Open mike 04/12/2020
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6:00 am, December 4th, 2020 - 29 comments
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Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is travelling to Antarctica on Monday to see the impacts of climate change first-hand and see New Zealand’s scientific work on the ice. “Antarctica is under increasing pressure from climate change, with rapid changes to the Antarctic ice sheet, ice shelves, sea ice, and biodiversity now ...13 minutes ago - Joint Statement: Singapore-New Zealand Article 6 Negotiations reach consensus
Countries have reached a deal on carbon markets at the annual United Nations climate change meeting (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Co-chaired by Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and New Zealand’s Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts, the negotiations on Article 6 (carbon markets) concluded successfully with ...51 minutes ago
- Child Protection Investigation Unit established
A new Child Protection Investigation Unit is being established to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “The report released by the Royal Commission into abuse in state care shows us all the risk of not acting immediately when there are serious ...3 days ago
- Speech at United States Business Summit 2024
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Ka mihi ki te mana whenua ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Kia ora and good morning everyone. Thank you Fran and Simon for inviting me here today, and importantly your leadership of this forum over several years now. I want to acknowledge David Gehrenbeck, Deputy ...3 days ago
- Record number of submissions received on granny flat proposal
Nearly 2,000 submissions have been received on the Government’s proposals aimed at making it easier to build a granny flat of up to 60 square metres without a resource or building consent, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “This is the highest number ...3 days ago
- District Court Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Rebecca Guthrie as a District Court Judge. Judge Guthrie was admitted to the bar in 1997 following her graduation from the University of Canterbury in 1996 (LLB, BA). She commenced her legal career in Hastings in 1997 before moving to London in ...3 days ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
The latest Predator Free 2050 Board appointments will help to strengthen biodiversity efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced two appointments to the Board of Directors of Predator Free 2050 Limited, a key player in the wider Predator Free 2050 Programme. “The Predator ...3 days ago
- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...3 days ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...3 days ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...4 days ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...4 days ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...4 days ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...4 days ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...4 days ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...4 days ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...4 days ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...4 days ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...4 days ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...4 days ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...4 days ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...4 days ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...5 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...5 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...5 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...5 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...5 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...5 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...5 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...5 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...6 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...6 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...6 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...6 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...6 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...6 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...6 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...6 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...7 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...7 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...7 days ago
- Why parents need to be like Big Ted and ‘talk aloud’ while they use screens with their kids
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Highfield, Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education Academic Lead, University of Canberra Screen use and internet safety are two of the top concerns Australian parents have about their kids’ health and wellbeing – even ranking ahead of diet, exercise and depression. ...43 minutes ago - TJ Perenara’s Tiriti haka addition welcomed by both Te Pāti Māori and David Seymour
The All Black used the side's haka ahead of their match against Italy to show support for the recent hikoi. ...50 minutes ago - Helen Clark Foundation Calls For Political Action To Reduce The Prevalence Of Junk Food And Improve ...
The report argues the long-standing government approach that relies on people taking sole responsibility for their health and the choices they make, will continue to fail unless the obesity conversation shifts from the individual to the wider food ...53 minutes ago - Australia in a baby bust? It’s not that simple – and a panic won’t help
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Gray, Professor, School of Demography, Australian National University Photo by ADIEL MALKA/Pexels There is a seemingly endless stream of news headlines about plummeting birth rates. Many have alarmist narratives about the perils of “baby busts” and “population decline”. This reflects ...57 minutes ago
- Why Monday is the most dangerous day on a building site
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Risk & Resilience, UNSW Sydney M2020/Shutterstock Australia’s construction industry employs more than 1.3 million workers. That’s about 9% of the workforce. But construction sites can be dangerous workplaces. There are also more accidents on a ...57 minutes ago
- ‘Divorce’ in songbirds: extreme weather pushes couples past breaking point
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frigg Janne Daan Speelman, PhD Candidate in behavioural ecology, Macquarie University Coulanges/Shutterstock Like humans, many animals form lasting monogamous relationships. Most birds pair up to produce and raise offspring together over many years. However, as with humans, they also commonly “divorce” ...57 minutes ago
- Green hydrogen could decarbonise entire industries in NZ – but there’s a long way to go
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jannik Haas, Senior Lecturer of Sustainable Systems, University of Canterbury Getty Images Hydrogen has been called the “Swiss army knife” of decarbonisation because it can do many things. But not all of them make sense. Today, the world uses about ...58 minutes ago
- Creative sector welcomes draft government strategy, but calls for more funds
Many say NZ is well behind the rest of the world in developing and supporting its creative professionals. ...3 hours ago
- Peters’ push to turn Europe’s eyes south
The Foreign Minister is headed to Europe, where he will deliver the last of seven major speeches of the past year The post Peters’ push to turn Europe’s eyes south appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago - Death of a feminist legend
In March, on the twentieth anniversary of the death of a brilliant feminist thinker from Auckland who became a superstar in US academia, Justin Okin wrote a moving tribute to his mother, Susan Moller Okin, on International Women’s Day. “She was arguably the most influential feminist political philosopher of her ...3 hours ago
- COP29: A bad deal was better than no deal
Analysis: After contentious diplomatic talks like COP29, people like to point to the platitude: A good compromise is one where no one’s happy.When we’re discussing the climate crisis and all of the human suffering that entails, however, shouldn’t we be striving for a deal that works, not just one that ...3 hours ago
- Defence Force holds flurry of high-tech meetings with Western power trio
The NZDF has been meeting with the US, UK and Australia to discuss advanced technology and spy tech. ...3 hours ago
- Call for urgent government intervention as obesity rates soar
A sugar levy and removing sugary drinks from schools are among the obesity-fighting recommendations from a new report. ...3 hours ago
- The government turns one: PM Christopher Luxon talks coalition dynamics, differences and deals
Analysis - Luxon is loath to spend too much time looking backwards, and invited to share any lessons from his first year as PM, he draws something of a blank. ...4 hours ago
- Climate finance: NZ could face hefty bill as new funding target agreed at COP29
The new target will "set the expectation" that NZ contributes more to help developing nations move away from using fossil fuels. ...4 hours ago
- ‘I need to make you suffer’: My near decade of violent harassment by a man I barely know
Zeni Gibson has been stalked and harassed for nearly nine years by a man she rejected when she was 17. This is her story. As told to Madeleine Holden. Cover Stories are longform journalism supported by Spinoff Members. Support this work here. Spinoff Cover Stories are now available in audio ...4 hours ago - Windbag: If I were mayor for a day…
Wellington editor Joel MacManus pitches his big idea to save the capital: more statues on the waterfront. After The Spinoff’s recent Year in Review live show at the Hannah Playhouse, an audience member asked me an intriguing question: What would you do if you were mayor for a day? I ...4 hours ago
- Zeni’s experience is extreme, but it isn’t rare
Hundreds of thousands of New Zealand women are impacted by stalking and harassment, and collectively they’re being failed by the official response. In August last year, The Spinoff received a polite yet tentative email from a 24-year-old woman named Zeni Gibson. “I am hoping to speak to someone about the ...4 hours ago
- UK to slash climate pollution by 81%. Could NZ do the same?
Analysis: The Government’s decision to slam the brakes on climate policy sets NZ up for an expensive or embarrassing new Paris target The post UK to slash climate pollution by 81%. Could NZ do the same? appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Opposition parties also failing to address economic orthodoxy
Opinion: Business craves a more certain and supportive fiscal stance The post Opposition parties also failing to address economic orthodoxy appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Bullish a2 Milk pushes sharemarket to two–year high
A2 Milk’s rally is expected to be followed by a strong F&P Healthcare result and a 50 basis point interest rate cut this week The post Bullish a2 Milk pushes sharemarket to two–year high appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- The death of the local rag
The headlines are being hogged by the TV stars, the daily news reporters being made redundant, and the local programmes going.But at a much more grassroots level, we are also seeing the demise of the local free paper.The ones that aren’t disappearing are shrinking, losing advertising revenue, missing out on ...4 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Monday 25 November
The post Daily crossword, Monday 25 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- NZ’s bold investment in geothermal will pay off
Opinion: On November 14 the Government announced that up to $60 million will be ring-fenced from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to explore the potential of supercritical geothermal technology to help secure New Zealand’s future energy needs. The aim of supercritical geothermal technology (SCGT) is to harness extremely high-temperature fluids from ...4 hours ago
- Stuff’s fashion publication opts for independence over closure
Ensemble Magazine’s founders are preparing to take their outlet independent in a turbulent period for New Zealand media The post Stuff’s fashion publication opts for independence over closure appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Lessons from a damaged island on a potential Treaty referendum
What if a referendum on the Treaty allowed unlimited funding to campaigners from overseas, and no disclosure of who donated? The post Lessons from a damaged island on a potential Treaty referendum appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 25 November
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 25 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...4 hours ago
- COP29: Carbon credit trading scheme criticised as ‘get out of jail free card’
By Kate Green , RNZ News reporter A new carbon credit trading deal reached in the final hours of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, has been criticised as a free pass for countries to slack off on efforts to reduce emissions at home. The deal, sealed at the annual UN climate ...8 hours ago
- View from The Hill: Albanese government crumples on misinformation bill and gambling advertising
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra “Big Tech” is celebrating one victory over the Albanese government, but is set to lose on another front. Ahead of the final parliamentary sitting week for 2024, the government has not just withdrawn its ...11 hours ago
- ‘I was so scared’: Abused as children, incarcerated as adults
Former inmates are speaking out to demand better mental health care for those currently imprisoned. ...11 hours ago
- ‘I was so scared’: Abused as children, incacerated as adults
Former inmates are speaking out to demand better mental health care for those currently imprisoned. ...11 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government is still discussing the details for the remaining five of the “Bali nine” to be repatriated to Australia, Special Minister of Sate Don Farrell has said. The planned repatriation follows the representations ...12 hours ago
- COP 29: Carbon credit trading scheme criticised as ‘get out of jail free card’
The deal reached in the final hours of COP29 has been criticised as a free pass for countries to slack off on efforts to reduce emissions at home. ...13 hours ago
- COP 29: Carbon credit trading scheme critisised as ‘get out of jail free card’
The deal reached in the final hours of COP29 has been criticised as a free pass for countries to slack off on efforts to reduce emissions at home. ...13 hours ago
- Protest photographer John Miller records Hīkoi mō te Tiriti with his historic lens
RNZ News For almost six decades photographer John Miller (Ngāpuhi) has been a protest photographer in Aotearoa New Zealand. From his first photographs of an anti-Vietnam War protest on Auckland’s Albert Street as a high school student in 1967, to Hīkoi mō te Tiriti last week, Miller has focused much ...14 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne The petroleum-laden dust has settled on this year’s United Nations climate summit, COP29, held over the past fortnight in Baku, Azerbaijan. Climate scientists, leaders, lobbyists and delegates are heading for home. ...15 hours ago
- All Blacks end of year tour: What we learned
Analysis - There's plenty to talk about including TJ Perenara's statement during the haka, Jamie Wall writes. ...20 hours ago
- ‘To love is to move towards freedom’: Parliament’s newest MP makes their maiden st...
Green MP Benjamin Doyle has joined the 54th Parliament a year into its term. Their maiden statement emphasised the need for radical love. ...1 day ago
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Small island and vulnerable nations walked out of climate finance negotiations on Saturday afternoon in Baku, Azerbaijan, protesting a process they say excluded their participation and views.The COP29 talks are now on the edge of collapse on the crucial issue of a new global finance goal, as the summit has ...1 day ago
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For the march to Parliament, many young wahine donned a red beret. It's a pōtae steeped in history and symbolism. ...1 day ago
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Voter fraud in the US is a real thing, even if very rare. Thing is, these days it's almost always done by Repugs. Then when they get busted, their first wriggle is "only joking". When that doesn't work, the next is "I only did it to prove it can be done". Sadly, they never get the jail time they richly deserve for their deliberately illegal activity, even while someone that's ineligible makes a mistake and attempts to vote gets the book thrown at them.
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/politics/florida-attorney-under-investigation-registering-vote-georgia-encouraging-others-do-same/L6LTC2AHBFDMXPOTZKVMO5ESJQ/
Note that voter fraud is different to electoral fraud. Electoral fraud is routinely openly practiced on industrial scale mostly by Repugs, via such tools as voter roll purges, voter ID requirements, manipulating access to polling locations, gerrymandering.
So I wonder when the media storm will hit over this one…followed by relentless attacks on Starmer from the Liberal media lead by the Guardian who will go on and on and on about how he is making the Muslim community feel unsafe and for generally being an Islamophobic racist….haven't heard a pep from RNZ of course.
Labour's Starmer urged to return donations from 'Islamophobic' businessman
"Abrahams resumed his donations to the party last month after receiving a personal request from Starmer, whom the businessman has described as “somebody who was decent”.
“Israel is a brand new hi-tech state with new inventions to benefit mankind,” he wrote. “Close neighbours chose terrorism and invented suicide bombers.”
" In a tweet posted in 2013, Abrahams said: “Don’t think I know how to divide political Islam from moderates and fundamentalists. It is the very nature of the beast!”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/labour-starmer-abrahams-islamophobic-donations-return
Biden better than Trump…well if he is, it ain't by much…
Neera Tanden Is Biden’s Latest Middle Finger to the Left
“Unless we take the oil from Libya, I have no interest in Libya,” Donald Trump
“We have a giant deficit. They have a lot of oil,” Neera Tanden
Joe Biden has picked Neera Tanden, a fierce critic of Bernie Sanders and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, to head the Office of Management and Budget. The move is just the latest sign that Biden will govern from the center-right, offering nothing to the Left.
https://www.leftvoice.org/neera-tanden-is-bidens-latest-middle-finger-to-the-left
Bomb Libya and take its oil: Biden budget chief pick Neera Tanden agreed with Trump
https://thegrayzone.com/2020/11/30/trump-neera-tanden-libya-oil/
Biden is Not an Ally For Progressives
“On the issue of America’s endless wars, Biden’s potential cabinet appointments are particularly telling. Two of the names floated for Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State–Michèle Flournoy and Tony Blinken—founded a consulting firm dedicated to helping defense contractors “navigate the complex bureaucracy of winning Pentagon contracts.” This is particularly concerning because, as journalist Jonathan Guyer observes, there is no unifying “Biden doctrine” for foreign policy. In other words, Biden is likely to follow the directions of his cabinet and advisors, almost none of whom have discussed or disclosed their connections to the military-industrial complex that plagues American politics. ”
http://uchicagogate.com/articles/2020/10/29/biden-not-ally-progressives/
Granny doing her job for national behind the paywall.
Hoots on ardern and a piece on the last term probably piling more dirt onto NZF to keep the meme going.
Quality journalism ?
It turns out there are kiwi workers out there after all – the whining for RSEs was premature. Admission interest from Kiwis overwhelming orchards | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)
Nice to see that the system appears to be working.
Not sure which supermarket but it was not Pak'n Save. On an ad $7 for a kg of apricots; that is steep.
So, basically, the cliff notes seem to be that NZ horticulturists haven't had to do the basics of employment recruitment and management for so long that they've forgotten how – and they think it's someone else's fault.
Meanwhile, the growers claim they aren't interested in cheap foreign labour and are doing everything they can for NZ workers – such as paying at least the minimum wage!!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/432153/fruit-growers-doing-their-best-to-hire-suitable-nz-workers
Meeting the legal minimum – which isn't enough to even live on. What crap. Don’t let this – or any industry – import third-world pay and conditions into NZ ever again.
It is quiet on Open Mike today.
News of today.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/432126/nz-first-foundation-defendants-lose-right-to-name-suppression But we still can't have the name of the murderer of Grace Millane.
Seems to me it is handy to have that withheld as a precedent for a time in future when one of the sleazy wealthy families' sons or daughters goes feral. Oh but we are just following precedent in withholding the name., perhaps. Our judges aren't all probity and truth – I read that some avoided speaking to Judge Peter Mahon after he was so open with his distaste of the presented evidence slant re Erebus.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/432119/funds-being-raised-to-defend-pilot-who-led-the-charge-in-whakaari-rescue
Some might like to back this guy for good behaviour in a crisis; show the government and knuckle-dragging agencies how things should be done.
I heard this on morning report.
Lives were saved and there was a plan in place for such a rescue. No recognition for taking a calculated risk.
From the link:
Maybe he deserves a medal, and maybe he also deserves prosecution.
Maybe Worksafe are trying to make up for being dilatory before by being super scrupulous now. Too late closing the doors after the horse has bolted if that is the case.
Anything he did wrong before and which they had not proceeded with at the time is too late to exercise their minds now, and his sterling work should be accepted thankfully and go to mitigate against anything else.
Well, mitigation is up to the judge if a guitly verdict is reached.
But also from the link:
This is why these prosecutions happen. So everyone else makes sure their own stable doors are bolted, and double-checks.
Calling it an "act of god", like the guy in your link, is just another manifestation of the "accidents happen, nobody's fault" mentality that ends up being lethal.
I'm pretty conflicted on this one; the Royal Commission made it plain that the Pike River management failed egregiously, fell well short of industry standards and was playing a desperate poker game to ship coal by a deadline. At every specific count a prosecution was well justified.
White Island feels different; a whole industry had developed locally on the basis that it was safe to go to the island. Many different people had bought into the groupthink on this. Yet when I lived in the BOP at Kawerau during the 80's the accepted wisdom I recall was the exact opposite, the island was off limits.
So what changed? Why did the island suddenly become 'safe' when evidently it was not? Who was pushing this idea, and why?
Prosecutions will satiate the desire for accountability, but I doubt will ever answer this core question. Indeed they may well just serve to distract from it.
1 Timothy 6:10 might be a starting point.
Agree. Those charged made bank for years on that risk. Groupthink is right. You can see that in the rahui being lifted over the island within days, even though there were multiple dead and still dying, and the risks of operating on the island were unchanged: local iwi like the money just as much as any other local.
And White Island was far more damaging for us as a country than Pike River due to the international tourism profile. The luck that we didn't have live footage on Youtube of tourists dying covered in ash is massive. Instead we had egregious spin stories of our tireless health workers and gradual recovery stories.
A privately owned Island which is run as a tourist destination.
A gap of who was in charge to not allow people on Whakaari when there was a risk.
Who is culpable for allowing people on the Island when there was increased activity?
That would be set out in the charges that Worksafe has delivered.
Question Time in Parliament. An explanation for the uninitiated *is that enough i's?).
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-house/audio/2018775571/the-new-maths-of-question-time
Pests'R'Us. There is a new website unveiled. I saw a very busy looking ant thing about 4mm long – may be able to identify the blighter. Looking at the info on ants around the world can make you cringe I warn you.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/432068/one-stop-information-shop-on-new-zealand-pests-it-has-been-a-huge-undertaking
It is interesting how some insects can infest a home and costly.
About 150 ants greeted me this morning on the kitchen bench and in a cupboard.
There is a home remedy of cornflour as a little barrier edge around what you are trying to protect. Supposed to be good.
They are amazing. Some wishbones from chickens had been hung over a photoframe to dry off and left. A while later the photo was noticed to be overrun with ants all through it, over under. The frame was not near the window I am told. There must have been a super-scout out.
Yes a few ants out 2 days earlier and I usually squash them all. Ants are hard to get to when between the back of the cupboard and the wall.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018775798/auckland-port-delays-see-big-freight-ship-diverted-to-northport
Auckland Port speaker on Radionz tonight talking up how costly it is to handle freight at Northport and bring it South reckons it would be 10 times the approx $120 to handle a container in Auckland. He didn't comment the long waiting time that AwkPort is causing shipping having to wait in the 'stream'. They are just too big for their boots which they have filled – sounds to me.
Go Northport with rail, will be viable and spread the load for the top of NZ. Northport, Auckland and Tauranga, which has road access problems I think.
And Gisborne wants a small, effective working port too, largely for logs. Hopefully they can build up food exports etc there.
Rail north of Auckland is getting just a basic upgrade but no train will even get near 70kms an hour even when it's done, and still construction of an actual rail link as distinct from designation has no capital attached at all.
Don't worry about it for another decade at least.
SH1 on the other hand is being redesigned all the way to Marsden Point, is already nearly fully rebuilt through to Warkworth.
There's a 12 minute video in this link with interviews with Goff and Ardern and most other relevant players on the thinking about shifting Ports of Auckland so far, after all the studies which NZFirst required as part of the coalition agreement:
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2020/12/04/weekly-roundup-04-dec-20/
With NZFirst gone the impetus for shifting the port has evaporated.
Is it just me who is noticing this?
Aljazeera TV has been showing how Biden is going to manage Covid 19. Biden is not the president yet and he is being responsible. Trump would be pissed off.
Is Biden visible because of Covid 19 or is this usual for the president elect?
Biden has wasted no time in appointing people to government positions. Nice to see a statesman instead of a hot head.