Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
It was -2 degrees in Dunedin last night.
It was 3 degrees in Christchurch last night.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.
The mainstream media may think that young millionaire Lamborghini drivers, the Game of Thrones and Samsung selfies are news items, but they are not.
The majority of the media is doing everything they can to support Paula Bennett and move homelessness off the headlines.
“Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”
This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.
Surely John Key’s lack of action on Climate Change is providing a warmer environment for the homeless.
I can hear the cries of anguish now “but stabilising global warming hasn’t helped the homeless!” Followed by a another ‘another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare’ post.
Hope for Britain’s sake they’re not sending Groser and the crew who signed the TPP!
New Zealand offers UK its top trade negotiators for post-Brexit deals
New Zealand has offered its top trade negotiators to the United Kingdom, relieving the British civil service as it prepares for the strain of seeking new deals with countries across the globe.
The Telegraph understands that the Commonwealth country has made an offer to loan staff to the British civil service, which has few trade negotiators of its own.
Interesting times, Boris and Gove played with matches and ended up burning their cosy clubhouse down that they were throwing rocks at their own party from.
Now they along with Farage have to deliver on their BS spin in a climate where many are pretty pissed with their antics.
Old Nigel may find it all a bit much once the national front types realise they got played and to quote the guardian as Boris has withdrawn already ‘ a man who will not clean up his own mess’.
Boris Johnson’s allies warned there is a “deep pit in Hell” waiting for Michael Gove after the Justice Secretary stabbed his fellow Brexit champion in the back saying he was not up to being Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, it looks like the coup in the Labour Party is hitting some road bumps.
Labour MPs divided over how to depose Jeremy Corbyn
Angela Eagle has delayed an expected leadership challenge to Jeremy Corbyn for at least 24 hours as Labour MPs who wish to depose Labour’s leader remain divided over how best to mount a challenge.
The former shadow business secretary was expected to declare that she was going to run as a “unity candidate” at a 3pm press conference.
However, her associates claim she has decided to hold off because of the turmoil engulfing the Conservatives and to give more time for Labour MPs to pressurise Corbyn in to handing in his resignation.
Her decision to stand was also delayed when the former shadow welfare secretary Owen Smith collected enough nominations to put his name forward, following concerns that Eagle may not be able to win over the party in a ballot of members.
“Hope for Britain’s sake they’re not sending Groser and the crew who signed the TPP!”
If it is Goser he will have drunk all the wine, before he manages to get there…
If it is Key, he will have a great time on the golf course, do whatever the US and UK want and expand his personal wealth, networking and connections. He might stop in at Buckingham palace to say Labour made him do it (referendum to change the flag), no offence, Ma’am. Lets face it, Key is out of his depth in any way apart from financial Tory wizardry, (somehow managing to increase our debt to eyewatering proportions while having nothing to show for it and have people living in tents).
Let’s hope for the farmers and our economy the delegate is Winston Peters. For the good of our country and relationship lets hope it is Winson Peters. National may not like him, but he is clearly the man for the job to get the best deal and the best relationship!
Why, as a society, are we so cruel, heartless,callous and uncaring towards women doing the most important job?
Surely folk who reckon they are having children so they can live the high life on the state, have gone the same way as the trickle-downers, climate change deniers.
As is said in the clip, there seems to be sexism in play.
‘Benefit cheat/fraud’ implies wrong and theft.
Tax avoidance/evasion implies clever.
The former is punished severely often with incarceration.
The latter gets high powered men writing laws to protect them.
I caught something on the radio yesty- figures from UK suggest that the under payment of benefits/denial of entitlements dwarfs the fraud numbers.
Thanks Paul. That is a great episode. I saw it mid way through and it was unbelievable! When thedailyblog gets back up, worth watching.
It is shocking!
6 months of prison for a women with young children (who has had her infant murdered by a previous partner) for benefit fraud based on the violent and dysfunctional testimony of the ‘partner’ who gets away scott free by the sound of it.
For those neoliberals out there who thinks society runs to a budget, we just spent over $100,000 on legal fees and prison fees and f&^ked up more kids by taking their mother away and got $1600 back she does not seem to even owe.
If we take the ‘bankruptcy’ laws that say you can write off you debt because it means you will be more productive and can recover your life, you have to ask, how can someone recover their life and get off a benefit, get a job with a criminal conviction and hundreds of thousands in debt? More double standards against women and children.
No wonder we have the highest abuse rates in the world! It starts with blatant discrimination of vulnerable women by government officials and our legal system.
Excellent points. IRD can and does write off debt for hardship other than core Child Support debt, and are actually reasonably proactive about it. Would be nice for other government departments (MSD…) to do the same.
Frontrunner Boris Johnson stuns Westminster by pulling out of Tory Leadership Race
Comes in the immediate wake of a whole swathe of Tory MP defections from Camp Boris and a series of newly-released Polls showing him trailing Theresa May among Tory voters, voters in general and the Party’s membership.
The latest YouGov says it all.
Compared to the February Poll of Tory Party members, Boris’s negativity ratings have increased substantially.
There’s a kind of Tortoise and Hare scenario.
Boris leads the Brexit campaign in his usual loud and colourful way / May (considered mildly Eurosceptic by many) takes a very low profile role in the Remain campaign (some might say, not entirely unlike Corbyn).
As a consequence, Boris has his credibility destroyed among the large minority of Tory members who were pro-Remain, whilst May manages to maintain enormous cross-over appeal to both sides of the Conservative Membership.
YouGov
27-29 June 2016
Tory Party Members
Positive or Negative View of Potential Leader
………………………………………Boris Johnson………………………Theresa May Feb 2016…………………Pos 76% / Neg 14%…………….Pos 68% / Neg 11% June 2016……………….Pos 58% / Neg 30%…………….Pos 72% / Neg 13%
Boris’s support comes almost entirely (92%) from Tory members who voted Leave, whereas May’s support derives almost as much from Leavers (44%) as Remainers (56%).
In the one-on-one match-ups, Boris beats all possible contenders except May. She wins easily by 55% to 38%.
Swordfish. You ARE the news. Thanks for this comment and all the previous ones providing information previously unseen by these eyes and casting light on angles I hadn’t considered.
Nothing about the sociopolitical context that led to Brexit. The perspective on racism adds something. More angst about the middle classes losing privilege under neoliberalism not so much.
While we’re worried about little old Britain having a little old leadership change, spare a thought for Saudi Arabia. The last stable Muslim nation between Pakistan and Nigeria. A two minute clip from Bloomberg:
Saudis are confronting a future of cheaper oil, in a country where oil is everything. Can Saudi Arabia wean itselfoff the proceeds of oil?
Its plan is to sell 5% of Aramco with the biggest listing of all time, and get that to help form a sovereign wealth fund worth up to US $2 trillion. That’s enough to buy Apple, Microsoft, Google (Alphabet), Exxon Mobil, and still have plenty of change.
There’s the resistant clerics.
There’s 80% vof the workforce being foreign.
There’s nearly half of the population under 25, and they make up 30% of the unemployed.
There’s no friends and no stability on any border.
There’s the inability to keep generations of patrimony going.
There’s patriarchal suppression of pretty much everything, and massive clerical resistance to change of pretty much anything.
In terms of the future stability of the Middle East, unlike the US invading multiple times, they have a plan.
But it’s the biggest roll of the dice we will see in our generation.
Could I run something past you please, I’m interested in your comments.
I get the Supported Living Payment for uncontrolled epilepsy.
In the last few years dealing with WINZ has become so stressful it’s become a seizure trigger for me and I can directly link 3 WINZ run-ins with emergency hospital admissions. (Been dealing with them since the late 1980s and this has never been an issue till 6 years ago, note the timing).
I recently had to voluntarily surrender the remaining $5/week Special benefit because of how crazy the 3 monthly reviews have become and because it’s too medically dangerous for me to go near a WINZ office.
There’s a contraceptive pill that prevents hormone-induced seizures for me.
But the only one that actually works (they are not created equal) is the only one that’s not funded, and it costs about $5/week, or $250/year. That’s a lot out of a benefit, I can get 3-4 meals out of that.
I did try the funded version but it made no difference.
I recently stopped said pill mostly because that $5 was starting to become difficult. (I also pay full price for another drug, that was funded when I started it but then funding changed to a generic and I could never make the switch so it’s pay for the brand or nothing. That happens frequently in NZ).
Not being on the pill caused some serious seizure problems that landed me in A&E for the day, only just avoiding being admitted.
Last time I heard- quite a few years ago- just an admission to A&E was $300 so I hate to think was that is now, but even if it was $500, well that’s 2 years worth of that pill cost gone in just a few hours on an avoidable admission.
My GP went into battle with the Health Ministry about funding for the pill because of it’s use as a medical drug, but no success.
There was never any help from WINZ at the time (every excuse under the sun) plus I had to give up with them for the sake of my health anyway.
That’s the saga, I’m not after sympathy or anything, or even whining about lack of money, but what I cannot for the life of me figure out, is DO THESE BLOODY IDEALOGUES WHO ARE SO HELL BENT ON DESTROYING THE WELFARE SYSTEM EVEN KNOW (OR CARE) ABOUT SIMPLE COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS?????
Surely, even to those Nat voters who despise people like me simply for existing, (apologies, “beneficiary” wasn’t on my career plan when I started Uni) why is it so hard to comprehend that a few dollars for to help with medications and not putting us in the eat/heat/treat situation, is actually a hell of a lot cheaper than the avoidable cost to the public health system? Or because it’s not the welfare budget don’t you mind your hard working taxes being spent on us that way?
My scenario is just a small one, but it’s common. Taken to the extreme people die.
@Kay, no the neoliberal dumbos do not even follow their own ideology in which case they would have an efficient system!! What a terrible story and way to be treated. It is not even about saving money, it is about a punishing regime, that makes no sense. In fact they are wasting massive amounts of money. It’s crazy.
We can all only hope we can get a change of government for a more humane and less Kafkaesque way to treat our fellow citizens.
Kay, I don’t know how to answer your question except to say “what save nz said”.
I feel very frustrated after hearing your story and knowing it’s amplified by thousands of unwell people around NZ. I have no idea what it does to a persons outlook and self esteem over time, being treated like you’re a nuisance getting in their way, being belittled first by those that are meant to help and then by stupid unkind people.
Geez, my only experience with WINZ is as an agent for my mother and advocating on her behalf for her disability allowance and secondly applying for her residential care subsidy. In that very short amount of time, winz have literally made me pull out my hair with their patronising way they speak to me, their failure to get the basic things done and their total and absolute indifference to my mothers situation and her vulnerability.
So, I don’t know who long term winz “clients” cope with the effort required just to get what you need and still be able retain self belief and hold their head up high.
Lastly, your scenario isn’t a “small one”. It’s a life changing, life effecting one. I hope you have good support from some quarters.
I guess the only thing that can change in your favour is a change to the government and a commitment from a new government to fully review the culture at winz and implement necessary change.
“So, I don’t know who long term winz “clients” cope with the effort required just to get what you need and still be able retain self belief and hold their head up high.”
In a nutshell, a lot of us no longer do. It’s a fight for $5 in my case and a fight not worth my physical- and mental- health. I personally know others, and there’s plenty of anecdotal reports around of people who have been forced to make the hard decisions about what medical treatments they can continue with. I’ve had to abandon necessary physio treatment for injuries from seizures because the ACC surcharge is just too much. (I can’t remember which Govt got rid of the full physio subsidy but that was disasterous for many on low/fixed incomes).
It would be really interesting to find out just how many hospital admissions involving people with chronic health problems can be directly linked to financial problems. We hear from time to time about low income families not picking up antibiotic prescriptions because they can’t afford the charges and the child subsequently ending up in hospital. I’ll bet anything that every every hospital doctor in the country has stories. But not officially, of course. That would be way too embarrassing for the Minister so a formal enquirey, or even survey will never happen.
Frustration is the word, but what to do? Even the Greens no longer speak out for us (supporting beneficiaries is just too politically toxic I guess) so there’s no one at all in the political establishment. When you’re trying to reason with the RWNJs and post on forums, write to MPs or whatever it is you do, can you point out just how much the welfare policies they’re embracing are costing the health system? Maybe it might sink in to the odd one…
(ps. I’ve exercised personal responsibility- shock. horror, us bludgers actually have that trait- and restarted that pill. More creative budgeting but I can put together a better budget than Bill ever could. Aside from not wanting to waste precious public hospital resources, if it’s possible to stop a few tonic clonic seizures every month well that’s a no brainer. They’re really not fun.)
Your response needs a more considered reply then I can give as I’m restrained by time I’m sorry. Hopefully we can talk again another time son.
I just want to respond to this:
” I’ve had to abandon necessary physio treatment for injuries from seizures because the ACC surcharge is just too much. (I can’t remember which Govt got rid of the full physio subsidy but that was disasterous for many on low/fixed incomes).”
This was the new National coalition government that removed the full subsidy from our ACC physio appointments. I think it came into effect in 2009. I have also had to abandon much needed physio for injuries in the last 7 years, which makes me angry and hinders my mobility.
I wrote awhile ago to then ACC opposition spokesperson, Iain Lees Galloway and Kevin Hague, ACC spokesperson from the Greens about restoring the subsidy to all physio’s should we get a Labour Green coalition in government. This was back in 2014. Mr Galloway, said in a very nice way, no. Kevin Hague never replied.
“It would be really interesting to find out just how many hospital admissions involving people with chronic health problems can be directly linked to financial problems”.
I reckon it would be high. Higher than in previous decades.
My brother lives with epilepsy. He had a serious tonic clonic seizure a few years ago, the worst in his life. He was lucky not to die from his injuries and was left exhausted and off work for months. Drivers license suspended etc. He has money though, private insurance etc so got through without having to worry about that side of things.
It is morally unacceptable that you to live with your illness, with only grudging support at best, from your government, and without the means to easily purchase the appropriate medication.
Hi joe90, I can’t believe how cavalierly and quickly you dismissed the opinions of a well known LGBT activist like Jenner based on anonymous allegations. Shame on you.
What do you have to say about Hillary enabling – or at least turning a blind eye to – Bill sexually assaulting many women and coercing other women for sexual favours over his political career?
so a few allegations against bill (mostly of having consensual affairs, but whatever).
One claim that hillary knew of one incident. So hardly “enabling – or at least turning a blind eye to – Bill sexually assaulting many women and coercing other women for sexual favours”.
Caitlyn Jenner is not an LGBT activist; she’s a self-aggrandising person interested in her own publicity and wealth. With that considered, it is obvious why she likes Trump.
Her publicity work includes of advocating for people who directly oppose rights for LGBT people and this makes things directly worse for LGBT people in the USA, in particular trans people. Activist? Fuck no.
This is just another reason why I have a soft spot for the SNP.
You may have heard by now D.Trumpf is now going around the world begging for campaign finances, lets put aside that is illegal. Lets also put aside he knows it’s illegal.
Lets just embrace a MP who is a fine example of a human being.
NATALIE McGARRY you are a wonderfully honest individual. My hope is the system won’t grind you down. Hugs and bikkies from the south pacific.
For the best bit, scroll down to her email response. It is just wonderful.
Just a wee reminder of how much money the Clinton Foundation received from foreigners looking for favours from Hillary during her term as Secretary of State (I posted this in OM a day or two ago):
From a Clinton Foundation document revealed by a hacker. (Please forgive the caps, they were in the article).
Here are some of the section titles:
*THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS TIED TO SAUDI ARABIA WHILE CLINTON SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE
*AN EMBATTLED BUSINESSMAN WITH “TIES TO BAHRAIN’S STATE-OWNED ALUMINUM COMPANY” GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION
*A VENEZUELAN MEDIA MOGUL WHO WAS ACTIVE IN VENEZUELAN POLITICS DONATED TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION DURING CLINTON’S TENURE AS SECRETARY OF STATE
*GERMAN INVESTOR WHO HAS LOBBIED CHANCELLOR MERKEL’S ADMINISTRATION GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, SOME OF WHICH WAS DURING MRS. CLINTON’S TENURE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
*THE CEO OF AN AMSTERDAM BASED ENERGY COMPANY DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION AND LATER ANNOUNCED AT THE 2009 CGI MEETING A $5 BILLION PROJECT TO DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY POWER GENERATION IN INDIA AND CHINA
*INDIAN POLITICIAN AMAR SINGH, WHO HAD DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, MET WITH HILLARY CLINTON IN SEPTEMBER 2008 TO DISCUSS AN INDIA-U.S. CIVIL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT
*THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED ADDITIONAL DONATIONS FROM INDIAN BUSINESS INTERESTS PRIOR TO HER BECOMING SECRETARY OF STATE
*BILLIONAIRE STEEL EXECUTIVE AND MEMBER OF THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COUNCIL IN KAZAKHSTAN LAKSHMI MITTAL GAVE $1 MILLION TO $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION BEFORE CLINTON BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE
*SOON AFTER SECRETARY CLINTON LEFT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE CLINTON
FOUNDATION “RECEIVED A LARGE DONATION FROM A CONGLOMERATE RUN BY A MEMBER OF CHINA’S NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS”
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I can see very wellThere's a boat on the reef with a broken backAnd I can see it very wellThere's a joke and I know it very wellIt's one of those that I told you long agoTake my word I'm a madman, don't you knowSongwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton JohnIt ...
.Acknowledgement: Tim PrebbleThanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..With each passing day of bad headlines, squandering tax revenue to enrich the rich, deep cuts to our social services and a government struggling to keep the lipstick on its neo-liberal pig ...
This is from the 36th Parallel social media account (as brief food for thought). We know that Trump is ahistorical at best but he seems to think that he is Teddy Roosevelt and can use the threat of invoking the Monroe Doctrine and “Big Stick” gunboat diplomacy against Panama and ...
Don't you cry tonightI still love you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightDon't you cry tonightThere's a heaven above you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightSong: Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so”, said possibly the greatest philosopher ever to walk this earth, Douglas Adams.We have entered the ...
Because you're magicYou're magic people to meSong: Dave Para/Molly Para.Morena all, I hope you had a good day yesterday, however you spent it. Today, a few words about our celebration and a look at the various messages from our politicians.A Rockel XmasChristmas morning was spent with the five of us ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2024 has been a series of bad news for climate change. From scorching global temperatures leading to devastating ...
Ríu Ríu ChíuRíu Ríu Chíu is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band The Monkees not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...
Dunedin’s summer thus far has been warm and humid… and it looks like we’re in for a grey Christmas. But it is now officially Christmas Day in this time zone, so never mind. This year, I’ve stumbled across an Old English version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: It has a population of just under 3.5 million inhabitants, produces nearly 550,000 tons of beef per year, and boasts a glorious soccer reputation with two World ...
Morena all,In my paywalled newsletter yesterday, I signed off for Christmas and wished readers well, but I thought I’d send everyone a quick note this morning.This hasn’t been a good year for our small country. The divisions caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, the cuts to our public sector, increased ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30 am include:Kāinga Ora is quietly planning to sell over $1 billion worth of state-owned land under 300 state homes in Auckland’s wealthiest suburbs, including around Bastion Point, to give the Government more fiscal room to pay for tax cuts and reduce borrowing.A ...
Hi,It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, and I have a favour to ask.A birthday wish.I would love you to share one Webworm story you’ve liked this year.The simple fact is: apart from paying for a Webworm membership (thank you!), sharing and telling others about this place is the most important ...
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Note: Technically we ...
The Green Party welcomes the extension of the deadline for Treaty Principles Bill submissions but continues to call on the Government to abandon the Bill. ...
Complaints about disruptive behaviour now handled in around 13 days (down from around 60 days a year ago) 553 Section 55A notices issued by Kāinga Ora since July 2024, up from 41 issued during the same period in the previous year. Of that 553, first notices made up around 83 ...
The time it takes to process building determinations has improved significantly over the last year which means fewer delays in homes being built, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “New Zealand has a persistent shortage of houses. Making it easier and quicker for new homes to be built will ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is pleased to announce the annual list of New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2024. “For the second consecutive year, Noah has claimed the top spot for boys with 250 babies sharing the name, while Isla has returned to the most popular ...
Work is set to get underway on a new bus station at Westgate this week. A contract has been awarded to HEB Construction to start a package of enabling works to get the site ready in advance of main construction beginning in mid-2025, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“A new Westgate ...
Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to use the resources available to them to get help, and to report instances of family and sexual violence amongst their friends, families, and loved ones who are in need. “The death of a ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora e mua - Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead. Māori recipients in the New Year 2025 Honours list show comprehensive dedication to improving communities across the motu that ...
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 ...
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 ...
“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 ...
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 ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
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 ...
The proposed plan, debated by around 200 Māori leaders on Friday, has been met with some scepticism but leaders said that is exactly why the debate was needed. ...
Hopes for a fast launch of a Māori deliberative body and unified voice with representatives from iwi, hapū and urban Māori have been dashed, with few iwi leaders showing up to a hui in Hawkes Bay on Friday.The hui, dubbed a Wānanga-ā-Motu by hosts Ngāti Kahungunu, was the latest in ...
Dear Mr Zuckerberg, Nine years ago, we wrote to you about the real-world harms caused by false information on Facebook. In response, Meta created a fact-checking programme that helped protect millions of users from hoaxes and conspiracy theories. This week, you announced you’re ending that programme in the United States ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Moulds, Associate Professor in Law, University of South Australia The United Nations Human Rights Committee has ruled that Australia breached international human rights law by detaining a group of young asylum seekers in immigration detention in Nauru. The committee found ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne The year 2024 was the world’s warmest on record globally, and the first calendar year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above its ...
The proposed RSB would make the ACT Party’s libertarian values central to our laws, give power to the Minister for Regulation, currently David Seymour, and a Regulatory Standards Board, while ignoring te Tiriti o Waitangi and broadly held values. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology Leah-Anne Thompson/Shutterstock This time of year, many of us love to get out and spend time in nature. This may include hiking through Australia’s many beautiful national parks. Walking in nature is ...
RNZ Pacific Solomon Islands has the highest-ranked passport of Pacific Island nations, at 37th equal globally. This is according to the Henley Passport Index. The index, organised by a consulting firm that describes itself as “the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment,” releases the list based on global ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tahlia Pollock, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Evans EvoMorph Laboratory, Monash University Fossil reconstruction of Smilodon, one of the largest sabre-toothed cats ever to have lived. Mardoz/Shutterstock Sabre teeth – the long, sharp, blade-like canines found in extinct predators such as Smilodon – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Melleuish, Professor of History and Politics, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong It is an interesting fact that no sitting Australian prime minister since John Howard has led his or her party to more than one election victory. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor There has been a great deal of heat – and not an overabundance of light – when it comes to the media’s reactions to Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark after ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Huish, Associate Professor in International Development Studies, Dalhousie University “We take nothing by conquest…Thank God,” wrote the National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser, an influential Washington newspaper, in February 1847. The United States had just purchased 55 per cent of Mexico ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Caballero, Senior Economist, IMD World Competitiveness Center, International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Within days of Donald Trump’s election win in November 2024, China’s president Xi Jinping was at a ceremony opening a deep-water port in Peru as part of a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham When Donald Trump first offered to buy Greenland in 2019, he was widely ridiculed and nothing much came of it, apart from a cancelled state visit to Denmark. Fast forward six years and ...
Driven by a minor party’s libertarian ideology, the Regulatory Standards Bill, alongside the Treaty Principles Bill, would have sweeping constitutional implications, if enacted. ...
The sun exploded on May 10th, 2024. It bathed the planet in radiation and flooded Instagram with photos of the resulting aurora. It was the largest solar storm in New Zealand’s modern history. To one expert, it was a wake-up call for the entire planet: “We need to get our shit ...
Opinion: The Department of Conservation is currently consulting on a proposal to significantly change how it plans for, and gives permissions for, activities on public conservation land – currently about a third of New Zealand. The proposals include simplifying and reducing the number of general policies, conservation management strategies and management plans, making ...
Comment: Nearly half of women around Aotearoa New Zealand who exercise recreationally experience health issues due to over-exercising and under-eating.But our new research shows educating them about their energy intake versus outtake is key to fixing the problem and could prevent the development of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (REDs).REDs ...
NewsroomBy Penny Matkin-Hussey and Katherine Black
Summer reissue: Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether it’s a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to ...
Summer reissue: Alex Casey recounts a reverse honeymoon that ended with a secret wedding. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It was a sighting ...
Summer reissue: An increasingly manic diary of Hollywood Avondale’s 24-hour film marathon, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. ...
Summer reissue: The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign ...
Summer reissue: For those who lose a baby pre-birth or shortly after, grief is often unacknowledged. Those who know are trying to change things. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign ...
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COMMENTARY:By Cathy Peters To be Jewish does not mean an automatic identification with the rogue state of Israel. Nor does it mean that Jews are automatically threatened by criticism of Israel, yet our media and Labor and Liberal politicians would have you believe this is the case. We are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Keeley, Research Ecologist, USGS; Adjunct Professor, University of California, Los Angeles Over 1,000 structures burned in the span of two days, Jan 7-8, 2025, near Los Angeles.AP Photo/Ethan SwopePowerful Santa Ana winds, near hurricane strength at times, swept down ...
Asia Pacific Report A Palestine solidarity group has protested over the participation of Israeli tennis player Lina Glushko in New Zealand’s ASB Tennis Classic in Auckland today, saying such competition raises serious concerns about the normalisation of systemic oppression and apartheid. The Palestine Forum of New Zealand said in a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics, University of South Australia It’s unlikely you’ve missed the story. In recent weeks, US President-elect Donald Trump has again repeatedly voiced his desire for the United States to take “ownership and control” of Greenland ...
RNZ News A descendant of one of the original translators of New Zealand’s Treaty of Waitangi says the guarantees of the Treaty have not been honoured. A group, including 165 descendants of Henry and William Williams, has collectively submitted against the Treaty Principles Bill, saying it was a threat to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate, UNSW Beach Safety Research Group + School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock/Jun Huang Debate erupted this week over the growing number of beach tents, or “cabanas”, proliferating on Australian beaches. The controversy, which began on social ...
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
It was -2 degrees in Dunedin last night.
It was 3 degrees in Christchurch last night.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.
The mainstream media may think that young millionaire Lamborghini drivers, the Game of Thrones and Samsung selfies are news items, but they are not.
The majority of the media is doing everything they can to support Paula Bennett and move homelessness off the headlines.
“Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”
This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.
I am deeply disturbed with what planet key is doing to NZ as we are being destroyed now by his disease called “the greed breed”.
Surely John Key’s lack of action on Climate Change is providing a warmer environment for the homeless.
I can hear the cries of anguish now “but stabilising global warming hasn’t helped the homeless!” Followed by a another ‘another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare’ post.
Hope for Britain’s sake they’re not sending Groser and the crew who signed the TPP!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/06/29/new-zealand-offers-uk-its-top-trade-negotiators-for-post-brexit/
Interesting times, Boris and Gove played with matches and ended up burning their cosy clubhouse down that they were throwing rocks at their own party from.
Now they along with Farage have to deliver on their BS spin in a climate where many are pretty pissed with their antics.
Old Nigel may find it all a bit much once the national front types realise they got played and to quote the guardian as Boris has withdrawn already ‘ a man who will not clean up his own mess’.
Yes, getting messier and messier over there.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11666710
Meanwhile, it looks like the coup in the Labour Party is hitting some road bumps.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/30/labour-mps-divided-over-how-to-depose-jeremy-corbyn
“unity candidate” – facepalm…
“Hope for Britain’s sake they’re not sending Groser and the crew who signed the TPP!”
If it is Goser he will have drunk all the wine, before he manages to get there…
If it is Key, he will have a great time on the golf course, do whatever the US and UK want and expand his personal wealth, networking and connections. He might stop in at Buckingham palace to say Labour made him do it (referendum to change the flag), no offence, Ma’am. Lets face it, Key is out of his depth in any way apart from financial Tory wizardry, (somehow managing to increase our debt to eyewatering proportions while having nothing to show for it and have people living in tents).
Let’s hope for the farmers and our economy the delegate is Winston Peters. For the good of our country and relationship lets hope it is Winson Peters. National may not like him, but he is clearly the man for the job to get the best deal and the best relationship!
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Cruel.
The MSD.
Waatea 5th Estate “The Case of Katherine and the MSD”
This should be compulsory viewing for all New Zealanders.
What is this country coming to?
Not often I feel ashamed to be a kiwi.
I hope this gets traction in the news cycle.
Shame on the cold hearted msd staff.
Instead of a net to stop people falling, msd have turned it into a drift net that pulls people down.
What an appalling culture has been nutured in that government department.
Why, as a society, are we so cruel, heartless,callous and uncaring towards women doing the most important job?
Surely folk who reckon they are having children so they can live the high life on the state, have gone the same way as the trickle-downers, climate change deniers.
As is said in the clip, there seems to be sexism in play.
‘Benefit cheat/fraud’ implies wrong and theft.
Tax avoidance/evasion implies clever.
The former is punished severely often with incarceration.
The latter gets high powered men writing laws to protect them.
I caught something on the radio yesty- figures from UK suggest that the under payment of benefits/denial of entitlements dwarfs the fraud numbers.
Pullya benefits scripted carve up of MSD using many elves and sprites now fronted by ayatolley needs massive sunlight.
The ticket clipping is obscene aside from the systemic damage nact have inflicted.
Thanks Paul. That is a great episode. I saw it mid way through and it was unbelievable! When thedailyblog gets back up, worth watching.
It is shocking!
6 months of prison for a women with young children (who has had her infant murdered by a previous partner) for benefit fraud based on the violent and dysfunctional testimony of the ‘partner’ who gets away scott free by the sound of it.
For those neoliberals out there who thinks society runs to a budget, we just spent over $100,000 on legal fees and prison fees and f&^ked up more kids by taking their mother away and got $1600 back she does not seem to even owe.
If we take the ‘bankruptcy’ laws that say you can write off you debt because it means you will be more productive and can recover your life, you have to ask, how can someone recover their life and get off a benefit, get a job with a criminal conviction and hundreds of thousands in debt? More double standards against women and children.
No wonder we have the highest abuse rates in the world! It starts with blatant discrimination of vulnerable women by government officials and our legal system.
Excellent points. IRD can and does write off debt for hardship other than core Child Support debt, and are actually reasonably proactive about it. Would be nice for other government departments (MSD…) to do the same.
Frontrunner Boris Johnson stuns Westminster by pulling out of Tory Leadership Race
Comes in the immediate wake of a whole swathe of Tory MP defections from Camp Boris and a series of newly-released Polls showing him trailing Theresa May among Tory voters, voters in general and the Party’s membership.
The latest YouGov says it all.
Compared to the February Poll of Tory Party members, Boris’s negativity ratings have increased substantially.
There’s a kind of Tortoise and Hare scenario.
Boris leads the Brexit campaign in his usual loud and colourful way / May (considered mildly Eurosceptic by many) takes a very low profile role in the Remain campaign (some might say, not entirely unlike Corbyn).
As a consequence, Boris has his credibility destroyed among the large minority of Tory members who were pro-Remain, whilst May manages to maintain enormous cross-over appeal to both sides of the Conservative Membership.
YouGov
27-29 June 2016
Tory Party Members
Positive or Negative View of Potential Leader
………………………………………Boris Johnson………………………Theresa May
Feb 2016…………………Pos 76% / Neg 14%…………….Pos 68% / Neg 11%
June 2016……………….Pos 58% / Neg 30%…………….Pos 72% / Neg 13%
June
LEAVE supporters………..Pos 83% / Neg 6%……………….Pos 66% / Neg 18%
REMAIN supporters…….Pos 16% / Neg 71%……………..Pos 84% / Neg 3%
Boris’s support comes almost entirely (92%) from Tory members who voted Leave, whereas May’s support derives almost as much from Leavers (44%) as Remainers (56%).
In the one-on-one match-ups, Boris beats all possible contenders except May. She wins easily by 55% to 38%.
One-on-One by EU Vote
………………………………..Boris………Theresa
LEAVE……………………….56%…………..38%
REMAIN…………………….8%……………..84%
Again, May with much greater cross-over appeal.
All confirms the long-standing Iron-Law of Tory Leadership Contests: That the initial Front-runner NEVER wins.
Swordfish. You ARE the news. Thanks for this comment and all the previous ones providing information previously unseen by these eyes and casting light on angles I hadn’t considered.
Have a good day. Stay warm.
Me too Swordfish.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11666513
A kiwi in the UK’s take on brexit from someone who’s their
Nothing about the sociopolitical context that led to Brexit. The perspective on racism adds something. More angst about the middle classes losing privilege under neoliberalism not so much.
Featherweight opinion piece.
So, the poor dear doesn’t know what to do? Get at the back of the line, lady.
It must be amazing being able to hate every normal human on the planet . dick heads.
What’s going on at The Daily Blog. Can’t open it. Message keeps coming up with a connection error. Anyone else having the same problem?
Hope it’s not under attack again!
Me too mary_a, haven’t been able to get through either. Hopefully Martyn will get it underway soon.
me too.
I dunno whats happened, but the Plesk page that comes up says you either. 1 put no content up or 2 the provider has suspended your page. Hmmm..
While we’re worried about little old Britain having a little old leadership change, spare a thought for Saudi Arabia. The last stable Muslim nation between Pakistan and Nigeria. A two minute clip from Bloomberg:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-30/the-slow-motion-crisis-in-saudi-arabia-in-two-minutes
Saudis are confronting a future of cheaper oil, in a country where oil is everything. Can Saudi Arabia wean itselfoff the proceeds of oil?
Its plan is to sell 5% of Aramco with the biggest listing of all time, and get that to help form a sovereign wealth fund worth up to US $2 trillion. That’s enough to buy Apple, Microsoft, Google (Alphabet), Exxon Mobil, and still have plenty of change.
There’s the resistant clerics.
There’s 80% vof the workforce being foreign.
There’s nearly half of the population under 25, and they make up 30% of the unemployed.
There’s no friends and no stability on any border.
There’s the inability to keep generations of patrimony going.
There’s patriarchal suppression of pretty much everything, and massive clerical resistance to change of pretty much anything.
In terms of the future stability of the Middle East, unlike the US invading multiple times, they have a plan.
But it’s the biggest roll of the dice we will see in our generation.
Could I run something past you please, I’m interested in your comments.
I get the Supported Living Payment for uncontrolled epilepsy.
In the last few years dealing with WINZ has become so stressful it’s become a seizure trigger for me and I can directly link 3 WINZ run-ins with emergency hospital admissions. (Been dealing with them since the late 1980s and this has never been an issue till 6 years ago, note the timing).
I recently had to voluntarily surrender the remaining $5/week Special benefit because of how crazy the 3 monthly reviews have become and because it’s too medically dangerous for me to go near a WINZ office.
There’s a contraceptive pill that prevents hormone-induced seizures for me.
But the only one that actually works (they are not created equal) is the only one that’s not funded, and it costs about $5/week, or $250/year. That’s a lot out of a benefit, I can get 3-4 meals out of that.
I did try the funded version but it made no difference.
I recently stopped said pill mostly because that $5 was starting to become difficult. (I also pay full price for another drug, that was funded when I started it but then funding changed to a generic and I could never make the switch so it’s pay for the brand or nothing. That happens frequently in NZ).
Not being on the pill caused some serious seizure problems that landed me in A&E for the day, only just avoiding being admitted.
Last time I heard- quite a few years ago- just an admission to A&E was $300 so I hate to think was that is now, but even if it was $500, well that’s 2 years worth of that pill cost gone in just a few hours on an avoidable admission.
My GP went into battle with the Health Ministry about funding for the pill because of it’s use as a medical drug, but no success.
There was never any help from WINZ at the time (every excuse under the sun) plus I had to give up with them for the sake of my health anyway.
That’s the saga, I’m not after sympathy or anything, or even whining about lack of money, but what I cannot for the life of me figure out, is DO THESE BLOODY IDEALOGUES WHO ARE SO HELL BENT ON DESTROYING THE WELFARE SYSTEM EVEN KNOW (OR CARE) ABOUT SIMPLE COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS?????
Surely, even to those Nat voters who despise people like me simply for existing, (apologies, “beneficiary” wasn’t on my career plan when I started Uni) why is it so hard to comprehend that a few dollars for to help with medications and not putting us in the eat/heat/treat situation, is actually a hell of a lot cheaper than the avoidable cost to the public health system? Or because it’s not the welfare budget don’t you mind your hard working taxes being spent on us that way?
My scenario is just a small one, but it’s common. Taken to the extreme people die.
@Kay, no the neoliberal dumbos do not even follow their own ideology in which case they would have an efficient system!! What a terrible story and way to be treated. It is not even about saving money, it is about a punishing regime, that makes no sense. In fact they are wasting massive amounts of money. It’s crazy.
We can all only hope we can get a change of government for a more humane and less Kafkaesque way to treat our fellow citizens.
Hopefully we will get, Nexit.
Kay….if you live in Auckland track the support group Sue Bradford’s involved with. They go into battle with WINZ and are often very successful.
Kay, I don’t know how to answer your question except to say “what save nz said”.
I feel very frustrated after hearing your story and knowing it’s amplified by thousands of unwell people around NZ. I have no idea what it does to a persons outlook and self esteem over time, being treated like you’re a nuisance getting in their way, being belittled first by those that are meant to help and then by stupid unkind people.
Geez, my only experience with WINZ is as an agent for my mother and advocating on her behalf for her disability allowance and secondly applying for her residential care subsidy. In that very short amount of time, winz have literally made me pull out my hair with their patronising way they speak to me, their failure to get the basic things done and their total and absolute indifference to my mothers situation and her vulnerability.
So, I don’t know who long term winz “clients” cope with the effort required just to get what you need and still be able retain self belief and hold their head up high.
Lastly, your scenario isn’t a “small one”. It’s a life changing, life effecting one. I hope you have good support from some quarters.
I guess the only thing that can change in your favour is a change to the government and a commitment from a new government to fully review the culture at winz and implement necessary change.
Take care Kay.
HI Rosie, thank you for your kind words.
“So, I don’t know who long term winz “clients” cope with the effort required just to get what you need and still be able retain self belief and hold their head up high.”
In a nutshell, a lot of us no longer do. It’s a fight for $5 in my case and a fight not worth my physical- and mental- health. I personally know others, and there’s plenty of anecdotal reports around of people who have been forced to make the hard decisions about what medical treatments they can continue with. I’ve had to abandon necessary physio treatment for injuries from seizures because the ACC surcharge is just too much. (I can’t remember which Govt got rid of the full physio subsidy but that was disasterous for many on low/fixed incomes).
It would be really interesting to find out just how many hospital admissions involving people with chronic health problems can be directly linked to financial problems. We hear from time to time about low income families not picking up antibiotic prescriptions because they can’t afford the charges and the child subsequently ending up in hospital. I’ll bet anything that every every hospital doctor in the country has stories. But not officially, of course. That would be way too embarrassing for the Minister so a formal enquirey, or even survey will never happen.
Frustration is the word, but what to do? Even the Greens no longer speak out for us (supporting beneficiaries is just too politically toxic I guess) so there’s no one at all in the political establishment. When you’re trying to reason with the RWNJs and post on forums, write to MPs or whatever it is you do, can you point out just how much the welfare policies they’re embracing are costing the health system? Maybe it might sink in to the odd one…
(ps. I’ve exercised personal responsibility- shock. horror, us bludgers actually have that trait- and restarted that pill. More creative budgeting but I can put together a better budget than Bill ever could. Aside from not wanting to waste precious public hospital resources, if it’s possible to stop a few tonic clonic seizures every month well that’s a no brainer. They’re really not fun.)
Hi Kay.
Your response needs a more considered reply then I can give as I’m restrained by time I’m sorry. Hopefully we can talk again another time son.
I just want to respond to this:
” I’ve had to abandon necessary physio treatment for injuries from seizures because the ACC surcharge is just too much. (I can’t remember which Govt got rid of the full physio subsidy but that was disasterous for many on low/fixed incomes).”
This was the new National coalition government that removed the full subsidy from our ACC physio appointments. I think it came into effect in 2009. I have also had to abandon much needed physio for injuries in the last 7 years, which makes me angry and hinders my mobility.
I wrote awhile ago to then ACC opposition spokesperson, Iain Lees Galloway and Kevin Hague, ACC spokesperson from the Greens about restoring the subsidy to all physio’s should we get a Labour Green coalition in government. This was back in 2014. Mr Galloway, said in a very nice way, no. Kevin Hague never replied.
“It would be really interesting to find out just how many hospital admissions involving people with chronic health problems can be directly linked to financial problems”.
I reckon it would be high. Higher than in previous decades.
My brother lives with epilepsy. He had a serious tonic clonic seizure a few years ago, the worst in his life. He was lucky not to die from his injuries and was left exhausted and off work for months. Drivers license suspended etc. He has money though, private insurance etc so got through without having to worry about that side of things.
It is morally unacceptable that you to live with your illness, with only grudging support at best, from your government, and without the means to easily purchase the appropriate medication.
Kia Ora
Caitlyn Jenner supports Trump – too “macho” but good for womens issues; says Hillary Clinton is a “fucking liar” and a “political hack”
Comments that the economy and jobs are absolutely crucial issues for America.
http://www.eonline.com/shows/i_am_cait/news/747403/caitlyn-jenner-says-donald-trump-would-be-very-good-for-women-s-issues-calls-hillary-clinton-a-f-king-liar-watch
Yeah, a man who allegedly raped a 13 year old will be marvelous for women.
//
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/why-the-new-child-rape-ca_b_10619944.html
Hi joe90, I can’t believe how cavalierly and quickly you dismissed the opinions of a well known LGBT activist like Jenner based on anonymous allegations. Shame on you.
What do you have to say about Hillary enabling – or at least turning a blind eye to – Bill sexually assaulting many women and coercing other women for sexual favours over his political career?
Do you have any evidence to support that claim against H?
Or B, for that matter, but your claim is actually against hillary.
By “evidence” I mean something other than “the intrinsic intelligence of the universe told me to pass on this message”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton_sexual_misconduct_allegations
Notice his tactic of attempting to discredit the women who come forward.
so a few allegations against bill (mostly of having consensual affairs, but whatever).
One claim that hillary knew of one incident. So hardly “enabling – or at least turning a blind eye to – Bill sexually assaulting many women and coercing other women for sexual favours”.
” so a few allegations against bill (mostly of having consensual affairs, but whatever”
Wow. Just wow. Talk about minimisation.
dude, your claim was against hillary of, at one extreme of your qualifications, enabling many rapes and other coerced sexual assaults by bill.
Your link doesn’t support that comment.
You were making shit up, sorry, you were channelling the intrinsic intelligence of the universe.
The intrinsic intelligence of the universe could be sued for defamation.
outraged…
lol
That’s nice, you had five minutes to spare.
/
Caitlyn Jenner is not an LGBT activist; she’s a self-aggrandising person interested in her own publicity and wealth. With that considered, it is obvious why she likes Trump.
Her publicity work includes of advocating for people who directly oppose rights for LGBT people and this makes things directly worse for LGBT people in the USA, in particular trans people. Activist? Fuck no.
“well known LGBT activist like Jenner”
You what now??? You are in lala land with that statement.
Are speaking about the same Caitlyn Jenner?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3359887/If-look-like-man-dress-makes-people-uncomfortable-Caitlyn-Jenner-faces-backlash-comments-Time-Magazine.html
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/09/ellen-degeneres-cant-understand-caitlyn-jenner-opposing-equal-marriage/
LGBT activist – ahh no. Self absorbed ego maniac – yes.
This is just another reason why I have a soft spot for the SNP.
You may have heard by now D.Trumpf is now going around the world begging for campaign finances, lets put aside that is illegal. Lets also put aside he knows it’s illegal.
Lets just embrace a MP who is a fine example of a human being.
NATALIE McGARRY you are a wonderfully honest individual. My hope is the system won’t grind you down. Hugs and bikkies from the south pacific.
For the best bit, scroll down to her email response. It is just wonderful.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-trump-fundraising-email-mp-natalie-mcgarry-reply-warm-hope-his-repugnant-campaign-will-fail-a7108701.html
Just a wee reminder of how much money the Clinton Foundation received from foreigners looking for favours from Hillary during her term as Secretary of State (I posted this in OM a day or two ago):
From a Clinton Foundation document revealed by a hacker. (Please forgive the caps, they were in the article).
Here are some of the section titles:
*THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS TIED TO SAUDI ARABIA WHILE CLINTON SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE
*AN EMBATTLED BUSINESSMAN WITH “TIES TO BAHRAIN’S STATE-OWNED ALUMINUM COMPANY” GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION
*A VENEZUELAN MEDIA MOGUL WHO WAS ACTIVE IN VENEZUELAN POLITICS DONATED TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION DURING CLINTON’S TENURE AS SECRETARY OF STATE
*GERMAN INVESTOR WHO HAS LOBBIED CHANCELLOR MERKEL’S ADMINISTRATION GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, SOME OF WHICH WAS DURING MRS. CLINTON’S TENURE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
*THE CEO OF AN AMSTERDAM BASED ENERGY COMPANY DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION AND LATER ANNOUNCED AT THE 2009 CGI MEETING A $5 BILLION PROJECT TO DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY POWER GENERATION IN INDIA AND CHINA
*INDIAN POLITICIAN AMAR SINGH, WHO HAD DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, MET WITH HILLARY CLINTON IN SEPTEMBER 2008 TO DISCUSS AN INDIA-U.S. CIVIL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT
*THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED ADDITIONAL DONATIONS FROM INDIAN BUSINESS INTERESTS PRIOR TO HER BECOMING SECRETARY OF STATE
*BILLIONAIRE STEEL EXECUTIVE AND MEMBER OF THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COUNCIL IN KAZAKHSTAN LAKSHMI MITTAL GAVE $1 MILLION TO $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION BEFORE CLINTON BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE
*SOON AFTER SECRETARY CLINTON LEFT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE CLINTON
FOUNDATION “RECEIVED A LARGE DONATION FROM A CONGLOMERATE RUN BY A MEMBER OF CHINA’S NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-21/clinton-foundation-vulnerabilities-document-leaked-after-foundation-says-it-was-hack
Oh please, the real Hilary problem is her main super pac funded her campaign for democratic nomination. Again illegal, but not unheard of.
Sheesh when did you become a fan boy for dumpft?
I agree that Trump’s campaign funding legalities are an issue. But unlike Clinton he’s trying to get funds from the Scottish.
Not from Saudi Arabia, China, India or Kazakhstan.
Further, Trump is clearly desperate for money. Reports say that the Clinton campaign currently has 30x more money than his. It’s not hard to see why.
but he’s totally rich. Billions. Isn’t he self-funding his campaign anyway?
lol
Yeah right…