Organised fireworks displays are fine but public sales of fireworks should have been banned years ago. More than enough NZers prove twice each year they are too stupid/careless/selfish to use them responsibly.
As for the links you posted don’t ban them for normal people – instead try punishing the idiots who are not responsible – make them financially accountable for the cleanup
Else you should ban alcohol because of drunk idiots
Ban cars because idiot people who speed
Ban knives because idiot people stab others
Banning is a useful thing to do because it easily *prevents fire damage. Punishing the fire starter after people’s houses have burnt down doesn’t help the people whose houses burnt down. Nor does it help the ecosystems destroyed.
According to Southern Rural Fire, there is already a ban in many places in Otago.
“A Prohibited Fire Season requires a total fire ban and/or the suspension of certain operations that pose a fire risk. During a Prohibited Fire Season gas barbeques are authorised however the lighting of fires in the open air or use of fireworks or pyrotechnics is prohibited.”
I recommend, restricting private setting off of fireworks to winter months – November, and possibly June for Matariki. That is when there is less likelihood of dry conditions.
Also possibly lower the level of noise allowed. Safety measures seem to be around safe use – eg sparklers. Maybe the government could look at the kind of fireworks likely to start fires.
Organised fire works are fine – until they are not:
Shit happens but it’s less likely to happen when things are done by professionals maintaining good standards.
As for the links you posted don’t ban them for normal people
Have you got any proof that the drunk fucks in the 4wd weren’t normal?
Else you should ban alcohol because of drunk idiots
Ban cars because idiot people who speed
Ban knives because idiot people stab others
Etc etc. banning is not the answer.
We have rules and regulations for the minority of people who aren’t responsible, to be able to hold them to account when they inevitably fuckup. Thing is, for fireworks it’s pretty much impossible to hold the idiots to account because it’s almost impossible to figure out who set off the firework that causes the damage.
That means we only have one option – limiting the availability of fireworks to organised events and stopping the public sale of them.
Also, firework sales have been restricted to a few days around Nov 5. the idea was surely that people would only use them around that time.
Stockpiling them, and letting them off for almost any celebration throughout the year has created additional problems.
In my neighbourhood, I don’t see any impact of the recommendation that there be restrictions on the noise created by fireworks. It feels like being in a war zone several times a year.
Neither seems to have required an improvement on safety, other than stating that retailers may get a test certificate, and improving the safety of sparklers.
The noise level of fireworks in my neighbourhood still seems extremely loud. The level was set in 2007 as that of a British standard for sound level meters.
Sometimes shit happens, but I think we’re possibly losing skills as well. People have always done stupid things, but I think there are more people around now who think they can do something but don’t really know how.
tend to agree with Sabine on this. Why not look it up yourself and share what you find? Depends on what you want to measure. Rainfall? Drought? Heat? Humidity? Soil moisture? Moisture content and respiration rates in plants?
Talking to people who spend time outside where it matters is good too (gardeners, farmers, biologists, ecologists, fire fighters).
I’m pretty sure no part of NZ is on average drier now, than it has been in some decade in the 20th century. We just tend to forget previous dry spells. I shall leave the debate now, happy in that conviction.
Stephen Joyce was pretty sure of his legal standing, so he thought. Antoine, are you as well grounded as he with your ‘pretty sure’ of the state of continuing dry spells in terms of duration, frequency, extent, and impact? My mention of Joyce was not to invite a comment on his physical attributes but rather inviting a comparison between his use of ‘pretty’ as a descriptor and his lack of research/knowledge of the field of copyright, and your use of the word ‘pretty’ to describe your knowledge of drought occurrence given your apparent refusal to research the stats yourself, but instead relying on what seems like pre-determined intuition.
The skills thing around fires is a problem here, we get several urban fires a year because people don’t have the skills requires to deal with a fire for heating. Hot ashes and the like, or logs falling out of the fire. That gets accentuated in the back country.
There was quite a large vegetation fire where a tourist lit some grass to try and find a ring that they dropped.
yikes that tourist. I see lots of old outside fire places, often badly built and in daft places (once saw one under some kanuka), mostly in places where tourists are spending time. I think we’ve been fairly lucky with this in NZ so far. Would be interested in what places with bush fire culture do about tourists (Oz, US).
I reckon the hot ash one would be helped if ash cans were cheaper and more easily available.
So sad to see this. Fire is going to be a death sentence matter for adults I think because it often seems to be an addiction. It destroys so much when it happens that cannot be replaced. As it continues much of the NZ and the world will become uninsurable or unaffordable to insure or rebuild if one can get materials. Already in NZ we find we can’t get materials because of the economic system that has prevailed these past decades has sold it overseas.
California has been wrecked. The financial loss and the pain of losing a home and all the photos and memoribilia will cause mental breakdowns.
We cannot afford to have the back country louts and inner city ones able to destroy the country. Those people are unstable who have never been socialised into the culture, learned about self-control or adding to the community instead of taking or regarding everything as their plaything, or have never been socialised even into a family.
We will have to have emergency systems out and waiting at every one of these events like New Year where the freedom-loving males will carry out any whim that enters their sodden brains. Or it may be the sad, sorry family male will say ‘I didn’t know, I didn’t think.’ The result though will be the same.
Popular holiday areas may have to be closed off in drought conditions, so that the flora and fauna are not put at extra risk from humans. Or tickets will have to be bought stipulating time allowed with people manning entry and exit points. Lightning and sun on bright objects can start a fire without any human intervention.
Happy new year to all the people of New Zealand. I am happy to see my Ngti porou whano are enjoying the Rthyem and vines music festival in Gisborne with minimal negative problems happening Ka pai whano I know you have a better view on reality. I know how far eco Maoris post have reached into Maoridom. Be proud of OUR Maori culture and please be good as the way you behave can add to our Mana or decrease it if you choose to behave badly Ka pai.
Happy new year to to all the humane environmental friendly people on mother earth we are but a speck of dust to mother earth she just has to stir and we get earthquake sneeze and we get hurricane weep and we get floods mother earth is a living breathing been who we must learn to worship for US to have a beautiful prosperous positive future we must respect everyone and everything on mother earth if not well we won’t have a functioning future.
Ka kite ano
Three months into his tenure as secretary of state, Rex Tillerson alarmed veteran diplomats with remarks that sounded like a potential shift in American foreign policy: The U.S., he said, should be careful not to let values like human rights create “obstacles” to the pursuit of its interests.
The comment, at a gathering of State Department employees, provoked an outcry among former U.S. officials and human rights activists who feared America was abandoning a vital mission. Two weeks later, a top Tillerson adviser wrote up a short tutorial, in the form of a confidential memo to his boss, recapping “the debate over how far to emphasize human rights, democracy promotion, and liberal values in American foreign policy.”
The May 17 memo reads like a crash course for a businessman-turned-diplomat, and its conclusion offers a starkly realist vision: that the U.S. should use human rights as a club against its adversaries, like Iran, China and North Korea, while giving a pass to repressive allies like the Philippines, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
“Allies should be treated differently—and better—than adversaries. Otherwise, we end up with more adversaries, and fewer allies,” argued the memo, written by Tillerson’s influential policy aide, Brian Hook.
It is unclear what prompted Hook to author the memo, and whether he did so at Tillerson’s request amid a furor in foreign policy circles about Tillerson’s May 3 remarks, in which he said that “it’s really important that all of us understand the difference between policy and values” like “freedom, human dignity and the way people are treated.”
Human Rights don’t seem to be something that the US Administration is overly enamoured of.
It’s like they are giving up on soft power all together. It is odd. Things like Human rights, the rule of law, and democracy are the soft power points, whereby the USA got a lot of support, and made them look like a different type of empire. I think the republicans are dropping the mask completely, and going for straight hard power, which is a good thing for the rest of us.
Yanis Varoufakis on Christmas from different economic perspectives and
comments on Class, Brexit and other political circuses – he refers to Britain and the ‘dog’s Brexit’.
The Economists who stole Christmas https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/economists-clash-on-christmas-gift-giving-by-yanis-varoufakis-2017-12
…Neoclassicists: Given their view of individuals as utility-maximizing algorithms, and their obsession with a paradigm of purely utility-driven transactions, neoclassical economists can see no point in such a fundamentally inefficient form of exchange as Christmas gift-giving. When Jill receives a present from Jack that cost him $X, but which gives her less utility than she would gain from commodity Y, which retails for $Y (that is less than or equal to $X), Jill is forced either to accept this utility loss or to undertake the costly and usually imperfect business of exchanging Jack’s gift for Y. Either way, there is a deadweight loss involved.
The High Cost of Denying Class Warfare https://www.yanisvaroufakis.eu/2017/12/12/the-high-cost-of-denying-class-war-project-syndicate-op-ed-8th-december-2017/
ATHENS – The Anglosphere’s political atmosphere is thick with bourgeois outrage. In the United States, the so-called liberal establishment is convinced it was robbed by an insurgency of “deplorables” weaponized by Vladimir Putin’s hackers and Facebook’s sinister inner workings. In Britain, too, an incensed bourgeoisie are pinching themselves that support for leaving the European Union in favor of an inglorious isolation remains undented, despite a process that can only be described as a dog’s Brexit.
On a not so positive note, US Rabbi takes out an advertisement in US newspaper, accusing Lorde of bigotry! At the same time, the Rabbi concerned is also making accusations against the singer and NZ with the same boring, pathetic old fall back line, anti semitism!
The Rabbi is demonstrating what a bitter, nasty, vindictive, twisted nation Israel and its supporters really are!
Interesting contrasts on TS.
Comments on thestandard.org.nz/what-will-2018-bring-for-donald-trump/ and
thestandard.org.nz/hello-2018/ (behaviour-wise).
‘Peace and goodwill to all mankind’. Oh shit, no, that was last week.
Usually described as “leonine”, this guy just gets worse with age. Unfortunately for him, he made the mistake a few years ago of allowing himself to appear on television with the brilliant Ken Loach, who wasted no time in reducing him to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….
I’ve never identified with or supported Heseltine’s politics, not one bit, but then I really don’t agree with your dodgy interpretation of that interview.
In no way, in no universe or alternate dimension, was he reduced “to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….”.
Perhaps, instead of “Thatcher’s Henchmen” is compiled and presented by Morrissey Breen for Daisycutter Sports, Inc, you should label it as ‘Another Morrissey Breen shocker’.
Sorry, my friend, but your interpretation of Heseltine’s angry response to Loach is unwarrantedly generous. He tried to bluster and bully his way past Loach, but didn’t have a chance.
You’re not even close to giving an accurate interpretation there.
Thing is, it’s all on show in glorious Technicolor, and as I grew up with Heseltine being on the nightly news and know his mannerisms and speech habits, I’ll stick with my own eyes, ears and unbiased observation, thanks.
What is inaccurate in my interpretation of this encounter? One of the two men is clearly in the ascendant here, and it isn’t the one with the intimidating air of hauteur.
The fact is: Heseltine is being publicly confronted with the hypocrisy and meanness of his politics, and when his persistent scowl fails to intimidate Loach, his response is an angry, marginally coherent string of clichés….
LORD HESELTINE: This is the language that’s been wejected acwoss the WORLD, this is YESTERDAY’s claptrap… global economy where fweedom enables people to decide where to live, where to invest…
KEN LOACH: Unfortunately the poor don’t have that freedom of course.
Heseltine pokes his finger aggressively as he tries to browbeat Loach, and he foolishly tries to blame Labour for the unemployment rate—thus providing Loach with the opportunity to school him on the near indistinguishability of Labour and Conservative attacks on the poor.
In every way—rhetorically, style-wise, and intellectually—Heseltine is defeated here. Unless, of course, you give him points for juvenile name-calling and beetling his brow frighteningly. Frighteningly for small children, that is; Ken Loach is another matter entirely.
“What is inaccurate in my interpretation of this encounter?”
“reducing him to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….” It never happened. Anyone who watches will see it doesn’t go down like you claim. Even more so for those of us who remember Heseltine in full flight.
As above, you’re not even close to giving an accurate interpretation, and that’s it, really.
You can, of course, argue otherwise, but not with people with eyes, ears, decent memories and unbiased dispositions.
“It never happened”, you claim, in spite of what is painfully obvious to anyone watching this epic takedown of an obnoxious old bully.
You seem to think that “those of us who remember Heseltine in full flight” won’t accept the evidence of their eyes; the fact is that here he tries desperately to get into Heseltinian “full flight”, but every trick he has is to no avail: Ken Loach does not quail in the face of that angry stare and that stern voice of assumed, and rarely challenged, authority. Clearly Heseltine is livid about this oik with a working class accent showing him up—the desperate shouting (“claptwap”, he snarls) flows from this deep anger.
You seem to think that only people of “unbiased dispositions” will admit the evidence of their eyes. That’s not so: I am more than willing to acknowledge and to document instances of well organized government spokesmen making mincemeat of poorly briefed and unprepared liberals….
Just admit you got a little bit carried away and made some shit up.
I challenge any impartial viewer to watch that video and agree that “reducing him to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….” actually happened.
You know, when you have to lie to make a point it sort of cuts off the impact at the knees. Now you just look stupid at best and dishonest at worst.
You’ve been doing this a long time. You should know better.
You’re partly correct there, my friend. I was wrong to say that his (fruitless) display of consternation and anger was “gibbering”—he never lost control of himself like, say, William Shawcross did in 2004…
You think it was an honourable draw between two equal opponents, do you? Lord Heseltine certainly didn’t think so.
I’ll skip the “making shit up” slur, along with the rest of your desperate name-calling. If there’s one thing you, indeed anyone, should have learned from Heseltine’s humiliation, it’s that shouting abuse—and that’s what you’ve done here—is a sure sign that you have nothing of substance to offer.
Personally, I think moz is more delusional than dishonest.
Folks have been periodically pointing his bullshit out for years, and when you finally manage to spell out his falsehoods in small enough words, he improves for about five minutes before his mental reset button kicks in and he goes back to his traditional form.
Folks have been periodically pointing his bullshit out for years,
“Folks” is here a technical term for: McFlock, Felix, Te Reo Putake, and a couple of others who objected to, primarily, my support for Julian Assange (they all supported the U.K./U.S. campaign of vengeance) and zeroed in on my rush transcripts as a weak point. Of course, they (that includes you, McFlock) didn’t have a leg to stand on, and were thoroughly refuted. People who enjoy ass-whuppings may like to do some research on the Standard archives.
To have a go at me, they were prepared to stick up even for Hekia Parata….
…. and when you finally manage to spell out his falsehoods in small enough words, he improves for about five minutes before his mental reset button kicks in and he goes back to his traditional form.
I have thoroughly refuted you on every occasion, McFlock, especially when you sank to the depths of depravity and accused me of anti-Semitism after I critiqued the vicious politics of Jerry Seinfeld and, especially, Sacha Baron Cohen.
Rubblish, McFlock. You know as well as the rest of us that my transcripts are now word perfect, and that you can no longer niggle away at minor transcription errors.
But of course, now I’m TOO accurate. Was it you that was objecting to my pointing out that there are often uncomfortable silences in Helen Clark’s interviews?
Not immediately familiar with your current delusion, but I suspect any silences were about as “uncomfortable” as Heseltine was “gibbering”.
edit: the trouble is that even if now your “transcripts” are “word perfect” (leaving just the tone, timing, and context to master), that’s what you said then, when your “transcripts” were bullshit, so why would I bother reading the latest ones?
Not immediately familiar with your current delusion,
Given the fact that you, along with one or two others on this site, were stupid enough to buy wholesale, no questions asked, into this century’s most outrageous campaign of vilification, defamation, and lying, I’m not one bit surprised to see you portray my writing as a “delusion.” You have no standards of decency or acceptability, quite clearly.
…but I suspect any silences were about as “uncomfortable” as Heseltine was “gibbering”.
edit: the trouble is that even if now your “transcripts” are “word perfect” (leaving just the tone, timing, and context to master), that’s what you said then, when your “transcripts” were bullshit, so why would I bother reading the latest ones?
You have, I suspect on purpose, failed to address the point: that my original rush transcripts were not “bullshit”, as you unhesitatingly and without a twinge of conscience, have written; they were rush transcripts. As others (without a barrow to push like you) have pointed out, they were true to the spirit and tone of whatever it was I was hurriedly dashing down in my combination longhand/shorthand. Therefore, when I transcribed Hekia Parata’s memorably stupid “variety of various variables” in 2011, everyone recognized the transcript pretty much pinned down her uselessness—but dear old Lanthanide, smarting from another encounter with me about nuclear power, which Lanthanide supported—took the opportunity to jump on the fact I hadn’t transcribed it verbatim. A few others with scores to settle jumped in as well.
As for having to master “tone, timing, and context”, please tell us how, for instance, this ugly attempt at intimidation is not made more understandable by my pointing out the interviewer’s brusqueness, aggression, snide tone and constant interruptions….
Thanks to both Ed and McFlock for your kind words. McFlock, I unloaded my full rhetorical arsenal at you, in the manner of an old Tory grandee barking at a wimpy liberal, but you have maintained a calm demeanour throughout.
I salute you, McFlock, and extend to you the following act of propitiation….
oh, piss off, you pointless waste of space. You’ll be making exactly the same claims of perfection soon. Instead of wanking to stuff you pulled out of your arsenal, try not being such a fraudulent dick in the first place.
Many thanks to TVNZ and all the good people for there work and showing the world OUR excellent Kiwi culture many thanks to all the good people advocating for equality for all the Lady’s around OUR WORLD.
Ka kite ano
The government and Diaspora Jewry are joining hands to combat the delegitimization of Israel in the world. The plan is to establish an “information mission” – in the format of the Taglit-Birthright Israel project – which will provide a quick response to anti-Israel attacks. Minister Erdan: “Doubling power to help us win the boycott campaign”
[…]
Imagine that after an artist like Lorde cancels a performance in Israel that she faces a viral onslaught throughout the world and is forced to read full-page advertisements denouncing her decision in major newspapers around the globe. This is something that the state of Israel isn’t currently capable of.
[…]
BDS attempts to blacken Israel’s name and isolate it throughout the world. Billions of people are subjected to its incitement and lying propaganda, which seek to damage the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish state and to undermine the moral foundations of our [national] existence. A joint battle of the state of Israel with pro-Israel groups will act as a force multiplier of the efforts of the government and enable us to vanquish BDS.
KL* 'Brilliant news @lorde ! Another voice to support the Palestinians, as their land is stolen, their homes demolished and they suffer daily oppression. We are all strengthened by your compassion and bravery, Lorde. In friendship and solidarity, Ken'— Ken Loach (@KenLoachSixteen) December 31, 2017
I don’t know what BDS stands for.
It could be the British Dragonfly Society but more likely –
Broadcast Data Systems
Any CD’s going to major market radio MUST send a copy to BDS. BDS stands for Broadcast Data Systems. BDS is a computer based system that “fingerprints” your song into a computer ,then tracks it through a satellite system giving an exact number of “spins” a song receives.
musicmedianetwork
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement works to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law.
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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 ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
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. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
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. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
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 ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
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Organised fireworks displays are fine but public sales of fireworks should have been banned years ago. More than enough NZers prove twice each year they are too stupid/careless/selfish to use them responsibly.
Coromandel bushfire
‘Idiotic’ revellers
Organised fire works are fine – until they are not:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11968121
As for the links you posted don’t ban them for normal people – instead try punishing the idiots who are not responsible – make them financially accountable for the cleanup
Else you should ban alcohol because of drunk idiots
Ban cars because idiot people who speed
Ban knives because idiot people stab others
Etc etc. banning is not the answer.
We do regulate drinking and driving already.
Banning is a useful thing to do because it easily *prevents fire damage. Punishing the fire starter after people’s houses have burnt down doesn’t help the people whose houses burnt down. Nor does it help the ecosystems destroyed.
According to Southern Rural Fire, there is already a ban in many places in Otago.
“A Prohibited Fire Season requires a total fire ban and/or the suspension of certain operations that pose a fire risk. During a Prohibited Fire Season gas barbeques are authorised however the lighting of fires in the open air or use of fireworks or pyrotechnics is prohibited.”
https://www.otagoruralfire.org.nz/fire-season/season-information/prohibited-season/
I recommend, restricting private setting off of fireworks to winter months – November, and possibly June for Matariki. That is when there is less likelihood of dry conditions.
Also possibly lower the level of noise allowed. Safety measures seem to be around safe use – eg sparklers. Maybe the government could look at the kind of fireworks likely to start fires.
Shit happens but it’s less likely to happen when things are done by professionals maintaining good standards.
Have you got any proof that the drunk fucks in the 4wd weren’t normal?
We have rules and regulations for the minority of people who aren’t responsible, to be able to hold them to account when they inevitably fuckup. Thing is, for fireworks it’s pretty much impossible to hold the idiots to account because it’s almost impossible to figure out who set off the firework that causes the damage.
That means we only have one option – limiting the availability of fireworks to organised events and stopping the public sale of them.
Also, firework sales have been restricted to a few days around Nov 5. the idea was surely that people would only use them around that time.
Stockpiling them, and letting them off for almost any celebration throughout the year has created additional problems.
In my neighbourhood, I don’t see any impact of the recommendation that there be restrictions on the noise created by fireworks. It feels like being in a war zone several times a year.
I wonder if the permitted design of fireworks have been subject to regulation to improve their safety, as recommended in 2007.
Looks like there have been a couple of amendments, both in the time of the Labour-led government to the Hazardous Substances (Fireworks) Regulations 2001.
Amendment 2007 – limits period of sale to 4 days, and, raises age of people who can buy them.
The 2008 Amendment, restricts the noise level of fireworks
Neither seems to have required an improvement on safety, other than stating that retailers may get a test certificate, and improving the safety of sparklers.
The noise level of fireworks in my neighbourhood still seems extremely loud. The level was set in 2007 as that of a British standard for sound level meters.
And then we get this
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11968195
I cry
Skippers homestead burnt to the ground last night.
DOC staff and volunteers put a huge effort into restoring this building and it was an asset to our community. And a very beautiful and special place.
No one’s saying very much because Police are trying to figure out what happened.
really sorry to hear that.
Hopefully there’s an innocent explanation. Paradise homestead burnt down not long age too, and that was accidental.
Just hope something can be put together to replace it.
oh, I didn’t know about Paradise 🙁
Sometimes shit happens, but I think we’re possibly losing skills as well. People have always done stupid things, but I think there are more people around now who think they can do something but don’t really know how.
Part of the fire thing is also climate change and the fact that some people haven’t caught up with just how dry things are getting now.
Is any part of NZ now, on average, drier than it used to be? Keen to see the stats on this
A.
so you are gonna share the stats that you find – after all you are keen to see them – or you expect someone to serve you the stats on a plate?
Precisely. The path to knowledge nowadays is called Google or DuckDuckGo or ….
tend to agree with Sabine on this. Why not look it up yourself and share what you find? Depends on what you want to measure. Rainfall? Drought? Heat? Humidity? Soil moisture? Moisture content and respiration rates in plants?
Talking to people who spend time outside where it matters is good too (gardeners, farmers, biologists, ecologists, fire fighters).
I’m pretty sure no part of NZ is on average drier now, than it has been in some decade in the 20th century. We just tend to forget previous dry spells. I shall leave the debate now, happy in that conviction.
A.
Antoine, is ‘pretty sure” like Stephen Joyce’s “pretty legal” before National copped a $600,000 penalty for nicking Eminem’s rights?
Stephen Joyce is a knob end
A.
Stephen Joyce was pretty sure of his legal standing, so he thought. Antoine, are you as well grounded as he with your ‘pretty sure’ of the state of continuing dry spells in terms of duration, frequency, extent, and impact? My mention of Joyce was not to invite a comment on his physical attributes but rather inviting a comparison between his use of ‘pretty’ as a descriptor and his lack of research/knowledge of the field of copyright, and your use of the word ‘pretty’ to describe your knowledge of drought occurrence given your apparent refusal to research the stats yourself, but instead relying on what seems like pre-determined intuition.
The skills thing around fires is a problem here, we get several urban fires a year because people don’t have the skills requires to deal with a fire for heating. Hot ashes and the like, or logs falling out of the fire. That gets accentuated in the back country.
There was quite a large vegetation fire where a tourist lit some grass to try and find a ring that they dropped.
yikes that tourist. I see lots of old outside fire places, often badly built and in daft places (once saw one under some kanuka), mostly in places where tourists are spending time. I think we’ve been fairly lucky with this in NZ so far. Would be interested in what places with bush fire culture do about tourists (Oz, US).
I reckon the hot ash one would be helped if ash cans were cheaper and more easily available.
So sad to see this. Fire is going to be a death sentence matter for adults I think because it often seems to be an addiction. It destroys so much when it happens that cannot be replaced. As it continues much of the NZ and the world will become uninsurable or unaffordable to insure or rebuild if one can get materials. Already in NZ we find we can’t get materials because of the economic system that has prevailed these past decades has sold it overseas.
California has been wrecked. The financial loss and the pain of losing a home and all the photos and memoribilia will cause mental breakdowns.
We cannot afford to have the back country louts and inner city ones able to destroy the country. Those people are unstable who have never been socialised into the culture, learned about self-control or adding to the community instead of taking or regarding everything as their plaything, or have never been socialised even into a family.
We will have to have emergency systems out and waiting at every one of these events like New Year where the freedom-loving males will carry out any whim that enters their sodden brains. Or it may be the sad, sorry family male will say ‘I didn’t know, I didn’t think.’ The result though will be the same.
Popular holiday areas may have to be closed off in drought conditions, so that the flora and fauna are not put at extra risk from humans. Or tickets will have to be bought stipulating time allowed with people manning entry and exit points. Lightning and sun on bright objects can start a fire without any human intervention.
> Fire is going to be a death sentence matter for adults I think because it often seems to be an addiction
Sorry, are you saying that repeat arsonists should be executed?
A.
Thought this may interest some although nothing surprising
https://theintercept.com/2017/12/30/facebook-says-it-is-deleting-accounts-at-the-direction-of-the-u-s-and-israeli-governments/
Happy new year to all the people of New Zealand. I am happy to see my Ngti porou whano are enjoying the Rthyem and vines music festival in Gisborne with minimal negative problems happening Ka pai whano I know you have a better view on reality. I know how far eco Maoris post have reached into Maoridom. Be proud of OUR Maori culture and please be good as the way you behave can add to our Mana or decrease it if you choose to behave badly Ka pai.
Happy new year to to all the humane environmental friendly people on mother earth we are but a speck of dust to mother earth she just has to stir and we get earthquake sneeze and we get hurricane weep and we get floods mother earth is a living breathing been who we must learn to worship for US to have a beautiful prosperous positive future we must respect everyone and everything on mother earth if not well we won’t have a functioning future.
Ka kite ano
Ka pai rā tēnei mahi.
This work is good.
keep up the good work Eco maori.
We love and appreciate your mana – and dedication to mother earth.
Leaked memo schooled Tillerson on human rights
Human Rights don’t seem to be something that the US Administration is overly enamoured of.
It’s like they are giving up on soft power all together. It is odd. Things like Human rights, the rule of law, and democracy are the soft power points, whereby the USA got a lot of support, and made them look like a different type of empire. I think the republicans are dropping the mask completely, and going for straight hard power, which is a good thing for the rest of us.
It’s only odd if you think that Trump and his people are benign and intelligent.
What was that about the “bullies and haters” who persuaded Lorde to boycott israel?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/svW1DhbMt_-uPkSSyQuCdr_rE_8=/620×1086/smart/filters:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-syd-prod-nzme.s3.amazonaws.com/public/XT7LY5AESNC35IEC5GRHA7FQIE.jpg
Such terribly nice people, those pro-Israeli folk.
Also, because NZ does’t lick Israel’s dirty arse and declare it delicious it looks like we are all enemies of Israel.
Yanis Varoufakis on Christmas from different economic perspectives and
comments on Class, Brexit and other political circuses – he refers to Britain and the ‘dog’s Brexit’.
The Economists who stole Christmas
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/economists-clash-on-christmas-gift-giving-by-yanis-varoufakis-2017-12
…Neoclassicists: Given their view of individuals as utility-maximizing algorithms, and their obsession with a paradigm of purely utility-driven transactions, neoclassical economists can see no point in such a fundamentally inefficient form of exchange as Christmas gift-giving. When Jill receives a present from Jack that cost him $X, but which gives her less utility than she would gain from commodity Y, which retails for $Y (that is less than or equal to $X), Jill is forced either to accept this utility loss or to undertake the costly and usually imperfect business of exchanging Jack’s gift for Y. Either way, there is a deadweight loss involved.
The High Cost of Denying Class Warfare
https://www.yanisvaroufakis.eu/2017/12/12/the-high-cost-of-denying-class-war-project-syndicate-op-ed-8th-december-2017/
ATHENS – The Anglosphere’s political atmosphere is thick with bourgeois outrage. In the United States, the so-called liberal establishment is convinced it was robbed by an insurgency of “deplorables” weaponized by Vladimir Putin’s hackers and Facebook’s sinister inner workings. In Britain, too, an incensed bourgeoisie are pinching themselves that support for leaving the European Union in favor of an inglorious isolation remains undented, despite a process that can only be described as a dog’s Brexit.
Happy New Year one and all 🙂
On a not so positive note, US Rabbi takes out an advertisement in US newspaper, accusing Lorde of bigotry! At the same time, the Rabbi concerned is also making accusations against the singer and NZ with the same boring, pathetic old fall back line, anti semitism!
The Rabbi is demonstrating what a bitter, nasty, vindictive, twisted nation Israel and its supporters really are!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11968277
Interesting contrasts on TS.
Comments on thestandard.org.nz/what-will-2018-bring-for-donald-trump/ and
thestandard.org.nz/hello-2018/ (behaviour-wise).
‘Peace and goodwill to all mankind’. Oh shit, no, that was last week.
I’m with greywarshark at 6.
Thatcher’s Henchmen
No. 2: LORD HESELTINE
Usually described as “leonine”, this guy just gets worse with age. Unfortunately for him, he made the mistake a few years ago of allowing himself to appear on television with the brilliant Ken Loach, who wasted no time in reducing him to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2nvaTLVQKk
“Thatcher’s Henchmen” is compiled and presented by Morrissey Breen for Daisycutter Sports, Inc.
http://morrisseybreen.blogspot.co.nz/2017/12/31-december-2017-at-821-pm-thatchers.html
I’ve never identified with or supported Heseltine’s politics, not one bit, but then I really don’t agree with your dodgy interpretation of that interview.
In no way, in no universe or alternate dimension, was he reduced “to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….”.
Perhaps, instead of “Thatcher’s Henchmen” is compiled and presented by Morrissey Breen for Daisycutter Sports, Inc, you should label it as ‘Another Morrissey Breen shocker’.
😆
Morrissey has a ways to go before he can become a real stenographer.
Not really having a go, though I do agree with you somewhat, but that was just a daily dose of fake news.
It’s a backhanded compliment 😉
I know. I laughed. 😉
Sorry, my friend, but your interpretation of Heseltine’s angry response to Loach is unwarrantedly generous. He tried to bluster and bully his way past Loach, but didn’t have a chance.
And what’s “fake news” about this clip, exactly?
You’re not even close to giving an accurate interpretation there.
Thing is, it’s all on show in glorious Technicolor, and as I grew up with Heseltine being on the nightly news and know his mannerisms and speech habits, I’ll stick with my own eyes, ears and unbiased observation, thanks.
What is inaccurate in my interpretation of this encounter? One of the two men is clearly in the ascendant here, and it isn’t the one with the intimidating air of hauteur.
The fact is: Heseltine is being publicly confronted with the hypocrisy and meanness of his politics, and when his persistent scowl fails to intimidate Loach, his response is an angry, marginally coherent string of clichés….
Heseltine pokes his finger aggressively as he tries to browbeat Loach, and he foolishly tries to blame Labour for the unemployment rate—thus providing Loach with the opportunity to school him on the near indistinguishability of Labour and Conservative attacks on the poor.
In every way—rhetorically, style-wise, and intellectually—Heseltine is defeated here. Unless, of course, you give him points for juvenile name-calling and beetling his brow frighteningly. Frighteningly for small children, that is; Ken Loach is another matter entirely.
“What is inaccurate in my interpretation of this encounter?”
“reducing him to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….” It never happened. Anyone who watches will see it doesn’t go down like you claim. Even more so for those of us who remember Heseltine in full flight.
As above, you’re not even close to giving an accurate interpretation, and that’s it, really.
You can, of course, argue otherwise, but not with people with eyes, ears, decent memories and unbiased dispositions.
“It never happened”, you claim, in spite of what is painfully obvious to anyone watching this epic takedown of an obnoxious old bully.
You seem to think that “those of us who remember Heseltine in full flight” won’t accept the evidence of their eyes; the fact is that here he tries desperately to get into Heseltinian “full flight”, but every trick he has is to no avail: Ken Loach does not quail in the face of that angry stare and that stern voice of assumed, and rarely challenged, authority. Clearly Heseltine is livid about this oik with a working class accent showing him up—the desperate shouting (“claptwap”, he snarls) flows from this deep anger.
You seem to think that only people of “unbiased dispositions” will admit the evidence of their eyes. That’s not so: I am more than willing to acknowledge and to document instances of well organized government spokesmen making mincemeat of poorly briefed and unprepared liberals….
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-10082012/#comment-505179
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30092012/#comment-527929
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31032011/#comment-314772
Just admit you got a little bit carried away and made some shit up.
I challenge any impartial viewer to watch that video and agree that “reducing him to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….” actually happened.
You know, when you have to lie to make a point it sort of cuts off the impact at the knees. Now you just look stupid at best and dishonest at worst.
You’ve been doing this a long time. You should know better.
Just admit you got a little bit carried away…
You’re partly correct there, my friend. I was wrong to say that his (fruitless) display of consternation and anger was “gibbering”—he never lost control of himself like, say, William Shawcross did in 2004…
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01082011/#comment-359152
….and made some shit up.
You think it was an honourable draw between two equal opponents, do you? Lord Heseltine certainly didn’t think so.
I’ll skip the “making shit up” slur, along with the rest of your desperate name-calling. If there’s one thing you, indeed anyone, should have learned from Heseltine’s humiliation, it’s that shouting abuse—and that’s what you’ve done here—is a sure sign that you have nothing of substance to offer.
You were nearly half way there before your ego got the better of you and you reverted to making it all up again.
Moz’s ego and third rate stenography skills are the stuff of legend.
That he keeps a record of all his web based etchings is perhaps a symptom of something a little worrying.
Which bit did I “make up”? Do you think Heseltine equalled or even bettered Ken Loach in that confrontation?
Which bit did I “make up”?
I was wrong to say that his (fruitless) display of consternation and anger was “gibbering”
Comedy stenographer misrepresents own words.
“Which bit did I “make up”? Do you think Heseltine equalled or even bettered Ken Loach in that confrontation?”
It’s not whether he equalled or bettered his opponent in the debate, it’s whether the main tenet and point of your post was truthful.
“reducing him to a never to be forgotten display of gibbering, incoherent fury….”
Again, for the umpteenth time, this just wasn’t the case at all.
You clearly made it up. I think that’s dishonest.
Personally, I think moz is more delusional than dishonest.
Folks have been periodically pointing his bullshit out for years, and when you finally manage to spell out his falsehoods in small enough words, he improves for about five minutes before his mental reset button kicks in and he goes back to his traditional form.
Folks have been periodically pointing his bullshit out for years,
“Folks” is here a technical term for: McFlock, Felix, Te Reo Putake, and a couple of others who objected to, primarily, my support for Julian Assange (they all supported the U.K./U.S. campaign of vengeance) and zeroed in on my rush transcripts as a weak point. Of course, they (that includes you, McFlock) didn’t have a leg to stand on, and were thoroughly refuted. People who enjoy ass-whuppings may like to do some research on the Standard archives.
To have a go at me, they were prepared to stick up even for Hekia Parata….
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30082011/#comment-369467
…. and when you finally manage to spell out his falsehoods in small enough words, he improves for about five minutes before his mental reset button kicks in and he goes back to his traditional form.
I have thoroughly refuted you on every occasion, McFlock, especially when you sank to the depths of depravity and accused me of anti-Semitism after I critiqued the vicious politics of Jerry Seinfeld and, especially, Sacha Baron Cohen.
yep, that’s the stuff.
I think a couple of months ago was the most recent occasion on which moz vanquished all his foes with the might of his accuracy.
Rubblish, McFlock. You know as well as the rest of us that my transcripts are now word perfect, and that you can no longer niggle away at minor transcription errors.
But of course, now I’m TOO accurate. Was it you that was objecting to my pointing out that there are often uncomfortable silences in Helen Clark’s interviews?
Not immediately familiar with your current delusion, but I suspect any silences were about as “uncomfortable” as Heseltine was “gibbering”.
edit: the trouble is that even if now your “transcripts” are “word perfect” (leaving just the tone, timing, and context to master), that’s what you said then, when your “transcripts” were bullshit, so why would I bother reading the latest ones?
Not immediately familiar with your current delusion,
Given the fact that you, along with one or two others on this site, were stupid enough to buy wholesale, no questions asked, into this century’s most outrageous campaign of vilification, defamation, and lying, I’m not one bit surprised to see you portray my writing as a “delusion.” You have no standards of decency or acceptability, quite clearly.
…but I suspect any silences were about as “uncomfortable” as Heseltine was “gibbering”.
edit: the trouble is that even if now your “transcripts” are “word perfect” (leaving just the tone, timing, and context to master), that’s what you said then, when your “transcripts” were bullshit, so why would I bother reading the latest ones?
You have, I suspect on purpose, failed to address the point: that my original rush transcripts were not “bullshit”, as you unhesitatingly and without a twinge of conscience, have written; they were rush transcripts. As others (without a barrow to push like you) have pointed out, they were true to the spirit and tone of whatever it was I was hurriedly dashing down in my combination longhand/shorthand. Therefore, when I transcribed Hekia Parata’s memorably stupid “variety of various variables” in 2011, everyone recognized the transcript pretty much pinned down her uselessness—but dear old Lanthanide, smarting from another encounter with me about nuclear power, which Lanthanide supported—took the opportunity to jump on the fact I hadn’t transcribed it verbatim. A few others with scores to settle jumped in as well.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30082011/#comment-369467
As for having to master “tone, timing, and context”, please tell us how, for instance, this ugly attempt at intimidation is not made more understandable by my pointing out the interviewer’s brusqueness, aggression, snide tone and constant interruptions….
http://morrisseybreen.blogspot.co.nz/2017/12/duncan-vyshinsky-garners-laughable.html
Thank you Morrissey.
I really appreciate the transcripts you provide for us.
Actually, fair cop, that particular link really is pretty close to the interview, weird spelling and random capitalisation notwithstanding.
But you still had to take a brief pause with a pretty good poker face at about 6m50s and turn it into:
So yeah – now you need to work on the tone, timing and context. Assuming that’s a typical example of your output, rather than a single exemplar.
Thanks to both Ed and McFlock for your kind words. McFlock, I unloaded my full rhetorical arsenal at you, in the manner of an old Tory grandee barking at a wimpy liberal, but you have maintained a calm demeanour throughout.
I salute you, McFlock, and extend to you the following act of propitiation….
http://www.mouse.webby.com/images/hgcd.jpg
oh, piss off, you pointless waste of space. You’ll be making exactly the same claims of perfection soon. Instead of wanking to stuff you pulled out of your arsenal, try not being such a fraudulent dick in the first place.
Your transcripts are legendary 😊
Thanks Ed, it’s much appreciated.
And McFlock, you’re getting friendlier and nicer as time goes on. Keep up the good work, old buddy!
Many thanks to TVNZ and all the good people for there work and showing the world OUR excellent Kiwi culture many thanks to all the good people advocating for equality for all the Lady’s around OUR WORLD.
Ka kite ano
https://youtu.be/V1bFr2SWP1I
Here’s a song that gives eco a sore face Ka pai
It made me smile
The Ministry of Hasbara goes goes global.
The government and Diaspora Jewry are joining hands to combat the delegitimization of Israel in the world. The plan is to establish an “information mission” – in the format of the Taglit-Birthright Israel project – which will provide a quick response to anti-Israel attacks. Minister Erdan: “Doubling power to help us win the boycott campaign”
[…]
Imagine that after an artist like Lorde cancels a performance in Israel that she faces a viral onslaught throughout the world and is forced to read full-page advertisements denouncing her decision in major newspapers around the globe. This is something that the state of Israel isn’t currently capable of.
[…]
BDS attempts to blacken Israel’s name and isolate it throughout the world. Billions of people are subjected to its incitement and lying propaganda, which seek to damage the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish state and to undermine the moral foundations of our [national] existence. A joint battle of the state of Israel with pro-Israel groups will act as a force multiplier of the efforts of the government and enable us to vanquish BDS.
https://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=iw&u=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5063480,00.html&prev=search
https://972mag.com/the-israeli-government-is-paying-for-anti-bds-journalism/131718/
I don’t know what BDS stands for.
It could be the British Dragonfly Society but more likely –
Broadcast Data Systems
Any CD’s going to major market radio MUST send a copy to BDS. BDS stands for Broadcast Data Systems. BDS is a computer based system that “fingerprints” your song into a computer ,then tracks it through a satellite system giving an exact number of “spins” a song receives.
musicmedianetwork
https://bdsmovement.net/
Coca Cola shows a smiley face at Christmas. Their publicity is really top class. Here is a feel good.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/eOPhBWlF5bo