Norm is teaching himself Gordon Lightfoot’s ” Edmond Fitzgerald” Canadian folk song, on the guitar, so we are late tonight.( site is bettylouallartists)
This year “student organisers have vowed to clampown on drunkeness and ban “full nudity”.
…
“In a statement, the university went on to say that staff members attend the camp.
“Mostly the person who attends is the Dean of the Law Faculty as an invited guest.”
Funny though, if beneficiaries behave like this the middle classes get quite irate about how “they” are wasting “my” money but when a student paid for by us…
I know a guy who bought a home in Dunedin while at the Uni. Rented out the rooms. Used a student loan. All with advice of his wealthy father ( who at dinner parties railed against beneficiaries taking his hard earned money). Didnt complete the Degree. Known as a drug dealer. Maxed the student loan. Sold the house, moved home to Auckland and working for his Dad.
“Not surprised when it comes to the legal fraternity”
True. If they were like all the other Otago students they would be burning their sofas in the streets.
Favourite activity of the denizens from that University I understand. Why do the Law students try and be different?
For the people who think it’s just a bit of fun and students need to let off steam, read the whole article, then go read up on the emerging #metoo story about NZ law firms. Those things are connected, and if you’re not already making the connections it’s time to start listening to what women are saying about this.
Ah, I see. This bit has “law students as future sexual harrassment risk management nightmares” written all over it:
One girl was selected from each group to take part in a jelly wrestling competition.
…
“All the senior fifth year students pulled out chairs right next to the pit…”
So, it’s not actually a story about students drinking and taking their clothes off, it’s a story about hazing, sexual harassment and abuse of authority. It would help if journalists and the University were capable of distinguishing between those things.
Pretty much. I think anything with ‘law’ and ‘full nudity/jelly wrestling’ or similar should be raising eyebrows now. That’s one whole big mess of culture and entrenched attitudes that will take some time to unravel.
Senior students setting up chairs as the inner ring while others are behind them.
Would love to see the demographic breakdown of tge participant/organisers.
ALL claims of a changed legal culture are beginning to sound very hollow.
I left this profession in 1995 for similar reasons as are being revealed today. Add in a boss who average a secretary every 6 months for the 5 years I worked for him. Who would ask them if they liked “being such a stupid cunt”.
Stood at my door one day and yelled at me, nay screamed, what sort of stupid cunt does that?”. I stood up. Got the file. Flicked to the page whereI had recorded his instructions. Showed him. He looked said ” fuck it” and walked off. I went to the tooilet and vommitted.
The other partner had an office next to mine and must have heard the whole exchange.
This is so important. The hypocrisy I’ve seen from Otago law faculty over the Russell McVeagh revelations has made me sick. Law camp is a dangerous activity that puts young people and especially young women in harm’s way. https://t.co/AbFeii9d7R
The one point I didn’t realise, is that the Treaty of Waitangi claim on this issue is still unresolved. A great opportunity for Labour to walk the talk – as Moana Maniapoto pointed out.
Just pasting this in here from the James Shaw’s speech to the Green Summer Policy Conference thread, as I keep seeing comments along the lines of the government, and in particular the Greens, not having done much in all that lengthy time it’s been in power. Here are a few of the things they’ve done in the last few months:
Collectively, our ministers have already announced a review of the Waste Minimisation Act, so that it finally works the way Nandor intended when his Bill was passed in 2008;
We’ve announced the imminent creation of a Climate Commission and a Carbon Zero Act that will legislate the elimination of greenhouse gas pollution by 2050 – the most significant piece of environmental legislation in our country’s history;
We’ve initiated a work programme into sexual harassment in the workplace;
We’ve reconvened the pay equity group so that women can finally be paid what they deserve.
And just this week the Government announced a law change that will help ensure future legislation complies with the Human Rights Act – that’s long been our policy and that couldn’t have happened without the Greens in government.
All of this in four months, and that’s just what we’ve been able to talk about publicly.
If you find that unimpressive, and I expect there are some who would, stop to consider for a moment what a NACT/NZ First government would have done in the last four months.
“just what we’ve been able to talk about publicly”.
So what is in the other 33 pages of the Labour/NZF agreement that you committed to support and are rather embarrassed to mention?
You claim to be open and superior to all the other parties.
Well speak up. Tell us about all the secret strategy that Winston the First has ordered you to hide from the Public of New Zealand. The stuff you aren’t allowed to talk about publicly.
Reading Shaw’s list of successes does rather guild the lily doesn’t it? I mean look at his claim that “Government announced a law change that will help ensure future legislation complies with the Human Rights Act “. “Ensure” the man says. Since any Government, including his one can, and will, simply ignore anything a Court says it is hard to see how it can possibly “ensure” anything at all.
I notice James doesn’t claim credit for scrapping a Kermadec sanctuary, and carefully ignores his agreement to support the “Preserve Winnies’ perks” bill.
Come on Shaw. Take credit for everything you support.
Oh well. I guess he can hardly admit that his main achievement was to get Winston to allow a bunch of Green MPs access to the great big BMWs reserved for the Overlords.
Outside the bizarre tinfoil-hat world of right-wing blogs, in which the Labour/NZF coalition agreement is a kind of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact complete with Secret Additional Protocol, Shaw’s talking about the stuff that is being worked on but isn’t ready to be made public yet.
And no, Shaw doesn’t waste Green Party conference time on the subjects of previous-government clusterfucks that his government is going to have to clean up, or the various dubious antics of NZ First. He’d be a pretty poor leader if he did.
It is a flag waving “Look over here” by a Right winger.
They don’t want us to look at transparency issues!
No,” look at what the Greens haven’t done.” LOL Hehe have another go.
Fascinating.
After 128 days you try and tell me it is far to soon for me to ask that the CoL should really have got round to doing something.
Now after 129 days you are asking that I forget about it because it has been such a long time that I should have moved onto something new.
Can you not make up your mind?
Actually I can’t make up my mind what Shaw is on about. He is turning out to be the flip-flopper from Hell. Perhaps you can tell me?
Is he trying to pretend that he is important and knows lots of secrets that we mere plebs don’t know anything about because we are mushrooms?
Or is he saying that he can’t talk about plans for the future because his Boss, King Winnie the First, hasn’t told him what he is going to have to support?
Those are really the only two options of course. Which of them do you think is the real one?
It’s indeed fascinating that 129 days is one day closer to your prescient 5-month time point; is that when the Government has to have achieved more of those symbolic milestones like in the first 100 days? I’d wait 2 more days as 131 is Prime, which, for some, reason seems more appropriate to me.
You enjoy freedom of mind like we all do, to some degree, therefore I cannot force your mind to consider more than those two ‘options’ that you mentioned. So, take your pick and live in your self-created reality in and of which you’re master & commander 😉
Or you could step out of the sandpit and join the adults for mature discourse. Again, the choice is yours, as always, Alwyn.
I hope you won’t mind that I don’t jump into the sandpit tonight; it is nothing personal 😉
If you refuse to consider the list of what they have actually done and ask us to box shadows instead you have no one to blame but yourself when you dont get the replies you want.
I think at this stage of the National governments first term we were just getting the job summit
To me this article highlights the gross lack of progressive governance of the last government the fault of which lies squarely at the feet of John Key and especially Bill English.
Rather than produce programs to energise and motivate young Kiwis and their communities, and give them hope for the future, they just imported economic refugees to supercharge the economy at the same time ignoring the current disadvantaged.
It was a cheap and lazy way to go about things and lacked any vision for the future of strong and hopeful New Zealand families.
At the very least the new government will attempt energise local community programs which is a start but until all the other factors which keep disadvantaged communities down are fixed it is going to be tough.
Yes, you might be right about the timing but with the news-cycle being ca. 12 hours nowadays it pays to have balance in time & space in MSM. The Green Party goes out of its way to give both candidates equal attention, which they both deserve but also it’s principally the way to conduct these (political) affairs. MSM is still behind the eight ball.
I just looked up the link Incognito put up and went further to Newshub reference to a debate on Facebook today between Genter and Marama Davidson.
The type of comment is disturbing. The sneering, malicious attitude says that these are people who are deeply negative without any sense of interest or positivity about their fellow humans and society. People who want a good society and good politicians leading it don’t talk or think like this.
First three – it gets a bit better after:
Kiore Manarette It’s like a choice between Dumb and Dumber.. 😀
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John Briggs And who’s on the Benfit this Time???, James !!.
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Donovan Greenwood it’s got to be Marama Davidson. She doesnt have a bun in the oven so is mentally, emotionally, physically ready for the job.
Easy win for her if they’re putting politics first 🙂
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I would not read too much in those comments; do you pay much attention to comments on RW blog sites? I’ve yet to come across one (in NZ) that can hold and keep together a mature constructive debate between adults but I fully admit I’ve stop searching for it …
Incognito
I don’t follow the other sites much as I can’t bear to wear out my older years reading such god-awful trashy distasteful useless braindead comments.
So every time I come across them again I am freshly upset. I don’t do it often – my old heart can’t take the sadness.
I hear you but please don’t be sad or upset and focus on the positives, the kindness, and the beauty around and in! ourselves, in all of us. Not so long ago we apparently were sea creatures that crawled on land or mud dwellers living at the tide mark, or we were cast there by a storm more likely, and started breathing air and now we’re communicating here on TS and breathing through our noses. I call that evolution and progress 😉
They try to bring us down to their level, with intended and careless comments.
This is a time to strengthen our bonds with people who share our end goals.
Now we may argue at times how to achieve them democratically, but with good will and moves towards open Government plus a momentum building good change it will happen.
Haha Incognito and Patricia. I know what you say is true. What’s the alternative to keeping on keeping on if one doesn’t want to end up sour and negative and seeing everyone in that way.
This is a great place to meet people with heart and a desire for openness and respect for others and for us all to keep learning what we need to support each other through the testing years that have been forecast ahead, but which seem to be collapsing in time.
And still people seem to think they are living in the 1980’s only with more devices. The future is so exciting they say, but they are like people looking through a keyhole. That small view can be obliterated in a trice. But they don’t know what a trice is, that’s old language!
From memory, in their interview the other day Genter listed as an advantage the fact that being a cabinet minister would give her a higher media profile. So this is evidence for her claim.
Which might seem unfair advantage at first glance, but Davidson listed as an advantage the fact that not having ministerial duties gives her more time to work directly with the communities the Greens need to reach, so it all evens out.
Yes, you’re correct and it’s a good point to bring up, thank you.
Please note that I didn’t mention fairness as such and my main concern is balanced reporting. There are already too many pushing for the Green Party to go back to its so-called roots and stick to environmentalism or something similar. For this reason I’m concerned about lack of balance in MSM on anything to do with the GP; it’s bigger than the leadership contest between JAG and MD, which may be unfair to these two outstanding individuals.
I’m also not so sure that it really evens out at this point in time because JAG may have distinct advantage with name-recognition in the lead up but I agree that afterwards it may even out; unfortunately, only one can be elected as GP Co-Leader – a tough choice.
Who are the Green MPs shown?
I thought I had identified who the Green MPs in Parliament were but they have been so overshadowed by their Overlord The Right Honourable Sir Winston the First that they have become non-persons.
Has the election of a female leader taken place yet by the way? If so who is it?
I also thought that Shaw had grown a beard. Was I mistaken? If he tried and ended up looking like Mallard of course common sense would have told him to shave.
I’d file “What Jacinda Ardern Does with Her House” in the drawer marked “None of my fuckin’ business.”
I think that, to many who read this blog, JA setting the example “Look! I’m turning down a lot of free money for the good of society!” would be a stirring and very heartening one. However, for ordinary people, deliberately failing to make use of a significant asset is a marker of foolishness, not virtue, so she’d be nuts to do it.
The government does need to do something about this, but at the level of property and tax legislation, not the setting of personal examples.
Can’t say I agree with that, sort of like if the prime minister only chose to use private healthcare while being responsible for the public health system. Then her saving grace can be “well most kiwis think you should use private healthcare if you can afford it so I will”. Just wrong.
Our P.M. is going out of her way to support small NZ businesses, in clothing shoes and gifts. She won’t do anything without planning. She told us she is a nerd with anxieties.
Yeah, see when you said “turning down a lot of free money” you nailed it. This is what has led to the situation we are in today. If she was true to her voters she would make some sort of personal statement on this, I would have thought.
It is what has led to the situation we’re in today, but individuals setting altruistic examples isn’t going to be much help, it needs legislative change – which isn’t something Ardern can just order by fiat, especially so given that a lot of voters aren’t going to like having the government take away the magic money tree.
I think it’s a bad look generally, Ardern can buy a new million dollar house without blinking an eye while the rest of Auckland and other parts of NZ are really struggling with escalating rents and sub standard living conditions (residing in garages, cars, etc).
Imagine the leadership shown if she said she will live in a motel housing beneficiaries for 6 months to get a feeling of the housing crisis. Meanwhile she could urgently kickstart work on say an Auckland community apartment complex, being a smarter use of land and one where rents were affordable for all kiwis. Once built she could live there for another 6 – 12 months as an example of how we need bold thinking to solve the house crisis.
That’s going a bit far because how could she be expected to do her job living in a way we all recognise as unliveable?
I do think the building of a property portfolio is inconsistent with what her voters expect her to be doing about the housing crisis.
I can also see how conflicted our resident Nats must be about this. On the one hand they’d love to score points by attacking JA, but also the sanctity of making free money off residential property is untouchable.
Are you people lefties? Or just nitpicking troublemakers agin everything? Get a better outlook. And leave Jacinda and our Labour people alone unless they do something out of whack or criminal. Please. Give them a one year trial with mostly positive advice, they might heed it if you aren’t countering it with negatives like this.
Find some other target for your abuse, and your Guy Fawkes fuel. Tell me what sort of a person I am in your opinion. I’m old and it would take a strongly-tipped missive to do real damage.
Living in a motel isn’t unliveable, it’s uncomfortable sure and it’s an example of the manifestation of the housing crisis too.
What better way to solve a major problem in society than experiencing it and living it. Keep your general on the frontline so they know exactly the problems the troops face and how best to win the war.
Yeah, and John Key could’ve moved from Parnell to Manurewa too.
“Ardern can buy a new million dollar house without blinking an eye?”
I hear and read often enough about the “Women’sWeeklyisation” of the PM and the trite fluffy coverage of stuff she does, might do, could do, should do, might dream about doing, did or whatever.
She does an ordinary thing, buys a house, the world goes crazy in context and now I see she didn’t even blink an eye? Jesus wept.
I suggest you do a little research before making assumptions/ judgements/accusations of amateur landlordism, retirement investments etc.
Ardern’s parents are returning to live in Auckland,NZ in the next month or so after living in the Pacific for about the last 10 years. Her father was NZ Police liaison representative first in Niue and then in Samoa, and after his retirement from NZ Police was appointed as NZ High Commissioner to Niue and has served there for the last four years. He has now been appointed NZ Administrator of Tulelau (the last NZ dependency in the Pacific) based in Auckland.
Her sister is also returning to NZ from the UK in the next few months with her husband and two pre-school children after years of also living overseas.
The family will helping with support after the baby is born. As JA’s current home is very small, they probably need both homes in the meantime to house the returning whanau until they get themselves sorted.
Well, the motives are different. They are trying to point to a sort of deliberate hypocrisy as a way of reducing her credibility. I am concerned with what messages she’s sending to the people who are struggling with housing certainty and who voted for change.
I don’t know but it doesn’t feel right to me that they (the government) acknowledge the perils to society of multiple house caching while doing it themselves.
So you are criticising JA for intending to keep an empty house but you don’t actually know if that is what she intends to do? Can you not see a problem with that?
As I have pointed out in 7.3 above and below at 7.3.1.3, the purchase of the new house would appear to be a straightforward practical one based on the small size of the current one etc and having family (four adults and two children) returning to NZ after living overseas for years. No more; no less.
Yes Kiwiblog has a continuing stream of shallow one liner comments on it – as they do on any number of topics. However, there was some discussion on the fact you have to own for two years before selling to not be eligible for paying tax on any profit. I think that JA/CG only bought their current house about 18 months ago so would be mad to sell it before the two years is up, especially when family could live in it in the meantime.
Maybe the ones trying to point to a sort of deliberate hypocrisy as a way of reducing her credibility are rabid, one-eyed pissed-off cretins who can’t think of intelligent ways of spending their limited time on planet Earth.
The statement yesterday was that they needed a bigger house (the new one) to accommodate family who would be staying and helping following the birth.
Quite frankly, from what has been shown of the inside and outside of their current house on JA and CG’s various social media accounts, it is pretty small and compact – more a pensioner 2 bedroom unit than a family home. Even with just the two of them and a baby it would be cramped, never mind with other family.
I also understand that the current property is not very suitable for security purposes; and the need to provide for DPS officers 24/7 is causing some parking and other problems for neighbours.
No statement has been made as to whether they are going to sell their current property immediately or later. But from a practical point of view, if you have bought a new house and have family returning to NZ it makes sense to keep both in the meantime to accommodate the returnees in the short term or maybe even in the longer term.
Practically Jacinda would be unwise to sell her house as she doesn’t know how soon the support from fickle NZs for her to be PM and in politics will last. If she is rejected or becomes disillusioned with the bruising and brutal arena, she might decide to retire from it for a while, look after her toddler and take up Karate or Judo or some other non-blood fighting sport.
I suppose this matter of the secret Court case has been covered on TS. I did check to see if someone noted it on the 2/3 out of the 283 comments from 18 lead comments. I should check O/M for the 3rd but am worn out. So I will just put it up so those who are interested in what is going on, or not, in NZ can be informed.
It’s about the secret High Court case and originally published by Spinoff, written by Andrew Geddis, Professor of Law at University of Otago. And its about a Court case, very strange and worrying, and perhaps an example of how a facult can be inflated into a crime that can be inflated into something coming under some newly adopted secret law or security code.
The thin edge of the wedge often gets mentioned scornfully when people bleat about bringing in some new law, me included, but it does happen at times. Is this an example of government being despotic or acting under the supremacy of another government, bending its own laws and customs to do so?? Shades of Dotcom and our country acting under another’s orders.
So, a trial where no public or media are allowed in at all? That’s a big deal. What could it involve?
The suspicions of at least some of us were confirmed when Justice Venning, the Chief High Court Judge, released a statement confirming the subject of the case. It involves an appeal by a Melbourne-based New Zealand woman against a decision to cancel her passport on the grounds that she represents a national security threat to some other, unspecified country. By removing her passport, the New Zealand government says it can neutralise that threat by stopping her from being able to travel there.
How do we know this? Because her case already has been before the High Court last year, when she sought to challenge the government’s claim that not only did her appeal have to be held in secret, but that neither she nor her lawyer were allowed to know the reasons why her passport had been cancelled.
Those reasons, said the government, constituted “classified security information”. And under the Passports Act 2002, it’s not just the public and press who can’t be in the courtroom to hear the content of such information. Neither can the person whose passport is cancelled, nor that person’s lawyer.
Justice Dobson, who heard that earlier case and is hearing the current one as well, was not entirely happy about this situation. As he noted in a judgment that somewhat reluctantly concluded that the legislation had to be read in this manner:
“The whole of our common law tradition, as bolstered by the rights and protections recognised by New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, render the procedure under [the Passports Act] an anathema to the fundamental concepts of fairness. However, the reality is that Parliament has recognised the justification for the use of that procedure in defined circumstances.”
So, here’s what is happening in the High Court in Wellington. A woman is asking to get her passport back after the government took it off her. She is doing so without knowing the evidence the government has for deciding she represents a security risk, without being able to be in the court to watch the case being argued, and without being able to have her own lawyer present to argue for her (although some unnamed “advocates” have been appointed to “assist with issues that have to be dealt with” in her absence).
greywarshark (8) … thanks for the info. Also read that the case is being heard in the basement of the Wellington High Court, for security reasons!
If neither the woman concerned nor her lawyer are allowed in court to argue the case, then it would be interesting to know who is arguing against who in the closed hearing, something I feel in fairness, the woman and her lawyer should have details about. Unnamed “advocates” not being good enough.
And the “unspecified country” for which this woman presents a national security threat is … ??
The Ministry for Primary Industries looks set to face a $100 million bill
for the crippling cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis.
But hey – user pays innit? MPI is not ultimately paying for this giant diseased cowpat, it is we, all of us in the NZ taxpayers union who pay 15c in the $1 GST on everything if not big bags out of our income.
$100 million should be borne from a farmers insurance against disease etc out of their income and then they might start looking at the costs that they impose on the country. And the real, small, farmers can start agitating against the game players that erect the barriers of inflated land prices that add to the costs of those on the ground just getting on with the job, rather than poncing around buying and selling farms on leverage etc.
If they can afford to own more than one or two farms they can pay for the enormous costs the country faces trying to have biosecurity borders and the lapses thereof. In this case of disease it can be laid at their door surely.
Yes, the fact they farm to provide food and exports should not exempt them from paying forward on risk factors. They need to be brought under the rules the rest of us live by, and that may slow their appetite for risk. Insurance to cover risks and deposits of a suitable size.
Farms, like homes should not be gambling chips in our ever more fragile world.
Thanks for your thoughts Patricia. What you think seems to be towards the practical and effective – a good thing to read on TS amongst the wider and perhaps wilder inputs.
Now we know that thus Micoplasma Bovis disease can be transmitted by urine and excrement we worry that those cow wastes are being sprayed all over our roads from leaky overflowing tank traps on those long haul trucks and that pollutes our water systems from the road drains and will end up in our drinking water to!!!!!!
What about the road runoff onto our homes from trucks passing through our suburbs now???
Christ we are stuffed as this is so bloody serious now, and MPI don’t know how to control it they admitted.
I am again to write to the Ministry of Environment about this new threat to our residential communities again, Ministry of the Environment who have been so silent on this and other things ‘see here.’
Climate change emissions and truck increased use is now found to be really occurring as trucks are dirty emitters of climate emissions/carbon.
In 2018 after Napier has now become a “truck gridlocked” community with a large export port and over 90% of all export freight is still carried on trucks we are now so desperate for a safe quiet environment we have now referred this issue back to the Ministry of the Environment after 18 yrs of no solution yet being offered.
We have asked for a inland port to transfer the freight onto rail to Napier Port as it was recommended by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in 2006.
Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10362
Wellington
Dear Ministry of the Environment. 3/3/18.
As you may already be aware, we have over the last 20 years, we all have had extremely serious public health related issues regarding urban residential communities who are constantly exposed to adverse health effects from heavy truck traffic passing through their urban areas on a ‘truck route’ highway that very often in NZ has inadequate mitigation measures to protect the health and well being of those communities.
As it is the policy of a Government to advocacy and to seek solutions through public and local input and consultation, as defined by the Court of Appeal 1992!!!!
We have been involved heavily in that process since our communications to you since May 2002.
Since then, we have been gathering evidence, reports and results of air quality studies independently conducted in coalition with Watercare Services, NIWA, HB Public Health and Ministry for the Environment, through the technical assistance of your staff.
Your staff has requested that we keep an open communication line to them, and that they would assist, as able, to resolve the issues of concern.
To date, three reports from Water care Services, NIWA and Public Health have validated the health concerns that affect our community living near truck routes, and with that information, we were hopeful that local and regional councils would resolve the issues surrounding public health by supporting a reasonable list of early mitigation measures, such as:
1. speed reduction to kph on Highway 50 as it passes through west Cities residential suburbs.
2. smooth road surfacing to reduce tyre particulate pollution.
3. barriers and dense vegetation to contain and absorb traffic pollution
4. return road freight to rail through Napier to the port.
We held a series of meetings with our local City and Regional councils, which resulted in the regional officers agreeing to put the matter before Council, in a bid to have those measures supported.
A press release from the Council came out on 25/2/03, supporting in principle our request for reasonable mitigation.
We had the support also of our Regional Chairman, and a Councillor, previously involved in health issues in central government.
Unfortunately, the following day in council, a majority voted against supporting those measures, which quite honestly left us gutted.
After other meetings with our City Council Mayor, the Mayor did agree to write a letter to The road controlling Authority (then in 2003) Transit NZ supporting a speed reduction to 70kph.
Our Regional Council did admit the planning was questionable before the road was re designated as a ‘Truck Route.’
Quote; “the problem has arisen because prior to the expressway’s construction, the local council allowed residential developments to abut the proposed road.
The decision was unwise and was made when environmental concerns were not as strong and awareness of the possible consequences much lower, a council report by environmental manager, Murray Buchanan states.”
“the community properties, by an act of past planning, are closely adjacent and many are well below the expressway level. This is a unique situation in the district, and because of the elevation of the expressway, noise travels over a wider area.”
Those admissions clearly suggest that both councils should now be actively supporting further mitigation measures to protect those residents, but very little is really being achieved, which now places us in a position to legally challenge their lack of providing a safe environment, and all the other issues raised in that letter by our legal counsel 1/4/02, if the situation is not resolved in the next few months prior to completion of the over bridge and State Highway extension
Important to note is that two of the mitigation measures, 70kph speed and smooth road surface, changes to planning have to be instituted ahead of the completion of that road upgrade, or else it would be cost prohibitive to promote later.
Therefore, we would request that you allow us this remaining time to seek further support prior to instigation of legal proceedings, noting that it is highly likely that this route may be required if councils do not offer adequate mitigation for the health and well-being of our community.
We hope that this further information to you addresses paragraph 3 of your letter dated 11/2/03. We are very sincere in our desire to resolve these health issues in any means available to us and support for environmental legal assistance, should it finally be required, is vital as a means to protect the health and well being of our community.
The current truck ‘movement’ counts for every 24hrs on the Napier south end of the HB Expressway is now on 3rd March 2018 is at a whopping 2489 trucks every day average when in 2001 we measured 997 every day.
Thank you very much for your consideration,
Yours truly,
My understanding is that the MPI put a movement ban on farmers moving their cattle from one farm to the next one when Mycoplasma Bovis was first detected on NZ farms?
So why hasn’t MPI enforced the movement ban on those farmers who broke the rules?
What was the last Government doing about the Mycoplasma Bovis outbreak as it happen on their watch?
Was this Mycoplasma Bovis outbreak due to the running down of the MAF/ MPI by the last Government?
Why hasn’t NZ MPI producers taken out insurance to protect themselves against such outbreaks etc?
Why hasn’t the Trucking industry brought in self contained stock trucks which stop stock urine and shit from being spray all over the place. They have these truck in Oz why not in NZ?
Why weren’t the cattle destroyed straight away, that is what you do with a foot & mouth disease outbreak ?
If farmers have broken the law they should be prosecuted and heavily fined, or put out of business. If there is a nationwide outbreak it will damage the industry and will cost the country and the taxpayers big time $.
This is actually a serious situation and MPI can not be seen to be incompetent ?
I don’t think Mycoplasma is bad as Foot and Mouth as it can’t get into the food chain. But in saying that the farmers should’ve us their common sense and obey the MAF/ MPI movement ban then we would’ve this shit fight of mess that NZ is facing ATM which is no thanks to these dumb asses who thought they knew better than the boffins within MAF/MPI.
It really makes my blood boil that these people can be so dumb, stupid and then expect the Government to give them a payout!!!!!
Also 99% of this shit fight happen under the National Government and what were they doing about it? Easy answer asleep at the wheel as usual and let the market short it out F ing dickheads.
Actresses are very brave to stand up and demand to be heard about sexual bullying and worse. Barbara Ewing interviewed this morning by Wallace Chapman wrote a book called The Actresses, being made into a film I think. It tells the stories of how the profession treats women and the way they cope. She is a NZ actress and author working from London who learned Te Reo decades before we got enthused.
Barbara Ewing’s book The Actresses was first published in 1997 and is the story of a group of actresses reuniting at their London drama school 30 years after they graduated. It explores how women are treated in the industry and reveals a toxic culture – 21 years before the current light was shone on similar behaviour through the #MeToo movement. Ewing was also an actress and her experience carried a lot of truth into the fictional work. Since then she’s written many books, but explains why The Actresses is still important.
I seem to be dominating the Open Mike so far but all these things are really interesting and meaningful to us and about people’s concerns so am just giving a heads-up on them so they don’t get missed.
The bill would amend the Education Act 1989 to enable statements about the diversity of education provision to be included in the statement of National Education and Learning Priorities.
The proposed amendments would align the statement of National Education and Learning Priorities more closely with the New Zealand curriculum, and provide an aspirational vision for the future for young New Zealanders.
2/3/18 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1803/S00020/savecharterschools-submissions-open-over-2500-sign.htm
You might hate how National set them up, and despite Seymour and ACT equally, but there is good in the well-run concept of schools for those who don’t fit into the mainstream, and perhaps we could get back some for special needs children too that government has stepped on heavily in past years so they can have their own place. Charter schools should be able to form relationships with mainstream and fund places for some children to attnd specialist classes elsewhere, and this would be good for special schools advancing their pupils’ particular talents.
Nah, that’s not domination; domination is when you crowd out others and their opinions, which you don’t. So, keep them coming. Remember that a few bans were dished out recently too so the place is maybe a wee bit quieter than usual …
Children who don’t fit into the mainstream need to be funded and supported in their own community, at their local school. Education policy should reflect this.
The flexibility supposedly only required for high-needs children, should be demanded for all students. This is important for education.
The student in the article should know this, and by not putting in these details, it gives a false view of the situation.
The ex principal in one of the other articles is misdirecting on this issue as well. And the PISA results might be an effect of primary children who have been subjected to National Standards. Who knows?
Also, her insistent on exams is old-school and not reflective of understanding or competence.I believe examination taking is a skill over and above the level of knowledge of any particular subject, and many who fail exams often know the work, but cannot retrieve it in those situations.
Hi Molly
I will read that with your comments in mind about the tramps.
About exams – they do provide a separation from school control over assessment. Perhaps a half-year test to see how they go and prepare them for the matter, along with regular short tests and assessments so that the pupil’s knowledge level is exposed? Anything that the NZ Initiative thinks is a good idea must be viewed cautiously and they seem very strong on exams. The present assessments are too demanding for teachers. There is no need for atomic science to order teachers’ checks and so parents know to the nth degree of skill.
I was amazed when I thought I heard that parents were having to pay a fee if they wanted their children to have extra time to do their exams now. They would have to pay for a medical certificate stating why of course. But this imposition on parents with children having difficulties of some sort should not be countenanced by fair and supportive education establishment. Exams shouldn’t be a brick wall for some children.
MacLeans college used to have a good system for children with needs for reader-writer assistance. And the reputation they developed for that assistance, resulted in many students enrolling in that school.
Unfortunately, the NZQA was sceptical of the high number of students requiring that help at exams and gave the school a hard time about whether all these students were legitimate. I can’t recall the end result, but I do remember this occurring. It would be disappointing if that extra fee was a result of this situation.
I’m good at exams, mainly because I have the skill that allows me to read – even badly written exams – and know what it is that the examiner is looking for. This does not necessarily mean that the knowledge I have at that time is permanent and able to be used in workable form.
Internal assessments require that proof, and for students who just want to cram and exam, they are a pain.
But I do believe that they are a better indicator of comprehension and application of knowledge.
Moly
Too much responsibility on the teachers to being do assessments all the time. And with this evil-minded, sucpicious, government and its neolib background, the conditions and demands that teachers must comply with, with the way they are rated hanging in the balance (and with the idea of performance pay hanging like a Damocles sword) I hear that teachers have to fudge some times. The problem is the old one that is described in that saying that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Just looked up my teacher Google and it says that’s been around since the 1500s.
And petit peu French. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose (1849)!
What an uproar over nothing. Jacinda Ardern wasn’t offended, I wasn’t offended. Most people I suspect were not offended. It’s a pretty sad state of affairs when you can’t describe anyone as “attractive” without being labeled sexist. In my view, a lovely word trashed by a small bunch of vociferous individuals – and no, I don’t know who they were because I don’t bother reading that kind of silly stuff.
The continuing theme for describing female politicians is to remark on their appearance as if that is the most important thing to know about them.
It’s only okay with the Queen’s description as far as I’m concerned – traditional with Royal commenters. ‘And Her Majesty has changed her well-known hair style to one combed to the side which is very appealing under her daffodil coloured hat with the narrow brim, which she adopts so that the public can see her face’ etc.
I think that it is sort of patronising that a woman is only worth talking to if she is fashionable and attractive. Men are generally not given this sort of attention.
But when they choose to be different, they can it’s true get a notation, as Slavoj Zizek was recently. One journalist found his appearance and manner below par. (He wears a t-shirt quite often and rubs his nose all the time – terribly eccentric from some journalists point of view, the arbiters of everything!)
Those journalist comments are designed to detract from serious subjects, but Jacinda is deft at deflection. Another attractive aspect of our P.M. She is grounded.
Privilege: Unearned access to social power based on membership in a dominant social group
_ Able-bodied physically and mentally
_ Access to education
_ Christian
_ Cisgender
_ Heterosexual
_ Male
_ Native English speaker
_ New Zealand Citizen (at birth)
_ White
Becoming Aware of Privilege should not be viewed as a burden or source of guilt, but rather an opportunity to learn and be responsible so that we may work toward a more just and inclusive world.
Thanks. Next time please include the link. I’m pretty sure I’ve asked before and it’s getting tedious so I will probably moderated if I see you do that again. Honestly, if you are cutting and pasting, it’s not that hard to link as well.
Baby Boomers or Generation X; which one is more privileged?
Privilege is real but also relative and contextual. This should never be lost sight of; lack of privilege does not necessarily have to hold one back or be a bad thing – it can be a double-edged sword. As you say, it’s how privilege is used and abused that makes it an issue or a non-issue.
As James Shaw said in his outstanding speech:
It is a great honour that our members, through their elected delegates, backed us to go into government for the first time ever.
It is a privilege that neither I nor my colleagues take lightly. [my bold]
Thanks for that!
On the chart presented by Pete above – I have to say I score a tick on each one. Being aware of that is so very important and something not to be taken lightly. As Claude Levi-Strauss once said “I had to leave France to study man”.
We usually do a session or two of the Bluff Oysters when they are in.
On the Americas Cup, the construction industry is looking forward to the moment when the client gets its shit together and has a single plan. That single plan then has to be consented, costed, and constructed in time for the Louis Vuitton Cup series not much more than 18 moths away. It’s going to be tight.
If I was the type to enjoy watching someone else racing in someone else’s yachts, and then pay over the top for kai moana most of us had access to in my childhood, I guess I would understand your enjoyment.
As it is, this scenario appeals to me as much as the TPPA rally appealed to you. Find it a bit jarring to read on TS TBH.
Good anecdotal piece from Radionz on youth employment and how it can be forstered and needs to be and is wanted by youth! Lry’s not forget that.
Think that even robbing dairies requires work, planning and organisation. This should be going into something positive for the country and for themselves. An intelligent government of the 21st century has a lot of history study research and experience to fall back on to prevent crime. Young people feeling lost and impoverished in monetary and spiritual terms, found useless, a waste of space, and abused, and they haven’t even had the chance to start their lives! It’s disgraceful neglect by governments not to have decent effectual polices for them.
One young man: He earns a good wage, has opportunities for career progression, and has zero debt to his name.
It’s worlds away from the uncertainty and indecision that plagued the end of his high school education.
Mr Kirk repeated seventh form at Mana College, uncertain about what he wanted to do with his life.
One day, he was approached by a teacher who asked if he was keen to take part in a work experience programme run by Downer, a programme that would allow him to do some paid work experience with the company in the school holidays.
If he impressed, he would have the option to take up full-time work.
Mr Kirk said it was a reality check from day one.
“On my first day on site I was just sweeping up a bit of rubbish, but I couldn’t even use the broom properly. I was a bit embarrassed, but you’ve got to learn some day.
“It was pretty daunting, but once you get to know the people it’s way easier. They help you a lot more when you’re comfortable with them.”
After just a year of full-time work, Mr Kirk now has his forklift driver’s licence and is talking with his bosses about studying to become a foreman.
The bill for that – as with the forklift licence – is borne by his employer, which gets a home-trained, loyal worker in exchange.
Downer first began the programme about seven years ago, and recently joined forces with Partners Porirua to head into local high schools to invite 16 and 17-year-olds who don’t know exactly what they want to do with their lives to take part.
(This type of training should be supported and encouraged by government not just left up to business at their whim.)
Another man still hoping to get started at 24 years, who is statistically classified as – ‘NEET’ or someone who’s Not in Employment, Education or Training.
Apart from a few brief stints on a relative’s farm, he has been unemployed for the best part of a decade.
And it all started, he says, in his first year of high school.
“The second term I stopped going,” he says.
“At the time I’d seen my friends not going to school. Hanging out and that. I was like, oh, I want to be like that. I don’t want to sit in class.
“I found out the hard way that sitting in class was the place to be.”
As of February, there are more than 80,000 young NEETs in New Zealand – a seven percent increase on last year. It’s estimated each NEET costs the economy about $20,000 in lost productivity and benefits – meaning this group of young people costs more than a billion dollars every year.
(And that’s just money, the big loss is in loss of self-image, self-belief, expectation of respect from society that goes on all through life for oneself and those you connect with. We all should play our part in avoiding that with practical and considered help to all.)
That one has been going since 1995 – and is far from the only one. Not sure of the numbers throughout NZ but think there are several more in the Wellington region.
Jacinda Ardern visited He Huarahi Tamariki on 27 Sept, just a few days after the general election, after they invited her just a day or so earlier.
Discussion called “It is the fact teen parents have a choice that should be applauded” following the Salvation Army Report. But soundtrack is re pokey machines!
Its so hard to get apprentices these days, we approached 2 local high schools, spoke to careers advisors at the school arranged times to give a bit of a talk etc.
Both times we got exactly zero turnout in school hours in a school day offering jobs and training with a start rate of $17 per hour and increases partially tied to credits towards qualification.
Wages that you can actually survive on start at about $20.50. So any takers will need to be subsidised by helpful relatives or someone else – and not everyone has that.
We have a very low wage mindset in NZ – for most of the population, anyway.
Yeah hence we visited local schools, hopefully to pick someone up who is still living at home while they get started. Takes about 3 months to get over the $20 mark so not to long and given gardening is a dying art generally apprentices start from absolute scratch.
Took me a year of my apprenticeship to earn enough to move out of home it wasn’t the end of the world. TBH was easier to get my papers done living at home.
When I was talking futures with young people, we would list skills a school leaver needed to be employed in further education or contributing through environmental and social programmes.
As we were talking in the third person, they would freely offer up ideas. They listed skills and attributes needed in all of those areas. We would list them in most important to least important.
Finally, we would look at the first 10. These became a self improvement blue print.
Years later I would meet with students who would say, ” I’m still using the blue print
to build my skills and attributes Mrs.B” That was a buzz. Number 1 was communication skills.
To me that was real education, not the sad tick box stuff often offered now. So I’m pleased it is all being reviewed.
Being a good communicator and being a life-long learner have a few things in common IMO: curiosity and open mind and the realisation that the meaning or purpose of life is not a fixed goal you set for yourself, or set for you by others, but it is the journey or process of life itself – a self-referencing framework, if you like.
The President of the United States on the unelected leader of authoritarian China: “He's now president for life. President for life. And he's great," Trump said. "And look, he was able to do that. I think it's great. Maybe we'll give that a shot some day." https://t.co/Pqb7iOKiWo— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 4, 2018
Hmmm He should be careful for what he wishes. Maybe he thinks he might become emperor one day? Not a safe occupation by all accounts – if the fate of Roman Emperors is anything to go by.
Went to the anti-TPPA-11 rally in Aotea Square Auckland this arvo.
The message is,
sign the Don’t Do it petition – they want 5,000 signatures by the day of signing the TPPA (8 March) – they have over 4,000 now
there are more similar agreements in the pipeline (RCP with Asian countries; the re-working of the China FTA; the deal with the EU; one with Sth and central American countries)
submit to the NZ select committee after the agreement is signed in Chile on March 8 – when some of the contents will be published – say “no” to re-activating the clauses put on hold – the US will try to revive them
say “no” to ISDS clauses in any future agreements
there is no protection against being sued by corporates for climate change measures; Treaty-related legislation; legislation for better workers’ rights; health care legislation, etc, etc
Robert Reid was MC in Aotea Square; speakers included Byran Bruce; Laila Harre; a nurse who works with young people; Moana Maniapoto (who also sang); Jane Kelsey.
I estimate there were around 300+ people there.
I also recall going to some anti-TPPA demos in Auckland in recent years where the turnout was small. the big demo came in more recent years.
We are in a re-grouping phase. Kelsey praised us for what has been achieved – delaying the TPPA for several years, for example, and the big demos. The message to us was to continue to hold the line
Labour only opposed because it was politically expediant and there opposition no doubt helped protestor numbers… fact they always believed in the tppa or whatever its called now hence signing up…
Nothing new really dunno why the greens dont get more left votes tbh they mean what the say and say what they mean…
A new poll shows that 75% of New Zealanders want independent analysis on the revised TPPA agreement before the government signs it.
Over 50% always opposed the TPPA. I think many will have bought Labour-NZ First’s line that the current deal has been improved. But still a lot of people are uncertain and want an in-depth analysis made public.
Was there any commentary there about President Trump raising steel and aluminum tariffs and the effects that could have on New Zealand steel and aluminum workers?
Taking one issue and spinning it to make the concerns about the revised TPPA seem irrelevant, is a bit irritating to read. The first thought I had this morning on reading your post was “Where do you start?”.
If you are unable to take in the whole view, then all discussions are going to be on surmised scenarios presented in such a way to support your pro-TPPA view. And you have provided the framework in which that discussion happens, and limited the effect it has on issues of sovereignty, health care, human rights for workers in ALL participating countries, and the ability of our government to make good legislative change in regards to environment, NZers health and wellbeing, and as an effective response to the impact of climate change.
Despite my partner working in the steel industry for over decades and having an understanding of how much produced is sold overseas, I don’t feel like entering this discussion with you, because I feel it will be pointless.
The tariff issue is one that needs to be discussed alongside the other issues. It’s a minor concern, to me really. If we are talking about sustainability, then why are we importing steel that can be produced locally, and then complaining about someone else deciding to make the opposite choice?
We import steel into New Zealand according to the kind, quality, volume, and price of steel that we need for the job. Sustainability is in there as an evaluative element in procurement, but only one element.
That is why we import steel. Most of the time local Glenbrook Bluescope does not meet the needs for those criteria. Sometimes it does. But then, as someone with a partner in the steel industry, you already knew that.
We import steel because we think that price is lower and that is the only criteria for purchase.
Not because we believe the quality is better, or that we think Chinese ore and steel workers are treated well. We also don’t consider the impact of transport is worth our time in regards to climate change, because at the moment we don’t have to pay for that impact. It is an externality.
We also import steel because our concern for our steel workers jobs is only when overseas customers might find another supplier, not when we do.
There is a raft of problems in the way we are doing business. Thinking that successful business is always selling high and paying low is wasting our resources, both natural and human.
“But then, as someone with a partner in the steel industry, you already knew that.”
I know that what you have written is incorrect. Because the steel used to replace the failed imported steel was produced by then Pacific Steel, and always could have been.
I also know, that what I consider valuable and “good” business, is poles apart from what you do. And that is a long discussion for another day.
Thank you for the first-hand update. Are there any recordings of the event(s) online?
It (still) feels like they’re trying to build the plane while flying it yet they claim all sorts of benefits to NZ and its economy to be more precise. However, even the claimed (projected?) benefits are trivial and uncertain while the price is even more uncertain. And let’s be clear that there is no free lunch.
Interesting – the New Yorker piece was the first time I’ve come across him. I think he probably has some decent arguments – which is rare enough in academia to be worth a look.
The use of the term SJW was an immediate turn-off for me. I’ve never fitted well into gender stereotypes, so I am glad to see them being weakened.
I don’t get why someone would make such a big deal about how some other people prefer to be addressed – though I will rarely use “sir” for Peter Jackson or Shonkey.
I read an interesting thread on twitter today – about how videos tend to encourage emotive engagement rather than logical critique – it was with specific reference to conspiracy theories and about how some people think everyone will be swayed by a video which uses image and audio rather than develop an argument.
I think this happens a lot with many topics these days. I prefer to read an argument – and to be entertained by audio-visual media.
Yeah – watching video isn’t how I look at arguments – We can read between six and ten times as fast. They’re for true believers I guess – though I imagine there’d be the odd decent debate topic somewhere in there.
His book is currently in the shops if you want to fork out $40 +. Had a quick flick through while waiting for someone at Paperplus, and it doesn’t read well to me. Would be interested to hear what you thought, if you did read it.
Thanks Stuart. As I mentioned though, I’ve had a bit of a look into his witterings over the last few weeks, and I can’t stomach anymore. If you find some of his work interesting and link, then I’ll look before commenting. That’s the best I can offer at the moment. 😉
I think he probably has some decent arguments – which is rare enough in academia to be worth a look.
He does. Unfortunately, he’s a conservative so he’s putting that skill at argument to work for conservative politics. Even more unfortunately, his opponents are often people who confuse feeling very strongly about something with having a compelling argument, eg in the video above, which means he mops the floor with them. Yet more unfortunately, he’d probably still be a relatively-unknown academic if Canada hadn’t tried to criminalise speech.
” Even more unfortunately, his opponents are often people who confuse feeling very strongly about something with having a compelling argument, eg in the video above, which means he mops the floor with them. “
I don’t think he does. He seems spectacularly unable to provide reasonable arguments – so it is a perspective issue I guess.
“Yet more unfortunately, he’d probably still be a relatively-unknown academic if Canada hadn’t tried to criminalise speech.”
They didn’t. He just interpreted the law change in that way. Worth having a look at the article I linked to above, and the actual bill change.
The article you linked to is a piece of weaselry based on ignoring the inclusion of “gender expression” as well as “gender identity” in the bill. However, it does helpfully link to this article, which supposedly “debunks” Peterson’s claim by pointing out that yes, not using words you don’t want to use would be actionable in the courts, but would be unlikely to be a criminal matter and anyway we can trust the authorities not to take action against people for such trivial things. In other words, more weaselry.
The article does drift off occasionally, but also includes links to pertinent information, such as the C-16 bill, and the parliamentary discussion of the same.
The link to the C-16 bill itself shows the the term “gender identity or expression” is what is added to the legislation in terms of adding a category to what constitutes a hate crime.
Peterson adds surmised application of Ontario Human Rights legislation to propose a situation where someone – most particularly himself – may be prosecuted for not using someone’s preferred pronouns.
I tried to look up prosecutions in Canada under both C-16 and the Human Rights Act, but couldn’t find an official source easily. Perhaps if you are interested in how the laws are applied, you can.
Note”: “Gender expression” is a human experience that some seem to take heated offence to, and needs to be included as a discriminatory category. There are those who will dismiss the rights of people purely on their “gender expression”. Violence is often associated with that disregard.
Peterson adds surmised application of Ontario Human Rights legislation to propose a situation where someone – most particularly himself – may be prosecuted for not using someone’s preferred pronouns.
A not-unreasonable surmise, given his opponent Crossman’s statement in this description of the legislation: “In other words, pronoun misuse may become actionable, though the Human Rights Tribunals and courts.”
“Gender expression” is a human experience that some seem to take heated offence to, and needs to be included as a discriminatory category.
Sure. But if you combine it with laws criminalising speech you’ve got something highly objectionable, in which case it’s unsurprising if people object.
Considering Crossman as an “opponent” to him, rather than someone who disagrees with his premise, is the kind of extension to argument that is flawed.
We have legislation and bylaws in NZ that prohibit a number of situations that will never be prosecuted in court, because the threshold is too high.
It might be of worth for you to read the submission to Bill C-16 by the Canadian Bar Association, who actually have practising human rights lawyers contributing to the discussion:
C-16 Will Not Impede Freedom of Expression
Recently, the debate has turned to whether the amendments will force individuals to embrace concepts, even use pronouns, which they find objectionable. This is a misunderstanding of human rights and hate crimes legislation.
They go into more detail on Page 3, but too much to cut and paste here.
Still can’t find any hate crime prosecution for the Canadian courts that give an indication that prosecution for the non or misuse of gender pronouns will be a result. Have you had any luck?
Yes, we have plenty of bad legislation in this country, too. That’s not a recommendation.
Still can’t find any hate crime prosecution for the Canadian courts that give an indication that prosecution for the non or misuse of gender pronouns will be a result. Have you had any luck?
I wouldn’t trouble myself to look, because it’s irrelevant. Legislation that only fails to breach your human rights as long as the authorities have the good will not to prosecute is wrong in principle, and rights “protections” that rely on authorities not taking advantage of the power they’ve been given are no protection at all, just wishful thinking.
“I wouldn’t trouble myself to look, because it’s irrelevant. “
It’s not irrelevant. If the submission by lawyers fails to give you pause for thought, then a lack of prosecutions for similar crimes under this legislation would be the next course of action.
As it is you are basing your perspective on emotive “surmises” from a psychology professor.
If the government were to pass a law that would allow people to be prosecuted for failing to use the word “whom” correctly, the subsequent complete lack of prosecutions of offenders would not make that law any less of an affront to the right to freedom of speech and expression. The same applies in this case. Prosecutions or the lack of them are irrelevant to the principle at stake.
“In other words, pronoun misuse may become actionable, through the Human Rights Tribunals and courts.” That isn’t the surmises of a psychology professor, it’s the submission of a lawyer.
As to the merits or otherwise of the Canadian Bar Association’s claims, case law has demonstrated that Canada’s hate speech laws do result in prosecutions for the expression of opinion, so their claims about this extension of the law should be taken with a grain of salt. I expect it is great for lawyers – lots of media coverage and lots of billable hours in those cases – but it’s certainly not great for anyone who values human rights.
The court struck down the part of the legislation that includes speech that “ridicules, belittles or otherwise affronts the dignity” of a person or class of persons. The court found those words are not rationally connected to the objective of protecting people from hate speech.
The court left in place the ban on speech that exposes, or tends to expose, persons or groups to hatred.
So the Canadian Supreme Court has already defined the bounds of when something is hate speech, and it’s (rightfully) a pretty high threshold.
However, I’d also say that any university educator who intentionally belittles their students probably deserves some formal employment discipline.
Your link outlines several cases where the threshold is quite high, and nothing comparable to the misuse of language scenario that Peterson outlines.
Do you think that pre C-16 amendment someone would have been prosecuted in Canada for referring to an imam as “Father” or “Pastor”? That would be a form of address that deliberately ignores someone’s chosen religious beliefs.
That is how specious Peterson’s interpretation is.
(Not to mention his views on women and sexuality, which may be responsible for such emphatic burblings)
Your link outlines several cases where the threshold is quite high, and nothing comparable to the misuse of language scenario that Peterson outlines.
My link outlines several cases where people were prosecuted for expression of opinion, despite lawyers’ and legislators’ earlier claims that hate speech laws wouldn’t criminalise the expression of opinion. Peterson is right to assume the claims of harmlessness about this extension of the law are just as worthless.
Publicly detesting their choice of pronoun most certainly is. Just as intentionally mispronouncing their names is belittling.
And given that belittling is not illegal, the government isn’t the one trying to compel speech. The role that the educator chose compels the educator to behave respectfully to students. If the educator refuses to do that aspect of their job, that’s not the government’s fault. Same as how I’d get a talking to if I ripped shit out of particularly annoying clients right to their face.
“The role that the educator chose compels the educator to behave respectfully to students.”
That does not include pandering to their every whim.
“If the educator refuses to do that aspect of their job, that’s not the government’s fault. ”
In Peterson’s case, the educator is being asked to use pronouns that are nothing more than a silly construct.
Peterson is a hero standing up to this nonsense…more power to him.
Publicly detesting their choice of pronoun most certainly is.
Nope. If I say here, publicly, the pronouns zi and zur are moronic insults to the English language and my intelligence, I haven’t belittled anybody, I’ve just stated my opinion. If, subsequently, I get a customer asking me to refer to them with those pronouns, I wouldn’t voice that opinion to them because it’s not my place to do so. I might well refuse to comply with their request on the basis that I prefer to speak English, but that’s not belittling them.
In short, the question of whether Peterson belittles his students or not is a matter of how he treats his students, not a matter of personal opinions he might hold. I haven’t seen anything to suggest he belittles his students.
Also worth pointing out: these days, the issue of academic staff being bullied by students is as significant as the reverse. There are plenty of horror stories at my university, and my sister was nearly driven to quit her academic job in the States by the emails she kept getting from students with plenty of opinions to share about her competence, intelligence, teaching style and personality. I doubt Peterson’s ever come up with anything even approaching the personal abuse these spoilt brats can dish out. Looking at that video above, I don’t see an academic bullying and belittling his students, but I do see an arsehole and her friends deliberately antagonising someone because they don’t like his opinions.
Haven’t watched the video, but yeah I know the sort of students you mean.
And frankly, the pronoun thing is belittling, regardless. This is something intrinsic to an individual’s identity. I’m no brilliant person at keeping up with these things, but I try. It’s no skin off my nose what somebody wants to be called, be it gender-fluid pronoun or Ali vs Clay. It is, however, important to them. If I respect them, I can try to refer to them in their preferred way. If I don’t respect them, I can think of better ways to call them a fuckwit.
But additionally, you’re not in a position to grade the student who read or watched you express your opinion of how they exist in society.
Agree with McFlock here. He vacillates from requests from students to use the terms “they” and “them” by saying he doesn’t believe they were in use previously. Then he says it depends on who is asking him. Then he changes it to whether they have asked him respectfully enough.
One student says something along the lines of ‘A given name, is one that is chosen and/or made up by parents/a person. Would you refuse to use that name to refer to a specific person?’
He does not answer because he has fallen into a logic trap of his own design. Of course he would. And to acknowledge otherwise, is to admit he will treat them differently because he does not want to recognise their right to gender self expression and identity.
This is not an issue of free speech. That is used as a vehicle to “belittle students” – as McFlock has pointed out numerous times.
And frankly, the pronoun thing is belittling, regardless. This is something intrinsic to an individual’s identity.
It’s seriously not. It’s the English language, not your identity. Feel free to play with English as much as you like, but it’s up to other people whether they want to participate or not.
It’s no skin off my nose what somebody wants to be called, be it gender-fluid pronoun or Ali vs Clay. It is, however, important to them.
And the English language is important to me. If you don’t like its pronouns, other languages are available. But this is a side, and trivial issue – whether or not an academic is willing to use words his students made up is between him and his students, and the university administration if it finds the media attention problematic for its branding. Peterson’s issue is with the government prescribing speech, and his concern’s a valid one.
He vacillates from requests from students to use the terms “they” and “them” by saying he doesn’t believe they were in use previously. Then he says it depends on who is asking him. Then he changes it to whether they have asked him respectfully enough.
So? Those are things he’s free to consider on a case-by-case basis and his opinion on them is as valid as anyone else’s. Your feelings about his opinions are irrelevant.
One student says something along the lines of ‘A given name, is one that is chosen and/or made up by parents/a person. Would you refuse to use that name to refer to a specific person?’
He does not answer because he has fallen into a logic trap of his own design.
I’d have been rendered speechless myself by such an astonishing level of irrationalism. Yes, personal names are specific to people and it’s embarrassing if you use the wrong one. Pronouns, on the other hand, exist so you can refer to people without having to know, remember or use their personal names. If you then have to know, remember and use the word they want you to use as a pronoun, the whole point of having pronouns just disappeared. That question didn’t spring a logical trap, it displayed a facepalm level of ignorance.
It’s seriously not. It’s the English language, not your identity. Feel free to play with English as much as you like, but it’s up to other people whether they want to participate or not.
Yes. It’s up to other people to decide whether their desire to label the genitalia they will most likely never get to see or touch is more important to them than the labels designated by the actual owners of those genitals. Because that’s the shortcoming of the English language.
And Peterson’s concern is not valid, because your own link shows that merely being an obnoxious, discriminatory fool with an undue interest in labelling other people’s reproductive organs does not constitute “hate speech” by itself, even if it is belittling or ridiculing.
This doesn’t rest on anyone’s promise that prosecutions won’t happen, it rests on the Canadian Supreme Court having already determined the threshold for prosecutions.
Yes. It’s up to other people to decide whether their desire to label the genitalia they will most likely never get to see or touch is more important to them than the labels designated by the actual owners of those genitals.
Whatevs. I’m sure that once the sexless utopia has arrived, in vivo gestation is a thing of the past and weka’s “Why gender equality matters” post is a quaint historical irrelevance, language might well reflect that new sexless nature of humanity. In the meantime, sex is the biggest difference between humans that there is and their languages tend to reflect that. Those who’d prefer to have the sexless utopia right now had best find an island or something.
This doesn’t rest on anyone’s promise that prosecutions won’t happen, it rests on the Canadian Supreme Court having already determined the threshold for prosecutions.
A legislative programme that rests on “Don’t worry, the Supreme Court’s said people can’t actually be prosecuted for this thing we just made illegal” is a shit programme.
Knowing which gender-specific singular pronoun to use requires knowing as much about the “Alex” who sent you an email as you might assume about the hairdresser called “Jules” you’re providing customer feedback on.
But using the wrong pronoun isn’t high enough for prosecution, according to the CSC. However, if using “her” instead of “their” was the worst thing ever done to or said about a gender-fluid (or whatever) person, that would practically be utopia anyway.
If someone beats the shit out of someone else because of the vistim’s gender identity, that’s a hate crime according to the law peterson is worried about. But not if all they did was get anal about matching pronouns to genitals they will never see.
“Pronouns, on the other hand, exist so you can refer to people without having to know, remember or use their personal names. If you then have to know, remember and use the word they want you to use as a pronoun, the whole point of having pronouns just disappeared. That question didn’t spring a logical trap, it displayed a facepalm level of ignorance.”
No it didn’t. He said that despite it all, he would refuse to address a person in their company, by the pronoun they had chosen. Not a third person reference to someone that was not present.
This shows a decided lack of respect and humanity. And is a indication of his poor validation for conflating this issue to one of free speech.
It’s not clear to me under what circumstances you’d address another person using a third-person pronoun – when I’m talking to people I call them “you,” “sir/ma’am” (I expect that’s also egregious hate-speech to some people) or their name (assuming I know it).
And the fact remains that people creating their own individual pronouns and demanding that others use them entirely defeats the purpose of having pronouns in the first place. Someone who refuses to indulge such pointless and irritating narcissism is well within their rights to do so, and it’s the people making the demands who should devote some thought to how they treat others.
There is no polite way to put this, but since Peterson claims that “If you worry about hurting people’s feelings and disturbing the social structure, you’re not going to put your ideas forward,” I’m just going to say it: Spend half an hour on his website, sit through a few of his interminable videos, and you realize that what he has going for him, the niche he has found—he never seems to say “know” where he could instead say “cognizant of”—is that Jordan Peterson is the stupid man’s smart person.
Peterson said he views university establishments as “the next best thing to a cult” due to their focus on what he calls “postmodern” themes such as equity. He says his independent project will contrast the university model by providing straight humanities education.
For about his first seven months on Patreon, Peterson earned about $1,000 per month. That changed last October, when he saw a dramatic increase in support, which has not slowed. The professor surpassed a fundraising goal of $45,000 on June 10, and is now aiming for $100,000 per month. On Monday, Peterson was making $49,460 every month from 4,432 patrons.
Why does he give a damn how someone wishes to be addressed? If it’s a restricted title that might cause confusion, ok. But a pronoun? Why does he “detest” it so?
Seems to me that he has a problem with gender identity, not the individuals. Intentionally aggravating or initimidating individuals he is supposed to educate and inspire is bad enough, but there’s an entire sector of the community he can’t help but offend, intimidate, and otherwise alienate. Which seems a bit, well, discriminatory, to me…
To hell with all his other bullshit, as a teacher he should know better than to bully students over something as easily tweakable as a pronoun. To them it’s their identity. To him, it’s simply a gesture of respect (or its absence).
I didn’t bother watching the video – if a college professor can’t run rings around someone they have 20 or 30 years experience on, their sole source of employment should be Fox News commentariat.
This looks like a construction system that will meet the goals of our new government to construct 10.000 of houses needed to meet the demands for new homes. Ka kite ano
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The Workshop is a charitable trust for public good. The Workshop undertake research to find ways of communicating that will build support for the solutions that work to solve complex social and environmental problems. See their Report on Talking about Poverty and Welfare Reform below. ...
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“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has praised the promise by New Zealand’s biggest banks not to close any provincial branches while the Coalition Government trials regional banking hubs across the country. The Minister said the announce was the “first sign of hope for regional communities”, many of which have ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First is proud to have delivered an upgrade of the SuperGold Card website and a new smartphone app, which will help unlock the full benefits of the SuperGold Card for 750,000 New Zealand seniors.Party Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters, ...
Delivering a key election campaign promise, New Zealand First is proud to have accomplished a long overdue upgrade of the SuperGold Card today. At an event in Auckland, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters joined Minister for Seniors Hon. Tracey Martin in unveiling the new website and smartphone app which ...
Another busy week, from speaking with world leaders on the world stage about climate change, to equipping our school leavers with everything they need to get ahead in life. ...
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says Air New Zealand has "an obligation to look after Kiwis", and urged the national carrier not to hike up their prices after Jetstar airline announced their withdrawal from regional flights this week. The Provincial Champion also expressed his disappointment at Jetstar’s decision on ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will help fund a new dredge for the Port of Greymouth to ensure the regional fishing fleet have a reliable and productive harbour, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today “Last year the movements of ...
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...
"Let’s start by acknowledging that it has been a huge year. " Police Association Annual Conference James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou katoa. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill; Members of the Association and ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark have announced the New Zealand Government’s decision to again deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. New ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand continues to have serious concerns for peace and stability in north-east Syria. “Recent reports that hundreds of ISIS-affiliated families have fled from a camp are deeply concerning from a humanitarian and security perspective”, Mr Peters says. “While we acknowledge Turkey’s domestic security ...
Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor is warning travelling Kiwis to be vigilant as the high-season for the crop-eating brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is under way. “We’re on high alert to stop BMSB arriving in NZ. The high season runs until April 30 and we’ve strengthened our measures to stop stink ...
The Government is moving swiftly to change the law to improve the welfare and pastoral care of students living in university halls of residence and other tertiary hostels. Cabinet has agreed to several changes, including creating a new mandatory Code of Practice that sets out the duty of pastoral care ...
The Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage has launched a new comprehensive trapping guide for community trappers to help them protect our native birds, plants and other wildlife, at Zealandia in Wellington today. ‘A practical guide to trapping’, has been developed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), and was launched during ...
Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter welcomes PHARMAC’s move to improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). PHARMAC has today announced it will fund the full cost of Mirena and Jaydess for anyone seeking long term contraception, lifting previous restrictions on access to Mirena. “I welcome women having greater choices ...
The Government has approved the next stage of a major redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which will deliver new and improved facilities for patients. Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced details of a $300 million dollar project to build a new East Wing at the New Plymouth hospital. It ...
Extra funding will allow Rural Support Trusts to help farming families, says Minister for Rural Communities and Agriculture Damien O’Connor. “I know that rural families are worried about some of the challenges facing them, including the ongoing uncertainty created by the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. “Those concerns sit alongside ongoing worries ...
Thank you for the opportunity to be here to present certificates to the 16 graduates who have completed a beekeeping course delivered by the Howard League. Let us start by acknowledging Auckland Prison’s Deputy Prison Director Tom Sherlock, and Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner of Corrections Northern Region Scott Walker - ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson leaves this weekend to attend the APEC Finance Ministers meeting in Santiago, Chile. Discussions between APEC Finance Ministers at the meeting will include the effects of the current global economic uncertainty, risks for APEC economies and sustainable development of the region. While at APEC Grant Robertson ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says for Pacific people, language can be a source of strength. It can help ground us and give us confidence. When we speak them, our languages provide us with an immediate and intimate access to our identity and our story - and ...
The Coalition Government has announced an action plan to improve the wellbeing of disabled New Zealanders by addressing inequalities in play, active recreation and sport. The initiative includes training to develop a workforce that understands the needs of children and young people with a range of impairments, advocacy for fit ...
The construction sector is being freed up to allow more homes to be built more quickly as the Government cuts through some of the red tape of the Building Act. “Every New Zealander deserves a warm, dry, safe home and old inefficiencies in the Building Act make building slow and ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed further details on the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to New Zealand next month. Their Royal Highnesses will visit New Zealand from 17-23 November – their third joint visit to New Zealand and first in four years. They arrive in Auckland ...
Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, heads to Thailand today to attend the final Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial meeting, as negotiations enter their final stages. “The RCEP Agreement would anchor New Zealand in a regional agreement that covers 16 countries, ...
Pacific young people living in the Hawke’s Bay, Southland and Otago regions will have access to support services that have proved successful in helping young people find new earning and learning opportunities. “Tupu Aotearoa is about changing Pacific young peoples’ lives. Our young people are talented, they are smart, they ...
Introduction As the Minister for ACC I thank you all for the work that you do supporting New Zealanders in their literally most vulnerable moments. From those who hold people’s lives in their hands, to the people who research technique, technology and trends, your work is highly valued. A special ...
Notes prepared for speeches in Christchurch – Wednesday 9 October 2019 Today’s topic, “trends and opportunities for the New Zealand economy,” is certainly one getting a great deal of commentary at the moment. Looking across the media landscape lately you’ll notice we aren’t the only ones having this discussion. There ...
Minister of Health Dr David Clark and Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare say this year’s World Mental Health Day theme is a reminder of why the Government’s work on mental health is so important. “This year the World Federation for Mental Health has made suicide prevention the main theme ...
Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni will represent the government at Australia’s Meeting of Cultural Ministers in Adelaide this week. “This year’s meeting is special because New Zealand is expected to become an International Member of the Meeting of Cultural Ministers at this Australian forum,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “The meeting is an opportunity to ...
The Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service has resolved 608 insurance and EQC claims in its first year in operation, Minister Megan Woods has announced. The government service, which celebrates its first birthday today, provides a one stop shop to help Cantabrians still battling to get their homes repaired or rebuilt ...
Today’s topic, “trends and opportunities for the New Zealand economy,” is certainly one getting a great deal of commentary at the moment. Looking across the media landscape lately you’ll notice we aren’t the only ones having this discussion. There has been an increasing amount of attention paid to the outlook ...
The Government is acting swiftly to strengthen NZTA’s regulatory role following a review into the Transport Agency, and Ministry of Transport’s performance as its monitor, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today. An independent review by Martin Jenkins has found NZTA failed to properly regulate the transport sector under the previous ...
The Netherlands and New Zealand have a long-standing and close relationship based on many shared interests and values. We value the rule of law, our democracies, and multilateralism. And we value our environment – at home and globally. Right now there are major global challenges in all of these areas – ...
The Government is putting right a decade’s worth of underpayment to nurses, doctors and other health workers, says Health Minister Dr David Clark. Initial sampling of District Health Boards payroll records has found that around $550-$650 million is owed to DHB staff to comply with the Holidays Act. It’s expected ...
A strong surplus and low debt show the economy is performing well, and means the Government is in a good position to meet the challenges of global economic uncertainty. “The surplus and low levels of debt show the economy is in good shape. This allows the Government to spend more ...
New applications from mining company OceanaGold to purchase land in Waihi for new tailings ponds associated with its gold mines have been approved. Minister of Finance Grant Robertson and Associate Minister of Finance David Parker considered the applications under the Overseas Investment Act. Earlier this year, applications from OceanaGold to ...
New Zealanders in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay will witness Māori, Pākehā and Pacific voyaging traditions come together today as the Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla assembles for the first time, Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Minister Kelvin Davis says. “Tuia 250 is a national commemoration and an opportunity for honest conversations ...
Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker leaves tomorrow for Dubai, London and Berlin for a series of meetings to advance New Zealand’s trade interests. In Dubai he will visit New Zealand’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 where construction is underway. There he will meet Minister of State for International Cooperation, Her ...
Confirmation that PHARMAC will fund two new cancer drugs is further evidence of the good progress the Government is making to improve the treatment of New Zealand’s leading cause of death, Health Minister David Clark says. From 1 December PHARMAC will fund alectinib (Alecensa) for ALK positive advanced non-small cell ...
An additional $2.7 million has been announced for the Government Strategy for Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation on the first anniversary of the strategy’s launch. Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson gave the opening address to the first Sport NZ Women + Girls Summit in Wellington today, ...
As part of its work to ensure businesses can get the skilled workers they need, the Coalition Government is re-opening and re-setting the Parent Category visa programme, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. The move will: support skilled migrants who help fill New Zealand’s skills gaps by providing a pathway for ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark has today announced Major General Evan Williams of the New Zealand Defence Force has been selected as the commander of a significant, longstanding peacekeeping mission in the Middle East. In December, Major General Williams takes over as Force Commander for the Multinational Force and Observers ...
A record number of nurses are now working to deliver health services to New Zealanders as the Government’s increased funding and new initiatives rebuild key workforces start to show results, Health Minister Dr David Clark says. • 1458 more DHB nurses since the Government took office • 106 more midwives ...
Farmer and former Nuffield scholar Mel Poulton has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Minister for Trade and Export Growth, David Parker, and Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, announced today. The position supports key Government objectives, including raising the value of New Zealand agricultural goods and services. Mel is ...
New Zealand’s Pacific and Māori voyaging heritage is acknowledged and celebrated today as waka of the Tuia 250 voyage flotilla arrive in Tūranga / Gisborne. “Today we celebrate Tangata Whenua, the first people of Aotearoa, and the triumphs of the voyaging tradition that brought our ancestors here from Polynesia 1000 ...
“Fijian Language Week starts on Sunday and the theme reminds us how important it is that we each have something to anchor ourselves to, something that can help us pause and feel in control in a rapidly changing world,” says Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. “Family, culture, faith, ...
The Government is establishing an Airspace Integration Trials Programme to support the safe testing and development of advanced unmanned aircraft and accelerate their integration into the aviation system, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods announced today. The Government will work with leading, innovative aviation industry partners to test and ...
It’s the end of an era at Three as MAFS NZ and Guy Williams’ new show canceled and 7 Days cut to bone, writes Duncan Greive.A trio of shows which have been amongst Three’s most important local productions are either being canceled or severely cut back, as the channel’s agonising ...
'Joker' expects viewers not only to understand its cruelty, but to understand the justified violence of a white man when the protests of black men and women in the US are regularly met with condemnation, vilification and exclusion. ...
She runs the women's Aussie Rules and netball programmes at one of Australia's oldest sports clubs, so why is Jane Woodlands-Thompson sitting on the Silver Ferns bench? ...
As someone with a severe chronic illness, Hannah McGowan has a vested interest in getting to the bottom of what cannabis can and can’t do for her health. The reality, she discovers, is complicated.Woo [colloq.]: Mystical, supernatural or pseudo-scientific beliefs not backed up by evidence. I crave a well informed, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The last PM shock jock Alan Jones slapped down was Jacinda Ardern. His language was particularly offensive, advertisers deserted his program and he apologised to New Zealand’s leader. But at least Ardern didn’t have to ...
By Michael Andrew and Sri Krishnamurthi The true story of one of the Pacific’s great waka builders and sailor has been captured in a stirring and visually gripping documentary. Loimata: The Sweetest Tears follows the final years of Ema Siope, a Samoan born kiwi who endured a tumultuous past ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Cowie, Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Around one-third of Australians living with hepatitis C have been cured in the last four years. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is ...
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Image AsiaPacificReport.nz/RNZ.Commentators across the political spectrum seem to agree – the Labour-led Government’s popularity is being damaged by its failure to deliver in Jacinda Ardern’s self-proclaimed “Year of Delivery”. Instead, the delivery of bad news to Labour and the Government has come in ...
Internet Service Providers have cautiously greeted the news that the Government is exploring an internet filter for violent extremist and terrorist content. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Polls Richard Harman (Politik): Ardern now dependent on Peters Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Ardern still standing, but ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Austin, Professor UNSW Canberra Cyber, UNSW This is part of a new series looking at the national security challenges facing Australia, how our leaders are responding to them and how these measures are impacting society. Read other stories in the series ...
Researchers from Lincoln University are investigating how to use nanotechnology in agriculture to increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. ...
The increased presence of anti-trans and white supremacist stickers around the University of Auckland campus is proof that inaction is enabling hate groups, write Anisha Sankar and Max Whitehurst.Anisha Sankar is a Chennai-born, Te Awakairangi-raised, South Indian Tamil studying at the University of Auckland. Max Whitehurst is a transgender Pākehā ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Following the Christchurch mosque shootings, the New Zealand government’s first response was to ban the firearms the alleged gunman had used to murder 51 people. Seven months later, the second tranche of this process ...
The nine members for the next three year term of the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) for Auckland have been appointed by the statutory Selection Body. Their appointments begin on 1 November 2019 and continue to 31 October 2022. Mana Whenua ...
“If we are truly to solve the challenge of poverty within the Te Ao Maori world we must lift our people from the low wage and low skills growth side of the economy. At the same time we must continue to ensure our people, no matter where they are, ...
Alex Casey asks Rose Stewart from Family Planning every single question she can think of about New Zealand’s new free IUDs. Listen up, womb-owners who love free shit and long-term contraceptive options: Pharmac announced that they will be fully funding two new long-lasting, reversible contraceptives in New Zealand from November 1, ...
Patients are increasingly being turned away for treatment and there can be no more excuses from the Government over properly funding district health boards to boost specialist numbers in public hospitals, says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the ...
Today’s Council of Trade Unions’ report, Fair Pay Agreements: A Framework for Fairness , provides a much-needed pathway to fair wages and conditions across several major industries, and the Government must deliver on its promise to introduce FPAs ...
The Speaker has limited the number of questions Simon Bridges can ask in the House as a punishment for the National Party defying Trevor Mallard by not pulling down their attack ads. ...
Sunshine capital? Check. Rich artisan tradition? Check. Incredible sausages? That’s a big check. We’ve put together a list of all you need to know before you explore the truly gorgeous Nelson region this summer. If you’ve got friends or relatives visiting Aotearoa, top of their list should be sorting out their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University In the four years since the Paris climate agreement was adopted, countries have debated the fine print of how emissions reduction should be tracked and ...
The flight drink company 1Above, partly-owned by the high profile, venture capital fund Movac and businessman Gareth Morgan, is in liquidation owing almost $10 million. ...
In recent weeks Responsible Campers Association Incorporated (RCAi) has become involved in some high level discussions about our right to camp. This began out of discussion about the disabled who which to participate in Sport and Recreation activities. ...
In their quest for a cashless society the Japanese have beaten New Zealand to its own next-gen shopping experience.New Zealanders are missing out to the Japanese on a Kiwi technology that is set to eliminate supermarket queues.The first store to implement the SmartCart cashierless shopping system will be in Osaka, ...
If you don’t like Shortland Street, or you’re unconvinced that Michael Galvin actually is a doctor, does that mean all New Zealand television is rubbish? Some say yes. Tara Ward says an emphatic no. The world is our TV oyster, but lately it seems not everyone in Godzone is feeling the ...
The National Party is accusing the Immigration Minister of a "Sroubek 2.0" after revelations he granted residence to a man with multiple drink-driving convictions. ...
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu urges the Crown to ensure that the Establishment Board of the newly formed Institute of Skills and Technology meets its Treaty obligations and addresses the statutory role of iwi as Treaty partners in redesigning the education ...
The top-selling food magazine in New Zealand is closing its print operation. Niki Bezzant, Healthy Food Guide‘s former editor, reflects on the challenges the title faced.The news that after 14 years and 176 issues Healthy Food Guide magazine is closing its print operation came as a shock to some. It ...
A unique deal saw Sky buy the rugby rights and sell some of itself to NZ Rugby. Trevor McKewen breaks down what it all means.The news came thick and fast over a remarkable five-day corporate slugfest, starting last Thursday. First, Spark Sport struck, gobbling up New Zealand Cricket’s domestic broadcasting ...
In what’s thought to be the last piece of writing Peter Wells completed before he died, he wonders about his great-grandfather, and the locket he wore all his life. ‘The Story of a Locket’ is published in part here, and features in the extraordinary collection of essays Queer Objects, released this ...
Relationship expert Holly Dixon explains why the entire Married at First Sight franchise is based on bunk science.As the third MAFS NZ season has come to an end, I thought it relevant to answer the question upon which the entire MAFS enterprise is built: Is it possible to predict attraction and ...
SkyCity Casino workers will be on strike and picketing today as Rob Campbell, the Chair of SkyCity Casino talks to other employers about making pay fair at a “Wellbeing at Work” conference today. ...
He was the prototypical high school nerd, hanging on Don Brash’s every word. Then the financial world turned upside down. This is the story of how Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr became a most unconventional economist.In 2008, Jarrod Kerr was working at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia when the global financial crisis ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriela D’Souza, Affiliate, Monash department of business statistics and econometrics, Monash University For most people the second week in October probably doesn’t hold much promise. Longer days for some, perhaps. But for those is us in the economics profession, come the second ...
One of the important parameters of the agreement’s aims was to ensure there was no threat to food production from the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. ...
A monument to Winston Peters and Think Big projects would both boost the economy, but Argentina learned the hard way they can also impoverish a nation, writes Tony Burton.Everyone who loves New Zealand should visit Argentina. There are more similarities than you might think – large areas of wild natural ...
The Salvation Army foodbank in Waitakere ran out of food last week; an indication of the strain many New Zealand whanau are under as they struggle to afford the cost of living. Wednesday, October 16 is World Food Day, and as demand for services offered ...
Phil Goff was re-elected by a huge margin on Saturday. How will he put that mandate to use this term? Hayden Donnell asks the questions.Phil Goff is once again Auckland’s mayor. Preliminary local election results show him with a lead of nearly 100,000 votes over his nearest challenger, John Tamihere. ...
Catherine Bindon from Ban the Boom has created these colourful and positive posters for you to use to show you don't support the use of fireworks in your neighbourhood over the next few weeks distressing our animals and birds. ...
On Tuesday morning the Operation Burnham inquiry hearing resumed after it was suspended three weeks ago. The hearing is being held at Royal Society of New Zealand, 11 Turnbull St, Thorndon, Wellington on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Ellerton, Lecturer in Critical Thinking; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland It’s not uncommon for science and religion to be framed as two opposing forces. The Catholic church has famously struggled to accommodate scientific research in its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cat Pausé, Senior Lecturer in Human Development, Massey University The British Psychological Society is calling for changes for how we talk about fatness, suggesting we should no longer use the phrase “obese people”, but instead, “people with obesity” or “people living with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University The federal government’s much-vaunted Snowy Hydro expansion is supposed to smooth out the bumps in electricity supply as Australia transitions to renewables. But not only is the project a bad deal for taxpayers, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By María Yanotti, Lecturer of Economics and Finance Tasmanian School of Business & Economics, University of Tasmania The housing market is moving again. In the past month, national prices have climbed 0.9%. What matters most to buyers (and especially to investors), along with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Principal Fellow (Hon), Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, University of Melbourne It seems appropriate that a painting titled Feng Shui dominates the new exhibition of Guan Wei’s work ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Matthews, Lecturer in Digital Media and Popular Culture Researcher, Auckland University of Technology According to a recent study, the sixth leading cause of death for young men in the United States is the warranted and unwarranted use of police force. With ...
The Council of Trade Unions has today released its report - Fair Pay Agreements: A Framework for Fairness . The report details the six key principles needed for Fair Pay Agreements to deliver real change for working people, and democratic agreements ...
Too many New Zealanders endure poor working conditions in jobs that don’t pay enough and offer few opportunities for career progression, and the union movement is calling for change. ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the latest polls which show a drop in support for Labour are not a concern when it comes to forming a government. ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: A pair of polls put pressure on the Labour Party, a wild night of weather in the North Island, and Shane Jones snapped brandishing a semi-automatic.Parliament resumes today after a fortnight recess, and MPs were given a welcome-back present in ...
Mandy Hager, the newly elected head of the New Zealand Society of Authors, is lobbying the government to improve the lot of writers - to no avail, despite the Prime Minister's championing of the arts. ...
Given the vast impacts that poor diet have had on global health, a deficit in nutrition education in medicine represents a big problem, writes Dr Jennifer Crowley. ...
Any time Olympian Luuka Jones needs advice or encouragement in her pursuit of more canoe slalom success, she doesn’t have to look far. Jones’ coach, Campbell Walsh, is also her partner. ...
Competition for the rights to broadcast sports matches involving NZ’s top teams has produced a bonanza for the sporting bodies, forcing media companies to be a lot more innovative. ...
The Wellington suburb’s successful opposition to a proposed Bottle-O shows how the system is biased towards communities with the organisation, capacity and resources to protest effectively, says Jenesa Jeram.For those unfamiliar with Wellington geography, Khandallah is a Very Nice place to live (Aucklanders: think Remuera). So when it was reported ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Humphery-Jenner, Associate Professor of Finance, UNSW The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission conducted an inquiry into mortgage pricing as recently as last year. Now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has asked it to do another, broader one, in order to ensure the banks’ ...
Dr Bryce EdwardsThe results of the local government elections appear to show that New Zealanders are generally supportive of a more diverse range of representatives, having voted in greater numbers for candidates from traditionally under-represented groups. The elections have therefore modernised our councils in a small but very significant ...
Open Mike 04/03/2018 
Thanks to a report from the Acting Inspector General of Intelligence and Security following a complaint by Nicky Hager, we have come to find out that the SIS illegally spied on Mr. Hager on behalf of the NZDF after publication of Hager’s 2011 book, Other People’s Wars. The NZDF justified ...13 hours ago
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING MYTH 1: Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate. FACT: The HadCRUT3 surface temperature index, produced by the Hadley Centre of the UK Met Office and the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, shows warming to 1878, cooling to 1911, ...15 hours ago
For the past week, Extinction Rebellion has been peacefully protesting in London to demand action on climate change. The British government's response? Ban their protests:Police have banned Extinction Rebellion protests from continuing anywhere in London, as they moved in almost without warning to clear protesters who remained at the movement’s ...15 hours ago
The Royal Commission on abuse in care is very significant for the disability community. For many decades last century, thousands of disabled children, and adults who managed to survive, were locked away from families and communities. This was not for anything they had done, but for the perceived threat their ...20 hours ago
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...4 days ago
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...5 days ago
https://mailchi.mp/7d9133add053/closing-the-gap-october-2019-newsletter ...6 days ago
For some reasons, my post about the mystery message from inside the Downing Street bunker seemed to catch people's attention. Quite a lot of hits from NZ (unsurprisingly) and the USA (a bit more puzzlingly, but hi there, USAians!!) and 76 views from the Ukraine.I've celebrated my Ukrainian readers in ...6 days ago
Local government elections are upon us again. It is a fair bet that, when they are over, we will have all the usual complaints that, despite their undoubted importance, the turnout was depressingly low. So, why do local elections attract so little attention and involvement from the general public? I ...2 weeks ago
We want every New Zealander to be happy, safe, and healthy. To do this, we need to support strong, safe communities, and a robust and efficient health system. ...15 hours ago
Defence Minister Ron Mark has used his powers to overrule a noise complaint ruling against Whenuapai airbase on the grounds of "national security". The Environment Court last month released a ruling in favour of a private developer, declaring the Auckland airbase had to comply with noise restrictions when it performs ...16 hours ago
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...17 hours ago
It’s the end of an era at Three as MAFS NZ and Guy Williams’ new show canceled and 7 Days cut to bone, writes Duncan Greive.A trio of shows which have been amongst Three’s most important local productions are either being canceled or severely cut back, as the channel’s agonising ...16 mins ago
Zhang Jun looks at how China can move beyond imitating its more developed counterparts to leading the world in innovation. ...40 mins ago
After two bad polls, Jacinda Ardern was greeted by a friendly crowd of unionists - but one eager for faster and greater progress. ...40 mins ago
'Joker' expects viewers not only to understand its cruelty, but to understand the justified violence of a white man when the protests of black men and women in the US are regularly met with condemnation, vilification and exclusion. ...40 mins ago
She runs the women's Aussie Rules and netball programmes at one of Australia's oldest sports clubs, so why is Jane Woodlands-Thompson sitting on the Silver Ferns bench? ...40 mins ago
Is the Government going soft on its so-called Electric Vehicles pledge? The University of Auckland's Basil Sharp doesn't think so. ...40 mins ago
Volunteer drug testers must tip-toe around a legal grey area to be able to spell out the risks of drug-taking to festival-goers. ...1 hour ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The last PM shock jock Alan Jones slapped down was Jacinda Ardern. His language was particularly offensive, advertisers deserted his program and he apologised to New Zealand’s leader. But at least Ardern didn’t have to ...8 hours ago
Internet Service Providers have cautiously greeted the news that the Government is exploring an internet filter for violent extremist and terrorist content. ...11 hours ago
The proceeds from the sale of Trump-style "Make Ardern Go Away" hats are being used to promote far right Facebook pages. ...13 hours ago
Support has risen for the general arming of police officers in the wake of March 15, but the police minister is opposed. ...13 hours ago
Researchers from Lincoln University are investigating how to use nanotechnology in agriculture to increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. ...13 hours ago
Information spread by the Coalition of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO) and picked up by ACT’s David Seymour is incorrect. ...14 hours ago
The Speaker has limited the number of questions Simon Bridges can ask in the House as a punishment for the National Party defying Trevor Mallard by not pulling down their attack ads. ...15 hours ago
The real estate market has sprung back into life, but national sales volumes were flat. ...16 hours ago
The flight drink company 1Above, partly-owned by the high profile, venture capital fund Movac and businessman Gareth Morgan, is in liquidation owing almost $10 million. ...16 hours ago
Mandy Hager, the newly elected head of the New Zealand Society of Authors, is lobbying the government to improve the lot of writers - to no avail, despite the Prime Minister's championing of the arts. ...23 hours ago
An ancient Polynesian form of resource management is helping rejuvenate areas in the Cook Islands. ...1 day ago
Competition for the rights to broadcast sports matches involving NZ’s top teams has produced a bonanza for the sporting bodies, forcing media companies to be a lot more innovative. ...1 day ago
Ongoing drama surrounds the Māui and Hector's dolphin threat management plan, with worries key information is not being made public promptly. ...1 day ago
Is Jacindamania dead and buried? Not quite yet, but the Prime Minister has good cause for concern. ...1 day ago
For me … the first electronic dance music I got into was Leftfield … I still like it / them
Joy division had their moments too
For me it was Jeff Mills…
BTW – small but important point….this is New Order, not Joy Division….my seem trivial but I’m a huge music geek and these things matter!
Cheers JohnS, and thanks for the accuracy …. I knew they had evolved but was having a mental block on their name …… Joy Division to New Order.
The past has a lot of gems for music and video clips…. the Artists deserve correct recognition.
Old school rocks …. 🙂
If we are taking Madchester – I always preferred Happy Monday’s to either Joy Division or New Order
Whats taking Madchester ? 🙂
I sort of went from Punk to Ska to a lot of Aussie rock and other rock and blues.
And then ended up liking a lot of electronic dance stuff …. some of which linked back to the punk 😉
Madchester?
Happy Mondays…. New Order… Joy Divsion… A Certain Ratio… Factory Records… Martin Hannit…Tony Wilson….The Hacienda…
Dude, the start of rave culture (outside of Detroit). You can’t talk electronica and Leftfield without the history of it.
Start with the movie “24 Hour Party People”.
It’ll be ok…. (I’m a fucking audio nerd, man)
EDIT – I meant ‘talking Madchester’
Thanks for the movie tip
Listened to a few songs by The Seekers last night and enjoyed it 😉
Norm is teaching himself Gordon Lightfoot’s ” Edmond Fitzgerald” Canadian folk song, on the guitar, so we are late tonight.( site is bettylouallartists)
Love the seekers too. New Order and the Seekers. Why not
Yeah was going to say. I loved New Order
Otago Uni law camp + naked jelly wrestling.
This year “student organisers have vowed to clampown on drunkeness and ban “full nudity”.
…
“In a statement, the university went on to say that staff members attend the camp.
“Mostly the person who attends is the Dean of the Law Faculty as an invited guest.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12005929
Drunkenness and nudity at otago Uni……..I’m shocked, shocked I tell you !
Study is intensely boring. It needs to be liberally interspersed with Noise, Narcotics and Nakedness. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Funny though, if beneficiaries behave like this the middle classes get quite irate about how “they” are wasting “my” money but when a student paid for by us…
I know a guy who bought a home in Dunedin while at the Uni. Rented out the rooms. Used a student loan. All with advice of his wealthy father ( who at dinner parties railed against beneficiaries taking his hard earned money). Didnt complete the Degree. Known as a drug dealer. Maxed the student loan. Sold the house, moved home to Auckland and working for his Dad.
Definition of a bludger?
😉
Not surprised when it comes to the legal fraternity, they are a different life form from normal human beings.
“Not surprised when it comes to the legal fraternity”
True. If they were like all the other Otago students they would be burning their sofas in the streets.
Favourite activity of the denizens from that University I understand. Why do the Law students try and be different?
Moral panic. If Otago had their act together there’d be a place where students could have a bonfire and a few drinks.
You mean like a beach?
For the people who think it’s just a bit of fun and students need to let off steam, read the whole article, then go read up on the emerging #metoo story about NZ law firms. Those things are connected, and if you’re not already making the connections it’s time to start listening to what women are saying about this.
Ah, I see. This bit has “law students as future sexual harrassment risk management nightmares” written all over it:
One girl was selected from each group to take part in a jelly wrestling competition.
…
“All the senior fifth year students pulled out chairs right next to the pit…”
So, it’s not actually a story about students drinking and taking their clothes off, it’s a story about hazing, sexual harassment and abuse of authority. It would help if journalists and the University were capable of distinguishing between those things.
Pretty much. I think anything with ‘law’ and ‘full nudity/jelly wrestling’ or similar should be raising eyebrows now. That’s one whole big mess of culture and entrenched attitudes that will take some time to unravel.
Senior students setting up chairs as the inner ring while others are behind them.
Would love to see the demographic breakdown of tge participant/organisers.
ALL claims of a changed legal culture are beginning to sound very hollow.
I left this profession in 1995 for similar reasons as are being revealed today. Add in a boss who average a secretary every 6 months for the 5 years I worked for him. Who would ask them if they liked “being such a stupid cunt”.
Stood at my door one day and yelled at me, nay screamed, what sort of stupid cunt does that?”. I stood up. Got the file. Flicked to the page whereI had recorded his instructions. Showed him. He looked said ” fuck it” and walked off. I went to the tooilet and vommitted.
The other partner had an office next to mine and must have heard the whole exchange.
This from someone much closer to that scene,
TPPA protests against the signing
Our Nationwide Day of Action has morphed into a Nationwide Week of Action
Events around the country;
Whangarei Sunday 4th of March:
Rally 1pm, Tawera Park near the Whangarei Info Centre
https://www.facebook.com/events/571225906585646/
Auckland Sunday 4th of March:
Rally 1pm, Aotea Square, Queen Street
https://www.facebook.com/events/805505526324341/
Waihi Sunday 4th of March:
Details to come
https://www.facebook.com/events/155211191848613/
New Plymouth Sunday 4th of March:
Rally and picnic, 1pm Puke Ariki Landing
https://www.facebook.com/events/1804674232898957/
Wellington Thursday 8th of March:
Rally, 1pm, Parliament grounds
https://www.facebook.com/events/161873691200281/
Nelson Saturday 3rd of March:
Rally, 10.30am, Cathedral Steps
https://www.facebook.com/events/143815816431911/
Christchurch Thursday 8th of March:
Details to come
https://www.facebook.com/events/218094512072247/
Dunedin Sunday 4th of March:
Rally, 12pm, Upper Octagon
https://www.facebook.com/events/577900969251483/
Nothing has made it into MSM yet as far as I can tell, admittedly from a cursory look.
About 120-150 at Auckland Aotea Square. Great speakers, and close enough to hear well for once!
That won’t impress MSM; all I could find on Stuff was this piece in the Taranaki Daily News: https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/101957790/small-handful-turn-out-to-protest-against-controversial-international-trade-deal
Nothing in the NZH as far as I can tell (surprise, surprise).
So, what are the next steps given that David Parker has already left NZ to sign the CPTPP/TPP-11?
Carolyn_Nth summarised the situation well below.
Worth going down there to make a comment.
The one point I didn’t realise, is that the Treaty of Waitangi claim on this issue is still unresolved. A great opportunity for Labour to walk the talk – as Moana Maniapoto pointed out.
Just pasting this in here from the James Shaw’s speech to the Green Summer Policy Conference thread, as I keep seeing comments along the lines of the government, and in particular the Greens, not having done much in all that lengthy time it’s been in power. Here are a few of the things they’ve done in the last few months:
Collectively, our ministers have already announced a review of the Waste Minimisation Act, so that it finally works the way Nandor intended when his Bill was passed in 2008;
We’ve announced the imminent creation of a Climate Commission and a Carbon Zero Act that will legislate the elimination of greenhouse gas pollution by 2050 – the most significant piece of environmental legislation in our country’s history;
We’ve initiated a work programme into sexual harassment in the workplace;
We’ve reconvened the pay equity group so that women can finally be paid what they deserve.
And just this week the Government announced a law change that will help ensure future legislation complies with the Human Rights Act – that’s long been our policy and that couldn’t have happened without the Greens in government.
All of this in four months, and that’s just what we’ve been able to talk about publicly.
If you find that unimpressive, and I expect there are some who would, stop to consider for a moment what a NACT/NZ First government would have done in the last four months.
“just what we’ve been able to talk about publicly”.
So what is in the other 33 pages of the Labour/NZF agreement that you committed to support and are rather embarrassed to mention?
You claim to be open and superior to all the other parties.
Well speak up. Tell us about all the secret strategy that Winston the First has ordered you to hide from the Public of New Zealand. The stuff you aren’t allowed to talk about publicly.
Reading Shaw’s list of successes does rather guild the lily doesn’t it? I mean look at his claim that “Government announced a law change that will help ensure future legislation complies with the Human Rights Act “. “Ensure” the man says. Since any Government, including his one can, and will, simply ignore anything a Court says it is hard to see how it can possibly “ensure” anything at all.
I notice James doesn’t claim credit for scrapping a Kermadec sanctuary, and carefully ignores his agreement to support the “Preserve Winnies’ perks” bill.
Come on Shaw. Take credit for everything you support.
Oh well. I guess he can hardly admit that his main achievement was to get Winston to allow a bunch of Green MPs access to the great big BMWs reserved for the Overlords.
Outside the bizarre tinfoil-hat world of right-wing blogs, in which the Labour/NZF coalition agreement is a kind of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact complete with Secret Additional Protocol, Shaw’s talking about the stuff that is being worked on but isn’t ready to be made public yet.
And no, Shaw doesn’t waste Green Party conference time on the subjects of previous-government clusterfucks that his government is going to have to clean up, or the various dubious antics of NZ First. He’d be a pretty poor leader if he did.
It is a flag waving “Look over here” by a Right winger.
They don’t want us to look at transparency issues!
No,” look at what the Greens haven’t done.” LOL Hehe have another go.
Plus 100well said
Today is 129 days since swearing in of the Government, Alwyn. /open-mike-03-03-2018/#comment-1456504
Your MO still seems to be a mixture of blame and gotcha politics. Time to change your tune to something a little more uplifting?
Fascinating.
After 128 days you try and tell me it is far to soon for me to ask that the CoL should really have got round to doing something.
Now after 129 days you are asking that I forget about it because it has been such a long time that I should have moved onto something new.
Can you not make up your mind?
Actually I can’t make up my mind what Shaw is on about. He is turning out to be the flip-flopper from Hell. Perhaps you can tell me?
Is he trying to pretend that he is important and knows lots of secrets that we mere plebs don’t know anything about because we are mushrooms?
Or is he saying that he can’t talk about plans for the future because his Boss, King Winnie the First, hasn’t told him what he is going to have to support?
Those are really the only two options of course. Which of them do you think is the real one?
Hi Alwyn,
It’s indeed fascinating that 129 days is one day closer to your prescient 5-month time point; is that when the Government has to have achieved more of those symbolic milestones like in the first 100 days? I’d wait 2 more days as 131 is Prime, which, for some, reason seems more appropriate to me.
You enjoy freedom of mind like we all do, to some degree, therefore I cannot force your mind to consider more than those two ‘options’ that you mentioned. So, take your pick and live in your self-created reality in and of which you’re master & commander 😉
Or you could step out of the sandpit and join the adults for mature discourse. Again, the choice is yours, as always, Alwyn.
I hope you won’t mind that I don’t jump into the sandpit tonight; it is nothing personal 😉
If you refuse to consider the list of what they have actually done and ask us to box shadows instead you have no one to blame but yourself when you dont get the replies you want.
I think at this stage of the National governments first term we were just getting the job summit
AND all that came out of the job summit was cycle tracks!!!!
And 90 day by stealth… just for the GFC… then just for big companies then then
Plus 100
To me this article highlights the gross lack of progressive governance of the last government the fault of which lies squarely at the feet of John Key and especially Bill English.
Rather than produce programs to energise and motivate young Kiwis and their communities, and give them hope for the future, they just imported economic refugees to supercharge the economy at the same time ignoring the current disadvantaged.
It was a cheap and lazy way to go about things and lacked any vision for the future of strong and hopeful New Zealand families.
At the very least the new government will attempt energise local community programs which is a start but until all the other factors which keep disadvantaged communities down are fixed it is going to be tough.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/2018634437/insight-no-job-no-training-no-hope
Muttonbird
Thanks for spelling it out so plainly. Keeping our minds on reality can be hard when there is so much obfuscation abounding from Gnats.l
Here’s a good anecdote on teaching that says a lot about teachers job load.
It may have be put up elsewhere on the blog but just include it in case wasn’t.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/101824114/ncea-is-damaging-kids-learning-and-breaking-teachers-thinktank-report-finds
1000%
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics
At 10.38 am this morning three Green Party politicians feature with thumbnail photos and all.
One though is conspicuously missing.
Discuss.
Timing favoured JAG today?
Yes, you might be right about the timing but with the news-cycle being ca. 12 hours nowadays it pays to have balance in time & space in MSM. The Green Party goes out of its way to give both candidates equal attention, which they both deserve but also it’s principally the way to conduct these (political) affairs. MSM is still behind the eight ball.
I just looked up the link Incognito put up and went further to Newshub reference to a debate on Facebook today between Genter and Marama Davidson.
The type of comment is disturbing. The sneering, malicious attitude says that these are people who are deeply negative without any sense of interest or positivity about their fellow humans and society. People who want a good society and good politicians leading it don’t talk or think like this.
First three – it gets a bit better after:
Kiore Manarette It’s like a choice between Dumb and Dumber.. 😀
14
· Reply · 2h
11 Replies · 36 min
John Briggs And who’s on the Benfit this Time???, James !!.
1
· Reply · 2h
3 Replies · 1 hr
Donovan Greenwood it’s got to be Marama Davidson. She doesnt have a bun in the oven so is mentally, emotionally, physically ready for the job.
Easy win for her if they’re putting politics first 🙂
1
· Reply · 2h
I would not read too much in those comments; do you pay much attention to comments on RW blog sites? I’ve yet to come across one (in NZ) that can hold and keep together a mature constructive debate between adults but I fully admit I’ve stop searching for it …
Incognito
I don’t follow the other sites much as I can’t bear to wear out my older years reading such god-awful trashy distasteful useless braindead comments.
So every time I come across them again I am freshly upset. I don’t do it often – my old heart can’t take the sadness.
I hear you but please don’t be sad or upset and focus on the positives, the kindness, and the beauty around and in! ourselves, in all of us. Not so long ago we apparently were sea creatures that crawled on land or mud dwellers living at the tide mark, or we were cast there by a storm more likely, and started breathing air and now we’re communicating here on TS and breathing through our noses. I call that evolution and progress 😉
They try to bring us down to their level, with intended and careless comments.
This is a time to strengthen our bonds with people who share our end goals.
Now we may argue at times how to achieve them democratically, but with good will and moves towards open Government plus a momentum building good change it will happen.
Haha Incognito and Patricia. I know what you say is true. What’s the alternative to keeping on keeping on if one doesn’t want to end up sour and negative and seeing everyone in that way.
This is a great place to meet people with heart and a desire for openness and respect for others and for us all to keep learning what we need to support each other through the testing years that have been forecast ahead, but which seem to be collapsing in time.
And still people seem to think they are living in the 1980’s only with more devices. The future is so exciting they say, but they are like people looking through a keyhole. That small view can be obliterated in a trice. But they don’t know what a trice is, that’s old language!
Or “A wink of the eye”
From memory, in their interview the other day Genter listed as an advantage the fact that being a cabinet minister would give her a higher media profile. So this is evidence for her claim.
Which might seem unfair advantage at first glance, but Davidson listed as an advantage the fact that not having ministerial duties gives her more time to work directly with the communities the Greens need to reach, so it all evens out.
Yes, you’re correct and it’s a good point to bring up, thank you.
Please note that I didn’t mention fairness as such and my main concern is balanced reporting. There are already too many pushing for the Green Party to go back to its so-called roots and stick to environmentalism or something similar. For this reason I’m concerned about lack of balance in MSM on anything to do with the GP; it’s bigger than the leadership contest between JAG and MD, which may be unfair to these two outstanding individuals.
I’m also not so sure that it really evens out at this point in time because JAG may have distinct advantage with name-recognition in the lead up but I agree that afterwards it may even out; unfortunately, only one can be elected as GP Co-Leader – a tough choice.
Who are the Green MPs shown?
I thought I had identified who the Green MPs in Parliament were but they have been so overshadowed by their Overlord The Right Honourable Sir Winston the First that they have become non-persons.
Has the election of a female leader taken place yet by the way? If so who is it?
I also thought that Shaw had grown a beard. Was I mistaken? If he tried and ended up looking like Mallard of course common sense would have told him to shave.
Alwyn, there is a link @ 6 you can click!
But given that I feel altruistically helpful tonight, so here especially for you:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/101934329/david-slack-politics-is-in-your-tapwater [Chloe Swarbrick]
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101725307/julie-anne-genter-minister-for-women-mothertobe-fulltime-feminist [Julie Anne Genter]
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101922537/green-party-to-open-diaries-refuse-lobbyistfunded-perks [James Shaw]
And if you click more top stories:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/more_headlines
You’ll get a bonus one:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/101909936/statistics-minister-james-shaw-delivers-census-to-wellington-retirement-village [James Shaw]
Would anyone else like JA to sell her other house, if she hasn’t already, in order to set an example?
The example being you only need one house to live in and amateur landlordism and using residential property as a retirement scheme is not ok.
I’d file “What Jacinda Ardern Does with Her House” in the drawer marked “None of my fuckin’ business.”
I think that, to many who read this blog, JA setting the example “Look! I’m turning down a lot of free money for the good of society!” would be a stirring and very heartening one. However, for ordinary people, deliberately failing to make use of a significant asset is a marker of foolishness, not virtue, so she’d be nuts to do it.
The government does need to do something about this, but at the level of property and tax legislation, not the setting of personal examples.
Can’t say I agree with that, sort of like if the prime minister only chose to use private healthcare while being responsible for the public health system. Then her saving grace can be “well most kiwis think you should use private healthcare if you can afford it so I will”. Just wrong.
Our P.M. is going out of her way to support small NZ businesses, in clothing shoes and gifts. She won’t do anything without planning. She told us she is a nerd with anxieties.
Yeah, see when you said “turning down a lot of free money” you nailed it. This is what has led to the situation we are in today. If she was true to her voters she would make some sort of personal statement on this, I would have thought.
It is what has led to the situation we’re in today, but individuals setting altruistic examples isn’t going to be much help, it needs legislative change – which isn’t something Ardern can just order by fiat, especially so given that a lot of voters aren’t going to like having the government take away the magic money tree.
I think it’s a bad look generally, Ardern can buy a new million dollar house without blinking an eye while the rest of Auckland and other parts of NZ are really struggling with escalating rents and sub standard living conditions (residing in garages, cars, etc).
Imagine the leadership shown if she said she will live in a motel housing beneficiaries for 6 months to get a feeling of the housing crisis. Meanwhile she could urgently kickstart work on say an Auckland community apartment complex, being a smarter use of land and one where rents were affordable for all kiwis. Once built she could live there for another 6 – 12 months as an example of how we need bold thinking to solve the house crisis.
That’s going a bit far because how could she be expected to do her job living in a way we all recognise as unliveable?
I do think the building of a property portfolio is inconsistent with what her voters expect her to be doing about the housing crisis.
I can also see how conflicted our resident Nats must be about this. On the one hand they’d love to score points by attacking JA, but also the sanctity of making free money off residential property is untouchable.
Her parents might live there later. Would that annoy you as well?
Are you people lefties? Or just nitpicking troublemakers agin everything? Get a better outlook. And leave Jacinda and our Labour people alone unless they do something out of whack or criminal. Please. Give them a one year trial with mostly positive advice, they might heed it if you aren’t countering it with negatives like this.
Find some other target for your abuse, and your Guy Fawkes fuel. Tell me what sort of a person I am in your opinion. I’m old and it would take a strongly-tipped missive to do real damage.
Living in a motel isn’t unliveable, it’s uncomfortable sure and it’s an example of the manifestation of the housing crisis too.
What better way to solve a major problem in society than experiencing it and living it. Keep your general on the frontline so they know exactly the problems the troops face and how best to win the war.
Yeah, and John Key could’ve moved from Parnell to Manurewa too.
“Ardern can buy a new million dollar house without blinking an eye?”
I hear and read often enough about the “Women’sWeeklyisation” of the PM and the trite fluffy coverage of stuff she does, might do, could do, should do, might dream about doing, did or whatever.
She does an ordinary thing, buys a house, the world goes crazy in context and now I see she didn’t even blink an eye? Jesus wept.
I suggest you do a little research before making assumptions/ judgements/accusations of amateur landlordism, retirement investments etc.
Ardern’s parents are returning to live in Auckland,NZ in the next month or so after living in the Pacific for about the last 10 years. Her father was NZ Police liaison representative first in Niue and then in Samoa, and after his retirement from NZ Police was appointed as NZ High Commissioner to Niue and has served there for the last four years. He has now been appointed NZ Administrator of Tulelau (the last NZ dependency in the Pacific) based in Auckland.
Her sister is also returning to NZ from the UK in the next few months with her husband and two pre-school children after years of also living overseas.
The family will helping with support after the baby is born. As JA’s current home is very small, they probably need both homes in the meantime to house the returning whanau until they get themselves sorted.
The family may also be helping financially.
Is the family going to use that extra house, even if they probably don’t need to?
Just saying that RW attack blogs are using this multiple house owning to undermine her.
You know that the average home ownership of Nat MP’s is >3.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/92409698/the-many-houses-of-our-mps–which-mps-have-a-stake-in-multiple-properties
RW’s should think about removing the mote in their own eye first.
“Just saying that RW attack blogs are using this multiple house owning to undermine her.”
really? Because I thought you were running your own lines.
Well, the motives are different. They are trying to point to a sort of deliberate hypocrisy as a way of reducing her credibility. I am concerned with what messages she’s sending to the people who are struggling with housing certainty and who voted for change.
Ok, fair enough on the motives. What are JA and her partner intending to do with the house?
I don’t know but it doesn’t feel right to me that they (the government) acknowledge the perils to society of multiple house caching while doing it themselves.
What do you mean by caching?
Storing, building up.
So you are criticising JA for intending to keep an empty house but you don’t actually know if that is what she intends to do? Can you not see a problem with that?
As I have pointed out in 7.3 above and below at 7.3.1.3, the purchase of the new house would appear to be a straightforward practical one based on the small size of the current one etc and having family (four adults and two children) returning to NZ after living overseas for years. No more; no less.
Yes Kiwiblog has a continuing stream of shallow one liner comments on it – as they do on any number of topics. However, there was some discussion on the fact you have to own for two years before selling to not be eligible for paying tax on any profit. I think that JA/CG only bought their current house about 18 months ago so would be mad to sell it before the two years is up, especially when family could live in it in the meantime.
Maybe the ones trying to point to a sort of deliberate hypocrisy as a way of reducing her credibility are rabid, one-eyed pissed-off cretins who can’t think of intelligent ways of spending their limited time on planet Earth.
LOL! Well said. Whaleoil has a post up with almost a 100 comments. I now need a very long shower.
The statement yesterday was that they needed a bigger house (the new one) to accommodate family who would be staying and helping following the birth.
Quite frankly, from what has been shown of the inside and outside of their current house on JA and CG’s various social media accounts, it is pretty small and compact – more a pensioner 2 bedroom unit than a family home. Even with just the two of them and a baby it would be cramped, never mind with other family.
I also understand that the current property is not very suitable for security purposes; and the need to provide for DPS officers 24/7 is causing some parking and other problems for neighbours.
No statement has been made as to whether they are going to sell their current property immediately or later. But from a practical point of view, if you have bought a new house and have family returning to NZ it makes sense to keep both in the meantime to accommodate the returnees in the short term or maybe even in the longer term.
Practically Jacinda would be unwise to sell her house as she doesn’t know how soon the support from fickle NZs for her to be PM and in politics will last. If she is rejected or becomes disillusioned with the bruising and brutal arena, she might decide to retire from it for a while, look after her toddler and take up Karate or Judo or some other non-blood fighting sport.
I suppose this matter of the secret Court case has been covered on TS. I did check to see if someone noted it on the 2/3 out of the 283 comments from 18 lead comments. I should check O/M for the 3rd but am worn out. So I will just put it up so those who are interested in what is going on, or not, in NZ can be informed.
It’s about the secret High Court case and originally published by Spinoff, written by Andrew Geddis, Professor of Law at University of Otago. And its about a Court case, very strange and worrying, and perhaps an example of how a facult can be inflated into a crime that can be inflated into something coming under some newly adopted secret law or security code.
The thin edge of the wedge often gets mentioned scornfully when people bleat about bringing in some new law, me included, but it does happen at times. Is this an example of government being despotic or acting under the supremacy of another government, bending its own laws and customs to do so?? Shades of Dotcom and our country acting under another’s orders.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/351672/secret-court-case-anathema-to-fairness
Andrew Geddis 2/3/18
So, a trial where no public or media are allowed in at all? That’s a big deal. What could it involve?
The suspicions of at least some of us were confirmed when Justice Venning, the Chief High Court Judge, released a statement confirming the subject of the case. It involves an appeal by a Melbourne-based New Zealand woman against a decision to cancel her passport on the grounds that she represents a national security threat to some other, unspecified country. By removing her passport, the New Zealand government says it can neutralise that threat by stopping her from being able to travel there.
How do we know this? Because her case already has been before the High Court last year, when she sought to challenge the government’s claim that not only did her appeal have to be held in secret, but that neither she nor her lawyer were allowed to know the reasons why her passport had been cancelled.
Those reasons, said the government, constituted “classified security information”. And under the Passports Act 2002, it’s not just the public and press who can’t be in the courtroom to hear the content of such information. Neither can the person whose passport is cancelled, nor that person’s lawyer.
Justice Dobson, who heard that earlier case and is hearing the current one as well, was not entirely happy about this situation. As he noted in a judgment that somewhat reluctantly concluded that the legislation had to be read in this manner:
“The whole of our common law tradition, as bolstered by the rights and protections recognised by New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, render the procedure under [the Passports Act] an anathema to the fundamental concepts of fairness. However, the reality is that Parliament has recognised the justification for the use of that procedure in defined circumstances.”
So, here’s what is happening in the High Court in Wellington. A woman is asking to get her passport back after the government took it off her. She is doing so without knowing the evidence the government has for deciding she represents a security risk, without being able to be in the court to watch the case being argued, and without being able to have her own lawyer present to argue for her (although some unnamed “advocates” have been appointed to “assist with issues that have to be dealt with” in her absence).
There was considerable discussion on Daily Review 28 Feb under Anne’s comment at 4.
My understanding is the the court proceedings will be continuing this coming week.
Thanks VV. Those of us catching up have some good material to connect with.
greywarshark (8) … thanks for the info. Also read that the case is being heard in the basement of the Wellington High Court, for security reasons!
If neither the woman concerned nor her lawyer are allowed in court to argue the case, then it would be interesting to know who is arguing against who in the closed hearing, something I feel in fairness, the woman and her lawyer should have details about. Unnamed “advocates” not being good enough.
And the “unspecified country” for which this woman presents a national security threat is … ??
New Zealand Country
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/351650/mpi-faces-100m-bill-over-cattle-disease
MPI faces $100m bill over cattle disease
4:34 pm on 2 March 2018
Eric Frykberg, Reporter
eric.frykberg@radionz.co.nz
But hey – user pays innit? MPI is not ultimately paying for this giant diseased cowpat, it is we, all of us in the NZ taxpayers union who pay 15c in the $1 GST on everything if not big bags out of our income.
$100 million should be borne from a farmers insurance against disease etc out of their income and then they might start looking at the costs that they impose on the country. And the real, small, farmers can start agitating against the game players that erect the barriers of inflated land prices that add to the costs of those on the ground just getting on with the job, rather than poncing around buying and selling farms on leverage etc.
If they can afford to own more than one or two farms they can pay for the enormous costs the country faces trying to have biosecurity borders and the lapses thereof. In this case of disease it can be laid at their door surely.
Yes, the fact they farm to provide food and exports should not exempt them from paying forward on risk factors. They need to be brought under the rules the rest of us live by, and that may slow their appetite for risk. Insurance to cover risks and deposits of a suitable size.
Farms, like homes should not be gambling chips in our ever more fragile world.
Thanks for your thoughts Patricia. What you think seems to be towards the practical and effective – a good thing to read on TS amongst the wider and perhaps wilder inputs.
Thank you.
Yes greywarshark
Now we know that thus Micoplasma Bovis disease can be transmitted by urine and excrement we worry that those cow wastes are being sprayed all over our roads from leaky overflowing tank traps on those long haul trucks and that pollutes our water systems from the road drains and will end up in our drinking water to!!!!!!
What about the road runoff onto our homes from trucks passing through our suburbs now???
Christ we are stuffed as this is so bloody serious now, and MPI don’t know how to control it they admitted.
I am again to write to the Ministry of Environment about this new threat to our residential communities again, Ministry of the Environment who have been so silent on this and other things ‘see here.’
Climate change emissions and truck increased use is now found to be really occurring as trucks are dirty emitters of climate emissions/carbon.
In 2018 after Napier has now become a “truck gridlocked” community with a large export port and over 90% of all export freight is still carried on trucks we are now so desperate for a safe quiet environment we have now referred this issue back to the Ministry of the Environment after 18 yrs of no solution yet being offered.
We have asked for a inland port to transfer the freight onto rail to Napier Port as it was recommended by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in 2006.
http://www.pce.parliament.nz/media/pdfs/Hawkes-Bay-Expressway-Noise-and-air-quality-issues-June-2005.pdf
Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10362
Wellington
Dear Ministry of the Environment. 3/3/18.
As you may already be aware, we have over the last 20 years, we all have had extremely serious public health related issues regarding urban residential communities who are constantly exposed to adverse health effects from heavy truck traffic passing through their urban areas on a ‘truck route’ highway that very often in NZ has inadequate mitigation measures to protect the health and well being of those communities.
As it is the policy of a Government to advocacy and to seek solutions through public and local input and consultation, as defined by the Court of Appeal 1992!!!!
We have been involved heavily in that process since our communications to you since May 2002.
Since then, we have been gathering evidence, reports and results of air quality studies independently conducted in coalition with Watercare Services, NIWA, HB Public Health and Ministry for the Environment, through the technical assistance of your staff.
Your staff has requested that we keep an open communication line to them, and that they would assist, as able, to resolve the issues of concern.
To date, three reports from Water care Services, NIWA and Public Health have validated the health concerns that affect our community living near truck routes, and with that information, we were hopeful that local and regional councils would resolve the issues surrounding public health by supporting a reasonable list of early mitigation measures, such as:
1. speed reduction to kph on Highway 50 as it passes through west Cities residential suburbs.
2. smooth road surfacing to reduce tyre particulate pollution.
3. barriers and dense vegetation to contain and absorb traffic pollution
4. return road freight to rail through Napier to the port.
We held a series of meetings with our local City and Regional councils, which resulted in the regional officers agreeing to put the matter before Council, in a bid to have those measures supported.
A press release from the Council came out on 25/2/03, supporting in principle our request for reasonable mitigation.
We had the support also of our Regional Chairman, and a Councillor, previously involved in health issues in central government.
Unfortunately, the following day in council, a majority voted against supporting those measures, which quite honestly left us gutted.
After other meetings with our City Council Mayor, the Mayor did agree to write a letter to The road controlling Authority (then in 2003) Transit NZ supporting a speed reduction to 70kph.
Our Regional Council did admit the planning was questionable before the road was re designated as a ‘Truck Route.’
Quote; “the problem has arisen because prior to the expressway’s construction, the local council allowed residential developments to abut the proposed road.
The decision was unwise and was made when environmental concerns were not as strong and awareness of the possible consequences much lower, a council report by environmental manager, Murray Buchanan states.”
“the community properties, by an act of past planning, are closely adjacent and many are well below the expressway level. This is a unique situation in the district, and because of the elevation of the expressway, noise travels over a wider area.”
Those admissions clearly suggest that both councils should now be actively supporting further mitigation measures to protect those residents, but very little is really being achieved, which now places us in a position to legally challenge their lack of providing a safe environment, and all the other issues raised in that letter by our legal counsel 1/4/02, if the situation is not resolved in the next few months prior to completion of the over bridge and State Highway extension
Important to note is that two of the mitigation measures, 70kph speed and smooth road surface, changes to planning have to be instituted ahead of the completion of that road upgrade, or else it would be cost prohibitive to promote later.
Therefore, we would request that you allow us this remaining time to seek further support prior to instigation of legal proceedings, noting that it is highly likely that this route may be required if councils do not offer adequate mitigation for the health and well-being of our community.
We hope that this further information to you addresses paragraph 3 of your letter dated 11/2/03. We are very sincere in our desire to resolve these health issues in any means available to us and support for environmental legal assistance, should it finally be required, is vital as a means to protect the health and well being of our community.
The current truck ‘movement’ counts for every 24hrs on the Napier south end of the HB Expressway is now on 3rd March 2018 is at a whopping 2489 trucks every day average when in 2001 we measured 997 every day.
Thank you very much for your consideration,
Yours truly,
My understanding is that the MPI put a movement ban on farmers moving their cattle from one farm to the next one when Mycoplasma Bovis was first detected on NZ farms?
So why hasn’t MPI enforced the movement ban on those farmers who broke the rules?
What was the last Government doing about the Mycoplasma Bovis outbreak as it happen on their watch?
Was this Mycoplasma Bovis outbreak due to the running down of the MAF/ MPI by the last Government?
Why hasn’t NZ MPI producers taken out insurance to protect themselves against such outbreaks etc?
Why hasn’t the Trucking industry brought in self contained stock trucks which stop stock urine and shit from being spray all over the place. They have these truck in Oz why not in NZ?
These are sensible serious questions. Perhaps they should be sent to the Ministers of Health/Transport/ Agriculture, as well?
Why weren’t the cattle destroyed straight away, that is what you do with a foot & mouth disease outbreak ?
If farmers have broken the law they should be prosecuted and heavily fined, or put out of business. If there is a nationwide outbreak it will damage the industry and will cost the country and the taxpayers big time $.
This is actually a serious situation and MPI can not be seen to be incompetent ?
I don’t think Mycoplasma is bad as Foot and Mouth as it can’t get into the food chain. But in saying that the farmers should’ve us their common sense and obey the MAF/ MPI movement ban then we would’ve this shit fight of mess that NZ is facing ATM which is no thanks to these dumb asses who thought they knew better than the boffins within MAF/MPI.
It really makes my blood boil that these people can be so dumb, stupid and then expect the Government to give them a payout!!!!!
Also 99% of this shit fight happen under the National Government and what were they doing about it? Easy answer asleep at the wheel as usual and let the market short it out F ing dickheads.
Actresses are very brave to stand up and demand to be heard about sexual bullying and worse. Barbara Ewing interviewed this morning by Wallace Chapman wrote a book called The Actresses, being made into a film I think. It tells the stories of how the profession treats women and the way they cope. She is a NZ actress and author working from London who learned Te Reo decades before we got enthused.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018634587/barbara-ewing-why-her-novel-the-actresses-still-hits-home
author interview books
9:36 am today
Barbara Ewing: Why her novel The Actresses still hits home
From Sunday Morning, 9:36 am today
Listen duration 22′ :23″
Barbara Ewing’s book The Actresses was first published in 1997 and is the story of a group of actresses reuniting at their London drama school 30 years after they graduated. It explores how women are treated in the industry and reveals a toxic culture – 21 years before the current light was shone on similar behaviour through the #MeToo movement. Ewing was also an actress and her experience carried a lot of truth into the fictional work. Since then she’s written many books, but explains why The Actresses is still important.
Thank you I will read this.
I seem to be dominating the Open Mike so far but all these things are really interesting and meaningful to us and about people’s concerns so am just giving a heads-up on them so they don’t get missed.
The NZ Institute has made some interesting statements relating to NCEA. I heard a report on Radionz News but can’t find an individual heading and haven’t time to listen through the mass of news.
https://nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/spoiled-by-choice-how-ncea-hampers-education-and-what-it-needs-to-succeed/
Here are headings from google about NZ Institute release and their findings and thoughts.
(Keywords – news report on NZ Initiative on NCEA)
Business thinktank: ‘External exams needed in NCEA to … – NZ Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz › New Zealand
NCEA debate: How can physics and tramping be valued equally? – NZ …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz › New Zealand
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/101824114/ncea-is-damaging-kids-learning-and-breaking-teachers-thinktank-report-finds
https://www.newsie.co.nz/news/84398-ncea-failing-disadvantaged-students-report.html
NCEA an ‘alluring facade’ – Newsroom
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/03/03/93585/ncea-an-alluring-facade
Further from Scoop:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1803/S00030/have-your-say-on-the-education-amendment-bill.htm
You have until Friday 13 April 2018 to have your say on the Education (National Education and Learning Priorities) Amendment Bill. The Education and Workforce Committee is now inviting submissions on this bill.
The bill would amend the Education Act 1989 to enable statements about the diversity of education provision to be included in the statement of National Education and Learning Priorities.
The proposed amendments would align the statement of National Education and Learning Priorities more closely with the New Zealand curriculum, and provide an aspirational vision for the future for young New Zealanders.
2/3/18 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1803/S00020/savecharterschools-submissions-open-over-2500-sign.htm
You might hate how National set them up, and despite Seymour and ACT equally, but there is good in the well-run concept of schools for those who don’t fit into the mainstream, and perhaps we could get back some for special needs children too that government has stepped on heavily in past years so they can have their own place. Charter schools should be able to form relationships with mainstream and fund places for some children to attnd specialist classes elsewhere, and this would be good for special schools advancing their pupils’ particular talents.
Radionz path to education matters if you want to update your general info:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/search/results?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=education&commit=Search
I sent you some reading on NZ aid to the Pacific which we discussed yesterday on OM.
Here is the link to my comment. /open-mike-03-03-2018/#comment-1456717
Thanks vv. Appreciate.
Nah, that’s not domination; domination is when you crowd out others and their opinions, which you don’t. So, keep them coming. Remember that a few bans were dished out recently too so the place is maybe a wee bit quieter than usual …
Children who don’t fit into the mainstream need to be funded and supported in their own community, at their local school. Education policy should reflect this.
The flexibility supposedly only required for high-needs children, should be demanded for all students. This is important for education.
Hi again greywarshark,
Just had a quick google to check out one of the articles on the Herald which I noted you had on one of your links.
The “experience day tramps” unit actually is a time consuming standard.
Also, it is a unit standard and not an achievement standard, which means that if you are looking for entry into tertiary education then it will not be weighted the same.
The student in the article should know this, and by not putting in these details, it gives a false view of the situation.
The ex principal in one of the other articles is misdirecting on this issue as well. And the PISA results might be an effect of primary children who have been subjected to National Standards. Who knows?
Also, her insistent on exams is old-school and not reflective of understanding or competence.I believe examination taking is a skill over and above the level of knowledge of any particular subject, and many who fail exams often know the work, but cannot retrieve it in those situations.
Hi Molly
I will read that with your comments in mind about the tramps.
About exams – they do provide a separation from school control over assessment. Perhaps a half-year test to see how they go and prepare them for the matter, along with regular short tests and assessments so that the pupil’s knowledge level is exposed? Anything that the NZ Initiative thinks is a good idea must be viewed cautiously and they seem very strong on exams. The present assessments are too demanding for teachers. There is no need for atomic science to order teachers’ checks and so parents know to the nth degree of skill.
I was amazed when I thought I heard that parents were having to pay a fee if they wanted their children to have extra time to do their exams now. They would have to pay for a medical certificate stating why of course. But this imposition on parents with children having difficulties of some sort should not be countenanced by fair and supportive education establishment. Exams shouldn’t be a brick wall for some children.
MacLeans college used to have a good system for children with needs for reader-writer assistance. And the reputation they developed for that assistance, resulted in many students enrolling in that school.
Unfortunately, the NZQA was sceptical of the high number of students requiring that help at exams and gave the school a hard time about whether all these students were legitimate. I can’t recall the end result, but I do remember this occurring. It would be disappointing if that extra fee was a result of this situation.
I’m good at exams, mainly because I have the skill that allows me to read – even badly written exams – and know what it is that the examiner is looking for. This does not necessarily mean that the knowledge I have at that time is permanent and able to be used in workable form.
Internal assessments require that proof, and for students who just want to cram and exam, they are a pain.
But I do believe that they are a better indicator of comprehension and application of knowledge.
Moly
Too much responsibility on the teachers to being do assessments all the time. And with this evil-minded, sucpicious, government and its neolib background, the conditions and demands that teachers must comply with, with the way they are rated hanging in the balance (and with the idea of performance pay hanging like a Damocles sword) I hear that teachers have to fudge some times. The problem is the old one that is described in that saying that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Just looked up my teacher Google and it says that’s been around since the 1500s.
And petit peu French. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose (1849)!
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/winston-peters-says-language-police-upset-comments-jacinda-arderns-appearance-have-gone-too-far?auto=5744520985001
Peters tells it like it is. Thank goodness.
What an uproar over nothing. Jacinda Ardern wasn’t offended, I wasn’t offended. Most people I suspect were not offended. It’s a pretty sad state of affairs when you can’t describe anyone as “attractive” without being labeled sexist. In my view, a lovely word trashed by a small bunch of vociferous individuals – and no, I don’t know who they were because I don’t bother reading that kind of silly stuff.
The continuing theme for describing female politicians is to remark on their appearance as if that is the most important thing to know about them.
It’s only okay with the Queen’s description as far as I’m concerned – traditional with Royal commenters. ‘And Her Majesty has changed her well-known hair style to one combed to the side which is very appealing under her daffodil coloured hat with the narrow brim, which she adopts so that the public can see her face’ etc.
I think that it is sort of patronising that a woman is only worth talking to if she is fashionable and attractive. Men are generally not given this sort of attention.
But when they choose to be different, they can it’s true get a notation, as Slavoj Zizek was recently. One journalist found his appearance and manner below par. (He wears a t-shirt quite often and rubs his nose all the time – terribly eccentric from some journalists point of view, the arbiters of everything!)
Agreed Anne. I actually really enjoy watching JA and WP in Question Time. They really are a good tag team! Minds very much on a similar plane.
I think WP is really enjoying working with JA and vice versa, despite the age and political differences. A feeling of mutual respect.
Those journalist comments are designed to detract from serious subjects, but Jacinda is deft at deflection. Another attractive aspect of our P.M. She is grounded.
Check your privilege
Privilege: Unearned access to social power based on membership in a dominant social group
_ Able-bodied physically and mentally
_ Access to education
_ Christian
_ Cisgender
_ Heterosexual
_ Male
_ Native English speaker
_ New Zealand Citizen (at birth)
_ White
Becoming Aware of Privilege should not be viewed as a burden or source of guilt, but rather an opportunity to learn and be responsible so that we may work toward a more just and inclusive world.
(Adapted from OUIT)
DNFTT
Can you please put a link and a proper reference (I have no idea what OUIT is)?
“An actual official checklist, so you can “check your privilege”, with some explanation, from the University of Ontario”
Thanks. Next time please include the link. I’m pretty sure I’ve asked before and it’s getting tedious so I will probably moderated if I see you do that again. Honestly, if you are cutting and pasting, it’s not that hard to link as well.
Baby Boomers or Generation X; which one is more privileged?
Privilege is real but also relative and contextual. This should never be lost sight of; lack of privilege does not necessarily have to hold one back or be a bad thing – it can be a double-edged sword. As you say, it’s how privilege is used and abused that makes it an issue or a non-issue.
As James Shaw said in his outstanding speech:
In this context privilege can be used to do good for the benefit of many and not just for the few who are privileged.
I had a look at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology website – really some very insightful and challenging courses there, particularly wrt human relationships.
eg:
http://alumni.uoit.ca/connect/stamp/training_modules/module-3-diversity-.php
Thank you and I return the favour with some local flavour: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/about-the-university/equity-at-the-university/safe-inclusive-equitable-university/unconscious-bias/overcoming-unconscious-bias/how-privileged-are-you-.html
Thanks for that!
On the chart presented by Pete above – I have to say I score a tick on each one. Being aware of that is so very important and something not to be taken lightly. As Claude Levi-Strauss once said “I had to leave France to study man”.
Or go incognito 😉
Spent the afternoon down the Viaduct with the celebrations of the Volvo around the world race.
Great vibe, amazing setup and neat to see so many families out and about.
Hoping that the Americas cup will be more of the same – but bigger!
It would be an amazing event if ‘we’ get it right.
Recommendation – There is an oyster festival going on down there at the moment – if you like bluff oysters its a must do!!!!
edit – here is the flyer: http://www.eurobar.co.nz/application/files/4315/1840/1468/OysterFest_2018_A3_Flyer_WEB_FA1.pdf
Cheers for the link James.
We usually do a session or two of the Bluff Oysters when they are in.
On the Americas Cup, the construction industry is looking forward to the moment when the client gets its shit together and has a single plan. That single plan then has to be consented, costed, and constructed in time for the Louis Vuitton Cup series not much more than 18 moths away. It’s going to be tight.
Indeed it is – not just the Client tho’ – Auckland Council and the Government have to get their shit set up also.
The client is the Auckland Council. They are paying for the bases.
Central government has big inputs. But no cash so far.
Follow the money 🙂
Emirates Team New Zealand/NZYS are a kind of specifier, with a major timing problem.
The client needs to stabilize this fast, to stop ETNZ taking the Cup to Dubai, which their key sponsor would be just fine with.
“The client needs to stabilize this fast, to stop ETNZ taking the Cup to Dubai, which their key sponsor would be just fine with.
Me too.
Sluuuuuuuurp!
Rip them from their salty beds, prise them open with a knife, tip ’em down ya froat!
“Sluruuuuuuuuuuuuuurp!
Caligula would be proud!
Because enjoying a few oysters = approval of ancient mad dictator…
Truly James is the devil.
Riverton already is, and has been for over 150 years.
Bring back Ed I say.
He’s still scuttling about under his many pseudonyms.
Being stalked by you?
Bang!
If I was the type to enjoy watching someone else racing in someone else’s yachts, and then pay over the top for kai moana most of us had access to in my childhood, I guess I would understand your enjoyment.
As it is, this scenario appeals to me as much as the TPPA rally appealed to you. Find it a bit jarring to read on TS TBH.
Seems that’s how it is at the moment Molly. James just trolls along.
Agree with you about the AC, Molly…Let Dubai host it…
Then the event can’t be used as a cloak to cover the myriad of crises going on within NZ…
Good anecdotal piece from Radionz on youth employment and how it can be forstered and needs to be and is wanted by youth! Lry’s not forget that.
Think that even robbing dairies requires work, planning and organisation. This should be going into something positive for the country and for themselves. An intelligent government of the 21st century has a lot of history study research and experience to fall back on to prevent crime. Young people feeling lost and impoverished in monetary and spiritual terms, found useless, a waste of space, and abused, and they haven’t even had the chance to start their lives! It’s disgraceful neglect by governments not to have decent effectual polices for them.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/2018634437/insight-no-job-no-training-no-hope
So this is good stuff. One example of positive moves:
One young man:
He earns a good wage, has opportunities for career progression, and has zero debt to his name.
It’s worlds away from the uncertainty and indecision that plagued the end of his high school education.
Mr Kirk repeated seventh form at Mana College, uncertain about what he wanted to do with his life.
One day, he was approached by a teacher who asked if he was keen to take part in a work experience programme run by Downer, a programme that would allow him to do some paid work experience with the company in the school holidays.
If he impressed, he would have the option to take up full-time work.
Mr Kirk said it was a reality check from day one.
“On my first day on site I was just sweeping up a bit of rubbish, but I couldn’t even use the broom properly. I was a bit embarrassed, but you’ve got to learn some day.
“It was pretty daunting, but once you get to know the people it’s way easier. They help you a lot more when you’re comfortable with them.”
After just a year of full-time work, Mr Kirk now has his forklift driver’s licence and is talking with his bosses about studying to become a foreman.
The bill for that – as with the forklift licence – is borne by his employer, which gets a home-trained, loyal worker in exchange.
Downer first began the programme about seven years ago, and recently joined forces with Partners Porirua to head into local high schools to invite 16 and 17-year-olds who don’t know exactly what they want to do with their lives to take part.
(This type of training should be supported and encouraged by government not just left up to business at their whim.)
Another man still hoping to get started at 24 years, who is statistically classified as – ‘NEET’ or someone who’s Not in Employment, Education or Training.
Apart from a few brief stints on a relative’s farm, he has been unemployed for the best part of a decade.
And it all started, he says, in his first year of high school.
“The second term I stopped going,” he says.
“At the time I’d seen my friends not going to school. Hanging out and that. I was like, oh, I want to be like that. I don’t want to sit in class.
“I found out the hard way that sitting in class was the place to be.”
As of February, there are more than 80,000 young NEETs in New Zealand – a seven percent increase on last year. It’s estimated each NEET costs the economy about $20,000 in lost productivity and benefits – meaning this group of young people costs more than a billion dollars every year.
(And that’s just money, the big loss is in loss of self-image, self-belief, expectation of respect from society that goes on all through life for oneself and those you connect with. We all should play our part in avoiding that with practical and considered help to all.)
you may also enjoy this excellent piece from RNZ as well…
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thiswayup/audio/2018634233/a-school-for-teen-parents
had no idea it was happening and sounds brilliant.
That one has been going since 1995 – and is far from the only one. Not sure of the numbers throughout NZ but think there are several more in the Wellington region.
Jacinda Ardern visited He Huarahi Tamariki on 27 Sept, just a few days after the general election, after they invited her just a day or so earlier.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/97298387/lets-eat-this–when-jacinda-ardern-popped-in-for-cake
wonder if that piece was the inspiration for the RNZ one?
Could be but they seem to get a reasonably steady amount of publicity from the Google search I did.
There was an article in Maori on Waatanews in mid Feb 2018 (sorry no translation and way beyond my te reo)
https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/MTgzNzE=/H%C4%ABkoi-hei-whakah%C4%93-kia-kati-ng%C4%81-kura-hourua
And also this in Feb 2018 https://soundcloud.com/thomas-airey-860885140/clip-1
Discussion called “It is the fact teen parents have a choice that should be applauded” following the Salvation Army Report. But soundtrack is re pokey machines!
yes. i found a 2014 RNZ report as well….its a damn good idea for all sorts of reasons that i hope dosnt constantly struggle for funding though I suspect it does.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/teahikaa/audio/2589005/he-huarahi-tamariki-school-for-teenage-parents
Its so hard to get apprentices these days, we approached 2 local high schools, spoke to careers advisors at the school arranged times to give a bit of a talk etc.
Both times we got exactly zero turnout in school hours in a school day offering jobs and training with a start rate of $17 per hour and increases partially tied to credits towards qualification.
Just no interest any more I guess…
.
what trade?
Amenity Horticulture
Wages that you can actually survive on start at about $20.50. So any takers will need to be subsidised by helpful relatives or someone else – and not everyone has that.
We have a very low wage mindset in NZ – for most of the population, anyway.
Yeah hence we visited local schools, hopefully to pick someone up who is still living at home while they get started. Takes about 3 months to get over the $20 mark so not to long and given gardening is a dying art generally apprentices start from absolute scratch.
Took me a year of my apprenticeship to earn enough to move out of home it wasn’t the end of the world. TBH was easier to get my papers done living at home.
I have a daughter looking at horticulture. Would you happen to be in Auckland, cricklewood?
When I was talking futures with young people, we would list skills a school leaver needed to be employed in further education or contributing through environmental and social programmes.
As we were talking in the third person, they would freely offer up ideas. They listed skills and attributes needed in all of those areas. We would list them in most important to least important.
Finally, we would look at the first 10. These became a self improvement blue print.
Years later I would meet with students who would say, ” I’m still using the blue print
to build my skills and attributes Mrs.B” That was a buzz. Number 1 was communication skills.
To me that was real education, not the sad tick box stuff often offered now. So I’m pleased it is all being reviewed.
Being a good communicator and being a life-long learner have a few things in common IMO: curiosity and open mind and the realisation that the meaning or purpose of life is not a fixed goal you set for yourself, or set for you by others, but it is the journey or process of life itself – a self-referencing framework, if you like.
Rule #1: Believe the autocrat. He means what he says.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/03/politics/trump-maralago-remarks/index.html
Hmmm He should be careful for what he wishes. Maybe he thinks he might become emperor one day? Not a safe occupation by all accounts – if the fate of Roman Emperors is anything to go by.
Just 10 more days….
hehehe
Went to the anti-TPPA-11 rally in Aotea Square Auckland this arvo.
The message is,
sign the Don’t Do it petition – they want 5,000 signatures by the day of signing the TPPA (8 March) – they have over 4,000 now
there are more similar agreements in the pipeline (RCP with Asian countries; the re-working of the China FTA; the deal with the EU; one with Sth and central American countries)
submit to the NZ select committee after the agreement is signed in Chile on March 8 – when some of the contents will be published – say “no” to re-activating the clauses put on hold – the US will try to revive them
say “no” to ISDS clauses in any future agreements
there is no protection against being sued by corporates for climate change measures; Treaty-related legislation; legislation for better workers’ rights; health care legislation, etc, etc
Robert Reid was MC in Aotea Square; speakers included Byran Bruce; Laila Harre; a nurse who works with young people; Moana Maniapoto (who also sang); Jane Kelsey.
I estimate there were around 300+ people there.
I also recall going to some anti-TPPA demos in Auckland in recent years where the turnout was small. the big demo came in more recent years.
We are in a re-grouping phase. Kelsey praised us for what has been achieved – delaying the TPPA for several years, for example, and the big demos. The message to us was to continue to hold the line
Labour only opposed because it was politically expediant and there opposition no doubt helped protestor numbers… fact they always believed in the tppa or whatever its called now hence signing up…
Nothing new really dunno why the greens dont get more left votes tbh they mean what the say and say what they mean…
Apparently some recent research shows 75% of respondents want an indepth analysis of TPPA-11. Poll done funded by Action Station, conducted by UMR, and published last Wednesday.
Over 50% always opposed the TPPA. I think many will have bought Labour-NZ First’s line that the current deal has been improved. But still a lot of people are uncertain and want an in-depth analysis made public.
Was there any commentary there about President Trump raising steel and aluminum tariffs and the effects that could have on New Zealand steel and aluminum workers?
Taking one issue and spinning it to make the concerns about the revised TPPA seem irrelevant, is a bit irritating to read. The first thought I had this morning on reading your post was “Where do you start?”.
If you are unable to take in the whole view, then all discussions are going to be on surmised scenarios presented in such a way to support your pro-TPPA view. And you have provided the framework in which that discussion happens, and limited the effect it has on issues of sovereignty, health care, human rights for workers in ALL participating countries, and the ability of our government to make good legislative change in regards to environment, NZers health and wellbeing, and as an effective response to the impact of climate change.
Despite my partner working in the steel industry for over decades and having an understanding of how much produced is sold overseas, I don’t feel like entering this discussion with you, because I feel it will be pointless.
The tariff issue is one that needs to be discussed alongside the other issues. It’s a minor concern, to me really. If we are talking about sustainability, then why are we importing steel that can be produced locally, and then complaining about someone else deciding to make the opposite choice?
I’ll take that as a No.
Thought not.
About time some of the logical ends were met.
We import steel into New Zealand according to the kind, quality, volume, and price of steel that we need for the job. Sustainability is in there as an evaluative element in procurement, but only one element.
That is why we import steel. Most of the time local Glenbrook Bluescope does not meet the needs for those criteria. Sometimes it does. But then, as someone with a partner in the steel industry, you already knew that.
We import steel because we think that price is lower and that is the only criteria for purchase.
Not because we believe the quality is better, or that we think Chinese ore and steel workers are treated well. We also don’t consider the impact of transport is worth our time in regards to climate change, because at the moment we don’t have to pay for that impact. It is an externality.
We also import steel because our concern for our steel workers jobs is only when overseas customers might find another supplier, not when we do.
There is a raft of problems in the way we are doing business. Thinking that successful business is always selling high and paying low is wasting our resources, both natural and human.
“But then, as someone with a partner in the steel industry, you already knew that.”
I know that what you have written is incorrect. Because the steel used to replace the failed imported steel was produced by then Pacific Steel, and always could have been.
I also know, that what I consider valuable and “good” business, is poles apart from what you do. And that is a long discussion for another day.
Not that I recall. Laila Harre is researching workers’ issues and trade agreements as I recall.
Hi Carolyn_Nth, we’ll have to set up a Standardista signal. Would have been good to put a face to one of the names I enjoy reading on TS.
Good summary of what was said. Really enjoyed the speakers today.
😎
I was in sunnies. So… incognito! 😂☺
Thanks. Yes. It was good to experience others working to rebuild momentum.
I did feel different today, lighter with a spring in my step and a je ne sais pas … 😉
Sunnies you say, I’ll remember that for next time..
Thank you for the first-hand update. Are there any recordings of the event(s) online?
It (still) feels like they’re trying to build the plane while flying it yet they claim all sorts of benefits to NZ and its economy to be more precise. However, even the claimed (projected?) benefits are trivial and uncertain while the price is even more uncertain. And let’s be clear that there is no free lunch.
An interesting take on problems like PC pronouns and other matters of life and death.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/05/jordan-petersons-gospel-of-masculinity?mbid=social_facebook
Had a few interesting conversations with my son, who has friend enamoured with Jordan Peterson.
A good article on the facts behind his appropriation of the C16 bill can be found on medium.com.
And a telling video on his actual interaction with transgender people that is linked to in that article, can be found on youtube.
Interesting – the New Yorker piece was the first time I’ve come across him. I think he probably has some decent arguments – which is rare enough in academia to be worth a look.
From what I could bear to watch, he is a moving sedgway in his arguments, pulling analogy after analogy to prove his point – not just to explain it.
I don’t have much time for him tbh. I can see his appeal for my son’s friend, whose acknowledgement of gender, race and class is very limited.
The use of the term SJW was an immediate turn-off for me. I’ve never fitted well into gender stereotypes, so I am glad to see them being weakened.
I don’t get why someone would make such a big deal about how some other people prefer to be addressed – though I will rarely use “sir” for Peter Jackson or Shonkey.
I read an interesting thread on twitter today – about how videos tend to encourage emotive engagement rather than logical critique – it was with specific reference to conspiracy theories and about how some people think everyone will be swayed by a video which uses image and audio rather than develop an argument.
I think this happens a lot with many topics these days. I prefer to read an argument – and to be entertained by audio-visual media.
But are you being entertained, or propagandise at, all the same?
Good audio-visual entertainment does directly affect you, as all well crafted story telling should.
There is a reason it’s called soft power…
I think I have an inkling where he’s coming from, but I’d have to read some of his stuff before I’m game to attempt a paraphrase.
…. or watch the hundreds of hours of videos he recommends to his detractors…. 🙂
As one of the people in the video says, why should I waste so much of my time to do that when you could explain it right now?
Yeah – watching video isn’t how I look at arguments – We can read between six and ten times as fast. They’re for true believers I guess – though I imagine there’d be the odd decent debate topic somewhere in there.
His book is currently in the shops if you want to fork out $40 +. Had a quick flick through while waiting for someone at Paperplus, and it doesn’t read well to me. Would be interested to hear what you thought, if you did read it.
His main book is free as a pdf – just as well as my budget is a bit constrained these days.
http://jordanbpeterson.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Peterson-JB-Maps-of-Meaning-Routledge-1999.pdf
Thanks Stuart. As I mentioned though, I’ve had a bit of a look into his witterings over the last few weeks, and I can’t stomach anymore. If you find some of his work interesting and link, then I’ll look before commenting. That’s the best I can offer at the moment. 😉
Yes… I didn’t mean to inflict him on you. Seems he’s read a bit of Jung anyway – can’t be all bad.
“Seems he’s read a bit of Jung anyway “
🙂 … that’s what got me into looking deeper rather than instant dismissal too.
I think he probably has some decent arguments – which is rare enough in academia to be worth a look.
He does. Unfortunately, he’s a conservative so he’s putting that skill at argument to work for conservative politics. Even more unfortunately, his opponents are often people who confuse feeling very strongly about something with having a compelling argument, eg in the video above, which means he mops the floor with them. Yet more unfortunately, he’d probably still be a relatively-unknown academic if Canada hadn’t tried to criminalise speech.
” Even more unfortunately, his opponents are often people who confuse feeling very strongly about something with having a compelling argument, eg in the video above, which means he mops the floor with them. “
I don’t think he does. He seems spectacularly unable to provide reasonable arguments – so it is a perspective issue I guess.
“Yet more unfortunately, he’d probably still be a relatively-unknown academic if Canada hadn’t tried to criminalise speech.”
They didn’t. He just interpreted the law change in that way. Worth having a look at the article I linked to above, and the actual bill change.
The article you linked to is a piece of weaselry based on ignoring the inclusion of “gender expression” as well as “gender identity” in the bill. However, it does helpfully link to this article, which supposedly “debunks” Peterson’s claim by pointing out that yes, not using words you don’t want to use would be actionable in the courts, but would be unlikely to be a criminal matter and anyway we can trust the authorities not to take action against people for such trivial things. In other words, more weaselry.
The article does drift off occasionally, but also includes links to pertinent information, such as the C-16 bill, and the parliamentary discussion of the same.
The link to the C-16 bill itself shows the the term “gender identity or expression” is what is added to the legislation in terms of adding a category to what constitutes a hate crime.
Peterson adds surmised application of Ontario Human Rights legislation to propose a situation where someone – most particularly himself – may be prosecuted for not using someone’s preferred pronouns.
I tried to look up prosecutions in Canada under both C-16 and the Human Rights Act, but couldn’t find an official source easily. Perhaps if you are interested in how the laws are applied, you can.
Note”: “Gender expression” is a human experience that some seem to take heated offence to, and needs to be included as a discriminatory category. There are those who will dismiss the rights of people purely on their “gender expression”. Violence is often associated with that disregard.
Peterson adds surmised application of Ontario Human Rights legislation to propose a situation where someone – most particularly himself – may be prosecuted for not using someone’s preferred pronouns.
A not-unreasonable surmise, given his opponent Crossman’s statement in this description of the legislation: “In other words, pronoun misuse may become actionable, though the Human Rights Tribunals and courts.”
“Gender expression” is a human experience that some seem to take heated offence to, and needs to be included as a discriminatory category.
Sure. But if you combine it with laws criminalising speech you’ve got something highly objectionable, in which case it’s unsurprising if people object.
Considering Crossman as an “opponent” to him, rather than someone who disagrees with his premise, is the kind of extension to argument that is flawed.
We have legislation and bylaws in NZ that prohibit a number of situations that will never be prosecuted in court, because the threshold is too high.
It might be of worth for you to read the submission to Bill C-16 by the Canadian Bar Association, who actually have practising human rights lawyers contributing to the discussion:
They go into more detail on Page 3, but too much to cut and paste here.
Still can’t find any hate crime prosecution for the Canadian courts that give an indication that prosecution for the non or misuse of gender pronouns will be a result. Have you had any luck?
Yes, we have plenty of bad legislation in this country, too. That’s not a recommendation.
Still can’t find any hate crime prosecution for the Canadian courts that give an indication that prosecution for the non or misuse of gender pronouns will be a result. Have you had any luck?
I wouldn’t trouble myself to look, because it’s irrelevant. Legislation that only fails to breach your human rights as long as the authorities have the good will not to prosecute is wrong in principle, and rights “protections” that rely on authorities not taking advantage of the power they’ve been given are no protection at all, just wishful thinking.
“I wouldn’t trouble myself to look, because it’s irrelevant. “
It’s not irrelevant. If the submission by lawyers fails to give you pause for thought, then a lack of prosecutions for similar crimes under this legislation would be the next course of action.
As it is you are basing your perspective on emotive “surmises” from a psychology professor.
If the government were to pass a law that would allow people to be prosecuted for failing to use the word “whom” correctly, the subsequent complete lack of prosecutions of offenders would not make that law any less of an affront to the right to freedom of speech and expression. The same applies in this case. Prosecutions or the lack of them are irrelevant to the principle at stake.
“In other words, pronoun misuse may become actionable, through the Human Rights Tribunals and courts.” That isn’t the surmises of a psychology professor, it’s the submission of a lawyer.
As to the merits or otherwise of the Canadian Bar Association’s claims, case law has demonstrated that Canada’s hate speech laws do result in prosecutions for the expression of opinion, so their claims about this extension of the law should be taken with a grain of salt. I expect it is great for lawyers – lots of media coverage and lots of billable hours in those cases – but it’s certainly not great for anyone who values human rights.
So the Canadian Supreme Court has already defined the bounds of when something is hate speech, and it’s (rightfully) a pretty high threshold.
However, I’d also say that any university educator who intentionally belittles their students probably deserves some formal employment discipline.
Your link outlines several cases where the threshold is quite high, and nothing comparable to the misuse of language scenario that Peterson outlines.
Do you think that pre C-16 amendment someone would have been prosecuted in Canada for referring to an imam as “Father” or “Pastor”? That would be a form of address that deliberately ignores someone’s chosen religious beliefs.
That is how specious Peterson’s interpretation is.
(Not to mention his views on women and sexuality, which may be responsible for such emphatic burblings)
Your link outlines several cases where the threshold is quite high, and nothing comparable to the misuse of language scenario that Peterson outlines.
My link outlines several cases where people were prosecuted for expression of opinion, despite lawyers’ and legislators’ earlier claims that hate speech laws wouldn’t criminalise the expression of opinion. Peterson is right to assume the claims of harmlessness about this extension of the law are just as worthless.
However, I’d also say that any university educator who intentionally belittles their students probably deserves some formal employment discipline.
Disliking the government trying to compel speech from you is not “intentionally belittling your students.”
Publicly detesting their choice of pronoun most certainly is. Just as intentionally mispronouncing their names is belittling.
And given that belittling is not illegal, the government isn’t the one trying to compel speech. The role that the educator chose compels the educator to behave respectfully to students. If the educator refuses to do that aspect of their job, that’s not the government’s fault. Same as how I’d get a talking to if I ripped shit out of particularly annoying clients right to their face.
“The role that the educator chose compels the educator to behave respectfully to students.”
That does not include pandering to their every whim.
“If the educator refuses to do that aspect of their job, that’s not the government’s fault. ”
In Peterson’s case, the educator is being asked to use pronouns that are nothing more than a silly construct.
Peterson is a hero standing up to this nonsense…more power to him.
Oh, you’re back. Did your hornet handle get banned lol
Publicly detesting their choice of pronoun most certainly is.
Nope. If I say here, publicly, the pronouns zi and zur are moronic insults to the English language and my intelligence, I haven’t belittled anybody, I’ve just stated my opinion. If, subsequently, I get a customer asking me to refer to them with those pronouns, I wouldn’t voice that opinion to them because it’s not my place to do so. I might well refuse to comply with their request on the basis that I prefer to speak English, but that’s not belittling them.
In short, the question of whether Peterson belittles his students or not is a matter of how he treats his students, not a matter of personal opinions he might hold. I haven’t seen anything to suggest he belittles his students.
Also worth pointing out: these days, the issue of academic staff being bullied by students is as significant as the reverse. There are plenty of horror stories at my university, and my sister was nearly driven to quit her academic job in the States by the emails she kept getting from students with plenty of opinions to share about her competence, intelligence, teaching style and personality. I doubt Peterson’s ever come up with anything even approaching the personal abuse these spoilt brats can dish out. Looking at that video above, I don’t see an academic bullying and belittling his students, but I do see an arsehole and her friends deliberately antagonising someone because they don’t like his opinions.
Peterson is a hero standing up to this nonsense…
OK, let me just distance myself from that one in case people reading this think I might hold a similar view. Heroes are for dumb cunts.
Haven’t watched the video, but yeah I know the sort of students you mean.
And frankly, the pronoun thing is belittling, regardless. This is something intrinsic to an individual’s identity. I’m no brilliant person at keeping up with these things, but I try. It’s no skin off my nose what somebody wants to be called, be it gender-fluid pronoun or Ali vs Clay. It is, however, important to them. If I respect them, I can try to refer to them in their preferred way. If I don’t respect them, I can think of better ways to call them a fuckwit.
But additionally, you’re not in a position to grade the student who read or watched you express your opinion of how they exist in society.
Agree with McFlock here. He vacillates from requests from students to use the terms “they” and “them” by saying he doesn’t believe they were in use previously. Then he says it depends on who is asking him. Then he changes it to whether they have asked him respectfully enough.
One student says something along the lines of ‘A given name, is one that is chosen and/or made up by parents/a person. Would you refuse to use that name to refer to a specific person?’
He does not answer because he has fallen into a logic trap of his own design. Of course he would. And to acknowledge otherwise, is to admit he will treat them differently because he does not want to recognise their right to gender self expression and identity.
This is not an issue of free speech. That is used as a vehicle to “belittle students” – as McFlock has pointed out numerous times.
And frankly, the pronoun thing is belittling, regardless. This is something intrinsic to an individual’s identity.
It’s seriously not. It’s the English language, not your identity. Feel free to play with English as much as you like, but it’s up to other people whether they want to participate or not.
It’s no skin off my nose what somebody wants to be called, be it gender-fluid pronoun or Ali vs Clay. It is, however, important to them.
And the English language is important to me. If you don’t like its pronouns, other languages are available. But this is a side, and trivial issue – whether or not an academic is willing to use words his students made up is between him and his students, and the university administration if it finds the media attention problematic for its branding. Peterson’s issue is with the government prescribing speech, and his concern’s a valid one.
He vacillates from requests from students to use the terms “they” and “them” by saying he doesn’t believe they were in use previously. Then he says it depends on who is asking him. Then he changes it to whether they have asked him respectfully enough.
So? Those are things he’s free to consider on a case-by-case basis and his opinion on them is as valid as anyone else’s. Your feelings about his opinions are irrelevant.
One student says something along the lines of ‘A given name, is one that is chosen and/or made up by parents/a person. Would you refuse to use that name to refer to a specific person?’
He does not answer because he has fallen into a logic trap of his own design.
I’d have been rendered speechless myself by such an astonishing level of irrationalism. Yes, personal names are specific to people and it’s embarrassing if you use the wrong one. Pronouns, on the other hand, exist so you can refer to people without having to know, remember or use their personal names. If you then have to know, remember and use the word they want you to use as a pronoun, the whole point of having pronouns just disappeared. That question didn’t spring a logical trap, it displayed a facepalm level of ignorance.
Yes. It’s up to other people to decide whether their desire to label the genitalia they will most likely never get to see or touch is more important to them than the labels designated by the actual owners of those genitals. Because that’s the shortcoming of the English language.
And Peterson’s concern is not valid, because your own link shows that merely being an obnoxious, discriminatory fool with an undue interest in labelling other people’s reproductive organs does not constitute “hate speech” by itself, even if it is belittling or ridiculing.
This doesn’t rest on anyone’s promise that prosecutions won’t happen, it rests on the Canadian Supreme Court having already determined the threshold for prosecutions.
Yes. It’s up to other people to decide whether their desire to label the genitalia they will most likely never get to see or touch is more important to them than the labels designated by the actual owners of those genitals.
Whatevs. I’m sure that once the sexless utopia has arrived, in vivo gestation is a thing of the past and weka’s “Why gender equality matters” post is a quaint historical irrelevance, language might well reflect that new sexless nature of humanity. In the meantime, sex is the biggest difference between humans that there is and their languages tend to reflect that. Those who’d prefer to have the sexless utopia right now had best find an island or something.
This doesn’t rest on anyone’s promise that prosecutions won’t happen, it rests on the Canadian Supreme Court having already determined the threshold for prosecutions.
A legislative programme that rests on “Don’t worry, the Supreme Court’s said people can’t actually be prosecuted for this thing we just made illegal” is a shit programme.
Knowing which gender-specific singular pronoun to use requires knowing as much about the “Alex” who sent you an email as you might assume about the hairdresser called “Jules” you’re providing customer feedback on.
But using the wrong pronoun isn’t high enough for prosecution, according to the CSC. However, if using “her” instead of “their” was the worst thing ever done to or said about a gender-fluid (or whatever) person, that would practically be utopia anyway.
If someone beats the shit out of someone else because of the vistim’s gender identity, that’s a hate crime according to the law peterson is worried about. But not if all they did was get anal about matching pronouns to genitals they will never see.
“Pronouns, on the other hand, exist so you can refer to people without having to know, remember or use their personal names. If you then have to know, remember and use the word they want you to use as a pronoun, the whole point of having pronouns just disappeared. That question didn’t spring a logical trap, it displayed a facepalm level of ignorance.”
No it didn’t. He said that despite it all, he would refuse to address a person in their company, by the pronoun they had chosen. Not a third person reference to someone that was not present.
This shows a decided lack of respect and humanity. And is a indication of his poor validation for conflating this issue to one of free speech.
It’s not clear to me under what circumstances you’d address another person using a third-person pronoun – when I’m talking to people I call them “you,” “sir/ma’am” (I expect that’s also egregious hate-speech to some people) or their name (assuming I know it).
And the fact remains that people creating their own individual pronouns and demanding that others use them entirely defeats the purpose of having pronouns in the first place. Someone who refuses to indulge such pointless and irritating narcissism is well within their rights to do so, and it’s the people making the demands who should devote some thought to how they treat others.
Gender expression is the right of every human being. Forcing that delusion onto others should not be.
Peterson’s a favourite over at the sewer so until now I haven’t bothered to find out too much about him.
I shoudn’t have bothered.
There is no polite way to put this, but since Peterson claims that “If you worry about hurting people’s feelings and disturbing the social structure, you’re not going to put your ideas forward,” I’m just going to say it: Spend half an hour on his website, sit through a few of his interminable videos, and you realize that what he has going for him, the niche he has found—he never seems to say “know” where he could instead say “cognizant of”—is that Jordan Peterson is the stupid man’s smart person.
http://www.macleans.ca/opinion/is-jordan-peterson-the-stupid-mans-smart-person/
Peterson said he views university establishments as “the next best thing to a cult” due to their focus on what he calls “postmodern” themes such as equity. He says his independent project will contrast the university model by providing straight humanities education.
For about his first seven months on Patreon, Peterson earned about $1,000 per month. That changed last October, when he saw a dramatic increase in support, which has not slowed. The professor surpassed a fundraising goal of $45,000 on June 10, and is now aiming for $100,000 per month. On Monday, Peterson was making $49,460 every month from 4,432 patrons.
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/04/controversial-u-of-t-professor-making-nearly-50000-a-month-through-crowdfunding.html
I don’t get it.
Why does he give a damn how someone wishes to be addressed? If it’s a restricted title that might cause confusion, ok. But a pronoun? Why does he “detest” it so?
Seems to me that he has a problem with gender identity, not the individuals. Intentionally aggravating or initimidating individuals he is supposed to educate and inspire is bad enough, but there’s an entire sector of the community he can’t help but offend, intimidate, and otherwise alienate. Which seems a bit, well, discriminatory, to me…
To hell with all his other bullshit, as a teacher he should know better than to bully students over something as easily tweakable as a pronoun. To them it’s their identity. To him, it’s simply a gesture of respect (or its absence).
I didn’t bother watching the video – if a college professor can’t run rings around someone they have 20 or 30 years experience on, their sole source of employment should be Fox News commentariat.
A good sports week New hub I happy with some of the outcomes Ka pai Ka kite ano
This looks like a construction system that will meet the goals of our new government to construct 10.000 of houses needed to meet the demands for new homes. Ka kite ano
https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/money/101956360/the-future-of-nz-housing-is-prefabs-and-180000-tiny-homes
Prime Minister Ardern is playing the Australian media like a black grand piano.
I suspect she is building up momentum in order to use their media to ask something big of Turnbull.
This is one skilful pollie we have here.
After 9 years of the pony tail puller, the Aussies I speak to with are mighty impressed with our current PM.
Most can’t even remember the one before Bill the Bumbler (love Aussie humour somtimes) , name
Or Bill who?
Skilful or natural?
Earn billions, be the richest man in the world… pay no taxes.
Amazon, another tax avoider.
https://www.inquisitr.com/4811819/amazon-earned-billions-in-2017-but-paid-no-us-income-taxes/