the nice thing about the wikipedia posts is that it's easy to go back to the same page for the 2017 election (and previous), and get a sense of the trends and change points from a wider perspective.
It's still just navel-gazing at the moment, but I doubt Todd is sleeping well. Probably eponymously mulling over September's approach into the morning.
Or maybe he's not, and that's why he's so crap.
It does seem that Winston is positioning NZ1 as a coalition lifeline for the tories this time, though. I think they're going well beyond just making themselves distinct from Labgrn.
Yes Dennis. And I bet there will be a drop in support for the Government and "expert" commentators will revel in the 2 or 5 or 20+% drop. The Opposition will claim a big win after destroying public confidence, while some of us will despise their approach.
They had Lab 59 Nat 29 last time, so the closing of the gap is certain. Labour's numbers were unsustainable. I'd guess around Lab 51 Nat 35 this time. ACT might gain from Nats.
NZF were only on 3, and they've really gone for headlines since then. Maybe back above 5. Greens will do well to be 5+.
It would be funny if NZF get a bump and Muller has to do the rule in/out dance yet again.
No surprise that’s Jamie Morton. He’s been one of the few voices of reason at the Herald since the crisis started.
The point of the article is really good too. You can test all you like but the best way to prevent spread into the community is just to impose the bloody quarantine properly and for the 14 days.
'In the week after the new testing rules were brought in, 54 people were allowed to leave early on compassionate grounds. But almost all – 50 people – left without being tested.
There were 2159 released generally from quarantine and at least 449 were allowed out without a test – and counting.'
One of Muller's many tactical mistakes is that for short-term gain (probably seen in the poll tomorrow) he is now lumping in the DG of Health with the Minister.
National will either have to say how the system would work better under the same boss, or say they want him removed, and explain how.
Thanks observer. Jamie Morton is showing healthy signs of keeping information in perspective and applying good science. He based his column on a group of experts, though he didn't seem to use Todd Muller as an informed resource.
(Experts:Te Punaha Matatini investigators, Professor Michael Plank and Dr Alex James of the University of Canterbury, Professor Shaun Hendy and Nic Steyn at University of Auckland, and Dr Rachelle Binny and Dr Audrey Lustig at Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research.)
I’m one of the people that were let out of 2 week hotel isolation without being tested. They know how to contact me and where I am living but as of yet there has been no contact from any government agency. Not a call or an email – nothing. Tomorrow I’m going to make myself known to the agencies responsible but I’m still shocked I haven’t received as much as a text message.
Actually James the test isn't the crucial thing. If John was well isolated for 14 days and had no symptoms, then risk very low. The tests aren't 100%…..Its the social isolation that counts. That's why our lockdown worked.
I see you are back now after there has been what the PM termed an "unacceptable failure"….So here to stir.
And of the couple of thousand people isolated and possibly not tested – how many were isolated well?
mixing in the exercise room with new arrivals, children’s birthday parties etc – no reason some could have been infected by new arrivals. Of course we don’t know because the government won’t.
yeah sorry to be back when this circus of a government make a muck up that could cost the country tens of billions.
And people might get sick. You forgot to be outraged by that, too. But when I lose money, I generally find it down the couch. NZ will get its money back, don't worry yourself too much on that account.
As for your generalised, panic, if there's community spread in a couple of week, I'll be grumpy at govt. Until then [brushes off tory phrasebook] "I'm pretty relaxed. It's a dinnamik envronment".
At the hotel they had an instruction that you MUST visit the nurses floor (Level 6 of the hotel) on the third day. But instead of me going down to be tested they come to my room, asked if I had symptoms and then left again. Also as a smoker I could only smoke, between the hours of 7am – 10pm in a small glass cubicle with max 3 other people. To get there I had to take the elevator which was strictly one bubble – you could only get in the elevator if you were by yourself or with those you were quarantined with but once you got to the smoking area you were mingling with other in a 1 metre by 5 metre cubicle. So can’t get in the elevator with anyone else but CAN smoke with them in a similar space.
I mean, cohort control is part of running a quarantine/iso facility. So what sort of spread was there in people in the smokers room at any one time – were you dog-end to dog-end with fresh arrivals when you were on day 12?
Yes there were always new people in different stages of isolation mingling with everyone else. There was an outside exercise yard but you weren't allowed to smoke there
"Yes there were always new people in different stages of isolation mingling with everyone else."
In the smoker's cubicle? That's the first thing I've seen that's alarmed me. Like many I think the risk of community transmission from not testing a full 14 days is low. But having new arrivals in close contact with people about to leave is daft.
haven't followed closely but the whole thing does make me wonder what's been happening with the contracting with the hotels and then supervising to make sure it's being done properly. Has this been covered in the MSM?
eg in this case, would the MoH have inspected the smoking room and set the rules for use?
Assuming everything as described is correct and there are no other considerations that were made outside the knowledge of returnees, on the face of it it looks like the MoH staff MAY (massive speculation here) have considered things like where people are roomed, how they are checked in and transported, their scheduled access for medical supervision, their use of lifts for exercise/access to communal areas and med rooms, how they are fed, and so on.And the hotel operators do the bulk of the daily work, like they would normally do – schedule cleaning, check people in and out, lifts and halls cleaned, etc.
My suspicion is that the MoH is not culturally in the habit of including smokers in their consideration. So the communal areas like lifts, pools, and gyms might have been specifically mentioned for management (maybe most other hotels had balconies on each room that smokers used on the sly), but the smoking area might not. And without specific consideration, the hotel folk just ignored it. And the smokers did whatever they wanted.
Or they might just have done the math of smoker numbers and size of the area, and figured it was fine. Or there was mingling allowed for people with negative tests or people most of the way through without symptom. Or the story has a wrong end or two that means there was no actual problem.
But if it's true, it's a stupid oversight that needs to be corrected as soon as possible.
If you completed 14 day isolation do you think it is necessary to be tested? Appears as if the MoH placed importance on the isolation rather than the testing. This would have been fine had the National Party not insisted on compassionate exemptions which they were using to beat the government with for political purposes.
In short, when National gets involved, everything turns to crap.
Could just quit smoking I guess. The team of 5 million were quite thorough disciplined. We plated by the rules of Level 4 lockdown. Shame some returnees have ruined it for everyone else.
The way I see it, National were searching hard for sticks with which to beat the government. One of them was the compassionate exemptions for funerals. They even started a petition about it, authorised by Paula Bennett. This was all Bridges policy.
For whatever reason the government decided to relax the rules, presumably to avoid National gaining traction with this risky policy.
Rather than 'blaming' National, it does illustrate how very very poor the pandemic response would be if National were in charge. There would be exemptions all over the place for anyone who tweeted their needs to Chris Bishop!
Labour is the government and they have to take responsibility. National are the opposition. You’re basically saying Labour take their marching orders from National. You think Ardern is that weak?
You know what’s worse than Labour screwing this up? Labour screwing it up because they were scared of National. Because that is what you’re saying.
I find it interesting the very policy which was relaxed, and which led to the Covid-Karens being able to lie their way out of quarantine, was National Party policy.
National wears none of the blame. The government shoulders it all. They made the decisions. What you imply is this government is weak and are so venal they follow opposition policy.
What you’re saying is labour are so craven for victory they’ll follow the policies of the opposition party.
That’s great. But given I was talking about current policies the measures currently in place by the government of today, and not about what the opposition says, I fail to see the relevance of your commentary.
It has basically come down to:
John says “the current isolation situation is a bit of a messed per my experience with it”
Muttonbird says “yeah but fuck National”
You knew you were going to be isolated, if you didn’t like the idea why didn’t you just stay where the fuck you were. I am getting so fucking annoyed at you whinging ungrateful arseholes who with a lottery winning passport to the best lifeboat in the world carry on like the self-entitled shits you are. We were all here and we made the sacrifices to make this the world leading refuge it is. So shut the fuck up, the rest of us have had a gutsful of you.
Well, the government has said they want to test everyone who left managed isolation from June 9th and beyond. I left June 10th so am part of that group.
Social distancing was patchy. We all sat together on the plane but then socially distanced on the ground. At the hotel I was to to social distance on the elevator but there was mingling at reception and in the smoking and exercise area. It wasn’t a comprehensive rule. It was completely muddled. You can only go in the elevator one at a time but can mingle out the front in the exercise area. It was a bit of a disaster
At the hotel I was to to social distance on the elevator but there was mingling at reception and in the smoking and exercise area. It wasn’t a comprehensive rule. It was completely muddled …. it was a bit of a disaster
It is individual responsibility to keep socially distant as much as possible. That is a comprehensive rule, it is quite simple to understand, and that individuals should follow as much as possible. To imply otherwise, and refer to it as completely muddled, infers that people were not responsible for failing to do their best at social distancing.
The shopping members of our team of 5 million kiwis tried very hard to achieve good social distancing when shopping for food (the most dangerous thing to do) during the lockdown. It would have been no more 'muddled' than at supermarkets, but everyone I saw, and I went three times, were acting as if they carried Covid, or they were the only person in the place without it.
I think new arrivals just don't get it. What we've been able to do. They have come from places where the response has been as best slack and muddled, and at worst disastrous for tens or hundreds of thousands.
They then seek to import that slack and muddled response by not doing what they are told.
And just to make myself clear, I think if areas look a little crowded then people should not add to those crowds. It's necessary to make sacrifices when social distancing, and that may mean not socialising at all if you, and others, cannot met the distance guidelines. Many people I know didn't go into supermarkets if they arrived and there were a lot of people.
yeah I owe you an apology. I think it sounds o.k for the virus point of view what went on. You were isolated for 2 weeks and the smoking room is big enough, just. I remember the experts saying that you need to be around someone for 15 minutes for virus to be transmitted. That is of course unless you are symptomatic, coughing etc.
I have just read an account of isolation in Queensland where they have controlled the virus very well. It sounds a really tough gig especially on your own. They don’t test there if there are no symptoms.I think people need to see that travelling should only be done if absolutely essential.
I have a relative overseas whose lifespan has been cut short by cancer. Its very sad. She has great support over there thankfully, but I know it is a real possibility I won't see her again.
JohnSelway, you have had more than your 15 minutes of fame. If it has been so bad, f**k off back to Melbourne. Despite the shockingly bad way you were treated, NZ doesn't have community transmission – unlike the place you escaped from. On the way out, feel free to drop some cash inn the donations bin to subsidise your hotel stay.
I spent two weeks in quarantine in Brisbane and wasn't tested before leaving the hotel. The quarantine was strict and as far as I know, still strict, but only those with symptoms are tested in Oz. I think up to Level 1 in NZ, people weren't tested before leaving in quarantine unless they were symptomatic because it was the 14 day stay that was intended to clear any virus, even from asymptomatics. The more rigorous testing system (day 3 and day 12) was brought in in NZ because there was far more danger of the very odd person leaving quarantine still infectious passing it on with no social distancing etc. Considering the challenges involved, I think that despite a few hiccoughs the government in NZ has responded quickly and closed as many possible gaps as possible. Is it foolproof? No,but a damn sight more foolproof than just about anywhere else in the western world!
Yep, which is what Dr Souxie explained, oh, many times. But lets give the RWs plenty of rope, time will tell. Like I said above, nothing stopping any of us getting ourselves tested if we really want to.
I don't think having a go at people in the isolation/quarantine is helpful. (I know I took the mickey out of the late breakfast story, but that was too ridiculous to pass up).
This process is going to continue for months, and obviously it needs to be done right, but it also needs a bit of empathy on all sides. People returning need to be aware of the sacrifices made in NZ (from jobs to lives), and to appreciate why they're now able to return to one of the least restricted societies in the world. But those of us based in NZ shouldn't jump to conclusions about how/why people have been overseas, which could be anything from work, family, etc. It's not all a junket.
I have less empathy for those who are hoping things go bad, for political gain. They can do one.
Agree. There needs to be mandatory education for new arrivals about what we have achieved here, what advantages there are in an open NZ society once through quarantine, and most importantly what is expected from them under quarantine.
And who caused this present round of hysteria? The National Party. They have muddied the waters to such an extent people can't see through the labyrinth of lies and disinformation and don't understand there is no community spread so they are as safe as they were a month ago. They certainly don't need to rush out all at once and clog up the roads so people can’t get to where they need to go.
I hope they are done over big time this election for their unprincipled and dangerous behaviour.
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Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
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Next Colmar Brunton poll: tomorrow night. Just heard it on One News.
Thanks for that news; handy graphical summary of NZ political poll results here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2020_New_Zealand_general_election
Not as sophisticated as Matthew Whitehead's Pollwatch posts, but still worth a look.
the nice thing about the wikipedia posts is that it's easy to go back to the same page for the 2017 election (and previous), and get a sense of the trends and change points from a wider perspective.
It's still just navel-gazing at the moment, but I doubt Todd is sleeping well. Probably eponymously mulling over September's approach into the morning.
Or maybe he's not, and that's why he's so crap.
It does seem that Winston is positioning NZ1 as a coalition lifeline for the tories this time, though. I think they're going well beyond just making themselves distinct from Labgrn.
Yes Dennis. And I bet there will be a drop in support for the Government and "expert" commentators will revel in the 2 or 5 or 20+% drop. The Opposition will claim a big win after destroying public confidence, while some of us will despise their approach.
They had Lab 59 Nat 29 last time, so the closing of the gap is certain. Labour's numbers were unsustainable. I'd guess around Lab 51 Nat 35 this time. ACT might gain from Nats.
NZF were only on 3, and they've really gone for headlines since then. Maybe back above 5. Greens will do well to be 5+.
It would be funny if NZF get a bump and Muller has to do the rule in/out dance yet again.
Thanks Dennis 🙂 That's going to be interesting.
Credit where it's due: this is a really good, concise summary of NZ's current Covid-19 reailty. from the Herald/NZME.
Makes a welcome change from hysterical headlines.
No surprise that’s Jamie Morton. He’s been one of the few voices of reason at the Herald since the crisis started.
The point of the article is really good too. You can test all you like but the best way to prevent spread into the community is just to impose the bloody quarantine properly and for the 14 days.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/06/health-minister-david-clark-brutally-throws-dr-ashley-bloomfield-under-the-bus-while-standing-right-next-to-him.html
'In the week after the new testing rules were brought in, 54 people were allowed to leave early on compassionate grounds. But almost all – 50 people – left without being tested.
There were 2159 released generally from quarantine and at least 449 were allowed out without a test – and counting.'
Gee, which of those two would most New Zealanders want gone?
One of Muller's many tactical mistakes is that for short-term gain (probably seen in the poll tomorrow) he is now lumping in the DG of Health with the Minister.
National will either have to say how the system would work better under the same boss, or say they want him removed, and explain how.
You probably should have read the link in my comment first.
Easy bet that most New Zealanders would prefer to have Dr Bloomfield as Minister of Health than would have Mr Clark remain there.
Doubt he would want the job; just to work with a politician who has cabinet’s respect.
Thanks observer. Jamie Morton is showing healthy signs of keeping information in perspective and applying good science. He based his column on a group of experts, though he didn't seem to use Todd Muller as an informed resource.
(Experts:Te Punaha Matatini investigators, Professor Michael Plank and Dr Alex James of the University of Canterbury, Professor Shaun Hendy and Nic Steyn at University of Auckland, and Dr Rachelle Binny and Dr Audrey Lustig at Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research.)
I’m one of the people that were let out of 2 week hotel isolation without being tested. They know how to contact me and where I am living but as of yet there has been no contact from any government agency. Not a call or an email – nothing. Tomorrow I’m going to make myself known to the agencies responsible but I’m still shocked I haven’t received as much as a text message.
John – amazing and disgusting at the same time.
Actually James the test isn't the crucial thing. If John was well isolated for 14 days and had no symptoms, then risk very low. The tests aren't 100%…..Its the social isolation that counts. That's why our lockdown worked.
I see you are back now after there has been what the PM termed an "unacceptable failure"….So here to stir.
And of the couple of thousand people isolated and possibly not tested – how many were isolated well?
mixing in the exercise room with new arrivals, children’s birthday parties etc – no reason some could have been infected by new arrivals. Of course we don’t know because the government won’t.
yeah sorry to be back when this circus of a government make a muck up that could cost the country tens of billions.
And people might get sick. You forgot to be outraged by that, too. But when I lose money, I generally find it down the couch. NZ will get its money back, don't worry yourself too much on that account.
As for your generalised, panic, if there's community spread in a couple of week, I'll be grumpy at govt. Until then [brushes off tory phrasebook] "I'm pretty relaxed. It's a dinnamik envronment".
At the hotel they had an instruction that you MUST visit the nurses floor (Level 6 of the hotel) on the third day. But instead of me going down to be tested they come to my room, asked if I had symptoms and then left again. Also as a smoker I could only smoke, between the hours of 7am – 10pm in a small glass cubicle with max 3 other people. To get there I had to take the elevator which was strictly one bubble – you could only get in the elevator if you were by yourself or with those you were quarantined with but once you got to the smoking area you were mingling with other in a 1 metre by 5 metre cubicle. So can’t get in the elevator with anyone else but CAN smoke with them in a similar space.
Go find a testing station and get tested if you're so concerned. Or you need the state to help?
Oh I plan to go get tested. Tomorrow I’m calling the authorities to let them know of my situation.
I have no reason to suspect I have contracted it though.
Good on you.
I mean, cohort control is part of running a quarantine/iso facility. So what sort of spread was there in people in the smokers room at any one time – were you dog-end to dog-end with fresh arrivals when you were on day 12?
Yes there were always new people in different stages of isolation mingling with everyone else. There was an outside exercise yard but you weren't allowed to smoke there
"Yes there were always new people in different stages of isolation mingling with everyone else."
In the smoker's cubicle? That's the first thing I've seen that's alarmed me. Like many I think the risk of community transmission from not testing a full 14 days is low. But having new arrivals in close contact with people about to leave is daft.
yup
haven't followed closely but the whole thing does make me wonder what's been happening with the contracting with the hotels and then supervising to make sure it's being done properly. Has this been covered in the MSM?
eg in this case, would the MoH have inspected the smoking room and set the rules for use?
Assuming everything as described is correct and there are no other considerations that were made outside the knowledge of returnees, on the face of it it looks like the MoH staff MAY (massive speculation here) have considered things like where people are roomed, how they are checked in and transported, their scheduled access for medical supervision, their use of lifts for exercise/access to communal areas and med rooms, how they are fed, and so on.And the hotel operators do the bulk of the daily work, like they would normally do – schedule cleaning, check people in and out, lifts and halls cleaned, etc.
My suspicion is that the MoH is not culturally in the habit of including smokers in their consideration. So the communal areas like lifts, pools, and gyms might have been specifically mentioned for management (maybe most other hotels had balconies on each room that smokers used on the sly), but the smoking area might not. And without specific consideration, the hotel folk just ignored it. And the smokers did whatever they wanted.
Or they might just have done the math of smoker numbers and size of the area, and figured it was fine. Or there was mingling allowed for people with negative tests or people most of the way through without symptom. Or the story has a wrong end or two that means there was no actual problem.
But if it's true, it's a stupid oversight that needs to be corrected as soon as possible.
Pretty sure 'disgusting' isn't the right word for this.
John are you disappointed that you are not infected or are you thrilled that you were kept safe?
If you completed 14 day isolation do you think it is necessary to be tested? Appears as if the MoH placed importance on the isolation rather than the testing. This would have been fine had the National Party not insisted on compassionate exemptions which they were using to beat the government with for political purposes.
In short, when National gets involved, everything turns to crap.
If you are jammed in a small room with other people – it’s not isolation.
and blaming national for this is beyond pathetic.
James work out the space if:
3 square metres for up to 3 people? Really James and John!
Could just quit smoking I guess. The team of 5 million were quite thorough disciplined. We plated by the rules of Level 4 lockdown. Shame some returnees have ruined it for everyone else.
I did play by the rules. I did everything I was told to do
I'm sure you did. I was referring to the Covid-Karens.
Well, it has turned to shit since they've been pushing for relaxations. Cleary this is what happens with relaxations.
It can't be coincidence.
Wait – are you blaming National for Labour’s decision to relax the levels?
If so that’s a bit weird. If not – I’m sorry for misunderstanding
The way I see it, National were searching hard for sticks with which to beat the government. One of them was the compassionate exemptions for funerals. They even started a petition about it, authorised by Paula Bennett. This was all Bridges policy.
For whatever reason the government decided to relax the rules, presumably to avoid National gaining traction with this risky policy.
Rather than 'blaming' National, it does illustrate how very very poor the pandemic response would be if National were in charge. There would be exemptions all over the place for anyone who tweeted their needs to Chris Bishop!
Dude, come on. Really?
Labour is the government and they have to take responsibility. National are the opposition. You’re basically saying Labour take their marching orders from National. You think Ardern is that weak?
You know what’s worse than Labour screwing this up? Labour screwing it up because they were scared of National. Because that is what you’re saying.
I find it interesting the very policy which was relaxed, and which led to the Covid-Karens being able to lie their way out of quarantine, was National Party policy.
Hell, Chris Bishop even helped them escape.
So you’re saying Labour isn’t at fault because they were following National policy?
I guess I'm saying the government is at fault for following National policy.
Let's hope New Zealand never does so again.
National wears none of the blame. The government shoulders it all. They made the decisions. What you imply is this government is weak and are so venal they follow opposition policy.
What you’re saying is labour are so craven for victory they’ll follow the policies of the opposition party.
No, I'm saying National's pandemic policy is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. We know that now.
That’s great. But given I was talking about current policies the measures currently in place by the government of today, and not about what the opposition says, I fail to see the relevance of your commentary.
It has basically come down to:
John says “the current isolation situation is a bit of a messed per my experience with it”
Muttonbird says “yeah but fuck National”
You knew you were going to be isolated, if you didn’t like the idea why didn’t you just stay where the fuck you were. I am getting so fucking annoyed at you whinging ungrateful arseholes who with a lottery winning passport to the best lifeboat in the world carry on like the self-entitled shits you are. We were all here and we made the sacrifices to make this the world leading refuge it is. So shut the fuck up, the rest of us have had a gutsful of you.
Hear hear!
I guess we will get community transmission in the next few weeks then if this is the case.
Hi John, so you were isolated for two weeks. May I ask where you came from and when?
Also was social distancing well maintained in your facility
What date were you 'let out'. I cannot quite see the point in testing anyone who left isolation 2 weeks ago, for example.
Well, the government has said they want to test everyone who left managed isolation from June 9th and beyond. I left June 10th so am part of that group.
Social distancing was patchy. We all sat together on the plane but then socially distanced on the ground. At the hotel I was to to social distance on the elevator but there was mingling at reception and in the smoking and exercise area. It wasn’t a comprehensive rule. It was completely muddled. You can only go in the elevator one at a time but can mingle out the front in the exercise area. It was a bit of a disaster
It is individual responsibility to keep socially distant as much as possible. That is a comprehensive rule, it is quite simple to understand, and that individuals should follow as much as possible. To imply otherwise, and refer to it as completely muddled, infers that people were not responsible for failing to do their best at social distancing.
The shopping members of our team of 5 million kiwis tried very hard to achieve good social distancing when shopping for food (the most dangerous thing to do) during the lockdown. It would have been no more 'muddled' than at supermarkets, but everyone I saw, and I went three times, were acting as if they carried Covid, or they were the only person in the place without it.
I think new arrivals just don't get it. What we've been able to do. They have come from places where the response has been as best slack and muddled, and at worst disastrous for tens or hundreds of thousands.
They then seek to import that slack and muddled response by not doing what they are told.
And just to make myself clear, I think if areas look a little crowded then people should not add to those crowds. It's necessary to make sacrifices when social distancing, and that may mean not socialising at all if you, and others, cannot met the distance guidelines. Many people I know didn't go into supermarkets if they arrived and there were a lot of people.
I came from Melbourne
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12342706
This is good information. I suggest John and James read it.
So John did you consider not smoking while you were in isolation?
Hang on – why the attitude? I’m just telling you my experience. I’m not on board with James.
Fair enough John, but gotta understand the suspicion, re Woodhouse etc & trolling, I appreciate your honesty and assume your good faith.
Ok John,
yeah I owe you an apology. I think it sounds o.k for the virus point of view what went on. You were isolated for 2 weeks and the smoking room is big enough, just. I remember the experts saying that you need to be around someone for 15 minutes for virus to be transmitted. That is of course unless you are symptomatic, coughing etc.
I have just read an account of isolation in Queensland where they have controlled the virus very well. It sounds a really tough gig especially on your own. They don’t test there if there are no symptoms.I think people need to see that travelling should only be done if absolutely essential.
I have a relative overseas whose lifespan has been cut short by cancer. Its very sad. She has great support over there thankfully, but I know it is a real possibility I won't see her again.
JohnSelway, you have had more than your 15 minutes of fame. If it has been so bad, f**k off back to Melbourne. Despite the shockingly bad way you were treated, NZ doesn't have community transmission – unlike the place you escaped from. On the way out, feel free to drop some cash inn the donations bin to subsidise your hotel stay.
I’m a NZ citizen you fucking halfwit – I was coming home after flying to Melbourne for work 2 weeks before everything was locked.
I spent two weeks in quarantine in Brisbane and wasn't tested before leaving the hotel. The quarantine was strict and as far as I know, still strict, but only those with symptoms are tested in Oz. I think up to Level 1 in NZ, people weren't tested before leaving in quarantine unless they were symptomatic because it was the 14 day stay that was intended to clear any virus, even from asymptomatics. The more rigorous testing system (day 3 and day 12) was brought in in NZ because there was far more danger of the very odd person leaving quarantine still infectious passing it on with no social distancing etc. Considering the challenges involved, I think that despite a few hiccoughs the government in NZ has responded quickly and closed as many possible gaps as possible. Is it foolproof? No,but a damn sight more foolproof than just about anywhere else in the western world!
Yep, which is what Dr Souxie explained, oh, many times. But lets give the RWs plenty of rope, time will tell. Like I said above, nothing stopping any of us getting ourselves tested if we really want to.
Yes Koff. ZNZ appears to be the only country with such firm isolation and the only one with such strong testing systems.
Opposition works on the belief that no matter how strong our system is, they will create a fault as if to blame the Government.
I don't think having a go at people in the isolation/quarantine is helpful. (I know I took the mickey out of the late breakfast story, but that was too ridiculous to pass up).
This process is going to continue for months, and obviously it needs to be done right, but it also needs a bit of empathy on all sides. People returning need to be aware of the sacrifices made in NZ (from jobs to lives), and to appreciate why they're now able to return to one of the least restricted societies in the world. But those of us based in NZ shouldn't jump to conclusions about how/why people have been overseas, which could be anything from work, family, etc. It's not all a junket.
I have less empathy for those who are hoping things go bad, for political gain. They can do one.
Agree. There needs to be mandatory education for new arrivals about what we have achieved here, what advantages there are in an open NZ society once through quarantine, and most importantly what is expected from them under quarantine.
I have empathy for this case.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12342669
And who caused this present round of hysteria? The National Party. They have muddied the waters to such an extent people can't see through the labyrinth of lies and disinformation and don't understand there is no community spread so they are as safe as they were a month ago. They certainly don't need to rush out all at once and clog up the roads so people can’t get to where they need to go.
I hope they are done over big time this election for their unprincipled and dangerous behaviour.
Though I'm not sure that 'hey, I didn't want to come back here' is a great way to garner sympathy.