Open mike 01/01/2025
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6:00 am, January 1st, 2025 - 16 comments
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- Quality Ministers
While we may not always have quality political leadership, a couple of recently published autobiographies indicate sometimes we strike it lucky. When ranking our prime ministers, retired professor of history Erik Olssen commented that ‘neither Holland nor Nash was especially effective as prime minister – even his private secretary thought ...12 hours ago - Tennis Court
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Open access notables Why Misinformation Must Not Be Ignored, Ecker et al., American Psychologist: Recent academic debate has seen the emergence of the claim that misinformation is not a significant societal problem. We argue that the arguments used to support this minimizing position are flawed, particularly if interpreted (e.g., by policymakers or the public) as suggesting ...1 day ago - My Year In Recall
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- Medley
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Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...2 weeks ago - Climate Change: A perverse incentive
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Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...2 weeks ago - Handling Democracy.
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This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...2 weeks ago
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 weeks ago
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It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...2 weeks ago
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The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...2 weeks ago
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Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...2 weeks ago
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Uia te pō, rangahaua te pō, whakamāramatia mai he aha tō tango, he aha tō kāwhaki? Whitirere ki te ao, tirotiro kau au, kei hea taku rātā whakamarumaru i te au o te pakanga mo te mana motuhake? Au te pō, ngū te pō, ue hā! E te kahurangi māreikura, ...10 hours ago - New qualification a step forward for diabetes care
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says people with diabetes and other painful conditions will benefit from a significant new qualification to boost training in foot care. “It sounds simple, but quality and regular foot and nail care is vital in preventing potentially serious complications from diabetes, like blisters or sores, which can take a long time to heal ...21 hours ago
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Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this government assumed ...3 days ago
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Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is wishing all New Zealanders a great holiday season as Kiwis prepare for gatherings with friends and families to see in the New Year. It is a great time of year to remind everyone to stay fire safe over the summer. “I know ...5 days ago
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From 1 January 2025, first-time tertiary learners will have access to a new Fees Free entitlement of up to $12,000 for their final year of provider-based study or final two years of work-based learning, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Targeting funding to the final year of study ...7 days ago
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“As we head into one of the busiest times of the year for Police, and family violence and sexual violence response services, it’s a good time to remind everyone what to do if they experience violence or are worried about others,” Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence ...1 week ago
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Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...2 weeks ago
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...2 weeks ago
- PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...2 weeks ago
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- Strengthening Free Speech in Universities
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- Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...2 weeks ago
- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
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- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
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- Levelling the playing field for media advertising
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...2 weeks ago
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Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...2 weeks ago
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...2 weeks ago
- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...2 weeks ago
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- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...2 weeks ago
- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...2 weeks ago
- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...2 weeks ago
- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...2 weeks ago
- A busy year in the House
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...2 weeks ago
- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...2 weeks ago
- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...2 weeks ago
- Daily crossword, Saturday 4 January
The post Daily crossword, Saturday 4 January appeared first on Newsroom. ...41 minutes ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 4 January
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 4 January appeared first on Newsroom. ...41 minutes ago
- From a colonial hill town to Idris Elba’s island masterplan, what can two Sierra Leone development...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milo Gough, Lecturer in History, University of Manchester An artist’s impression of Idris Elba’s planned eco-city, Sherbro Island City. Greenfield Planners Sdn Bhd / Sherbro Alliance Partners Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, is celebrated as a city founded to resettle freed slaves in ...3 hours ago - ‘Suspend Israel ties’ plea to global medical professionals – Auckland hospital protest vigil o...
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- Daily crossword, Friday 3 January
The post Daily crossword, Friday 3 January appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 day ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 3 January
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-title { font-size: 1.2em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .entry-meta { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; margin-top: 0.5em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-meta { font-size: 0.8em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .avatar { height: 25px; width: ...1 day ago
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Where the CoC want to take us.
Very American, but germane.
https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/the-20-realities-of-the-american?r=aax0&utm_medium=ios
”I don’t intend for these 20 realities to make you more cynical about the system or resigned to its intransigence.
To the contrary, the first step toward changing the system is to understand it. We need to see where the system is today in order to have a baseline for measuring how much worse it will become under Trump and his lackeys in Congress and the Supreme Court.
Seeing the system for what it is and what it will be under a second term of Trump will empower you to join with others to resist Trump, and eventually change the system for the better.”
Nailed it in three short sentences.
"The increasing weaponisation of disinformation in politics – a critical threat."
https://christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-increasing-weaponisation-of-disinformation
Trump Medicare pick Dr. Oz says uninsured 'don’t have right to health' in resurfaced clip
Substitute Reti or Seymour.
Health, housing, education, power!
In the NZ context, what happens to all these big businesses that rely on low-wage workers to make their obscene profits, when said workers dry up because they've died young/ become ill/are living under bridges?
Are Reti's private hospitals going to give their staff full medical insurance in order to hang onto them? Does that extend to the people who clean them?
There's still an awful lot of jobs that can't be replaced my AI or robots in the forseeable future, although they would do a better job than politicians.
"Broke that one". ""Bring me another temporary visa worker"!
Yep, that sounds about right. I trust that these same businesses will provide new-builds to accommodate all these new imports?
If the bulk of NZ business managers had any brains, they would realise keeping customers poor, unhealthy and living under bridges, is NOT "good for business".
'
Genocide Denier Streamers
"There is no evidence"
"Really?"
I'm think we've been played by a very sophisticated phys-op.
For those with good experience of life under their belt, and looking for a good 2025 Resolution, gird yourself to go for Local Government this year.
Go on. Be a candidate.
You don't have to aspire to be an MP or anything.
Just put all that activism into good use.
You may even find you help more people than you thought you could.
I had 2 terms as a Local Board member and if you are community minded, it is a great way to serve your local area. You can achieve real results in your neighbourhood and work with other great people. It is excellent experience for many other things. It is easier if you are standing with a team of likeminded people.
Actually that is not quite the full story.
The protesters exercising their legal right to protest, standing on a public street, were threatened by the police with arrest if they didn't move away from the ASB Tennis stadium.
The mountain of evidence that Israel is committing genocide against the population of Gaza, can no longer be denied by Western Governments and media.
My new year prediction;
Global protests and legal action against any sporting links with the state of Israel while it is carrying out its genocide in Gaza will continue and grow in size and determination.
This leaves all countries with a choice – Start restricting civil liberties, or start restricting ties with Israel.
New Zealand has decided to start putting restrictions on the right to protest against visiting Israeli sports people with links to the IDF. As the ASB protest has shown,
Australia by contrast has decided to start putting restrictions on visiting Israeli spokespeople and Israeli visitors with links to the IDF.
I predict that both trends will continue;
Some countries will increase the crack down on civil liberties, and the right to protest.
Some countries will go in the other direction and start cutting ties with Israel.
As police move on protesters in Auckland by threatening to arrest them.
And Britain restricts the right to publicly protest against the genocide.
As the genocide deepens and becomes apparent to all.
I wonder, which way will New Zealand go?
Will we follow Britain's or Australia's example?
Britain's, most likely. NZ has "form" when it comes to protests (as in cracking down on).
Massey's Cossacks (1913).
The 1951 waterfront lockout.
The 1981 Springbok tour, with its Red Squads, etc.
Regular blocking off of Free Tibet demonstrations from the view of visiting Chinese "dignitaries".
Supporting Genocide is not OK.
Keeping their policy of politics in sport, ASB classic restricts the attendance of Russian tennis players, because of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
This can only be read as opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Keeping their policy of politics in sport, ASB classic allows the attendance of Israeli tennis players, without restriction, despite Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza.
From the NZ Herald
This can only be read as supporting Israel's genocide in Gaza.
From Christmas carols in London, to Toitu Te Tiriti shirts in Auckland.
It is inevitable that continued Western political support for Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza will lead to restrictions on personal freedoms at home.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360537889/security-insisted-lawyer-take-his-toitu-te-tiriti-shirt-asb-classic-they-later-called-it
Rules based order. Get with it.