Judith Collins is advocating direct payment, at 100%, to workers for personal COVID related absence from work, via MSD, I like IRD better but whatever, it is a positive suggestion.
The Govt. has distributed “COVID cash” to employers with gay abandon but been tight as when it comes to the working class, and has not promoted what is available with much vigour until the last week or so.
Greens and unions/NZCTU seem to support the basic proposition put forward by National. ‘Pay to isolate’ seems an approach worth trying as lockdowns become more problematic on many fronts.
It is stating the obvious that NZ National by default usually shafts low paid workers, and puts the boot in for dessert, but in this pandemic situation, the Govt. should urgently adopt Collin’s idea.
I suspect Collins is quite keen to see the budget deficit go sky-high under Labour – so that at some time in the future a National government can point at it in horror and start selling assets and cutting government services to pay for it. It's part of setting up the conditions where an austerity narrative can take over. And the fact that she proposed an upper limit for the payment at nearly $3k/week, rather than at (say) the living wage or median wage, makes it clear who she is trying to help.
Working class people need proper, easier to access assistance right now, not in future. If the debate over Collins proposal rectifies the Govt. blindspot and provokes action then good in my view.
Of course National will have ulterior motives, but the future is not yet here. If the Labour Caucus can be shifted, details such as the high upper limit would likely be dealt with.
It's certainly an admission by National that employers can't be trusted to pass on subsidies and that the private sector is not able to be relied upon in a post pandemic world.
Frist – The government has distributed Covid Cash to employers with gay abandon – not so fast Hoss please hold your horse.
You actually have to fill out forms, provide all business and employee details for every employee for which you then get a set amount depending on the criteria and besides in order to get that sweet sweet easy Covid Cash you actually have to prove to have lost quite a bit of business before Grant Robertson is happy to part with what he seems to consider his money. So much so that many businesses in NZ only received the original payment for lockdown l4 that was handed out to pretty much every one in NZ. Never mind, blame everyone for the big businesses that did not need it but took it anyways.
There have been many – including me – that already at the time last year in March said that the 'wage subsidy' was the wrong approach and that the payment should have gone to individuals via IRD or ACC for that matter. I.e. an isolation payment when it is needed.
Many have also asked – like me – that the government actually hire bodies to have their governmental 0800 lines answered in a timely fashion. Individuals like me have also pointed out that if hte government requires people to stay at home – that then they should be paying that individual – rather then the business. All the government did was outsourse – for no pay i might add – a task that they could not be bothered to hire people – to businesses.
The wage subsidy is also before tax 200 odd NZD below the min wage, take another hundered off on Tax and you end up with approx $ 480 (for full time – part time is even less) after tax, and for that money in AKL you don't even rent a dog kennel let alone live for a whole week. And the government knows that, as do all the guys preparing food parcels in the various Temples, Churches and Marais in South Auckland and elsewhere.
All of these issues were raised last year by various groups, and the government did an awesome job of not listening. then and it appears it is still not listening.
I give them the first wage subsidy as they made it up as they went along, but we are 1 year in now in this pandemic and we are still working with the same model.
I don't think i ever agreed with J.C ever on anything, but i agree with her on that. IT should not be the employers cost and time to assure their staff goes into isolation and stays there when it is the government that 'requires' it. Anyone in NZ who is on Home D gets paid their cost of living via Winz. ….Just saying.
And to those that want to not pay people enough to be able to self isolate and keep their roof over their heads so that we could keep a surplus or go not into debt needs to understand that people who can't pay rent and eat will go out and do what needs to be done in order to do so.
Has everyone already forgotten the stories of young people not going back to school so that they can grab a job and help families? Or do we not care about these things on the left anymore?
Anytime someone has a test and is required to isolate they should be handed a piece of paper with an 0800 number that is answered within the first three calls and gives his 'testing number' and applies for the isolation payment, and what to do. That is how it should be done, and to boot it would boost employment, specifically for the many women who don't have jobs anymore.
Agree with most of your points Sabine, and after a year it is past time for a relook by Govt. and a “reset” of how much payments are, and how they are made.
That was a good overall look at the situation Sabine, I guess the takeaway is, that if The National under the leadership of Collins tracks left of our left party (not left, actually centrist liberal) then we know we have got some real problems…whatever the motives of JC are.
We live in the hood in Napier, and can feel an undeniable tension brewing in our neighborhood, there is a lot of very stressed fellow citizens out there.
The wage subsidy went through the business’s account to help both the business, by providing cashflow, and the employees, by providing cash to pay their wages.
If it had gone directly to the employees a large number of businesses would have failed because there was no money flowing through the account. Banks don’t like that.
It’s also the way business wanted it done, so really strange that National are coming out now and saying it should be paid direct to the employee.
One thing the wage subsidy structure has done is sort out the dodgy fuckers who weren’t paying tax or pulling other rorts, they had to sort their affairs out pdq or go down. Maybe that’s who Collins is speaking for.
Graeme, we know that companies had been left with mega profits and surplus cash.
Could it be that they spend this on assets? How that works is like this: you cash in on as much of the subsidy you can, pay staff 80% (some did not but lets assume, benefit of doubt etc.). Make a bundle as they had their "doors" open, maybe as a "essential" businesses and competition is dead. Post mega profits, don't pay back the cash that was given in good faith and naively so (my mind still bogles), and buy assets under the heading: we need this to give the employees the best tools- yeah. Now not only have the assets now been bought with taxpayer money, no no no…this can get better still. Now these assets will depreciate through the books and claimed back via tax credits. These are being now for years to come supported in the main by the lowest paid via tax take that supports that the tax refund of the assets bought. Clever eh? I am sorry but this does not speak for a finance minister unless he has a plan to check via IRD what the business has done with the subsidy.
You know the original intent and purpose of the Wage Subsidy Scheme, don’t you? If not, read Graeme’s reply to you @ 1.3.3.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme was much more generous than bog-standard benefits for unemployed, for example. It perversely created a 2-tier social welfare system and beneficiary category for middle class Kiwis.
The first worthy contribution National has made in the last year. Seriously.
it is ironic though because the problem with the rule breakers (other than the kfc worker) was not that they broke the rules to go to work. Theybroke the rules to ….let’s see….go for a walk, go to the gym, go to their mit course, go get takeaways etc.
I feel completely sorry for Ardern. The stress on her must be enormous and she has indicated this is the case. She has done extremely well, outstandingly well in fact. Imagine the “shambles” we would be in if National had of been in charge. Understandably she would have been furious with the rule breakers, if for no other reason she has to front late on Saturday night and Sunday and any precious time she gets off is gone. Now Pagani and some business goon, not to mention Seymour are yapping like stupid little dogs. Beat off.
I think the rule breakers are completely responsible for there own actions. I know a commenter yesterday mentioned getting contradictory advice, and this may be the case at a healthline level. But generally the messaging has been excellent. People do know what to do. We all did it last March. All 5 million of us. Anyone with half a brain and an ounce of thoughtfulness about other people would do everything they can to avoid passes the virus on to other people, even if they are a casual contact.
I watch an amazing travel blog and the guy goes to remote parts of the old Soviet Union. He visited Chernobyl where a few elderly people stayed on after the nuclear accident in 1986. Even these very isolated people were socially distancing from him saying “corona virus”.
ok rave over……..and btw incognito, agree I was wrong on dr last night. Btw the travel blog is called bald and bankrupt with Benjamin Rich. Thoroughly recommend
if the government had thrown the book at the first rule breakers – those that broke out of the quarantine hotels for some beersies and pie, or to go to a funeral, or even to break in – maybe people would take it a bit more serious.
People fuck up, young people more then old people and the onus is on the Government to make sure people are aware of their responsabilites and when they break the rules, bring down the hammer.
Now it appears that we can't do that to some people coming back from overseas, but we are happy to do so with people who live in South Auckland.
Yeah, lets be really kind and gentle with the government, that is what being kind and gentle is all about, right? It never was meant for hte population, specifically not the population that lives in over crowding, has min wage jobs, lives in areas not so nice and leavy, and is young and dumb.
Anyone who intentionally breaches these rules can be prosecuted, with a potential penalty of up to six months imprisonment or a $4000 fine.
And these sorts of prosecutions do occur; apparently there’s been over 800 of them since Covid-19 hit our shores a year ago. Of course, that’s only a small sample of total lockdown breaches as police practice has been to only prosecute egregious, or repeat, offenders. Which probably is fair enough if we want to avoid completely clogging up our courts.
So the guys who broke out of the Hotels got charged? or did not cause we do n't want to not clog up our courts?
and this here
So, perhaps what is needed is for medical officers of health to start using their s 70 powers more widely and give some legal teeth to the self-isolation requirements. And then for the police to move more aggressively with prosecutions against those who fail to comply with these requirements.
as i said above, hand out a piece of paper with the O800 number to apply for financial aid and self isolate as per legal requirements of face this or that punishment.
And fwiw, all of this could have been prevented if the government would have not lifted the lockdown from the 15th feb after three days – cause its all under controll-, that too was dumb, foolish and quite premature.
Maybe someone tell the government to not call a lockdown 3 unless they are happy to keep it for the two weeks of incubation period. Or is that unkind to mention, rather then blame all this brouhaha on a 21 year old.
So kind Sabine – of course our reckons here are of no consequence, and maybe that's for the best. I for one wouldn't want to be in Ardern's, Hipkin’s or Bloomfield's shoes given the number of snipers out and about.
Well it was dumb, premature and hindsight given, foolish, considering that since the lifting of that lockdown every other day someone tested positive and that was before the foolish fellow went to the gym rather then home.
As for stress? Well, anyone who currently has to manage a job, family, homeschooling, etc under covid and can not safely work from home has high levels of stress. How about we have some compassion for them? How about living in South Auckland under Covid, with no increase in benefits, crap job prospects, over crowding and kids not going to school because the money they make frying chips at KFC is needed to pay rent at home. Stress, we all have it, and not one of us has the resources the PM has to take care of that stress.
My opinion is that the PM is under more stress than most, so my compassion extends to include her. If giving Ardern grief could somehow reduce community stress levels, then I could get behind that.
Maybe I'm under-estimating the benefits of venting
One of the main reasons why we vent is to reduce our stress levels. Rime (2009) states that disclosing stress is a coping mechanism. Venting is a 2-way process: the person venting and the person hearing the vent. As a matter of fact, positive venting can reduce stress, but negative venting can lead to heightened stress and physical health concerns.
Well your opinion stands, as does mine. I however don't measure stress in Unities of stressdessness, but rather consider the stress of someone on a benefit not having the money to pay rent as equally important then the stress of a PM who again has to tell people to be kind and gentle, and stand up and explain why another fuck up has happened, that frankly would not have happened had she not lifted the previous lock up for the cases that started all that.
I don't care at all actually, but the blaming this whole situation on this one dude is pathetic. He ain't responsible for the outbreak, as of now we still don't know the source of the original infection, and again, if the initial outbreak had been contained in the Level 3 declared on the 15th Feb maintained, chances are we would be discussing something else.
As for J.A. if she feels that she can't cope she needs to delegate. She has a good team of highly paid advisors, helpmeets and courtiers, she should make use of them. That should help with the stress.
Being in debt can be stressful. Fortunately I can only imagine the stress that the 10% of NZers who have accumulated a collective debt of $13 billion experience daily. I favour a fair tax on wealth, such as that advocated by the Green party, as a relatively painless method of transferring wealth to alleviate stresses associated with a life in debt.
As to Ardern's "helpmeets and couttiers", she may be using them, but (as they say) "the buck stops here", and I reckon there's a fair bit of stress associated with her leadership role, delegation notwithstanding. Put it this way, it's not a role that I would wish on anyone, and I believe that NZ lucked out when Ardern became PM.
I'll take a guess that many of those with substantial net negative wealth are actually those not long out of completing their tertiary education and embarking on lucrative careers. With substantial student loans. That's kinda hard to get our heads around for those of my generation and older, that got our tertiary educations more or less free.
The ones I'm more concerned about are probably in the next decile or two – more or less zero net wealth and really no prospects of ever building any, just struggling every day to pay the rent, power, food and other bills on minimal incomes that don't have prospects of improving and are vulnerable to displacement by automation.
So the guys who broke out of the Hotels got charged?
No, of course not, only law-abiding citizens who were walking their dog in the wrong suburb without a facemask for their furry friend and bikers biking on the wrong beach while wearing lycra \sarc
You seem to think that National’s plan is simple to implement. It is not; it is impractical and would be hopelessly inefficient as pointed out by others:
Unite Union national secretary Gerard Hehir doubted it would be as simple as that.
IMO, Government made the right call to lift the lockdown; they had no evidence to support longer lockdown. If people had followed the rules, we would not be in the current situation.
Thank-you Anker for noting the rule breakers broke the rules (bar one of them) for recreational reasons and not to go to work. These people may not have English as a first language etc., and granted there needs to be more thorough tracking of individuals, but after a year of Covid lockdowns you can't tell me they don't have some idea what the rules are when caught up in these situations.
And I agree about Pagani (who I mentioned on DR last evening) and others flinging accusations around like confetti which don't stack up with what actually happened.
Yes I saw this, when they were questioned about case L they really struggled, then Hipkins got absolutely reamed by Heather DPA on ZB later too. Not sure if English is case L's first language, but when the web site says no need to isolate, she probably took that as being what to go by. Did they even receive the letters that were posted? It highlights the fact the communication needs to be clearer.
"At the end of the day they were all asked to be tested and none of them were"
I didnt think they struggled. Maybe you should watch the presser again, you appear to have missed a number of facts, example the school sent out 3 letters and the vast majority complied, 98% and case L still went to work despite 2 people in her household were sick. If a Newshub clip is anything to go by, language isn't the problem
I thought Hipkins stood up well against Heather's badgering, who should have acquainted herself with the following:
14 -2 – 2014
“The letters will tell staff and parents of students if
a student or staff member is a close contact because they have been in the same class or room as the student, or
a student or staff member is a casual contact, meaning they are a lower risk of developing the disease because they have NOT been in the same class or room as the student.
Everyone at the school last week – staff, students and visitors – will be asked to get tested.
Close contacts are asked to get tested and stay home until the end of Feb 24 in case they are infectious. Family members in their household are also asked to get tested and stay at home until they receive a negative test result.
Casual contacts are asked to get tested and remain at home until they receive a negative test result”
Even Claire of the NZ Herald seems to think the message was confusing and she normally never has a bad word to say about this government.
"Further confusion came from a Facebook post by the Covid-19 team which stated in black and white that L and her family "complied with advice they were given at the time".
the messaging from the government was not the best
AND
the individual fucked up?
How about that? Would that work, would that may be the closest to what happened?
And for the idea that people should by now know? Heck even Weka stated she has no idea what level three means, and she also stated that in the South Island hardly anyone scans into shops and hte likes. Maybe everyone got a bit complacent and its about time to ramp it all up again and be serious?
Why not that both? Simply the government message could have been more detailed, more forceful, and maybe even speak about things that happen when not complying and the cases could have done better too.
So the guy who went to the gym, dude we have whole youtube channels of 21 year old blokes doing stupid shit even tho they know better. Go figure. Fine him. He will remeber that. \
The girls that went to work? How flush in cash is the family? Was it well communicated that they are supposed to get the wage subsidy? Did KFC disclose that to the girls?
how about both parties could have done better, and we can move on without anyone frothing any further on the seams.
Well then again it could be just a simple matter of picking what suited too. The guy who went to the gym after getting tested had also been though MIQ, he most certainly knew better.
I have sympathy for the KFC worker as the website said she didn't need to isolate at the time. She is standing up for herself as she believes she's correct based on the web site. Also if she is willing to take on Jacinda she is obviously very confident she is correct (or needs to pick her fights better). I don't have any sympathy for the bloke that went to the gym after getting a test.
That doesnt help your argument Jimmy. I thought case L said she had no advice, no communication what so ever? I also thought you said you watched the presser. Bloomfield made the distinction that it didnt come from the MoH website, it was general information & not up to date.
The other day I said returnees were contributing to continued house price inflation but that didn't sit well with some determined to blame the government and the government only.
But here's further evidence of the Covid world supercharging the housing market. Both the inability to travel, and the change to working from home is also putting pressure on prices.
Housing crisis: Kiwis can't travel so they're pouring money into property, expert claims
So these are not returning kiwis but stuck kiwis? I think that was what led to a bit of pushback? The wholesale blame of 'returning kiwis' while it is our homegrown established kiwis with access to easy money that are fucking up for pretty much anyone.
Because the article essentially says that this is "kiwis' not returning.
And yes, the government – all of them for decades now – have not done anything to curb speculation.
But fear not, soon there will be another travel bubble (one way of course ) and then that Kiwi money will go overseas and surely that will then lead to a total collapse of the housing market and its prices.
And did you know that Kiwis just love love love Auctions?
Sabine, a lot of kiwis living overseas buying property at auctions unseen to secure a retirement home. First they F… up the economy and then they come back demanding that the taxpayer pays for their pension. Yep, it seems there is a certain slice of the population who preach compassion but then take everybody to he cleaners.
Simple as. It is time to actually start laying the blame where it belongs, government inaction, personal greed, lax lending rules to those that have enough 'equity' for a down payment, and so on and so forth.
the thing with the 'cashed up kiwis from overseas' they are kiwis, firstly, secondly they all went overseas to make hte money they need to get a a million dollar shack here, cause they will never make enough money here.
So frankly this 'kiwis' this and 'kiwis' that is getting tiresome. We are a low income country, our benefits all sit below the poverty line, we feed millions in accom benefit to landlords who rent shacks for hundreds of dollars unaffordable to most, and our government is doing fuck all other then paying lipservice sand doling out that sweet sweet accom benefit..
The people do as the government does and promotes, and no one likes to be poor, and sadly in NZ hard work does not pay, if it would some of our poor immigrant workers would be rich. So property it is. Thanks government for doing fuck all.
Went for my induction at work this morning, expecting to get on the job after, only to have the pre employment drug screen fail to show me clear of meth. Now I have to wait until the lab clears me, hopefully before Monday.
Checking online as to how I, not being a p head, could have failed and, as I suspected, found one of my diabetes meds is known for false positives. Metformin users, be forewarned. The people have been quite kind about it, but you know, good way to make a great first impression.
As a note for type 2 fellows, I just got put on a new drug to control high blood sugar levels for when diet and exercise isn't working. It's called Jardiance, which makes your kidneys pee out sugar. Drastically dropped my levels after 1 pill, and after only 5 days, I've got bang on numbers. Ask your GP or diabetes nurse.
The recent concerns about how New Zealand treats this who cannot work, or need social assistance just to do basic activities, reminded me of my own time dealing with Work and Income New Zealand. It reminded me of the culture of treating clients with suspicion, where staff commented on clothing, social life and relationships. It reminded me of a pedantic, straight jacketed system with no flexibility for extraordinary cases.
As a response to that I have started a petition that asks the Minister of Social Development and Minister Of Finance to urgently enable a substantial increase in the size of social welfare payments.
Please sign and share. I am happy to write a short guest article about my time dealing with Work and Income.
I copped a lot of abuse in here the other day when I said that I had zero sympathy for the 501 killed by Police.
Now we know the crimes he was in bail for. No, not 'domestic violence'. This 501 was a violent criminal pos both in NZ and Australia. His 'mental problems' no doubt stem from his meth abuse In Australia (well documented – just Google search his name). A long history of extreme violence.
Rather he is gone than innocents suffer. Why do so many hand wringung extreme leftists defend these garbage people?
No abuse from me Peter. I think the police were right to shoot him. He did not put down the weapon when instructed and had fired through a window. He was a danger to the public. NZ is a better safer place without him.
No abuse from me either Peter chch, I don't believe the cops had an option in this case, but they're damned if they do or damned if they don't. Perhaps Simon Bridges should go out with the cops in South Auckland one evening – or any city for that matter just to update himself with what the wokester police have to cope with.
His 'mental problems' no doubt stem from his meth abuse In Australia
"no doubt"?
Pretty sure of yourself there.
But then you'd have to be. God forbid there could ever have been an intervention point in aus or nz, even years ago, that could have stopped him getting shot the other day.
You can't even refer to him as a human being, just label him with the number of the section that was used to inflict another institutional abuse.
Yes, he did wrong. But I suspect he was a more complex individual than most people who cheer at his killing.
Pchch, is this killing regrettable? "Zero sympathy" – OK. "Garbage people" – hmm. But if you're pleased that Turia is dead (say it isn’r so), then you would have a problem, imho.
I'm sure his mother will say he was a really nice bloke but was a misunderstood guy, and this was really out of character, and he simply got mixed up with the wrong crowd!
Would you have liked him living next door to you? He may have shot through your window then.
One person is dead and his children, family & friends will never see him again and you whinge about rather tame ‘abuse’ aimed at you here on TS!? FWIW, I asked two commenters to stop the ad homs.
As with so many unthinking knee-jerk Law & Order proponents, you offer nothing. Shooting is no solution to the underlying problems and causes. Shoot them all? Lock them all up? Or deport them? That will sort things out, won’t it?
Until the root causes are understood, acknowledged, accepted, and acted upon, it will be BAU. Oh, they are complex issues that require more than a simpleton’s reckons.
Showing compassion and trying to help fellow humans in dire need apparently turns people into “hand wringung extreme leftists [who] defend these garbage people” [sic]. Thank God the cancel culture is alive and well to deal with misguided folks like those
"Hannah Tamaki took to the stage during the Sunday service to explain their reasons.
"So of course we escaped down to Rotorua, got here just after 12am because the shutdown was at 6am, and Mark and Daniel got down here to help us do this," she said.
"But it was better for us to be here – be in the atmosphere, be able to do this for you. So thank you for all the team that has made this happen."
Tamaki went on to encourage members to do more than just tithe to the church.
The thing about Brian and I the whole time is that we've always believed you never come to the house of the Lord empty-handed, even though you may do an AP [automatic payment].
"One dollar coin, two dollar coin, bring something into the house of the Lord. Bring what you can, over and above, because really it's the offering where God commands the blessing.
I listened to some of it and she talked about God giving gifts to people and he had gifted her a Tesla . Fancy that she said – a Tesla – and God will gift to youtoo…
@ aj (9) … In their greedy, menacing and selfish quest to extract money from the vulnerable, the charlatan Tamaki duo, are prepared to risk the nation's safety and well being, by hitting the road regardless of the present Covid-19 situation, to top up their dubious coffers! The pair of them are vile to their rotten cores. They deserve to be locked away!
How some people can possibly go along with, let alone believe the Tamakis' brainwashing propaganda BS beggars belief. It really does.
"In 2004, Tamaki predicted the Destiny Church would be "ruling the nation" before its tenth anniversary in 2008." Imagine that!
I see they've condemned the government (naturally) for failing to keep Covid out of the country. Of course if Bishop Brian were the Prime Minister covid wouldn't have got into the country in any way shape or form. And if it had it would have been because it was "God's plan."
Actually if you're reading this Brian and Hannah, if it is here it must be by God's design surely.
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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 ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
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 ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
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Damn you National.
Judith Collins is advocating direct payment, at 100%, to workers for personal COVID related absence from work, via MSD, I like IRD better but whatever, it is a positive suggestion.
The Govt. has distributed “COVID cash” to employers with gay abandon but been tight as when it comes to the working class, and has not promoted what is available with much vigour until the last week or so.
Greens and unions/NZCTU seem to support the basic proposition put forward by National. ‘Pay to isolate’ seems an approach worth trying as lockdowns become more problematic on many fronts.
It is stating the obvious that NZ National by default usually shafts low paid workers, and puts the boot in for dessert, but in this pandemic situation, the Govt. should urgently adopt Collin’s idea.
I suspect Collins is quite keen to see the budget deficit go sky-high under Labour – so that at some time in the future a National government can point at it in horror and start selling assets and cutting government services to pay for it. It's part of setting up the conditions where an austerity narrative can take over. And the fact that she proposed an upper limit for the payment at nearly $3k/week, rather than at (say) the living wage or median wage, makes it clear who she is trying to help.
Working class people need proper, easier to access assistance right now, not in future. If the debate over Collins proposal rectifies the Govt. blindspot and provokes action then good in my view.
Of course National will have ulterior motives, but the future is not yet here. If the Labour Caucus can be shifted, details such as the high upper limit would likely be dealt with.
Have the RBNZ write off all the govt debt it holds. And if that doesn't go far enough get the RBNZ to buy more and write that off too.
It's certainly an admission by National that employers can't be trusted to pass on subsidies and that the private sector is not able to be relied upon in a post pandemic world.
There's hope for them yet!
Frist – The government has distributed Covid Cash to employers with gay abandon – not so fast Hoss please hold your horse.
You actually have to fill out forms, provide all business and employee details for every employee for which you then get a set amount depending on the criteria and besides in order to get that sweet sweet easy Covid Cash you actually have to prove to have lost quite a bit of business before Grant Robertson is happy to part with what he seems to consider his money. So much so that many businesses in NZ only received the original payment for lockdown l4 that was handed out to pretty much every one in NZ. Never mind, blame everyone for the big businesses that did not need it but took it anyways.
There have been many – including me – that already at the time last year in March said that the 'wage subsidy' was the wrong approach and that the payment should have gone to individuals via IRD or ACC for that matter. I.e. an isolation payment when it is needed.
Many have also asked – like me – that the government actually hire bodies to have their governmental 0800 lines answered in a timely fashion. Individuals like me have also pointed out that if hte government requires people to stay at home – that then they should be paying that individual – rather then the business. All the government did was outsourse – for no pay i might add – a task that they could not be bothered to hire people – to businesses.
The wage subsidy is also before tax 200 odd NZD below the min wage, take another hundered off on Tax and you end up with approx $ 480 (for full time – part time is even less) after tax, and for that money in AKL you don't even rent a dog kennel let alone live for a whole week. And the government knows that, as do all the guys preparing food parcels in the various Temples, Churches and Marais in South Auckland and elsewhere.
All of these issues were raised last year by various groups, and the government did an awesome job of not listening. then and it appears it is still not listening.
I give them the first wage subsidy as they made it up as they went along, but we are 1 year in now in this pandemic and we are still working with the same model.
I don't think i ever agreed with J.C ever on anything, but i agree with her on that. IT should not be the employers cost and time to assure their staff goes into isolation and stays there when it is the government that 'requires' it. Anyone in NZ who is on Home D gets paid their cost of living via Winz. ….Just saying.
And to those that want to not pay people enough to be able to self isolate and keep their roof over their heads so that we could keep a surplus or go not into debt needs to understand that people who can't pay rent and eat will go out and do what needs to be done in order to do so.
Has everyone already forgotten the stories of young people not going back to school so that they can grab a job and help families? Or do we not care about these things on the left anymore?
Anytime someone has a test and is required to isolate they should be handed a piece of paper with an 0800 number that is answered within the first three calls and gives his 'testing number' and applies for the isolation payment, and what to do. That is how it should be done, and to boot it would boost employment, specifically for the many women who don't have jobs anymore.
Agree with most of your points Sabine, and after a year it is past time for a relook by Govt. and a “reset” of how much payments are, and how they are made.
That was a good overall look at the situation Sabine, I guess the takeaway is, that if The National under the leadership of Collins tracks left of our left party (not left, actually centrist liberal) then we know we have got some real problems…whatever the motives of JC are.
We live in the hood in Napier, and can feel an undeniable tension brewing in our neighborhood, there is a lot of very stressed fellow citizens out there.
The wage subsidy went through the business’s account to help both the business, by providing cashflow, and the employees, by providing cash to pay their wages.
If it had gone directly to the employees a large number of businesses would have failed because there was no money flowing through the account. Banks don’t like that.
It’s also the way business wanted it done, so really strange that National are coming out now and saying it should be paid direct to the employee.
One thing the wage subsidy structure has done is sort out the dodgy fuckers who weren’t paying tax or pulling other rorts, they had to sort their affairs out pdq or go down. Maybe that’s who Collins is speaking for.
Graeme, we know that companies had been left with mega profits and surplus cash.
Could it be that they spend this on assets? How that works is like this: you cash in on as much of the subsidy you can, pay staff 80% (some did not but lets assume, benefit of doubt etc.). Make a bundle as they had their "doors" open, maybe as a "essential" businesses and competition is dead. Post mega profits, don't pay back the cash that was given in good faith and naively so (my mind still bogles), and buy assets under the heading: we need this to give the employees the best tools- yeah. Now not only have the assets now been bought with taxpayer money, no no no…this can get better still. Now these assets will depreciate through the books and claimed back via tax credits. These are being now for years to come supported in the main by the lowest paid via tax take that supports that the tax refund of the assets bought. Clever eh? I am sorry but this does not speak for a finance minister unless he has a plan to check via IRD what the business has done with the subsidy.
You know what subsidy means, don’t you?
You know the original intent and purpose of the Wage Subsidy Scheme, don’t you? If not, read Graeme’s reply to you @ 1.3.3.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme was much more generous than bog-standard benefits for unemployed, for example. It perversely created a 2-tier social welfare system and beneficiary category for middle class Kiwis.
it is ironic though because the problem with the rule breakers (other than the kfc worker) was not that they broke the rules to go to work. Theybroke the rules to ….let’s see….go for a walk, go to the gym, go to their mit course, go get takeaways etc.
I feel completely sorry for Ardern. The stress on her must be enormous and she has indicated this is the case. She has done extremely well, outstandingly well in fact. Imagine the “shambles” we would be in if National had of been in charge. Understandably she would have been furious with the rule breakers, if for no other reason she has to front late on Saturday night and Sunday and any precious time she gets off is gone. Now Pagani and some business goon, not to mention Seymour are yapping like stupid little dogs. Beat off.
I think the rule breakers are completely responsible for there own actions. I know a commenter yesterday mentioned getting contradictory advice, and this may be the case at a healthline level. But generally the messaging has been excellent. People do know what to do. We all did it last March. All 5 million of us. Anyone with half a brain and an ounce of thoughtfulness about other people would do everything they can to avoid passes the virus on to other people, even if they are a casual contact.
I watch an amazing travel blog and the guy goes to remote parts of the old Soviet Union. He visited Chernobyl where a few elderly people stayed on after the nuclear accident in 1986. Even these very isolated people were socially distancing from him saying “corona virus”.
ok rave over……..and btw incognito, agree I was wrong on dr last night. Btw the travel blog is called bald and bankrupt with Benjamin Rich. Thoroughly recommend
And again,
if the government had thrown the book at the first rule breakers – those that broke out of the quarantine hotels for some beersies and pie, or to go to a funeral, or even to break in – maybe people would take it a bit more serious.
People fuck up, young people more then old people and the onus is on the Government to make sure people are aware of their responsabilites and when they break the rules, bring down the hammer.
Now it appears that we can't do that to some people coming back from overseas, but we are happy to do so with people who live in South Auckland.
Yeah, lets be really kind and gentle with the government, that is what being kind and gentle is all about, right? It never was meant for hte population, specifically not the population that lives in over crowding, has min wage jobs, lives in areas not so nice and leavy, and is young and dumb.
https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/how-best-to-get-covid-19-contacts-to-do-the-right-thing
So the guys who broke out of the Hotels got charged? or did not cause we do n't want to not clog up our courts?
and this here
as i said above, hand out a piece of paper with the O800 number to apply for financial aid and self isolate as per legal requirements of face this or that punishment.
And fwiw, all of this could have been prevented if the government would have not lifted the lockdown from the 15th feb after three days – cause its all under controll-, that too was dumb, foolish and quite premature.
Maybe someone tell the government to not call a lockdown 3 unless they are happy to keep it for the two weeks of incubation period. Or is that unkind to mention, rather then blame all this brouhaha on a 21 year old.
So kind Sabine – of course our reckons here are of no consequence, and maybe that's for the best. I for one wouldn't want to be in Ardern's, Hipkin’s or Bloomfield's shoes given the number of snipers out and about.
Covid 19 coronavirus: Health chief Ashley Bloomfield to update on latest Covid-19 test results
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-19-coronavirus-health-chief-ashley-bloomfield-to-update-on-latest-covid-19-test-results/SOY5BIUYPRBM3WHWQJL3GINSY4/
Well it was dumb, premature and hindsight given, foolish, considering that since the lifting of that lockdown every other day someone tested positive and that was before the foolish fellow went to the gym rather then home.
As for stress? Well, anyone who currently has to manage a job, family, homeschooling, etc under covid and can not safely work from home has high levels of stress. How about we have some compassion for them? How about living in South Auckland under Covid, with no increase in benefits, crap job prospects, over crowding and kids not going to school because the money they make frying chips at KFC is needed to pay rent at home. Stress, we all have it, and not one of us has the resources the PM has to take care of that stress.
My opinion is that the PM is under more stress than most, so my compassion extends to include her. If giving Ardern grief could somehow reduce community stress levels, then I could get behind that.
Maybe I'm under-estimating the benefits of venting
Well your opinion stands, as does mine. I however don't measure stress in Unities of stressdessness, but rather consider the stress of someone on a benefit not having the money to pay rent as equally important then the stress of a PM who again has to tell people to be kind and gentle, and stand up and explain why another fuck up has happened, that frankly would not have happened had she not lifted the previous lock up for the cases that started all that.
I don't care at all actually, but the blaming this whole situation on this one dude is pathetic. He ain't responsible for the outbreak, as of now we still don't know the source of the original infection, and again, if the initial outbreak had been contained in the Level 3 declared on the 15th Feb maintained, chances are we would be discussing something else.
As for J.A. if she feels that she can't cope she needs to delegate. She has a good team of highly paid advisors, helpmeets and courtiers, she should make use of them. That should help with the stress.
Being in debt can be stressful. Fortunately I can only imagine the stress that the 10% of NZers who have accumulated a collective debt of $13 billion experience daily. I favour a fair tax on wealth, such as that advocated by the Green party, as a relatively painless method of transferring wealth to alleviate stresses associated with a life in debt.
As to Ardern's "helpmeets and couttiers", she may be using them, but (as they say) "the buck stops here", and I reckon there's a fair bit of stress associated with her leadership role, delegation notwithstanding. Put it this way, it's not a role that I would wish on anyone, and I believe that NZ lucked out when Ardern became PM.
It's a hard road finding the perfect PM…
I'll take a guess that many of those with substantial net negative wealth are actually those not long out of completing their tertiary education and embarking on lucrative careers. With substantial student loans. That's kinda hard to get our heads around for those of my generation and older, that got our tertiary educations more or less free.
The ones I'm more concerned about are probably in the next decile or two – more or less zero net wealth and really no prospects of ever building any, just struggling every day to pay the rent, power, food and other bills on minimal incomes that don't have prospects of improving and are vulnerable to displacement by automation.
Imagine if the 16 billion would have gone there instead.
No, of course not, only law-abiding citizens who were walking their dog in the wrong suburb without a facemask for their furry friend and bikers biking on the wrong beach while wearing lycra \sarc
You seem to think that National’s plan is simple to implement. It is not; it is impractical and would be hopelessly inefficient as pointed out by others:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/437583/covid-19-government-rejects-full-wage-for-isolation-payments
IMO, Government made the right call to lift the lockdown; they had no evidence to support longer lockdown. If people had followed the rules, we would not be in the current situation.
Thank-you Anker for noting the rule breakers broke the rules (bar one of them) for recreational reasons and not to go to work. These people may not have English as a first language etc., and granted there needs to be more thorough tracking of individuals, but after a year of Covid lockdowns you can't tell me they don't have some idea what the rules are when caught up in these situations.
And I agree about Pagani (who I mentioned on DR last evening) and others flinging accusations around like confetti which don't stack up with what actually happened.
+100 Anker
This is interesting now that more info. has come to light…..seems like KFC worker didn't break the rules.
Covid 19 coronavirus: Government website contradicts Jacinda Ardern's KFC worker claim – NZ Herald
But but but………
Jimmy, suggest you watch Minister Hipkins and Dr Bloomfield's presser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnVfwP4vIaU&feature=emb_logo
Yes I saw this, when they were questioned about case L they really struggled, then Hipkins got absolutely reamed by Heather DPA on ZB later too. Not sure if English is case L's first language, but when the web site says no need to isolate, she probably took that as being what to go by. Did they even receive the letters that were posted? It highlights the fact the communication needs to be clearer.
"At the end of the day they were all asked to be tested and none of them were"
I didnt think they struggled. Maybe you should watch the presser again, you appear to have missed a number of facts, example the school sent out 3 letters and the vast majority complied, 98% and case L still went to work despite 2 people in her household were sick. If a Newshub clip is anything to go by, language isn't the problem
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/03/covid-19-kfc-worker-says-she-was-never-told-to-self-isolate-wants-an-apology-from-pm.html
I thought Hipkins stood up well against Heather's badgering, who should have acquainted herself with the following:
14 -2 – 2014
“The letters will tell staff and parents of students if
Everyone at the school last week – staff, students and visitors – will be asked to get tested.
Close contacts are asked to get tested and stay home until the end of Feb 24 in case they are infectious. Family members in their household are also asked to get tested and stay at home until they receive a negative test result.
Casual contacts are asked to get tested and remain at home until they receive a negative test result”
https://www.arphs.health.nz/news/confirmed-covid-19-case-at-papatoetoe-high-school/
Even Claire of the NZ Herald seems to think the message was confusing and she normally never has a bad word to say about this government.
"Further confusion came from a Facebook post by the Covid-19 team which stated in black and white that L and her family "complied with advice they were given at the time".
Claire Trevett: The Prime Minister, Case L and the pickle of confusion – NZ Herald
Oh no! Not Claire as well! The last remaining supporter of the PM left in MSM has succumbed after a long brutal battle with the facts 🙁
how about
the messaging from the government was not the best
AND
the individual fucked up?
How about that? Would that work, would that may be the closest to what happened?
And for the idea that people should by now know? Heck even Weka stated she has no idea what level three means, and she also stated that in the South Island hardly anyone scans into shops and hte likes. Maybe everyone got a bit complacent and its about time to ramp it all up again and be serious?
Or more like case L picked which advice she wanted to take notice of.
well there you go again.
Why not that both? Simply the government message could have been more detailed, more forceful, and maybe even speak about things that happen when not complying and the cases could have done better too.
So the guy who went to the gym, dude we have whole youtube channels of 21 year old blokes doing stupid shit even tho they know better. Go figure. Fine him. He will remeber that. \
The girls that went to work? How flush in cash is the family? Was it well communicated that they are supposed to get the wage subsidy? Did KFC disclose that to the girls?
how about both parties could have done better, and we can move on without anyone frothing any further on the seams.
Well then again it could be just a simple matter of picking what suited too. The guy who went to the gym after getting tested had also been though MIQ, he most certainly knew better.
and as he had been tested several times and came out negative he just thought…..Oh well, she'll be right. Which is about as Kiwi as Kiwi can get.
Both sides could have done better.
But the guy, case M, tested positive, along with his mother.
I have sympathy for the KFC worker as the website said she didn't need to isolate at the time. She is standing up for herself as she believes she's correct based on the web site. Also if she is willing to take on Jacinda she is obviously very confident she is correct (or needs to pick her fights better). I don't have any sympathy for the bloke that went to the gym after getting a test.
You keep ignoring all the other facts Jimmy.
That doesnt help your argument Jimmy. I thought case L said she had no advice, no communication what so ever? I also thought you said you watched the presser. Bloomfield made the distinction that it didnt come from the MoH website, it was general information & not up to date.
The other day I said returnees were contributing to continued house price inflation but that didn't sit well with some determined to blame the government and the government only.
But here's further evidence of the Covid world supercharging the housing market. Both the inability to travel, and the change to working from home is also putting pressure on prices.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2021/03/housing-crisis-kiwis-can-t-travel-so-they-re-pouring-money-into-property-expert-claims.html
So these are not returning kiwis but stuck kiwis? I think that was what led to a bit of pushback? The wholesale blame of 'returning kiwis' while it is our homegrown established kiwis with access to easy money that are fucking up for pretty much anyone.
Because the article essentially says that this is "kiwis' not returning.
And yes, the government – all of them for decades now – have not done anything to curb speculation.
But fear not, soon there will be another travel bubble (one way of course ) and then that Kiwi money will go overseas and surely that will then lead to a total collapse of the housing market and its prices.
And did you know that Kiwis just love love love Auctions?
Sabine, a lot of kiwis living overseas buying property at auctions unseen to secure a retirement home. First they F… up the economy and then they come back demanding that the taxpayer pays for their pension. Yep, it seems there is a certain slice of the population who preach compassion but then take everybody to he cleaners.
and our government is a ok with it.
Simple as. It is time to actually start laying the blame where it belongs, government inaction, personal greed, lax lending rules to those that have enough 'equity' for a down payment, and so on and so forth.
the thing with the 'cashed up kiwis from overseas' they are kiwis, firstly, secondly they all went overseas to make hte money they need to get a a million dollar shack here, cause they will never make enough money here.
So frankly this 'kiwis' this and 'kiwis' that is getting tiresome. We are a low income country, our benefits all sit below the poverty line, we feed millions in accom benefit to landlords who rent shacks for hundreds of dollars unaffordable to most, and our government is doing fuck all other then paying lipservice sand doling out that sweet sweet accom benefit..
The people do as the government does and promotes, and no one likes to be poor, and sadly in NZ hard work does not pay, if it would some of our poor immigrant workers would be rich. So property it is. Thanks government for doing fuck all.
Some thoughts on politics from the criminally overlooked John S. Hall…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j–Bkf_Ur90&list=RDj–Bkf_Ur90&start_radio=1
News Thump – UK spoof news and satire.
Daily Mail vindicated as Prince Philip confirms ‘grandson doing interview’ definitely worse than ‘son being nonce’
Philip's gone to two different hospitals undergoing multiple scans and transfusions and they still can't find a soul.
He's the living link between Covid19 and the Undead.
Unexpected 2 day holiday.
Went for my induction at work this morning, expecting to get on the job after, only to have the pre employment drug screen fail to show me clear of meth. Now I have to wait until the lab clears me, hopefully before Monday.
Checking online as to how I, not being a p head, could have failed and, as I suspected, found one of my diabetes meds is known for false positives. Metformin users, be forewarned. The people have been quite kind about it, but you know, good way to make a great first impression.
As a note for type 2 fellows, I just got put on a new drug to control high blood sugar levels for when diet and exercise isn't working. It's called Jardiance, which makes your kidneys pee out sugar. Drastically dropped my levels after 1 pill, and after only 5 days, I've got bang on numbers. Ask your GP or diabetes nurse.
The recent concerns about how New Zealand treats this who cannot work, or need social assistance just to do basic activities, reminded me of my own time dealing with Work and Income New Zealand. It reminded me of the culture of treating clients with suspicion, where staff commented on clothing, social life and relationships. It reminded me of a pedantic, straight jacketed system with no flexibility for extraordinary cases.
As a response to that I have started a petition that asks the Minister of Social Development and Minister Of Finance to urgently enable a substantial increase in the size of social welfare payments.
Please sign and share. I am happy to write a short guest article about my time dealing with Work and Income.
Signed, made a small donation and shared.
Papatoetoe Police shooting.
I copped a lot of abuse in here the other day when I said that I had zero sympathy for the 501 killed by Police.
Now we know the crimes he was in bail for. No, not 'domestic violence'. This 501 was a violent criminal pos both in NZ and Australia. His 'mental problems' no doubt stem from his meth abuse In Australia (well documented – just Google search his name). A long history of extreme violence.
Rather he is gone than innocents suffer. Why do so many hand wringung extreme leftists defend these garbage people?
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300243284/man-shot-dead-by-police-was-awaiting-sentence-for-sledgehammer-bank-robbery
No abuse from me Peter. I think the police were right to shoot him. He did not put down the weapon when instructed and had fired through a window. He was a danger to the public. NZ is a better safer place without him.
No abuse from me either Peter chch, I don't believe the cops had an option in this case, but they're damned if they do or damned if they don't. Perhaps Simon Bridges should go out with the cops in South Auckland one evening – or any city for that matter just to update himself with what the wokester police have to cope with.
agreed Peter.
"no doubt"?
Pretty sure of yourself there.
But then you'd have to be. God forbid there could ever have been an intervention point in aus or nz, even years ago, that could have stopped him getting shot the other day.
You can't even refer to him as a human being, just label him with the number of the section that was used to inflict another institutional abuse.
Yes, he did wrong. But I suspect he was a more complex individual than most people who cheer at his killing.
the 501 stuff. Fuck.
Pchch, is this killing regrettable? "Zero sympathy" – OK. "Garbage people" – hmm. But if you're pleased that Turia is dead (say it isn’r so), then you would have a problem, imho.
I agree Peter. Better that this bloke decides on suicide by cop, than he goes on to hurt / maim / kill someone else.
I love it when reactionaries completely ignore wider societal issues in favour of disseminating particular narrow consequences.
I'm sure his mother will say he was a really nice bloke but was a misunderstood guy, and this was really out of character, and he simply got mixed up with the wrong crowd!
Would you have liked him living next door to you? He may have shot through your window then.
Well done, you get the othering award for today.
One person is dead and his children, family & friends will never see him again and you whinge about rather tame ‘abuse’ aimed at you here on TS!? FWIW, I asked two commenters to stop the ad homs.
As with so many unthinking knee-jerk Law & Order proponents, you offer nothing. Shooting is no solution to the underlying problems and causes. Shoot them all? Lock them all up? Or deport them? That will sort things out, won’t it?
Until the root causes are understood, acknowledged, accepted, and acted upon, it will be BAU. Oh, they are complex issues that require more than a simpleton’s reckons.
Our role as individuals here is to be compassionate, while the role of the justice system is to be just.
All too often we get them mixed up.
Showing compassion and trying to help fellow humans in dire need apparently turns people into “hand wringung extreme leftists [who] defend these garbage people” [sic]. Thank God the cancel culture is alive and well to deal with misguided folks like those
Destiny Church leaders justify escaping lockdown
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/destiny-church-leaders-justify-escaping-lockdown
Don't read unless you mute your puke button…
And it keeps going downhill after that….
To go downhill from that point is truly miraculous.
I listened to some of it and she talked about God giving gifts to people and he had gifted her a Tesla . Fancy that she said – a Tesla – and God will gift to you too…
I bet it won't be a Tesla.
🤮
so many aucklanders doing that…..so many – escaping to elsewhere rather stay in akl.
the grifting is them tho…..
@ aj (9) … In their greedy, menacing and selfish quest to extract money from the vulnerable, the charlatan Tamaki duo, are prepared to risk the nation's safety and well being, by hitting the road regardless of the present Covid-19 situation, to top up their dubious coffers! The pair of them are vile to their rotten cores. They deserve to be locked away!
How some people can possibly go along with, let alone believe the Tamakis' brainwashing propaganda BS beggars belief. It really does.
"In 2004, Tamaki predicted the Destiny Church would be "ruling the nation" before its tenth anniversary in 2008." Imagine that!
I see they've condemned the government (naturally) for failing to keep Covid out of the country. Of course if Bishop Brian were the Prime Minister covid wouldn't have got into the country in any way shape or form. And if it had it would have been because it was "God's plan."
Actually if you're reading this Brian and Hannah, if it is here it must be by God's design surely.
Maybe its time to tax these people? Same with all churches. It is archaic to still have them not paying tax.
Dirty Politics case close to settlement
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/dirty-politics-case-close-to-settlement/ar-BB1eayXU