Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1983 to 1989, Nigel Lawson was in charge of deregulating the London financial markets in 1986, providing a template for the Clinton regime’s decision a decade later to remove the protections of the Glass-Steagall Act. As a radical Friedmanite, Lawson is a stern advocate of chopping welfare for the poor—but in 2008 it was revealed that he had “pulled a Bill English”, claiming £16,000 in overnight allowances by registering his farmhouse in Gascony as his main residence.
Lawson was and is a loud supporter of the disastrous, irresponsible decision to break away from Europe.
He’s also a strident anti-science agitator, serving as chairman of the crazed “Global Warming Policy Foundation”, which was found by the Royal Society to be guilty of “spreading errors” and making “demonstrably inaccurate” statements. The GWPF was deregistered as a charity in 2014 for breaching rules of impartiality.
“People such as Lord Lawson are not sceptical, for if one major peer-reviewed piece of scientific research were ever to be published casting doubt on climate change theory, you just know they’d have it up in neon at Piccadilly Circus. They are only sceptical about what they don’t want to be true.”
—-David Aaronovitch, “Strip away the figleaf and reveal naysayers”, The Times, November 24, 2009.
Perhaps the best summary of Nigel Lawson is that provided a couple of months ago by Will Hutton in the Guardian:
The coming rain must be a huge relief to some on the East coast, but a blow to those who have crops nearly ready. However, with such warm seas we are bound to get more rain.
Ask any farmer, they will tell you it’s getting easier to farm not harder. There is hardly much risk of drought nowadays and the weather is much more predictable than it used to be 🙂
Edit – Better insert the ‘sarc’ tag just to be safe.
I would have to disagree with you, the last two years have been very difficult farming in traditional dairy farming areas, in Taranaki for example we had 18months of almost constant rain, causing massive paddock pugging damage and nutrient losses, followed by 3months of absolutely no rain, causing the government to declare drought in places like Stratford which is unheard of.
Coastal Taranaki farmers have had to dr off cows very early before Christmas and some have had to cull capital,stock and tell workers too find another job, all very stressful as well as having the bankers on there back as loss of income is sending some farms too the wall.
The Dairy factories are running at half capacity due to no milk.
So,no Farming has not become easier!
Apologies read your comment in haste now realise sarcasm.
Those aren’t wasted lines Jimmy, it is good to hear from the ‘horse’s ‘ mouth about conditions. Real people, real information.
And it certainly is hard. The grass dying off like that. What are you thinking up your way. Has Lincoln University got grasses in a mix so that they can cope with variable conditions. Are you going to try having ploughed fields so that they have a rise with a fall drainage effect? What about the ideas of having mixed grass and natural paddocks, just removing the nasties from it. That means that you would get a locally adjusted sort of pasture. I think that if you have enough clover and so in then you get nitrogen fixing. Perhaps hedges of tagates which is a fixer isn’t it. Then the cows wouldn’t be dependent on ground level grazing.
I guess that you realise that there is stuff that you can do beyond just praying for the right sort of weather and conditions. Time for a rethink about a different way of stocking, feeding etc.
I heard a woman farmer sounding very confident saying she fed out over 100 kgs/tonnes this year of palm kernel stuff and only 48 last year. WTF. We shouldn’t be importing stuff like this. We have had research going for years about feed stuff in NZ and also there is research showing that more stock requiring imported feed, is bad for the farmer profit and loss and it is bad for NZ to import this, and bad for the people where the palm trees are grown on land taken over from native forest.
Lincoln is doing some great research intograsses, most encouraging i think is new grasses that can grow in colder climate, possibly producing 20% more feed in the winter months.
Although I’m not sure any grass can survive pugging damage from too much rainfall.
My own farm has fall drainage and mixed grasses, although I am struggling with Giant buttercup and dock in some area, these paddocks also have lots and lots of clover.
Unfortunately the sprays available to combat dock and buttercup also decimate clover, hmmm decisions.
Yes stocking rate always comes up, we try to plan for the best but expect the worst.
We try to have a stocking rate that allows us to produce silage and hay on the milking platform without external supplements.
However in some weather event such as the last 18months this just hasn’t happened.
For the first time in 20years we have used PKE I personally don’t like PKE but decided to use it, because the choice was cull cows, dry off, risk a huge cow empty rate, starve cows or use the ONLY feed available PKE.
No wrapped silage or hay is for sale because no one has been able to make any.
I have been unable to measure a profit from PKE, it’s break even at best.
100 Tonnes might sound a lot, that’s about 10 truck loads.
A cow needs 17kgs dry matter to milk well, she needs 8kgs for body maintanence.
A 300cow farm could easily feed 10tonne in 10 days.
It’s easy to sit on the sideline, but Making the decisions not so easy.
Fonterra have set limits (the only company so far to do it, the test is called FEI) on PKE use.
They are trying to limit it to 3kgs per cow per day, they test for it and financial demerits are to be imposed I think start of next season.
This will impact many farms, some farming systems are based on PKE use.
Do you use electric fencing to limit pugging from the cows? With feedouts of hay? If you couldn’t get enough hay and silage I guess you would have to let them roam. Would tagetes help you planted along near fence lines to keep them from the middle of paddocks? Is there a standing area where you can confine them to limit damage?
Has anyone ever tried to tap into the grass from townies back yards? All that potential feed that the Councils can’t handle – can it be used if the right stuff, by farmers through silage at reasonable rates? If the lawn was surveyed for weeds and good condition they would grow a useful crop which could go into silage? Cheap rates for mowing and use of land for production. Bad weeds not allowed, perhaps no ryegrass, that’s connected to staggers isn’t it – some of weedy grasses that I have to tackle have a lot of rust near the roots.
It’s good to know that Fonterra is limiting PKE. Why have we not made more publicity of our cows eating grass and being freedom-loving outdoor beasts? And I understand that our butter is buttercup yellow indicating Vitamin A and? whereas the Scandinavian, I think Danish, was more the colour of cream. That would give us cred I think but PKE wouldn’t be allowed or actually needed then.
It would be good if the country could have some experienced weed control teams that could be contracted from the government at reasonable rates, that would help out farmers with weed eradication for those you mention and others. And watch out for the ones that are sneaking through from overseas, either blown from Oz or through stretched biosecurity.
Anyway wishing you a better 2018. The likelihood of weather events with cloudbursts etc. isn’t something to cheer. But it can make some good news stories like the beef? cattle stranded after the slip and rescued. But the best news would be steady weather and healthy herds without any of these foreign bugs getting in.
I’ll never forget bovine spongi whatname in Britain. I think we are safe from that sort of thing aren’t we.
Miscanthus dictionary definition | miscanthus defined – YourDictionary http://www.yourdictionary.com › Dictionary Definitions › miscanthus
miscanthus. Noun. (plural miscanthuses) Any of several perennial grasses, of genus Miscanthus, native to subtropical and tropical regions of Africa and southern Asia, which is cultivated as an ornamental plant and is being used as a source of biomass for the production of biofuel.
But it would be good if you answered with a joined up sentence rather than throwing a word at the comment that you knew probably only a few would know.
And I notice with scepticism that it is thought of as a possible biofuel. The growth of this as a new gold rush has been touted. However there is likely to be a continuing shortage of viable food which biofuel would exacerbate, for climate reasons, and because farmers don’t have enough rain, grain, river dried up, rights over their seed, opportunity to use the land without warlords intervening, without bombs blowing them up, snipers sitting each side of their plot shooting like loons at anything that moves, lack of living young family to work in the fields etc.
We don’t understand the other half or three-quarters of the world and shouldn’t grab every new idea like a new-found friend.
Confidence tricksters abound and some people are easy to work with; ‘Have I got a cunning plan for you.’
I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking at climate data in a previous incarnation, and I know the level of variability in it. It takes a lot of signal to stand out from all that noise. More signal than could (in my view) credibly be produced by the relatively minor level of anthropogenic climate change that has occurred in the last few years.
Then you’d be able to refute any suggestion of trends change by pointing to analyses of rainfal data over the last 50 years that found no consistent change in rainfall frequency, intensity or cumulative total.
Yet you prefer belief to knowledge.
Which is weird, because sooner or later someone is going to simply type “rainfall trends nz” into a search engine and skim through the links, and the simplicity of it will simply make your intransigence look like denialism.
If it were laziness, A. would have simply done the google search and STFU.
But now I suspect they’re just waiting for someone to throw up a paper with quotes like “At Dunedin, the CDD index [dry spell duration] has significantly increased over the last 50 years (this is consistent with the earlier analysis)” or “The spatial analysis of the trend in the South Island for several time aggregations showed a negative trend in the eastern side and a positive trend in the south-western side. Moreover, the trend analysis of the different rainfall categories showed a decreasing trend of the middle categories and an increasing trend of the weaker category.” and they’ll suddenly become an expert at statistical quibbling in order to bore everyone to death.
I’m not a denier. My contention is that it is not possible to determine how anthropogenic global warming is currently affecting the climate of any specific region of NZ, and that anyone who thinks they have such knowledge, is essentially kidding themselves.
Thanks. Was just trying to gauge the genuineness of your intention in debate here. Have to say fairly low at this stage.
I gave a list of things in the other thread that influence dryness in regards to vegetation fires. If you want to talk about increased fire risk and climate change, I’d start there. I’m guessing you are focussed on single measures like rainfall, or perhaps you are looking at more complex analyses like definitions of drought. But who would know, because you’re debating in a pretty evasive way.
Interesting – the next step in denial. AGW exists, but any regional climatic change can’t be attributed to it, even if one would theoretically cause the other. AGW is some sort of hypothetical thing that doesn’t really affect us, by the way aren’t the stretches without rain over summer so lovely and long…
> Interesting – the next step in denial. AGW exists, but any regional climatic change can’t be attributed to it, even if one would theoretically cause the other.
Just because I’m annoying doesn’t mean I’m wrong…
> by the way aren’t the stretches without rain over summer so lovely and long…
Do you really know that the stretches without rain over summer are getting longer (in a long term trend sense)? Or are you bluffing?
That may be the case Antoine, but the 6deg increase in surface sea temperatures to the west of NZ are an anomaly beyond the norm, and point to a fundamental shift which could lead to hurricane like weather and faster sea ice melt.
We are in new and concerning territory, as change is faster than our most pessimistic projections. When 98% of scientists publish open letters about tipping points we need to be taking notice.
But I’m probably just a panicky person, and your “spread over time” view could hopefully be right.
Great, you’ll be able to provide some insight into rainfall, time between rainfall events, how wind is impacting on soil moisture and plants etc. Also land management practices and how they impact on fire risk. Look forward to it.
Just out of interest, how do you use analyses of a longer term series like that in your farm management? Like, do you run your own historic models against NIWA forecasts for, say, the next six months to make management decisions, or is it your copy of data that gets fed back to someone like NIWA and they plonk out the assessments for you?
The day-job nerd in me is always looking for interesting ways data analysis helps folk.
Another bit of failed “Private Enterprise can do it better” scenario. Fun loving tax avoiding beneficiary Branson(Virgin) along with Stagecoach has been given a massive bailout for running Eastern Rail in the UK because it is in the shit.
Once again another sample of “Private Enterprise” whose only motive is profit at any cost failing and the likes of Branson expecting the taxpayer to bail him out.
This is typical of the Tory government, can’t afford to pay decent wages to the nurses, and doing their utmost to run the NHS into the ground and privatising it, telling UK people that there has to be austerity, whilst at the same time dishing out money to the likes of that parasite called Branson.
Reminds me when Air New Zealand had to be bailed out, by the Clark government after Briely and every bloody crook had Bungy Jumped with this company. Then when it was fixed up making money again, the fucking spiv wanted to sell it again to his spiv mates.
Very typical @halfcrown in just about every sector that’s been privatised.
Not only were we told competition would bring down prices, but that they’d be more ‘efficient and effective’. Except that it doesn’t/can’t apply to things that are natural monopolies such as roads, rail, electricity reticulation, water reticulation, etc.
Remember how Prebble used to harp on about how long it took to get a telephone connected? Pretty much the same now applies to getting a fibre connection – and then when it finally gets done, in many cases the work is so shoddy it comes apart in the first high wind.
And once upon a time if you reported a street light out, the local MED would dispatch a truck the same day or the next and it’d be done. Now the Council ‘liaises’ with the local owner of the lines, who then reply to your report telling you to be “rest assured, our team will be onto it” and who schedule a contractor, who comes and surveys the area to ensure the lamp post is fit to climb, or whether a cherry picker is required, and who then schedules the work, reports back to the lines company, who reports back to the Council, and Bob’s you uncle – 3 full weeks later, the work is done. And of course, all along the food chain, clip goes the shears boys, clip, clip, clip. VERY efficient and effective! Sillier still is that mounting the new LED street lamp by the contractor who gets his cut regardless, but who only puts in a single coach screw to hold it to the lamp post, means that after the first storm, the thing has turned upside down and is again rendered useless. Clip go the shears boys, clip clip clip!
OncewasTim
I wear glasses – have macular degeneration in one eye. I can see quite a lot without them, but what a difference in the amount of detail and what I can read when I put them on.
We have been myopic in New Zealand for too long. We need a Fred Hollows to help us out, as many are too pathetic to use the eyes and knowledge they have to see and think out the answers to the problems that they can’t as yet see the hard edges of. Everything is in a misty rosy glow for them.
Bible quote coming on – hasn’t it got some great lines! And I am not a dedicated churchgoer, just find that the Bible in general is great about life before and after Christ, and I like his style. The good Jesus he was all right though you have to look beyond his literally reported words.
@greywarshark
Firstly, if Christianity works for you, that’s great. Despite an upbringing in church schools where I was rapped over the knuckles for writing with my left hand, and have friends/acquaintances who’ve suffered at hands of (SOME OF) its purveyors, whatever faith that works for you is fine by me. Indeed, my sister sometimes plays the church organ and conducts/recruits a choir despite sharing my sentiments on religion.
But secondly, I’ve come to realise that the things we seem to worship these days are actually antithetical to whatever religion or faith you subscribe to be they Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh…..or whatever.
But, thirdly, I realise none of us are perfect. The Catholic or Anglican Priest that abuses, and is simply transferred to some remote Pacific Island, OR the Sikh National Party Minister who seems to have forgotten the 5 virtues and the 5 thieves, and who justifies what he does by ego, and ratinalising it all by thinking ‘well that’s what I had to go through’, OR the Muslim who gets ‘radicalised’ and thinks its OK to murder and maim in some sort of fucked up struggle for supremacy.
(I still can’t work out though, how Bill English, and others – Singh Bakshi even – justify themselves – other than maybe they are just a bit fik, or that their politics transcend their faith)
Oh, btw – seems we may also have similar eye complaints :p It’s a bugger eh?
Once was Tim
Talking about religion and churches is a side issue to what I was saying.
Put them aside and look at what Jesus is reported to have said and you get closer to the pure thought without the layers of theological preferences as to the meaning actually often obscuring them.
We need to see through that glass which is dark, and come face to face with the important ideas that glimmer for those who want to find them. And these will be often separate to whatever the churches are banging on about most.
I don’t disagree. In fact I agree.
EDIT:
It’s just that for me, Jesus isn’t, and wasn’t the only sage in my life and I’m not prepared to elevate any one person, or belief system, or ideology to something that will ‘rule’ or attempt to rule my life, or those of others.
I could probably explain things better, were it not time for my nanna nap
Here’s another metaphor for you: it’s easiest to spot glow worms when it is pitch black outside; when you are a glow worm you lighten the dark even if it is only a tiny glimmer in the vast blackness of the night. Remember that people used to navigate by the light of the stars; it only really works at night.
RNZ should broadcast this episode of ‘Borgen’ for all NZ to learn the importance of MMP.
This is a good read/watch to get all National trolls to get used to the change of government, now that MMP has chosen a “Labour coalition Government.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/346875/2017-mmp-comes-of-age
2017: MMP comes of age
1:25 pm on 23 December 2017
Finlay Macdonald, Contributor
@MacFinlay news@radionz.co.nz
Opinion – As my personal contribution to the smooth functioning of parliamentary democracy, I’d like to suggest the National Party caucus be made to watch all three series of the lauded Danish TV drama Borgen.
the programme follows the rapid rise of a young, charismatic female politician to leader of a minority government, requiring skilful coalition negotiations and the constant management of compromise and competing agendas.
Big issues such as immigration, environmental standards, health care and state pensions force the various parties to balance their political ideals with the pragmatic solutions required to govern and stay in power.
Sound familiar?
Denmark is not a mirror of New Zealand, but the core ingredients of proportional politics in the two countries are broadly similar. Which is why a good old binge-watch of Borgen might be just what certain National MPs and their cheerleaders need to help them adapt to the realities of a new era.
Put simply, 2017 was the year MMP came of age. Yet, like ageing duffers exasperated by new-fangled technology.
The National Party has blamed everything and everyone except itself for the system not working to its liking.
I wondered about what was happening to the refugees that had been flooding into the Greek Islands. I contributed through GiveaLittle to a fund that was helping them when the authorities couldn’t keep up. Then I got sidetracked and looking at the news of course I should have known, it has got worse.
Pikpa is the outcome of the group that I donated to in 2015 and continues.
Here is a September 2017 report on it and at the bottom there is a link and I shall be trying to donate through that, and hope that Christmas generosity will prompt others also, to start a relation ship with this feisty good little organisation. Apparently other Greek Islands haven’t been able to gather enough support and steam to achieve this sort of outcome but continuing the support here is a start. https://asnteamuk.org/2017/09/23/from-pikpa-leros/
Makes you think doesn’t it. All this globalisation with a breakdown of borders and freedom for corporates or vulture businesses to undercut esablished business with funds provided enabling them to make losses while they put businesses out of business. Yet when it comes to people they should know their place, and stay in it, even if it has been ruined by the corporates through their governments. that they back.
We want to trade globally, so does Australia. But want to pick the cherries out of the situation. The dark side of this trading is an externality, and not to be looked at or thought about. It’s SEP and if someone else doesn’t pick it up and assist then it’s left as mass harrassment, displacement, inhumanity and ultimately manslaughter.
It really is just like a global Highland Clearance. People have their houses and their livelihoods and peaceful living conditions taken away and are forced to move because other powerful people want their land and location for something.
It’s an exercise in double standards @greywarshark or, if you’d prefer, total hypocrisy.
Trade in people is apparently OK as long as it allows a continued trade in goods and services.
What’s worse is that people don’t seem to understand just how ‘lil ole NuZull’ is an active participant – i.e. in terms of migration/immigration and exploitation (which is STILL actually getting worse).
It’d be amusing if it wasn’t so sad!
e.g.
– an expectation that we as NuZullners (often with dual citizenship, OR with parental/grand-parental heritage) that allow us to do big OE’s and ‘off’ to the lands where currencies are worth double, and where we can chock up a few attractive points on a C.V – whilst judging (and penalising) those from the second and third worlds who have the same ambitions. AND, more often than not, from places who’ve suffered the same effects (or not) from the same colonial empires
– creating a chain of immigration consultants, PTE’s, recruitment and labour supply companies, builders, mortgage brokers, home renovation ‘specialists’ – even beauty salons where a temporary ‘skill shortage’ allows an opportunity for the ticket clipper trading in humans to operate.
I’m not sure yet whether it’s that Kiwis are just so laid back and ill-equipped with any means for critical thought, or whether they don’t actually give shit until such time as it all jumps up and bites them in the bum. I suspect it’ll begin to hit when a few more farmers go to the wall having been persuaded to rack up debt to convert to dairy, and that the urban property owners who come to realise they shouldn’t have racked up so much debt on treats and trinkets against the mortgage.
OwTim
I like your comments in the last para. I don’t think that NZs want to spend too much time thinking about things other than the factors that impact on them personally. Their vision is small, and that is important as if you start to expand your vision then you see things that have escaped your notice previously, and it can make you feel uncomfortable. And we don’t want to feel uncomfortable, do we people? No.
So it doesn’t pay to think too hard, and look for facts and so be ready for unpleasant future outcomes for us personally, our rates and so our local entity, and one hopes that the rest of the country are resilient if there are problems and those who don’t appear to have that capacity can in the meantime pull their socks up and get doing something for themselves instead of just moaning about how hard everything is. Nobody gets on who does that, perhaps they will learn that one day by thinking about things better, and putting time into work instead of whining. /sarc
Change of subject. I was reflecting today how it has been 12 years since the National Party attempted one of the biggest electoral deceptions/frauds of living memory. Don Brash and his Exclusive Brethren cash campaign. ‘Honest’ Don on the hustings telling people how trust worthy he was, and how his wife was from Singapore, whilst simultaneously planning with the EBs the roll out of ‘our/your’ campaign.
Who is behind the pamphlets Dr Brash?
‘I am not sure, one things I do know is that’s it not the National Party’
a few days later
‘I didn’t lie. They told me they were putting out pamphlets attacking the government and I said that’s marvellous’
And it was only a year ago that John Key was still PM, Key who ‘met the EBs for prayer’ on several occasions.
I have seen a couple of articles that have got my attention one was saying make sure you get the difference right of race and culture. I say we can interpret culture as we see fit and it is a better word to use than race when discribing unique people as race is a word that divide US so in my view we have many beautiful intelligent inercint unique people around our world Ka pai.
Another was quoting all the achievements of the baby boomers and said we stand on the backs of giants don’t get me wrong I have a lot of respect for our elderly.
But I say they are giant sheep who let the %1 lie cheat and steel off the rest and give them selves impunity our elderly did not have this wonderful 21st century comunacations devices that us younger generation have so it was easy for the 1% to pull the wool over there eyes. I say no more were will get equality for all Kia kaha
Eco maori
Good points. And I think it is a case of keeping on top of the new innovations around computers etc. but not letting go of the basic systems that are still under our control.
The test will be, if the electricity and battery operated systems were out of order, withdrawn, put under sanctions and denied to us, what have the people still got. I’m wondering if we should have a pigeon network, for fun, but with possible future needs in mind. I think these would have to be the imported ones. I don’t know that kereru would take kindly to flying all over the place unless they knew there were going to be berries there!
I’m reading the story of the Cretan way of getting round their mountainous island near Greece that really came into its own in WW2 when the Germans occupied it. Called Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall. The library in your area should have it, and if not, it is worth putting in a request for them to buy it. The Cretans had donkeys I think but not many horses. But they couldn’t have managed what the Cretan men did (don’t know about the women yet). That would be an interesting place for NZ to go to as I understand we were helpful in the war and they don’t forget.
Over the last few years we’ve had RWNJs and even some Lefties telling us that we can’t ban foreign ownership and importation and exportation of other stuff because of FTAs. Well, China is now banning the importation of waste.
When China was going to decrease their export of rare-earths they got taken to the WTO by Europe and the US to force them to continue exporting. Surely the ban on trash imports also impinges upon China’s trading rights obligations.
Reading the SCMP article, it sounds like China is banning importing the shit on bio-security / sanitary grounds. Most trade agreements have let outs for that.
Like Australia with our apples, and us with pretty much everyone else’s honey.
A related point, apparently in the UK they are now sealing roads using plastic rather than bitumen, lasts a lot longer and provides a use for recycled plastic.
(I met Thuli Madonsela – this South African Public Prosecutor in July 2017, at the World Justice Project International Rule of Law Forum at The Hague.)
There is hope that all of Africa and her people will get their Mana back and they will share it to benefit all her people Ka pai Penny bright
Joe 90 you know we have worked out that the 1% know about all the corruption in OUR WORLDs society they chose to keep it to themselves as they are scared they will lose their money.
The neo liberals have tunnel vision on any issues that they disagree.
Climate change is poking US in thee eye and they still denied it existed
There small brains can’t handle admitting to there own flaws typical of neo liberal who self massage there own ego.
Waha whakawhetai to Scott Morrison for making the time to teach our people in prison how to speak Maori this will help them find our Maori culture eco will have to learn more reo to
Kia kaha people
Advanced Leadership
HOME / PEOPLE /
Thulisile Madonsela
Thulisile Madonsela
Prior to ALI, Thulisile Madonsela was the Public Protector of South Africa, and was the first woman to hold this position.
Ms. Madonsela is a human rights lawyer and authority on equality; she helped South Africa’s Constitutional Assembly draft the country’s constitution, and co-developed the policy framework that formed the basis of the establishment of her country’s Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disability.
As an ALI Fellow, she hopes to explore new ways for legal systems to promote social justice and eradicate poverty, both in her native South Africa and globally.
___________________
It was a typical November day in New York City. The year: 1959. Robert Dunlop, 50 years old and photographed later as clean-shaven, hair carefully parted, his earnest face donning horn-rimmed glasses, passed under the Ionian columns of Columbia University’s iconic Low Library. He was a guest of honor for a grand occasion: the centennial of the American oil industry.
[…]
Four others joined Dunlop at the podium that day, one of whom had made the journey from California – and Hungary before that. The nuclear weapons physicist Edward Teller had, by 1959, become ostracized by the scientific community for betraying his colleague J. Robert Oppenheimer, but he retained the embrace of industry and government. Teller’s task that November fourth was to address the crowd on “energy patterns of the future,” and his words carried an unexpected warning:
Ladies and gentlemen, I am to talk to you about energy in the future. I will start by telling you why I believe that the energy resources of the past must be supplemented. First of all, these energy resources will run short as we use more and more of the fossil fuels. But I would […] like to mention another reason why we probably have to look for additional fuel supplies. And this, strangely, is the question of contaminating the atmosphere. [….] Whenever you burn conventional fuel, you create carbon dioxide. [….] The carbon dioxide is invisible, it is transparent, you can’t smell it, it is not dangerous to health, so why should one worry about it?
Carbon dioxide has a strange property. It transmits visible light but it absorbs the infrared radiation which is emitted from the earth. Its presence in the atmosphere causes a greenhouse effect [….] It has been calculated that a temperature rise corresponding to a 10 per cent increase in carbon dioxide will be sufficient to melt the icecap and submerge New York. All the coastal cities would be covered, and since a considerable percentage of the human race lives in coastal regions, I think that this chemical contamination is more serious than most people tend to believe.
I see that ECO Maori and the rest of the good people on the standard are having a positive effect on OUR society they are trying to cover it up I won’t say what the effect is but ECO see it many thanks to my te puna for gifting me these skills Ka kite ano
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David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
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 Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
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 ...
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Thatcher’s Henchmen
No. 3: NIGEL LAWSON
Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1983 to 1989, Nigel Lawson was in charge of deregulating the London financial markets in 1986, providing a template for the Clinton regime’s decision a decade later to remove the protections of the Glass-Steagall Act. As a radical Friedmanite, Lawson is a stern advocate of chopping welfare for the poor—but in 2008 it was revealed that he had “pulled a Bill English”, claiming £16,000 in overnight allowances by registering his farmhouse in Gascony as his main residence.
Lawson was and is a loud supporter of the disastrous, irresponsible decision to break away from Europe.
He’s also a strident anti-science agitator, serving as chairman of the crazed “Global Warming Policy Foundation”, which was found by the Royal Society to be guilty of “spreading errors” and making “demonstrably inaccurate” statements. The GWPF was deregistered as a charity in 2014 for breaching rules of impartiality.
Perhaps the best summary of Nigel Lawson is that provided a couple of months ago by Will Hutton in the Guardian:
The coming rain must be a huge relief to some on the East coast, but a blow to those who have crops nearly ready. However, with such warm seas we are bound to get more rain.
NZ is in fact getting drier due to climate change (weka says)
[not quite what I said, here’s the link and context (where you talk about different dryness than I do) https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01-01-2018/#comment-1431538 – weka]
Did you bother looking it up yourself? You have an internet connection…
I haven’t tried, because I don’t believe that there’s yet enough information to know how the climate in any particular region of NZ is changing.
A.
You haven’t looked yet you believe……….
Ask any farmer, they will tell you it’s getting easier to farm not harder. There is hardly much risk of drought nowadays and the weather is much more predictable than it used to be 🙂
Edit – Better insert the ‘sarc’ tag just to be safe.
I would have to disagree with you, the last two years have been very difficult farming in traditional dairy farming areas, in Taranaki for example we had 18months of almost constant rain, causing massive paddock pugging damage and nutrient losses, followed by 3months of absolutely no rain, causing the government to declare drought in places like Stratford which is unheard of.
Coastal Taranaki farmers have had to dr off cows very early before Christmas and some have had to cull capital,stock and tell workers too find another job, all very stressful as well as having the bankers on there back as loss of income is sending some farms too the wall.
The Dairy factories are running at half capacity due to no milk.
So,no Farming has not become easier!
Apologies read your comment in haste now realise sarcasm.
Those aren’t wasted lines Jimmy, it is good to hear from the ‘horse’s ‘ mouth about conditions. Real people, real information.
And it certainly is hard. The grass dying off like that. What are you thinking up your way. Has Lincoln University got grasses in a mix so that they can cope with variable conditions. Are you going to try having ploughed fields so that they have a rise with a fall drainage effect? What about the ideas of having mixed grass and natural paddocks, just removing the nasties from it. That means that you would get a locally adjusted sort of pasture. I think that if you have enough clover and so in then you get nitrogen fixing. Perhaps hedges of tagates which is a fixer isn’t it. Then the cows wouldn’t be dependent on ground level grazing.
I guess that you realise that there is stuff that you can do beyond just praying for the right sort of weather and conditions. Time for a rethink about a different way of stocking, feeding etc.
I heard a woman farmer sounding very confident saying she fed out over 100 kgs/tonnes this year of palm kernel stuff and only 48 last year. WTF. We shouldn’t be importing stuff like this. We have had research going for years about feed stuff in NZ and also there is research showing that more stock requiring imported feed, is bad for the farmer profit and loss and it is bad for NZ to import this, and bad for the people where the palm trees are grown on land taken over from native forest.
Lincoln is doing some great research intograsses, most encouraging i think is new grasses that can grow in colder climate, possibly producing 20% more feed in the winter months.
Although I’m not sure any grass can survive pugging damage from too much rainfall.
My own farm has fall drainage and mixed grasses, although I am struggling with Giant buttercup and dock in some area, these paddocks also have lots and lots of clover.
Unfortunately the sprays available to combat dock and buttercup also decimate clover, hmmm decisions.
Yes stocking rate always comes up, we try to plan for the best but expect the worst.
We try to have a stocking rate that allows us to produce silage and hay on the milking platform without external supplements.
However in some weather event such as the last 18months this just hasn’t happened.
For the first time in 20years we have used PKE I personally don’t like PKE but decided to use it, because the choice was cull cows, dry off, risk a huge cow empty rate, starve cows or use the ONLY feed available PKE.
No wrapped silage or hay is for sale because no one has been able to make any.
I have been unable to measure a profit from PKE, it’s break even at best.
100 Tonnes might sound a lot, that’s about 10 truck loads.
A cow needs 17kgs dry matter to milk well, she needs 8kgs for body maintanence.
A 300cow farm could easily feed 10tonne in 10 days.
It’s easy to sit on the sideline, but Making the decisions not so easy.
Fonterra have set limits (the only company so far to do it, the test is called FEI) on PKE use.
They are trying to limit it to 3kgs per cow per day, they test for it and financial demerits are to be imposed I think start of next season.
This will impact many farms, some farming systems are based on PKE use.
Jimmy thanks for very full comment.
Do you use electric fencing to limit pugging from the cows? With feedouts of hay? If you couldn’t get enough hay and silage I guess you would have to let them roam. Would tagetes help you planted along near fence lines to keep them from the middle of paddocks? Is there a standing area where you can confine them to limit damage?
Has anyone ever tried to tap into the grass from townies back yards? All that potential feed that the Councils can’t handle – can it be used if the right stuff, by farmers through silage at reasonable rates? If the lawn was surveyed for weeds and good condition they would grow a useful crop which could go into silage? Cheap rates for mowing and use of land for production. Bad weeds not allowed, perhaps no ryegrass, that’s connected to staggers isn’t it – some of weedy grasses that I have to tackle have a lot of rust near the roots.
It’s good to know that Fonterra is limiting PKE. Why have we not made more publicity of our cows eating grass and being freedom-loving outdoor beasts? And I understand that our butter is buttercup yellow indicating Vitamin A and? whereas the Scandinavian, I think Danish, was more the colour of cream. That would give us cred I think but PKE wouldn’t be allowed or actually needed then.
It would be good if the country could have some experienced weed control teams that could be contracted from the government at reasonable rates, that would help out farmers with weed eradication for those you mention and others. And watch out for the ones that are sneaking through from overseas, either blown from Oz or through stretched biosecurity.
Anyway wishing you a better 2018. The likelihood of weather events with cloudbursts etc. isn’t something to cheer. But it can make some good news stories like the beef? cattle stranded after the slip and rescued. But the best news would be steady weather and healthy herds without any of these foreign bugs getting in.
I’ll never forget bovine spongi whatname in Britain. I think we are safe from that sort of thing aren’t we.
Miscanthus is an interesting option….
Okay I looked that up cricklewood.
Miscanthus dictionary definition | miscanthus defined – YourDictionary
http://www.yourdictionary.com › Dictionary Definitions › miscanthus
miscanthus. Noun. (plural miscanthuses) Any of several perennial grasses, of genus Miscanthus, native to subtropical and tropical regions of Africa and southern Asia, which is cultivated as an ornamental plant and is being used as a source of biomass for the production of biofuel.
But it would be good if you answered with a joined up sentence rather than throwing a word at the comment that you knew probably only a few would know.
And I notice with scepticism that it is thought of as a possible biofuel. The growth of this as a new gold rush has been touted. However there is likely to be a continuing shortage of viable food which biofuel would exacerbate, for climate reasons, and because farmers don’t have enough rain, grain, river dried up, rights over their seed, opportunity to use the land without warlords intervening, without bombs blowing them up, snipers sitting each side of their plot shooting like loons at anything that moves, lack of living young family to work in the fields etc.
We don’t understand the other half or three-quarters of the world and shouldn’t grab every new idea like a new-found friend.
Confidence tricksters abound and some people are easy to work with; ‘Have I got a cunning plan for you.’
Why don’t you believe that? Have you looked?
I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking at climate data in a previous incarnation, and I know the level of variability in it. It takes a lot of signal to stand out from all that noise. More signal than could (in my view) credibly be produced by the relatively minor level of anthropogenic climate change that has occurred in the last few years.
A.
Then you’d be able to refute any suggestion of trends change by pointing to analyses of rainfal data over the last 50 years that found no consistent change in rainfall frequency, intensity or cumulative total.
Yet you prefer belief to knowledge.
Which is weird, because sooner or later someone is going to simply type “rainfall trends nz” into a search engine and skim through the links, and the simplicity of it will simply make your intransigence look like denialism.
I’m starting to think denialism too.
As I pointed out to Antoine yesterday, ‘dryness’ can be measured in many different ways. He ignored that and went with his own beliefs.
If it were laziness, A. would have simply done the google search and STFU.
But now I suspect they’re just waiting for someone to throw up a paper with quotes like “At Dunedin, the CDD index [dry spell duration] has significantly increased over the last 50 years (this is consistent with the earlier analysis)” or “The spatial analysis of the trend in the South Island for several time aggregations showed a negative trend in the eastern side and a positive trend in the south-western side. Moreover, the trend analysis of the different rainfall categories showed a decreasing trend of the middle categories and an increasing trend of the weaker category.” and they’ll suddenly become an expert at statistical quibbling in order to bore everyone to death.
Waste of energy arguing with a denialist. More deserving fish to fry.
I’m not a denier. My contention is that it is not possible to determine how anthropogenic global warming is currently affecting the climate of any specific region of NZ, and that anyone who thinks they have such knowledge, is essentially kidding themselves.
A.
> As I pointed out to Antoine yesterday, ‘dryness’ can be measured in many different ways. He ignored that and went with his own beliefs.
Hi Weka
Can you point to any one region of NZ, which has become drier in terms of any metric of your choosing, demonstrably as a result of climate change?
If you do, I’m happy to debate that on your terms.
If not, I’m done with this conversation, and will depart muttering “you got nothing”.
A.
Do you think we are having more extreme weather events?
I don’t have a strong view about that
Do you have a strong view about McFlock exposing your lazy weasel character?
It’s not laziness, it’s cynicism about the extent of human knowledge
A.
“I don’t have a strong view about that”
Thanks. Was just trying to gauge the genuineness of your intention in debate here. Have to say fairly low at this stage.
I gave a list of things in the other thread that influence dryness in regards to vegetation fires. If you want to talk about increased fire risk and climate change, I’d start there. I’m guessing you are focussed on single measures like rainfall, or perhaps you are looking at more complex analyses like definitions of drought. But who would know, because you’re debating in a pretty evasive way.
I now depart muttering ‘you got nothing’, as set out above
A.
Interesting – the next step in denial. AGW exists, but any regional climatic change can’t be attributed to it, even if one would theoretically cause the other. AGW is some sort of hypothetical thing that doesn’t really affect us, by the way aren’t the stretches without rain over summer so lovely and long…
> Interesting – the next step in denial. AGW exists, but any regional climatic change can’t be attributed to it, even if one would theoretically cause the other.
Just because I’m annoying doesn’t mean I’m wrong…
> by the way aren’t the stretches without rain over summer so lovely and long…
Do you really know that the stretches without rain over summer are getting longer (in a long term trend sense)? Or are you bluffing?
A.
That may be the case Antoine, but the 6deg increase in surface sea temperatures to the west of NZ are an anomaly beyond the norm, and point to a fundamental shift which could lead to hurricane like weather and faster sea ice melt.
We are in new and concerning territory, as change is faster than our most pessimistic projections. When 98% of scientists publish open letters about tipping points we need to be taking notice.
But I’m probably just a panicky person, and your “spread over time” view could hopefully be right.
try this
Not hard to find from here.
Then here
The first link makes a really interesting connection to ozone depletion – never knew that affected the climate
A.
Great, you’ll be able to provide some insight into rainfall, time between rainfall events, how wind is impacting on soil moisture and plants etc. Also land management practices and how they impact on fire risk. Look forward to it.
I’ve got rainfall and temperature data for every day since 1914 for the Taranaki region.
Just out of interest, how do you use analyses of a longer term series like that in your farm management? Like, do you run your own historic models against NIWA forecasts for, say, the next six months to make management decisions, or is it your copy of data that gets fed back to someone like NIWA and they plonk out the assessments for you?
The day-job nerd in me is always looking for interesting ways data analysis helps folk.
Another bit of failed “Private Enterprise can do it better” scenario. Fun loving tax avoiding beneficiary Branson(Virgin) along with Stagecoach has been given a massive bailout for running Eastern Rail in the UK because it is in the shit.
Once again another sample of “Private Enterprise” whose only motive is profit at any cost failing and the likes of Branson expecting the taxpayer to bail him out.
This is typical of the Tory government, can’t afford to pay decent wages to the nurses, and doing their utmost to run the NHS into the ground and privatising it, telling UK people that there has to be austerity, whilst at the same time dishing out money to the likes of that parasite called Branson.
Reminds me when Air New Zealand had to be bailed out, by the Clark government after Briely and every bloody crook had Bungy Jumped with this company. Then when it was fixed up making money again, the fucking spiv wanted to sell it again to his spiv mates.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/31/tom-watson-calls-on-chris-grayling-to-quit-over-grubby-east-coast-rail-deal
Very typical @halfcrown in just about every sector that’s been privatised.
Not only were we told competition would bring down prices, but that they’d be more ‘efficient and effective’. Except that it doesn’t/can’t apply to things that are natural monopolies such as roads, rail, electricity reticulation, water reticulation, etc.
Remember how Prebble used to harp on about how long it took to get a telephone connected? Pretty much the same now applies to getting a fibre connection – and then when it finally gets done, in many cases the work is so shoddy it comes apart in the first high wind.
And once upon a time if you reported a street light out, the local MED would dispatch a truck the same day or the next and it’d be done. Now the Council ‘liaises’ with the local owner of the lines, who then reply to your report telling you to be “rest assured, our team will be onto it” and who schedule a contractor, who comes and surveys the area to ensure the lamp post is fit to climb, or whether a cherry picker is required, and who then schedules the work, reports back to the lines company, who reports back to the Council, and Bob’s you uncle – 3 full weeks later, the work is done. And of course, all along the food chain, clip goes the shears boys, clip, clip, clip. VERY efficient and effective! Sillier still is that mounting the new LED street lamp by the contractor who gets his cut regardless, but who only puts in a single coach screw to hold it to the lamp post, means that after the first storm, the thing has turned upside down and is again rendered useless. Clip go the shears boys, clip clip clip!
OncewasTim
I wear glasses – have macular degeneration in one eye. I can see quite a lot without them, but what a difference in the amount of detail and what I can read when I put them on.
We have been myopic in New Zealand for too long. We need a Fred Hollows to help us out, as many are too pathetic to use the eyes and knowledge they have to see and think out the answers to the problems that they can’t as yet see the hard edges of. Everything is in a misty rosy glow for them.
Bible quote coming on – hasn’t it got some great lines! And I am not a dedicated churchgoer, just find that the Bible in general is great about life before and after Christ, and I like his style. The good Jesus he was all right though you have to look beyond his literally reported words.
1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV – For now we see through a glass, darkly …
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A12…KJV
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
@greywarshark
Firstly, if Christianity works for you, that’s great. Despite an upbringing in church schools where I was rapped over the knuckles for writing with my left hand, and have friends/acquaintances who’ve suffered at hands of (SOME OF) its purveyors, whatever faith that works for you is fine by me. Indeed, my sister sometimes plays the church organ and conducts/recruits a choir despite sharing my sentiments on religion.
But secondly, I’ve come to realise that the things we seem to worship these days are actually antithetical to whatever religion or faith you subscribe to be they Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh…..or whatever.
But, thirdly, I realise none of us are perfect. The Catholic or Anglican Priest that abuses, and is simply transferred to some remote Pacific Island, OR the Sikh National Party Minister who seems to have forgotten the 5 virtues and the 5 thieves, and who justifies what he does by ego, and ratinalising it all by thinking ‘well that’s what I had to go through’, OR the Muslim who gets ‘radicalised’ and thinks its OK to murder and maim in some sort of fucked up struggle for supremacy.
(I still can’t work out though, how Bill English, and others – Singh Bakshi even – justify themselves – other than maybe they are just a bit fik, or that their politics transcend their faith)
Oh, btw – seems we may also have similar eye complaints :p It’s a bugger eh?
Once was Tim
Talking about religion and churches is a side issue to what I was saying.
Put them aside and look at what Jesus is reported to have said and you get closer to the pure thought without the layers of theological preferences as to the meaning actually often obscuring them.
We need to see through that glass which is dark, and come face to face with the important ideas that glimmer for those who want to find them. And these will be often separate to whatever the churches are banging on about most.
I don’t disagree. In fact I agree.
EDIT:
It’s just that for me, Jesus isn’t, and wasn’t the only sage in my life and I’m not prepared to elevate any one person, or belief system, or ideology to something that will ‘rule’ or attempt to rule my life, or those of others.
I could probably explain things better, were it not time for my nanna nap
Hi greywarshark,
Best wishes for the new year.
Here’s another metaphor for you: it’s easiest to spot glow worms when it is pitch black outside; when you are a glow worm you lighten the dark even if it is only a tiny glimmer in the vast blackness of the night. Remember that people used to navigate by the light of the stars; it only really works at night.
Incognito
One to remember in the darkest night.
Happy new year for 2018 folks.
RNZ should broadcast this episode of ‘Borgen’ for all NZ to learn the importance of MMP.
This is a good read/watch to get all National trolls to get used to the change of government, now that MMP has chosen a “Labour coalition Government.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/346875/2017-mmp-comes-of-age
2017: MMP comes of age
1:25 pm on 23 December 2017
Finlay Macdonald, Contributor
@MacFinlay news@radionz.co.nz
Opinion – As my personal contribution to the smooth functioning of parliamentary democracy, I’d like to suggest the National Party caucus be made to watch all three series of the lauded Danish TV drama Borgen.
If you haven’t seen it, https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2013/nov/16/borgen-recap-season-three-episodes-one-two
the programme follows the rapid rise of a young, charismatic female politician to leader of a minority government, requiring skilful coalition negotiations and the constant management of compromise and competing agendas.
Big issues such as immigration, environmental standards, health care and state pensions force the various parties to balance their political ideals with the pragmatic solutions required to govern and stay in power.
Sound familiar?
Denmark is not a mirror of New Zealand, but the core ingredients of proportional politics in the two countries are broadly similar. Which is why a good old binge-watch of Borgen might be just what certain National MPs and their cheerleaders need to help them adapt to the realities of a new era.
Put simply, 2017 was the year MMP came of age. Yet, like ageing duffers exasperated by new-fangled technology.
The National Party has blamed everything and everyone except itself for the system not working to its liking.
Thanks for that cleangreen – I had read about Borgen and now must take your recommendation and watch it.
I wondered about what was happening to the refugees that had been flooding into the Greek Islands. I contributed through GiveaLittle to a fund that was helping them when the authorities couldn’t keep up. Then I got sidetracked and looking at the news of course I should have known, it has got worse.
It is hard with problems coming all ways such as attacks.
http://www.lsn.gr/2017/05/announcement-from-the-dodecanese-network-of-solidarity-groups/
Things being done:
https://sea-watch.org/en/leros-a-gleam-of-hope-in-the-aegean/
Some English information amongst the Greek and videos of happenings
https://www.facebook.com/lerossn/
http://www.lsn.gr/2017/02/childrens-costume-party/
Pikpa is the outcome of the group that I donated to in 2015 and continues.
Here is a September 2017 report on it and at the bottom there is a link and I shall be trying to donate through that, and hope that Christmas generosity will prompt others also, to start a relation ship with this feisty good little organisation. Apparently other Greek Islands haven’t been able to gather enough support and steam to achieve this sort of outcome but continuing the support here is a start.
https://asnteamuk.org/2017/09/23/from-pikpa-leros/
A huge list of humanists from the 99% – doing to alleviate distress:
https://www.greecevol.info/experience.list.php?organisationID=182
A book about the epic story.
https://refugeeobservatory.aegean.gr/el/node/416
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/22/this-isnt-europe-life-greece-worst-refugee-camps
https://reliefweb.int/report/greece/greece-intends-move-5000-refugees-mainland-thousands-still-trapped-islands-oxfam
Makes you think doesn’t it. All this globalisation with a breakdown of borders and freedom for corporates or vulture businesses to undercut esablished business with funds provided enabling them to make losses while they put businesses out of business. Yet when it comes to people they should know their place, and stay in it, even if it has been ruined by the corporates through their governments. that they back.
We want to trade globally, so does Australia. But want to pick the cherries out of the situation. The dark side of this trading is an externality, and not to be looked at or thought about. It’s SEP and if someone else doesn’t pick it up and assist then it’s left as mass harrassment, displacement, inhumanity and ultimately manslaughter.
It really is just like a global Highland Clearance. People have their houses and their livelihoods and peaceful living conditions taken away and are forced to move because other powerful people want their land and location for something.
It’s an exercise in double standards @greywarshark or, if you’d prefer, total hypocrisy.
Trade in people is apparently OK as long as it allows a continued trade in goods and services.
What’s worse is that people don’t seem to understand just how ‘lil ole NuZull’ is an active participant – i.e. in terms of migration/immigration and exploitation (which is STILL actually getting worse).
It’d be amusing if it wasn’t so sad!
e.g.
– an expectation that we as NuZullners (often with dual citizenship, OR with parental/grand-parental heritage) that allow us to do big OE’s and ‘off’ to the lands where currencies are worth double, and where we can chock up a few attractive points on a C.V – whilst judging (and penalising) those from the second and third worlds who have the same ambitions. AND, more often than not, from places who’ve suffered the same effects (or not) from the same colonial empires
– creating a chain of immigration consultants, PTE’s, recruitment and labour supply companies, builders, mortgage brokers, home renovation ‘specialists’ – even beauty salons where a temporary ‘skill shortage’ allows an opportunity for the ticket clipper trading in humans to operate.
I’m not sure yet whether it’s that Kiwis are just so laid back and ill-equipped with any means for critical thought, or whether they don’t actually give shit until such time as it all jumps up and bites them in the bum. I suspect it’ll begin to hit when a few more farmers go to the wall having been persuaded to rack up debt to convert to dairy, and that the urban property owners who come to realise they shouldn’t have racked up so much debt on treats and trinkets against the mortgage.
OwTim
I like your comments in the last para. I don’t think that NZs want to spend too much time thinking about things other than the factors that impact on them personally. Their vision is small, and that is important as if you start to expand your vision then you see things that have escaped your notice previously, and it can make you feel uncomfortable. And we don’t want to feel uncomfortable, do we people? No.
So it doesn’t pay to think too hard, and look for facts and so be ready for unpleasant future outcomes for us personally, our rates and so our local entity, and one hopes that the rest of the country are resilient if there are problems and those who don’t appear to have that capacity can in the meantime pull their socks up and get doing something for themselves instead of just moaning about how hard everything is. Nobody gets on who does that, perhaps they will learn that one day by thinking about things better, and putting time into work instead of whining. /sarc
End of rant. Whoooo.
Change of subject. I was reflecting today how it has been 12 years since the National Party attempted one of the biggest electoral deceptions/frauds of living memory. Don Brash and his Exclusive Brethren cash campaign. ‘Honest’ Don on the hustings telling people how trust worthy he was, and how his wife was from Singapore, whilst simultaneously planning with the EBs the roll out of ‘our/your’ campaign.
Who is behind the pamphlets Dr Brash?
‘I am not sure, one things I do know is that’s it not the National Party’
a few days later
‘I didn’t lie. They told me they were putting out pamphlets attacking the government and I said that’s marvellous’
And it was only a year ago that John Key was still PM, Key who ‘met the EBs for prayer’ on several occasions.
Of recent times I have had occasion to look into the EBs and was disturbed by their dismissive attitudes to the society that I hold dear.
I have seen a couple of articles that have got my attention one was saying make sure you get the difference right of race and culture. I say we can interpret culture as we see fit and it is a better word to use than race when discribing unique people as race is a word that divide US so in my view we have many beautiful intelligent inercint unique people around our world Ka pai.
Another was quoting all the achievements of the baby boomers and said we stand on the backs of giants don’t get me wrong I have a lot of respect for our elderly.
But I say they are giant sheep who let the %1 lie cheat and steel off the rest and give them selves impunity our elderly did not have this wonderful 21st century comunacations devices that us younger generation have so it was easy for the 1% to pull the wool over there eyes. I say no more were will get equality for all Kia kaha
Eco maori
Good points. And I think it is a case of keeping on top of the new innovations around computers etc. but not letting go of the basic systems that are still under our control.
The test will be, if the electricity and battery operated systems were out of order, withdrawn, put under sanctions and denied to us, what have the people still got. I’m wondering if we should have a pigeon network, for fun, but with possible future needs in mind. I think these would have to be the imported ones. I don’t know that kereru would take kindly to flying all over the place unless they knew there were going to be berries there!
I’m reading the story of the Cretan way of getting round their mountainous island near Greece that really came into its own in WW2 when the Germans occupied it. Called Natural Born Heroes by Christopher McDougall. The library in your area should have it, and if not, it is worth putting in a request for them to buy it. The Cretans had donkeys I think but not many horses. But they couldn’t have managed what the Cretan men did (don’t know about the women yet). That would be an interesting place for NZ to go to as I understand we were helpful in the war and they don’t forget.
Over the last few years we’ve had RWNJs and even some Lefties telling us that we can’t ban foreign ownership and importation and exportation of other stuff because of FTAs. Well, China is now banning the importation of waste.
Wouldn’t this, too, go against those same FTAs?
Depends on the FTA obviously. But the two are not necessarily related.
Really?
When China was going to decrease their export of rare-earths they got taken to the WTO by Europe and the US to force them to continue exporting. Surely the ban on trash imports also impinges upon China’s trading rights obligations.
Reading the SCMP article, it sounds like China is banning importing the shit on bio-security / sanitary grounds. Most trade agreements have let outs for that.
Like Australia with our apples, and us with pretty much everyone else’s honey.
We did take Australia to the WTO and won on the apples.
Still, you do have a point.
A related point, apparently in the UK they are now sealing roads using plastic rather than bitumen, lasts a lot longer and provides a use for recycled plastic.
Happy 2018 folks!
Seen this?
NZ WHISTLE-BLOWER ALERT!
(2 January 2018)
Who in NZ has heard of the form of corruption known as ‘State Capture’?
(Where vested interests get their way at the ‘policy’ level – before the law is made /changes are made which serve their vested interest$.)
Seems that the country leading the fightback against ‘State Capture’ is South Africa!
A new ‘civil society’ organisation has been formed – spearheading the fight against corruption and State Capture – called ‘Save Our South Africa’.
State Capture: Madonsela ‘happy’ with court ruling on Zuma | News24
https://m.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/state-capture-madonsela-happy-with-court-ruling-on-zuma-20171213
(I met Thuli Madonsela – this South African Public Prosecutor in July 2017, at the World Justice Project International Rule of Law Forum at The Hague.)
Penny Bright
Penny
I guess it follows what seems to be a human universal failing –
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely.
Any weak judge can stand up and look righteous once the leader has been deposed.
Much more interesting to see what the new government leadership will actually do.
There is hope that all of Africa and her people will get their Mana back and they will share it to benefit all her people Ka pai Penny bright
Joe 90 you know we have worked out that the 1% know about all the corruption in OUR WORLDs society they chose to keep it to themselves as they are scared they will lose their money.
The neo liberals have tunnel vision on any issues that they disagree.
Climate change is poking US in thee eye and they still denied it existed
There small brains can’t handle admitting to there own flaws typical of neo liberal who self massage there own ego.
Waha whakawhetai to Scott Morrison for making the time to teach our people in prison how to speak Maori this will help them find our Maori culture eco will have to learn more reo to
Kia kaha people
Thuli Madonsela – an impressive South African woman.
She stood up to and exposed President Zuma.
She exposed ‘State Capture’ in South Africa.
Good on her.
https://advancedleadership.harvard.edu/people/thulisile-madonsela
Advanced Leadership
HOME / PEOPLE /
Thulisile Madonsela
Thulisile Madonsela
Prior to ALI, Thulisile Madonsela was the Public Protector of South Africa, and was the first woman to hold this position.
Ms. Madonsela is a human rights lawyer and authority on equality; she helped South Africa’s Constitutional Assembly draft the country’s constitution, and co-developed the policy framework that formed the basis of the establishment of her country’s Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disability.
As an ALI Fellow, she hopes to explore new ways for legal systems to promote social justice and eradicate poverty, both in her native South Africa and globally.
___________________
The pricks have known for sixty years.
It was a typical November day in New York City. The year: 1959. Robert Dunlop, 50 years old and photographed later as clean-shaven, hair carefully parted, his earnest face donning horn-rimmed glasses, passed under the Ionian columns of Columbia University’s iconic Low Library. He was a guest of honor for a grand occasion: the centennial of the American oil industry.
[…]
Four others joined Dunlop at the podium that day, one of whom had made the journey from California – and Hungary before that. The nuclear weapons physicist Edward Teller had, by 1959, become ostracized by the scientific community for betraying his colleague J. Robert Oppenheimer, but he retained the embrace of industry and government. Teller’s task that November fourth was to address the crowd on “energy patterns of the future,” and his words carried an unexpected warning:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jan/01/on-its-hundredth-birthday-in-1959-edward-teller-warned-the-oil-industry-about-global-warming
I see that ECO Maori and the rest of the good people on the standard are having a positive effect on OUR society they are trying to cover it up I won’t say what the effect is but ECO see it many thanks to my te puna for gifting me these skills Ka kite ano