Oil drilling in Maui’s Dolphin’s habitat
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- Date published:
9:00 am, September 27th, 2015 - 66 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, C&R, Conservation, Environment -
Tags: maui's dolphin
Recent events have shown an unfortunate variation in the way that the Government handles issues concerning wildlife. During this month it has expressed willingness to house a couple of pandas at great cost while at the same time it has shown disregard for the future of Maui’s Dolphin by again offering Auckland’s west coast up for potential oil drilling.
The cost of the two pandas, potentially the thick end of $100 million, is significant, probably comparable to the royalties the Government would receive if oil was discovered off the West Coast. And you have to wonder if it is money well spent. The Government in the past has said that Local Government should concentrate on core business. It is hard to justify the spend unless core business includes not only roads, rates and rubbish but also housing cute animals that provide good photo opportunities.
There is great local concern at the opening up of the West Coast to potential oil drilling. The area is the habitat for the remaining few Maui’s dolphin. The Government is consulting on areas to be released for the 2016 Block Offer and the Northland Reinga basin is again proposed as an area. The area starts 12 nautical miles out from the coast. Oil rigs this far out would be easily visible from the shore.
During the last Block Offer consultation Auckland Council voted on the form of its submission. A resolution was proposed that Council opposed the allocation of petroleum exploration permits in the West Coast. Unfortunately the resolution failed, just. The vote was 9-9 and it took the casting vote of the chair George Wood to vote the resolution down.
I recently questioned Waitakere Ward councillor Linda Cooper on why she voted against the proposal. She said that she thought there were better ways of expressing opposition to the drilling and also berated those of us who drive cars to Piha and then oppose drilling.
This was a somewhat unusual response. I thought the best way to express opposition to drilling was to do exactly that. And yes we all drive cars but climate change makes it extraordinarily important that we transition to a carbon neutral society as soon as possible. Drilling more oil wells will not achieve this.
The potential cost of the loss of Maui’s dolphins is immeasurable. Mother Nature is the sum of a complex series of interactions between a huge number of species relating to earth sky and water and the removal of one species can have initially subtle but potentially and gradually profound effects on the environment.
And Maui’s dolphins are iconic as well as threatened. If we really are a clean green nation we should be doing everything possible to preserve them.
If you want to get involved Greenpeace is running this campaign to try and persuade Auckland Councillors to this time oppose the drilling off the west coast. The Waitakere Ranges Local Board will be expressing its opposition.
Reprinted from Futurewest.wordpdress.com.
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- Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote AddressE nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...1 day ago
- New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patientsThe new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...1 day ago
- Second Poseidon aircraft on home soilDefence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...1 day ago
- Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and SyriaAotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...1 day ago
- Community voice to help shape immigration policyMigrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...1 day ago
- State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for TaranakiConstruction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...2 days ago
- Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of PolicePrime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...2 days ago
- Government confirms vital roading reconnectionsSix further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...2 days ago
- Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign MinisterForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...2 days ago
- Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in AotearoaEducation Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...3 days ago
- State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone GabrielleA vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...3 days ago
- Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recoveryInternal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...4 days ago
- Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability servicesThe Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...5 days ago
- Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and memberMinister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...5 days ago
- Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announcedFifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...5 days ago
- Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High CourtHigh Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...5 days ago
- NZ still well placed to meet global challengesThe economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...6 days ago
- Western Ring Route CompleteAucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...6 days ago
- Briefings to Incoming MinistersThis section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...6 days ago
- Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient FijiAotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...6 days ago
- Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recoveryThe Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...6 days ago
- Next steps developing clean energy for NZThe Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...6 days ago
- Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart NashThis morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...1 week ago
- CPTPP Trade Ministers coming to AucklandThe Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...1 week ago
- Govt approves $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses$25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...1 week ago
- More than 160,000 new Kiwis to call NZ home80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visas applications have been processed – three months ahead of schedule Residence granted to 160,000 people 84,000 of 85,000 applications have been approved Over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents now that 80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications have been ...1 week ago
- Scholarships propel Kiwi students to NASAThe Government continues to invest in New Zealand’s burgeoning space industry, today announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson (University of Auckland), Leah Albrow (University of Canterbury) and Jack Naish, Celine Jane ...1 week ago
- New Zealand to attend regional security meeting in AustraliaThe Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques travels to Melbourne, Australia today to represent New Zealand at the fourth Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. “The Government is committed to reducing the threat of terrorism ...1 week ago
- Health and safety action plan for portsThe health and safety practices at our nation’s ports will be improved as part of a new industry-wide action plan, Workplace Relations and Safety, and Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced. “Following the tragic death of two port workers in Auckland and Lyttelton last year, I asked the Port Health ...1 week ago
- Bikes and scooters to be exempt from FBTBikes, electric bikes and scooters will be added to the types of transport exempted from fringe benefit tax under changes proposed today. Revenue Minister David Parker said the change would allow bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and micro-mobility share services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they ...1 week ago
- Foreign Affairs Minister to reaffirm our close relationship with FijiForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji this week. The visit will be her first to the country since the election of the new coalition Government led by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka. The visit will be an opportunity to meet kanohi ki ...1 week ago
- New legislation to streamline Cyclone recoveryThe Government is introducing the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed. The legislation is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints ...1 week ago
- Cost of living package: More bread and butter support for Kiwi familiesApproximately 1.4 million people will benefit from increases to rates and thresholds for social assistance to help with the cost of living Superannuation to increase by over $100 a pay for a couple Main benefits to increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children ...1 week ago
- Freeing up more government bandwidth and money to focus on the cost of living$1 billion in savings which will be reallocated to support New Zealanders with the cost of living A range of transport programmes deferred so Waka Kotahi can focus on post Cyclone road recovery Speed limit reduction programme significantly narrowed to focus on the most dangerous one per cent of state ...1 week ago
- Throwing voting-age legislation onto the 'policy bonfire' only delays a debate that has to...
Opinion - There's plenty of research supporting lowering the voting age to 16. Public debate and the law just need to catch up, Claire Breen writes. ...2 hours ago - Word from The Hill: Reactions to AUKUS, next steps on the Voice, NSW election
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation’s politics team. In this podcast Michelle and ...3 hours ago - Xi’s Moscow trip shows peace in Ukraine isn’t China’s main concernSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jingdong Yuan, Associate Professor, Asia-Pacific security, University of Sydney Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to Moscow this week has been more about reiterating China and Russia’s shared interests, and less about any concrete pathway towards ending the war in Ukraine. While a ...4 hours ago
- ‘Cultural expression through dress’: towards a definition of First Nations fashionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney This May, Wiradjuri woman Denni Francisco and her label Ngali will be the first Indigenous designer to have a solo show at Australian Fashion Week. ...6 hours ago
- ‘Cultural expression through dress’: towards a definition of First Nations fashionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney This May, Wiradjuri woman Denni Francisco and her label Ngali will be the first Indigenous designer to have a solo show at Australian Fashion Week. ...6 hours ago
- Yes, we see you. Why a national plan for homelessness must make thousands of children on their own a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Robinson, Associate Professor in Housing and Communities, University of Tasmania Shutterstock Thousands of children end up being homeless in Australia without a parent or guardian. In 2021-22, 12,812 children (aged 10-17) were on their own when they sought help ...7 hours ago
- Yes, we see you. Why a national plan for homelessness must make thousands of children on their own a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Robinson, Associate Professor in Housing and Communities, University of Tasmania Shutterstock Thousands of children end up being homeless in Australia without a parent or guardian. In 2021-22, 12,812 children (aged 10-17) were on their own when they sought help ...7 hours ago
- Credit Suisse is an anomaly: why Australia and New Zealand are safe from ‘bank run’ contagionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra There has been a lot of talk about the risk of financial contagion following the collapse of California’s Silicon Valley Bank. Perhaps too much talk. While the ...7 hours ago
- Credit Suisse is an anomaly: why Australia and New Zealand are safe from ‘bank run’ contagionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra There has been a lot of talk about the risk of financial contagion following the collapse of California’s Silicon Valley Bank. Perhaps too much talk. While the ...7 hours ago
- You Can’t Get Blood Out Of A Stone
...7 hours ago - Pacific needs to sit up and pay close attention to AUKUS, says Dame Meg TaylorA Pacific elder and former secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum says Pacific leaders need to sit up and pay closer attention to AUKUS and the Indo-Pacific strategy and China’s response to them. Speaking from Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, Dame Meg Taylor said Pacific leaders were being sidelined ...7 hours ago
- Cyclone Gabrielle: Robertson warns of delays to rebuild decisionsThe government says it should have details on which weather-hit areas are high risk within three weeks, and can then make decisions about rebuilding. ...7 hours ago
- What to expect when you’re expecting an El Niño (the answer might surprise you)Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carly Tozer, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Dean Lewins/AAP La Niña and El Niño are well-known terms in Australia these days. Linked to them are certain expectations: we expect wet conditions in La Niña and dry conditions in El Niño. These ...8 hours ago
- Called it: The Game is not coming to New Zealand
Promoters say The Game has pulled out of his upcoming appearance at two legs of a new New Zealand hip-hop festival, continuing the Compton rapper’s sketchy attendance record in Aotearoa. In an announcement made on Facebook today, promoters Room Service say The Game, real name Jayceon Taylor, has “last-minute commitments” ...8 hours ago - Te Whatu Ora reveals it has about 200 comms people, following criticism from NationalThe organisation has about 200 communications staff. The figure came in response to a Parliamentary written question from National. ...8 hours ago
- Counter-protests planned against anti-trans speakerCounter-protests are planned for this weekend as a controversial anti-trans campaigner speaks in two New Zealand cities. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull will be allowed into the country after Immigration NZ said the threshold to stop her had not been reached. In a tweet, Rainbow Greens, the group that released an open letter ...8 hours ago
- The magical world of restaurant staff mealsWe asked workers at some of our favourite food establishments to show us what they eat when the rush is over. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter The Boil Up. Last week was Work Week on The Spinoff, dedicated to unpacking our relationship with the world ...8 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Who will drain Wellington’s lobbying swamp?Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: Who will drain Wellington’s lobbying swamp? Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in ...8 hours ago
- New Norton 360 Platinum To Help New Zealanders Address Identity Theft Issues65 percent of Kiwis surveyed admit they would have no idea what to do if their identity was stolen Norton, a leading consumer Cyber Safety brand of Gen, today announced the New Zealand launch of Norton™ 360 Platinum, which leverages the company's ...9 hours ago
- Throwing voting-age legislation onto the ‘policy bonfire’ only delays a debate that has to happe...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Breen, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images There might have been pragmatic political reasons behind the government throwing voting-age legislation onto its recent policy bonfire, but it remains a sadly wasted opportunity. The announcement reversed former ...9 hours ago
- Does public safety trump free speech? History’s case for banning anti-trans activist Posie Parker ...ANALYSIS: By Bevin Veale, Massey University The impending arrival of Kelly-Jean Keen-Minshull — aka Posie Parker — has put the spotlight on the tension between free speech and protecting vulnerable communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. In particular, it raises questions about Immigration New Zealand’s role in limiting who can visit ...9 hours ago
- Iwi Leading Urgent Housing Rebuild And Managed Retreat For WairoaWairoa has ready-to-go projects that could be accelerated to quickly get people back into homes following Cyclone Gabrielle, Minister Willie Jackson was told on a visit to Wairoa today. Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa is seeking a Government commitment ...9 hours ago
- New Report: City Rail Link Project Throws Good Money After BadA new report published by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union exposes the bad decision-making that led to a 61% cost blowout in Auckland’s City Rail Link and shows that the costs of the project now significantly outweigh any benefits. ‘The City Rail Link: ...9 hours ago
- Immigration NZ allows anti-trans speaker into NZImmigration NZ has today confirmed that the controversial anti-trans campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull will be allowed into New Zealand for her speaking events this week. You can read our report here – and the full statement from Immigration NZ’s Richard Owen to the media is below: “I can confirm that ...9 hours ago
- Confirmed: Anti-trans campaigner to be allowed into New ZealandImmigration NZ says it knows some people will be unhappy, but ultimately the threshold to bar Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull from New Zealand hasn’t been reached. The British anti-transgender campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, will be allowed into New Zealand this weekend, Immigration NZ has confirmed. Keen-Minshull’s ability to ...9 hours ago
- Antarctic ice age survival story: life seeking ice-free refuges imitates art in Ice Age, the movieSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Stevens, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Antarctica is an icy place today, but the ice extended even further during past ice ages. The question of how and where life survived on land in the icy continent, through the ages, has ...9 hours ago
- The Tongan māfana energy takes centre stage in Red, White & BrassLike a Tongan Cool Runnings, with trumpets instead of bobsleds, Red, White & Brass is a feel-good movie based on an incredible true story. First-time film producer Halaifonua Finau tells Sela Jane Hopgood how he got it made. In 2016, promising new Tongan producer Halaifonua Finau was sitting in the ...9 hours ago
- Why do animals living with humans evolve such similar features? A new theory could explain ‘domest...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Thomas Gleeson, Doctoral Candidate, Australian National University Luz Rovira / Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND In the 19th century, Charles Darwin was one of the first to notice something interesting about domesticated animals: different species often developed similar changes when compared ...10 hours ago
- Popular fertility apps are engaging in widespread misuse of data, including on sex, periods and preg...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katharine Kemp, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney New research reveals serious privacy flaws in fertility apps used by Australian consumers – emphasising the need for urgent reform of the Privacy Act. Fertility apps provide a number ...10 hours ago
- USP still the ‘bedrock’ for Pacific regionalism, says university chiefThe Fiji Times “The University of the South Pacific (USP) has been and continues to be a bedrock for regionalism. A resource owned by the region; for the region and a precious institution that needs to be protected in line with the vision of our forebearers.” This was the message ...10 hours ago
- PNG family kicked out of their home after 46 years – with 24-hour noticeBy Claudia Tally in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinean family who have been renting a property from the National Housing Corporation for the past 46 years have been served with a 24-hour eviction notice by a different owner who had obtained an eviction notice from the Port Moresby District ...10 hours ago
- Auckland Council contemplates quitting Local Government NZAuckland mayor Wayne Brown’s plans to cut back on spending could see the council quit Local Government NZ, the group that represents councils across the country. Stuff’s Todd Niall has reported that $400,000 would be saved by the move, with mayor Brown reportedly wanting to direct that money into other ...10 hours ago
- Does it matter what time I go to bed?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frederic Gachon, Associate Professor, Physiology of Circadian Rhythms, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Gregory Pappas/Unsplash Some of us love to be tucked up in bed by a particular time every night, ensuring a certain number of hours ...10 hours ago
- Love Better: Youthline relationship break-up support campaign launchesThe government has launched campaign to help young people navigate break-ups with the long-term aim of preventing family violence, believed to be the first of its kind. ...11 hours ago
- Love Better: Relationship break-up support campaign launchesThe government has launched campaign to help young people navigate break-ups with the long-term aim of preventing family violence, believed to be the first of its kind. ...11 hours ago
- Giving trans kids a sporting chanceSports can be hugely beneficial for children but there are still many barriers for trans kids wanting to play, writes researcher Julia de Bres. There’s been a lot of talk recently about trans athletes in high performance sport, much of which derives from a broader anti-trans project rather than a ...11 hours ago
- Watch: One woman’s battle to get back on the boardA new documentary follows Amber Clyde, skateboarder and founder of Girls Skate NZ, as she works to rebuild her confidence in the sport while juggling solo motherhood. Amber Clyde remembers being bullied as the only girl at the skate park in Birkenhead – but these days all the same bullies ...11 hours ago
- One woman’s battle to get back on the board | Back on the Board | The SpinoffAfter dedicating years to helping young women find their confidence in skateboarding, Amber Clyde must teach herself how to get back on the board after the birth of her second child. But balancing the realities of being a solo Mum with running her own business means that her time is ...11 hours ago
- GCSB spy boss Andrew Hampton to lead SISGovernment Communication Security Bureau (GCSB) boss Andrew Hampton has been appointed to lead New Zealand's other spy agency - the NZSIS. ...12 hours ago
- 25-million-year-old fossils of a bizarre possum and strange wombat relative reveal Australia’s hid...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arthur Immanuel Crichton, PhD candidate, Flinders University Relative of _Chunia pledgei_ named _Ektopodon serratus_ (top left), with _Wakaleo oldfieldi_. Reconstruction of the early Miocene Kutjumarpu faunal assemblage by Peter Schouten, CC BY-SA Imagine a vast, lush forest dominated by giant flightless birds ...12 hours ago
- Ratepayers' Alliance Urging Supporters To Give Budget FeedbackThe Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is urging its 27,000 members and subscribers to have a say on Auckland Council’s proposed 2022/23 annual budget. Last week, the Ratepayers’ Alliance launched a new website to encourage public feedback. Backtobasics.co.nz ...13 hours ago
- NZ Olympian runner given eight year suspension for dopingNew Zealand distance runner Zane Robertson has been banned from all sport for eight years due to doping. Robertson, who is the holder of six national distance running records and a Commonwealth Games bronze medal, was tested at the UK’s Great Manchester Run in May last year. His sample returned ...13 hours ago
- Why didn’t I simply wear a mask? Alex Casey asks a psychologist why she was too chicken shit to wear a mask during the flight that probably gave her Covid-19. In the live action replay in my head, I can basically see, frame by frame, the moment that one of those puny little Covid-19 Koosh balls did ...13 hours ago
- PSN Appoints New Kaitohu MatuaSocial services and health & disability provider Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN) has appointed Joe Waru as its new Kaitohu Matua (General Manager Māori). The appointment will provide PSN with strategic leadership and advice as it seeks to ...13 hours ago
- Does public safety trump free speech? History suggests there is a case for banning anti-trans activi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kevin Veale, Lecturer in Media Studies, part of the Digital Cultures Laboratory in the School of Humanities, Media, and Creative Communication, Massey University Getty Images The impending arrival of Kelly-Jean Keen-Minshull – aka Posie Parker – has put the spotlight ...13 hours ago
- Appointment Of Director-General Of SecurityDeputy Public Service Commissioner Ms Heather Baggott has today announced the appointment of Mr Andrew Hampton to the position of Director-General of Security and Chief Executive, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS). The role of the NZSIS is to understand ...13 hours ago
- Money isn’t everything – but it can be a significant stressorMoney isn’t everything. But for most of us, it’s easier to deal with anything else in our lives if we know the bills are getting paid. So when household budgets come under pressure from cost of living increases – especially when that includes the mortgage that keeps a roof over ...13 hours ago
- National teases education plan and pledges to ‘rewrite’ curriculumThe National Party will announce the first part of its new education policy tomorrow in the prime minister’s own stomping ground of the Hutt. Leader Christopher Luxon said the “Teaching the Basics Brilliantly” policy will see the curriculum totally overhauled, with a direct focus on reading, writing, maths and science. ...13 hours ago
- Academics Invited To Respond To Survey For Report On Academic FreedomIn conjunction with Curia Market Research, the Free Speech Union has distributed a survey on academic freedom to academics across each of the eight universities in New Zealand. Respect for academic freedom is a statutory responsibility for universities, ...14 hours ago
- Dunne's Weekly: Time To Look Again At Coastal Shipping?Thirty years ago, after a marathon Parliamentary sitting, the Bolger National government passed the Maritime Transport Act which deregulated coastal shipping by abolishing cabotage. Cabotage was the practice which restricted the operation of sea, air, or ...14 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Big drop in number of people on benefitsNew reports out from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) this morning show that in the year to June 2022, 113,400 people came off a benefit, the highest number since electronic records began in 1996. From early 2020, at the start of the pandemic, there was a large increase in the ...14 hours ago
- Australia opens a fascinating new front in the fight for ethical investingA recent court action by Australia’s financial regulator suggests ‘greenwashing’ claims can expect far greater scrutiny – a situation likely to happen here soon enough, writes Steven Moe. Coal mining can seem like yesterday’s fuel – a relic of the last century, in the coming age of wind farms and ...14 hours ago
- National Party plans to rewrite school curriculum if electedThe National Party plans to rewrite the curriculum for primary and intermediate schools if it wins at the next election. ...15 hours ago
- Lizzo heading to NZ for one show in JulyGrammy-winning pop star Lizzo will return to New Zealand in July for her first solo show on our shores. The singer, rapper and flautist (yes) will play Spark Arena on July 26 as part of her Special Tour. The last time she was in New Zealand, Lizzo was a festival ...15 hours ago
- New asteroid sample study offers further hints of space origin for the building blocks of life on Ea...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor Ireland, Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland MASCOT / DLR / JAXA How did life come about? The answer to this question goes to the very heart of our existence on planet Earth. ...15 hours ago
- Why is Australia buying hundreds of missiles?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Dwyer, Associate Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania Flying under the radar of last week’s AUKUS submarine announcement was the revelation that the United States had agreed to sell Australia up to 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles. This follows Australia’s ...15 hours ago
- Doctors may soon get official ‘endorsements’ to practise cosmetic surgery – but will that prot...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Unsplash/Olga Guryanova, CC BY Disturbing reports about botched cosmetic surgeries and injuries in Australia – from breast augmentations causing chronic pain to liposuction leaving patients with lifelong injuries – have sparked concerns in ...15 hours ago
- New research reveals how forests reduce their own bushfire risk, if they’re left aloneSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip Zylstra, Adjunct Associate Professor at Curtin University, Research Associate at University of New South Wales, Curtin University Shutterstock Fire management in Australia is approaching crisis point. Seasons such as the Black Summer three years ago showed how our best ...15 hours ago
- Species don’t live in isolation: what changing threats to 4 marsupials tell us about the futureSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, PhD Student, Deakin University Once abundant, woylies – or brush-tailed bettongs – are now critically endangered. John Gould, CC BY-SA Conserving native wildlife is a challenging task and Australia’s unenviable extinction record shows us we urgently need more sophisticated ...15 hours ago
- The National Skills Agreement needs time in the policy spotlight and it must include these 3 thingsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pi-Shen Seet, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Edith Cowan University ThisIsEngineering/Pexels , CC BY-NC Australia continues to grapple with acute skills shortages. Businesses are struggling to find workers with the skills they need. Meanwhile, workers struggle to get jobs because ...15 hours ago
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Oil is currently @ around $47.00 a barrel i think?
For anyone to contemplate drilling off the NZ coast oil would have to be at least $100.00 per barrel, currently no one can afford it. The govt would have to subsidize exploration to the tune of 100s of thousands a day, it will never happen.
.
If the protesting fools want to do something the reduce future human suffering they should protest outside the maternity wards.
Outside maternity wards being a bit late if your aim is to stop people breeding. Your claim that you want to reduce future human suffering is total lying shit Robert, because you have previously advocated guns on the beaches to stop climate change refugees.
Yep. More judgemental shit, hard to see any actual compassion there.
There is zero ‘compassion’ in nature.
BUT I’m showing more ‘compassion’ for the new born than their dumb shit parents that is for sure.
Mother Nature, Mother Nature, she’s gonna getcha
Yeah she’s gonna getcha
Mother Nature, she’s grown to hate’cha and she’s gonna get’cha
Gonna get’cha ya bet’cha
She bats last and she’s comin’ out swingin’
She bats last and she’s just about taken
All that she can take
Now it’s payback time Mother (Nature) fuckers
It’s payback time
Spoken word: Guy McPherson (guymcpherson.com)
She bats last and she’s comin’ out swingin’
She bats last and she’s just about taken
All that she can take
And it’s payback time Mother (Nature) fuckers
It’s payback time
For the strip-mined land, for the poisoned seas
For the acid rain, for another dead species
For GMO, for uranium ore
For screwing your kids for a few dollars more
Now it’s payback time Mother (Nature) fuckers
It’s payback time
“The living planet is about to make a comeback, and that’s really, really good news”
I know you are in a lot of pain Robert, but I don’t think your judgements count as compassion.
I see compassion in nature, but rather than that I’ll just note the irony of you claiming there is no compassion in nature and then quoting fanatics who’ve taken anthropomorphising to the extreme.
I’m not in any pain?
I’m just having fun m8
I would like to mould myself more on George Carlin than say Derick Jensen or Guy McPherson
I just like to put stuff on the record, ego thing I know, but I did tell ya so 😉
I don’t believe you. I don’t think it’s possible to be aware of our situation and not feel pain. Unless one is a sociopath and I wouldn’t have picked you as that.
Hmmm ?? lying shit ? are we aloud to abuse each other like that?
I’m not sure where the lie is Crok ?? I mean I’m not protesting, I’m not trying to ‘save’ any shit, full stop, I know everything is fucked, it doesn’t matter if we dig up all the oil and float it across the global oceans, covering every beach with large black globs of oil, it doesn’t matter if we add another 3 billion people to the planet (if we had time), nothing matters. 400 ppm CO2 = extinction for most living things on this rock, and 400 ppm CO2 + all the ice trapped methane = temperatures that may not have been seen on the planet for billions of years.
All I’m saying is the dumb fools out there protesting are just pissing into the wind, and all they are going to get for their efforts are wet pants.
I’m just pointing this out to you, by having a vasectomy I’ve done all I can to reduce future suffering, not only for the schmuck I might have produced, but more importantly on a personal basses I will not have to go through the anguish of watching my child suffer.
All I’m saying is if these protesting ignorant fools did just a little bit of home work, they will work it out as well – this system has killed us, we are all dead, we just haven’t fallen over yet )
http://guymcpherson.com/2014/01/climate-change-summary-and-update/ warning you will need brain cells to understand this information, it is to much information for jelly fish, politicians, or anal bacteria, and lets face it – Kiwi Savers and voters, especially the green ones.
Now piss off do your home work, and when you have a little bit more understanding of our true situation come back to me with something intelligent.
Your bleak outlook may be correct, but your dismissive and insensitive comments are not helpful.
I don’t get why you are particularly aggressive to green voters.
They do care about the environment.
Why don’t you focus your energies on the worst polluters?
I am somewhat cynical about your approach. By declaring everything is doomed, you say we can dig up the oil and nothing will change.
I sense you protesteth too much.
The green voters are encouraged to support this system via Kiwi Saver. And their Kiwi Saver sponsoring green politicians are 100% fine with continued growth and investment in pollution,arms dealers etc.
And so you attack these people in a vitriolic manner.
And yet I don’t hear you attack the polluters, the drillers, and large corporations.
Wonder why.
Read what I’m saying Paul, the polluters, the drillers, and large corporations, are only pandering to the growth that Kiwi Saver, and this system needs to survive, they are doing their best to keep all 7 billion of us alive, If you think protesting is going to do something, then I guess you will be switching your power supply off, and putting you car on blocks, that’s if you want to show leadership and compassion.
I’m just pointing out (again) there is no point in attacking anyone, except the lying bastards that make out there is a point, because they are speaking from self imposed ignorance.
Like you, politicians of every color DO NOT WANT THE TRUTH.
And I’m fine with that in the long run, because I love my hot showers, and my toys, so the longer this system stays afloat the longer I get to enjoy life, cause the reverse is death.
We/they only have the luxury of protesting while they are helping to kill the environment, because once this system goes tits up, the so called protectors will starve to death, and some of them will start eating each other, just like we have always done whenever we have run out of food.
As I thought, your philosophy allows you to live a lifestyle that ties in what the polluters, drillers and big business wants.
How convenient for you.
And what ‘philosophy’ do the parents of the LAST HUMAN GENERATION live with?
Because the last human generation is 10 – 23 years old now.
Which is somewhat inconvenient 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L19JBY0kNmo
Published on Sep 4, 2015
Join Jennifer Hynes as she offers us an in-depth look at Runaway Feedback Loops and the situation in the Arctic and the world. She explains the odds that things will rapidly spiral out of control soon, escalating into near term extinction a few decades from now.
This is 180 min long, sorry way to much info for you.
So Robert there are three possibilities:
1. Humanity is stuffed no matter what.
2. It has a chance but dramatic action is required.
3. It will be fine and look over there a panda!
3 is so unlikely I think we can rule it out. The battle really is between 1 and 2.
Humanity may be stuffed no matter what.
But it should not be a justification for us to stop trying. So stop trying to put us all off.
You missed 4.
Deal with it when it happens.
Very well put micky.
What is ‘it’ BM?
Effects from climate change.
“It” is happening. What’s your excuse for your sociopathic proposal to make it worse?
BM, climate change has started.
Hadn’t you noticed?
I think he means when it gets really bad. But of course he’s missing the point entirely (deliberately IMO), which is that we probably still have some control over how bad things get. BM apparently doesn’t care and wants to keep consuming his way to the end of the world (plus he has this whole Mad Max fantasy).
What a revolting person to consider that.
Yes Paul, and you vote for them???
Your aggressive approach does not help.
Don’t get me wrong again Paul, I’m not trying to help because there is no fucking help, there is only suffering and near-term human extinction.
My only suggestion of not adding more people to this shit storm is ignored,
It’s not my fault people are to stupid to work it out, bugger it.
It’s not my fault human nature is such that they don’t give a toss about what is happening ‘over there’.
And it is not my fault the only so called environmental part is hell bent on increasing votes in the final days of human existence, rather then tell the truth, that say for one thing there is not 47 years left for that young kiwi saving green voter to see a return on their investment, in their no grantees retirement scam, and they wanted to add another 16 – 18 years onto this lie, by bring the new borne into it at birth ????? THAT is the lie, THAT is the aggressive attack on nature. That is the lack of compassion.
I’ve been on about these lying myopic bastards for the past 16 years.
Robert just a bit of advise. your not the first doomsdayer and you won’t be the last ( been around since human existence) You all have one thing in common a singular or pathological belief bordering on physcosis that you are right. suggest you just chill in your bunker
You all have one thing in common a singular or pathological belief bordering on physcosis that you are right.
In the previous mass extinction events most species would have gone extinct between 280 ppm – 400 ppm, which in most cases took something like 10,000 years, and over 800 average methane lifetimes, where as this time around we have driven the atmosphere to 400 ppm in something like 200 years,(and 16 methane av lifetimes) with 90% happening in the past 30 years, the only thing saving our sorry arses at the moment are the oceans taking so long to heat, and the ice, (which is rapidly melting)
The oceans are supposedly about to give us .2C temperature rise via El Nino over the next 8 months or so (?), that will be on top of the hockey stick trajectory we are currently on.
I think I’m more of a fact sayer than a doomsdayer, maybe I do get a bit doomy when I start thinking about human reaction, but then I just get that from history*, how long before they start shooting refugees?
Can you picture a 10 year dieoff, as the nine oil/fossil calories over the one sun/current calorie of food disappear ? that’s 7 Christmas day tsunami per day for 10 years. = 7 billion people? I guess the dommy thing is we may only have 2 – 5 years )
But that is fine because we have Kiwi Saver )
*Dresden, Auschwitz,The Crusades, Hutu, Hiroshima, Nanjing, Pol Pot, Bush,Clinton,Obama and all. $$$$$ etc we are nasty beasties
Settle…..
Guy McPherson is not necessarily 100% correct.
You are spot on Robert, we are in deep trouble and everyone is being lied to by All the parties.
This planet heated up 5 degrees C in 13 yrs once before, I think we are well into that 13 yr period.
Brace for impact. This will be unsurvivable.
No-one knows what is going to happen for sure, so the people that have already decided it is too late are basing that on faith, belief and some other weird thing I can’t quite define (intentional anti-hope?). Meanwhile, the rest of us can get on with doing what is required.
This approach is giving up.
Isn’t it better to work together to do something?
Where do people sign up for the death cult?
Guy McPherson is the leader of this group.
Finally Robert. Someone who gets it.
Oh dear, Robert.
It’s a bit of an unfortunate co incidence that your ‘do nothing we’re doomed’ belief aligns with the neoliberal deniers like infused who think ‘do nothing our profits will be affected.’
That is what me suspect doomsayers.
It’s all too convenient to give up.
Change will only happen once it starts affecting the elite…
It’s really that simple.
But by then it will be too late. It’s going to be a madmax sort of world imo.
The elite have been setting up their bolt holes for some time now, no point in waiting for them to do anything useful.
It is almost funny with these righties and their madmax fantasies – if that did happen they’d be the first to fall. Just shows how utterly delusional the right wing (and some lefties) brain is.
when the shtf we can stick them on an island with their ones and zeros to eat. A low lying island 😈 Put Julie Christie there with them to film it all.
Looks like the trouble with dolphins is that its quite difficult to get a photo of the PM’s wife hugging one.
I have this horrible feeling you are right …
Can’t we glue white fur on them?
Mauis are known as the Oceanic Sea Panda.
Now – They can be valued at 100 million dollars each. minimum.
The wgtn city council did. Not govt.
Wellington panda project would get govt backing
Seems that you were lying to protect Dear Leader and his corrupt government.
yeah John Key or “someone from his office” didn’t go and have a quiet word in someone’s ear “Hey, if you guys propose bringing a panda to Welly Zoo, I will give it my full support.”
Nope, no chance 🙄
That was separate. This is a new plan by the council. The 2011 plan was millions and scrapped.
And if you actually read what key said it would be funded like any other program. Of course, the media took it out of context. Just like his support for Red Peak.
More fucken BS. Key wasn’t taken out of context and neither was the council officer saying that it was this government pushing it.
Upgrade your reading comprehension.
“Wellington City Council wants to reopen discussions to bring giant pandas to Wellington Zoo.”
“Deputy Mayor Justin Lester said on Friday that Wellington City Council was looking at spending tens of thousands of dollars investigating a business case to house pandas in the capital.”
“Council would need to look closely at the economics and ensure the business case stacks up.
“We want feedback to see if it is worthwhile spending on a business case.”
“he project was revitalised after Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown’s trip to China this month. He believed the pandas would help to strengthen business relationships with China and create tourism revenue.”
“A spokesman for Prime Minister John Key said on Friday that the Government was not currently engaged in any discussions with Wellington City Council around the issue.”
AKA, get a fucking clue.
What? A new plan to get Pandas into Wellington zoo?
A long slow process, according to Dear Leader, who seems very well briefed considering this is a purely WCC initiative. By a staggering coincidence it’s also dear to Dear Leader’s heart.
Why are you so unconvincing?
Just a coincidence that Bronagh loved them and John thought (back when in China) how cool it would be to have some here?
Well he has to make it up to her some how for that little hair pulling incedent.
And what does one give his wife as a price offering when one is a multi millionaire and she alread has it all.
Nice post. The whole opening nz up for oil is another big failure by this govt. The drillers have already left the east coast of the North Island, and the other great hope the Great South Basin has turned up nothing in decades, they will find nothing again. The govt has bent over backwards for these companies and they should be held accountable for this mal investment.
The other issue we have is that our only oil refinery in the country can’t refine the oil we produce off Taranaki, only imported oil. Lets hope we don’t have a world oil crisis.
It’s simply the nature of conservative governments. They look to what worked before and try to do it again. They don’t look to the problem and look for real solutions thus we keep getting more of the same failed policies.
I guess I come at it from a different angle, for a similar result.
I look at the MBIE sectoral studies that came out last year, which show:
– oil exploration as having some of the very highest wages and salaries around
– are also in an industry that has massive investments in Research and Development
– and when they get an oil strike are selling stuff on the world market that very positively alters our entire GDP per year.
And these positive economic impacts – such as on New Plymouth – are over a century in duration.
There are real positives to the oil industry in New Zealand. Dollars and cents, mortgages paid, dinners on the table.
But then I look at the layoffs in Fonterra, and the layoffs in AgResearch. These are usually people that have put at least six years into study, often with PostDocs. They are deeply invested in this country.
Both oil and agriculture industries need highly qualified people who are prepared to stay here.
It’s not whether one industry damages the environment more. For me the difference comes down to ownership of the business. With oil, the profits go overseas. With agriculture, particularly for Fonterra, but also for firms such as Comvita, their profits come back here. They make us richer. They make graduates want to stay here when they can see careers ahead for them. They build families around that. Shell doesn’t live here. BP isn’t domiciled here. Petrobras doesn’t make us richer.
We’ve had a century and a half now of the quarry-enclave economy, where just the very few extract the wealth, and off they go to the next resource field.
I will support industries in which the wealth stays here. Because when that happens, the country gets stronger.
Well said.
thanks.
There’s been oil drilling in Maui habitat for decades now.
Maui deaths attributed to oil drilling: zero.
Really I don’t remember seeing oil platforms just off the Manakau harbour..? Good thing the Northland field is just like the Taranaki one then in 100 metres of water? Apparently its mostly deepwater.
i would have thought set netters would have the most profound effect on maui dolphins by a country mile !
The map linked to is weird as it has a hard red line denoting the Continental Shelf which, last time I looked, hasn’t been so clearly defined. This is because of disputes in territorial claims. New Zealand’s Continental shelf extends almost all the way to Australia is a good example of tension between nations about territory.
Yep, sounds like a typical RWNJ: There are better ways to oppose this but until we find those better ways we better not oppose this. And then she’ll probably go off and support the actual drilling.
I thought the Chinese Government owns all the Pandas and that you can not buy them, but only rent them from the Chinese.
I’m betting if they do make it to NZ lots of National Party members will get photo ops with them.
I mean putting all that money into Pandas instead of investing in New Zealand will solve all our poverty problems, international debt and out social housing crisis right?
+100 and thanks for naming the councillors opposed to keeping the Maui Dolphins habitat oil free. Hope people take note election time.
Auckland needs a Councillor who will protect our west coast beaches from drilling.
Anyone agree?
nope we need councilors to oppose the use of set nets because theyre killing dolPHINS NOW !
AND now it’s all gone away cos
“Look?! Over there?! Kermadec Sanctuary.