Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step right up to the mike…
It’s really disapointing to find out that the ghost of Roger Douglas is still casting a strong shadow on the thinking of the Labour party. A technique of running down the public service pioneered by Ronald Reagan and Douglas was to reduce the government income and then claim that the government couldn’t afford to provide a better public service.
So Labour looks to lock in the shoddy treatment that ACC gives to it’s “clients” by making sure that it won’t have enough money to provide any better. Shame on Labour.
Having being through the complete debacle that is government-owned EQC in Christchurch I feel so very sorry for those who have to deal with government departments with similar bad attitudes (winz, ACC) 24/7/365.
It is like smashing your head against a brick wall.
A tip for people prone to earthquakes…. do not rely on EQC at all. Take out an insurance cover to replace the EQC component of your insurance.
And on top of all that, EQC carries out the most shoddy repairs ever seen. Absolute crap.
Ahaa, so you are suggesting that those governments of certain political persuasions (usually the right) will intentionally provide bad government service as one of several tools to weaken the government service and the esteem in which they are held by the public?
Makes complete sense. It has certainly happened with EQC I would suggest.
I am suggesting just that. Privatisation by stealth when the the private sector can’t afford to buy in or the public has no appetite for it. For example see some quickly googled links of how the argument for ACC privatisation has been lost over the years.
What to do? Run the service down so it doesn’t provide what was intended and people need to take out private insurance so the public scheme is no longer relevant.
ACC surplus ( 20′ 13″ )
09:08 Tony Gibbons is an ACC claimant representative with Access Support Services,
a nationwide advocacy organisation; and Jonathan Eriksen, managing director of actuaries and investment firm Eriksen & Associates, which evaluates the liabilities of funds like ACC.
Read what is in the article. Lees-Galloway is saying Team Key/Collins should give the levy cut now, and don’t use it as an election bribe in election year. It’s just a response to the way it’s being manipulated by the government, yet again after keeping the levies articificially high.
Opposition ACC spokesman Iain Lees-Galloway said the surplus had come out of the pay packets of hard-working Kiwis and there was room for ACC Minister Judith Collins to slice $2b from levies.
The Government had been gouging New Zealanders for years and had talked up a “phoney” crisis when it took office in 2008 to push levies artificially high, he said. More recently it had ignored advice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and from ACC, to significantly cut levies.
“That would have given someone on the average wage an extra $125. Now it is proposing to ‘give back’ some of what it’s taken in election year. That’s a bribe, no two ways about it,” he said.
“Judith Collins should axe the ACC tax now.”
Also in the article, the question is open as to what Labour will do. I guess Cunliffe hasn’t got to that yet.
Lees-Galloway said it was an open question if Labour would continue to argue for full funding or adopt his predecessor Andrew Little’s push for a return to pay-as-you-go funding to keep levies down. “We don’t have a firm view on it. It’s a live debate and we need to consider both sides.”
Clearly I’m with richard on this one. Labour should not be arguing that the government should give a levy reduction now instead of in election year. The gouging is happening not because the levies are too high, it’s because the services are too low.
Labour has the wrong end of the stick – It should be talking about an immediate restoration of accident funding not an immediate levy reduction. They could still complain about the government election bribe by refusing to accept that ACC’s ‘denegerative’ and ‘pre-existing’ condition cop-outs and requirements for patient part funding for rehabilitation services are here to stay.
I’d quite like the debate to consider fully funding services. That’s what ACC was designed for, after all.
Karol, your comment smacks of the apoligism the Labour party peddled in the 80’s – the Labour MPs are doing bad things but we won’t criticize too much because we can see that their intentions are good.
The facts are that ACC is not meeting the needs it was set up to achieve.
The net effect of “giving the levy cut now” is that ACC’s income will be reduced by the amount of the levy cut. This will mean that ACC will never be in a position to deliver what it should.
If Lees-Galloway was sincere, he would be pushing for the improvement of ACC services, rather than advocating for measures that ensure that ACC will fail.
i agree with you Karol to a certain extent on ‘wait and see’, we have to give Labour at least to the new year for David Cunliffe and the Party to have sorted through what the policies are,
Blind faith tho can only carry us so far, and such faith has had Labours left wing cruelly rewarded befor…
Agreed about blind faith, bad, which is why I will be party voting Green next election.
But I actually haven’t seen any comment from the Greens on the ACC proposed levy drop as yet. At least under Cunliffe his spokespeople are pretty much out there quickly with responses to things (except on the TPP – that’s a real worry).
Cunliffe has indicated a certain amount of caution about the policies Labour will roll out under his watch – ie that he’ not going to make promises they can’t keep.
Myself, I’m still under ACC (sort of) for my injury that resulted in permanent damage). I get ACC funded regular check ups – specialists watching to see when a joint replacement might be in order. And I have no idea how much ACC might support such ops in the future – there’s a worry of uncertainty.
I understand the worries people have about crucial injuries not getting the necessary coverage or rehabilitation now and in the future. ACC staff can be difficult to deal with.
But I’ll wait a little and see what Labour comes up with as a committed policy.
There appears to be a 3 way split in opinions over ACC, (1) is the fund as you go model which, correct me if i am wrong, Andrew Little favors, (2) being the future funding of all current claims against ACC which ACC claim will mean that for the next 2 years levies would have to remain at present levies and then be able to be reduced,
(3), Being the call for ACC to be forced back to it’s previous ‘full cover’ of injuries which at a guess would probably mean the levies would also remain at their current levels further out than the currently suggested (by ACC), two years,
Strangely enough, for such an opinionated big mouth lol, i havn’t really got an opinion on what option i favor,
Yeah ae Karol, thank the smart New Zealand people we have MMP, while the Green Party is polling high i have the luxury of voting Mana in an attempt to gain that Party a 3 seat bloc in the next Parliament…
Good point. ACC is a great concept and the service needs strengthening and extending. For example, coverage of Physio costs was slashed a few years ago and if you injure your teeth there’s a bizarre protocol which sees them part funding emergency treatments like root canals and capping of broken teeth. The argument is that your teeth shouldn’t be improved – they probably weren’t perfect before the accident that broke or killed them. Well guess what – not many people throw themselves down stairs in the hope of going through months of pain and having their teeth ‘improved’. Making claimants pay what can be thousands of dollars also has the unsurprising effect of creating a divide between those who can and who can’t pay. That’s pernicious in a society which claims this system treats all equally.
Q2, the results from dealing with insurance companies in Chch is as variable as the weather over the next week. Some companies have been absolute sparklers (FMG) and others have been virtually criminally negligent (AMI / southern response, which just so happens to be government owned and run now, how surprising (see miravox just above and intentionally poor government service)).
Overall, dealing with a good insurance company has been better than dealing with EQC by a long shot.
It’s good to see Stephen Joyce and John Key have a hotline to the editor’s room of the Herald.
You aren’t really saying the Herald reports balanced news, are you?
This trend has become established in most western democracies and has little to do with Police, Justice or Corrections really and everything to do with the fact that aging populations mean that there are increasingly less men in the age range of most offenders.
Also surely only a fool would conflate a Herald editorial with fact.
I work in the area. There was a policy decision made by the Police to put even more cases through alternative action. This means that overnight court lists went down so of course the rate of convictions also went down.
It is a change of approach, a good one in my view, but it is not evidence that this Government is doing anything that has improved things.
It was interesting that the police put the increase in sexual violence crimes down to their changed attitudes and better reporting but crime which dropped wasnt attributed to poorer reporting but rather to their skills and application.
I also agree diversions and alternatives are a better option. However the right wingers ought to be outraged at all the criminals being “let off lightly”.
What a clueless bunch these Forest and Bird Clowns are as protectors of wild life they don’t know that you simply cannot go on a farm during August through to October because it is lambing and calving time. If the legal process is held up becuase of this then us townies will have to lump it.
Apparently no farming contractors or workers come or go from the farm for 3 months either. Basically that farmer, and Conor English, are taking the piss.
Farm workers and contractors are precisely that working with the animals not some idiotic spectators wandinging around disturbing the animals … what a pair of fools.
WARNING: Latest Hobbit is crap
Jackson-worshippers will try to put lipstick on this pig, but it’s still a pig
TV1 Breakfast, Wednesday 2 October 2013, 7:50 a.m.
Even those cheerful folk on TV1’s Breakfast, the nation’s most dependable cheerleaders, struggled to hide how unimpressed they were….
RAWDON CHRISTIE: All right, we have a preview of the second part of Sir Peter Jackson’s Hobbit series….
[Cue two tiresome minutes of ominously deep voices, ominously grey beards, ominously dark shadows, ominously swelling bombastic orchestral soundtrack. It’s only two minutes, but it seems like two hours…]
RAWDON CHRISTIE: Well, will YOU be going to see it? NADINE CHALMERS-ROSS Ahhhh, I haven’t actually seen the first one. So I would have to see that first. Have YOU seen it? RAWDON CHRISTIE: Errr, no. I guess you have to see it on the big screen rather than the small screen…
Oh well because they say its not good I won’t see it…no wait I liked the the lord of the rings series and I liked the first movie in the hobbit series (except for the goblin king) so I’ll be going to see it
And enough people must have liked it because it grossed: $1,017,003,568 (thanks wikipedia :))
Sir Peter Jackson: one of the finest talents NZs produced
I’d say Damien O’Connor is pretty safe in that seat now, especially if there’s a nationwide swing to Labour at the election. Auchinvole’s going isn’t going to make much of a difference.
Auchinvole used to be the Member for West Coast-Tasman though and was narrowly defeated by O’Connor (against the swing) at the last election. That’s one reason I think O’Connor is now safer in this seat.
Stuff also reporting that Eric Roy is probably going to bail out of Invercargill (which before MMP changes saw its boundaries pushed further out into Southland was a Labour leaning seat). Also the guy who holds Hunua (can’t remember his name – which says it all really) is going too.
Paul Hutchinson is likely making way for another National Party member who indicated that he would like to run as National MP in the next election – the current Franklin Local Board chairman, Andy Baker. Hunua is a fairly blue electorate.
I think not CV, Chris is a young man no longer, he moved to the Coast for family reasons years ago. I suspect he has had more than enough of any kind of work, has his business to run etc, and more importantly may want some form of retirement. If you ever have the pleasure to meet him, amongst the amusement you should ask him why he is going…I suspect the answer wont be sinking ships, not his style.
Isn’t Auchinvole about 70 years & being an MP from the West Coast a huge ask.
Expect more white over 60’s Nats MPs to go. Look at the Nats list of anyone who was there in 2005, not in cabinet & over 60 – gone. It will be interesting to see what type of candidates replace list MP’s like Auchinvole – I am expecting to see Asian and Maori names become more dominate in the Nats team?
Labour didn’t do a heavy cull in in 2005 & paid the price in 2008 – as the voters just saw the same faces. So anyone who didn’t make Cunliffe’s recent top 20 & was an MP in 2008 needs to stand down or be culled for 2014.
Ahhhright sorry guys, I didn’t realise that the man has done his time. But yes, I am expecting several more similar announcements before the end of the year. And word of a new younger group of Nat candidates appearing.
All good CV, I really struggle to think that some people I know well are sitting and voting on the Nat side of the table. I question how could x or y vote that way on this or that issue? When it gets too incongruous I normally look for commonalities we share (otherwise you feel obliged to entirely disown the person). Sometimes it is worse when somebody I know from “our” side says or does something I entirely disagree with, of that I find it far more difficult to forgive.
Maybe it is easier to put ourselves in the shoes of any politician and ask every time they vote, say or decide something how many of their friends, acquaintances or associates they are offending? It cant be easy.
Four foreign-owned banks – ANZ, BNZ, ASB and Westpac – will take a $75 million ownership stake in Solid Energy in return for writing off debt. The Government will commit a further $155 million believing Solid Energy’s core business model is sound.
“With the stroke of a pen, National has sold a large chunk of Solid Energy into foreign ownership,” Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes said today.
“The National Government is proposing to give the big four Australian-owned banks approximately 14 percent of Solid Energy, at the very least.
“This is a conversion of debt into ownership; not a true debt write-off, but the detail is still to come.
The MSM is owned by foreign corporates.
They are actually very good at their job..which is the dumbing down of NZ so these same corporates can go about their looting of NZ without people noticing.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9.1.1.1
How’s this work? The government is obliged to keep in its ownership anything it happened to own in 1983? Must we really own the shit companies as well?
Nothing wrong with Solid Energy – until Blinglish told them to go into far more debt so as to pay out higher dividends to the government to try and cover the large hole in governmental income due to the tax cuts for the rich that he instituted.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9.1.1.1.3.1
“Odd that sharebrokers and banks are lining up to buy these so-called “shit” companies.”
Sharebrokers aren’t lining up to buy Solid Energy.
The banks are converting debt to equity. Their other option was to enforce their security and sell the assets in a fire sale (and probably get nothing).
No-one wants to own it. Some people just have fuck all other options.
“Prime Minister John Key has been accused of lying about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, the day after the launch of a campaign calling for the details of the controversial deal to be released.” -TV3 News
@leftriteleft…that link is scarey !…definitely NO to the TPPA!…. because it amounts to dictatorship by American international corporates….democracy and an country’s sovereignty go out the window…Shocking really!
he lack of serious Government investment in the tertiary sector; and the disturbing centralized style of management and the attack on student democracy and academic freedom at this university. Why staff aren’t being paid a living wage will also be noted.
Professor Jane Kelsey, Hannah Williams, Campbell Jones, Vernon Tava, Nigel Hayworth, Chrs Shore, Alastair Shaw, Jow McCrory, David Cunliffe, John Minto, Curwen Rolinson, Dan Haines and I [Martyn Bradbury] will be MCing it.
Was looking through the local body candidates for my area this morning and seeing a lot saying they were members of CHANGE! (Not a Party). Could someone please enlighten me as to what/who this is?
I heard Dr William Rolleston make some comment on the effects of climate change and the need for action and thought that is very encouraging.
Then I heard him say that farmers need to provide themselves with more water storage. And I felt that doesn’t mean doing anything that will assist in limiting climate change excessive effects to the planet, or in assisting the general population in some way, more likely just draining rivers of the water that is needed for the environment and sequestering it to keep otherwise unsustainable agricultural practices viable.
I found the item at Homepaddock which has some useful items on initiatives in farming and also right wing political stuff and this item will reveal more. I may be wrong, I’ll know when I’ve read it. Federated Farmers vice president Dr William Rolleston has been calling for more water storage systems for some time.http://homepaddock.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/prevent-reverse-andor-prepare/
Some comments on other aspects of this on-line publication.
One item on the Greens describes what NACTs might like to do to Russel Norman – ‘Neutralising Norman’. It may be that the Greens co-leader is demanding thought from farmers that is taking them to uncomfortable places in their heads.
Before the item on the referendum on asset sales, a word is offered that has relevance to NACTs today, meaning litigious – Barratry.
Then – This politicians’ initiated referendum is a very expensive publicity exercise for the opposition. (But there is comfort to be drawn from -) The partial float will be done and dusted with the money banked before the referendum begins.
A quote from Chris Tremain’s announcement on his decision to leave NACTs – “I am proud of the significant achievements of this government led by Prime Minister John Key. Under his leadership New Zealand is now one of the strongest growing economies in the western world and has a very bright future. I intend to continue to contribute to this exciting future but now in the commercial sector of our economy.
And an interesting example of how RW people view social research. It apparently must be seen in context of the individual’s own experience, not whether it is relevant to others, today.
One item on Hyundai survey that families are under work stress, and one headed ‘ House ownership has never been easy’.
The comments indicate a reluctance to face today’s difficulties. Instead it’s ‘In my youth we had to.. or my grandfather had to put up with…’
“A quote from Chris Tremain’s announcement on his decision to leave NACTs –
“I am proud of the significant achievements of this government led by Prime Minister John Key. Under his leadership New Zealand is now one of the strongest growing economies in the western world and has a very bright future. I intend to continue to contribute to this exciting future but now in the commercial sector of our economy.”
Just to put this on your radar.
Wednesday 30 October, 6.30pm, 2013 Bruce Jesson Lecture: The Rt Hon Sir Edmund Thomas “Reducing Inequality: A Strategy for a Cause”
The speaker, a Distinguished Fellow at the Law School at The University of Auckland, argues that the gross inequality in income and wealth which besets New Zealand is the outcome of the neo-liberal economic measures of the mid-1980s and early 1990s and the culture of liberal individualism and unfettered free market ideology which it spawned. A breakdown in social cohesion and a sense of community is the result.
Reforms to counter this inequality are widely mooted. But increasing focus and discussion on the topic is confronted by a plethora of mantras and myths purveyed by the rich and powerful. The stimulus for change is deadened. The speaker advances a strategy designed to provide a coherent impetus to reduce the rank inequality that now prevails.
Maidment Theatre, Alfred Street, The University of Auckland, The Maidment Bar will open from 5.30pm
so the little tory dweebs think they are already one up on DC. nup. Them and their whoole cohort of criminally negligent nitwits and neanderthals will be gone next november if not sooner.
S’pose it is a point against Referenda Clement. Or it indicates that constant repetitions of anti anything seeps into the subconscious. Hope it works for anti-Asset Sales.
Thinking about the USA and medicare or Obamacare or Don’t care. It’s hard to understand the reason for ordinary not well off people to regard public health as a communist plot or an attempt to mass poison or tranquilise them or whatever comes out of the mouths of hysterical people that get filmed at rallys.
Lynley Hood in A City Possessed on the child abuse case in Christchurch examines outbreaks of fervour about various concerns that arise en masse at times. She quotes from Stanley Cohen from a study Folk Devils and Moral Panics: Societies….A condition…become[s] defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylised…fashion by the mass media….Sometimes the object of the panic is quite novel and at other times it is something which has been in existence long enough but suddenly appears in the limelight….at…times it has more serious and long-lasting repercussions and might produce such changes as those in legal and social policy or even in the way society conceives itself.
This might explain why people who have the most to gain apparently, have turned against the practical medical help that could be available through the government in one of the most expensive private/profit ridden medical care systems in the world. Irrationality Rules Okay!
Need some special Anti-Septic against this poisonous thinking.
Hopefully this scale of profit is the first step towards getting rid of ACC levies altogether – except for those foolish industries with high accident rates.
lprent: Not sure if someone has already mentioned it but there is an issue rendering the ‘feeds’ on the right of the page, which is causing a mismatch between article titles and their sources.
Specifically, the article source is being placed below the gray horizontal line, effectively placing it next to the title of the following feed article, e.g. the source ‘frogblog’ for the article “Monorail project risky for environment and investors” is being drawn next to the title of the following article “U.S. Government resumes five-year shutdown” (making it seem that the latter article is from frogblog when it is actually from The Civilian).
Doesn’t it all feel a bit empty without Felix? Thinking of you bro’.
[lprent: I saw that he’d picked up a ban. Makes his second one from memory. I think he got one back in 2009. He’ll be back the day after Jenny. On the same day as BM. They’re both good whilst banned. They don’t comment and risk the double ups.
Jenny has been incredibly lucky. None of the daily comments she has been writing over the last six weeks has been released by a moderator that I have seen until this one. My policy is to warn on any visible comment and if repeated to then double the ban to discourage repetitions and more work for us. Have to say that that her comment writing has improved markedly… 😈 ]
Generally, economists favourite policies actually don’t have much evidence behind them. ‘Free trade’ deals have ambiguous effects on growth. The issue of whether the minimum wage produces unemployment is famously controversial, with any of the effects predicted being undeniably small. Estimates of the Keynesian multiplier also vary widely, and are generally easy to predict based on the political biases of who is doing the estimation. There is also a surprising lack of evidence to support the contention that fiscal stimulus alone can ‘kick start’ a flailing economy. Sure: the New Deal created growth, but it didn’t end the Great Depression. Japan has had a lot of monetary and fiscal stimulus but has remained in a ‘lost decade‘. Countries that have used stimulus and done well in the recent crisis generally had strong institutions and financial sectors (Sweden, Germany) or are simply at an earlier stage of development and therefore their growth is far more resilient (China). What’s more, you get as many arguments against stimulus coming from economists as you do for it, so even if it were the case that stimulus were the ‘right’ policy, the discipline hasn’t been a beacon of scientific truth concerning the matter.
Have “economists” got anything right in the last two centuries? As far as I can make out, nope, not a single thing. Where they appear to have got something right is, IMO, more often than not pure serendipity.
“[M]y working theory,” he writes, “is that wealthy individuals bought themselves a radical right party, believing … that it would cut their taxes and remove regulations.” What the .01 percent didn’t realize is that “eventually the craziness would take on a life of its own, and that the monster they created would turn on its creators as well as the little people.”
also comments on widening income gaps and the rich subsidised to buy up housing In US and Britain:
We get the same approach to recovery in the UK where the Conservative coalition has launched a plan to help home buyers by providing government money and guarantees for mortgages with as little as 5% deposit down for residential property worth up to £600k. Speculative investors are piling in to take advantage of this government scheme. In London, house prices are rising at near 10% a year and buy-to-let purchases are booming.
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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: ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
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It’s really disapointing to find out that the ghost of Roger Douglas is still casting a strong shadow on the thinking of the Labour party. A technique of running down the public service pioneered by Ronald Reagan and Douglas was to reduce the government income and then claim that the government couldn’t afford to provide a better public service.
Contrast the Herald headline on the Anger over ACC’s ‘obscene’ surplus with the reeported statement from Labour’s ACC spokesman, Iain Lees-Galloway – Call to chop levies after ACC bonanza.
So Labour looks to lock in the shoddy treatment that ACC gives to it’s “clients” by making sure that it won’t have enough money to provide any better. Shame on Labour.
Having being through the complete debacle that is government-owned EQC in Christchurch I feel so very sorry for those who have to deal with government departments with similar bad attitudes (winz, ACC) 24/7/365.
It is like smashing your head against a brick wall.
A tip for people prone to earthquakes…. do not rely on EQC at all. Take out an insurance cover to replace the EQC component of your insurance.
And on top of all that, EQC carries out the most shoddy repairs ever seen. Absolute crap.
+1 richard
Reducing income to reduce services.
“Take out an insurance cover to replace the EQC component of your insurance.”
Exactly the model coming into play with ACC.
Ahaa, so you are suggesting that those governments of certain political persuasions (usually the right) will intentionally provide bad government service as one of several tools to weaken the government service and the esteem in which they are held by the public?
Makes complete sense. It has certainly happened with EQC I would suggest.
vto,
I am suggesting just that. Privatisation by stealth when the the private sector can’t afford to buy in or the public has no appetite for it. For example see some quickly googled links of how the argument for ACC privatisation has been lost over the years.
2008
2011
2013
What to do? Run the service down so it doesn’t provide what was intended and people need to take out private insurance so the public scheme is no longer relevant.
imho, of course.
Works for education and the health service too.
This monring on 9 to Noon – interesting on ACC. It seems to have bigger piles than Grandpa McDuck. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon
ACC surplus ( 20′ 13″ )
09:08 Tony Gibbons is an ACC claimant representative with Access Support Services,
a nationwide advocacy organisation; and Jonathan Eriksen, managing director of actuaries and investment firm Eriksen & Associates, which evaluates the liabilities of funds like ACC.
Read what is in the article. Lees-Galloway is saying Team Key/Collins should give the levy cut now, and don’t use it as an election bribe in election year. It’s just a response to the way it’s being manipulated by the government, yet again after keeping the levies articificially high.
Also in the article, the question is open as to what Labour will do. I guess Cunliffe hasn’t got to that yet.
Clearly I’m with richard on this one. Labour should not be arguing that the government should give a levy reduction now instead of in election year. The gouging is happening not because the levies are too high, it’s because the services are too low.
Labour has the wrong end of the stick – It should be talking about an immediate restoration of accident funding not an immediate levy reduction. They could still complain about the government election bribe by refusing to accept that ACC’s ‘denegerative’ and ‘pre-existing’ condition cop-outs and requirements for patient part funding for rehabilitation services are here to stay.
I’d quite like the debate to consider fully funding services. That’s what ACC was designed for, after all.
Bright side is I guess people who are struck down with chronic illness will no longer have to compare their shoddy deal with long term accident victims. They’ll all be on the lowest level of care that funders can get away with.
Karol, your comment smacks of the apoligism the Labour party peddled in the 80’s – the Labour MPs are doing bad things but we won’t criticize too much because we can see that their intentions are good.
The facts are that ACC is not meeting the needs it was set up to achieve.
The net effect of “giving the levy cut now” is that ACC’s income will be reduced by the amount of the levy cut. This will mean that ACC will never be in a position to deliver what it should.
If Lees-Galloway was sincere, he would be pushing for the improvement of ACC services, rather than advocating for measures that ensure that ACC will fail.
All I’m saying is wait and see. It looks like they haven’t worked out their approach to ACC yet.
i agree with you Karol to a certain extent on ‘wait and see’, we have to give Labour at least to the new year for David Cunliffe and the Party to have sorted through what the policies are,
Blind faith tho can only carry us so far, and such faith has had Labours left wing cruelly rewarded befor…
Agreed about blind faith, bad, which is why I will be party voting Green next election.
But I actually haven’t seen any comment from the Greens on the ACC proposed levy drop as yet. At least under Cunliffe his spokespeople are pretty much out there quickly with responses to things (except on the TPP – that’s a real worry).
Cunliffe has indicated a certain amount of caution about the policies Labour will roll out under his watch – ie that he’ not going to make promises they can’t keep.
Myself, I’m still under ACC (sort of) for my injury that resulted in permanent damage). I get ACC funded regular check ups – specialists watching to see when a joint replacement might be in order. And I have no idea how much ACC might support such ops in the future – there’s a worry of uncertainty.
I understand the worries people have about crucial injuries not getting the necessary coverage or rehabilitation now and in the future. ACC staff can be difficult to deal with.
But I’ll wait a little and see what Labour comes up with as a committed policy.
There appears to be a 3 way split in opinions over ACC, (1) is the fund as you go model which, correct me if i am wrong, Andrew Little favors, (2) being the future funding of all current claims against ACC which ACC claim will mean that for the next 2 years levies would have to remain at present levies and then be able to be reduced,
(3), Being the call for ACC to be forced back to it’s previous ‘full cover’ of injuries which at a guess would probably mean the levies would also remain at their current levels further out than the currently suggested (by ACC), two years,
Strangely enough, for such an opinionated big mouth lol, i havn’t really got an opinion on what option i favor,
Yeah ae Karol, thank the smart New Zealand people we have MMP, while the Green Party is polling high i have the luxury of voting Mana in an attempt to gain that Party a 3 seat bloc in the next Parliament…
Party voting Greens?!
Election headline 2014
…. Labour flipflops on call to axe the ACC tax …
Just sayin’
you’ve knicked miriam’s tagline
+1
Good point. ACC is a great concept and the service needs strengthening and extending. For example, coverage of Physio costs was slashed a few years ago and if you injure your teeth there’s a bizarre protocol which sees them part funding emergency treatments like root canals and capping of broken teeth. The argument is that your teeth shouldn’t be improved – they probably weren’t perfect before the accident that broke or killed them. Well guess what – not many people throw themselves down stairs in the hope of going through months of pain and having their teeth ‘improved’. Making claimants pay what can be thousands of dollars also has the unsurprising effect of creating a divide between those who can and who can’t pay. That’s pernicious in a society which claims this system treats all equally.
Two points VTO
Can you get eqc type insurance?
From what I have read, insurance companies are so good at paying out either.
Q1, I don’t know.
Q2, the results from dealing with insurance companies in Chch is as variable as the weather over the next week. Some companies have been absolute sparklers (FMG) and others have been virtually criminally negligent (AMI / southern response, which just so happens to be government owned and run now, how surprising (see miravox just above and intentionally poor government service)).
Overall, dealing with a good insurance company has been better than dealing with EQC by a long shot.
>>Overall, dealing with a good insurance company has been better than dealing with EQC by a long shot.
As a person living outside ChCh that is pleasing to hear.
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/heat-or-eat-or-take-out-a-loan-do-both-and-hope-for-the-best-ed-yoo-hoo-this-is-also-the-case-here-in-nz-we-too-have-gone-back-to-the-darkcold-ages/
“..It’s back to the bleak 1980s in Liverpool as hard-working people are forced to sit in the dark –
– to save on fuel bills..”
(cont..)
(ed:..i don’t sit in the dark…
..but i am just one of many who have just gone thru another winter..
..without turning a heater on..
..it’s either ‘heat or eat’ around here..
..(fucken poor-bashing tory shits..!..eh..?..a fucken pox on all of them..!)
..and i wd recommend layering/hoodies/beanies..
..(and on really cold days/nights..beanie first then hoodie on top as another layer..)
..and of course..always a duvet to hand – to wrap around yr legs/body….
..and hey..!..there are a lot who are doing it harder than i am..
and um..!..is it good and right that so many nz’ers are unable to afford that most basic of human needs..?
..in this year 2013..?
..i mean..even caves had fucken fires..eh..?
..at least they were warm..)
(cont..)
phillip ure..
time to begin community fires in 44-gallon drums. plenty of fences to burn.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11133095
More good news 🙂
It’s good to see Stephen Joyce and John Key have a hotline to the editor’s room of the Herald.
You aren’t really saying the Herald reports balanced news, are you?
This trend has become established in most western democracies and has little to do with Police, Justice or Corrections really and everything to do with the fact that aging populations mean that there are increasingly less men in the age range of most offenders.
Also surely only a fool would conflate a Herald editorial with fact.
The number of youths in NZ has not fallen by 20% over the last 2 or 3 years.
I think the advent of unleaded petrol may be a factor with lower crime rates. How would we know? Dunno.
+1
Really A drop in youth crime? Or a drop in the reported youth crime? I really take numbers like these, and political polls, with a huge pinch of salt.
Well if Labour had announced these numbers it’d be a drop in crime but since its National its a drop in reported crime
Hope that helps 🙂
have you ever considered that you may be a ‘Try-Hard’; It’s a freakin weak editorial opinion, for goodness sake, as my Nana used to exclaim.
I work in the area. There was a policy decision made by the Police to put even more cases through alternative action. This means that overnight court lists went down so of course the rate of convictions also went down.
It is a change of approach, a good one in my view, but it is not evidence that this Government is doing anything that has improved things.
This is reported crime, i.e. those the Police have wrritten an Offence Report for, not prosecution rates.
It was interesting that the police put the increase in sexual violence crimes down to their changed attitudes and better reporting but crime which dropped wasnt attributed to poorer reporting but rather to their skills and application.
I also agree diversions and alternatives are a better option. However the right wingers ought to be outraged at all the criminals being “let off lightly”.
What a clueless bunch these Forest and Bird Clowns are as protectors of wild life they don’t know that you simply cannot go on a farm during August through to October because it is lambing and calving time. If the legal process is held up becuase of this then us townies will have to lump it.
“you simply cannot go on a farm during August through to October because it is lambing and calving time”
Bullshit! This guy is being an asshole, I suppose he just goes on holiday from August till october and leaves the animals to it.
Apparently no farming contractors or workers come or go from the farm for 3 months either. Basically that farmer, and Conor English, are taking the piss.
Farm workers and contractors are precisely that working with the animals not some idiotic spectators wandinging around disturbing the animals … what a pair of fools.
WARNING: Latest Hobbit is crap
Jackson-worshippers will try to put lipstick on this pig, but it’s still a pig
TV1 Breakfast, Wednesday 2 October 2013, 7:50 a.m.
Even those cheerful folk on TV1’s Breakfast, the nation’s most dependable cheerleaders, struggled to hide how unimpressed they were….
RAWDON CHRISTIE: All right, we have a preview of the second part of Sir Peter Jackson’s Hobbit series….
[Cue two tiresome minutes of ominously deep voices, ominously grey beards, ominously dark shadows, ominously swelling bombastic orchestral soundtrack. It’s only two minutes, but it seems like two hours…]
RAWDON CHRISTIE: Well, will YOU be going to see it?
NADINE CHALMERS-ROSS Ahhhh, I haven’t actually seen the first one. So I would have to see that first. Have YOU seen it?
RAWDON CHRISTIE: Errr, no. I guess you have to see it on the big screen rather than the small screen…
@ hobbits..
..maybe this could be a variation on court sentences..?
..you are sentenced to watch every rings/hobbit-movie..
..and all in one sitting..
..panicked-defendants would be pleading for incarceration instead..
..phillip ure..
You bunch of tall poppy slashers should be the ones who are incarcerated!
You’re a brave man to be watching that Breakfast T.V. dross Morrissey!
I watch the TV3 brekkie news, keeps my bullshit meter pegged.
I read Scoop. And funnily enough Open Mike, as it usually points me in the right direction for the ‘real’ news.
Oh well because they say its not good I won’t see it…no wait I liked the the lord of the rings series and I liked the first movie in the hobbit series (except for the goblin king) so I’ll be going to see it
And enough people must have liked it because it grossed: $1,017,003,568 (thanks wikipedia :))
Sir Peter Jackson: one of the finest talents NZs produced
Peter Jackson: one of the biggest welfare recipients NZ’s ever produced. FIFY
Auchinvole not re-standing.
Rats. Sinking. Ship.
so that cements another seat more firmly labour’s way ya?
I’d say Damien O’Connor is pretty safe in that seat now, especially if there’s a nationwide swing to Labour at the election. Auchinvole’s going isn’t going to make much of a difference.
Auchinvole is a list MP – just Key trying to re-vitalise the list. Doesn’t mean a seat more likely to go to Labour.
Auchinvole used to be the Member for West Coast-Tasman though and was narrowly defeated by O’Connor (against the swing) at the last election. That’s one reason I think O’Connor is now safer in this seat.
Stuff also reporting that Eric Roy is probably going to bail out of Invercargill (which before MMP changes saw its boundaries pushed further out into Southland was a Labour leaning seat). Also the guy who holds Hunua (can’t remember his name – which says it all really) is going too.
Hunua: Paul Hutchison
Stuff article.
Paul Hutchinson is likely making way for another National Party member who indicated that he would like to run as National MP in the next election – the current Franklin Local Board chairman, Andy Baker. Hunua is a fairly blue electorate.
I think not CV, Chris is a young man no longer, he moved to the Coast for family reasons years ago. I suspect he has had more than enough of any kind of work, has his business to run etc, and more importantly may want some form of retirement. If you ever have the pleasure to meet him, amongst the amusement you should ask him why he is going…I suspect the answer wont be sinking ships, not his style.
CV – you must be a tough bas…
Isn’t Auchinvole about 70 years & being an MP from the West Coast a huge ask.
Expect more white over 60’s Nats MPs to go. Look at the Nats list of anyone who was there in 2005, not in cabinet & over 60 – gone. It will be interesting to see what type of candidates replace list MP’s like Auchinvole – I am expecting to see Asian and Maori names become more dominate in the Nats team?
Labour didn’t do a heavy cull in in 2005 & paid the price in 2008 – as the voters just saw the same faces. So anyone who didn’t make Cunliffe’s recent top 20 & was an MP in 2008 needs to stand down or be culled for 2014.
Ahhhright sorry guys, I didn’t realise that the man has done his time. But yes, I am expecting several more similar announcements before the end of the year. And word of a new younger group of Nat candidates appearing.
All good CV, I really struggle to think that some people I know well are sitting and voting on the Nat side of the table. I question how could x or y vote that way on this or that issue? When it gets too incongruous I normally look for commonalities we share (otherwise you feel obliged to entirely disown the person). Sometimes it is worse when somebody I know from “our” side says or does something I entirely disagree with, of that I find it far more difficult to forgive.
Maybe it is easier to put ourselves in the shoes of any politician and ask every time they vote, say or decide something how many of their friends, acquaintances or associates they are offending? It cant be easy.
the Nats need all the discards they can dispose of; that man, what a poser.
Gareth Hughes on government’s privatisation of Solid Energy by stealth.
Good on Gareth Hughes for spotting this. Our MSM was dead useless on it yesterday.
The MSM is owned by foreign corporates.
They are actually very good at their job..which is the dumbing down of NZ so these same corporates can go about their looting of NZ without people noticing.
How’s this work? The government is obliged to keep in its ownership anything it happened to own in 1983? Must we really own the shit companies as well?
No, the media is obliged to inform the public about what the government is doing so that the public can be informed on what is happening.
Then the public can make their will known to those in government.
I think it’s time that we stopped relying on the MSM to do that and legislated that the government would do it. Full transparency.
Odd that sharebrokers and banks are lining up to buy these so-called “shit” companies.
Maybe they know something a little more about it than you do?
Nothing wrong with Solid Energy – until Blinglish told them to go into far more debt so as to pay out higher dividends to the government to try and cover the large hole in governmental income due to the tax cuts for the rich that he instituted.
“Odd that sharebrokers and banks are lining up to buy these so-called “shit” companies.”
Sharebrokers aren’t lining up to buy Solid Energy.
The banks are converting debt to equity. Their other option was to enforce their security and sell the assets in a fire sale (and probably get nothing).
No-one wants to own it. Some people just have fuck all other options.
Their other option was to enforce their security and sell the assets in a fire sale (and probably get nothing). Ah, so it is worth sweet fuck all?
Like commentors (#88, again, in case anybody was wonderin’)
.+1
“Prime Minister John Key has been accused of lying about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, the day after the launch of a campaign calling for the details of the controversial deal to be released.” -TV3 News
Surely not! Not our PM!
http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-accused-of-spreading-TPPA-mistruths/tabid/1607/articleID/315300/Default.aspx
Add it to blip’s list!
Chris Barton in The Herald yesterday also asked if he was making shit up or was just woefully misinformed in a technology column about the copper tax.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11132381
The USA’s version of TPPA.
http://www.activistpost.com/2013/10/we-are-90-days-away-from-total-loss-of.html
@leftriteleft…that link is scarey !…definitely NO to the TPPA!…. because it amounts to dictatorship by American international corporates….democracy and an country’s sovereignty go out the window…Shocking really!
Sorry I can’t get to this today at Auckland Uni – would have liked to. Protest about government treatment of Unis at Auckland University 1pm today.
Good to see Cunliffe in that line up.
Seems we are not alone in having put up with lies and dirty smear campaigns from the right wing mainstream media:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/oct/01/ed-miliband-daily-mail-father-row?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2&et_cid=51054&et_rid=7665268&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theguardian.com%2fmedia%2f2013%2foct%2f01%2fed-miliband-daily-mail-father-row
Was looking through the local body candidates for my area this morning and seeing a lot saying they were members of CHANGE! (Not a Party). Could someone please enlighten me as to what/who this is?
I heard Dr William Rolleston make some comment on the effects of climate change and the need for action and thought that is very encouraging.
Then I heard him say that farmers need to provide themselves with more water storage. And I felt that doesn’t mean doing anything that will assist in limiting climate change excessive effects to the planet, or in assisting the general population in some way, more likely just draining rivers of the water that is needed for the environment and sequestering it to keep otherwise unsustainable agricultural practices viable.
I found the item at Homepaddock which has some useful items on initiatives in farming and also right wing political stuff and this item will reveal more. I may be wrong, I’ll know when I’ve read it.
Federated Farmers vice president Dr William Rolleston has been calling for more water storage systems for some time. http://homepaddock.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/prevent-reverse-andor-prepare/
Some comments on other aspects of this on-line publication.
One item on the Greens describes what NACTs might like to do to Russel Norman – ‘Neutralising Norman’. It may be that the Greens co-leader is demanding thought from farmers that is taking them to uncomfortable places in their heads.
Before the item on the referendum on asset sales, a word is offered that has relevance to NACTs today, meaning litigious – Barratry.
Then – This politicians’ initiated referendum is a very expensive publicity exercise for the opposition. (But there is comfort to be drawn from -) The partial float will be done and dusted with the money banked before the referendum begins.
A quote from Chris Tremain’s announcement on his decision to leave NACTs –
“I am proud of the significant achievements of this government led by Prime Minister John Key. Under his leadership New Zealand is now one of the strongest growing economies in the western world and has a very bright future. I intend to continue to contribute to this exciting future but now in the commercial sector of our economy.
And an interesting example of how RW people view social research. It apparently must be seen in context of the individual’s own experience, not whether it is relevant to others, today.
One item on Hyundai survey that families are under work stress, and one headed ‘ House ownership has never been easy’.
The comments indicate a reluctance to face today’s difficulties. Instead it’s ‘In my youth we had to.. or my grandfather had to put up with…’
“A quote from Chris Tremain’s announcement on his decision to leave NACTs –
“I am proud of the significant achievements of this government led by Prime Minister John Key. Under his leadership New Zealand is now one of the strongest growing economies in the western world and has a very bright future. I intend to continue to contribute to this exciting future but now in the commercial sector of our economy.”
Simon Power mark II
Excellent Post greywarbler. 😎
Thanks RT. Adding to the standard’s overview of the flow of info and misinformation to make sure whether it’s 100% Pure. Hah.
So has the destabilising of David Cunliffe begun all ready or was this just sheer incompetence?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/9231556/Editorial-Labour-misses-its-chance
If you seriously think the corporate media supports parties with a genuine left agenda…
Or are you like slylands, just here to make mischief?
Hey Paul – do I take it that you think that little snafu by DC was good enough?
If I was Cunliffe I’d be looking at who set it up and replace them pronto
Aww gees…
wotta load of editorial custard. Wooden Spoon.(you really like to hoist yourselves on your own petard). Higher.
Just to put this on your radar.
Wednesday 30 October, 6.30pm, 2013 Bruce Jesson Lecture: The Rt Hon Sir Edmund Thomas “Reducing Inequality: A Strategy for a Cause”
The speaker, a Distinguished Fellow at the Law School at The University of Auckland, argues that the gross inequality in income and wealth which besets New Zealand is the outcome of the neo-liberal economic measures of the mid-1980s and early 1990s and the culture of liberal individualism and unfettered free market ideology which it spawned. A breakdown in social cohesion and a sense of community is the result.
Reforms to counter this inequality are widely mooted. But increasing focus and discussion on the topic is confronted by a plethora of mantras and myths purveyed by the rich and powerful. The stimulus for change is deadened. The speaker advances a strategy designed to provide a coherent impetus to reduce the rank inequality that now prevails.
Maidment Theatre, Alfred Street, The University of Auckland, The Maidment Bar will open from 5.30pm
so the little tory dweebs think they are already one up on DC. nup. Them and their whoole cohort of criminally negligent nitwits and neanderthals will be gone next november if not sooner.
QUESTION :
WHICH DO YOU PREFER, OBAMA CARE or AFFORDABLE CARE?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/9234163/Jimmy-Kimmel-wades-in-on-Obamacare
Shows how the public perceive things. Is it prejudice, ignorance, bias, easy manipulation or something else. Fascinating stuff, isn’t it!
S’pose it is a point against Referenda Clement. Or it indicates that constant repetitions of anti anything seeps into the subconscious. Hope it works for anti-Asset Sales.
Nope, it’s a point against the private MSM which is purposefully misinforming people.
ain’t that the God-damn Truth.
Thinking about the USA and medicare or Obamacare or Don’t care. It’s hard to understand the reason for ordinary not well off people to regard public health as a communist plot or an attempt to mass poison or tranquilise them or whatever comes out of the mouths of hysterical people that get filmed at rallys.
Lynley Hood in A City Possessed on the child abuse case in Christchurch examines outbreaks of fervour about various concerns that arise en masse at times. She quotes from Stanley Cohen from a study Folk Devils and Moral Panics:
Societies….A condition…become[s] defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylised…fashion by the mass media….Sometimes the object of the panic is quite novel and at other times it is something which has been in existence long enough but suddenly appears in the limelight….at…times it has more serious and long-lasting repercussions and might produce such changes as those in legal and social policy or even in the way society conceives itself.
This might explain why people who have the most to gain apparently, have turned against the practical medical help that could be available through the government in one of the most expensive private/profit ridden medical care systems in the world. Irrationality Rules Okay!
Need some special Anti-Septic against this poisonous thinking.
Hopefully this scale of profit is the first step towards getting rid of ACC levies altogether – except for those foolish industries with high accident rates.
Wot? (have you been at the communion tipple?)
lprent: Not sure if someone has already mentioned it but there is an issue rendering the ‘feeds’ on the right of the page, which is causing a mismatch between article titles and their sources.
Specifically, the article source is being placed below the gray horizontal line, effectively placing it next to the title of the following feed article, e.g. the source ‘frogblog’ for the article “Monorail project risky for environment and investors” is being drawn next to the title of the following article “U.S. Government resumes five-year shutdown” (making it seem that the latter article is from frogblog when it is actually from The Civilian).
Same issue on both Firefox and Chrome (Windows).
Another poll boost for Labour, 3rd “rogue” in a week …
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/5221-new-zealand-voting-intention-october-2-2013-201310020458
“Dance me, until The End of Love” -Cohen
(99, and NOT counting) 😉
Roy Morgan: Nat 42 (+1), Lab 37 (+4.5), Gre 11.5 (-3.5) NZF 4.5 (-2).
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/5221-new-zealand-voting-intention-october-2-2013-201310020458
Holy shit could TV3 get any more fawning and offensive than what they have on at the moment with their puff piece on Alasdair Thompson.
Doesn’t it all feel a bit empty without Felix? Thinking of you bro’.
[lprent: I saw that he’d picked up a ban. Makes his second one from memory. I think he got one back in 2009. He’ll be back the day after Jenny. On the same day as BM. They’re both good whilst banned. They don’t comment and risk the double ups.
Jenny has been incredibly lucky. None of the daily comments she has been writing over the last six weeks has been released by a moderator that I have seen until this one. My policy is to warn on any visible comment and if repeated to then double the ban to discourage repetitions and more work for us. Have to say that that her comment writing has improved markedly… 😈 ]
A Question for Economists
Have “economists” got anything right in the last two centuries? As far as I can make out, nope, not a single thing. Where they appear to have got something right is, IMO, more often than not pure serendipity.
Dammit, that last paragraph isn’t a quote – can someone please fix it.
[lprent: done (eventually) ]
Economists tend to create and support theories which benefit those in power at any given time.
Krugman: The 1 percent has created a monster
An interesting comment by Krugman.
The US keeps doing this over and over again. The oil billionaire Kochs funded and directed the extremist Tea Party.
In the 1950’s Texas oil millions funded Senator McCarthy in his extremist “Reds under the Bed” witch hunts.
US Economy in Shutdown | Michael Roberts Blog | http://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/us-economy-in-shutdown/
also comments on widening income gaps and the rich subsidised to buy up housing In US and Britain:
We get the same approach to recovery in the UK where the Conservative coalition has launched a plan to help home buyers by providing government money and guarantees for mortgages with as little as 5% deposit down for residential property worth up to £600k. Speculative investors are piling in to take advantage of this government scheme. In London, house prices are rising at near 10% a year and buy-to-let purchases are booming.