It turns out the experts were Waka Kotahi national manager maintenance and operations Neil Walker, Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty system manager Roger Brady and National Road Carriers chief operating officer James Smith.
The first two 'experts' blamed the rain (I am reminded of the closed railways in the UK in the mid '90s that had 'the wrong kind of snow') and the trucking interests spokesman blamed poor build quality.
The rain blamers mentioned the water freezing beneath the road surface. I know it is spring, but it ain't been that cold lately.
Where is the analysis of axle weights and the relative damage? Those Fonterra trucks, fuel tankers, Pak 'n' Save trucks and logging trucks have got nothing to do with it.
Are we to blame the increase of e-bikes for the damage of our roads?
It all reeked of a puff-piece after too many motorists were effected by potholes.
A bit of a shotgun blast first thing, aiming at trucking, lazy (or bought) media and the inevitable result of neo-liberal approach to road maintenance.
The government's plans to rejuvenate rail are being rubbished by the opposition and the trucking lobby as ideologically motivated and wasteful that will take resources away from badly needed road safety improvements.
Heavy Truck/trailer Transportation units should be OFF our roads. And on Rail./Coastal shipping. The trucking lobby has huge malignant influence. Needs addressed NOW.
"When an 80,000-pound 18-wheeler full of cargo is compared to a 4,000-pound passenger car, the truck is 20 times heavier than the car. But taking the 4th power of the relative loads, the semi would cause 160,000 times more road damage than the car.”
In NZ it has nothing to do with freezing in most places. And nothing to do with e-bikes.
Any weakness in a road surface will allow water into the basecourse. This softens the ground and allows a shallow hollow to form which holds more water when roads are wet.
Wheels hitting a cm of water force it down into the tarmac and basecourse, causing further damage. The pool deepens then the road surface breaks up. A hole, holding more water. The heavier the vehicle the more force is exerted by water. Heavy vehicles don't help, but the main problem is traffic volume and the persistence of wet weather. An otherwise good looking road can turn to custard quick quickly if the seal is old.
Chip seal roads have a life span, as the chip seal mix becomes brittle over time. I think it's less than 10-15years. So roads need resealing to protect the sub-surface from getting wet. Apparently there is a lot of deferred maintenance in the last 10-15yrs 'to save money' and thousands of km of roads are becoming brittle, and the weather has been very wet.
The depths of low load bearing capacity and moisture sensitive soils make it uneconomical to excavate bases and replace them with more suitable road foundation materials and use superior pavement layers.
So we're stuck with having to fill and re-contour road bases and continually relay flexible pavement layers.
AT have known about the rail shutdown for seven months, but they only deigned to tell elected representatives one week out from local body election. The CEO of Auckland Transport, who earns around $600,000 a year, can't be bothered to front the media or indeed inform his notional superiors of what his organisation is up to.
This is a massive "fuck you" to the commuters of Auckland and a display of incompetent arrogance from AT. How are you supposed to use the much touted train and bus PT link to the airport from Puhinui If the the train line is kaput for months?
If you were suspiciously minded then on top of the white antting of light rail this is sufficient evidend to raise questions as to whether or not this amounts to deliberately sabotage of the train network just as the CRL is completed.
Couple that with the return of the fuel excise tax.
Hey, maybe the commuters should buy an E-vehicle, those who can't afford should spend 2 grands on an E-bike and cycle on the awesome cycle ways in Auckland.
And for those who can't afford the vehicle or bike, walk.
And this is why Aucklanders are cynical about the point of voting for local representatives. We know that the vast majority of the stuff which affects us on a daily or weekly basis is decided by bureaucrats, or even worse, bureaucrats in COOs – which are deliberately designed to keep politicians at arms length. Elected representatives have little influence on decision-making and less control.
AT have form. We have documented instances where they have flat-out lied – both by implication (plans presented which don't reflect the actual design or built reality); and explicitly (time-frame for a wharf rebuild, which was completely untrue) – to local community boards over issues specifically affecting their community.
'Consultation' is a sham box-ticking exercise. Another reason that people are reluctant to waste their time engaging with them. They quite simply do not listen to any view which doesn't align with what they've already decided to do.
And they (or their contractors) regularly waste vast amounts of time and money – both at the trivial level (road cones set out and taken up 10 times, before a small project actually begins) and at the seriously expensive level: roads dug up and re-surfaced multiple times because of poor quality; moving to chip seal (because it's cheaper), without understanding that you have to replace it more frequently, it causes damage to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, potholes more frequently, and washes into stormwater drains; roundabouts replaced 3 times because the design was poor, or they didn't liaise with other major utilities, etc.
AT care about neither politicians nor democracy. They like the current situation just fine.
No free speech allowed in Labour UK..no surprise about that I guess…
Labour conference delegate suspended after opposing arming Ukraine
"A LABOUR conference delegate who spoke against uncritical support for the Ukrainian government on Tuesday has been suspended.
Angelo Sanchez of Leicester South CLP was the only speaker to oppose Composite 13 at conference, which backed sending more weaponry to the authorities in Kiev as it battles the Russian invasion.
Pointing out that the Ukrainian government has ripped up collective bargaining rights and banned opposition parties, Mr Sanchez had told conference: “It means that the future Labour government would be sending money to a government, the Ukrainian government, that is repressing the left in their own country, a government that is criminalising socialist parties and imprisoning Ukrainian activists."
I assume you mean this Churchill…not sure if I like the sort of company you are keeping there pal…
Churchill urged US to ‘wipe out’ Moscow with A-bomb
"former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill privately became an advocate for an Anglo-American first strike atom bomb attack against the Soviet Union, as once secret FBI records indicate. Churchill’s 1946 speech at Fulton, Missouri, warning against his former Communist ally during World War II, set the stage for a new conflict known as the Cold War, which lasted for decades and still haunts international relations today."
But then again, the Liberal class seem to have morphed seamlessly into a scary new class of imperialist war hawks…so maybe Churchill is exactly the right sort of company for you?
Whilst not a fan of war – I think that East Germany, Poland. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria probably wouldn't have minded not having the Bolshevik's foot on their throat for nearly 50 years
That is a dumb argument Barfly. Churchill was far from an angel.
Zelensky has banned a party (For Life) that had popular support in Ukraine and might potentially have unseated him in an election.
"Led by oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, the party controlled 44 out of 450 seats in Ukraine’s parliament, surpassed only by the ruling Servant of the People party of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Prior to Russia’s invasion in February, several opinion polls showed the Russia-aligned party leading hypothetical parliamentary elections or finishing second."
” [The] For Life party publicly denounced Russia’s invasion of the country and called for negotiations to quickly end the war.”
However, I believe the point was not what is happening in Ukraine (where democracy, I agree, is shaky at best); but, rather, what is happening in the UK.
Do you agree that a Labour conference delegate should be suspended for disagreeing with full support for Ukraine?
I don't agree with him. However, I firmly support his right to be heard. And, if his point of view is unpopular with the majority of delegates (as it probably is), then he will be voted down.
That is democracy. Suspending someone because you disagree with them, is not.
Mr Sanchez was suspended yesterday, the Morning Star understands – despite Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claiming in his own conference speech to stand for tolerance of differing opinions within the party.
Yes totally. Suspending the guy just shows how gun-shy Starmer's Labour is. They saw how the antisemitism smear was weaponised – indeed they encouraged it in order to remove the former leader. So they are well aware that a 'pro-Russia' smear could be up Rupert's sleeve too.
I agree with you totally on this BD. I also agree with AB's post above.
I can't stand Starmer-his behaviour towards Corbyn-basically accepting that Corbyn is an anti Semite which is bollocks, and his acceptance of the Israeli definition of anti-semitism, which involves not criticising Israel, is reprehensible. (Well done Aljazeera-shame on The Guardian)
As for singing the National Anthem at the Labour Party conference and going against the conference's support for PR (FFS)-he is a dinosaur.
Blair supported the Iraq war despite millions in the streets protesting against it….he was in bed with Rupert Murdoch…he began the privatisation of the NHS…..the list is endless
” [The] For Life party publicly denounced Russia’s invasion of the country and called for negotiations to quickly end the war.”
Negotiate ? What are you thinking? Negotiating with Putin is lunacy it is simply how much of your country do you had over to a lunatic dictator that has invaded you.
In the Moscow region , in the military unit of Alabino, mobilized Russians beat contract soldiers, as they demanded equipment and mobile phones from them. Baza writes about this in the Telegram channel.
According to the publication, due to the conflict, 20 contract servicemen were injured in the unit. Those who arrived at the unit did not endure the demands of the contractors, which caused a mass brawl.
[…]
Earlier in the Sverdlovsk region , three Russians called up as part of partial mobilization died . Two of them died on the territory of the Yelansky garrison of the training center of the Ministry of Defense in the village of Poroshino. Another died after being sent home. This information was confirmed to the publication by State Duma deputy from the Sverdlovsk region Maxim Ivanov .
The guy doing this video, (an ex army vet) said that American soldiers are told to supply their own personal items such as shaving gear etc. However, it looks like the Russian conscripts are expected that they provide nearly everything themselves including sleeping bags, wet weather gear, a helmet and body armour.
A lot of that stuff isn’t cheap. So, likely many will turn up without it.
Sucks to be conscripted to the Russian army. There is snow on the ground already in Ukraine, so I expect many of these poor sods will freeze to death.
Thanks for that, though it is a shame that the author fails to point to the complete and conscious dismemberment (led by all UK media..non more so than 'Liberal press led by The Guardian) of any serious Left Wing opposition that could be a foil to the 'self-colonisation process'…it seems that the Liberal class would rather have any type of awful outcome…subject even their own children/granchildren to a future of total dispair, than see a real Left Wing Socialist project get a chance to see what it could do…and this is the same in the USA, Australia and NZ.
you can't copy and paste long pieces like that (it's too much scrolling for people that don't want to read it, think about people on phones). Use selected quotes (clearly marked as quotes) alongside your own views instead.
2. you also can't post whole pieces, that's a copyright breach.
3. doesn't matter if it's behind a paywall, you still have to link.
I've deleted the long piece with no link. You are welcome to post again with the link and making it shorter. thanks.
Grrr.
So, trying to do my best for the environment – but being frustrated….
I have a trip to make from Auckland to Hamilton (family reasons) this Saturday.
Rather than take my car – I'd thought to use the new Te Huia train link.
Only to be foiled. There is no morning service Ak to Ham on Saturdays – only an evening one; and no Sunday service at all (so I couldn't even stay overnight and come back the next day)
Given that the usage figures show greater numbers on Saturdays (rather than weekdays) – indicating that the market is not commuters, but rather day trippers – the failure to provide full weekend services seems…. counterintuitive.
The report found commuter (during the week) trips averaged 30 passengers per journey for a 20 per cent load factor. Weekend trips averaged 146 passengers per journey for a 74 per cent load factor.
Poor service is the problem. Trains are all good, but they need to run decent train schedules. Almost like some mongrel is sabotaging the service from within.
He said the moves to invest in local manufacturing should be applauded because they reversed a destructive, orchestrated decline of rail systems throughout the country and would make the economy and transport systems more resilient.
Rail…and SUPPORTING Rail in NZ is essential. Not only for Employment, and Public Transport, but to get cars …and road damaging over weight trucks/trailers OFF our roads. And of course Climate Change ! Rail absolutely most efficient.
defo should be a Performance Review…at "Management" level !
Back in the 60's and 70's oil and the trucking lobby came for rail and the government rolled over and took it. Government bought in rolling stock that were only able to travel at half the speed of the engines. The result was that trucks looked faster.
A network that covered the entire country with many branch lines suddenly fell out of favor because the government sold us out.
Your declaring the rail website a failure and want it cancelled? It might have cost millions of dollars but it was an obvious success here. Belladonna was completely able to find out her journey plan wasn't going to be feasible on a weekend. Surely shutting it down would have really screwed up her planning wasting considerable time.
If you'd tried to book earlier you might have scored a seat on the Northern Explorer for your Saturday trip to Hamilton, and travelled back to Auckland on the Sunday service.
Travel by rail is the way of the future, but it's not for everyone. If you're interested in using more environmentally-friendly public transport for your trip, then consider the Intercity bus service – it's currently faster and cheaper, and (most importantly) there are still seats available!
Submissions are open until6 October 2022 (hmm, seems to have been extended to 21 October?), for the Parliamentary Inquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail in New Zealand.
Chances of me travelling on an intercity bus – cheek-by-jowl with a whole lot of potential Covid spreaders are pretty close to zero.
That's not a comment on the class of bus patrons, but rather the super-spreader environment.
Aucklanders are pretty reluctant to take even local bus journeys – bus patronage (despite the half-price fares) is still way down on pre-Covid.
Trains (or at least the images of the Te Huia carriages) have more passenger space.
I did see the train fantasising link, when I was looking at Te Huia services – and have used overnight trains in Europe and America (love the sleepers). I'd even consider a sleeper service to Wellington (though probably not for business – it just takes too long). I hope that I wouldn't need one to Hamilton!
If the Waikato Council want to 'make a go of it' then they should consider re-jigging the timetable – to provide daily services in each direction on the weekend (morning and evening). That (according to the survey) seems to be where the demand is.
Chances of me travelling on an intercity bus – cheek-by-jowl with a whole lot of potential Covid spreaders are pretty close to zero.
I don't travel much by bus either (no need – pity the many with no choice). On those rare occasions, I'm typically "cheek-by-jowl" with one other passenger at most. Perceptions of public transport do vary, I'll grant you that.
Aucklanders are pretty reluctant to take even local bus journeys – bus patronage (despite the half-price fares) is still way down on pre-Covid.
Pretty unsurprising, although buses patronage is increasing again (also not surprising), with a little over 4.5 million passengers in Auckland in August 2022, an encouraging increase on 2021 (~3 million) and 2020 (~2.5 million). For comparison, from 2009 – 2016 Auckland bus passenger numbers in the month of August increased from 4.4 to 5.8 million, and in 2017 – 2019 from 6.3 to 7 million.
Modeling the Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Public Transport [February 2022]
It is shown that the risk is reduced most efficiently if loud speaking is avoided and a FFP2 (N95) mask is worn correctly. Only these two measures create a reduction of the virus load of over 99% for both those in the close range of the infected person and those farther away.
Only a simulation – have no idea of the extent to which the “super-spreader environment” of buses might still be contributing to the transmission of COVID-19 in NZ, but wearing a mask will help.
Of course Kiwis who can afford them love their cars.
Yeah. Amazing how public transport users (including some Standardistas) aren't convinced….
Perception is Reality.
NB: I’m not choosing to fly either – for the same perceived risk reasons.
I’ve had a quick look at your model link – and I can’t find whether the mask-wearing and/or loud speaking are for the infected person, or the rest of the passengers, or both. It seems logical that the greatest protective effect would be for the infected person to both wear a high-quality mask, and not talk.
While I can control my own behaviour – observationally, the numbers of other people wearing masks in any public environment have dropped drastically, and continue to trend downwards.
I'll continue to wear a KN95 mask in public indoor spaces (when I remember!) until the number of new COVID-19 cases in NZ drops below 5000 per week – my arbitrary cut-off. And if the numbers go up, then the mask's going back on.
“Perception is Reality” is an odd belief. We know that’s nonsense – it’s not like there are 8 billion realities all jockeying for position.
As an avid SF reader, I'm perfectly willing to believe that there are 8 billion realities jockeying for position. The multiverse rules (or as, the late, great Terry Pratchett put it, the Trousers of Time)
The point is that popular perception influences perceived reality. Indeed, it's the reason PR exists – to shape popular perception and thus guide it to the reality of their choice.
Does perception change actual physical reality? No, of course not: if you think that there's a bridge, when there isn't one, you will still fall off the cliff. Gravity is not deceived.
Does perception change behaviour? You bet. If people think that politician A is corrupt, it doesn't matter very much whether they are, or aren't – the end result is the same – people's voting choices are informed by that perception.
And, perception is a very tricky thing to shift. Facts rarely do it (a mistake make by earnest policy wonks throughout history). The narrative has to change.
The insulating comforts of modernity might lead a few to become so enamoured of their perceptions that they lose touch with reality more often than is good for anyone – a manifestation of exceptionalism.
Imagination is wonderful, and reality always brings us down to Earth, which is wonderful also, in its reliability and in other ways.
The point is that popular perception influences perceived reality.
A truism; perception (popular and otherwise) does indeed influence what is perceived. When I block my ears, (nah nah) I can't hear you. When I close my eyes, I perceive that it gets dark, but that doesn't change day into night. A lovely example of the unequal 'struggle' between human (mis)perception and reality is the idea that ‘daylight saving’ exacerbates curtain fade.
Fighting fading curtains in the Sunshine State [2017]
The late premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen insisted the “extra” hour’s daylight faded curtains while in an appeal to dairy farmers claimed their cows needed to be milked an hour earlier for the milk to be collected on time.
Perception is Reality. [@4:43 pm]
Does perception change actual physical reality? No, of course not.
[@5:51 pm]
One of these statements is not like the other
If your contention is that perceived reality ("Perception is Reality") has its limitations, one being that it is not always in harmony with"actual physical reality", then I heartily agree. There are many aspects of reality that are puzzling, and many more still that humanity is utterly unaware of (the unknown unknowns) – still, we continue to discover, while we can.
Re SF, I'm a fan too – imagine the computing power required to maintain 8 billion perceptions of reality, 24/7 – imagine…
Do you also want to discuss the point I was making over perception is reality ?
"Does perception change behaviour? You bet. If people think that politician A is corrupt, it doesn't matter very much whether they are, or aren't – the end result is the same – people's voting choices are informed by that perception.
And, perception is a very tricky thing to shift. Facts rarely do it (a mistake make by earnest policy wonks throughout history). The narrative has to change."
Or shall we call it a night – neither of us having convinced the other.
Or shall we call it a night – neither of us having convinced the other.
We're probably writing at cross purposes – I mistakenly took your statement @8.2.1.1.1 ("Perception is Reality") at (unadorned) face value, and it seemed contrary to my understanding that 'Reality' is composed of that which is 'real', and exists largely if not wholly independent of perception (yes, there are wheels within wheels, but the bedrock is Reality). Whereas (human) 'Perception' (and/or misperception) is largely if not wholly dependent on reality for input. What is real and what is perceived may be more or less the same, of course, but then again they may not (be.)
For example, we could agree that your perception matches the reality that there is no Auckland-to-Hamilton Te Huia train service on Saturday mornings (your original "Grrr" @8). And hopefully we could also agree that it is possible (provided you book early enough) to travel from Auckland to Hamilton by train on Saturday mornings, and to do the return trip on Sunday ("so I couldn't even stay overnight and come back the next day" @8). But who expects they might need to plan travel arrangements more than a few days ahead of time now.
It's not that I disagree with your answer to your own question ("Does perception change behaviour?"), it's just that I failed to perceive that question in your "Perception is Reality." statement.
We only perceive a small fraction of reality, and much of that indirectly, so we owe it to ourselves to interpret what we peceive as objectively as possible – not that I could often be accused of that.
That's the pain, expense and mess of retrofitting something that should have been designed-in 70 years ago after WW2. It sucks – and because it sucks, the sort of jerks who would have opposed it as a socialist/collectivist plot if they'd been alive 70 years ago, take it as confirmation that it was always a bad idea and we shouldn't be retrofitting now because it's a socialist/collectivist plot. (God help us).
I watched the PM being ridiculed on the Jimmy Dore show recently she was giving a speech somewhere promoting her vision of internet censorship as a means to countering misinformation .
Is there a liking of the idea of a ' ministry of truth ' anywhere ?
If Ardern mentioned misinformation in MSM from time to time or even once ! she might have some credibility but otherwise just comes across as woefully ignorant especially on the Ukraine conflict along with her foreign affairs minister who seems as aware of all the nuances as your average plank of wood .
In a world where boomeranging sanctions are crippling economies and bringing down governments all our own leaders can come up with is more of them !!
Where once JA was widely perceived as a savior she is increasing being seen as a tyrant imo .
Where once JA was widely perceived as a savior she is increasing being seen as a tyrant imo .
Interesting how that last sentence in your post sort of confirms what's in the first sentence – the one that mentions misinformation. A perfect, if unintended, circle.
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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, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles and that ...
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’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
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 ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
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A distrust of media has been part of the zeitgeist for a wee while now.
I took the time to read this:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130054463/potholes-are-increasing-on-the-roads-the-experts-explain-why
It turns out the experts were Waka Kotahi national manager maintenance and operations Neil Walker, Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty system manager Roger Brady and National Road Carriers chief operating officer James Smith.
The first two 'experts' blamed the rain (I am reminded of the closed railways in the UK in the mid '90s that had 'the wrong kind of snow') and the trucking interests spokesman blamed poor build quality.
The rain blamers mentioned the water freezing beneath the road surface. I know it is spring, but it ain't been that cold lately.
Where is the analysis of axle weights and the relative damage? Those Fonterra trucks, fuel tankers, Pak 'n' Save trucks and logging trucks have got nothing to do with it.
Are we to blame the increase of e-bikes for the damage of our roads?
It all reeked of a puff-piece after too many motorists were effected by potholes.
A bit of a shotgun blast first thing, aiming at trucking, lazy (or bought) media and the inevitable result of neo-liberal approach to road maintenance.
Axle weights that were increased a few times under our previous govt.
Their impact on shoulders which appear to disappear, bridges etc .
They left the maintenance budget alone when a significant lift was required to match their roads of national significance program.
And here we are.
Heavy Truck/trailer Transportation units should be OFF our roads. And on Rail./Coastal shipping. The trucking lobby has huge malignant influence. Needs addressed NOW.
Roads Of National Significance, RONS for short, are misnamed.
Roads Of National's Groveling – Pandering to special Interest Groups.
RONG – PIGs for short
Road to Zero ……….maintenance.
Trucks do hudreds of times more damage to roads than the average family saloon.
https://www.insidescience.org/news/how-much-damage-do-heavy-trucks-do-our-roads
https://streets.mn/2016/07/07/chart-of-the-day-vehicle-weight-vs-road-damage-levels/
https://www.denenapoints.com/relationship-vehicle-weight-road-damage/
"When an 80,000-pound 18-wheeler full of cargo is compared to a 4,000-pound passenger car, the truck is 20 times heavier than the car. But taking the 4th power of the relative loads, the semi would cause 160,000 times more road damage than the car.”
In NZ it has nothing to do with freezing in most places. And nothing to do with e-bikes.
Any weakness in a road surface will allow water into the basecourse. This softens the ground and allows a shallow hollow to form which holds more water when roads are wet.
Wheels hitting a cm of water force it down into the tarmac and basecourse, causing further damage. The pool deepens then the road surface breaks up. A hole, holding more water. The heavier the vehicle the more force is exerted by water. Heavy vehicles don't help, but the main problem is traffic volume and the persistence of wet weather. An otherwise good looking road can turn to custard quick quickly if the seal is old.
Chip seal roads have a life span, as the chip seal mix becomes brittle over time. I think it's less than 10-15years. So roads need resealing to protect the sub-surface from getting wet. Apparently there is a lot of deferred maintenance in the last 10-15yrs 'to save money' and thousands of km of roads are becoming brittle, and the weather has been very wet.
The depths of low load bearing capacity and moisture sensitive soils make it uneconomical to excavate bases and replace them with more suitable road foundation materials and use superior pavement layers.
So we're stuck with having to fill and re-contour road bases and continually relay flexible pavement layers.
Where is Mark Lambert?
AT have known about the rail shutdown for seven months, but they only deigned to tell elected representatives one week out from local body election. The CEO of Auckland Transport, who earns around $600,000 a year, can't be bothered to front the media or indeed inform his notional superiors of what his organisation is up to.
This is a massive "fuck you" to the commuters of Auckland and a display of incompetent arrogance from AT. How are you supposed to use the much touted train and bus PT link to the airport from Puhinui If the the train line is kaput for months?
If you were suspiciously minded then on top of the white antting of light rail this is sufficient evidend to raise questions as to whether or not this amounts to deliberately sabotage of the train network just as the CRL is completed.
The board of AT needs to be sacked.
Couple that with the return of the fuel excise tax.
Hey, maybe the commuters should buy an E-vehicle, those who can't afford should spend 2 grands on an E-bike and cycle on the awesome cycle ways in Auckland.
And for those who can't afford the vehicle or bike, walk.
https://www.driven.co.nz/news/government-confirms-fuel-excise-tax-will-be-reintroduced-in-january/
And this is why Aucklanders are cynical about the point of voting for local representatives. We know that the vast majority of the stuff which affects us on a daily or weekly basis is decided by bureaucrats, or even worse, bureaucrats in COOs – which are deliberately designed to keep politicians at arms length. Elected representatives have little influence on decision-making and less control.
AT have form. We have documented instances where they have flat-out lied – both by implication (plans presented which don't reflect the actual design or built reality); and explicitly (time-frame for a wharf rebuild, which was completely untrue) – to local community boards over issues specifically affecting their community.
'Consultation' is a sham box-ticking exercise. Another reason that people are reluctant to waste their time engaging with them. They quite simply do not listen to any view which doesn't align with what they've already decided to do.
And they (or their contractors) regularly waste vast amounts of time and money – both at the trivial level (road cones set out and taken up 10 times, before a small project actually begins) and at the seriously expensive level: roads dug up and re-surfaced multiple times because of poor quality; moving to chip seal (because it's cheaper), without understanding that you have to replace it more frequently, it causes damage to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, potholes more frequently, and washes into stormwater drains; roundabouts replaced 3 times because the design was poor, or they didn't liaise with other major utilities, etc.
AT care about neither politicians nor democracy. They like the current situation just fine.
No free speech allowed in Labour UK..no surprise about that I guess…
Labour conference delegate suspended after opposing arming Ukraine
"A LABOUR conference delegate who spoke against uncritical support for the Ukrainian government on Tuesday has been suspended.
Angelo Sanchez of Leicester South CLP was the only speaker to oppose Composite 13 at conference, which backed sending more weaponry to the authorities in Kiev as it battles the Russian invasion.
Pointing out that the Ukrainian government has ripped up collective bargaining rights and banned opposition parties, Mr Sanchez had told conference: “It means that the future Labour government would be sending money to a government, the Ukrainian government, that is repressing the left in their own country, a government that is criminalising socialist parties and imprisoning Ukrainian activists."
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/labour-conference-delegate-suspended-after-opposing-arming-ukraine
Well Churchill jailed this bloke and banned his party
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Mosley
So I figure Zelenskyy is in good company when banning pro Putin/Russia parties.
I assume you mean this Churchill…not sure if I like the sort of company you are keeping there pal…
Churchill urged US to ‘wipe out’ Moscow with A-bomb
"former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill privately became an advocate for an Anglo-American first strike atom bomb attack against the Soviet Union, as once secret FBI records indicate. Churchill’s 1946 speech at Fulton, Missouri, warning against his former Communist ally during World War II, set the stage for a new conflict known as the Cold War, which lasted for decades and still haunts international relations today."
The British planned to start World War III by invading Russia with the German army
But then again, the Liberal class seem to have morphed seamlessly into a scary new class of imperialist war hawks…so maybe Churchill is exactly the right sort of company for you?
Whilst not a fan of war – I think that East Germany, Poland. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria probably wouldn't have minded not having the Bolshevik's foot on their throat for nearly 50 years
That is a dumb argument Barfly. Churchill was far from an angel.
Zelensky has banned a party (For Life) that had popular support in Ukraine and might potentially have unseated him in an election.
"Led by oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, the party controlled 44 out of 450 seats in Ukraine’s parliament, surpassed only by the ruling Servant of the People party of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Prior to Russia’s invasion in February, several opinion polls showed the Russia-aligned party leading hypothetical parliamentary elections or finishing second."
” [The] For Life party publicly denounced Russia’s invasion of the country and called for negotiations to quickly end the war.”
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/06/23/hxae-j23.html
However, I believe the point was not what is happening in Ukraine (where democracy, I agree, is shaky at best); but, rather, what is happening in the UK.
Do you agree that a Labour conference delegate should be suspended for disagreeing with full support for Ukraine?
I don't agree with him. However, I firmly support his right to be heard. And, if his point of view is unpopular with the majority of delegates (as it probably is), then he will be voted down.
That is democracy. Suspending someone because you disagree with them, is not.
[Quote from initial link]
Yes totally. Suspending the guy just shows how gun-shy Starmer's Labour is. They saw how the antisemitism smear was weaponised – indeed they encouraged it in order to remove the former leader. So they are well aware that a 'pro-Russia' smear could be up Rupert's sleeve too.
I agree with you totally on this BD. I also agree with AB's post above.
I can't stand Starmer-his behaviour towards Corbyn-basically accepting that Corbyn is an anti Semite which is bollocks, and his acceptance of the Israeli definition of anti-semitism, which involves not criticising Israel, is reprehensible. (Well done Aljazeera-shame on The Guardian)
As for singing the National Anthem at the Labour Party conference and going against the conference's support for PR (FFS)-he is a dinosaur.
In fact he is the new Blair.
Is 'being the new Blair' a bad thing? it's been 45 years since Britain elected a Labour PM not called Blair…
Blair supported the Iraq war despite millions in the streets protesting against it….he was in bed with Rupert Murdoch…he began the privatisation of the NHS…..the list is endless
” [The] For Life party publicly denounced Russia’s invasion of the country and called for negotiations to quickly end the war.”
Negotiate ? What are you thinking? Negotiating with Putin is lunacy it is simply how much of your country do you had over to a lunatic dictator that has invaded you.
" Negotiating with Putin is lunacy" ….that statement is what is lunacy.
Interviews with Russians fleeing to Kazakhstan.
(settings/subtitles/autotranslate/english)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIt2_s3XA_0&feature=youtu.be
Mobilisation is going well.
https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1576533401171275777
https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1576615822210265091
In the Moscow region , in the military unit of Alabino, mobilized Russians beat contract soldiers, as they demanded equipment and mobile phones from them. Baza writes about this in the Telegram channel.
According to the publication, due to the conflict, 20 contract servicemen were injured in the unit. Those who arrived at the unit did not endure the demands of the contractors, which caused a mass brawl.
[…]
Earlier in the Sverdlovsk region , three Russians called up as part of partial mobilization died . Two of them died on the territory of the Yelansky garrison of the training center of the Ministry of Defense in the village of Poroshino. Another died after being sent home. This information was confirmed to the publication by State Duma deputy from the Sverdlovsk region Maxim Ivanov .
https://lenta.ru/news/2022/10/03/kontractnikov/
google translate
Have you seen the list of gear conscripted soldiers are expected to provide themselves?
The guy doing this video, (an ex army vet) said that American soldiers are told to supply their own personal items such as shaving gear etc. However, it looks like the Russian conscripts are expected that they provide nearly everything themselves including sleeping bags, wet weather gear, a helmet and body armour.
A lot of that stuff isn’t cheap. So, likely many will turn up without it.
Sucks to be conscripted to the Russian army. There is snow on the ground already in Ukraine, so I expect many of these poor sods will freeze to death.
Freeze to death or bleed to death. Little wonder the poor buggers try to drink themselves to death.
I think all the Ukrainians will have to do to encourage surrender is to offer them a hot meal, a warm shower and a real bed to sleep on.
Or …Vodka!~
Lotsa vodka!
https://twitter.com/Caucasuswar/status/1573438432126570496
Why do you think Putin is getting the nukes out for a demo? It aint just to scare the Ukrainians.
Britain is Colonising Itself. I post this piece on Truss & the Tories in full as it is behind a paywall.
Una Mullally: It has been clear for some time that Britain is colonising itself
[deleted]
Thanks for that, though it is a shame that the author fails to point to the complete and conscious dismemberment (led by all UK media..non more so than 'Liberal press led by The Guardian) of any serious Left Wing opposition that could be a foil to the 'self-colonisation process'…it seems that the Liberal class would rather have any type of awful outcome…subject even their own children/granchildren to a future of total dispair, than see a real Left Wing Socialist project get a chance to see what it could do…and this is the same in the USA, Australia and NZ.
2. you also can't post whole pieces, that's a copyright breach.
3. doesn't matter if it's behind a paywall, you still have to link.
I've deleted the long piece with no link. You are welcome to post again with the link and making it shorter. thanks.
Thanks. I’ll do that.
The kids are alright.
https://twitter.com/Omid_M/status/1576962353177849858
For those of us who have tried to support the Canary but have felt a little underwhelmed…https://www.thecanary.co/feature/2022/10/03/for-the-first-time-ever-the-canary-is-under-workers-control/?fbclid=IwAR1feQjSKfVwSpfDvQtZV6-jFuqhHXrmFGuf0vyiCAH-g6Cmwwv6GEbW6B
So, we shall see how this pans out ..I wish them well.
Grrr.
So, trying to do my best for the environment – but being frustrated….
I have a trip to make from Auckland to Hamilton (family reasons) this Saturday.
Rather than take my car – I'd thought to use the new Te Huia train link.
Only to be foiled. There is no morning service Ak to Ham on Saturdays – only an evening one; and no Sunday service at all (so I couldn't even stay overnight and come back the next day)
https://www.tehuiatrain.co.nz/timetables/#ss
This is in addition to the inconvenience of being stranded at Frankton (with apparently no bus services)
https://www.tehuiatrain.co.nz/stations/frankton/
Given that the usage figures show greater numbers on Saturdays (rather than weekdays) – indicating that the market is not commuters, but rather day trippers – the failure to provide full weekend services seems…. counterintuitive.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/report-on-100m-new-te-huia-rail-passenger-service-casts-doubts-on-viability/UNE42SE5Q4E5462TYSV5FKREZY/
Guess I'll be driving…..
That great idea is an abject failure, it is costing tax payers millions, it should be shut down today.
Poor service is the problem. Trains are all good, but they need to run decent train schedules. Almost like some mongrel is sabotaging the service from within.
Ive thought similar for a while…(and not just Rail : (
Anyway, re Rail…
However…
Rail…and SUPPORTING Rail in NZ is essential. Not only for Employment, and Public Transport, but to get cars …and road damaging over weight trucks/trailers OFF our roads. And of course Climate Change ! Rail absolutely most efficient.
defo should be a Performance Review…at "Management" level !
Back in the 60's and 70's oil and the trucking lobby came for rail and the government rolled over and took it. Government bought in rolling stock that were only able to travel at half the speed of the engines. The result was that trucks looked faster.
A network that covered the entire country with many branch lines suddenly fell out of favor because the government sold us out.
Your declaring the rail website a failure and want it cancelled? It might have cost millions of dollars but it was an obvious success here. Belladonna was completely able to find out her journey plan wasn't going to be feasible on a weekend. Surely shutting it down would have really screwed up her planning wasting considerable time.
If you'd tried to book earlier you might have scored a seat on the Northern Explorer for your Saturday trip to Hamilton, and travelled back to Auckland on the Sunday service.
Travel by rail is the way of the future, but it's not for everyone. If you're interested in using more environmentally-friendly public transport for your trip, then consider the Intercity bus service – it's currently faster and cheaper, and (most importantly) there are still seats available!
Hope the Te Huia service makes a go of it during the remaining 3.5 years of its trial.
Chances of me travelling on an intercity bus – cheek-by-jowl with a whole lot of potential Covid spreaders are pretty close to zero.
That's not a comment on the class of bus patrons, but rather the super-spreader environment.
Aucklanders are pretty reluctant to take even local bus journeys – bus patronage (despite the half-price fares) is still way down on pre-Covid.
Trains (or at least the images of the Te Huia carriages) have more passenger space.
I did see the train fantasising link, when I was looking at Te Huia services – and have used overnight trains in Europe and America (love the sleepers). I'd even consider a sleeper service to Wellington (though probably not for business – it just takes too long). I hope that I wouldn't need one to Hamilton!
If the Waikato Council want to 'make a go of it' then they should consider re-jigging the timetable – to provide daily services in each direction on the weekend (morning and evening). That (according to the survey) seems to be where the demand is.
I don't travel much by bus either (no need – pity the many with no choice). On those rare occasions, I'm typically "cheek-by-jowl" with one other passenger at most. Perceptions of public transport do vary, I'll grant you that.
Pretty unsurprising, although buses patronage is increasing again (also not surprising), with a little over 4.5 million passengers in Auckland in August 2022, an encouraging increase on 2021 (~3 million) and 2020 (~2.5 million). For comparison, from 2009 – 2016 Auckland bus passenger numbers in the month of August increased from 4.4 to 5.8 million, and in 2017 – 2019 from 6.3 to 7 million.
https://at.govt.nz/about-us/reports-publications/at-metro-patronage-report/
Only a simulation – have no idea of the extent to which the “super-spreader environment” of buses might still be contributing to the transmission of COVID-19 in NZ, but wearing a mask will help.
Of course Kiwis who can afford them love their cars.
Yeah. Amazing how public transport users (including some Standardistas) aren't convinced….
Perception is Reality.
NB: I’m not choosing to fly either – for the same perceived risk reasons.
I’ve had a quick look at your model link – and I can’t find whether the mask-wearing and/or loud speaking are for the infected person, or the rest of the passengers, or both. It seems logical that the greatest protective effect would be for the infected person to both wear a high-quality mask, and not talk.
While I can control my own behaviour – observationally, the numbers of other people wearing masks in any public environment have dropped drastically, and continue to trend downwards.
I'll continue to wear a KN95 mask in public indoor spaces (when I remember!) until the number of new COVID-19 cases in NZ drops below 5000 per week – my arbitrary cut-off. And if the numbers go up, then the mask's going back on.
“Perception is Reality” is an odd belief. We know that’s nonsense – it’s not like there are 8 billion realities all jockeying for position.
As an avid SF reader, I'm perfectly willing to believe that there are 8 billion realities jockeying for position. The multiverse rules (or as, the late, great Terry Pratchett put it, the Trousers of Time)
https://wiki.lspace.org/Trousers_of_Time
The point is that popular perception influences perceived reality. Indeed, it's the reason PR exists – to shape popular perception and thus guide it to the reality of their choice.
Does perception change actual physical reality? No, of course not: if you think that there's a bridge, when there isn't one, you will still fall off the cliff. Gravity is not deceived.
Does perception change behaviour? You bet. If people think that politician A is corrupt, it doesn't matter very much whether they are, or aren't – the end result is the same – people's voting choices are informed by that perception.
And, perception is a very tricky thing to shift. Facts rarely do it (a mistake make by earnest policy wonks throughout history). The narrative has to change.
I'm willing to believe that there are (a minimum of) 8 billion human perceptions of reality jockeying for position, some with good reason.
The insulating comforts of modernity might lead a few to become so enamoured of their perceptions that they lose touch with reality more often than is good for anyone – a manifestation of exceptionalism.
Imagination is wonderful, and reality always brings us down to Earth, which is wonderful also, in its reliability and in other ways.
A truism; perception (popular and otherwise) does indeed influence what is perceived. When I block my ears, (nah nah) I can't hear you. When I close my eyes, I perceive that it gets dark, but that doesn't change day into night. A lovely example of the unequal 'struggle' between human (mis)perception and reality is the idea that ‘daylight saving’ exacerbates curtain fade.
One of these statements is not like the other
If your contention is that perceived reality ("Perception is Reality") has its limitations, one being that it is not always in harmony with"actual physical reality", then I heartily agree. There are many aspects of reality that are puzzling, and many more still that humanity is utterly unaware of (the unknown unknowns) – still, we continue to discover, while we can.
Re SF, I'm a fan too – imagine the computing power required to maintain 8 billion perceptions of reality, 24/7 – imagine…
That's what all the dark matter is for
https://home.cern/science/physics/dark-matter
[Tongue in cheek – of course]
Do you also want to discuss the point I was making over perception is reality ?
Or shall we call it a night – neither of us having convinced the other.
We're probably writing at cross purposes – I mistakenly took your statement @8.2.1.1.1 ("Perception is Reality") at (unadorned) face value, and it seemed contrary to my understanding that 'Reality' is composed of that which is 'real', and exists largely if not wholly independent of perception (yes, there are wheels within wheels, but the bedrock is Reality). Whereas (human) 'Perception' (and/or misperception) is largely if not wholly dependent on reality for input. What is real and what is perceived may be more or less the same, of course, but then again they may not (be.)
For example, we could agree that your perception matches the reality that there is no Auckland-to-Hamilton Te Huia train service on Saturday mornings (your original "Grrr" @8). And hopefully we could also agree that it is possible (provided you book early enough) to travel from Auckland to Hamilton by train on Saturday mornings, and to do the return trip on Sunday ("so I couldn't even stay overnight and come back the next day" @8). But who expects they might need to plan travel arrangements more than a few days ahead of time now.
It's not that I disagree with your answer to your own question ("Does perception change behaviour?"), it's just that I failed to perceive that question in your "Perception is Reality." statement.
We only perceive a small fraction of reality, and much of that indirectly, so we owe it to ourselves to interpret what we peceive as objectively as possible – not that I could often be accused of that.
That's the pain, expense and mess of retrofitting something that should have been designed-in 70 years ago after WW2. It sucks – and because it sucks, the sort of jerks who would have opposed it as a socialist/collectivist plot if they'd been alive 70 years ago, take it as confirmation that it was always a bad idea and we shouldn't be retrofitting now because it's a socialist/collectivist plot. (God help us).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0H7PIJcEP0
I watched the PM being ridiculed on the Jimmy Dore show recently she was giving a speech somewhere promoting her vision of internet censorship as a means to countering misinformation .
Is there a liking of the idea of a ' ministry of truth ' anywhere ?
If Ardern mentioned misinformation in MSM from time to time or even once ! she might have some credibility but otherwise just comes across as woefully ignorant especially on the Ukraine conflict along with her foreign affairs minister who seems as aware of all the nuances as your average plank of wood .
In a world where boomeranging sanctions are crippling economies and bringing down governments all our own leaders can come up with is more of them !!
Where once JA was widely perceived as a savior she is increasing being seen as a tyrant imo .
Interesting how that last sentence in your post sort of confirms what's in the first sentence – the one that mentions misinformation. A perfect, if unintended, circle.
It has been clear for some time that Britain is colonising itself
Last week’s market freakout was merely what happens when a Tory government’s chaosonomics meets reality.
Una Mullally, Irish Times, gives an additional context to the stunts of the latest version of English Tory.
Just because dragging a country into the gutter may not be a goal of this radical Tory era in Britain, doesn’t mean it won’t be an outcome.
Apathy pre-emptively dismantles the tools of resistance. If this trajectory continues, social unrest in Britain is inevitable.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2022/10/31/una-mullally-it-has-been-clear-for-some-time-that-britain-is-colonising-itself/
wayback got me around the paywall
https://web.archive.org/web/20221003001316/https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2022/10/31/una-mullally-it-has-been-clear-for-some-time-that-britain-is-colonising-itself/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130067875/homosexual-acts-are-illegal-in-solomon-islands-new-zealand-hosted-the-countrys-foreign-minister-in-parliaments-rainbow-room
Right-wing media merchant Manch decides this is worth writing about. Solomon Island politicians didn't seem to think so. Manch is such an idiot.
https://twitter.com/harrypeterson_/status/1577121779096555522
Looks like we have the first poll for a while where there is more than daylight between the two major political blocs.