Ok I'm a little confused, retail opens in Auckland next week for everybody but when we enter the traffic light system it will only he open to people who are double vaxxed?
It doesnt really make any sense… or am I missing something?
The government is missing a fit for purpose functioning vaccination certification system – they've only had many many months to have something up and running, no doubt those responsible for it's implementation are still consulting about the name of system before getting down to actually creating it.
We can only hope when it does arrive it is fit for purpose.
It is amazing how many self acclaimed experts have all of tomorrows problems solved and remedied as of yesterday when they didn't even know about the problem in the first place.
Anyone who thinks dealing with problems in a pandemic will go like clockwork is bonkers.
Change like the wind, what can come out of a person's mouth. The weather forecast can be hard to predict and the weather is a lot more stable than a pandemic with new variants.
But it's not about 'them' surprising us it's about the public surprising us by accepting whatever eventuates. It coming from Ardern and her government which means it automatically will not be accepted by many. It will be seen to be the worst solution possible, not fit for purpose, flawed, whatever bag of negativity you want to dip into.
They haven't got that far. They are still squabbling over which minority groups must be represented on the committee and who are the people to represent them.
Clearly you are an expert, Alwyn. Why do you think it needs a committee with representatives? So what sort of certificate would you recommend? Would it be paper, or electronic, or a plastic card? Or a choice of any of those? What expiry Date should it use? How would you prevent fraud? Does it need photo-ID? How would you issue it? How would you handle lost or stolen cards? Would you expect New Zealanders to pay for a certificate – if so how much is reasonable? Should children be required to have a certificate? If a retailer or company puts up a notice saying that all front line staff are fully vaccinated, how do I know that can be trusted? What about the new employee that day, or the back room worker who walks through the store? How would you deal with people entering New Zealand? Are you the "right" person to ask? We are all replying on you to have all the answers today – and it would be helpful if all your decisions have cross party support . . ..
Those are all, with the exclusion of the first one, sensible questions. The first one "Why do you think it needs a committee with representatives?" on the other hand is not, and is NOT one that I am advocating.
I have in the past been on various committees given the job of coming up with technical standards. You would be truly amazed, and I think horrified, at how many started out with long discussions on whether the group of people being chosen showed the right mix of gender, and iwi, to meet some hypothetical pattern. Knowledge of the topic being considered didn't seem to be relevant.
I don't have to bother with such things anymore, thank Gaia.
@ Higherstandard (1.1) … for those of us who are fully vaccinated, our vaccination status is recorded on our Covid QR tracer app, which can be located and confirmed through the dashboard My Covid Record, which needs to be signed in for access. For those who do not have the app, then their card should be enough evidence of vaccination status.
I can't see the reason to need another means of certification.
Yes you are missing something – comprehension skills. You will need to be double vaccinated to enter hospitality and entertainment centres, but you will not need to show your vaccination certificate to enter retail stores unless the proprietary decide to restrict entry only to double vaccinated for the protection of their staff.
Where we can go at Red
Public facilities — open with up to 100 people, based on 1 metre distancing.
Retail — open with capacity limits based on 1 metre distancing.
Workplaces — working from home encouraged.
ECEs, schools, and kura are open with public health measures.
Specified outdoor community events — allowed with capacity limits.
As I understand it from Macro, thats correct once we get to traffic lights then businesses will be able to choose if the will allow unvaxxed people inside.
Vac Certificates will apply at all levels, as Jacinda outlined quite clearly, when she introduced the Framework system at the initial press briefing. The "Traffic Light" Framework, will come into play when all DHBs have a 90% level of eligible people vaccinated. Initially the part of the country currently at level 2 Delta will move to Orange. Auckland will move to Red before the rest of the country, when all 3 DHBs in the Auckland city reach 90% of eligible people vaccinated. The link I provided above gives all the details for each colour. The colour Red applies when there is community transmission within a particular area. This, as the Govt is explaining, is no longer an elimination strategy, but a suppression strategy. As we have found out, elimination of the delta variant is far too difficult once it has gotten into the community. The need for very high levels of vaccination, along with public health measures, is the best means of mitigation.
As routine as shopping hours are displayed, a notice needs to be at the entrance of every business about what the compliance is to enter.
Adapting will be easier for the vaccinated than the unvaccinated, (those with a medical exemption differ to the unvaccinated group). Consideration for the staff's health and welfare on the premises is what is required.
It makes perfect sense if you're not a one-dimensional purist. Level 3 stage 2 (which allows some retail) is a transitional concession to Auckland's angst and fatigue. The traffic light system is a long-term framework for next year. If they are a bit contradictory, who gives a f*ck?
Commentators who haven't had to make god awful decisions affecting lots of people and with only bad options on the table need to keep quiet.
Many people in Auckland are now simply ignoring the steps and rules. There have been several family gathering that I know of, and a walk down to Mission Bay, Okahu Bay will confirm many are treating it as the old level one.
Would a Green Party women not show her affiliation with the Party atm, there are no elections so why would they throw their support behind Labour? Could it be that the Greens may be actually losing women and would the Self ID bill part of the reason that is leading that exodus? I think that the Green seem to be more a Standard bearer for that bill then the actual government. Personally i always thought that women were the majority support for the Green Party.
best way to know that is to compare older RM polls and see what the sex rates were pre-Ardern. I'm guessing that in the exodus of voters from Green to Labour in 2017, the balance of male/female changed as well.
I doubt that most women in NZ are aware of the law changes and what they mean. It's not like they were asked.I’d be surprised if that is affecting a poll of 1000 people.
Yes AB ,there are plenty of right wing nutbars "quadrupling down" out there now because they can't stand having female leaders of both main parties; so they flock to Rimmer.
For a government that is having to control people's lives to this extent for this long it is more of a surprise that they haven't lost more, sooner.
I expect some polling gain after Christmas as shopping and family re-unifications take place.
But 2022 and 2023 look pretty tough for a potential third term. At the moment they are putting simply more controls on society for not a whole bunch of fun or upside:
– water regulation
– carbon budgets and programmes across government
– new RMA legislation
– pushing the health amalgamation
None of that makes me wee myself with happiness.
Labour will need to pull something big out of the 2022 budget to win the next election.
That's the reality of politics, the farmers revolt the 3 waters debacle now magnified with a change cancelling the opt out option has upset a lot of people.
Then the long lockdown and all the business sector ,anti vax protests,gangs and prostitutes breaking the team effort.gangs getting $ 2.5million to reform.
The left can't complain to much the govt has given the media plenty of ammunition.
While National haven't been able to land any big blows.The Media haven't been so dysfunctional.
The MSM have been bought by the current Government.
The National Party leader is uninspiring, to put it politely.
The ACT party have a genuinely interesting leader.
Mind you, at the same time in the 2014-2017 term the leading party (National) was on 49% and the second party (Labour) was on 28.5% in the equivalent poll my Roy Morgan. Now the numbers, for the 2 leading parties don't look quite so bad for National do they?
Not a rogue poll (but it is Roy Morgan, and those of us who pay attention have treated the good with the bad with consistent caution – no memory hole here).
But the poll doesn't say what you think it does. As always, the best measure is "right direction/wrong direction". At a time when the opinion-churners are declaring NZ to be a basket case, the people disagree.
In supposedly a "bad poll", there is still a gap of 48-38 in right vs wrong direction. In Australia, it is in negative territory, hence the ALP lead. Scott Morrison hasn't had Ardern's ratings – ever.
Similar Covid problems, different responses. NZ doing much better. According to the people, not the columnists.
People like Alanna Ratna are as much a risk to society as covid.
"At a recent protest in Tauranga, a retired General Practitioner (GP) in Mount Maunganui named Alanna Ratna told the assembled that Jacinda Ardern was guilty of “crimes against humanity”.
“In Nuremberg, the punishment for crimes against humanity involved the gallows,” she said to loud cheers.
“We no longer have capital punishment in this country, but I suggest a good punishment would be a ball and chain around your ankle digging hard rock for the rest of your life.”
Later, on her Facebook page, Ratna went a step further, writing that Ardern “is going to get her own lethal injection when the International Criminal Court sits for Nuremberg two”.
I'm posting this again for those who are watching and seeking to inform themselves more about what is going on in conversations about self–id for gender and legislative, cultural and societal impact.
Language distortion and conflation plays a significant role in derailing discussion.
This post – by someone who has Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, is one of the best I have read in terms of research and clarity about the term 'Intersex' and how it is sometimes inappropriately and harmfully used:
It seems to me that this is an issue that ,on the face of it, is pitched as left v right but once you drill down into it the situation changes and its clearly something else
Strangely enough, one of my favourite people to talk with is a committed ACT voter, and conservative Christian – her husband was a pastor. Like me, she has a few Aspergers traits, so we enter discussions knowing the other person is unlikely to change their view to align with our own, but we can both listen to each other and come away with another perspective that informs our own. IRL I know her quite well, and see that we share a lot of values, just disagree on how to get there. That base relationship, gives a context to discussion that's often missing online.
That said, I did watch. And like many others, question my own use of left and right as a political term in situations, because so many people have different ideas of what this means.
It'll take longer to write than it took to watch, if I go through it piece by piece. But some of the language used made me take note. He is right about biological sex, but not necessarily about responsibilities and privilege accorded to both sexes. I'd say there are roles within cultures that are delegated according to sex, but the majority of cultures puts the power hierachies in the hands of men. The "privileges" he seems to infer, is the 'privilege' of women having men protect them from the violence of other men. Every person has the choice to step in (eg. woman on the train), men will probably be more successful and less likely to receive harm, but that doesn't mean the responsibility lies only with men. The qualification that the left brought about this inaction, means that everyone on the train would be left. But that's unlikely to be true. It's a difficult thing for many people to know how to intervene without causing escalation, and I think that stops quite a few from action unfortunately.
I have been in situations where men have jumped into existing fights after a split second decision making process that gives them the insight into which side to join. The fact that this was a women is by-the-by for me. His view is a bit too "pretty little head" for me to be comfortable with.
I also think his reference to New York devolving back to a city where people are unsafe – as in the 70s – ignores the valid stories of those who have experienced it as unsafe during the last 50 years. I'm sure there would be thousands who live a life in one of the world's biggest cities of terror and vulnerability. The anonymity and disconnect that are part and parcel of large swathes of cities, are the breeding grounds for exploitation and violence unfettered by social contracts.
I watched Chapelle to see what the concern was. Thought that it was not transphobic, but then the term as it is being used has little meaning – as Andrew Klavan points out. It does, however, hold a lot of power in terms of derailing discourse, making policies and legislation, so cannot be ignored.
I do believe there are some manipulators out there, who don't have the well-being of transgender people at the heart of their actions or activism but are utilising the zeitgeist to create power networks for themselves as individuals. I also believe that there are many transgender people that are really discomforted by those that state that biological sex is real and immutable. I think this feeling of compromised 'safety' is a natural result of a series of beliefs that constantly require unrelenting external validation to hold together. It's not a good place to be, and it is not a good place for policy and legislation to aim at providing.
He returns back to the 'protection' theme, but women have been pointing out these inconsistencies since they became aware of them, and Chapelle is reiterating points already made. Women have also been threatened, and cancelled and suffered consequences but he makes no reference to them.
His take that it is the left's idea to silence truth, can be applied with the same generalisation to some of the right and other topics. But they are both inaccurate, I think. Whether you see yourself as left or right, there are always some on your side that will take the opportunity to reduce things down to a simplistic explanation. And life and people are more complicated than that.
Of course, I wonder sometimes about those men (and women) that consider themselves left, and yet have remained silent or joined the chorus of those who use the #NoDebate stance to silence others. Unfortunately, I think within all points of the political spectrum there are personality types that are represented, and we are seeing the effects of a shallow approach to the issue stifling discussion on the left. I don't know why.
The Twitter terms that block users because of misgendering has been in place for while, and has silenced many. But he only brings up men in positions of power, and Twitter is the one that is making these social judgements and should be challenged. His point about the conflation of sex and gender identity – although he calls it gender and gender – matches my belief that confusion about language and its use is causing unreasonable situations.
His explanation of sex based roles throughout history would take too long to dissemble into relevance…… so moving on.
Agree with his reference to Judith Butler work, and the imposition of abstract on the concrete, and the use of obfuscating language to deny interrogation of ideas.
His expectation of quality from the journalists shown is much higher than mine, but it would benefit us all if media for consumption was at a higher standard than it currently is.
His focus on the individual connection to biological sex is a different perspective to mine. My awareness of my female sex is one that encompasses commonalities with other women. His conclusion is about power, and influence I think, and the inability to regulate excessive power in the hands of a few.
Overall, I am aware that many supposed conservatives are speaking out, but they also often miss a lot of the issues related to this. His take is simplistic and quite paternalistic – "the protection of women".
The concerns of many women's groups (and some transgender individuals) regarding the impact of legislative and policy changes seems to be much more nuanced and considered.
As an example of how much could be considered in terms of the social and cultural impact of badly drafted legislative change (NOT transgender existence or presence), one woman's rant to police when she was reported by her ex-husband, now transwoman, for transphobic hate:
Them: Erm…Well, we haven’t actually taken a statement. We just came to speak to you as we received a call about transphobic hate…
Me: Really. So, basically you have come here to harass a woman for daring to speak about the erosion of women as a social and political class then?
Them: No.
Me: So why is the opinion and perceived offence caused to a man more important than my opinion and offence at the removal of my rights.
I find it offensive that you would come to my home like this and frankly intimidate me like this into shutting up.
Has a crime actually been committed?
Them: Erm…
Look, this is a small town and people are offended…. <blah blah blah>
At this point I pretty much let rip…politely but firmly. Very very firmly.
I might have said:
They will need to build more prisons
Raged about men in prisons
Raged about men running rape-crisis centres
Raged about queer theory in school
Raged about illegal schools guidance that sees school compelled to keep a 4-year-old’s self-declared gender identity a secret from parents
Them: Oh, I read about that… I wondered…what is all that about…
Raged about online porn
Raged about girls missing school due to periods
Raged about girls not drinking all day to avoid going to the toilet
Raged about 1 rape per week in schools & 6/10 girls experienced/witnessed sexual assault by age 16
Raged about Women and Girls sport
Raged about Self-ID
Raged about the notion that Twans people are ‘vulnerable’ – murder figures confirm that it’s Women who remain vulnerable <gave them the actual figures Graham>
Raged about Women and girls having not a single safe space away from men. Not even rape victims who are not transphobic but traumatised.
Raged about the absolute brass neck of two police officers turning up at my door thinking they can silence women.
Raged about not being bloody transphobic in any feckin way.
Raged about having to fight this fight.
Raged about being removed as a political and biological class.
Raged about Lesbians having to accept ‘Ladydick'
Raged about Marion Miller.
Raged about academia.
Raged about lots of other shit I am too enraged about right now to remember.
Raged about harassment.
Raged about my body.
Them: Jeez, Look we are not allowed to have personal opinions… just doing our job… hear what you are saying…blah blah blah
Me: I think we all have a responsibility to think about what we are doing to people and why…. <kind of looked the female right in the eye> You owe it to your women and children to have an opinion on this. This is very dangerous… <that was for the man>
Raged about confused children
Raged about Gay children
Raged about Breast binders
Raged about drugs these children are taking (PB’s, Wrong-sex hormones)
Raged about consequences of the drugs… not good at all
Raged about grotesque surgeries
Raged about number of detransitioners
Raged about number of young women with catheters due to complications from surgery.
Raged about botched surgeries
Raged about breast amputations
Raged about penis removal
Raged about the indoctrination of children at school, on social media, tv, everywhere
Raged about the monetising of our children to fund an industry.
Raged about the state-sanctioned abuse of our children.
I am furious at our MP's for introducing legislation that has caused these legitimate concerns to be raised in other countries, and not taking the time to address those issues beforehand. They have knowingly created a similar situation in NZ, between groups that are most likely aligned in wanting people to be free to live lives without boundaries on safe personal expression.
Wow Molly. Thanks for the critique of the video. You raise some excellent points.
I am just relieved to find anyone who calls out the erasure of women.
I also read the article about the Scottish women. It is unbelievably scarry what is happening in Scotland. I fear once the hate speech laws come in GC women will be harrased by the police like this. And I believe that when the Conversion Therapy Bill passes it will be similar. Parents and counsellors (who want be protected in the Act will be visited by the police and intimidated in this way…..
Its bloody frightening. Either take you child to gender affirming medical treatment and use their pro-nouns or receive a visit from the police.
Yes. Only scrolling through after did I realise how long it was… my family tend to get themselves a cup of tea and a comfortable seat before they ask for my opinion.
The recording of a NCHI "non-crime hate incident" on your police record resulting from a complaint is unconscionable. This will show up in any police checks for employment, housing, volunteering etc although no crime has been shown to be committed.
These police records flowed from lawful speech. It is completely lawful to express the view that biological sex is unchangeable and it is equally lawful to support a woman’s right to abortion. It is not necessary to take sides to understand it is deeply worrying that the police categorised such commonly held opinions as hate incidents.
We live in a time when many people are quick to take offence, believing they have some right in law to be protected from it. They don’t. It’s a small step for such individuals to see any opposition to their world view as motivated by hate, rather than by, for example, ridicule. We grant such sensitive souls enormous power if they can virtually dictate the creation of police records against those whose views conflict with their own. This power has real-world consequences. We need hardly imagine what an HR manager would make of a job applicant with a police history of hate.
My take away on the article is it mostly affirms my ideas and mirrors whats happening in the activist trans community
Taking labels and applying them to oneself takes away from the people that actually have the condition
Like people saying they're gluten intolerant to be trendy which trivialises people with actual intolerances
It also makes me worry at the, seeming, explosion in the number of kids declaring they're trans and wanting sex change operations, is it the kids or is it the parents and the circles they move in
I liked what you wrote and it gave me, and others, food for thought
-it is the kids – puperty, growing up is hard. And for the girls i totally understand any girl that say wants to work in Stem or Tech and who decides that she can't be fucked with the inherent mysoginy and simply opts out via Trans and presents as man for the perceived advantages.
We should look at that as a society and ask ourselfs jus why Girls think that life as women is so miserable and so devoid of advantages as women that having a double masectomy and lifelong injections of testesterone is preferable.
-it is the parents – and in saying that we have now a bill that is being shoved through that can criminalize parents for not going with full affirmation should their kid declare themself trans. (See OZ).
– it is the parents – see the tragic story of a boy name Jazz Jennings who was transed by his parents at 18 month, was chemically castrated at age 10, then put on female hormones, then at barely 18 hat his 'neo vagina' fashioned out of his micro penis, this of course went all bad, and the kid has had three more ops down there (can you imagine the pain just to urinate and defecate), gained a hundred pounds, is highly depressed, but this it seems is better for the Mum and Dad then having a healthy son who may or may not present as gay, bisexual or heterosexual albeit a bit flamboyant and 'sassy'. TLC Channel. There is another kid, exactly the same, he is 9 going on to his chemical castration in seven miles boots.
– education system – any system that would cut out parents from how they deal with the child, how they would name him, his/her pronouns, etc in order to protect the child from the parents (wtf) is an environment that is grooming kids.
– online, it is very easy to be groomed into being transbaby by adults. It is as easy as is access to choke the women dead porn.
– watch tiktok if you have a good stomach
but don't worry, the Self ID bill will go through, and with it the clause about hate speech, and please feel free to check the link above from England where they now want a permanent records for people who have been apprehended for the non crime of opinionated speech.
Thanks PR. I thought she'd outlined her perspective well and provided great links for research and additional information.
The language distortion, in this case around 'intersex' is shown clearly as "Taking labels and applying them to oneself takes away from the people that actually have the condition".
Agree with Sabine on her responses to your questions.
The law in Scotland that initiated the police visit above was accompanied in 2019 by the release of this video:
(I have an ongoing disagreement with close friend with an English degree who finds it painful to listen to people who use swear words as adjectives or emphasis. As long as it's not used in a threatening or bullying manner it doesn't bother me.
My perspective is that some of the most horrific things you can hear are profanities without swear words:
"You are not to talk to your family again"
"I don't want you to go out with your friends anymore."
"This is our secret, and you can't tell anyone."…
Scottish Govt: "We believe in acceptance, and it’s time you accept that" has that same discord for me.)
I agree with you PR. I have drawn that paralell with the trend of people declaring themselves gluten intolerant (whereas people who have coeliacs diesease are). However the GI people don't demand that we change our language or impose things (although I was organising a conference once and the hotel automatically provided vegan, gluten free, lactose free food, without having to ask. What a hassle for them I thought). Being gluten free also doesn't involve permanantly changing your body, as what is happening to very young kids.
Kids are now taught at school you can be born in the wrong body and that there is such a thing as gender identity (and given a huge range of gender identities to label themselves as). We are teaching kids this stuff.
What I still can't get my head around is how quickly everything is happening or was it building up slowly and then like the pressure on a weak point something broke?
Ghostbusters 2016?
Twitter/Social media?
JK Rowling going from darling of the left to being on their most hated list?
It has happened in the blink of an eye almost PR. Others would probably be able to give you better info that I have on have on it..
I agree it isn't a left right thing. Many of the women who are GC are real lefties. The likes of Sandra Coney, Philida Bunkle, John Minto, Prue Hymen. The women in this group are the Grand Dames of Feminism in NZ.
I think there is a massive group think going on, education system, infiltration of parliament, the public service and the media. Its come from the universities and the gender theory one of the main proponants being Judith Butler an American Philosopher. Its also the no debate, your a transphobe if you disagree tactics used.
BTW if you have time, how did you become aware of this? No problem if you rather not say, but generally it flys below the radar.
I've read the Harry Potter books and seen the movies, her world building is incredible and just a joy to read (just ignore the implications of some of the spells and potions) so I found it odd when JK Rowling announced that Dumbledore was gay given that there was no hint to it in the books, that she said Hermione could be black which means she doesn't know her own stories and then she started going on about refugees and I thought "oh ok" shes gone full woke then the terf thing happened…and JK Rowling found out you can never satisfy the woke mob
Then Fallon Fox happened, I'll link to this guy to explain my issues with this because hes a trainer, manager, cornerman, promoter, announcer, referee and former fighter in China so he really knows his stuff (great voice as well):
I happen to be conservative so for my fix on political and cultural matters I follow sites like The Daily Wire, Steven Crowder (I also happen to follow Joe Rogan and Russell Brand) and due to that I got a recommendation for Blaire White so I clicked on her and thought yep shes coming at this issues at a different angle (took me two videos to realise shes trans)
Next would be the pop culture aspect and there I follow Nerdrotic, The Critical Drinker, Keri Smith, Just Some Guy and (thanks youtube algorithms) they've lead me to others which is why I sometimes bang on about just how bad movies and tv are these days
Finally just things happening all over the place that I simply don't understand and will never support like Don Brash being cancelled and free speech being curtailed for "safety", it sometimes feels like we're all in a race to see who can jump off the cliff first.
Find it interesting 0.02% of pop. I'm trying to find where someone was turning that into 2.0% of pop just over the last few days,do you recall,because that's a big differance.
As has been noted it's used alot,I don't do twitting,I'd rather do knitting,nah just a wee word play,(I do run sewing machines though) no someone inflating on MSM just days ago which pricked my ears as I had seen and understood 0.02 % to be fact.
Cheers but not that,It was a solid 2.%.(I've been alert to the 1.7-4 % for awhile )Haven't watched local TV news in a long while,I'm thinking RNZ or a link from here,maybe that BBC thing you put up last week.?
Quite funny. The word "Tova" gets a Pavlovian reaction almost as foamy as "Jacinda" (except it's from right, left and centre). So the comments can only be imagined.
Sadly, her new role will probably involve more ranting than reporting. It's a shame, because she was a good reporter … when reporting, not reckoning.
In Wellington the Mayor fronts it from the beginning, and sets out broad options for public consideration, and open up the housing intensification options right from the outset.
In Auckland, we don't have any idea of what Kainga Ora have in mind for several dozen urban hectares right along the line.
It's an open question whether the Auckland plan or the Wellington plan will happen fastest, or happen at all. Wellington's one simply integrates better with the city, from the outset.
Idiot from Steve Bannon's Counter Spin tries to disrupt PM's press conference. I hope this is accurately reported – he wasn't a random "heckler". Ironic that he was gently squashed with words, whereas in Trumpland he wouldn't get close without being shot.
So the rude American prick was a foreign agitator? Looking at the body count USrwnjs have wrought by politicising core parts of the pandemic response, it’s much more dangerous than other ideologies we monitor and restrict.
US 1 in 451
Italy 1 in 457
UK 1 in 479
Spain 1 in 540
France 1 in 566
Austria 1 in 789
Germany 1 in 874
Turkey 1 in 1, 211
Canada 1 in 1, 305
India 1 in 3, 008
Australia 1 in 15, 494
New Zealand 1 in 175, 607
"It restarted a few minutes later, with local Labour MP Kelvin Davis saying that the incident was “the reason vaccine rates were so low in Northland.”
Ardern said it was important to get the protests in perspective, as it was just two people. Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime corrected her to say it was four people.
Northland has one of the lowest vaccine rates in the country."
Northland needs people to be vaccinated. Northland drags behind the rest of the country. Northland is primed to have Covid rip into communities.
Northland has many uninformed people. Northland has the usual percentage of idiots and the plain 'dumb' people.
What Northland doesn't need is some smartarse spreading false information and playing on ignorance.
It seems that some epidemiologists and government have differing levels of concern over rising infection rates.
This may be because of the use of different models – one using total infection rates and the other separating out the young unlikely to need hospitalisation.
The other factor is that of timing – at what point does vaccination levels have an impact on the r rate. Both NSW and Victoria reduced their levels by increasing rate of vaccination (and NSW did this after easing their lock down).
Today, the House of Lords debates regulations to control the creation of police records on people who have committed no crimes. In the frame are “non-crime hate incidents” (NCHIs), exchanges reported to the police that the so-called victims perceive to have been motivated by hate, but where no laws have been broken.
NCHIs have consequences. They are not anonymised. They sit for ever against the names of the alleged perpetrators without any real investigation or right of appeal. Between 2014 and 2019 no fewer than 120,000 of these records were created.
The Americans involved have no right of appeal to being on the watch list permanently. That list has just grown exponentially since 9/11.
I am fairly sure the police here provide information for files of the SIS, despite no crimes being committed.
While it is a record kept by the UK police, it is not a past conviction that anyone has to disclose. And if this record is to become practice – for balance the UK police should also keep a record of the offended and identify which groups they belong to … .
do you really not understand the implication of a permanent police record and being on a watch list somewher. Besides this article is from England, not the US. Seriously dude.
The Police in England charges male rapists in skirts and wigs as women. I don't give them the benefit of doubt to keep good records.
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Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
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 arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
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 ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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Ok I'm a little confused, retail opens in Auckland next week for everybody but when we enter the traffic light system it will only he open to people who are double vaxxed?
It doesnt really make any sense… or am I missing something?
You're not missing anything.
The government is missing a fit for purpose functioning vaccination certification system – they've only had many many months to have something up and running, no doubt those responsible for it's implementation are still consulting about the name of system before getting down to actually creating it.
We can only hope when it does arrive it is fit for purpose.
You know it will not be fit for purpose. According to some. Regardless of what eventuates it will be slammed. That is the environment we live in.
'Journalists' will be on their starting blocks waiting to grab the first person who has a complaint, a sob story to plaster in the headlines.
"Vaccert slammed," or damned, or scammed, or sham, or shame, or blame… It's coming, as sure as day follows night.
'You know it will not be fit for purpose. '
You never know they may surprise us.
It is amazing how many self acclaimed experts have all of tomorrows problems solved and remedied as of yesterday when they didn't even know about the problem in the first place.
Anyone who thinks dealing with problems in a pandemic will go like clockwork is bonkers.
Great comment.
Change like the wind, what can come out of a person's mouth. The weather forecast can be hard to predict and the weather is a lot more stable than a pandemic with new variants.
Totally Bonkers!!
But it's not about 'them' surprising us it's about the public surprising us by accepting whatever eventuates. It coming from Ardern and her government which means it automatically will not be accepted by many. It will be seen to be the worst solution possible, not fit for purpose, flawed, whatever bag of negativity you want to dip into.
Consulting over the name?
They haven't got that far. They are still squabbling over which minority groups must be represented on the committee and who are the people to represent them.
Clearly you are an expert, Alwyn. Why do you think it needs a committee with representatives? So what sort of certificate would you recommend? Would it be paper, or electronic, or a plastic card? Or a choice of any of those? What expiry Date should it use? How would you prevent fraud? Does it need photo-ID? How would you issue it? How would you handle lost or stolen cards? Would you expect New Zealanders to pay for a certificate – if so how much is reasonable? Should children be required to have a certificate? If a retailer or company puts up a notice saying that all front line staff are fully vaccinated, how do I know that can be trusted? What about the new employee that day, or the back room worker who walks through the store? How would you deal with people entering New Zealand? Are you the "right" person to ask? We are all replying on you to have all the answers today – and it would be helpful if all your decisions have cross party support . . ..
Those are all, with the exclusion of the first one, sensible questions. The first one "Why do you think it needs a committee with representatives?" on the other hand is not, and is NOT one that I am advocating.
I have in the past been on various committees given the job of coming up with technical standards. You would be truly amazed, and I think horrified, at how many started out with long discussions on whether the group of people being chosen showed the right mix of gender, and iwi, to meet some hypothetical pattern. Knowledge of the topic being considered didn't seem to be relevant.
I don't have to bother with such things anymore, thank Gaia.
@ Higherstandard (1.1) … for those of us who are fully vaccinated, our vaccination status is recorded on our Covid QR tracer app, which can be located and confirmed through the dashboard My Covid Record, which needs to be signed in for access. For those who do not have the app, then their card should be enough evidence of vaccination status.
I can't see the reason to need another means of certification.
Yes you are missing something – comprehension skills. You will need to be double vaccinated to enter hospitality and entertainment centres, but you will not need to show your vaccination certificate to enter retail stores unless the proprietary decide to restrict entry only to double vaccinated for the protection of their staff.
https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/covid-19-protection/
They are ACT and National voters Macro. You have to talk very slowly for comprehension to occur.
Thanks, no need to be a dick about it.
tbf, it's not that easy to understand.
Will vax certs only apply under red?
As I understand it from Macro, thats correct once we get to traffic lights then businesses will be able to choose if the will allow unvaxxed people inside.
But until we get there it seems not.
The traffic light system comes into force much later in November/December when the vaccination levels are up.
At the moment AKl is working through the steps in the old level 3.
https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-3/alert-level-3-steps-1-to-3/
it does seem odd for the areas with community transmission.
Vac Certificates will apply at all levels, as Jacinda outlined quite clearly, when she introduced the Framework system at the initial press briefing. The "Traffic Light" Framework, will come into play when all DHBs have a 90% level of eligible people vaccinated. Initially the part of the country currently at level 2 Delta will move to Orange. Auckland will move to Red before the rest of the country, when all 3 DHBs in the Auckland city reach 90% of eligible people vaccinated. The link I provided above gives all the details for each colour. The colour Red applies when there is community transmission within a particular area. This, as the Govt is explaining, is no longer an elimination strategy, but a suppression strategy. As we have found out, elimination of the delta variant is far too difficult once it has gotten into the community. The need for very high levels of vaccination, along with public health measures, is the best means of mitigation.
As routine as shopping hours are displayed, a notice needs to be at the entrance of every business about what the compliance is to enter.
Adapting will be easier for the vaccinated than the unvaccinated, (those with a medical exemption differ to the unvaccinated group). Consideration for the staff's health and welfare on the premises is what is required.
It makes perfect sense if you're not a one-dimensional purist. Level 3 stage 2 (which allows some retail) is a transitional concession to Auckland's angst and fatigue. The traffic light system is a long-term framework for next year. If they are a bit contradictory, who gives a f*ck?
Commentators who haven't had to make god awful decisions affecting lots of people and with only bad options on the table need to keep quiet.
Many people in Auckland are now simply ignoring the steps and rules. There have been several family gathering that I know of, and a walk down to Mission Bay, Okahu Bay will confirm many are treating it as the old level one.
Labour down by 6% to 39.5% in the Roy Morgan Poll for October?
Must be a rogue poll I suppose.
https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8849-nz-national-voting-intention-october-2021-202111010502
And the Greens up to 10.5% – left block on 51%, holding well despite all the negative blah blah blah and hard decisions made.
Must be a rogue poll I suppose.
That Greens gender split is big. Good their numbers are holding though.
Yep – plenty of blokes going right-wing nutbar under the pressure of Covid. Dangerous times.
of the people supporting the left (L/G), 8.5% of women support the Greens, and 13.5% of men support the Greens. That's actually quite shocking.
RM aren't the most reliable on individual polls, but still something to take notice of. Need to compare to RMs a few years ago…
can't find it. Just the more recent stuff, which is probably because Ardern is more popular with women.
Would a Green Party women not show her affiliation with the Party atm, there are no elections so why would they throw their support behind Labour? Could it be that the Greens may be actually losing women and would the Self ID bill part of the reason that is leading that exodus? I think that the Green seem to be more a Standard bearer for that bill then the actual government. Personally i always thought that women were the majority support for the Green Party.
quite possibly Sabine
best way to know that is to compare older RM polls and see what the sex rates were pre-Ardern. I'm guessing that in the exodus of voters from Green to Labour in 2017, the balance of male/female changed as well.
I doubt that most women in NZ are aware of the law changes and what they mean. It's not like they were asked.I’d be surprised if that is affecting a poll of 1000 people.
Yes AB ,there are plenty of right wing nutbars "quadrupling down" out there now because they can't stand having female leaders of both main parties; so they flock to Rimmer.
For a government that is having to control people's lives to this extent for this long it is more of a surprise that they haven't lost more, sooner.
I expect some polling gain after Christmas as shopping and family re-unifications take place.
But 2022 and 2023 look pretty tough for a potential third term. At the moment they are putting simply more controls on society for not a whole bunch of fun or upside:
– water regulation
– carbon budgets and programmes across government
– new RMA legislation
– pushing the health amalgamation
None of that makes me wee myself with happiness.
Labour will need to pull something big out of the 2022 budget to win the next election.
That's the reality of politics, the farmers revolt the 3 waters debacle now magnified with a change cancelling the opt out option has upset a lot of people.
Then the long lockdown and all the business sector ,anti vax protests,gangs and prostitutes breaking the team effort.gangs getting $ 2.5million to reform.
The left can't complain to much the govt has given the media plenty of ammunition.
While National haven't been able to land any big blows.The Media haven't been so dysfunctional.
Time to look at basic Labour values.
Build social Housing. Put up benefits for children. Plant native trees.
Those are the issues that will now help us continue to fight poverty and covid and climate change.
Alwyn. Why is the National Party only on 26%?
You want my opinion?
The MSM have been bought by the current Government.
The National Party leader is uninspiring, to put it politely.
The ACT party have a genuinely interesting leader.
Mind you, at the same time in the 2014-2017 term the leading party (National) was on 49% and the second party (Labour) was on 28.5% in the equivalent poll my Roy Morgan. Now the numbers, for the 2 leading parties don't look quite so bad for National do they?
Someone will have to roll Collins before the next General Election. She's been a disaster for National.
Who is Andrew Little.
An honest broker.
"the MSM have been bought by the govt"???
I heard George Soros was involved.
The MSM bought by the government is the local version of Trump's claim the election was stolen.
Once Collins is replaced the govt should be wary.No election is guaranteed in a democracy.
The recovery ,Child poverty,housing,climate change policy that is a tight rope walk.
Just watch the Right push the meme that Maori are running Labour. They will play the racist card.
Not a rogue poll (but it is Roy Morgan, and those of us who pay attention have treated the good with the bad with consistent caution – no memory hole here).
But the poll doesn't say what you think it does. As always, the best measure is "right direction/wrong direction". At a time when the opinion-churners are declaring NZ to be a basket case, the people disagree.
In supposedly a "bad poll", there is still a gap of 48-38 in right vs wrong direction. In Australia, it is in negative territory, hence the ALP lead. Scott Morrison hasn't had Ardern's ratings – ever.
Similar Covid problems, different responses. NZ doing much better. According to the people, not the columnists.
People like Alanna Ratna are as much a risk to society as covid.
"At a recent protest in Tauranga, a retired General Practitioner (GP) in Mount Maunganui named Alanna Ratna told the assembled that Jacinda Ardern was guilty of “crimes against humanity”.
“In Nuremberg, the punishment for crimes against humanity involved the gallows,” she said to loud cheers.
“We no longer have capital punishment in this country, but I suggest a good punishment would be a ball and chain around your ankle digging hard rock for the rest of your life.”
Later, on her Facebook page, Ratna went a step further, writing that Ardern “is going to get her own lethal injection when the International Criminal Court sits for Nuremberg two”.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300439357/covid19-nz-why-a-small-group-of-doctors-oppose-vaccination
Jeebus.
Thankfully most doctors in NZ are not so nuts
https://www.doctors-stand-up-for-vaccination.com/
Surely that is "threatening to kill" especially as she named the victim and the method? I hope she no longer has access to medicines!!
I'm posting this again for those who are watching and seeking to inform themselves more about what is going on in conversations about self–id for gender and legislative, cultural and societal impact.
Language distortion and conflation plays a significant role in derailing discussion.
This post – by someone who has Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, is one of the best I have read in terms of research and clarity about the term 'Intersex' and how it is sometimes inappropriately and harmfully used:
The Invention of Intersex
It's a long read, but a good one.
Hi Molly, I hope this is ok but if you have time I'd like your opinion on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvpd0tEWHfY&t=3s
To put it into context I'm conservative and Andrew Klavan is also conservative and is part of The Daily Wire.
He comes from an older and religious viewpoint but I'm curious as to what you think of his opinion
Thanks PR. I have no idea who this guy is, but mostly I agree with him.
In my mind you are doing the speaking up that none of the people on the subway did for the woman being punched. Thank you.
It seems to me that this is an issue that ,on the face of it, is pitched as left v right but once you drill down into it the situation changes and its clearly something else
Strangely enough, one of my favourite people to talk with is a committed ACT voter, and conservative Christian – her husband was a pastor. Like me, she has a few Aspergers traits, so we enter discussions knowing the other person is unlikely to change their view to align with our own, but we can both listen to each other and come away with another perspective that informs our own. IRL I know her quite well, and see that we share a lot of values, just disagree on how to get there. That base relationship, gives a context to discussion that's often missing online.
That said, I did watch. And like many others, question my own use of left and right as a political term in situations, because so many people have different ideas of what this means.
It'll take longer to write than it took to watch, if I go through it piece by piece. But some of the language used made me take note. He is right about biological sex, but not necessarily about responsibilities and privilege accorded to both sexes. I'd say there are roles within cultures that are delegated according to sex, but the majority of cultures puts the power hierachies in the hands of men. The "privileges" he seems to infer, is the 'privilege' of women having men protect them from the violence of other men. Every person has the choice to step in (eg. woman on the train), men will probably be more successful and less likely to receive harm, but that doesn't mean the responsibility lies only with men. The qualification that the left brought about this inaction, means that everyone on the train would be left. But that's unlikely to be true. It's a difficult thing for many people to know how to intervene without causing escalation, and I think that stops quite a few from action unfortunately.
I have been in situations where men have jumped into existing fights after a split second decision making process that gives them the insight into which side to join. The fact that this was a women is by-the-by for me. His view is a bit too "pretty little head" for me to be comfortable with.
I also think his reference to New York devolving back to a city where people are unsafe – as in the 70s – ignores the valid stories of those who have experienced it as unsafe during the last 50 years. I'm sure there would be thousands who live a life in one of the world's biggest cities of terror and vulnerability. The anonymity and disconnect that are part and parcel of large swathes of cities, are the breeding grounds for exploitation and violence unfettered by social contracts.
I watched Chapelle to see what the concern was. Thought that it was not transphobic, but then the term as it is being used has little meaning – as Andrew Klavan points out. It does, however, hold a lot of power in terms of derailing discourse, making policies and legislation, so cannot be ignored.
I do believe there are some manipulators out there, who don't have the well-being of transgender people at the heart of their actions or activism but are utilising the zeitgeist to create power networks for themselves as individuals. I also believe that there are many transgender people that are really discomforted by those that state that biological sex is real and immutable. I think this feeling of compromised 'safety' is a natural result of a series of beliefs that constantly require unrelenting external validation to hold together. It's not a good place to be, and it is not a good place for policy and legislation to aim at providing.
He returns back to the 'protection' theme, but women have been pointing out these inconsistencies since they became aware of them, and Chapelle is reiterating points already made. Women have also been threatened, and cancelled and suffered consequences but he makes no reference to them.
His take that it is the left's idea to silence truth, can be applied with the same generalisation to some of the right and other topics. But they are both inaccurate, I think. Whether you see yourself as left or right, there are always some on your side that will take the opportunity to reduce things down to a simplistic explanation. And life and people are more complicated than that.
Of course, I wonder sometimes about those men (and women) that consider themselves left, and yet have remained silent or joined the chorus of those who use the #NoDebate stance to silence others. Unfortunately, I think within all points of the political spectrum there are personality types that are represented, and we are seeing the effects of a shallow approach to the issue stifling discussion on the left. I don't know why.
The Twitter terms that block users because of misgendering has been in place for while, and has silenced many. But he only brings up men in positions of power, and Twitter is the one that is making these social judgements and should be challenged. His point about the conflation of sex and gender identity – although he calls it gender and gender – matches my belief that confusion about language and its use is causing unreasonable situations.
His explanation of sex based roles throughout history would take too long to dissemble into relevance…… so moving on.
Agree with his reference to Judith Butler work, and the imposition of abstract on the concrete, and the use of obfuscating language to deny interrogation of ideas.
His expectation of quality from the journalists shown is much higher than mine, but it would benefit us all if media for consumption was at a higher standard than it currently is.
His focus on the individual connection to biological sex is a different perspective to mine. My awareness of my female sex is one that encompasses commonalities with other women. His conclusion is about power, and influence I think, and the inability to regulate excessive power in the hands of a few.
Overall, I am aware that many supposed conservatives are speaking out, but they also often miss a lot of the issues related to this. His take is simplistic and quite paternalistic – "the protection of women".
The concerns of many women's groups (and some transgender individuals) regarding the impact of legislative and policy changes seems to be much more nuanced and considered.
As an example of how much could be considered in terms of the social and cultural impact of badly drafted legislative change (NOT transgender existence or presence), one woman's rant to police when she was reported by her ex-husband, now transwoman, for transphobic hate:
I am furious at our MP's for introducing legislation that has caused these legitimate concerns to be raised in other countries, and not taking the time to address those issues beforehand. They have knowingly created a similar situation in NZ, between groups that are most likely aligned in wanting people to be free to live lives without boundaries on safe personal expression.
That's my basic take on this video.
Now, did you read the article?
Wow Molly. Thanks for the critique of the video. You raise some excellent points.
I am just relieved to find anyone who calls out the erasure of women.
I also read the article about the Scottish women. It is unbelievably scarry what is happening in Scotland. I fear once the hate speech laws come in GC women will be harrased by the police like this. And I believe that when the Conversion Therapy Bill passes it will be similar. Parents and counsellors (who want be protected in the Act will be visited by the police and intimidated in this way…..
Its bloody frightening. Either take you child to gender affirming medical treatment and use their pro-nouns or receive a visit from the police.
Yes. Only scrolling through after did I realise how long it was… my family tend to get themselves a cup of tea and a comfortable seat before they ask for my opinion.
PR can now understand why that is.
I may have to reply properly tomorrow but thanks for the effort, I find it interesting how people converge especially with different voting habits
No worries. As mentioned I have a reputation at home for the long-windedness of my opinions.
https://archive.md/2021.11.01-003354/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/it-isnt-the-polices-job-to-stop-people-being-offended-xj5vz7k05#selection-787.0-793.239
i have posted this below, but it is more fitting here.
The recording of a NCHI "non-crime hate incident" on your police record resulting from a complaint is unconscionable. This will show up in any police checks for employment, housing, volunteering etc although no crime has been shown to be committed.
but that is the intent is it not, to scare people into submission.
Yes.
My take away on the article is it mostly affirms my ideas and mirrors whats happening in the activist trans community
Taking labels and applying them to oneself takes away from the people that actually have the condition
Like people saying they're gluten intolerant to be trendy which trivialises people with actual intolerances
It also makes me worry at the, seeming, explosion in the number of kids declaring they're trans and wanting sex change operations, is it the kids or is it the parents and the circles they move in
I liked what you wrote and it gave me, and others, food for thought
-it is the kids – puperty, growing up is hard. And for the girls i totally understand any girl that say wants to work in Stem or Tech and who decides that she can't be fucked with the inherent mysoginy and simply opts out via Trans and presents as man for the perceived advantages.
We should look at that as a society and ask ourselfs jus why Girls think that life as women is so miserable and so devoid of advantages as women that having a double masectomy and lifelong injections of testesterone is preferable.
-it is the parents – and in saying that we have now a bill that is being shoved through that can criminalize parents for not going with full affirmation should their kid declare themself trans. (See OZ).
– it is the parents – see the tragic story of a boy name Jazz Jennings who was transed by his parents at 18 month, was chemically castrated at age 10, then put on female hormones, then at barely 18 hat his 'neo vagina' fashioned out of his micro penis, this of course went all bad, and the kid has had three more ops down there (can you imagine the pain just to urinate and defecate), gained a hundred pounds, is highly depressed, but this it seems is better for the Mum and Dad then having a healthy son who may or may not present as gay, bisexual or heterosexual albeit a bit flamboyant and 'sassy'. TLC Channel. There is another kid, exactly the same, he is 9 going on to his chemical castration in seven miles boots.
– education system – any system that would cut out parents from how they deal with the child, how they would name him, his/her pronouns, etc in order to protect the child from the parents (wtf) is an environment that is grooming kids.
– online, it is very easy to be groomed into being transbaby by adults. It is as easy as is access to choke the women dead porn.
– watch tiktok if you have a good stomach
but don't worry, the Self ID bill will go through, and with it the clause about hate speech, and please feel free to check the link above from England where they now want a permanent records for people who have been apprehended for the non crime of opinionated speech.
Thanks PR. I thought she'd outlined her perspective well and provided great links for research and additional information.
The language distortion, in this case around 'intersex' is shown clearly as "Taking labels and applying them to oneself takes away from the people that actually have the condition".
Agree with Sabine on her responses to your questions.
The law in Scotland that initiated the police visit above was accompanied in 2019 by the release of this video:
https://youtu.be/wcr7hg8SJik
A strange intolerant view of tolerance.
(I have an ongoing disagreement with close friend with an English degree who finds it painful to listen to people who use swear words as adjectives or emphasis. As long as it's not used in a threatening or bullying manner it doesn't bother me.
My perspective is that some of the most horrific things you can hear are profanities without swear words:
"You are not to talk to your family again"
"I don't want you to go out with your friends anymore."
"This is our secret, and you can't tell anyone."…
Scottish Govt: "We believe in acceptance, and it’s time you accept that" has that same discord for me.)
Fascinating Molly re the Scottish add. No mention of mysogamy or we won't tolerate hating on women.
I'll let Stephen Fry talk about swearing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7raS7hmLkAA
It'd be so unfair to bring Stephen Fry into our discourse.
We'd watch, I'd win and then we'd have to look for another topic on which to disagree.
Hate Crime.
Report it to stop it.
Did this come from the Ministry of Love?
I agree with you PR. I have drawn that paralell with the trend of people declaring themselves gluten intolerant (whereas people who have coeliacs diesease are). However the GI people don't demand that we change our language or impose things (although I was organising a conference once and the hotel automatically provided vegan, gluten free, lactose free food, without having to ask. What a hassle for them I thought). Being gluten free also doesn't involve permanantly changing your body, as what is happening to very young kids.
Kids are now taught at school you can be born in the wrong body and that there is such a thing as gender identity (and given a huge range of gender identities to label themselves as). We are teaching kids this stuff.
What I still can't get my head around is how quickly everything is happening or was it building up slowly and then like the pressure on a weak point something broke?
Ghostbusters 2016?
Twitter/Social media?
JK Rowling going from darling of the left to being on their most hated list?
All of the above, none of the above?
It has happened in the blink of an eye almost PR. Others would probably be able to give you better info that I have on have on it..
I agree it isn't a left right thing. Many of the women who are GC are real lefties. The likes of Sandra Coney, Philida Bunkle, John Minto, Prue Hymen. The women in this group are the Grand Dames of Feminism in NZ.
I think there is a massive group think going on, education system, infiltration of parliament, the public service and the media. Its come from the universities and the gender theory one of the main proponants being Judith Butler an American Philosopher. Its also the no debate, your a transphobe if you disagree tactics used.
BTW if you have time, how did you become aware of this? No problem if you rather not say, but generally it flys below the radar.
A couple of things seemed to happen at once.
I've read the Harry Potter books and seen the movies, her world building is incredible and just a joy to read (just ignore the implications of some of the spells and potions) so I found it odd when JK Rowling announced that Dumbledore was gay given that there was no hint to it in the books, that she said Hermione could be black which means she doesn't know her own stories and then she started going on about refugees and I thought "oh ok" shes gone full woke then the terf thing happened…and JK Rowling found out you can never satisfy the woke mob
Then Fallon Fox happened, I'll link to this guy to explain my issues with this because hes a trainer, manager, cornerman, promoter, announcer, referee and former fighter in China so he really knows his stuff (great voice as well):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPOskQsMwJQ
I happen to be conservative so for my fix on political and cultural matters I follow sites like The Daily Wire, Steven Crowder (I also happen to follow Joe Rogan and Russell Brand) and due to that I got a recommendation for Blaire White so I clicked on her and thought yep shes coming at this issues at a different angle (took me two videos to realise shes trans)
Next would be the pop culture aspect and there I follow Nerdrotic, The Critical Drinker, Keri Smith, Just Some Guy and (thanks youtube algorithms) they've lead me to others which is why I sometimes bang on about just how bad movies and tv are these days
Not to mention the treatment of Gina Carano, the idea that if you don't like something its because you're a misogynist, for example: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ghostbusters-the-bros-who-hate-it-and-the-art-of-modern-misogyny/2016/07/14/1dfba61a-49bd-11e6-bdb9-701687974517_story.html and https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/19/10626896/star-wars-the-force-awakens-rey-mary-sue-feminist yet the reality is these movies are bad, really bad and the main characters are bad but if you criticize its because you hate women
Finally just things happening all over the place that I simply don't understand and will never support like Don Brash being cancelled and free speech being curtailed for "safety", it sometimes feels like we're all in a race to see who can jump off the cliff first.
Strictly tongue-in-check answer to your question:
In a galaxy far, far away…
The closer parody comes to the truth the more uncomfortable it becomes and this is very uncomfortable
Good though, I liked it
Find it interesting 0.02% of pop. I'm trying to find where someone was turning that into 2.0% of pop just over the last few days,do you recall,because that's a big differance.
try this
https://archive.md/gi5NR
As has been noted it's used alot,I don't do twitting,I'd rather do knitting,nah just a wee word play,(I do run sewing machines though) no someone inflating on MSM just days ago which pricked my ears as I had seen and understood 0.02 % to be fact.
NZ MSM? They were saying 2%?
Was it this Herald article from last week, put up to acknowledge Intersex Awareness Day?
Intersex children in New Zealand are routinely undergoing unnecessary surgery – that needs to change
The initial link I posted deals with both the inflated estimates and the surgical claims made in the Herald.
Cheers but not that,It was a solid 2.%.(I've been alert to the 1.7-4 % for awhile )Haven't watched local TV news in a long while,I'm thinking RNZ or a link from here,maybe that BBC thing you put up last week.?
"Comments have been closed on this story" – says Stuff.
Tova to quit TV3 Newshub
Quite funny. The word "Tova" gets a Pavlovian reaction almost as foamy as "Jacinda" (except it's from right, left and centre). So the comments can only be imagined.
Sadly, her new role will probably involve more ranting than reporting. It's a shame, because she was a good reporter … when reporting, not reckoning.
"The only thing worse than that news would be Kim Hill retiring.
much better pay I expect.
So this Let's Get Wellington Moving set of options stands in stark relief to the Auckland light rail issue.
Wellington.Scoop » LGWM unveils options including extra tunnel, light rail or long buses
In Wellington the Mayor fronts it from the beginning, and sets out broad options for public consideration, and open up the housing intensification options right from the outset.
In Auckland, we don't have any idea of what Kainga Ora have in mind for several dozen urban hectares right along the line.
It's an open question whether the Auckland plan or the Wellington plan will happen fastest, or happen at all. Wellington's one simply integrates better with the city, from the outset.
Idiot from Steve Bannon's Counter Spin tries to disrupt PM's press conference. I hope this is accurately reported – he wasn't a random "heckler". Ironic that he was gently squashed with words, whereas in Trumpland he wouldn't get close without being shot.
'Trumpland', you mean Brandonland?
CounterSpin is definitely Trumpland.
Some background here
You really don't want these guys on your side.
Never heard of them and not going to check them out further
So the rude American prick was a foreign agitator? Looking at the body count USrwnjs have wrought by politicising core parts of the pandemic response, it’s much more dangerous than other ideologies we monitor and restrict.
Yes body count
Covid deaths per population:
US 1 in 451
Italy 1 in 457
UK 1 in 479
Spain 1 in 540
France 1 in 566
Austria 1 in 789
Germany 1 in 874
Turkey 1 in 1, 211
Canada 1 in 1, 305
India 1 in 3, 008
Australia 1 in 15, 494
New Zealand 1 in 175, 607
Heckler at PM in Northland
"It restarted a few minutes later, with local Labour MP Kelvin Davis saying that the incident was “the reason vaccine rates were so low in Northland.”
Ardern said it was important to get the protests in perspective, as it was just two people. Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime corrected her to say it was four people.
Northland has one of the lowest vaccine rates in the country."
Northland needs people to be vaccinated. Northland drags behind the rest of the country. Northland is primed to have Covid rip into communities.
Northland has many uninformed people. Northland has the usual percentage of idiots and the plain 'dumb' people.
What Northland doesn't need is some smartarse spreading false information and playing on ignorance.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59124427
passing of Aaron Beck, aged 100. Founder of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
implemented widely in the UK with good, evidence based outcomes.
Labour would have done well to copy this in order to improve mental health outcomes in NZ
Mandates work #eleventyseven
https://twitter.com/TristanSnell/status/1455258984772997120
lol
I understand the draft is pretty good at getting people to join the military as well.
It seems that some epidemiologists and government have differing levels of concern over rising infection rates.
This may be because of the use of different models – one using total infection rates and the other separating out the young unlikely to need hospitalisation.
The other factor is that of timing – at what point does vaccination levels have an impact on the r rate. Both NSW and Victoria reduced their levels by increasing rate of vaccination (and NSW did this after easing their lock down).
soon to come near us?
https://archive.md/2021.11.01-003354/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/it-isnt-the-polices-job-to-stop-people-being-offended-xj5vz7k05#selection-787.0-793.239
In the USA when the state is offended millions end up on watch lists.
This refers to a permanent police record. Not quite the same, just sayin.
The Americans involved have no right of appeal to being on the watch list permanently. That list has just grown exponentially since 9/11.
I am fairly sure the police here provide information for files of the SIS, despite no crimes being committed.
While it is a record kept by the UK police, it is not a past conviction that anyone has to disclose. And if this record is to become practice – for balance the UK police should also keep a record of the offended and identify which groups they belong to … .
do you really not understand the implication of a permanent police record and being on a watch list somewher. Besides this article is from England, not the US. Seriously dude.
The Police in England charges male rapists in skirts and wigs as women. I don't give them the benefit of doubt to keep good records.