I’ve heard say that Bryan Gould was the best Labour Party leader the UK never had. (Or words to that effect.)
Anyway. His latest piece “Why the Left Disappoints” is one of those ‘must reads’ that comes along from time to time. I’d very much like to think that Robertson and Ardern are sitting up and taking notice, though the ‘tin ear’ track record of NZ Labour these past years suggests I just resign myself to the fact they aren’t and won’t.
Best labour pm that never was would have been John Smith.
If we’re talking best foreign labour leaders that never were, might as well be a kiwi over the welsh windbag Kinnock and Tony Blair.
Maybe you should give Jacinda a chance mate instead of judging early. Seems like a lot of the left are actually happy about the change of government – join in, look for the positive, seek out the inspiration, search diligently for the integrity and you WILL find it. And if you look for the opposite you will find that too.
What Bryan Gould is drawing attention to is the idiotic commitment made by both NZ Labour and the Greens to ‘fiscal responsibility’.
I can’t be fucked with the vacuous sugar rush of cotton candy enthusiasm marty, and thought you’d have been around this blog and my comments long enough to appreciate that fact.
Yes ive commented on that below. And yep your point is one of his points – i liked the create money and do something with it approach rather than prop up banks but I’m sure in such a long article there are many take home points depending on what catches the eye.
Looking for points of connection is not vacous imo and yes imo you appear to be a dour, cloudy, glass half empy, pessimist – good for you – variety and contrast is essential.
tsk-tsk marty. Who said” looking for points of connection” is vacuous. I didn’t.
But anyhow, I’ll away and drain that half empty glass so as I can fill it again and then perhaps sit back and watch the last rays of the sun slip off those clouds…
Nice – sorry if I got it wrong ☺ I thought that was what you meant in your response to my comments about you looking for the positive, the inspiration and the integrity – my bad.
Interesting piece – knew it but good to have it set out well. I think those caught within a worldview cannot see from outside that view therefore it is going to be a struggle for a different view to manifest even if the different view was known and is known such as with the examples he uses. This is the completeness of the horror of neo liberalism imo.
Gould is setting out a single field of monetary policy as the single solution to the decline of the left’s vote over dozens of countries. He knows as much as any that to every complex problem, there is a simple solution, and it is wrong.
Yep I thought that about his article too Bill.
It’s what a good few of us on here have been banging on about for a while now, Draco et al. What is needed is to reign in the ability of the banks to create the money. Creating money to lend on existing houses does not produce anything. Lending for creating employment is non-inflationary and is productive. Governments as well as banks can do this. I’m hoping that it is this which NZF wants to work towards when the Agreement says they want to “Review and reform the Reserve Bank Act”.
Excellent and lucid essay.
Contrasting the idea of the state printing cash for productivity purposes (houses for example) and with banks issuing debt for private (foreign) profit.
Perhaps those recently elected will heed these words.
Does anyone following the prep for the Big One know if a series of smaller shakes on the main faults would release pressure and thus push back the timing of an 8+ quake?
Depending on what paper you read on this subject, it’s pretty much a bet each way according to theboffins and at the end of the day you dealing Mother Nature and when your number is up it’s up.
It is immense disappointing that Bill English shows reactions that are nothing short of a spoiled brat response. His forever stating that more people voted for him shows so very clearly that the right choice for government has been decided on.
All he conveys is that he believes that he is entitled – really? Is he serious?
And then you have those hanger ons constantly dishing the new government, almost like treason really.
Not to mention the veiled threats that increased minimum wage will be negative for the economy, that the labor led government will tank NZ.
OK, lets just for a moment stop the train here. Firstly, it stands to reason that the current ministers in charge are more than capable. They are experienced and not just fallen off a tree.
Secondly, families, retirees, minimum wage earners and the working poor are suppose to shiver in their socks hearing of the soothsaying? If anybody tanks the economy than it is this spiteful commenting, it is juvenile and damaging to NZ.
Some serious cooperation and a honest approach to having a strong NZ economy is called for from all ministers, regardless what bench they warm up with the hard earned taxpayer money – they are the employees of all NZlanders regardless what color, race, religion or creed…or money in the bank.
Despite no official diagnosis one of my brothers is definitely somewhere on the spectrum, incredibly bright but sometimes you’d never know it, sometimes withdraws and cocoons, unable to read cues or get to grips with conversation, impenetrable, sometimes outgoing and life of the party sociable.
Yet I’ve never really worried about him, he’s just Mick being Mick, and then I read stuff like this and it scares me.
Summary: People who express certain autistic traits, such as communication and social difficulties, but without a diagnosis of ASD, are at increased risk of suicide, a new study reports.
I wouldn’t worry too much joe90. While there may be an element of truth to the claim I think those who are ‘at risk’ likely represent the more extreme end of the spectrum. A bit like your average run of the mill psychopath… they may lack empathy and are control freaks but they’re not murderers.
I, too have a brother who is probably somewhere on the spectrum.
And then we get a National government who likes throwing people off of benefits for no reason whatsoever.
In a downturn, like we’ve been in for the last few years, guess who are the people most likely can’t get jobs in the long term and who are then massively stressed when they get kicked off.
The academics say the psychological model can be used to predict people who will exhibit suicidal behaviour – and once further developed could make a huge difference to creating effective assessment, support and treatment for people at risk of suicide.
If you treat vulnerable people like shit, they will feel it and it will affect their functioning. The solution isn’t to put an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff (although do that too), it’s to stop treating people like shit.
I would guess that the suicide risk is at least to some degree from living in a society that enforces disability on neurodivergent people (i.e expects them to be like neurotypicals and penalises them when they’re not). I think believing that people on the spectrum are mentally ill, or that autism is a pathology, is also a problem.
We need to stop telling people there is something wrong with them.
Understandable that you would be feeling some fear for your brother after reading that study Joe. I never realised the increased incidences of depression for those on the spectrum. We must do more to create an inclusive society where everyone is valued for who they are and where support is available for everyone. Thanks for highlighting this serious issue mate.
I have to agree with people who think Blinglish is moaning. I heard him on RNZ this morning spouting the biggest load of sour grapes I have heard in a long time. This just proves that he ran an FPP campaign in an MMP environment, and when MMP won he whinged. This just goes to show that this droit de seigneur attitude to being in power is not only outdated, it is embarrassing. Toys were coming out of the cot one by one this morning and he went even further down in my estimation. Jacinda and team will have to have their loins well and truly girded against what will be a nasty, dirty, below the belt campaign of vindictiveness. Opposition with reason and conviction is fine, vitriol is not.
It’s amazing how much time National are giving to the media after losing the election considering how much they disdained the media while in government – they were forever dodging interviews.
Hopefully, the media will actually get over the novelty and only get them on air when they have something either true or useful to say.
This is not the first time that the most popular party in an election using a proportional voting system has been left out of the Government, but it’s still an arresting novelty to us: how does the most popular party, National, not get any power at all?
It’s a fair question, and even those smarty-britches whose habitual retort is, “(Sigh). You just don’t understand MMP, do you?” are a bit out on a limb on this one.
For the record, the only other time it has happened was in Sweden in the 1970s, and the resultant Government didn’t last the full term intact.
(This is a long way from being an exhaustive list incidentally)
(1) Sweden – 2006 General Election
Centre-Left Bloc
Social Democrats 35%(Largest Party)
Left Party 6% (Sixth)
Green 5% (Seventh)
Centre-Right Bloc
Moderate 26% (Second Largest Party)
Centre 8% (Third)
Liberal People’s Party 8% (Fourth)
Christian Democrats 7% (Fifth)
Moderates (Second Largest Party) form Centre-Right Coalition Govt
(2) West German federal election, 1976
CDU/CSU (Centre Right) 48.6%
SPD (Centre Left) 42.6%
FDP (Liberal Right) 7.9%
Govt formed subsequently = SPD + FDP
(CDU/CSU = sister Parties treated as one – they don’t compete with one another The CSU only contests elections in Bavaria, while the CDU operates in the other 15 states of Germany)
(3) West German federal election, 1980
CDU/CSU (Centre Right) 44.5%
SPD (Centre Left) 42.9%
FDP (Liberal Right) 10.6%
Govt formed subsequently = SPD + FDP
(4) Czech legislative election, 2010
Czech Social Democrats 22% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition of ODS, TOP 09, and VV was subsequently formed
(5) Danish general election, 2015
Social Democrats 26% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Govt subsequently formed
(6) Danish general election, 2011
Centre Right Venstre 27% (Largest Party)
But Social Democrat’s subsequently form Left coalition
(7) Danish general election, 1990
Social Democrats 37% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Govt (Venstre 15.8% & Conservative People’s Party 16.0%) subsequently formed
(8) Danish general election, 1988
Social Democrats 30% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition Govt (Conservative People’s Party 19% & Danish Social Liberal Party 6%) subsequently formed
(9) Danish general election, 1987
Social Democrats 29% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition Govt (led by Conservative People’s Party 21%) subsequently formed
(10) Danish general election, 1984
Social Democrats 32% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition Govt (led by Conservative People’s Party 23%) subsequently formed
(11) Danish general election, 1981
Social Democrats 33% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition Govt (led by Conservative People’s Party 15%) subsequently formed
(12) Norwegian parliamentary election, 2017
Labour 27% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative (25%)-Progress(15%) coalition subsequently formed
(13) Norwegian parliamentary election, 2013
Labour 31% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative (27%)-Progress(16%) coalition subsequently formed
(14) Norwegian parliamentary election, 2001
Labour 24% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative-led (21%)-coalition subsequently formed
(15) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1997
Labour 35% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Christian People’s Party-led (14%)-coalition subsequently formed
(16) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1989
Labour 34% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative-led (22%)-coalition subsequently formed
(17) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1985
Labour 41% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative-led (30%)-coalition subsequently formed
(18) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1981
Labour 37% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative-led (32%)-coalition subsequently formed
(19) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1969
Labour 47% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Centre Party-led (13%)-coalition subsequently formed (Conservatives = Second Largest Party (23%))
(20) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1965
Labour 43% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Centre Party-led (10%)-coalition subsequently formed (Conservatives = Second Largest Party (21%))
(21) Swedish general election, 1991
Social Democrats 38%(Largest Party)
But centre-right Moderate-led (22%)-coalition subsequently formed
(22) Swedish general election, 1979
Social Democrats 43%(Largest Party)
But centre-right Centre Party-led (18%)-coalition subsequently formed (Moderates = Second Largest Party (20%))
(23) Swedish general election, 1976
Social Democrats 43%(Largest Party)
But centre-right Centre Party-led (24%)-coalition subsequently formed
(24) Dutch general election, 1982
Labour 30% (Largest Party)
But centre-right CDA-led coalition subsequently formed
(25) Dutch general election, 1977
Labour 34% (Largest Party)
But centre-right CDA-led coalition subsequently formed
(26) Dutch general election, 1971
Labour 25% (Largest Party)
But centre-right ARP-led coalition subsequently formed
(27) Austrian legislative election, 1999
Social Democrats 33%(Largest Party)
But right-wing ÖVP-led (27%)-coalition subsequently formed
(28) Belgian federal election, 2010
Rightist New Flemish Alliance 17% (Largest Party)
But Centre Left francophone Socialist Party-led (14%)-coalition subsequently formed
(29) Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2013
Centre Right GERB 31% (Largest Party)
But Centre Left BSP-led (27%)-coalition subsequently formed
(30) Latvian parliamentary election, 2011
Social Democrat Harmony 28%(Largest Party)
But right-wing Reform (21%)-+ Unity (13%) coalition subsequently formed
Many voters simply won’t see this arrangement as legitimate because National got the most votes
&
Ardern’s, Peters’ and Shaw’s most immediate problem is finding ways to soothe a considerable public mood that their coalition is not entirely legitimate
.
&
Again, that’s first-past-the-post thinking, but no matter how big a boffin stick constitutional experts wave around, the voters are always right. If they simply can’t tolerate this sort-of-minority style of governance, it won’t become popular
.
&
But for a lot of people it will come down simply to a long-incubating case of Winston-itis. The only thing for it is for Ardern and her team to come blasting out of the starting blocks with such a flurry of (popular) activity that people forget to be shocked about the maths
.
“Many voters” … “considerable public mood” … “a lot of people” … “shocked about the maths” ? ? ? ?
.
Evidence from Clifton ? = Zilch
My Evidence ?
Sure – One or two Polls a decade ago suggested strong public sentiment in favour of the idea that the party receiving the most votes should form the subsequent Government (eg 79% agreeing in a 2008 Colmar Brunton).
However Jacinda-mania (and Labour’s subsequent revival) may have mitigated this view – a recent Herald ZB Kantar TNS poll found more voters feeling NZF should make any coalition decisions on the basis of policy wins (38%) rather than simply going with the largest party (35%) – albeit with 27% still Unsure
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It's my distraction, setting up tiny scenes to photograph. I've got stuck on the Babushka dolls for now. Something about their bubble shape. Something about their never changing, smiling features, suggesting persistent equanimity. Can we get through everything that is being thrown at us and keep at least a tiny ...
. . March 31: Day six of living in lock-down… This time I managed to sleep a little longer and the alarm woke me at the pre-set time: 6.55am. Then remembered I was working a later shift and could’ve slept in. Oh well, there are things to do at home. ...
Image credit:Diamond Harbour School Blogs I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or ...
Yesterday's Horizon poll showing support for a "Yes" vote in this year's cannabis referendum sliding into the majority for the first time in a year looked like good news for reformers – and it probably is. But the result warrants some scrutiny.The poll is the fifth in a series commissioned ...
For almost a week now, every one of us who isn’t an essential worker has been confined to their bubble. We are allowed to go shopping for groceries, to visit the doctor, and to get a bit of exercise if we stay local. The reason we are doing this is ...
The Covid-19 saga will no doubt produce many twists and turns for us before it is finally brought to an end. But one thing it has shown us – and what comfort it should bring us – is that our country’s government is in good hands. I am not thinking ...
In the absence of a vaccine or a cure for a deadly disease, staying home in your bubble is what you do, the concept is not new. To the best of my knowledge last time we did this in NZ was for polio, in the years before a vaccine came ...
While New Zealand is at Alert Level 4, we're making sure that New Zealanders are kept informed and up to date with all the latest developments of the Government's COVID-19 response. It's been a shortened week because of Easter, so we're bringing you our weekly wrap a day early. ...
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister informed the nation that the Easter Bunny (and the Tooth Fairy!) were deemed essential workers. However, she made it clear that, due to the restrictions we are all facing at COVID-19 Alert Level 4, the Easter Bunny may find it tricky to get to ...
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Ron Mark, Minister of Defence Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron Mark today announced that New Zealand will provide a further package of assistance to Vanuatu, to support the response to Tropical Cyclone Harold. “Tropical ...
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced that New Zealand will enter into transit arrangements with a range of countries to make it easier for each other’s citizens to get home. “There are millions of people around the world stranded ...
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Government has striven to provide calm, clear and consistent communication, including daily press conference updates from the Prime Minister. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says getting New Zealanders back home and other travellers out of the country is "a nightmare for our embassies, consuls, and staff around the world".Speaking to NewstalkZB's Mike Hosking, the Foreign Minister said that he gave a clear message to people travelling overseas that they ...
The domestic travel ban has been lifted for stranded foreign tourists trying to get to international airports to fly home, after the Coalition Government announced a plan to help the tens of thousands of foreigners stranded here. Foreign Minister Rt. Hon. Winston Peters spoke with RNZ's Susie Ferguson said foreign ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters believes the country is rediscovering its resilience and self-reliance through its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.He says he is heartened that the mass majority of New Zealanders are following lockdown rules and that the government looking at the future, including paying to keep much ...
New Zealand can emulate the success of the US after the Great Depression by exploiting our own resources to turn the economy around quickly, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says. Mr. Peters told Magic Talk that New Zealand has an opportunity to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic a "superior, ...
All 45 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are either on their way back to New Zealand, or already in the country, according to Defence Minister Ron Mark."Twenty-eight personnel arrived back in New Zealand last week and are in isolation at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base in ...
The COVID-19 situation in New Zealand is moving fast - and to avoid what we've seen overseas - the Government's response must be to move fast too. We're committed to keeping New Zealanders safe and well-informed every step of the way. ...
We know people are feeling anxious about COVID-19. While the situation is serious, New Zealand has a world-class health system and we’re well-prepared to keep New Zealanders safe. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is encouraging New Zealanders overseas to stay where they are amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are reaching a point where the best option for most New Zealanders offshore is to shelter in place, by preparing to safely stay where they are.” "This includes following the instructions ...
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters is encouraging the tens of thousands of New Zealanders travelling overseas to consider sheltering in place, in light of COVID-19. “Since 18 March, we have been warning New Zealanders offshore that the window for flying ...
The Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson has announced that urgent maintenance of turf and care for plants in non-plantation nurseries will soon be able to go ahead under Level 4 restrictions. “The Government has agreed that urgent upkeep and maintenance of biological assets will be able to go ahead ...
E tangi ana a Taranaki iwi, e tangi ana te ao Māori, otirā e tangi ana te motu. Mōu katoa ngā roimata e riringi whānui ana, mōu katoa ngā mihi. E te kaikōkiri i te reo Māori, e Te Huirangi, takoto mai. Takoto mai me te mōhio ko ngā ...
Today is day 15 of Alert Level 4 lockdown. And at the halfway mark I have no hesitation in saying, that what New Zealanders have done over the last two weeks is huge. In the face of the greatest threat to human health we have seen in over a century, ...
All driver licences, WoFs, CoFs, and some vehicle certifications, that expired on or after 1 January 2020 will be valid for up to six months from 10 April 2020, Transport Minister Phil Twyford has announced. “People shouldn’t have to worry about getting fined for having an expired document if driving ...
The Government has today released the report from the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission chaired by Dame Silvia Cartwright. Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission Grant Robertson says the Government wants to learn from people’s experiences following the Canterbury earthquakes and other recent natural disasters. “Dame Silvia’s report documents ...
The Government has extended by two weeks till April 27 the amount of time priority groups, such as health workers and those aged over 65, have to get their flu vaccine before it is made available to the wider public. This year’s vaccination campaign is a key component of the ...
Communities stepping up to help New Zealanders stay at home to break the transmission of COVID-19 and save lives have received Government support, said Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni. “Delivering groceries for the elderly who can’t shop online, providing data packs for low income families to keep them connected, and being ...
Across New Zealand 120 sites are taking samples to be tested for COVID-19. 68 community based assessment centres (CBACs) have been established to take samples from people with COVID-19 symptoms. Alongside this, 52 other centres including designated general practices, swabbing centres, and mobile clinics are now testing people for ...
The Ministry of Education is working with partners to develop a package of options so that students can learn at home when Term 2 begins on 15 April, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. Supports are also being prepared for households with children under five, to help parents and whānau ...
Māori Television to begin educational te reo programmes Ki te Ao Mārama – a new online learning space Thousands of hard copy learning packs ready for distribution Helpdesk and advice service for kōhanga, kura and wharekura Television, the internet and hard copy learning packs are some of the ways whānau ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced an initial package of support to help the people and the Government of Vanuatu respond to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Harold. “Our Pacific neighbours have been hit by a Category 5 Cyclone at the same time as dealing with the economic impacts ...
Tourism New Zealand to lead work reimagining the way tourism operates in post-COVID-19 world. Ministers to review International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy investment plan. The Government, industry and business are working together to develop a plan for how tourism will operate in a post-COVID-19 world, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis ...
More New Zealanders are taking up the chance to work in horticulture as the sector keeps New Zealanders fed and in jobs during the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown. “Our horticulture sector has long been one of New Zealand’s export star performers, contributing around $6 billion a year to our ...
The Provincial Development Unit is working through applications and projects to see where Provincial Growth Fund money can be repurposed for initiatives deemed more critical to fighting the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. “We need to be throwing everything we have at ...
The Government’s wage subsidy to protect jobs and keep workers and businesses connected during the lockdown has now supported over a million New Zealanders, with $6.6 billion already paid out. “We’re supporting businesses to pay wages, and stay connected with their workers so that we are all in a better ...
The Government is stepping up efforts to help protect New Zealand’s Pacific communities in the fight against COVID-19. Cabinet has agreed that $17 million will be allocated to support a COVID-19 Pacific Response Package, which will: Support Pacific health and disability services facing increased demand; Ramp up public health messaging ...
“Yesterday evening the Health Minister advised me of his trip to a beach during the lockdown and offered his resignation,” Jacinda Ardern said. “Under normal conditions I would sack the Minister of Health. What he did was wrong, and there are no excuses. “But right now, my priority is our ...
Last night as part of my preparation for the Epidemic Response Committee, I provided the Prime Minister with a complete picture of my activity outside my home during Alert Level 4. That included the fact that on the first weekend of the Alert Level 4 lockdown I drove my family ...
A range of support is being rolled out across New Zealand to help people look after their mental health during COVID-19 Health Minister David Clark said this morning. “COVID-19 has brought a lot of uncertainty into our lives and many of us will be feeling some level of distress or ...
The New Zealand Government has made arrangements to charter a flight for New Zealanders stranded in Peru to depart the country, following agreement with the Chilean government to allow the necessary transit through Chile, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced today. “Like many travellers around the world at the moment, ...
Hospital preparations for COVID-19 are well advanced says Health Minister David Clark. “Hospitals across New Zealand are repurposing buildings and training staff to get ready for COVID-19 patients. This gives me confidence that we are well prepared for any potential increase in COVID-19 patients needing hospital level care,” said David ...
The Government will be introducing legislation to make changes to the Companies Act to help companies facing insolvency due to COVID-19 to remain viable and keep New Zealanders in jobs. The temporary changes include: Giving directors of companies facing significant liquidity problems because of COVID-19 a ‘safe harbour’ from insolvency ...
The Government’s plan to cushion the blow of COVID-19 by supporting incomes, jobs and businesses, and position the economy to recover has been backed by another international report. International credit rating agency Moody’s today reaffirmed its highest Aaa credit rating on New Zealand, saying the economy is expected to remain ...
The Government has stepped in to support vital air links to our offshore islands, the Chatham Islands, Great Barrier Island and Motiti Island, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today. “As part of our $600 million support package to minimise the impacts of COVID-19 on the aviation sector, the Government has ...
National sports organisations have been given certainty of funding to ensure they can remain viable through the COVID-19 pandemic, Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson announced today. “The global spread of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on sport and recreation in New Zealand, including the cancellation or postponement of ...
Changes have been made to allow butchers to process pork, only for supply to supermarkets or other processors or retailers that are open, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “We carefully weighed the risk of allowing butchers to open their shops for retail customers, but the risk of spreading COVID-19 ...
Essential workers who take leave from work to comply with public health guidance are being supported with a leave scheme to ensure they will continue to receive income, say the Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway and Minister for Social Development, Carmel Sepuloni. A number of essential businesses ...
A Government WhatsApp channel has been launched to help make information more easily accessible and shareable in the fight against COVID-19. Govt.NZ, which is free to use on any mobile device, will carry information and news for the public, businesses, healthcare providers, not for profits and local government. It can ...
The Government has announced a plan to enable the safe, orderly exit of tens of thousands of stranded foreign nationals from New Zealand during the current COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said. “When we moved into lockdown a week ago, the ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says the Government is delivering on its commitment to support general practice doctors and nurses, and pharmacies on the front-line of our fight against COVID-19. "For us to overcome COVID-19, we need community health services such as general practice and community pharmacy to step up ...
Justice Susan Thomas has been appointed Chief High Court Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. She replaces Justice Geoffrey Venning who has resigned from the position. David Parker paid tribute to Justice Venning, who he said had stewarded the High Court very capably over the last five years. “On behalf ...
Businesses can start applying to their banks for loans under the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme set up to support the New Zealand economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re moving quickly to protect New Zealand businesses, jobs and the economy during this unprecedented global economic shock,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. ...
Work is underway looking at measures to speed up consents for development and infrastructure projects during the recovery from COVID 19, to provide jobs and stimulate our economy. Environment Minister David Parker said the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global crisis that will have a wide ranging and lasting impact ...
Advance payments will be made to transport construction industry contractors to retain the workforce and ensure it is ready to quickly gear up to build projects which will be vital to New Zealand’s COVID-19 economic recovery, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today. He said keeping the workforce required to build ...
The Government has tasked a group of industry leaders to seek out infrastructure projects that are ready to start as soon as the construction industry returns to normal to reduce the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones say. The Infrastructure ...
Work to scale up the health system in preparation for COVID-19 was today outlined by Health Minister David Clark, as he reported back to the new Epidemic Response Committee. “We are well placed to contain the spread of COVID-19. We have taken early and decisive action at our borders, and ...
The Government is refining its COVID-19 essential business guidance to include the distribution of news publications for communities which are hard to reach. The Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Kris Faafoi, said the move was in recognition of the importance for New Zealanders who might be harder to ...
The Government is ensuring supermarkets can open on Easter Sunday so we can buy groceries, but stay closed on Good Friday allowing workers to take a break. This provides a balanced approach and ensures we avoid large queues that two days closure may cause. “Supermarkets will be able to open ...
Following the successful conclusion of the Building Partner Capacity (BPC) mission at Taji, New Zealand defence personnel are returning to New Zealand from Iraq, in accordance with the Cabinet decision made in June 2019, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. “New Zealand is very ...
The State of National Emergency to help stop the spread of COVID-19 has been extended for a further seven days, Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare said. The initial declaration on March 25 lasted seven days and can be extended as many times as necessary. “Since we went into isolation ...
Holiday towns around the country have been on edge, fearing Easter visits from city folk going to their baches. But in one instance, the fears might have been over-stated. Tim Murphy reports. Truth is the first casualty of war, and we keep getting told we are in a war against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer Sport Management, Western Sydney University Against a global backdrop of cancelled sports leagues, and as part of their season opening, National Rugby League (NRL) fans recently packed the stands of Townsville’s new Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Fortunately, professional ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dianne McGrath, Environmental Engineering PhD candidate; sustainability and food waste expertise, RMIT University As a food waste researcher, I’m interested in how humans prepare food, eat and manage leftovers. This interest is not just confined to Earth – it extends to other ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level four. The country is shut down, apart from essential services. For updated official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The ...
Kayne Peters leaves his Auckland home to spend the lockdown in his whanau bubble in the King Country and help look after those most in need. Ka mate kainga tahi. Ka ora kainga rua. “One dwelling place is overcome, but the second is secure” This whakatauki or proverb well describes ...
The natural isolation of small Pacific islands set in the huge Pacific Ocean could prove to be the defining factor if these vulnerable nations manage to remain free of Covid-19. There is every reason to be optimistic if these small nations can keep rigid restrictions in place. Of course, the ...
How will we know when we’ve been successful in stopping Covid-19 within New Zealand? Farah Hancock reports. As the country moves into its third week of lockdown and the daily number of cases continues to drop, how can we be certain it's safe to move levels and how will we ...
Are we nearly in the clear? It's too early to tell and we can't take anything for granted, says Professor Nicholas Agar of Victoria University of Wellington. Our nation’s fight against Covid-19 seems to be going well. As a Kiwi, I’m enjoying the global applause for our “go hard and ...
The government yesterday announced it would step up its arrivals policy to mandate hotel quarantine or ‘managed self-isolation’ for all returning New Zealanders – people like Andrew Todd, who describes what it’s like to live in a Covid-19 quarantine zone.Four weeks ago, I was living in Canada, earning a meagre ...
Every Friday of lockdown, LockerRoom shares posts from Kiwi sportswomen who've caught our eye with novel ways of keeping on top of their game. This week, gymnasts put their own spin on the toilet paper challenge, the Black Sticks captain gets her pet in on lockdown training, and a triathlete ...
If you’re out on the road this weekend, be prepared to be stopped – and not just by the police. Kayne Peters reports on the official and unofficial roadblocks springing up all over the motu. Iwi across the country have stepped up efforts to secure their borders ahead of Easter ...
The Covid-19 challenge for disabled people is two-fold: keeping them safe, and ensuring disability support continues to be available to them. What's the plan for this? asks Samuel Murray. While we are rightfully focused on eliminating Covid-19, we need a specific plan that addresses the needs of both the disability ...
Although New Zealand-based e-commerce companies like TradeMe are toeing the line on non-essential sales, Facebook Marketplace remains a wild west where buying and selling hasn't stopped, Marc Daalder reports Want a pair of high-heeled Converse shoes to wear during lockdown? How about a cashmere scarf or new jigsaw puzzle? You're ...
Halfway through the lockdown, government restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus seem to be taking hold. But the latest suite of measures show the Prime Minister is awake to the dangers of overconfidence, Sam Sachdeva writes “This is going to be a marathon.” Jacinda Ardern’s choice of metaphor to ...
Christchurch’s arterial routes, and the air around them, are being transformed by the lockdown. David Williams takes a look As the days shorten, the nightly commute comes ever closer to sunset. That would normally mean thousands of cars lining up at busy Christchurch intersections, sending plumes of carbon monoxide into ...
A doctor's note from novelist Eileen Merriman, a haematologist at North Shore hospital. At the hospital where I work is a critically ill patient infected with Covid-19 in our intensive care unit – younger than me, with no pre-existing medical conditions. And today I overhead a couple of doctors discussing ...
Responding to sudden, shocking change requires a double lens, writes Fiona Farrell.Read more from the Lockdown letters here.My granddaughter has been making a newspaper. The Daily Chirp. It’s very small, as befits a newspaper designed for birds, but it contains news (a worrying rise in Tweet-19), “Adds” for birdseed medicine ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Education Minister Dan Tehan has warned non-government schools that if they fail to open for the next term they will face losing funding. He said on Thursday that “as part of the funding requirement” a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Remember how last year’s Easter felt bizarre because the country was in election-mode? How normal that seems, now everything is surreal, with the nation “holidaying” in this peculiar, unpleasant limbo. As we contemplate the grimness ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Michelle Grattan talks with MPs Tim Watts (Gellibrand, Victoria), Fiona Martin (Reid, NSW), Clare O’Neil (Hotham, Victoria) and Helen Haines (Indi, Victoria) about how they do their job during the pandemic. They discuss the operation ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Geard, Senior Lecturer, School of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne; Senior Research Fellow, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne Following the emergence and rapid spread of COVID-19, several countries have succeeded in bringing local outbreaks under ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin Today’s chart shows the per capita level of testing performed in a number of countries. While the highest testing rate shown is Norway, we should note that Iceland has tested over eight percent of its population; too high to show on this chart. A ...
By RNZ News New Zealand has recorded just 29 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, but the prime minister says a decision on changing the alert level will only be made two days before the lockdown ends. It is the fourth day in a row there ...
The Guardian’s Pacific Project disaster video.By the Pacific Project Tropical Cyclone Harold lashed the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, ripping off roofs and downing telecommunications, before moving towards Fiji and Tonga. The powerful cyclone made landfall on Monday in Sana province, an island north of Vanuatu’s capital Port ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elyse Methven, Lecturer in Law, University of Technology Sydney The message to everyone during the coronavirus pandemic is to stay at home and only leave if you really need to for, say, food, health care or exercise. Police now have powers to ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Pat MacFie from Manaaki.This week we have another special podcast highlighting some of ...
NZ First leader Winston Peters today said he wants the election held on November 21, Radio NZ reported. He says he believes the health system would be under the pump in September with the winter flu season and the country potentially still dealing with the impacts of Covid-19. Prime Minister ...
New Zealand Rock Lobster (crayfish) are once again heading to China with the first small consignment being airfreighted last week. It was one of the first primary industry sectors in New Zealand to be affected by Covid-19, and as we now know, the sledgehammer that hit this industry was just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Bloomfield, Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia Lockdown measures aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 should actually help cut the cases of flu this year. That’s because keeping people apart to reduce the spread of coronavirus ...
New modelling from Te Pūnaha Matatini projects the impact of the lockdown, and what our next steps could be, Marc Daalder reports New figures from a team of mathematicians and scientists modelling the way Covid-19 could affect New Zealand indicate the lockdown has significantly dampened the spread of the virus. ...
Bernard Hickey talks to Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr about the latest retail spending data and the Reserve Bank's call for banks to step up as market-makers for corporate and local government bonds. In their latest daily 'Bernard Zooms out to lunch with Jarrod' video, Bernard Hickey and Jarrod ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Georgie Russell, Senior Lecturer, Deakin University This Easter will be especially challenging, with family isolation and many parents under financial strain, or other stressors. So, many parents will be looking to restore some sense of “normality” by welcoming the Easter bunny into ...
The Beths’ live-streamed concert yesterday showed that even in lockdown, music isn’t dead. Here’s why it worked, and where you can see Kiwis live streaming for the next week.Yesterday at 9am, Liz Stokes put a giant pineapple mask over her head and played the Animal Crossing theme on a trumpet ...
New Conservative Leader Leighton Baker has lived in and around the Waimakariri district since 1992 and is revelling in the opportunity to represent the electorate in Parliament after the 2020 general election. “Waimakariri is a diverse district with a strong ...
“Hard-hit councils, who oversee half this country’s public infrastructure, require financial support from central government that is tied to shared priorities through Urban Growth Partnerships,” says Paul Blair CEO of Infrastructure New Zealand. ...
Airways may close seven of its regional air traffic control towers because of a collapse in traveller numbers. The services under review are provided at Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Invercargill Airport as well as the airfield flight information services provided at Kapiti Coast Airport and Milford Sound ...
Proposals to expand the role of local councils into climate change mitigation under the Resource Management Act would add confusion, complexity and duplication, according to the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ) and ...
As New Zealand enters its third week of Covid-19 lockdown, a just released set of modelling provides a flare of light at the end of the tunnel, reports Toby Manhire.On a day that the active case number decreased, it finds that “While New Zealand case numbers remain low, tracing, testing, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael L. Brown, Director of the Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences and Lecturer at the School of Philosophy, Australian National University As they released the modelling of the COVID-19 pandemic behind Australia’s social isolation policies this week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison ...
The latest in our new series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall.This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff MembersThese posts collate the most recent statistics and present them as charts and maps. The Ministry of Health typically publishes data updates in the early ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jim Tognolini, Director, Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment, University of Sydney Following a meeting with states and territories, federal education minister, Dan Tehan said year 12 students were a priority, and were being sent a clear signal: “There will be no ...
The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO) is calling for an equal extension to all licencing regimes, following the Government’s announcement today offering motorists a six-month licencing grace period. COLFO says that like motorists, licenced ...
Dear Minister Jones, Firstly, let me introduce myself. My name is Adrian. I am an employee in the forestry industry, a Future Forester, a graduate of Canterbury University and, albeit very small, a forest owner. ...
As countries in Europe plan a tightrope walk back out of lockdown, the World Health Organisation warns it is too early to relax strict suppression measures in the fight against Covid-19, writes Peter Bale Two weeks into New Zealand's aggressive and early lockdown to combat the spread of Covid-19, voices ...
Consumers dramatically changed their spending patterns last month because of Covid-19 and the government ordered lockdown. Official numbers show overall retail spending using electronic cards fell a record seasonally adjusted 3.9 percent on the previous month. Stats NZ senior manager Sue Chapman said spending on eating out and accommodation plunged ...
A new $200,000 business subsidy package is being launched in Christchurch to help those affected by Covid-19. The ChristchurchNZ business support subsidy will offer eligible businesses up to $1000 each to seek professional advice. The scheme - funded by ChristchurchNZ, the city's economic development agency, will support small to medium ...
Large retailers have been quick to apply for government wage subsidies during the Covid-19 lockdown. The Warehouse has received $67.7 million to cover the labour costs of the shutdown of its Red Shed, Torpedo, Noel Leeming, and Warehouse Stationery chains, which between them employ about 11,000 staff. "The receipt of ...
A new report Quantifying the wellbeing costs of Covid-19 by the New Zealand Initiative shows how an economic hit of about 6.1% of GDP would be justified if it meant saving 33,600 lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. The figures, compiled by research fellow ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dougal Sutherland, Clinical Psychologist, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington The COVID-19 pandemic has forced millions of people to live under strict lockdown conditions, but the psychology of human behaviour predicts they will find it harder to stick to the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Smillie, Associate Professor, University of Melbourne The coronavirus pandemic has caused tens of thousands of deaths around the world and pushed major economies into a tailspin. Beyond those impacts, almost all of us will face psychological challenges – trying to maintain ...
We asked Tony Baird, of Newsroom foundation supporter Vodafone NZ, to provide some insights into how New Zealanders have been using online and their smartphones during the first fortnight of lockdown. At Vodafone NZ, we entered new territory in this lockdown as New Zealanders have been turning to their smartphones and devices ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has launched a new campaign to temporarily reduce the remuneration of politicians, senior bureaucrats, and council bosses to match those voluntary and involuntary efforts in the private sector where pay is being ...
Analysis by Keith RankinWhat is Mercantilism?Keith Rankin. Mercantilism is the form of public policy that was dominant in Europe – especially Northern Europe – in the ‘early modern’ period; meaning in the period loosely between 1500 and 1800 (sixteenth to eighteenth centuries). In a political sense it ...
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says legislative changes to driver licensing and vehicle certification requirements coming into effect tomorrow (10 April) will help drivers and vehicle owners safely navigate through the COVID-19 lockdown period and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Woolaston, Lawyer, Queensland University of Technology Never before have we seen how the human use of wildlife can yield such catastrophe, as we have with COVID-19. The current available evidence indicates COVID-19 was first transmitted in a wildlife market in Wuhan. ...
In a week alone there was an increase of about 10,000 people now relying on welfare to get by. As the number of benefit recipients rapidly increases as a result of COVID-19, Auckland Action Against Poverty is calling on the Government to urgently lift benefits ...
CEAC stands alongside Forest & Bird, Greenpeace, WWF-New Zealand, Generation Zero, EDS and Ecologic letter to Jacinda Ardern calling on the Government to transform the New Zealand economy to tackle climate change, save native species, improve freshwater ...
Better Public Media welcomes the announcement that the Ministry of Education will fund Television New Zealand and Māori Television to provide up to six hours daily of educational content for our children and students, beginning next week. It is ...
It’s OK if you don’t come out of lockdown with abs.We are living through the worst global pandemic since the Spanish Flu in 1918 and the beginning of an economic calamity that has already claimed the jobs of millions of workers the world over. Hospitals are full, schools are closed and many countries are in ...
One thing is abundantly clear, when this lock down is over, many tourism related businesses will be reliant on Domestic Tourism to stay afloat. But what will that mean from a Freedom Camping point of view? While it has been true, that many towns ...
The Government has announced that all incoming travellers will be quarantined away from their homes and families for a 14 day period, after a public campaign that received widespread support The Government has bowed to a public campaign led by epidemiologists and the National Party to have all returning New Zealanders ...
How is Covid-19 spreading within the country? Newsroom is collating information as it's available to paint a picture of what's happening.The following charts are based on numbers shared at the daily press conference. These may vary from the full day's numbers released in the Ministry of Health's spreadsheet ...
New Zealand is has joined the ranks of countries experiencing a wave of sabotage attempts against mobile networks as false claims about 5G go viral, Marc Daalder reports Spark, 2degrees, Vodafone and the Rural Connectivity Group have all experienced threats or actual attempts of sabotage of cell towers in recent ...
Air traffic control closure sends COVID-19 shockwaves through regional airports Seven regional airports are shocked that Airways NZ, the national air traffic management organisation, wants to discuss the removal of air traffic control at their facilities ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters wants an election on November 21st. Peters told RNZ he fought for that originally as it's his long held position that summer elections are better. ...
The national lockdown was justifiable to protect the nation's intensive care capacity. But any prolonged lockdown and border closure will cause economic issues that lead to broader, indirect problems for our health and wellbeing, writes Professor Grant Guilford. In a caring society it is right that we do our utmost ...
She’s not a teacher or a fluent speaker – she just wants to practise with you. Join Leonie Hayden as she works through the first four weeks of Scotty Morrison’s Māori Made Easy.Yesterday we were counting things, today we’re counting people. We have different ways of counting each because people aren’t ...
A news item by Māni Dunlop, Māori News Director, has been posted on the RNZ website under the heading Government urged to put Māori at forefront of Covid-19 planning. “Forefront” means the position of greatest importance or prominence. One implication to be drawn from the headline, therefore. is that Māori ...
Women’s Rights Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo is encouraging women to seek help immediately if they find themselves in an abusive situation during the COVID-19 isolation. Often, people who were already in an abusive situation will likely ...
COMMENTARY:By Georgie Bright, Australia associate director of Human Rights Watch Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the fragile health system in Papua New Guinea was underfunded and overwhelmed, with high rates of malaria, tuberculosis, and diabetes among its population of more than eight million. Access to hospitals is extremely ...
New home owners will pay tens of thousands of dollars more on their mortgage if they accept a six-month mortgage 'holiday' option. That’s money going to the banks. But should lender and borrower be sharing the pain? There’s always a nagging worry about holidays. They are fun while they last, but ...
An Auckland bus driver tells Leonie Hayden what it’s like to operate under alert level four, and the struggle to secure a safer work environment.Mike moved to New Zealand in 2001. “I’m a Kiwi now,” he says, “and a die-hard unionist.” He’s employed by a large New Zealand bus company ...
Daily Review 24/10/2017 
1 hour ago
The pandemic has shown us how effective our public service is. They've pulled together a massive policy response, from a lockdown to economic support to healthcare to planning how to keep everything running when this is over, and done it in next to no time. They are heroes, who have ...15 hours ago
In 1968 Canadian sociologist Laurence Peter coined the phrase “Peter Principle” as a contribution to the sociology of organisations. It explains that in complex organizations people rise to the level of their own incompetence. That is, they get promoted so long as they meet or exceed the specified criteria for ...16 hours ago
The practice and business of music has been one of the sectors most gravely impacted by the virus sweeping the world. The emphatic nature of our government's response, necessary as it was, has slammed the industry and the people who work in it.There are New Zealand artists – Nadia Reid, ...18 hours ago
. . April 8: Day 14 of living in lock-down… The good news first: the downward trajectory of new cases appears to be a real thing. In the last four days, since Sunday, new infections have been dropping: Sunday: 89 new cases Monday: 67 Tuesday: 54 Today (Wednesday): 50 The ...19 hours ago
The anti-fluoride movement wants to restrict your reading to “just four studies.” They actively ignore or attempt to discredit other relevant studies. Image credit: Censorship in media. For earlier articles in this series see: ... 23 hours ago
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We are seeing what has been termed “a greater challenge than the crash of 2008” by a growing number of economists and more rational, sane commentators, because whilst that was a shocking exposure of the levels to which hubris had sunk, right down to the blank cheque given those who ...2 days ago
It’s a beautiful autumn afternoon, we need to get out of the house, and so our bubble sets off on a bike ride around our local neighbourhood, Cambridge Park. The bikes come out of the garage, and, being really certain we have a front door key, close the garage door ...2 days ago
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We all know that Simon Bridges has, at the best of times, an intermittent relationship with the truth. However you would think that during a pandemic and economic crisis the current opposition leader would pull his head in and start to do the right thing.Obviously leading by example should be ...3 days ago
Connett promotes Riddell et al (2019) as one of the only four studies one needs to read about fluoridation. But he misunderstands and misrepresents the findings of this study. Image credit: Fluoride Action ... 3 days ago
Last month I wrote my blog on covid-19 pointing out the in our pre Alert Level 4 days that a subject no one had heard here months ago was now dominating the media. An amazing feature of this crisis is how quickly it has swept every other issue aside worldwide. ...4 days ago
As the world economy slides rapidly towards deep recession there are growing calls for a Universal Benefit coming from some leftists and rightists. Now Finance Minister Grant Robertson is saying it is on the table. This article by a French party Workers Struggle provides analysis of various forms of universal ...5 days ago
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Comfortably, in the very first round, with an impressive 56% of the votes.I wonder, did members of the Shadow Cabinet start tweeting their resignations during Starmer's victory speech, or is that only a trick the right pull?It is odd how all the talk of how the next leader "needs to ...5 days ago
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We must root out the traitors among us! ...7 days ago
I haven’t done a huge amount in the last few days. I’m reading The Poppy War and I’ve sort of poked at a couple of games – I started SOMA but I’m a wimp and I quit while in the first room after the brain scan. I might try it ...1 week ago
Image credit: Diamond Harbour School Blogs I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or ... 1 week ago
While New Zealand is at Alert Level 4, we're making sure that New Zealanders are kept informed and up to date with all the latest developments of the Government's COVID-19 response. It's been a shortened week because of Easter, so we're bringing you our weekly wrap a day early. ...14 hours ago
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Ron Mark, Minister of Defence Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron Mark today announced that New Zealand will provide a further package of assistance to Vanuatu, to support the response to Tropical Cyclone Harold. “Tropical ...18 hours ago
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The scale of what we face right now is unlike anything we have ever seen before. Overcoming it is our common purpose. ...2 weeks ago
The Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson has announced that urgent maintenance of turf and care for plants in non-plantation nurseries will soon be able to go ahead under Level 4 restrictions. “The Government has agreed that urgent upkeep and maintenance of biological assets will be able to go ahead ...16 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer Sport Management, Western Sydney University Against a global backdrop of cancelled sports leagues, and as part of their season opening, National Rugby League (NRL) fans recently packed the stands of Townsville’s new Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Fortunately, professional ...24 mins ago
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Kayne Peters leaves his Auckland home to spend the lockdown in his whanau bubble in the King Country and help look after those most in need. Ka mate kainga tahi. Ka ora kainga rua. “One dwelling place is overcome, but the second is secure” This whakatauki or proverb well describes ...2 hours ago
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New home owners will pay tens of thousands of dollars more on their mortgage if they accept a six-month mortgage 'holiday' option. That’s money going to the banks. But should lender and borrower be sharing the pain? There’s always a nagging worry about holidays. They are fun while they last, but ...20 hours ago
Just watching the news. Every time Jacinda appears as the PM I jump up and run around the room giggling like a child.
As will much of the country, I’m guessing 🙂
But not those who ‘man’ cry into their $6 flat whites
@Sanctuary I do the same!! Still on cloud 9
A good roundup by Bryce Edwards. Answers for those who believe that the new Labour Government is not legal or have the “moral” authority.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11936270
I’ve heard say that Bryan Gould was the best Labour Party leader the UK never had. (Or words to that effect.)
Anyway. His latest piece “Why the Left Disappoints” is one of those ‘must reads’ that comes along from time to time. I’d very much like to think that Robertson and Ardern are sitting up and taking notice, though the ‘tin ear’ track record of NZ Labour these past years suggests I just resign myself to the fact they aren’t and won’t.
Best labour pm that never was would have been John Smith.
If we’re talking best foreign labour leaders that never were, might as well be a kiwi over the welsh windbag Kinnock and Tony Blair.
Maybe you should give Jacinda a chance mate instead of judging early. Seems like a lot of the left are actually happy about the change of government – join in, look for the positive, seek out the inspiration, search diligently for the integrity and you WILL find it. And if you look for the opposite you will find that too.
Did you read the article marty?
What Bryan Gould is drawing attention to is the idiotic commitment made by both NZ Labour and the Greens to ‘fiscal responsibility’.
I can’t be fucked with the vacuous sugar rush of cotton candy enthusiasm marty, and thought you’d have been around this blog and my comments long enough to appreciate that fact.
Yes ive commented on that below. And yep your point is one of his points – i liked the create money and do something with it approach rather than prop up banks but I’m sure in such a long article there are many take home points depending on what catches the eye.
Looking for points of connection is not vacous imo and yes imo you appear to be a dour, cloudy, glass half empy, pessimist – good for you – variety and contrast is essential.
tsk-tsk marty. Who said” looking for points of connection” is vacuous. I didn’t.
But anyhow, I’ll away and drain that half empty glass so as I can fill it again and then perhaps sit back and watch the last rays of the sun slip off those clouds…
Nice – sorry if I got it wrong ☺ I thought that was what you meant in your response to my comments about you looking for the positive, the inspiration and the integrity – my bad.
Interesting piece – knew it but good to have it set out well. I think those caught within a worldview cannot see from outside that view therefore it is going to be a struggle for a different view to manifest even if the different view was known and is known such as with the examples he uses. This is the completeness of the horror of neo liberalism imo.
Gould is setting out a single field of monetary policy as the single solution to the decline of the left’s vote over dozens of countries. He knows as much as any that to every complex problem, there is a simple solution, and it is wrong.
Yep I thought that about his article too Bill.
It’s what a good few of us on here have been banging on about for a while now, Draco et al. What is needed is to reign in the ability of the banks to create the money. Creating money to lend on existing houses does not produce anything. Lending for creating employment is non-inflationary and is productive. Governments as well as banks can do this. I’m hoping that it is this which NZF wants to work towards when the Agreement says they want to “Review and reform the Reserve Bank Act”.
Corrected link
Don’t know why but he changed it.
Excellent and lucid essay.
Contrasting the idea of the state printing cash for productivity purposes (houses for example) and with banks issuing debt for private (foreign) profit.
Perhaps those recently elected will heed these words.
Does anyone following the prep for the Big One know if a series of smaller shakes on the main faults would release pressure and thus push back the timing of an 8+ quake?
I’m not sure if my answer helps you,
Depending on what paper you read on this subject, it’s pretty much a bet each way according to theboffins and at the end of the day you dealing Mother Nature and when your number is up it’s up.
It is immense disappointing that Bill English shows reactions that are nothing short of a spoiled brat response. His forever stating that more people voted for him shows so very clearly that the right choice for government has been decided on.
All he conveys is that he believes that he is entitled – really? Is he serious?
And then you have those hanger ons constantly dishing the new government, almost like treason really.
Not to mention the veiled threats that increased minimum wage will be negative for the economy, that the labor led government will tank NZ.
OK, lets just for a moment stop the train here. Firstly, it stands to reason that the current ministers in charge are more than capable. They are experienced and not just fallen off a tree.
Secondly, families, retirees, minimum wage earners and the working poor are suppose to shiver in their socks hearing of the soothsaying? If anybody tanks the economy than it is this spiteful commenting, it is juvenile and damaging to NZ.
Some serious cooperation and a honest approach to having a strong NZ economy is called for from all ministers, regardless what bench they warm up with the hard earned taxpayer money – they are the employees of all NZlanders regardless what color, race, religion or creed…or money in the bank.
Sore losers, aren’t they?
Not a good look…..
Despite no official diagnosis one of my brothers is definitely somewhere on the spectrum, incredibly bright but sometimes you’d never know it, sometimes withdraws and cocoons, unable to read cues or get to grips with conversation, impenetrable, sometimes outgoing and life of the party sociable.
Yet I’ve never really worried about him, he’s just Mick being Mick, and then I read stuff like this and it scares me.
Summary: People who express certain autistic traits, such as communication and social difficulties, but without a diagnosis of ASD, are at increased risk of suicide, a new study reports.
http://neurosciencenews.com/autism-suicide-risk-7790/
I wouldn’t worry too much joe90. While there may be an element of truth to the claim I think those who are ‘at risk’ likely represent the more extreme end of the spectrum. A bit like your average run of the mill psychopath… they may lack empathy and are control freaks but they’re not murderers.
I, too have a brother who is probably somewhere on the spectrum.
And then we get a National government who likes throwing people off of benefits for no reason whatsoever.
In a downturn, like we’ve been in for the last few years, guess who are the people most likely can’t get jobs in the long term and who are then massively stressed when they get kicked off.
I guess I’m a worrywart. Bit like my mum.
The academics say the psychological model can be used to predict people who will exhibit suicidal behaviour – and once further developed could make a huge difference to creating effective assessment, support and treatment for people at risk of suicide.
If you treat vulnerable people like shit, they will feel it and it will affect their functioning. The solution isn’t to put an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff (although do that too), it’s to stop treating people like shit.
I would guess that the suicide risk is at least to some degree from living in a society that enforces disability on neurodivergent people (i.e expects them to be like neurotypicals and penalises them when they’re not). I think believing that people on the spectrum are mentally ill, or that autism is a pathology, is also a problem.
We need to stop telling people there is something wrong with them.
http://neurocosmopolitanism.com/neurodiversity-some-basic-terms-definitions/
Thanks for that.
+111
Understandable that you would be feeling some fear for your brother after reading that study Joe. I never realised the increased incidences of depression for those on the spectrum. We must do more to create an inclusive society where everyone is valued for who they are and where support is available for everyone. Thanks for highlighting this serious issue mate.
I always wondered but I think I know now why mum got so damn clingy – mortality is a thing.
‘Some days are diamonds, some days are stone’ so the song goes.
This is a special day, to continue the theme, ‘pure gold’
During the election when I realised Jacinda had sparked hope, I said “I was singing in the rain” and wouldn’t it be ‘ luverly luverly….’
Well it is lovely to see such co-operation to achieve a coalition, with respect for all.
So the negative bods, please give them 100 days at least, to begin meaningful change.
I think after 9 years we are entitled to some happiness and relief at this outcome.
We need to follow Jacinda’s lead, as the new opposition will be nasty in all ways.
So 24/10/2017 is pretty good. Full of promise.
I have to agree with people who think Blinglish is moaning. I heard him on RNZ this morning spouting the biggest load of sour grapes I have heard in a long time. This just proves that he ran an FPP campaign in an MMP environment, and when MMP won he whinged. This just goes to show that this droit de seigneur attitude to being in power is not only outdated, it is embarrassing. Toys were coming out of the cot one by one this morning and he went even further down in my estimation. Jacinda and team will have to have their loins well and truly girded against what will be a nasty, dirty, below the belt campaign of vindictiveness. Opposition with reason and conviction is fine, vitriol is not.
It’s amazing how much time National are giving to the media after losing the election considering how much they disdained the media while in government – they were forever dodging interviews.
Hopefully, the media will actually get over the novelty and only get them on air when they have something either true or useful to say.
30 reasons why Jane Clifton is wrong
Jane Clifton / 20 October, 2017
http://www.noted.co.nz/currently/politics/minority-rules-who-will-be-the-first-voted-off-coalition-island/
.
Reality
(This is a long way from being an exhaustive list incidentally)
(1) Sweden – 2006 General Election
Centre-Left Bloc
Social Democrats 35%(Largest Party)
Left Party 6% (Sixth)
Green 5% (Seventh)
Centre-Right Bloc
Moderate 26% (Second Largest Party)
Centre 8% (Third)
Liberal People’s Party 8% (Fourth)
Christian Democrats 7% (Fifth)
Moderates (Second Largest Party) form Centre-Right Coalition Govt
(2) West German federal election, 1976
CDU/CSU (Centre Right) 48.6%
SPD (Centre Left) 42.6%
FDP (Liberal Right) 7.9%
Govt formed subsequently = SPD + FDP
(CDU/CSU = sister Parties treated as one – they don’t compete with one another The CSU only contests elections in Bavaria, while the CDU operates in the other 15 states of Germany)
(3) West German federal election, 1980
CDU/CSU (Centre Right) 44.5%
SPD (Centre Left) 42.9%
FDP (Liberal Right) 10.6%
Govt formed subsequently = SPD + FDP
(4) Czech legislative election, 2010
Czech Social Democrats 22% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition of ODS, TOP 09, and VV was subsequently formed
(5) Danish general election, 2015
Social Democrats 26% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Govt subsequently formed
(6) Danish general election, 2011
Centre Right Venstre 27% (Largest Party)
But Social Democrat’s subsequently form Left coalition
(7) Danish general election, 1990
Social Democrats 37% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Govt (Venstre 15.8% & Conservative People’s Party 16.0%) subsequently formed
(8) Danish general election, 1988
Social Democrats 30% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition Govt (Conservative People’s Party 19% & Danish Social Liberal Party 6%) subsequently formed
(9) Danish general election, 1987
Social Democrats 29% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition Govt (led by Conservative People’s Party 21%) subsequently formed
(10) Danish general election, 1984
Social Democrats 32% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition Govt (led by Conservative People’s Party 23%) subsequently formed
(11) Danish general election, 1981
Social Democrats 33% (Largest Party)
But centre-right coalition Govt (led by Conservative People’s Party 15%) subsequently formed
(12) Norwegian parliamentary election, 2017
Labour 27% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative (25%)-Progress(15%) coalition subsequently formed
(13) Norwegian parliamentary election, 2013
Labour 31% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative (27%)-Progress(16%) coalition subsequently formed
(14) Norwegian parliamentary election, 2001
Labour 24% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative-led (21%)-coalition subsequently formed
(15) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1997
Labour 35% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Christian People’s Party-led (14%)-coalition subsequently formed
(16) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1989
Labour 34% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative-led (22%)-coalition subsequently formed
(17) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1985
Labour 41% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative-led (30%)-coalition subsequently formed
(18) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1981
Labour 37% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Conservative-led (32%)-coalition subsequently formed
(19) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1969
Labour 47% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Centre Party-led (13%)-coalition subsequently formed (Conservatives = Second Largest Party (23%))
(20) Norwegian parliamentary election, 1965
Labour 43% (Largest Party)
But centre-right Centre Party-led (10%)-coalition subsequently formed (Conservatives = Second Largest Party (21%))
(21) Swedish general election, 1991
Social Democrats 38%(Largest Party)
But centre-right Moderate-led (22%)-coalition subsequently formed
(22) Swedish general election, 1979
Social Democrats 43%(Largest Party)
But centre-right Centre Party-led (18%)-coalition subsequently formed (Moderates = Second Largest Party (20%))
(23) Swedish general election, 1976
Social Democrats 43%(Largest Party)
But centre-right Centre Party-led (24%)-coalition subsequently formed
(24) Dutch general election, 1982
Labour 30% (Largest Party)
But centre-right CDA-led coalition subsequently formed
(25) Dutch general election, 1977
Labour 34% (Largest Party)
But centre-right CDA-led coalition subsequently formed
(26) Dutch general election, 1971
Labour 25% (Largest Party)
But centre-right ARP-led coalition subsequently formed
(27) Austrian legislative election, 1999
Social Democrats 33%(Largest Party)
But right-wing ÖVP-led (27%)-coalition subsequently formed
(28) Belgian federal election, 2010
Rightist New Flemish Alliance 17% (Largest Party)
But Centre Left francophone Socialist Party-led (14%)-coalition subsequently formed
(29) Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2013
Centre Right GERB 31% (Largest Party)
But Centre Left BSP-led (27%)-coalition subsequently formed
(30) Latvian parliamentary election, 2011
Social Democrat Harmony 28%(Largest Party)
But right-wing Reform (21%)-+ Unity (13%) coalition subsequently formed
Clifton also argues
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“Many voters” … “considerable public mood” … “a lot of people” … “shocked about the maths” ? ? ? ?
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Evidence from Clifton ? = Zilch
My Evidence ?
Sure – One or two Polls a decade ago suggested strong public sentiment in favour of the idea that the party receiving the most votes should form the subsequent Government (eg 79% agreeing in a 2008 Colmar Brunton).
However Jacinda-mania (and Labour’s subsequent revival) may have mitigated this view – a recent Herald ZB Kantar TNS poll found more voters feeling NZF should make any coalition decisions on the basis of policy wins (38%) rather than simply going with the largest party (35%) – albeit with 27% still Unsure
Something to watch for at the next election.
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/2017/10/24/confirmed-the-conservatives-did-act-unlawfully-in-the-2017-election-but-theyre-being-let-off-the-hook/