Imagine, – Tiwai Aluminium Smelter has been repurposed to recharge iron powder, the iron powder is being shipped to Huntly and burnt in modified coal fired boilers. As well as being burnt in other industrial heat applications around the Motu.
Principal of conservation of energy, the potential energy of fine iron powder turned into heat then requires as much or more energy to convert back from Ferrous oxide ( rust) to iron again, using, you guessed it, copious quantities of heat
eg' Mesh Belt Furnace: In the mesh belt furnace the iron oxide is transported by a conveyor belt through a furnace in which hydrogen is added at 800-1000°C. The iron oxide is reduced to iron, which sticks together because of the heat, resulting in a layer of iron. This can then be ground up to obtain iron powder.'
The only reason they are looking at this at all is the 'heat' required by many industrial processes cant be efficently supplied from (renewable) electricity.
Thanks for this, I hadn't heard of it and it is very interesting – exciting even.
Potentially, it is a safe and convenient way to store and transport large amounts of energy collected from intermittent renewable sources (solar, wind), allowing high intensity energy use at distant locations at any time. Potential to replace fossil fuels in industry as well as shipping – and shipping has looked very difficult to decarbonise.
A lot easier to transport metal / rust, than hydrogen or batteries!
We are told to never doubt our scientists and experts in this pandemic environment who are wheeled out constantly.
Those same experts know that Māori generally contract cancer 10 years in advance of their fellow New Zealanders. Are those Māori screened for these cancers early to ensure that they get a better shot at recovery or longevity?
The answer is no.
Someone who is not a Māori has clearly made a decision that Māori people will be consigned to a more gory death by blocking access to early cancer testing.
If the shoe was on the other foot, it would mean non-Māori would not be screened for cancer until they were 70. Can you imagine the storming of Parliament by those folk if they had that visited upon them?
"Someone who is not a Māori has clearly made a decision that Māori people will be consigned to a more gory death by blocking access to early cancer testing."
The daily smoking rate for Māori adults is 28.7%. Māori were 2.77 times as likely to be current smokers, and Māori women were 3.6 times as likely to be current smokers, than their non-Māori counterparts, after adjusting for age, and gender
Someone who is a Maori has clearly made a decision that will result in a more gory death by engaging in riskier health addictions.
The issue is more complex than a one cause (smoking) answer.
Cancer impacts more heavily on Māori, with large inequalities in the experience and quality of care from diagnosis to treatment to outcomes.
Māori have a higher incidence and higher mortality from for all cancers compared to non-Māori.
Inequalities in cancer death rates are increasing, which is a major reason for the 8 year gap in life expectancy for Māori compared to non-Māori.
Survival rates for Māori are poorer, with disparities in access to all cancer services.
Māori are nearly twice as likely to die from cancer, even though they are only 18% more likely to have cancer. One reason may be that diagnosis comes when the cancer has reached a more advanced stage.
Māori have the highest rate of lung cancer in the world with three times the mortality rate and a 7 year gap in life expectancy compared to non-Māori. This high mortality stems mostly from late presentation, delays in treatment and low surgical rates for early stage disease.
The emergency department is the most common method of entry to secondary care. This suggests that access barriers (e.g. financial, cultural, geographic) may still exist in the primary care sector along with other factors influencing late presentation such as patient fear.
Māori were more likely to have delays in receiving treatment, four times less likely than Europeans to receive curative treatment. Treatment for Māori was aimed at relieving symptoms.
The differences in types of treatment received may reflect the stage of cancer at presentation and higher rates of comorbidity (e.g. renal disease, cardiovascular disease) for Māori, which would preclude the use of curative treatments.
Could be that new Maori initiatives starting will make a great difference. A factor that hasn't been foremost I think, is that Maori influence each other and also that many have been getting along, making do, as well as they can for many decades, but without a clear belief and path to follow for a brighter future.
If a hapu got together and set themselves achievable goals, health, fitness, housing, education, regular jobs, tome for cultural and family entertainment and sport, and were financed reasonably so that these aspirations could be achieved, there would be a group rise. And this would ratchet up on the success of each, and they also could institute a buddy system with a plan that the pair drew up and they would help each other to stick to it with a reward for themselves at the end.
That could be a winning system, which may already be under way in different areas, but then there needs to be communication about it to others and what is succeeding and what needs tweaking.
Contribution of smoking to the life expectancy gap—Māori Among Māori men, 2.1 years (28.4%) of the 7.4 year gap in life expectancy was attributable to the higher mortality rates from smoking attributable deaths. Among Māori women, the contribution from smoking attributable deaths was 2.3 years (32.9%) of the 7.0 year gap.
Drivers of inequity Factors contributing to the pervasive and persisting ethnic health inequities are multifaceted and complex. Three main pathways have been identified: (i) differential access to the determinants of health or exposures leading to differences in disease incidence, (ii) differential access to healthcare and (iii) differences in quality of care received. These pathways are driven by different levels of racism, particularly institutionalised and personally mediated or interpersonal racism.
I have to agree with JT – a separatist health system.
But it already exists in another form – the private health system. If you have a few bucks you can always get treatment in the private system, whereas you might wait weeks for similar treatment in public.
Socialise the whole bloody lot – which certainly shouldn't preclude a specialist section devoted to Maori health.
Actually if you care to read fully, you would see that the last time we got comprehensive unemployment numbers is Dec 20 for the last quater of 2020. We are now in may and so far have not been given the numbers for first quater 2021.
Unemployment
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in the December 2020 quarter, down from 5.3 percent in the September quarter.
For men, the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, down from 4.8 percent last quarter.
For women, the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, down from 5.8 percent
In the year to the December 2020 quarter, there were 25,000 more unemployed people:
11,000 more men were unemployed.
15,000 more women were unemployed.
The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) for the following ethnic groups in the December 2020 quarter was:
3.7 percent for European (no statistically significant change since the December 2019 quarter)
9.0 percent for Māori (no statistically significant change since the December 2019 quarter)
9.6 percent for Pacific people, up from 7.2 percent in the December 2019 quarter
5.2 percent for Asian, up from 3.4 percent in the December 2019 quarter.
The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) for following age groups in the December 2020 quarter was:
10.1 percent for 15–29-year-olds (up from 8.4 percent in the December 2019 quarter)
3.3 percent for 30–54-year-olds (up from 2.6 percent in the December 2019 quarter)
2.5 percent for 55 and over (no statistically significant change since the December 2019 quarter).
If you care to look at the unemloyment numbers in detail, you will see that the only group that fits that unemployment number in fact is below is men and caucasians as a group. That is where the shovel ready jobs really did some good, albeit 8000 jobs short, and that could be due to the fact that the shovel ready jobs or the Provincial Growth fund was axed by the now majority government.
Not sure if it was done, but then i would not put it past them.
So i would really not sprout some numbers that are literally 5 month old now, while we still wait for the government massage its current numbers into something that they are happy to show and people are happy to swallow.
And never mind underutilasation, or the people that are not even in Winz books because they rather go prostitute or participate in the black economy then subject themselves to the kindness and gentleness that is Jacinda Arderns and the Labour Parties Ministry of Social Bullshittery.
The numbers are from the government, they do the story telling. I just copy paste the numbers so that people don't believe that the 'unemployment is down' is not mistaken for a one fits all. Unemployment is indeed down, for men and caucasians. All others seem to be stuck or getting worse.
But as i said, these are not my numbers they are the one provided by the current government of NZ. Any issue with the story these numbers tell should be taken up with the ones that compiled and formatted them.
And yes, i actually can't wait for the numbers. if anything i owuld like to get them monthly as that would maybe provide some more nuance.
It’s worse than that. Under capitalist dogma, all employment is good employment, which is why the focus is always on the ‘desirable’ or ‘good’ aspect and why people must be forced toiling their lives away earning a living at all cost. Those who cannot or do not want to be meaningfully employed shall be penalized and punished by the State. The State has indoctrinated the people and co-opted the Media to ensure Society at large does most of the penalizing and punishing and to avoid the people turning against the State when it applies sanctions on the ‘undesirables’ under the umbrella excuse of Social License (AKA mandate). Such is the power of capitalism that many people not only are ok with this but they actually actively advocate and vote for the harsh coercion of their fellow humans. This we call Democracy and Freedom. And for the China lovers here, State Capitalism is even worse, IMHO.
Dismissing me as being difficult is an easy way out but employment is paid work and not all work is paid or a necessity; work can be for pleasure as well and there’s even such a thing as a voluntary work and a volunteer worker; ever heard of a volunteer employee? Neither have I; it is an oxymoron. Sloppy thinking leads to sloppy language and vice versa.
I dont dismiss you at all…indeed the fact I said you were being difficult indicates the complexity of the problem…suggesting sloppy thinking IS the easy way out….answering 'who' does the work required is the difficult question to be answered
fair enough..it is broad. however the fact remains that there is a certain amount of work required to support the life of our population, and that 'work' is necessary…..who does it?
As someone getting close to the age of being unable to do much of it I ask myself (and , on this occasion , you) how do we ensure we are capable of carrying it out?
Neither and both….the original post was about employment (unspecified) so employment (work) unspecified is my point…and that would include health and elderly care I would expect.
As stated, any society only survives with the labour of its members (how that labour is allocated can vary) ….we seem to be failing to the extent that we need to import that labour from without,
We can ‘import’ doctors and nurses from elsewhere but this may create a gap/need there, where they may be needed even more urgently. The global employment market is competitive, wich means the lowest bidders miss out. If we, as a country, are prepared to pay the price, then we should be ok. I just have a feeling this is not exactly what you’re asking though …
It could be…if we believe we can remain able to match the bid…I doubt that is realistic…if that is so then we need to ensure we can provide from within…and that means we need to maximise the capability of those here.
We, it seems to me at least, fail to come close to that, indeed we appear to have written off a significant proportion of our community.
If you agree that we are unlikely to win a bidding war then what option remains?
sorry ad, but poverty is expensive and we don't have the money to tackle it. We need the money for Americas Cup rich listers entertainment, a few million bucks for the richest man of the world the sell him the beauty of nZ and keep a movie legacy, and so one and so forth.
Just don't ask for funding to self test for cancer, or feed all the hungry kiwi kids, or make the heating supplement not a filler benefit but a permanent one for all beneficiaries.
This government has priorities, and poverty is not one of them, unless to many people yell about it and the Polls tell dear Leader that people in the country are getting testy, and then the kindness fairy appears and will tinkle down a few dollar (fully taxed) to a deserving few.
Ah yes, shovel ready projects. Most of us knew this was wishful thinking at best. Now we know. Those 11 000 jobs (part, casual, full anything goes) will disappear with the finishing of the projects and then its back to square one. But now a new highly paid entity is being established. This can only mean that those 140K earners in parliament are there to have ideas, not that these need to be feasible. No no no, we need a reality check department, speak implementation unit to make sure those folks get going in the right direction, whatever that is. This is like a comedy. When are we going to build houses, get people enough paid that they can make a living? I mean that is basics really. Roof over the head, food on the table, clothes on the back. Civilizations are build on this.
I wonder how the kids to in NZ that currently do online learning cause their school was not rewarded with some funding – but i guess they were not green enough 🙂 They were just educating Kiwis from non rich families.
As i said, this government and the one before had and still have their priorities.
heck its all good, the kids returned to their not warm, mouldy leaking school. I guess someone stuck some duct tape over the leaks and considers it good now. Or go to other buildings all over town. Heck maybe they need to put a grant towards the government and call it the ‘green school’, and then maybe someone will get real exited and get them some cash.
So Robert, have you got anything to say about the Kids in lower Hutt with their school that has mold everywhere, 13 rooms that need to be demolished, and that they are now going back to ?
Or do you only reflexivly defend something because it grew on the manure pile the Green Party? Or is that something that you like so many others seems to fall under ,sucks to be them, happy it ain't me, and besides its not a nice and green school, also i am not poor so i am not affected. As that is literally what come across.
A nice article from last year, and of course the child of the dear leader will never go to that school. That school is for the undeserving poor. Dear Leaders child might go to a very fine very expensive private school, that may or may not be green. But it will be without leaks and food for all. That is for sure.
The problem is not what i said, Robert, the problem may be what you read.
This school was part of that scheme, and i would like to know if they put that money to good use, and if people are still employed to build it. After all that money they got is coming from us. The taxpayers. So yeah, we should be told how these investments are going, and if these investments will bring a benefit to all of us, or just a wee tiny small group of people.
Oh, you want to know details of the school's progress – have you tried searching for articles in the various media? That'd be a good place to start. I thought you were wanting opinions from commenters here on TS, about how the green school is going.
You know it was a loan in full, yes? It is in the link I gave. Was your question about the Green School in good faith or were you just angling for an excuse to flip your lid again and piss on somebody else’s success stoking envy and divisiveness?
Yes, i know that it got changed into a loan after a whole lot of brouhahah, and as i said, this government will change its tune to the Polls.
The point is not that his school got a grant or a loan, the point is that we have hundreds of schools that actually have a need, now, for kids going to school now, and that 40 odd million that was given to these rich listers for their private school should have been spend on the schools in NZ that have mold, leaking roofs and room so bad that they must be destroyed.
And then give money to some rich listers for their private enterprise under the guise of shovel ready jobs and not a moment before .
So, you just grab any excuse, even manufacture one here, to piss on things. You cannot let escape any opportunity to drag the PM (AKA Dear Leader, FFS) down and even drag her child down into it.
You know the famous movie scene:
I’ll have what she’s having!
Well, to me your comments are the exact opposite of that.
I have said exactly the same last year – namely that there are schools that have a greater need, in some cases even an urgent immediate need, and that they should get first dibs on any money the government hast to throw about.
Government has a responsability towards our children, be that to assure they have enough to eat, live in decent housing or go to safe, warm, non mouldy schools fully equipped with the tools that are needed to educate them and give them a chance for a future.
And once they have fulfilled that obligation and then if there is money left in the kitty they can then go and distribute that money to the greatest benefit of all. I do not change my opinion like underwear. And in this case I still believe that it was not a good decision. Full stop there.
Why do some (…) commenters here insist on being and staying ignorant yet think that they ride the moral high-road and know it all?
“Just to be clear, never, ever was this a 100 per cent grant – not at all,” Chris Edwards, Green School New Zealand chief executive, said on Wednesday. “The application was for a 25 per cent grant – the rest was a series of loans.”
…and yet, confusingly, James Shaw is quoted thus just the day before.
“As a politician, admitting you were wrong is one of the hardest things to do. We’re expected to be infallible. So much so that we can forget that people prefer their leaders to be honest and compassionate.
“Becoming a Minister means being willing to question your decisions in public and, if necessary, correct them,” Shaw said.
But it looks like correcting the decision will be difficult.
Shaw said the Green School had approached the Government to find a solution, but he was staying out of any negotiations because it would be in appropriate for a Minister to intervene.
“These discussions can take time, and whatever you think of the process, Ministers cannot insert themselves in commercial negotiations,” Shaw said.
He said that the best thing to happen now would be for the funding to be converted into a loan.
“My personal view is that the best way to do this is that support for the Green School to come in the form of a loan, rather than a grant. That would ensure the money is paid back in full,” Shaw said.
Seriously…hats off to anyone who has managed to sort the fact from the fantasy and the double-handed butt-covering surrounding that embarrassing little shit show.
I didn't realise the original principal resigned after the $11.7m grant / loan fiasco. I guess its not surprising given the bad publicity received. I have to agree with Sabine on this one, would be nice if the government could find a few million for either a grant (or even a loan) for the Hutt Valley school.
so we can assume that the Lower Hutt School is still waiting for some of that 1.9 billion to tinkle down.
3 JULY 2020
Four new projects announced as part of the biggest ever national school rebuild programme
Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
Hon Chris Hipkins
Prime MinisterEducation
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins today announced significant funding for Auckland’s Northcote College as part of the first wave of a new nationwide school redevelopment programme to upgrade schools over the next 10 years.
The $48.5 million project brings the total investment in Northcote College to $60 million since 2018. The additional funding will be used to refurbish two of Northcote College’s heritage buildings, and relocate a third to a better location on the site. A new gym will be built, and 20 ageing classrooms rebuilt or upgraded.
Jacinda Ardern said Northcote College is one of four projects announced today, worth $126 million, which will need hundreds of skilled workers. Design work at Northcote will start shortly, and construction is on track to start early next year.
“Critically, this funding and our approach to look 10 years ahead sends a strong signal to the construction sector that we’ve got a full book of work lined up, and we’ll need a skilled workforce to do it.
“These five projects alone will need hundreds of workers. We’re working on that too by offering free apprenticeships and training courses and providing support to firms to keep on their apprentices through Covid.
“In August, we’ll make information available for the remaining schools in the programme, which is funded from a mix of depreciation funding and future roll growth.
“It adds to the $400 million Schools Investment Package, which we announced late last year and brings forward support for schools to carry out smaller scale building and upgrade projects,” Chris Hipkins said.
'Great chain of being' existed across all cultures , the Inka was total ruler in an hierarchical system.
Just the other the day the Queen of the Zulus died and thats a paramount chieftan role thats existed for many centuries and similar existed through out Africa
Somehow Open Mike has become very much a focus for a few constant daily commenters who never ever see any joy or positivity in anything at all. They cannot see while many things may not be ideal, there is much to be reasonably content about in NZ. Interesting discussions involving many people's views are unfortunately not happening.
The 'word' came from the OHRP. Concerned that Pharmac would react to a claim of discrimination against kids with SMA by cutting funding for paediatric cancer drugs, they decided not to represent the claim at the HRRT.
There is the risk that the answer to any discrimination claim would be to normalise the situation by decreasing paediatric cancer patients' access to treatment funding. That would be a very disappointing outcome but it is one Pharmac has suggested it is willing to do."
What Tolich didn't know was Pharmac had been considering for some time ending its blanket coverage for child cancer drugs – a situation that developed by historical accident.
They had said it was something previously they had looked at , not some thing they will do in response for the court case, which is bogus discrimination grounds.
You make the mistake of the 'reporting' suggesting something as though its a fact
edit
Other sites have interesting discussions and cover what some are 'reasonably content about in NZ'. The Standard's purpose is largely to discuss what the left is thinking, doing and not doing in this country and the world. And why thinking people cannot be reasonably content. Those that are, aren't thinking about the reality of what is happening, what will happen if the right things are not done, what will happen whatever is done, how we can get ready for the future catastrophes, how we can awaken enough people to the situation and to act together with goodwill to ameliorate the process. That is The Standard's proper function, and if it doesn't do that it fails the thinking people trying to live fulfilling, happy lives, but caters for the sheeple, sweet people a lot of them, but with their heads in the sand. And we are also providing intelligence to each other about the people who are not sweet, not kind, not caring citizens and who will step over those with preventable illnesses physical and mental, to get where and what they want.
Reality, if you are thinking of Sabine, she raises good points but doesn't take enough time to relax her mind, ready for the next onslaught of bad news and stress. For a whole day Sabine stop, don't let any bad news come into your wonderful mind, and don't go on-line. Listen, read, take in what I and other people are saying for your own good, don't try and take everything stubbornly on your own shoulders. These are friendly suggestions not combative ones. Stop argufying for a while. Give yourself a break, and us, we all can only take so much before we cry or go catatonic.
Is that the best you can do? Instead of addressing comments, you simply fob off others by posting video clips!? This is the second one here in OM and you’re derailing the threads of others who raise salient and valid points.
I (like many others who used to comment here regularly up to about two years ago) rarely do so now with many good people complete no shows. I just cannot be bothered with the power imbalances, delusions of superiority, personal insults and targeting etc.
I admire your fortitude and that of others such as Rosemary, Adrian Thornton to mention just a few – even Morrissey and Gosman. Kia kaha!
PS – totally with you and Rosemary on the Green School "loan" issue. In fact having read the thread above, rechecked with a couple of former work colleagues in the Wellington State Sector/Parliamentary Precinct who confirmed the transformation from full grant to full loan once it became public … Obviously cannot provide links!
As someone said at 11.32am above in this thread "Why do some (…) commenters here insist on being and staying ignorant yet think that they ride the moral high-road and know it all?"
A Queen song just came to mind – something about hammers, but won't post a link.
Hearsay doesn’t count for anything here. Please put up your evidence and I will stand corrected, like many others. Or leak it to the media so that you can cite it here.
I’ve also observed how tribalism is rife here on TS; sub-groups gang up and then band together when one of them is challenged. Quite unfortunate, as it creates a polarising and divisive forum where robust debate is impossible and dies a sudden death 🙁
As such, your comment only added fuel to the fire and did not (re)solve anything, which is most disappointing and quite unexpected coming from you.
"For this term of Government we have three core goals. In addition to keeping New Zealanders safe from COVID-19, we are focused on accelerating our economic recovery and addressing the big three foundational challenges, housing affordability, climate change and child wellbeing.
The Government is determined that we will deliver on these core priorities. To that end the Prime Minister has asked me to lead the establishment an Implementation Unit based in her department.
The Unit will be funded through Budget 2021 and will monitor and support implementation of a small number of critical initiatives, particularly where multiple agencies are involved in the work. This includes areas such as mental health, infrastructure, housing and climate change mitigation. The Unit will report to me as Deputy Prime Minister, and will engage closely with Minister’s offices."
What do you do when you have placed your best options in positions of authority and they dont perform?….you can 'crack as many heads' as you like but ultimately even replacing them dosnt ensure improved performance.
Its been suggested that this is a vote of no confidence in the public service but while there may be little confidence in the PS (id suggest with good reason) this appears more to be a vote of little confidence in ministerial ability.
The quandary of this government is that the Ministers are performing fine but their sum totality is underwhelming. To me that bespeaks a Prime Minister with out the muscle to get the most out of her team. They need head-kickers to shift major entities: you can do the list of the poor performing state entites.
Subbing the job out from Cabinet and PM's office to DPMC and SSC then to this new one is an illustration of brittle leadership at the top.
Muldoonism is long gone , but seems its still lamented.
Virtually no ministers have any powers you suggest, only a few exceptions allow them to 'direct' the relevant department ( thanks for your opinion mInister !) and in some cases its proscribed to even give an opinion.
No one is suggesting doing away with the Policy/Executive split.
But as you can see from the actions some Ministers have taken in this second term across Health, Public Health, Customs, Housing, Reserve Bank, Tertiary Education, Water regulation, and more, Ministers very much have powers to cajole, force, bully, remove, shame, defund, and merge entities to do their bidding to achieve policy aims are still strong … and under this government getting much stronger.
Since it needs spelling out to you: the entities that I see the government is finding real and sustained resistance to their policies are:
NZTA, Airways, MPI, NZPolice, parts of MBIE particularly Energy and Immigration, TVNZ, multiple DHB's, Corrections, MoJ esp Courts, Electricity Authority, and Commerce Commission.
So if you ranked Ministers, and then ranked their respective Departments, you'd find quite different scores often.
By your own comment it is obvious the Ministers performance is anything but 'fine'….if it were fine there would be no need to invent another layer of oversight
Great. So now we need another department to blame when things don't get done. Why are we paying these ministers so much? They are obviously not getting things implemented as why else would we need this unit. What happened to the year of delivery?
Id agree they are failing to implement change (and failing badly) however I would suggest that is a better problem to have than the previous administration who were comfortable to oversee a public service not required to administer change
Greywarshark – thank you for your thoughtful response. I readily agree we must always be ready to challenge what is not right or fair. But the sun often shines, the sky is a lovely blue, there are lovely flowers and trees to enjoy looking at, we get pleasure from meeting up with friends and family. So sometimes we can be happy and/or reasonably content, surely? And smile about something amusing. But still have concern for those who struggle. People who are positive and can enjoy themselves, even when things may be difficult, are those who I prefer to interact with.
I look for the best in things Reality. But think of this period as a phony war. Can we prevent it? Sure as eggs we will have climate change and if we don't start now the authorities will end up pushing us round with army bodily removing us to …where? and prison terms for protest etc. So don't sit around having tea and cakes too long will you. I have that once a week, go to music nights, occasional beer and wine. You don't need to become an ascetic just a well-rounded person coping with the thoughts of likely dystopia, and finding some answers that are good for us all. Kia kaha.
From a man who was a 9 year old child that Social Welfare put into Cherry Farm Hospital against the experienced doctor's advice.
The patients were very disturbed and mentally ill, he said. "They were making noises, wailing and making unusual movements with their bodies and faces. I remember thinking to myself what the hell is this and I was still wondering where the cherries were.
"I went into a foetal position and the patients starting coming at me in every direction." He was constantly medicated at Cherry Farm to keep him quiet and then discharged six weeks later without there ever being a mental illness diagnosis
He first went to the Epuni Boys' Home and then Hokio Beach School. At Hokio he was raped at least hundreds of times by older boys.
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Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
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Matt McCarten is spearheading a campaign against worker abuse in the wake of the pandemic.
https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/end-workplace-exploitation-and-abuse
[tidied up link; anything after question mark (mark included) can usually be deleted]
What is wrong with this idea?
Imagine, – Tiwai Aluminium Smelter has been repurposed to recharge iron powder, the iron powder is being shipped to Huntly and burnt in modified coal fired boilers. As well as being burnt in other industrial heat applications around the Motu.
Why aren't we doing this, can anyone tell me?
https://newatlas.com/energy/bavarian-brewery-carbon-free-renewable-iron-fuel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKVj1CwAmmk
[tidied up link; anything after question mark (mark included) can usually be deleted]
Because we have renewable electricity instead, I'm guessing.
Principal of conservation of energy, the potential energy of fine iron powder turned into heat then requires as much or more energy to convert back from Ferrous oxide ( rust) to iron again, using, you guessed it, copious quantities of heat
eg' Mesh Belt Furnace: In the mesh belt furnace the iron oxide is transported by a conveyor belt through a furnace in which hydrogen is added at 800-1000°C. The iron oxide is reduced to iron, which sticks together because of the heat, resulting in a layer of iron. This can then be ground up to obtain iron powder.'
The only reason they are looking at this at all is the 'heat' required by many industrial processes cant be efficently supplied from (renewable) electricity.
So no beer in a carbon neutral future
By 'efficiently' do you mean 'cheaply'?
Thanks for this, I hadn't heard of it and it is very interesting – exciting even.
Potentially, it is a safe and convenient way to store and transport large amounts of energy collected from intermittent renewable sources (solar, wind), allowing high intensity energy use at distant locations at any time. Potential to replace fossil fuels in industry as well as shipping – and shipping has looked very difficult to decarbonise.
A lot easier to transport metal / rust, than hydrogen or batteries!
How we already have a segregated health system, Nats. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300290195/john-tamihere-we-already-have-a-separatist-healthcare-system
"Someone who is not a Māori has clearly made a decision that Māori people will be consigned to a more gory death by blocking access to early cancer testing."
The daily smoking rate for Māori adults is 28.7%. Māori were 2.77 times as likely to be current smokers, and Māori women were 3.6 times as likely to be current smokers, than their non-Māori counterparts, after adjusting for age, and gender
Someone who is a Maori has clearly made a decision that will result in a more gory death by engaging in riskier health addictions.
The issue is more complex than a one cause (smoking) answer.
Cancer impacts more heavily on Māori, with large inequalities in the experience and quality of care from diagnosis to treatment to outcomes.
Māori have a higher incidence and higher mortality from for all cancers compared to non-Māori.
Inequalities in cancer death rates are increasing, which is a major reason for the 8 year gap in life expectancy for Māori compared to non-Māori.
Survival rates for Māori are poorer, with disparities in access to all cancer services.
Māori are nearly twice as likely to die from cancer, even though they are only 18% more likely to have cancer. One reason may be that diagnosis comes when the cancer has reached a more advanced stage.
Māori have the highest rate of lung cancer in the world with three times the mortality rate and a 7 year gap in life expectancy compared to non-Māori. This high mortality stems mostly from late presentation, delays in treatment and low surgical rates for early stage disease.
The emergency department is the most common method of entry to secondary care. This suggests that access barriers (e.g. financial, cultural, geographic) may still exist in the primary care sector along with other factors influencing late presentation such as patient fear.
Māori were more likely to have delays in receiving treatment, four times less likely than Europeans to receive curative treatment. Treatment for Māori was aimed at relieving symptoms.
The differences in types of treatment received may reflect the stage of cancer at presentation and higher rates of comorbidity (e.g. renal disease, cardiovascular disease) for Māori, which would preclude the use of curative treatments.
Could be that new Maori initiatives starting will make a great difference. A factor that hasn't been foremost I think, is that Maori influence each other and also that many have been getting along, making do, as well as they can for many decades, but without a clear belief and path to follow for a brighter future.
If a hapu got together and set themselves achievable goals, health, fitness, housing, education, regular jobs, tome for cultural and family entertainment and sport, and were financed reasonably so that these aspirations could be achieved, there would be a group rise. And this would ratchet up on the success of each, and they also could institute a buddy system with a plan that the pair drew up and they would help each other to stick to it with a reward for themselves at the end.
That could be a winning system, which may already be under way in different areas, but then there needs to be communication about it to others and what is succeeding and what needs tweaking.
Yep. That is pretty much a description of Whānau Ora.
Right with you there mac1. Could you add links to some of where you get your information.
Here's a 2020 report.
https://teaho.govt.nz/reports/cancer-state
Being non-Māori is definitely the healthy 'choice' in NZ, and that’s not choice, imho.
I have to agree with JT – a separatist health system.
But it already exists in another form – the private health system. If you have a few bucks you can always get treatment in the private system, whereas you might wait weeks for similar treatment in public.
Socialise the whole bloody lot – which certainly shouldn't preclude a specialist section devoted to Maori health.
Unemployment is so low, were the extra jobs for shovel ready projects actually needed?
Only half promised shovel-ready jobs will be delivered | Stuff.co.nz
Construction industry provides few jobs per dollar. Who knew?
Jester Do you know and can you explain to us what criteria the Stats Dept uses to count employed and unemployed?
Actually if you care to read fully, you would see that the last time we got comprehensive unemployment numbers is Dec 20 for the last quater of 2020. We are now in may and so far have not been given the numbers for first quater 2021.
In the year to the December 2020 quarter, there were 25,000 more unemployed people:
If you care to look at the unemloyment numbers in detail, you will see that the only group that fits that unemployment number in fact is below is men and caucasians as a group. That is where the shovel ready jobs really did some good, albeit 8000 jobs short, and that could be due to the fact that the shovel ready jobs or the Provincial Growth fund was axed by the now majority government.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300110872/labour-would-axe-provincial-growth-fund-promising-focused-evolution-of-regional-development
Not sure if it was done, but then i would not put it past them.
So i would really not sprout some numbers that are literally 5 month old now, while we still wait for the government massage its current numbers into something that they are happy to show and people are happy to swallow.
And never mind underutilasation, or the people that are not even in Winz books because they rather go prostitute or participate in the black economy then subject themselves to the kindness and gentleness that is Jacinda Arderns and the Labour Parties Ministry of Social Bullshittery.
Only one more day to wait.
https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/unemployment-rate
Great! i personally can't wait.
And then it is even more dumb by anyone to sprout numbers that are neither here nor there.
Of course, numbers mean nothing on their own, as they tell a story. However, which story depends on the story teller.
The numbers are from the government, they do the story telling. I just copy paste the numbers so that people don't believe that the 'unemployment is down' is not mistaken for a one fits all. Unemployment is indeed down, for men and caucasians. All others seem to be stuck or getting worse.
But as i said, these are not my numbers they are the one provided by the current government of NZ. Any issue with the story these numbers tell should be taken up with the ones that compiled and formatted them.
And yes, i actually can't wait for the numbers. if anything i owuld like to get them monthly as that would maybe provide some more nuance.
Did I read the word 'nuance', theres hope after all
Under-employment is a huge trend disguised by our ongoing official/media fixation on only one of the numbers.
It’s worse than that. Under capitalist dogma, all employment is good employment, which is why the focus is always on the ‘desirable’ or ‘good’ aspect and why people must be forced toiling their lives away earning a living at all cost. Those who cannot or do not want to be meaningfully employed shall be penalized and punished by the State. The State has indoctrinated the people and co-opted the Media to ensure Society at large does most of the penalizing and punishing and to avoid the people turning against the State when it applies sanctions on the ‘undesirables’ under the umbrella excuse of Social License (AKA mandate). Such is the power of capitalism that many people not only are ok with this but they actually actively advocate and vote for the harsh coercion of their fellow humans. This we call Democracy and Freedom. And for the China lovers here, State Capitalism is even worse, IMHO.
Work shall make us free.
Ah, yes, but work and employment are two different things, aren’t they?
Slave labour is its own reward.
Funny that you said that, I’ve recently been reading about slavery (in the US of A) and Stockholm Syndrome. Not light reading, I might add.
you are being difficult Incognito…..what is employment ?. Work is a necessity, who does it however is open to politics
Dismissing me as being difficult is an easy way out but employment is paid work and not all work is paid or a necessity; work can be for pleasure as well and there’s even such a thing as a voluntary work and a volunteer worker; ever heard of a volunteer employee? Neither have I; it is an oxymoron. Sloppy thinking leads to sloppy language and vice versa.
https://www.employment.govt.nz/starting-employment/who-is-an-employee/volunteers/
I dont dismiss you at all…indeed the fact I said you were being difficult indicates the complexity of the problem…suggesting sloppy thinking IS the easy way out….answering 'who' does the work required is the difficult question to be answered
Ah, in that case, sorry.
and the difficult question remains unanswered
As posed, it is unanswerable.
fair enough..it is broad. however the fact remains that there is a certain amount of work required to support the life of our population, and that 'work' is necessary…..who does it?
As someone getting close to the age of being unable to do much of it I ask myself (and , on this occasion , you) how do we ensure we are capable of carrying it out?
Are you talking about health and elderly care?
Neither and both….the original post was about employment (unspecified) so employment (work) unspecified is my point…and that would include health and elderly care I would expect.
As stated, any society only survives with the labour of its members (how that labour is allocated can vary) ….we seem to be failing to the extent that we need to import that labour from without,
We can ‘import’ doctors and nurses from elsewhere but this may create a gap/need there, where they may be needed even more urgently. The global employment market is competitive, wich means the lowest bidders miss out. If we, as a country, are prepared to pay the price, then we should be ok. I just have a feeling this is not exactly what you’re asking though …
It could be…if we believe we can remain able to match the bid…I doubt that is realistic…if that is so then we need to ensure we can provide from within…and that means we need to maximise the capability of those here.
We, it seems to me at least, fail to come close to that, indeed we appear to have written off a significant proportion of our community.
If you agree that we are unlikely to win a bidding war then what option remains?
As you've been pointing out for a while, headline unemployment is one thing: underlying rapid growth in poverty is where the country is at.
sorry ad, but poverty is expensive and we don't have the money to tackle it. We need the money for Americas Cup rich listers entertainment, a few million bucks for the richest man of the world the sell him the beauty of nZ and keep a movie legacy, and so one and so forth.
Just don't ask for funding to self test for cancer, or feed all the hungry kiwi kids, or make the heating supplement not a filler benefit but a permanent one for all beneficiaries.
This government has priorities, and poverty is not one of them, unless to many people yell about it and the Polls tell dear Leader that people in the country are getting testy, and then the kindness fairy appears and will tinkle down a few dollar (fully taxed) to a deserving few.
Ah yes, shovel ready projects. Most of us knew this was wishful thinking at best. Now we know. Those 11 000 jobs (part, casual, full anything goes) will disappear with the finishing of the projects and then its back to square one. But now a new highly paid entity is being established. This can only mean that those 140K earners in parliament are there to have ideas, not that these need to be feasible. No no no, we need a reality check department, speak implementation unit to make sure those folks get going in the right direction, whatever that is. This is like a comedy. When are we going to build houses, get people enough paid that they can make a living? I mean that is basics really. Roof over the head, food on the table, clothes on the back. Civilizations are build on this.
i wonder how the green school is doing, have fee paying schoolchildren and their parents already received their visas?
The Green School seems to be doing fine.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/124916624/new-green-school-nz-principal-came-across-her-dream-job-by-chance
I wonder how the kids to in NZ that currently do online learning cause their school was not rewarded with some funding – but i guess they were not green enough 🙂 They were just educating Kiwis from non rich families.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124814172/ministry-ignored-leaking-buildings-as-school-for-years–hutt-valley-high-principal
As i said, this government and the one before had and still have their priorities.
heck its all good, the kids returned to their not warm, mouldy leaking school. I guess someone stuck some duct tape over the leaks and considers it good now. Or go to other buildings all over town. Heck maybe they need to put a grant towards the government and call it the ‘green school’, and then maybe someone will get real exited and get them some cash.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/441628/students-to-return-to-mould-stricken-hutt-valley-school
This country is really good at wasting money for the shiny bauble and its kids are paying the price.
Damn those children learning to think in a "green" way!
Curse them and their life-enhancing curriculum (probably exploring Anne Salmond's latest offer as we speak, the brats!)
Deport them, I say, those virus carriers and super spreaders with too much money in their pockets. Or lock them up in “distant farms”. Oh, wait …
So Robert, have you got anything to say about the Kids in lower Hutt with their school that has mold everywhere, 13 rooms that need to be demolished, and that they are now going back to ?
Or do you only reflexivly defend something because it grew on the manure pile the Green Party? Or is that something that you like so many others seems to fall under ,sucks to be them, happy it ain't me, and besides its not a nice and green school, also i am not poor so i am not affected. As that is literally what come across.
A nice article from last year, and of course the child of the dear leader will never go to that school. That school is for the undeserving poor. Dear Leaders child might go to a very fine very expensive private school, that may or may not be green. But it will be without leaks and food for all. That is for sure.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/122644266/would-the-pm-send-neve-herethe-sodden-horror-of-a-decile-1-school
So yeah, i guess the poor kids of NZ don't need nice schools unless their parents can afford a years salary in payment. So very green.
Sabine – I was certain that the topic was the green school, as you began your comment with,
"i wonder how the green school is doing"
The problem is not what i said, Robert, the problem may be what you read.
This school was part of that scheme, and i would like to know if they put that money to good use, and if people are still employed to build it. After all that money they got is coming from us. The taxpayers. So yeah, we should be told how these investments are going, and if these investments will bring a benefit to all of us, or just a wee tiny small group of people.
So how is that school doing?
Oh, you want to know details of the school's progress – have you tried searching for articles in the various media? That'd be a good place to start. I thought you were wanting opinions from commenters here on TS, about how the green school is going.
Already answered that <sigh>
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04-05-2021/#comment-1790862
You know it was a loan in full, yes? It is in the link I gave. Was your question about the Green School in good faith or were you just angling for an excuse to flip your lid again and piss on somebody else’s success stoking envy and divisiveness?
Yes, i know that it got changed into a loan after a whole lot of brouhahah, and as i said, this government will change its tune to the Polls.
The point is not that his school got a grant or a loan, the point is that we have hundreds of schools that actually have a need, now, for kids going to school now, and that 40 odd million that was given to these rich listers for their private school should have been spend on the schools in NZ that have mold, leaking roofs and room so bad that they must be destroyed.
And then give money to some rich listers for their private enterprise under the guise of shovel ready jobs and not a moment before .
So, you just grab any excuse, even manufacture one here, to piss on things. You cannot let escape any opportunity to drag the PM (AKA Dear Leader, FFS) down and even drag her child down into it.
You know the famous movie scene:
Well, to me your comments are the exact opposite of that.
I have said exactly the same last year – namely that there are schools that have a greater need, in some cases even an urgent immediate need, and that they should get first dibs on any money the government hast to throw about.
Government has a responsability towards our children, be that to assure they have enough to eat, live in decent housing or go to safe, warm, non mouldy schools fully equipped with the tools that are needed to educate them and give them a chance for a future.
And once they have fulfilled that obligation and then if there is money left in the kitty they can then go and distribute that money to the greatest benefit of all. I do not change my opinion like underwear. And in this case I still believe that it was not a good decision. Full stop there.
But feel free to take my comments as you like.
You know it was a loan in full, yes?
It miraculously morphed into said loan only because of the very loud thoroughly righteous public outrage.
Why do some (…) commenters here insist on being and staying ignorant yet think that they ride the moral high-road and know it all?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/122640790/green-schools-117m-from-govt-never-ever-been-a-100-per-cent-grant-ce-says
So many 'everses'…
…and yet, confusingly, James Shaw is quoted thus just the day before.
“As a politician, admitting you were wrong is one of the hardest things to do. We’re expected to be infallible. So much so that we can forget that people prefer their leaders to be honest and compassionate.
“Becoming a Minister means being willing to question your decisions in public and, if necessary, correct them,” Shaw said.
But it looks like correcting the decision will be difficult.
Shaw said the Green School had approached the Government to find a solution, but he was staying out of any negotiations because it would be in appropriate for a Minister to intervene.
“These discussions can take time, and whatever you think of the process, Ministers cannot insert themselves in commercial negotiations,” Shaw said.
He said that the best thing to happen now would be for the funding to be converted into a loan.
“My personal view is that the best way to do this is that support for the Green School to come in the form of a loan, rather than a grant. That would ensure the money is paid back in full,” Shaw said.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300096758/james-shaw-calls-green-school-funding-an-error-of-judgment-as-he-searches-for-a-solution?rm=a
Seriously…hats off to anyone who has managed to sort the fact from the fantasy and the double-handed butt-covering surrounding that embarrassing little shit show.
I’m not confused; are you? Part was a grant and part was a loan. Which part confuses you? I’m aiming for clarity; are you?
Anyway, this thread is not about the Green School, never was. It is just a hook put up by Sabine.
Hang on a minute Sunshine…you threw out the old "ignorant" slur…
Part was a grant and part was a loan. Link, please?
Take it up with James Shaw…he's the one who appears confused.
If the shoe fits …
Which bit did you miss in the quoted text plus link here: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04-05-2021/#comment-1790914?
I believe James Shaw is not confused and has moved on. Please let me know if you need any further assistance with clearing up your confusion.
Have a nice day or, as you prefer, SSDD.
I didn't realise the original principal resigned after the $11.7m grant / loan fiasco. I guess its not surprising given the bad publicity received. I have to agree with Sabine on this one, would be nice if the government could find a few million for either a grant (or even a loan) for the Hutt Valley school.
Rebuilds/repairs for all state schools are $100s millions per year, but after 9 years of neglect the backlog is huge
'“The first wave includes around 40 schools and has a budget of up to $1.3 billion'
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/four-new-projects-announced-part-biggest-ever-national-school-rebuild-programme
yei!
the link dates to July 2020
so we can assume that the Lower Hutt School is still waiting for some of that 1.9 billion to tinkle down.
Your level of catastrophising has me really worried
You've got the wrong end of the stick; he was headhunted and offered a job he couldn't refuse.
https://greenschool.nz/news/gsnz-principal-heading-to-lego-foundation/
An excellent piece by Anne Salmond, which I won’t spoil or pre-empt with my own views as there’s much, i.e. almost everything, to take in from it.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/dame-anne-salmond-iwi-and-kiwi-beyond-the-binary
+1
Stunningly well thought-through and presented piece, Dame Anne!
The final 4 paragraphs are all questions to which the answers are yes, yes, yes & yes!
The following quote describes the present circumstance beautifully,
"Current debates that seek to revive animosities between ‘iwi’ vs ‘Kiwi,’ for example, are classic Cartesian devices…"
'Great chain of being' existed across all cultures , the Inka was total ruler in an hierarchical system.
Just the other the day the Queen of the Zulus died and thats a paramount chieftan role thats existed for many centuries and similar existed through out Africa
This fragment, however, was of the greatest interest to me 🙂
"a first burst of energy in the cosmos generated thought, memory and desire; followed by knowledge;"
I cannot do it justice, definitely not now 🙁
Somehow Open Mike has become very much a focus for a few constant daily commenters who never ever see any joy or positivity in anything at all. They cannot see while many things may not be ideal, there is much to be reasonably content about in NZ. Interesting discussions involving many people's views are unfortunately not happening.
Not only beautiful, but uplifting. Hope it makes your day.
https://www.facebook.com/TeMangaiPaho/videos/2680614895531616
…never ever see any joy or positivity in anything at all.
I have a good news story….
Public Servant does their job!!!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/441704/don-t-play-sick-children-off-against-each-other-children-s-commissioner-tells-pharmac
Unfortunately, (and not unexpectedly)…
Minister Responsible criticizes hard working Public Servant.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/441731/andrew-little-not-pleased-with-children-s-commissioner-comments-on-potential-pharmac-move
SSDD
Pharmac wasnt doing what they suggested it shouldnt do.
'Potential move '
Pharmac wasnt doing what they suggested it shouldnt do.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/441649/pharmac-likely-to-end-blanket-funding-for-kids-cancer-drugs
The 'word' came from the OHRP. Concerned that Pharmac would react to a claim of discrimination against kids with SMA by cutting funding for paediatric cancer drugs, they decided not to represent the claim at the HRRT.
There is the risk that the answer to any discrimination claim would be to normalise the situation by decreasing paediatric cancer patients' access to treatment funding. That would be a very disappointing outcome but it is one Pharmac has suggested it is willing to do."
What Tolich didn't know was Pharmac had been considering for some time ending its blanket coverage for child cancer drugs – a situation that developed by historical accident.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/441649/pharmac-likely-to-end-blanket-funding-for-kids-cancer-drugs
What is it about some here and Pharmac? It is up for scrutiny and criticism just like any other taxpayer funded organisation.
(And considering Spinraza, started early, has 75% efficacy at preventing symptoms of SMA…)
They had said it was something previously they had looked at , not some thing they will do in response for the court case, which is bogus discrimination grounds.
You make the mistake of the 'reporting' suggesting something as though its a fact
edit
Other sites have interesting discussions and cover what some are 'reasonably content about in NZ'. The Standard's purpose is largely to discuss what the left is thinking, doing and not doing in this country and the world. And why thinking people cannot be reasonably content. Those that are, aren't thinking about the reality of what is happening, what will happen if the right things are not done, what will happen whatever is done, how we can get ready for the future catastrophes, how we can awaken enough people to the situation and to act together with goodwill to ameliorate the process. That is The Standard's proper function, and if it doesn't do that it fails the thinking people trying to live fulfilling, happy lives, but caters for the sheeple, sweet people a lot of them, but with their heads in the sand. And we are also providing intelligence to each other about the people who are not sweet, not kind, not caring citizens and who will step over those with preventable illnesses physical and mental, to get where and what they want.
Reality, if you are thinking of Sabine, she raises good points but doesn't take enough time to relax her mind, ready for the next onslaught of bad news and stress. For a whole day Sabine stop, don't let any bad news come into your wonderful mind, and don't go on-line. Listen, read, take in what I and other people are saying for your own good, don't try and take everything stubbornly on your own shoulders. These are friendly suggestions not combative ones. Stop argufying for a while. Give yourself a break, and us, we all can only take so much before we cry or go catatonic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Okt0-Y38Pc
its really uplifting. 🙂
Is that the best you can do? Instead of addressing comments, you simply fob off others by posting video clips!? This is the second one here in OM and you’re derailing the threads of others who raise salient and valid points.
Good choice, Sabine!
And Grey seems to have missed that you do take days (or longer) off from time to time, including just two days ago – on Sunday May 2. LOL
https://thestandard.org.nz/search/%40author+%22Sabine%22/page/2/?search_comments=true&search_posts=true&search_sortby=date
I (like many others who used to comment here regularly up to about two years ago) rarely do so now with many good people complete no shows. I just cannot be bothered with the power imbalances, delusions of superiority, personal insults and targeting etc.
I admire your fortitude and that of others such as Rosemary, Adrian Thornton to mention just a few – even Morrissey and Gosman. Kia kaha!
PS – totally with you and Rosemary on the Green School "loan" issue. In fact having read the thread above, rechecked with a couple of former work colleagues in the Wellington State Sector/Parliamentary Precinct who confirmed the transformation from full grant to full loan once it became public … Obviously cannot provide links!
As someone said at 11.32am above in this thread "Why do some (…) commenters here insist on being and staying ignorant yet think that they ride the moral high-road and know it all?"
A Queen song just came to mind – something about hammers, but won't post a link.
Hearsay doesn’t count for anything here. Please put up your evidence and I will stand corrected, like many others. Or leak it to the media so that you can cite it here.
I’ve also observed how tribalism is rife here on TS; sub-groups gang up and then band together when one of them is challenged. Quite unfortunate, as it creates a polarising and divisive forum where robust debate is impossible and dies a sudden death 🙁
As such, your comment only added fuel to the fire and did not (re)solve anything, which is most disappointing and quite unexpected coming from you.
I just cannot be bothered with the power imbalances, delusions of superiority, personal insults and targeting etc.
That's what I noticed too veutoviper. Snap!
A great clip sabine…and a valid/potent reply to the demand to cheer up…
And I would like to second what veutoviper says below..
Couldn't have said it better myself..
Correction:..what veutoviper said above..
Sabine is the Leader of the Opposition that we should have.
It's a very debilitating being a politician though. Will she make it through the electoral term?
She would be an infinite improvement.
Doers she think that MPs shouldn't talk to gangs?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/national-mp-simeon-brown-ties-death-threats-to-marama-davidsons-visit-to-mongrel-mob/RGXMLADLR5I42MUYX6DCN2JU2E/
If you don't talk to gang members because it's a waste of time because they cause problems for our society, should we talk to National MPs?
lol…apparently not
Department to ensure that actions match words?
"For this term of Government we have three core goals. In addition to keeping New Zealanders safe from COVID-19, we are focused on accelerating our economic recovery and addressing the big three foundational challenges, housing affordability, climate change and child wellbeing.
The Government is determined that we will deliver on these core priorities. To that end the Prime Minister has asked me to lead the establishment an Implementation Unit based in her department.
The Unit will be funded through Budget 2021 and will monitor and support implementation of a small number of critical initiatives, particularly where multiple agencies are involved in the work. This includes areas such as mental health, infrastructure, housing and climate change mitigation. The Unit will report to me as Deputy Prime Minister, and will engage closely with Minister’s offices."
https://www.interest.co.nz/news/110227/robertson-oversee-implementation-unit-be-set-monitor-and-support-implementation-key
WTF is DPMC for then?
This is a pisspoor substitute for Ministers cracking heads.
What do you do when you have placed your best options in positions of authority and they dont perform?….you can 'crack as many heads' as you like but ultimately even replacing them dosnt ensure improved performance.
Its been suggested that this is a vote of no confidence in the public service but while there may be little confidence in the PS (id suggest with good reason) this appears more to be a vote of little confidence in ministerial ability.
The quandary of this government is that the Ministers are performing fine but their sum totality is underwhelming. To me that bespeaks a Prime Minister with out the muscle to get the most out of her team. They need head-kickers to shift major entities: you can do the list of the poor performing state entites.
Subbing the job out from Cabinet and PM's office to DPMC and SSC then to this new one is an illustration of brittle leadership at the top.
Muldoonism is long gone , but seems its still lamented.
Virtually no ministers have any powers you suggest, only a few exceptions allow them to 'direct' the relevant department ( thanks for your opinion mInister !) and in some cases its proscribed to even give an opinion.
No one is suggesting doing away with the Policy/Executive split.
But as you can see from the actions some Ministers have taken in this second term across Health, Public Health, Customs, Housing, Reserve Bank, Tertiary Education, Water regulation, and more, Ministers very much have powers to cajole, force, bully, remove, shame, defund, and merge entities to do their bidding to achieve policy aims are still strong … and under this government getting much stronger.
Since it needs spelling out to you: the entities that I see the government is finding real and sustained resistance to their policies are:
So if you ranked Ministers, and then ranked their respective Departments, you'd find quite different scores often.
No one is suggesting doing away with the Policy/Executive split.
Why? The alternative that we have is not working well either. Oh constipated Again! I suggest we need a different diet, before we die of it.
What exactly is "Muldoonism"?…..please elaborate
By your own comment it is obvious the Ministers performance is anything but 'fine'….if it were fine there would be no need to invent another layer of oversight
Great. So now we need another department to blame when things don't get done. Why are we paying these ministers so much? They are obviously not getting things implemented as why else would we need this unit. What happened to the year of delivery?
Id agree they are failing to implement change (and failing badly) however I would suggest that is a better problem to have than the previous administration who were comfortable to oversee a public service not required to administer change
Greywarshark – thank you for your thoughtful response. I readily agree we must always be ready to challenge what is not right or fair. But the sun often shines, the sky is a lovely blue, there are lovely flowers and trees to enjoy looking at, we get pleasure from meeting up with friends and family. So sometimes we can be happy and/or reasonably content, surely? And smile about something amusing. But still have concern for those who struggle. People who are positive and can enjoy themselves, even when things may be difficult, are those who I prefer to interact with.
Yes, your second paragraph was spot on.
I look for the best in things Reality. But think of this period as a phony war. Can we prevent it? Sure as eggs we will have climate change and if we don't start now the authorities will end up pushing us round with army bodily removing us to …where? and prison terms for protest etc. So don't sit around having tea and cakes too long will you. I have that once a week, go to music nights, occasional beer and wine. You don't need to become an ascetic just a well-rounded person coping with the thoughts of likely dystopia, and finding some answers that are good for us all. Kia kaha.
Rest In Peace Brian Corban.
NZ rail owes you a lot.
Initial govt response: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2105/S00010/minister-for-state-owned-enterprises-saddened-by-passing-of-kiwirail-chair.htm
From a man who was a 9 year old child that Social Welfare put into Cherry Farm Hospital against the experienced doctor's advice.
The patients were very disturbed and mentally ill, he said.
"They were making noises, wailing and making unusual movements with their bodies and faces. I remember thinking to myself what the hell is this and I was still wondering where the cherries were.
"I went into a foetal position and the patients starting coming at me in every direction."
He was constantly medicated at Cherry Farm to keep him quiet and then discharged six weeks later without there ever being a mental illness diagnosis
He first went to the Epuni Boys' Home and then Hokio Beach School.
At Hokio he was raped at least hundreds of times by older boys.
"I can't exactly say how many times I was raped while I was there but my guess is 200 times based on my experience of being raped every day and every night and the amount of boys who were doing it and, as I stand here today, how would anybody like to be raped 200 times in just one place."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/441732/child-put-into-adult-pyschatric-hospital-royal-commission-hears
(What is happening in our prisons at present I wonder and fear?)