Malta and Luxembourg raced to become Europe’s first country to legalise home growing (Malta won). The new German coalition government has agreed to fully legalise cannabis for adult use – showing how it can be done, by just doing it!
In 2021, five additional US states — Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Virginia — legalised cannabis for adult use. That means that an additional 42 million Americans were liberated from the oppressive and failed policy of marijuana prohibition.
State lawmakers also took steps to ensure justice for individuals with prior cannabis convictions. California, Illinois, New York, Virginia, and elsewhere moved to either seal or expunge the convictions of around 2.2 million people who formerly faced the lifelong stigma of a cannabis criminal record.
"oppressive and failed policy of marijuana prohibition.".
We of course are going to have an attempt at this introduced here.
The propose that we will make it illegal for anyone under the age of about 14 today from ever being able to buy or smoke tobacco. Bet that turns out to be a marvelous triumph. I'm not going to bother looking up the details of what the proposal really is because it will be the greatest stuff-up since the US had their eighteenth amendment fiasco.
The Chekist thug has memory-holed his predecessors' atrocities.
Liquidation of the International Memorial
12/28/2021
On December 28, 2021, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decided to liquidate the International Memorial.
The formal reason stated in the suit of the General Prosecutor's Office is the absence of the label “foreign agent” on some materials. During the hearing, the inconsistency of these claims was clearly demonstrated.
But today, the court finally named not a formal reason, but the real reason for the liquidation of the International Memorial: the General Prosecutor's Office claims that we are misinterpreting Soviet history, “creating a false image of the USSR as a terrorist state,” “lashing out criticism at the state authorities”. And the state, according to our opponents, is beyond criticism.
The decision of the Supreme Court once again confirmed that the history of political terror organized and directed by the state authorities remains for Russia not an academic topic of interest only to specialists, but an acute problem of our time. Our country needs an honest and conscientious reflection on the Soviet past; this is the guarantee of her future. It is ridiculous to believe that the judicial liquidation of International Memorial will remove this issue from the agenda. The entire Russian society needs to remember the tragedies of the past. And not only Russian: the memory of state terror unites all the former Soviet republics.
Of course, we will challenge the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in all ways available to us. And we will find legitimate ways to continue our work. A memorial is not an organization, it is not even a social movement. The memorial is the need of the citizens of Russia for the truth about its tragic past, about the fate of many millions of people. And no one will be able to "eliminate" this need.
The crocodile tears are falling, forgetting that that time of history was the result of yet another capitalist inspired war that dragged the Soviet Union in by capitalist German aggression
Stalin was a product of those capitalist aggression times. But still a Hero in many ways.
Wash your mouth out with soap – Stalin was the worst of men – a true peer of Hitler.
"Even if you could tear the head off an elephant, if you are without humanity you are no hero."
Not a hero – a totalitarian despot utterly lacking in humanity or indeed any other redeeming features – a ruthless self-serving power seeker that only fascist fanboys and America-hating ignoramuses could admire.
Anyone who supports Capitalist versus Capitalist wars such as the two world wars are partly culpable for the 27 million Soviet Citizen's death toll from WW2, not forgetting the lack of acknowledgments in recent WW2 commemorations for the Soviet contribution on defeating the Fascists. ie Hitler who is more akin to your beloved American Administration than Stalin
Big on projection Byd0nz, but fact free as usual – I don't love the US – they do plenty wrong – but their wrongs do not exculpate totalitarian despots.
No-one who pretends to progressive values can go beyond Churchill's "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference of the Devil in the House of Commons." in respect of Stalin.
Stalin got a lot wrong without external help – though blind prejudice and ignorant folly may pretend otherwise.
I dont hold much out for quotes from a racist like Churchill. He did'nt give a shit about Soviet people neither do the ones spilling crocodile tears over the original subject of the post I was commenting on.
There's going to be a lot of angry NZers tonight. Person who has just tested positive for omicron, came over the border, did 7 days in MiQ and was meant to do 9 days in self isolation. Went into the Auckland CBD on Sunday and Monday. Including to a night club and bars.
The infected person was active in Auckland's CBD on December 26 and 27.
Among the places visited was the Impala Nightclub.
They also visited Sunny Town Chinese Restaurant in Lorne St, Partridge Jewellers, Ahi Restaurant and Soul Bar.
Meh, was always going to happen. Better to get omicron out and about early as all the data is pointing to it having a hospitalisation rate of less than .01%
11000 cases and 60 hospitalised in NSW. Hardly scary stuff
[next time you want to make a claim of fact about covid, put up a link to back it up. See Fireblade’s comment and link below for actual NSW rates – weka]
I didn't say you made it up, I said you have to provide a link to the claim of fact. This is important. You're presenting an argument based on facts, Fireblade presented a different set of facts, if you provide back up we can actually talk about the views rather than someone's randome reckons on the the internet. This isn't FB, we're here for the robust debate.
you said 60 in hospital btw. Not 625. I don't know what you're on about, and I'm not going to parse a google search to try and figure it out. Make the argument if you can.
You realise that this is a contagious disease and the 0.0125% rate isn't fixed in stone. At some point the hospitalisation rate can't get any higher because there aren't enough beds.
I used the same set of facts as fireblade, 625 total minus the 550 odd from the day before came to 68 hospitalisations. On the day when 11000 odd new cases came in.
I gave you daily cases and daily hospitalisations. Apples with apples, not single apples with the sum total of the harvest.
What? Fact. There are people who are hoping this is the beginning of community spread for Omicron because it is a far, far milder version of Covid than Delta meaning fewer deaths and serious illness among those infected.
If by "precaution" you mean the likes of Vit D, zinc etc, well those things don't prevent infection, but lessen severity of infection. I'm living exactly the same way today as I did yesterday, and will continue to live that way tomorrow.
I guess if I get determined to avoid infection and any chance of future immunity, I might throw in a Listerine gargle in the event of Omicron spread, if I'm around dense groups of people (hit those at a rate of ten to the dozen these days) …maybe a 1% Johnsons baby shampoo nasal rinse too. (the irony 🙂 )
You can make up whatever shit about me you like Weka. Though alternatively, you can if you like, and only for the sake of comprehension, read my comment.
Curious. When you write of "people around me who are also at risk from covid", I assume you are referring to people who are at a higher risk of severe illness or death rather than just risk of infection, yes?
If so, and seeing as how Omicron seems to essentially waltz past that double vaccination, the Listerine and Johnston's shampoo gargle and washes are worth reading up for anyone sensibly concerned for their well being.
I know that for me, seeing as how data is sparse on effects in those with no immunity (either from pharmaceuticals or previous infection) – then hey.
It's a simple question Bill: are you hand washing, mask wearing, scanning/signing in, social distancing etc as advised to prevent spreading covid?
Curious. When you write of "people around me who are also at risk from covid", I assume you are referring to people who are at a higher risk of severe illness or death rather than just risk of infection, yes?
No. Until we know how omicron impacts on long covid rates, including from asymptomatic infection, I will continue to protect myself and others. It's not hard, it builds resiliency, and it future proofs us for another pandemic. Or the next variant.
Mmmm…you know that washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding crowded spaces and respecting personal spaces is what some of us do as a matter of course…whether we're living in the Time of Plague or no, no?
Not having partaken of the Pfizer Product doth not a barbarian make…
And you still haven't answered my easy to answer question 🤷♀️ That's three opportunities to do so.
It's not an irrelevant question. If people are arguing that we're better off with letting omicron have free rein, then it's reasonable to want to know if those people are not taking precautions to limit spread and help protect people. It's also not unreasonable to think they probably aren’t given the position on omicron.
The question you asked was (quote) have you stopped taking precautions then?
The relevant portion of my answer was, and for the fourth time – (quote) I'm living exactly the same way today as I did yesterday, and will continue to live that way tomorrow.
Three weeks ago (or however long ago that was) I could sign into some places that I can no longer sign into – that's changed. But since 'yesterday'? Or in light of today's news? And tomorrow?
As I already pointed out, (fifth time now) nothing changes.
btw – I don’t advocate giving Omicron “free rein” – never have. There are people in society who need protection. That has always been the way with Covid, but the “powers that be”, by dint of the way they have distributed a leaky vaccine, obviously beg to differ on that point.
Pendant away all you like. I asked really clearly,
are you hand washing, mask wearing, scanning/signing in, social distancing etc as advised to prevent spreading covid
You've now implied that you sign in and will continue to do so. What about the rest? Really odd that you just won't say.
As I already pointed out, (fifth time now) nothing changes.
I don't know what you were doing before, so this doesn't answer my question.
btw – I don’t advocate giving Omicron “free rein” – never have. There are people in society who need protection. That has always been the way with Covid, but the “powers that be”, by dint of the way they have distributed a leaky vaccine, obviously beg to differ on that point.
What do you advocate then? Because I thought you were arguing that we will be fine with omicron because it's mild, will protect us from Delta, and therefore we should stop restrictions.
I advocate for a public health response that's based on health and best medical practice – not politics, as has been the case to now.
As said elsewhere, all of the data from across nations indicates, that in terms of raw numbers and regardless of observed infection rates, Omicron inflicts far fewer instances of serious illness and results in fewer deaths than Delta. Seeking to preserve the presence of Delta when it's observed that Omicron displaces Delta is medical malfeasance that will cost lives.
I've been looking forward to this day. The milder omincron will hopefully wipe out Delta and all the fear mongering will cease. I am also looking forward to the day in the not too distant future that people start to realise how illogical and mad many of the rules are. This was evident to me today as I walked into a packed food court and every person sitting was maskless, while those walking within the space had to wear a mask, makes no sense. Now that Omicron's come to the party, hopefully it will bring some sanity when the fearful and mindless realise it's nothing but a sniffle. Woop woop!
Done – it's been a while but now that the new regime has entered full swing guess I will be in often to check out just how the liberals are narrating the situation 🙂
Would love to know what you are talking about. I guess you are metaphorically tapping the side of your nose to those who know what you mean ……no second thoughts sounds as though it could be a bit 'wrong' wing as we call it now.
I have not met anyone who is afraid. I have met many who are sensible and continuing to mask up, physically distance etc. It is not life as it was pre Covid and adapting to a new way does not mean people are afraid or being reckless.
To add to that, the unvaccinated are banned from using the food court arent they? But they are allowed to walk past and around the food court within the mall. Shameful really isn't it. Like an overnight private takeover of public interests.
What pisses me off the most is that the media was running this relentless campaign, day after day, about people missing out on MIQ. And the government caved and let people self-isolate at home and then the inevitable happened. How many people will now say "why do I have to self-isolate when that guy didn't?".
The media never had stories about the medically vulnerable or the elderly and how grateful they were for covid-19 being kept out of NZ.
Wow!! I am booked in for my booster at the hospital on Jan 12th. This is getting quite worrying. I don't think those who frequent bars and clubs will give up their New Year Parties, so stay home and celebrate small. Get your booster, use all other methods to be safe as many of us could not survive this. Keep your spirits up and those saying we are just scaremongering.. you go first we will wait to see how you do. Older and yes wiser.
Thing that worries me is whether the people who say it's the beginning of the end of covid will stop doing all the things to prevent spread, or if they will now believe that there's no point.
The vast majority of us will Patricia…do what your Mum told you to do…drink plenty of fluids, take your vit c, your vit D3 (about 5000IU) your Zn (about 20mg) eat your veg and get plenty of sleep. Keep the doors and windows open.
Agree Weka, the jury is still out on the potential impact of Omicron on our community. It seems to spread rapidly and therefore possibly put pressure on our health system with the sheer numbers needing care.
I had not realised the bloke had breached his isolation when he went out and about. We were lucky once with the Aussie tourist in Wellington who did a full weekend of sightseeing with Delta but did not pass it on.
So booster, masking, scanning in, physical distancing. Apart from the booster, due January, I have not stopped doing the masking etc, even while out in the streets. In my suburb most people are masked when out, in fact today I saw only three who were unmasked. Two of whom, elderly folk, were coughing out, not into their elbow or tissue or handkerchief. They had the look of tourists and also had the 'do not approach me because I will bite your head off' belligerent look. So I moved as far away as I could from them until they had passed. Just bad manners, and as Rosemary says people 'shoulda' been doing this mouth covering Covid or no.
We have decided not to go out for NY though amazingly, bearing in mind Covid whichever variant, we have two invites. 'They' can do it – my good health matters more than a one shot wonder party in a crowded house……….
To those here not worrying, and being happy about the anticipated arrival of Omicron, perhaps look at the current hospitalisation figures and deaths in Denmark I linked to on Open Mike. 30 deaths a day (27th Dec.) as the hospitalisation rate rose lagging behind soaring case numbers, mostly happy clappy Omicron. Denmark has the same pop. as NZ.
I'm aware of the numbers in the UK (v low) and South Africa (v low) – and that the numbers in those countries are hospital patients who returned a +ve test – meaning the already low numbers are inflated somewhat.
In Denmark, what is the %age of Omicron v Delta, and how do they tabulate their hospital Covid numbers?
I know there is a view that we minimise the impact by slating the figures as they (the unfortunates with Omicron) apparently have been admitted to hospital with other ailments and just coincidentally tested positive for Omicron. Some sort of weird rationalising is going on. I have read also that some counting Omicron are now seeking another definition of what a 'case' of Covid is (omicron variant) Apparently the argument is that unless you have been either prescribed something or admitted to hospital then you should not have your 'case' counted.
This strange attitude seems to forget that Covid is a notifiable disease as is influenza. You can get mighty ill with influenza while still being treated at home with bed rest, analgesics, hydration etc. I think you could get ill with Omicron, be treated at home with bed rest, analgesics, hydration. The point for public health is whether you have it or not. How you were treated for it is an answer to another question.
Numbers of hospitalisations requiring serious treatment are low. Number of deaths are low. Number of infections are through the roof.
Both South Africa and the UK (and everywhere else form what I can gather) count as "hospital covid cases" those who have incidentally returned a +ve test. That twists perceptions to believe things are more onerous/serious than they are – it stokes unwarranted fear.
Counting infections as "cases" is misleading – no two ways about that. Bloody stupid, or politically opportunistic, for governments to have detected rates of infection labeled as cases and for those case numbers to drive public policy.
No denying Covid can be serious and even deadly for a small percentage of those who get infected. That the government public health messaging and actions didn't focus on what people might do to lessen the impacts of infection (eg – free vit D, zinc, good sleep, loss of weight, less alcohol etc), and instead went all in on "project fear" and invasive forms of social control is, to my mind, a bloody good reason to be looking at lamp posts in an alternative light.
Yes I saw that. Jury is still out on the impact it may have on our population. We are all wise to still be cautious ie 'treating all wires as live' as they used to say when I was a kid and we had, or seemed to, have constant power cuts while lines were upgraded etc.
Number of deaths and serious illness from Omicron are lower than from Delta everywhere.
The numbers Koff provided are for a country with only about 10% Omicron – ie, most of the deaths being recorded (however they are tabulated) are for Delta.
Food for thought? By all of the available data across multiple countries – insisting that Omicron be "kept at bay" is insisting that unnecessary deaths occur.
Number of deaths and serious illness from Omicron are lower than from Delta everywhere.
Considering the number of vulnerable people that have already died, the global toll, this is no surprise. It doesn't necessarily mean Omicron is less dangerous
Koff. Denmark does more tests than anywhere in the known universe so they're going to detect more cases. It is the deepest winter in Denmark and the Grim Reaper is making his annual harvest. Much of the crop will have Te Virus as well as whatever put them on The List.
The numbers, taken from statistics bureau Our World in Data on December 27th, place Denmark as the country with the highest incidence of the virus.
It should be noted that there is a large variation in the amount of testing undertaken by different countries, with Denmark among the countries that tests the most per resident.
Other metrics show Denmark in a more favourable light.
These include the number of people hospitalised with the coronavirus. 608 people or 105 per one million residents are currently admitted to Danish hospitals with the virus.
The latter figure is significantly lower than in a number of other European countries. In Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary it is over 600, while the figure for France is 250 hospital Covid-19 patients per one million residents.
The week before Christmas saw Denmark register 21 deaths with Covid-19 per million inhabitants. Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Croatia posted figures up to 4-5 times higher, though it should be noted that different countries have different criteria for the data.
I was around Wellington hospital about a month ago and it was jam-packed. That was without any covid-19 cases at all. It would not take many hospitalisations of covid-19 people to screw up the health care of non-covid-19 people.
I am not sure which 'fear' response I want to respond to first, there's so many to pick from. So I will just go straight for the jugular.
We're all going to die. One day we're going to die of something, could be cancer, heart disease, could be old age, aids, hep c, it could be Covid. Meanwhile most sensible people are doing the best they can to boost their immune system (because we all know that the health system is not doing much of anything for anyone with Covid).
If it's covid that evenually kills you, then you're one of the unlucky 0.05% of the under 70s or one of the 0.15% of the over 70s. Death unfortunately is inevitable. Suppose we can run around screaming that the sky is falling and force everyone to live in caves and wear helmets and ban them from looking at the sky or whatever (someone will be mad enough to want to ban the sky) but regardless of the measures taken it does not change the fact that we're all going to die anyway. Meanwhile Omicron is looking like a splendid choice of Covid to catch (if you have to get one, and you will), I say let's not look a gift horse in the mouth. Now I am off to live and ponder the madness of humans who think that walking into a cafe with a mask on, then sitting down and taking said mask off, while punter after punter are maskless breathing each other's air, germs and any viruses that are there to be breathed in. And the mask serves what purpose? Is that to make you feel better or protect you? There's not a whole lot of protection going on in the cafe scenario, is there? Or do we want to ban cafes next?
we all know that the health system is not doing much of anything for anyone with Covid
Tell that to the over-worked, stressed, under-paid and yet dedicated people who are working constantly to save lives. Say it to their faces. Walk up to them and say "you are not doing much of anything". Go ahead.
Or you could just say "thank you". If you can't bring yourself to say that, just fuck off.
A health care system and individual nurses or what-ever who work within it are two entirely different things 'observer'.
I wonder. Did you rail against the specialists and nurses (heroes to a person not so long ago) who got rendered jobless when they declined injections of m-RNA? And if not, why not?
And for the ones who rolled up their sleeves for two injections, but who will draw a line at the third, will you react to their loss in the same fashion as you did for the first tranche who, because of bureaucracy and politics, can no longer dedicate themselves to ministering the sick and injured among us?
They are not two independent things – people and the system work together to provide hospital level care – without the system organising drugs, food, water and cleaning systems and the qualified people to put those systems into action then our health care would fall apart.
What I will say to their 'overworked' faces is "why, if this is the disaster that everyone's been led to believe it is, why have they stood back and said nothing while their colleagues, good doctors and nurses were let go”.
I will also ask them why so many of the injected (and young people) are filling up the ER with an inordinate amount of heart and neurological problems, and being told they're simply panic attacks and being sent away without any treatment.
I will also ask them why they have continued to follow the directive to not mention anything negative about the injection, while patient after patient turns up with injection related injuries. I have a lot to say to those 'stressed' people whose hippocratic oath is superseded but directives that serve no purpose other than injecting people regardless of the harm it causes.
You can tell me to 'fuck off' all you like but I won't and I will continue to point out the obvious. We are all actually going to fucking die and that's a fact and instead of running around with your eyes closed wailing about the sky falling in and demanding that everyone else close their eyes, open your fucking eyes and let that brain kick back into gear and ask yourself why, if this injection is so safe, why doctors and nurses are putting their careers on the line and refusing to have it.
Meanwhile I think I will hit the sushi shop today with my child and watch as they serve her sushi, while I refuse to give them a pass and I will do that in shop after shop because this discrimination, segregation and abuse of people is where the real sickness lies and that's got far worse repercussions than Covid.
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
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 at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond.By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
Popstars wasn’t just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion.It’s 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, Lecturer in Quantitative Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation, The University of Melbourne Trismegist san, Shutterstock Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbour vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/S Curtis Why are we crossing ecological boundaries that affect Earth’s fundamental life-supporting capacity? Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change? Or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a charity director outlines how she’s saving for retirement and buying secondhand. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 45 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Charity director, mum of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophie Yates, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late last year. Now a ...
It’s been called a failed experiment and a judicial straightjacket but the government says the revised three strikes law will be a more workable regime, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Three ...
New Zealand’s Palestinian community and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa are voicing alarm and disappointment with the lack of factual rigour present during the Israeli Ambassador’s appearance as a guest on TVNZ’s Q+A With Jack Tame Sunday (21/04). ...
Both ACT leader David Seymour, who played a key role in drawing up the assisted dying law, and hospice leaders say it's time the legislation was changed. ...
Public submissions on proposed gang control laws are being heard today. Rising gang membership has been cited as rationale for a crackdown – but what do we actually know about how many people belong to gangs in New Zealand?What’s all this then?A rise in the number of gang ...
Climate activists are setting their sights on an unpopular target, and hoping to bring lots of the public with them. It’s hard to miss the Majestic Princess: the enormous cruise ship, docked at Auckland’s Prince’s Wharf, looms over the nearby buildings. The ship, which can fit nearly 6,000 people, ...
Opinion: We’ve kicked the tyres on the perception NZ’s economy is in a parlous state compared to Australia. We take a quick tour of relative trends in GDP, housing markets, labour markets, trade, the fiscal situation, and the outlooks for inflation and interest rates. We find the cyclical positions of ...
Opinion: Making sure developers, local and central government, and landowners are all on the same page makes sense The post A new kind of city deal appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 23 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following korero between Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku, author of the newly published memoir Hine Toa, one of the year’s most important books, and Dale Husband from e-tangata, was first published in October. It traverses her involvement with the activist group Ngā Tamatoa at Auckland University in the early 1970s, her ...
In the 16 years since it was bought by the government for $690 million, KiwiRail has had several overhauls and turnaround plans worth billions of dollars. Its ambitions as a successful, profitable operator of tourism, freight and ferries have often been derailed by disasters from earthquakes to cyclones, mine explosions ...
Black Ferns trailblazer Kendra Cocksedge was on the verge of tears when her young protégé, Hannah King, unassumingly broke the news. Three-time Rugby World Cup winner Cocksedge and Lincoln agriculture student King meet every few weeks over a hot chocolate, in an enduring mentorship that’s spanned years. “Before we even ...
By Russell Palmer, RNZ News digital political journalist New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters is putting off recognition of Palestine as a state, despite opposition Labour’s formal request that he make the move. Peters said diplomatic recognition of Palestine was a matter of “when not if”, but doing so now ...
The opposition has laid into the government's plan to reintroduce a "three strikes" regime, saying it's inequitable and there's very little evidence it works. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior research associate, University of Sydney Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has ordered social media platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter) to remove graphic videos of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney last week from the site. The incident ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Turnbull, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney John Turnbull, CC BY-NC-ND In past bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, the southern region has sometimes been spared worst of the bleaching. Not this time. This year’s intense underwater heat has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Darren Gill/Mackey, Darling & Collaborators The relationship between witchcraft and teenage girls has been the subject of many books, films and television shows. Over time, the traditional image of witch as crone ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Becky Freeman, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney Andres Siimon/Unsplash There are no silver bullets, magic tricks or secret hacks to solving complex public health problems. Taking on the global tobacco industry and reducing the devastating consequences of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam B. Watts, Research Associate in galaxy evolution, The University of Western Australia ESO/A. Watts et al., CC BY We breathe oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere every day, but did you know that these gases also float through space, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Nielsen, Professor and Deputy Director, Monash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University Maxime Bhm/Unsplash A new group of drugs called nitazenes has been detected in Australia. They have been sold as heroin as well as other drugs like ketamine. Concerns ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor emerita, University of Sydney Image from Bradlow + Bock campaign Can the job of being a federal member of parliament be shared by two or more persons? Two prospective candidates for the inner-Melbourne federal seat of Higgins, Lucy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zoe Rathus, Senior Lecturer in Law, Griffith University Shutterstock In October 2023, the federal parliament passed major changes to how children’s cases are decided under the Family Law Act, which kick in next month. Among other things, they repeal a ...
By Salwa Amor in Istanbul Palestine solidarity activists are preparing a flotilla to deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, vowing to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory on board the Akdeniz, a seven-deck passenger ship. Currently docked in Istanbul, the ship will carry 800 people from more than ...
The Government is putting at risk the defences of our land and sea borders against organised crime, and our online defences against child exploitation, terrorism and online crime with cuts to critical frontline roles at Customs and Internal Affairs. ...
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a good cry: All of Us Strangers (Disney+)It’s the dreamlike, emotional film that had viewers running from the cinema in floods of tears, and ...
The foreign minister says diplomatic recognition of Palestine is a matter of "when not if", but doing so now could impede progress towards a two-state solution. ...
Not all mainstreamers are useless:
Not all, but National & Labour make it seem they all are…
"oppressive and failed policy of marijuana prohibition.".
We of course are going to have an attempt at this introduced here.
The propose that we will make it illegal for anyone under the age of about 14 today from ever being able to buy or smoke tobacco. Bet that turns out to be a marvelous triumph. I'm not going to bother looking up the details of what the proposal really is because it will be the greatest stuff-up since the US had their eighteenth amendment fiasco.
The Chekist thug has memory-holed his predecessors' atrocities.
Liquidation of the International Memorial
12/28/2021
On December 28, 2021, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decided to liquidate the International Memorial.
The formal reason stated in the suit of the General Prosecutor's Office is the absence of the label “foreign agent” on some materials. During the hearing, the inconsistency of these claims was clearly demonstrated.
But today, the court finally named not a formal reason, but the real reason for the liquidation of the International Memorial: the General Prosecutor's Office claims that we are misinterpreting Soviet history, “creating a false image of the USSR as a terrorist state,” “lashing out criticism at the state authorities”. And the state, according to our opponents, is beyond criticism.
The decision of the Supreme Court once again confirmed that the history of political terror organized and directed by the state authorities remains for Russia not an academic topic of interest only to specialists, but an acute problem of our time. Our country needs an honest and conscientious reflection on the Soviet past; this is the guarantee of her future. It is ridiculous to believe that the judicial liquidation of International Memorial will remove this issue from the agenda. The entire Russian society needs to remember the tragedies of the past. And not only Russian: the memory of state terror unites all the former Soviet republics.
Of course, we will challenge the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in all ways available to us. And we will find legitimate ways to continue our work. A memorial is not an organization, it is not even a social movement. The memorial is the need of the citizens of Russia for the truth about its tragic past, about the fate of many millions of people. And no one will be able to "eliminate" this need.
google translation
The crocodile tears are falling, forgetting that that time of history was the result of yet another capitalist inspired war that dragged the Soviet Union in by capitalist German aggression
Stalin was a product of those capitalist aggression times. But still a Hero in many ways.
fuck western capitalist crocodile tears.
But still a Hero in many ways.
Wash your mouth out with soap – Stalin was the worst of men – a true peer of Hitler.
"Even if you could tear the head off an elephant, if you are without humanity you are no hero."
Not a hero – a totalitarian despot utterly lacking in humanity or indeed any other redeeming features – a ruthless self-serving power seeker that only fascist fanboys and America-hating ignoramuses could admire.
Anyone who supports Capitalist versus Capitalist wars such as the two world wars are partly culpable for the 27 million Soviet Citizen's death toll from WW2, not forgetting the lack of acknowledgments in recent WW2 commemorations for the Soviet contribution on defeating the Fascists. ie Hitler who is more akin to your beloved American Administration than Stalin
Big on projection Byd0nz, but fact free as usual – I don't love the US – they do plenty wrong – but their wrongs do not exculpate totalitarian despots.
No-one who pretends to progressive values can go beyond Churchill's "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference of the Devil in the House of Commons." in respect of Stalin.
Stalin got a lot wrong without external help – though blind prejudice and ignorant folly may pretend otherwise.
I dont hold much out for quotes from a racist like Churchill. He did'nt give a shit about Soviet people neither do the ones spilling crocodile tears over the original subject of the post I was commenting on.
He did'nt give a shit about Soviet people
Neither did Stalin, and, judging by your apology for Stalin, neither do you.
You are are a more generous soul than me Stuart, engaging with such a half wit.
Lenin disagreed – saw Stalin for what he was.
There's going to be a lot of angry NZers tonight. Person who has just tested positive for omicron, came over the border, did 7 days in MiQ and was meant to do 9 days in self isolation. Went into the Auckland CBD on Sunday and Monday. Including to a night club and bars.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-first-community-exposure-of-omicron-in-nz-confirmed-by-ministry-of-health/BT6J5E5L5RF6LOF4V3AGF3N6VM/
I've never understood the new rules. Covid infectiousness periods haven't change much have they?
Meh, was always going to happen. Better to get omicron out and about early as all the data is pointing to it having a hospitalisation rate of less than .01%
11000 cases and 60 hospitalised in NSW. Hardly scary stuff
[next time you want to make a claim of fact about covid, put up a link to back it up. See Fireblade’s comment and link below for actual NSW rates – weka]
Yes it was…and Fireblade’s link shows why.
None of that however detracts from how successful we have been to date,,,,and hopefully 'going forward'…excuse the corporate speak.
NSW has 625 people in Hospital with Covid-19 and 61 in ICU.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-29/covid-updates-testing-case-numbers-interstate-border-travel/100729500#nsw
thanks.
mod note.
11,000 new cases and 68 new hospitalisations. .006%
who made anything up?
https://www.google.com/search?q=covid+nsw&rlz=1CDGOYI_enNZ876NZ876&hl=en-GB&sxsrf=AOaemvJJEEmnoB_juuR6iwsSxw-usTSa9w%3A1640759881689&ei=SQLMYdDAKeeVseMPnN-vqA8&oq=covid+nsw&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAEYADIKCAAQsQMQgwEQQzILCAAQsQMQgwEQkQIyCwgAELEDEIMBEJECMgoIABCxAxCDARBDMggIABDJAxCRAjILCAAQgAQQsQMQgwEyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDoHCCMQsAMQJzoHCAAQRxCwAzoHCCMQ6gIQJzoECCMQJzoECAAQQzoFCAAQkQI6CgguEMcBEKMCECc6BwgAELEDEEM6CggAELEDEMkDEEM6BQgAEJIDOggIABCxAxCRAjoLCAAQsQMQyQMQkQI6BwgAEIAEEAo6CggAELEDEIMBEAo6BAgAEApKBAhBGABQ_A1YxiJguidoBnAAeACAAegBiAHJEpIBBjAuMS4xMJgBAKABAbABD8gBCcABAQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#wptab=s:H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLVT9c3NMwySk6OL8zJecQYzy3w8sc9YamwSWtOXmMM4BL3TU3JTM7MS3XJLE5NLE71yU9OLMnMzxOS5mJzzSvJLKkUEpTi50I1RkiCiwOukEeKi4tDP1ffwDQtp5JnFxO3R2piTklGcEliSfEiVsW81HKF4vzSkgyF8sSc1GKF5Pyi_LzEssyi0mKFYpAaAOV83MOlAAAA
625 in hospital as total omicron cases are approaching 50k based on 7 day averages. .0125%
scary stuff indeed.
I’ve been living in auckland for 2 years, the front line thank you very fucking much.
the stats I’ve just provided give some much needed perspective on the ACTUAL danger. Not the emotive fear mongering of…
Cue dark sinister voice “another covid variant”
I didn't say you made it up, I said you have to provide a link to the claim of fact. This is important. You're presenting an argument based on facts, Fireblade presented a different set of facts, if you provide back up we can actually talk about the views rather than someone's randome reckons on the the internet. This isn't FB, we're here for the robust debate.
you said 60 in hospital btw. Not 625. I don't know what you're on about, and I'm not going to parse a google search to try and figure it out. Make the argument if you can.
and, flattening the curve is still a thing that matters.
The curve is pretty fucking flat at a .0125% hospitalisation rate
You realise that this is a contagious disease and the 0.0125% rate isn't fixed in stone. At some point the hospitalisation rate can't get any higher because there aren't enough beds.
I used the same set of facts as fireblade, 625 total minus the 550 odd from the day before came to 68 hospitalisations. On the day when 11000 odd new cases came in.
I gave you daily cases and daily hospitalisations. Apples with apples, not single apples with the sum total of the harvest.
On the day when 11000 odd new cases came in…
Have you heard of "lag"… ?
Sure have. Checked the 7 day rolling average and used a calculator?
yeah, so you can see why I'm saying explain and link at teh start.
OK. 68 new hospitalisations. In a single day. After a couple of weeks of that, how does that look on medical resources?
Hint: Omicron potentially being milder is not an excuse to relax, if it infects enough people. And Omicron likes infecting people.
You might not care about flattening the curve, many of us do for bloody obvious reasons. Where have you been for the past 2 years.
Here is the Ministry of Health media release about the Omicron case.
https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/media-releases/first-community-exposures-border-related-omicron-case
Bloody unbelievable really. Unbelievable.
There's going to be a fair few happy and hopeful people in NZ tonight.
have you stopped taking precautions then?
What? Fact. There are people who are hoping this is the beginning of community spread for Omicron because it is a far, far milder version of Covid than Delta meaning fewer deaths and serious illness among those infected.
If by "precaution" you mean the likes of Vit D, zinc etc, well those things don't prevent infection, but lessen severity of infection. I'm living exactly the same way today as I did yesterday, and will continue to live that way tomorrow.
I guess if I get determined to avoid infection and any chance of future immunity, I might throw in a Listerine gargle in the event of Omicron spread, if I'm around dense groups of people (hit those at a rate of ten to the dozen these days) …maybe a 1% Johnsons baby shampoo nasal rinse too. (the irony 🙂 )
What about yourself?
I meant precautions to limit spread: hand washing, mask wearing, distancing, scanning/signing in. I'll take that as a no then.
(and yes, I continue to do those things, for my own sake, and the sake of people around me who are also at risk from covid).
You can make up whatever shit about me you like Weka. Though alternatively, you can if you like, and only for the sake of comprehension, read my comment.
Curious. When you write of "people around me who are also at risk from covid", I assume you are referring to people who are at a higher risk of severe illness or death rather than just risk of infection, yes?
If so, and seeing as how Omicron seems to essentially waltz past that double vaccination, the Listerine and Johnston's shampoo gargle and washes are worth reading up for anyone sensibly concerned for their well being.
I know that for me, seeing as how data is sparse on effects in those with no immunity (either from pharmaceuticals or previous infection) – then hey.
It's a simple question Bill: are you hand washing, mask wearing, scanning/signing in, social distancing etc as advised to prevent spreading covid?
No. Until we know how omicron impacts on long covid rates, including from asymptomatic infection, I will continue to protect myself and others. It's not hard, it builds resiliency, and it future proofs us for another pandemic. Or the next variant.
I'll take that as a no then.
Mmmm…you know that washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding crowded spaces and respecting personal spaces is what some of us do as a matter of course…whether we're living in the Time of Plague or no, no?
Not having partaken of the Pfizer Product doth not a barbarian make…
some of us being the operative phrase apparently.
(am well aware that many unvaxxed people take precautions 👍 I was referring specifically to what Bill said)
Bill said – I'm living exactly the same way today as I did yesterday, and will continue to live that way tomorrow.
Which implies…absolutely nothing that would be along the line of your disparaging and somewhat stupid response.
And you still haven't answered my easy to answer question 🤷♀️ That's three opportunities to do so.
It's not an irrelevant question. If people are arguing that we're better off with letting omicron have free rein, then it's reasonable to want to know if those people are not taking precautions to limit spread and help protect people. It's also not unreasonable to think they probably aren’t given the position on omicron.
The question you asked was (quote) have you stopped taking precautions then?
The relevant portion of my answer was, and for the fourth time – (quote) I'm living exactly the same way today as I did yesterday, and will continue to live that way tomorrow.
Three weeks ago (or however long ago that was) I could sign into some places that I can no longer sign into – that's changed. But since 'yesterday'? Or in light of today's news? And tomorrow?
As I already pointed out, (fifth time now) nothing changes.
btw – I don’t advocate giving Omicron “free rein” – never have. There are people in society who need protection. That has always been the way with Covid, but the “powers that be”, by dint of the way they have distributed a leaky vaccine, obviously beg to differ on that point.
Pendant away all you like. I asked really clearly,
You've now implied that you sign in and will continue to do so. What about the rest? Really odd that you just won't say.
I don't know what you were doing before, so this doesn't answer my question.
What do you advocate then? Because I thought you were arguing that we will be fine with omicron because it's mild, will protect us from Delta, and therefore we should stop restrictions.
I advocate for a public health response that's based on health and best medical practice – not politics, as has been the case to now.
As said elsewhere, all of the data from across nations indicates, that in terms of raw numbers and regardless of observed infection rates, Omicron inflicts far fewer instances of serious illness and results in fewer deaths than Delta. Seeking to preserve the presence of Delta when it's observed that Omicron displaces Delta is medical malfeasance that will cost lives.
Probably never took any, luck of the Irish is all that's needed.
Ive always wondered whether the luck of the irish was good luck or bad….
Time will tell in this instance I suppose.
It's like we need a facility where the blase can be deliberately infected so they can see how benign it all is.
We have one…its called NZ
I've been looking forward to this day. The milder omincron will hopefully wipe out Delta and all the fear mongering will cease. I am also looking forward to the day in the not too distant future that people start to realise how illogical and mad many of the rules are. This was evident to me today as I walked into a packed food court and every person sitting was maskless, while those walking within the space had to wear a mask, makes no sense. Now that Omicron's come to the party, hopefully it will bring some sanity when the fearful and mindless realise it's nothing but a sniffle. Woop woop!
please fix username for next comment, ta.
Done – it's been a while but now that the new regime has entered full swing guess I will be in often to check out just how the liberals are narrating the situation 🙂
Would love to know what you are talking about. I guess you are metaphorically tapping the side of your nose to those who know what you mean ……no second thoughts sounds as though it could be a bit 'wrong' wing as we call it now.
haha, all good (there's a kind of a bug on some devices where typos are easily missed in the name and email fields)
Yeah right.
No Tui but drinking a Rose so that will have to do.
A sniffle for many people can lead to unsniffle like conditions eg those who are immuno-compromised or whose breathing can be affected.
"Makes no sense." I must have said those words 3,468,990 times since February 2020.
I'm with you…we must all stop being so afraid.
we must all stop being so afraid
The Covidian Cultists will be having none of that, you hear!
I have not met anyone who is afraid. I have met many who are sensible and continuing to mask up, physically distance etc. It is not life as it was pre Covid and adapting to a new way does not mean people are afraid or being reckless.
"Tough" guys who have anyone and everyone's number, not just Mickys, will call it whatever they like.
People pick their fear: covid or the vaccination or the government…
Tell that to the immuno-crompormised, the medically vulnerable and all the people who love them.
Yep…our household of two ticks those boxes… and yet we remain uninjected and unafraid.
To add to that, the unvaccinated are banned from using the food court arent they? But they are allowed to walk past and around the food court within the mall. Shameful really isn't it. Like an overnight private takeover of public interests.
Fucksake, now Stuff has doxxed the idiot.
Rhythm & Alps promoters will be a tad pissed. Wonder how his contract is worded.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300487986/covid19-omicron-border-case-active-in-the-community-is-dj-dimension
Stuff are pretty safe doxing him, it'll all fall out in the next few days anyway as various versions of his non-appearance circulate.
the doxxing issue is whether this makes people more or less likely to tell the truth and do the right things.
Twitter are going hard. He's deleted some social media posts, I'm surprised he hasn't closed his twitter account.
I see the Herald has published his picture of himself at the beach. This could get ugly.
Self isolation doesn't work, because while most people can be trusted, there's a non-trivial number of fuckwits in the population.
Could always ankle-tag them, maybe.
non-trivial seems to be an overlooked concept at the moment.
Hong Kong trialled it and went back to MIQ, so it's not unique to NZ by any stretch.
What pisses me off the most is that the media was running this relentless campaign, day after day, about people missing out on MIQ. And the government caved and let people self-isolate at home and then the inevitable happened. How many people will now say "why do I have to self-isolate when that guy didn't?".
The media never had stories about the medically vulnerable or the elderly and how grateful they were for covid-19 being kept out of NZ.
Yeah, you'd have thought not a single reporter had a granny they cared about…
Wow!! I am booked in for my booster at the hospital on Jan 12th. This is getting quite worrying. I don't think those who frequent bars and clubs will give up their New Year Parties, so stay home and celebrate small. Get your booster, use all other methods to be safe as many of us could not survive this. Keep your spirits up and those saying we are just scaremongering.. you go first we will wait to see how you do. Older and yes wiser.
Thing that worries me is whether the people who say it's the beginning of the end of covid will stop doing all the things to prevent spread, or if they will now believe that there's no point.
…as many of us could not survive this.
The vast majority of us will Patricia…do what your Mum told you to do…drink plenty of fluids, take your vit c, your vit D3 (about 5000IU) your Zn (about 20mg) eat your veg and get plenty of sleep. Keep the doors and windows open.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3HQMbQAWRc
Vast majority, that's ok then, never mind the dead people. Or the disabled ones.
Agree Weka, the jury is still out on the potential impact of Omicron on our community. It seems to spread rapidly and therefore possibly put pressure on our health system with the sheer numbers needing care.
I had not realised the bloke had breached his isolation when he went out and about. We were lucky once with the Aussie tourist in Wellington who did a full weekend of sightseeing with Delta but did not pass it on.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/445570/australian-traveller-who-visited-wellington-has-delta-variant
So booster, masking, scanning in, physical distancing. Apart from the booster, due January, I have not stopped doing the masking etc, even while out in the streets. In my suburb most people are masked when out, in fact today I saw only three who were unmasked. Two of whom, elderly folk, were coughing out, not into their elbow or tissue or handkerchief. They had the look of tourists and also had the 'do not approach me because I will bite your head off' belligerent look. So I moved as far away as I could from them until they had passed. Just bad manners, and as Rosemary says people 'shoulda' been doing this mouth covering Covid or no.
We have decided not to go out for NY though amazingly, bearing in mind Covid whichever variant, we have two invites. 'They' can do it – my good health matters more than a one shot wonder party in a crowded house……….
I like this one better…..I think it has Robin Williams in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU
To those here not worrying, and being happy about the anticipated arrival of Omicron, perhaps look at the current hospitalisation figures and deaths in Denmark I linked to on Open Mike. 30 deaths a day (27th Dec.) as the hospitalisation rate rose lagging behind soaring case numbers, mostly happy clappy Omicron. Denmark has the same pop. as NZ.
I'm aware of the numbers in the UK (v low) and South Africa (v low) – and that the numbers in those countries are hospital patients who returned a +ve test – meaning the already low numbers are inflated somewhat.
In Denmark, what is the %age of Omicron v Delta, and how do they tabulate their hospital Covid numbers?
Not sure where you get the view that omicron is very low in UK
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/25/uk-sets-new-record-for-covid-cases-as-omicron-sweeps-london.html
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-omicron-daily-overview
I know there is a view that we minimise the impact by slating the figures as they (the unfortunates with Omicron) apparently have been admitted to hospital with other ailments and just coincidentally tested positive for Omicron. Some sort of weird rationalising is going on. I have read also that some counting Omicron are now seeking another definition of what a 'case' of Covid is (omicron variant) Apparently the argument is that unless you have been either prescribed something or admitted to hospital then you should not have your 'case' counted.
This strange attitude seems to forget that Covid is a notifiable disease as is influenza. You can get mighty ill with influenza while still being treated at home with bed rest, analgesics, hydration etc. I think you could get ill with Omicron, be treated at home with bed rest, analgesics, hydration. The point for public health is whether you have it or not. How you were treated for it is an answer to another question.
Numbers of hospitalisations requiring serious treatment are low. Number of deaths are low. Number of infections are through the roof.
Both South Africa and the UK (and everywhere else form what I can gather) count as "hospital covid cases" those who have incidentally returned a +ve test. That twists perceptions to believe things are more onerous/serious than they are – it stokes unwarranted fear.
Counting infections as "cases" is misleading – no two ways about that. Bloody stupid, or politically opportunistic, for governments to have detected rates of infection labeled as cases and for those case numbers to drive public policy.
No denying Covid can be serious and even deadly for a small percentage of those who get infected. That the government public health messaging and actions didn't focus on what people might do to lessen the impacts of infection (eg – free vit D, zinc, good sleep, loss of weight, less alcohol etc), and instead went all in on "project fear" and invasive forms of social control is, to my mind, a bloody good reason to be looking at lamp posts in an alternative light.
Yes I saw that. Jury is still out on the impact it may have on our population. We are all wise to still be cautious ie 'treating all wires as live' as they used to say when I was a kid and we had, or seemed to, have constant power cuts while lines were upgraded etc.
Number of deaths and serious illness from Omicron are lower than from Delta everywhere.
The numbers Koff provided are for a country with only about 10% Omicron – ie, most of the deaths being recorded (however they are tabulated) are for Delta.
Food for thought? By all of the available data across multiple countries – insisting that Omicron be "kept at bay" is insisting that unnecessary deaths occur.
Considering the number of vulnerable people that have already died, the global toll, this is no surprise. It doesn't necessarily mean Omicron is less dangerous
Koff. Denmark does more tests than anywhere in the known universe so they're going to detect more cases. It is the deepest winter in Denmark and the Grim Reaper is making his annual harvest. Much of the crop will have Te Virus as well as whatever put them on The List.
The numbers, taken from statistics bureau Our World in Data on December 27th, place Denmark as the country with the highest incidence of the virus.
It should be noted that there is a large variation in the amount of testing undertaken by different countries, with Denmark among the countries that tests the most per resident.
Other metrics show Denmark in a more favourable light.
These include the number of people hospitalised with the coronavirus. 608 people or 105 per one million residents are currently admitted to Danish hospitals with the virus.
The latter figure is significantly lower than in a number of other European countries. In Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary it is over 600, while the figure for France is 250 hospital Covid-19 patients per one million residents.
Neighbouring Sweden and Norway had 51 and 65 hospital patients with Covid-19 respectively in figures dating from just before Christmas, though Sweden’s hospitalisation figures have since spiked markedly.
The week before Christmas saw Denmark register 21 deaths with Covid-19 per million inhabitants. Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Croatia posted figures up to 4-5 times higher, though it should be noted that different countries have different criteria for the data.
I was around Wellington hospital about a month ago and it was jam-packed. That was without any covid-19 cases at all. It would not take many hospitalisations of covid-19 people to screw up the health care of non-covid-19 people.
With absolutely no resiliency built into our public health system in NZ this could very well be the case.
NZ Hospital System…brought to it's knees by successive negligent governments.
Including this one.
https://www.economy.com/denmark/deaths/not-seasonally-adjusted
I am not sure which 'fear' response I want to respond to first, there's so many to pick from. So I will just go straight for the jugular.
We're all going to die. One day we're going to die of something, could be cancer, heart disease, could be old age, aids, hep c, it could be Covid. Meanwhile most sensible people are doing the best they can to boost their immune system (because we all know that the health system is not doing much of anything for anyone with Covid).
If it's covid that evenually kills you, then you're one of the unlucky 0.05% of the under 70s or one of the 0.15% of the over 70s. Death unfortunately is inevitable. Suppose we can run around screaming that the sky is falling and force everyone to live in caves and wear helmets and ban them from looking at the sky or whatever (someone will be mad enough to want to ban the sky) but regardless of the measures taken it does not change the fact that we're all going to die anyway. Meanwhile Omicron is looking like a splendid choice of Covid to catch (if you have to get one, and you will), I say let's not look a gift horse in the mouth. Now I am off to live and ponder the madness of humans who think that walking into a cafe with a mask on, then sitting down and taking said mask off, while punter after punter are maskless breathing each other's air, germs and any viruses that are there to be breathed in. And the mask serves what purpose? Is that to make you feel better or protect you? There's not a whole lot of protection going on in the cafe scenario, is there? Or do we want to ban cafes next?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I0VsYpX0M4
Far too depressing.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qVJ0jGC_0tU
lol
we all know that the health system is not doing much of anything for anyone with Covid
Tell that to the over-worked, stressed, under-paid and yet dedicated people who are working constantly to save lives. Say it to their faces. Walk up to them and say "you are not doing much of anything". Go ahead.
Or you could just say "thank you". If you can't bring yourself to say that, just fuck off.
A health care system and individual nurses or what-ever who work within it are two entirely different things 'observer'.
I wonder. Did you rail against the specialists and nurses (heroes to a person not so long ago) who got rendered jobless when they declined injections of m-RNA? And if not, why not?
And for the ones who rolled up their sleeves for two injections, but who will draw a line at the third, will you react to their loss in the same fashion as you did for the first tranche who, because of bureaucracy and politics, can no longer dedicate themselves to ministering the sick and injured among us?
They are not two independent things – people and the system work together to provide hospital level care – without the system organising drugs, food, water and cleaning systems and the qualified people to put those systems into action then our health care would fall apart.
The only thing holding together what passes for our healthcare system is the people at the coalface.
The 'system' functions, such as it it does, in spite of the meddling from petty bureaucrats, not because.
This may very well change as those most invested in healing will be forced out, leaving behind those most concerned with maintaining their income.
What I will say to their 'overworked' faces is "why, if this is the disaster that everyone's been led to believe it is, why have they stood back and said nothing while their colleagues, good doctors and nurses were let go”.
I will also ask them why so many of the injected (and young people) are filling up the ER with an inordinate amount of heart and neurological problems, and being told they're simply panic attacks and being sent away without any treatment.
I will also ask them why they have continued to follow the directive to not mention anything negative about the injection, while patient after patient turns up with injection related injuries. I have a lot to say to those 'stressed' people whose hippocratic oath is superseded but directives that serve no purpose other than injecting people regardless of the harm it causes.
You can tell me to 'fuck off' all you like but I won't and I will continue to point out the obvious. We are all actually going to fucking die and that's a fact and instead of running around with your eyes closed wailing about the sky falling in and demanding that everyone else close their eyes, open your fucking eyes and let that brain kick back into gear and ask yourself why, if this injection is so safe, why doctors and nurses are putting their careers on the line and refusing to have it.
Meanwhile I think I will hit the sushi shop today with my child and watch as they serve her sushi, while I refuse to give them a pass and I will do that in shop after shop because this discrimination, segregation and abuse of people is where the real sickness lies and that's got far worse repercussions than Covid.