching international trends on Covid and there is no good news.
With Labour weekend travel I would not be surprised if a number of clusters form. I am a bit surprised that workers in isolation appear to not have passed Covid on in the community. I would like to know how many isolation/quarantine workers have been infected with Covid?
Whoever got to bring in several hundred workers from countries riddled with covid must have been mightily persuasive.
A massive training programme is required (seasonal work and topping up the wage) as the cost to the country out weighs the benefit as Covid is imported at a high rate. The fisherman situation can be fixed by changing immigration criteria. Immigration and Covid is so closely tied to the workers we bring in.
I wonder if there will still be a market for all the produce that immigrant workers are to be brought in to catch, pick , prune, etc. I was told today that livestock produce is experiencing low demand from overseas now and the coolstores stores throughout NZ are near full of meat.I wonder how our other primary produce exports will fare over the next 12 months.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/429044/physiotherapists-claimed-acc-fees-for-treating-each-other-and-family
These people are thieves, we don't treat shop lefters as kindly as this.
Why don't they have their certificates cancelled. If they want to be fit try apple and grape thinning and picking. But no you have been naughty, we must keep you under supervision. Actually I like the idea of controlled supervision for sex offenders and repeat violent offenders etc. That in a controlled, open prison would be good sort of supervision. For this group of offenders they are not of good standards.
I wonder if there is any truth to the rumour that the surviving Gnats have become avid players of Among Us.