Let me be the first to say 'this is completely bonkers'.
Transport Minister Michael Wood yesterday confirmed the government wants to build a new separate bridge – at an estimated cost of $785 million – alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge, specifically for walkers, runners and cyclists.
It wasn't a viable form of commuting either along SH16 until they built a dedicated cycle way there. 2 years and tens of thousands of people a day later …
Same for Tamaki Drive-Quay Street.
When they build it, they will come.
And they get yo work same time or faster than a car.
So where is any evidence to support your claim that this crossing will have any major daily usage ? Take a look at the population close proximity to the bridge and what destinations there are that warrant the pop. to cross to the other side. For a start there is no demand to cross over for schooling.
We hear when it suits the govt on evidence basis decisions, I haven’t seen any compelling evidence by the supporters put forward, just a nice to have and spend what will be close to a $Billion, and we are told commencing construction “hopefully mid 2022.
there is not. but the good people of herne bay and ponsnobby might actually consider voting for a different party next time, say the greens or say some other party. And than labour might actually have to go into a coalition with all the other parties. Its future planning at its finest – for labour. After all these guys need jobs.
Never mind the broken bridge in Ashburton, which is costed at 30 mil give or take a few and which NEEDS to be rebuild. Heck, they could just build a new bridge and leave the old for pedestrians and cyclists for peanuts all things considered.
Thanks , my Excel license no longer works on this desktop, so Ive just put in Google sheets to do so.
The answer is 500 or so for weeks days . The highest 1031 was a easter holiday .
Id happily replace the cycle way with a LR line and then we could say 10s thousands per day'
Why replace, why not have both? What is it with this either-or reasoning? Money? Space? Or just good-old binary thinking that seems to be a hallmark of neo-liberalism, i.e. my gain is your loss.
As we transit to a green economy I would like our public spending to be of the highest quality. I don't see that this government even has an operating framework that it runs these decisions through to give some order of priority. And frankly I don't see this spend which covers largely high income areas of Auckland passing any sort of evidence based tests. Would it be better spent on solar subsidies or insulation in poorer areas.
If I had been sayiing it for days now, that really would make me the first. to say the $785 million pedestrian/cycle bridge was bonkers.
I had started off talking about the bikeway proposal, not the new bridge proposal. And that a fare free bus lane would be far better way than a bike lane in getting thousands of drivers out their cars, better for the climate, better for the environment.
Then the government's new bridge proposal broke,
I had been expecting to see a post on it.
Not seeing one I did my own.
Yes I think a $785 million biking, walking, skate boarding bridge crossing the Waitemata preposterous, ridiculous and quite frankly 'bonkers'.
Maybe when the shock has worn off, anyone who thinks this a good idea, could do a post on it?
With commenters such as you writing another post on this topic is like opening a hornets’ nest. Why don’t you write a Guest Post if you feel so strongly about it instead of thrashing posts and comments by others?
I’m starting to think that English is not your first language, as you seem not to understand the difference between ask, suggest, and demand, for example.
I can’t and won’t ‘thrash’ your submission for a Guest Post for two reasons:
It would be rude and disrespectful to a Guest Author;
I don’t receive anything sent to TS, as it is above my pay-grade, and thus I don’t get to handle your submission.
Good on you for putting your money where your mouth is and I look forward to the final version appearing here on TS in due course, which will hopefully stimulate robust but constructive debate.
Naa thrash it all you like, don't pull your punches I need to see any weaknesses in the argument I put up.
Here's a taster…..
…..A fare free busway with an option for bicycle stowage is a cheaper solution than a new bridge and can be implemented immediately. All of the infrastructure is already there.
On a personal note.
I recently took an intercity bus trip to the East Coast. At Gisbourne the bus was boarded by a number of cyclists who stowed their bikes in the copious luggage compartment for the journey to Taupo. At Taupo they got off the bus, took their bikes out, and continued their journey by bike..
It occurs to me that every bus should have these luggage compartments, for stowing bikes prams etc…
….The government are considering giving one lane possibly even two lanes over to a bikeway as a temporary measure, until the new bike bridge is completed.
As well as, a three month trial of a bikeway.
Howsabout a Three Month Trial of a Fare Free Northern Busway all the way into the City.
So many commuters might choose the bus that, we might find out, we won't need any new bridge or tunnel harbour crossings with multi $billion dollar price tags.
The fare free Northern busway might free up so much traffic on the Harbour Bridge that room could be made for the bikeway. Who knows?
This government is trodding down a track of sound bites and creating noise and lime light instead of looking at the country as a whole. This Government should be making decisions for ALL people which means a bit more thinking a bit less noise. But hey, there is always the phone pic that can make the rounds and populism that needs to be fanned with no less than 4 press secretaries, all curtesy of the taxpayer. Sigh.
Since the current Government took office, the number of communications specialists have ballooned. Each minister has at least two press secretaries. (Ardern has four).
In the year Labour took office, the Ministry for the Environment had 10 PR staff. They now have 18. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade more than doubled their staff – up to 25.
MBIE blew out from 48 staff to 64. None of those five dozen specialists could give me those figures for many weeks – and again I was forced to ask the Ombudsman to intervene.
The super ministry – and its colleagues uptown at the Health Ministry – are notorious for stymieing even the simplest requests. Health’s information gatekeepers are so allergic to journalists they refuse to take phone calls, responding only (and sporadically) to emails.
But it is the New Zealand Transport Agency that take the cake: employing a staggering 72 staff to keep its message, if not its road-building, on track – up from 26 over five years.
well you and i and the resto of the population are not in a 'need to know' position, so we get meaningless pictures and are told to be happy. 🙂 After all, they are pretty pictures.
This year, I have made more complaints to the Ombudsman than in any previous year. So far, every one has been upheld.
its gonna be so funny when in the future Labor will be again sitting on the opposition bench and will shriek about the 'others who don't be transparent'. lol.
Trust your eyes, they will tell you more about what happens in this country then any politician or journalist will ever tell you. And these press secretaries need jobs, what else would these communication specialists do otherwise?
Don't despair, there are many who know and see through this vail of deceptive behaviour and non disclosure. It is worse than I have seen in Europe behind the iron curtain. Pity that NZ has to go through the pain first. Humans don't learn any other way. This is why the Lange Govt and in the end the National Govt have lost. As for this lot, no amount of social media will put food on the table. The greater concern is that there is now a fear connected with the motion that if you don't agree with what this government does, you are ostracized. And this definitely looks very worrying.
As for this lot, no amount of social media will put food on the table.
and the same counts for being able to secure a rental or buy an affordable house. And that in the end will define the next election. Not just some nice vote gathering cycling bridges. And the sad thing about all this is that our issues and problems are real. We are smack dab in the middle of climate change, we have a pandemic in its second of many years to come, we are running out of the resources the Mensch needs to physically survive and we discuss if or not what we see happening is real. Incredible. And such a waste of opportunity and skill.
Good news though, the little Rotorua urchin in need of cleft palate surgery finally got it, after a year on a waiting list. The first smile was incredible and this 1 year old bub will now be able to almost live a normal life.
A moan from Andrea Vance who is just discovering the truth of the old adage
"He who sups with the devil must use a long spoon".
Late on in this piece Andrea tells us that this Government makes it very hard to get information and doesn't give interviews or provide material to journalists. Then she says, as if surprised, "Because the public’s impression of this government is the very opposite."
Well of course it is baby. Why are you surprised? It is you, and your ilk, who chose to sup with the devil. It is you who sold out to them and provided the fawning adulation they want. News? Nah. Tell us that the PM is planning a wedding and that her daughter handed mummy a lovely Mother's Day card.
Well you forgot the basic rule of your profession "News is what somebody does not want you to print. All the rest is advertising." Andrea, you sold out to the advertising. Now you are finding out that, having already sold you soul, you don't have any leverage to demand the truth about what the Government is up to.
Oh well, I suppose you are a member of the public and as Andrea Vance says.
"Because the public’s impression of this government is the very opposite.".
You've been conned, and you love it. With journalism like Vance's you haven't been allowed to see how bad the current lot really are.
I certainly agree the National Party is in rather a mess. Bad as they are they would still be a better Government than would the pack of numpties currently occupying the Beehive.
Agree Stuart….."rather a mess"….a complete and utter shambles that may not survive….would be more accurate.
The problem for the Nats is that there are 3 other parties who are well organised with clear and strong messages and with a strong voter base. National has none of these, and is essentially morally bankrupt.
Appointing Crusher as leader was a disastrous further step towards irrelevance.
Chris Bishop is shifty and not well liked in his electorate so he is not an option….maybe Nicola Willis could stem the tide? Can anyone? Nick Smith?…oh wait…
and is that not the case with all things in life? Parties re-group and rebirth. Same politics different dress. And people will vote for them. See the Grand Ole Party of the US.
Good lord, what a reply. You will be surprised how many out there have it up to the neck with this government. I think the next election will be interesting to say the least.
With all polls it always is a matter of who asks, what is asked, whom is asked.
It was the same under John Key and Helen Clark.
I personally know not one person who was ever asked their opinion about anything a., and b. if the Question were: Did J.A a good job with Covid, i would say yes, Do you approve of her as PM – never did. Now spin this 🙂
I voted for labor the last time in the hope something is getting done about the poorest and the ones living in motels hotels and cars. Oh was I wrong! The only thing that changed is that the people in cars now sleep in motels. It costs the taxpayer 1 Million smackers a week and no plan to build anything is on the table. Yes, talking about the blind. I think there were many of us but we are waking up. The "healthy" margin will soon disappear if enough people are left behind who have believed in all the bs.
both you and sabine seem confused as to what party you are dissing. voting for labor or endlessly moaning about labor would tell me you are in the land of the wrong white crowd.
I happily voted for a losing third party. 🙂 The game is MMP and not some beefed up majority that does what it wants due to a so called 'mandate'. Unless we want to go back to the good two party system of the past.
irrespective of us liking or not some journalists, but this should be an issue.
Or, let me put it this way, in the future no more whinging about National not being open to journalists and questions. What is good for the goose, is then also good for the gander.
In fact we would all benefit from some news, even if they come from people we don't like, There is no such thing as fake news, only news we might not like.
I don’t give a flying fuck about her previous employment or political leanings. Want to know why? Because she just wrote an incredibly important opinion piece on democracy. Take her name off it and read it again and tell me what’s wrong with what she said.
unless of course you are ok with Labour running a massive propaganda machine that is both hypocritical and suppressive of democracy.
Since the current Government took office, the number of communications specialists have ballooned. Each minister has at least two press secretaries. (Ardern has four).
In the year Labour took office, the Ministry for the Environment had 10 PR staff. They now have 18. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade more than doubled their staff – up to 25.
MBIE blew out from 48 staff to 64. None of those five dozen specialists could give me those figures for many weeks – and again I was forced to ask the Ombudsman to intervene.
I'm confused. An increase in the number of communications people in government is reducing communication?
In reality, the media landscape has changed, the demands are ever increasing and in real time, and governments' response to that naturally changes too.
Vance's piece seems like a bit of a moan that she's losing scoops, and are similar to Barry Soper's complaints, ie, that he no longer has priority messaging.
It also keeps journalists distracted and over-burdened with a rolling maul of press conferences and announcements, which are often meaningless or repetitive and prevent sustained or detailed questioning.
Seriously, wants more communication but fewer press conferences and announcements? Looks to me like Andrea just wants the information to herself and no-one else.
I'm confused. An increase in the number of communications people in government is reducing communication?
no in the good old time of East Germany it would have been called 'amplifying the message'. Instead of a few you know have many bleating all the same thing, and more often then not actually not answering any questions, but standing there and like good parrots read some words of a piece of paper. All at an 6 figure expense paid for by the tax payer. We are so generous, aren't we?
It also keeps journalists distracted and over-burdened with a rolling maul of press conferences and announcements, which are often meaningless or repetitive and prevent sustained or detailed questioning.
yes, if that is the only form of communicating then it looks like your bog standard 'all attendance required' corporate meeting where you are told the 'news', while no questions are taken.
So you can pay a whole lot of people to say nothing, which is what this government does – and this is as wrong under National as it is under Labour.
Unless you are only for state controlled media?
I'm confused. An increase in the number of communications people in government is reducing communication?
no in the good old time of East Germany it would have been called 'amplifying the message'
Nothing in this equates the Labour Party to the East Germany. It is just that a communications method, and our dear Leader is a specialist in communications methods, and were you see many people answering friendly questions, others see many people touting the same script -amplifying the governments message.
I find it interesting that you compare the Labour government to East Germany, because i certainly did not. They ain't communist enough, and they ain't socialist enough. Not enough affordable houses, no land reform etc. They are as far removed from communism as they could be.
It’s not an increase in communication because the positions she’s talking about are created to control. More communication officers = less access to the people who actually know what they’re talking about and can answer specific questions. I’m wondering where you’ve been the last 40 years, this isn’t new. Ardern is an expert communicator and that’s a double edged sword in a party that sees their job as primarily about control. As opposed to sharing power, or being transparent, or increasing democracy. It doesn’t hurt the left to critically examine this.
good point muttonbird. as you say all media has changed hugely and is continueing to change. last years daily 1pm standup should have been a wakeup call, not because of the actual standup and journo intereaction, but because it was instantly on facebook twitter etc. hacks like soper are looking at being bypassed . trump ,for all of his faults, has shown how to bypass trad media, and trad media are worried.
Media are quick to promote outrage and dispossession. That's what Vance trained in and it's what she does now. The prime focus is drama reporting for the purposes of promoting the reporter/media outlet, rather than some dispassionate observation of an issue.
Here's an article with amusing links in a similar vein; 'The Nimby photo formula', aka people with their arms folded.
If you’ve ever read a story about a contentious local issue, you’ll have seen the photo.
It could be about a housing development, a cycle path, or a safety upgrade to an intersection, the illustration will always be the same.
In the foreground, a person stands with their arms folded, a stern expression on their face.
There are now more opinion "makers" employed than ever before. If this is needed than the government has an agenda that we have not been told. That much is becoming increasingly clear. It also looks more and more like a textbook case of how to convert a country to a oppressive state. Not many cotton on to this yet but I think its starting to get noticed.
A well-functioning OIA that is fit for purpose is at the core of a well-functioning democracy and the delicate relationship between citizens and government. No wonder people are venting their spleen online only to find that the powers that be also want to ‘manage’ this aspect of our lives. We live in interesting times.
And yet in the recent past they jailed people who failed to pay a licencing fee. At least they seem to have moved on from that now. What a backwards place.
I'm not sure they have moved on at all. All though it is apparently legal to own, or possess, a TV without having a licence it is illegal to watch or to record from it any program that is broadcast.
Oh well, it would still appear that it would be legal to watch the greatest story ever told. I don't know if it works with a digital set but on the old analogue devices you could turn you TV on, tune it to a frequency where no station was broadcasting and you could watch the creation of the Universe. About 1% of the snow you saw on the screen was the background radiation from the Big Bang. Now tell me any other program that could compete with that.
so a 'pending' problem was ignored under Helen Clark, then duly ignored under John Key and then again under Jacinda Ardern, and now the 'pending' problem has become an acute problem. Yet here we discuss the need of a bicycle bridge for well heeled and leisure lycra clad 'bikers', while the broken bridge in Ashburton is………………! Never mind we have priorities, and the government allowed for an initial 500.000 NZD to be made available to all those that have lost their stuff in the floods (surely another few hundred thousands will be made available soon) and heavy transport will just take the 13 hour detour. Right?
It said 24,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day, including 2000 trucks.
Federated Farmers Mid-Canterbury president David Clark said successive councils and governments had “kicked the can down the road” when it came to the bridge.
“They have squabbled about it all the time I have been here.”
Clark, who has lived in the area for 27 years, said there had been too many years of poor planning.
“It’s time for central government and the district council to get on with funding a bridge.”
Reports into the feasibility of a second bridge date back to 2006. One said there was significant congestion at the bridge during peak hours and that would only worsen as the town grew.
The bridge has visibly dropped at the northern end.
A 2010 report into the risks and opportunities associated with a second bridge highlighted that there were no viable alternative routes, which presented a serious resilience risk.
“The existing bridge structure is also vulnerable to natural events (such as floods),” it said.
There was another report in 2011, then one in 2013 and another in 2014, when the council designated land in its district plan for the proposed route at the end of Chalmers Ave and across farm land east of Tinwald. It then went about buying land for the bridge connections.
In 2018, the Canterbury Regional Land Transport Plan, which sets regional priorities for future investment, included a second Ashburton bridge, which was likely to cost $30m.
I guess if some lycra clad citydwellers were to storm a police barrier and all took their bicycles on to the bridge – after all light traffic is 'ok', surely the government would throw oodles of money at them for a new 'bridge'. Right?
I hope that the Government comes to its mind, and axes that vanity project for votes in Auckland and gives the people of Ashburton a piece of infrastructure that is actually needed.
When you have made a promise and had a phot opportunity to build a crossing for less than $80m so you cannot be called out for a broken promise you have to allow yourself some wiggle room. Even if the additional cost is over $600m but you get another chance for an announcement and another photo opportunity 🙈🙊🙉
I do hope the govt follows public sentiment and gives graciously in kind, mental support and $$ how those in the Canterbury region have suffered.
And we should really pay no heed to these 'social media outings of the government'.
We should ask where the announcement is for Ashburtons new bridge. Heck, someone could get the PM some stylish gumboots for a we Photo Op with a shovel. It would make for some positive news, actually.
New bridge …. hardly needed except for those in a hurry. Cost benefit is probably the stumbling block and often the local council is biggest roadblock to getting going – like they were at old Kopu bridge at Thames-
Ive checked into this and the Council wants a new bridge not far from the old one and using an existing street – residential Chalmers St- to access it from it from the town side and by pass Tinwald .
Common sense would presume a new state highway bridge and access roads bypasses the town completely, I suppose to the western side, which would reduce through traffic and heavy trucks completely and make the town centre a safer and less fume ridden alley.
Shop keeper hate complete by passes like this and new shopping strip malls open up alongside and draw away customers from 'the town'
I doubt the people of Ashburton really care of all of that, they would just like to be able to not drive 13 hours to the next town, or fall into the river once the current bridge gives up.
But a good deflection from what i actually pointed out, namely that we are really good at ignoring pending problems until they become acute, and then we posture about a cycling bridge for the smallest lobbygroup in NZ. The lycra brigade from Ponsonby and Herne Bay. Who, incidentally can break a police barrier, cause a huge traffic problem for others and get rewarded with 870 million worth of pork.
There was a single day it was out , and it was a really rare event for them. Within the last 5 years theres been other occasions the main highway south has been cut by floodwaters
you are all over the place. two weeks ago, you went on(at length) about needing more cycleways public transport etc, then when a cycleway over harbour is announced, off you go on a tangent about a bridge that WAS FUNCTIONING. perhaps you should have warned the gov that mother nature was going to cut canterbury in half . if you got out from behind your keyboard and talked to engineers, you would find that much infrastructure in NZ is worn out. there are hundreds of bridges etc around the country thats are passed their use-by date. as is much of the water reticulation, sewage etc. too leap up and down and try to link a long planned bridge in one place with another recently washed out is ridiculous.
'The Green Party says Facebook shouldn't be the sole arbiter in breaching New Zealanders' free speech rights, Marc Daalder reports
Nobody has free speech rights on The Standard or any other social media platform..
even weirder
'Ghahraman also said the decision by Facebook during last year's election to remove the page of the Advance New Zealand party, which was a registered political party fairly and legally competing in New Zealand's election, raised questions around the company's involvement in New Zealand democracy."
yeah right. Is Ghahraman doing her gig again – like previously-by arguing for the side of haters and those accused of genocide
Dalder’s opening sentence is an odd construction, I had to read it three times to understand what he is reporting.
I’m not a particular fan of Ghahraman, she’s a bit of a loose unit politically at times, but here I’m just left with questions around what is her actual position. Not the best Newsroom piece.
Rather then leave the moderation solely to private entities she suggest that that rules and regulations are provided by the state as to what falls under these categories and that FB should then follow that legal framework rather then its own, or together with its own.
this comment here i think states it quite clearly
Ghahraman said Facebook's willingness to accede to stringent hate speech laws in Germany, where any symbol from the Third Reich is banned, showed it would follow New Zealand content moderation guidance as well. However, she also criticised the company for potentially failing to follow New Zealand's data privacy laws.
And yes, she should be critisising the company, as the company should follow NZ privacy laws in regards to its "NZ customers".
Yep, got that bit, think it’s a good idea. What I don’t get is where she thinks the lines should be drawn once goby has that power. Also how to stop that power being abused. I’d rather have a Labour in charge rather than FB, but what about NACT? Or a NZ Trump?
So what you must do is legislate, set rules and regulations and then deal with the political changes when they arise – as they will. There will be a NACT or N /Coalition of sorts, and there will be a LGreen or L/Coalition of sorts. So what must be done is to work for rules that pass the muster of all – so that another government don't undo the work of the previous government. And under MMP that actually works quite well.
So she is right, it is now that the government should look at what can be set as 'nevers'. In Germany that is anything to do with Nazi'sm. – You try to salute or shout a Heil Hitler – you will find yourself locked up and fined etc.
It does not prevent people from believing this shit, but it prevents outright promotion of it, which is i guess the best that can be done.
The swastika rules are just a legal requirement in Germany – but only banned when used as symbols or messages for anti constitutional organisations
But they can be used "Swastikas and other banned symbols can, however, be displayed in Germany if they are used for "civic education, countering anti-constitutional activities, art and science, research and education, the coverage of historic and current events, or similar purposes"
Not sure how this about symbols is related to Advance Party or even Facebook and free speech.
"The logo of the banned communist party KPD and symbols associated with terrorist groups such as the Islamic State are also considered anti-constitutional and thus illegal."
The KPD star with hammer and sickle is banned in Germany if used for political purposes
Yes, there are distinction between hate speach and education.And i guess some find this hard to understand and/or to accept.
I guess NZ will find this out when it gets on with teaching history as it happened rather then the white wash mess that is currently thought in NZ.
Anecdotally, Sister Gisela – who was a Student at the University of Munich during the war years – to become a teacher, had a box full of stuff. She took that box to the class room once a year, to show us what method the Nazi Party used to 'brainwash' the population if you so like. It was a very big moving house box full of cards, posters, postcards, playing cards. Sticker books, newspapers, etc full of Hitler and his henchmen. It was articles upon articles about how the people greated him in Austria and what was then the Sudeten Land. And the last thing she showed us was a Flyer from the White Rose, and then we learned about the Siblings Scholl. We were eleven years old. That is called education. Then the box went back into the darkest place in the convent.
I have no issues with people finding these laws so confusing that they stay a way from it if they can't understand the principle, of 'don't be a Nazi, don't promote a Nazi, don't deify Nazism", and if you do, prison and fine.
Maybe start with something simple. The AFD +Alternative for Germany – is a legal party albeit on the extreme right. That is legal and their free speeching is protected by the law, that includes FB. However individual Members are not free to speechify how refugees in Germany are lesser humans and a certain moustached man would have had a solution for it. And if they were to do so, FB would be in its rights to shut them down, and FB would be following certain laws should say Nazi regalia be displayed. Should AFD be posting such things and displaying Nazi regalia or symbolism then FB would also be in its right to shut their site down. Again, German law does actually protect FB should they do that. Start with the obvious and start providing a legal frame work that makes sense.
What gets me more often then not overlooked online, is violence against women , racism, and religious intolerance. Start with the easy.
I can't tell NZ – and will never – how to handle their own past – i am a migrant and really don't have enough knowledge and i also don't have skin in the game as i have no children. But i think the discussion around how to teach NZ History in the future will raise this question more often then not and hopefully some good will come from it.
simple as currently when you review 'violence against women' (and i am talking here about the bog standard biological women who identifies as such and is a she / her in this case) chances are that it will not 'infringe' on community standards.
Maybe we need to define then in this country what really constitutes 'violence against women' and then we give this list to FB and state that if people report these instances you shut down the account.
And then you roll this over to violence against all others. Start with something that we know happens.
and also maybe let FB now that breastfeeding in NZ does not fall under porn, because that is the only time boobs get censored. When a baby is latched on.
But surely Weka, you too could find a sample that could be used? Or else, we do nothing and heck, no harm done?
The problem arises simply because the people promoting 'de-colonising' have always been remarkably coy on the details of exactly what they propose. Into the vacuum rushes all manner speculative ideas – some more palatable than others so to speak.
'We define hate speech as a direct attack against people on the basis of what we call protected characteristics:
race,ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and serious disease.
We define attacks as :
violent or dehumanising speech, harmful stereotypes, statements of inferiority, expressions of contempt, disgust or dismissal, cursing and calls for exclusion or segregation.
We consider age a protected characteristic when referenced along with another protected characteristic.
We also protect refugees, migrants, immigrants and asylum seekers from the most severe attacks, though we do allow commentary and criticism of immigration policies."
Theres others for Safety, Violence and Criminal behaviour , Bullying and harassment, Human exploitation etc
People get really ‘antsy’ when they believe their online rights have been curbed and their search results and comments are being monitored and possibly ‘managed’.
this is quite cute and very awesome. This we rat actually did five years of mine sniffing and is now retiring. Glasses fogging up stuff. Riveting reading. Honestly.
ast year, Magawa won a British charity's top civilian award for animal bravery — an honour so far exclusively reserved for dogs.
Read More
Giant rat wins animal hero award for sniffing out landmines in Cambodia – NZ Herald
"Although still in good health, he has reached a retirement age and is clearly starting to slow down," Apopo said. "It is time."
Magawa has cleared more than 141,000 square meters of land, the equivalent of some 20 soccer fields, sniffing out 71 land mines and 38 items of unexploded ordnance, according to Apopo.
One of the tutors at Waikato spent a few years with Apopo – a great initiative. There are a few things bio-sensing might be harnessed for, not least of which might be Covid, but also some forms of cancer. It has been used with Tb.
But he said last year there was an 80 percent drop in cases, because of Covid-19 precautions.
"I think it's back to those important public health strategies, washing your hands, coughing and sneezing into your elbow and particularly looking after your babies by keeping away from them young children and old people when you've got respiratory stuff going on.
"It was amazing and particularly great that the disadvantaged kids got a break last year – but it's back."
Dr Trenholme said he is worried because there has already been a rise in RSV cases this year.
It is a matter of when, not if, we have a community outbreak, IMO. The complacency/arrogance/indifference of folk will be our undoing.
I was gobsmacked in a recent exchange here on TS, 'I shouldn't have to upgrade my phone to sign in' or some such piffle. Then the same conceited piece of work is one of the loudest complainers of the vaccine roll-out.
To my mind these two activities are or should be linked. High compliance in registering movements entitles one to complimentary vaccination(s).
My comment was about handwashing etc in relation to limiting the spread of cold and flu.
As for scanning, sorry to break this to you, but no-one here scans. And they won't so long as the perception of risk is low. What we need is systems that can be booted up rapidly if there is community outbreak. I don't think the South Island has had community transmission for a year.
This Government likes to take advice but not to invest in scientific research. Especially early-career and emerging researchers are finding it hard here in NZ. No wonder they’ll disappear overseas once the pandemic has waned. The system is broke(n), but Dr Woods and Dr Verrall are asleep at that particular wheel.
After enjoying Fight for the wild re preditor free 2050
I was wondering if anyone knows if doc are intending to make Stuart Is preditor free ?as think what an is that size would be in providing an amazing lifeboat for many our our native species. I could not find anything on the internet. Many who have been there have commented what a place to visit. And that the wonders it provides in its current state with introduced species is breath taking. I tip my cap to all those volunteers and amazing DOC staff out there.
I’m not a hater so much as frustrated that we can do such clever engineering but can’t figure out how to build low cost housing using that same discipline.
btw, that landscape is where they had to pour concrete into the hills after engineers said this is a dodgy af place to build a dam given quake potential. Damn the science, and the High Court, Muldoon stomped all over both and nature with his big thinking.
And again, what gets me, it seems that this is only for cyclists as as a wanderer/walker i would not like to compete with these guys.
It is that single use that is so wasteful.
Oh we can figure out low cost housing, but 'the market' won't allow for it, and the government won't build it in the place of 'the market'. With all things, we have the money, but we don't spend it wisely. But some well to doer Aucklanders get to travel to there and then they get to bike there. Never mind the homeless or soon to be homeless.
The ironies and classism abound, although I expect high use from locals and Southland and Otago people especially in the first year.
completely agree about the single use. Betting it’s a beloved project for someone or some group, and from pre covid/tourism collapse, but we really have to move past this reductionist thinking to looking at whole systems.
The Lake Dunstan Trail links the townships of Clyde and Cromwell.
The trail offers cyclists and walkers an easy 55km ride (Grade 1-2) through unique and fascinating landscapes so characteristic of Central Otago as it journeys along Lake Dunstan, the Kawarau River and the mighty Clutha River Mata-au.
Spectacular views of a trail and not a single suggestion it was for lycra-wearers only; perception is not reality. In fact, the Stuff article did mentioning walking but was obviously written from a cycling PoV.
I have to say that I find this pitting of cyclists against car drivers or cyclists against walkers symptomatic of many of the ‘debates’ we’re having nowadays, particularly the political ones (which doesn’t leave many others). I thought it was all about sharing, inclusivity, finding common ground and, ideally, consensus, i.e. the opposite of what’s been happening more and more in recent times.
Wasn’t a pitting of cyclists and walkers against each other, but pro tourism leaders against the same who refuse to address climate, ecology, housing, preparing for what’s coming.
As I said not hate so much as frustration. I remember when they ripped up the rail lines in Central to build a bike track. It’s a lack of vision of the bigger picture and urgency of the situation that bothers me.
Apologies, although I replied to you, it was not all (!) about you or your comments in particular, but more of a general moan from a growing general sense of frustration. Sorry, I should have made that more clear.
The Whakatipu trails are heavily used by locals and visitors, both cyclists and walkers, and carry a surprising amount of commuter traffic. Use well in excess of most expectations. During lockdown they were almost too busy.
The CO Rail Trail is well used but it's taken a while for the associated support businesses to get sorted and understand the opportunities. Still a stunning resource, both for biking and walking in whole or parts with some great day walks / rides. Every time I've been on it I've only met New Zealanders, mostly from Central. Want to walk it depths of winter some time, staying in the pubs along the way, there's plenty.
The Southland trail from Kingston through Mavora to Walter Peak is a bit of a fizzer, but that doesn't have much population along it so is tourist only.
The Lake Dunstan trail is a stunner. Only word to describe it. I've been through there before the lake filled on a bike and it was quite an adventure along the farm and hydro tracks. The 'clip-on' section avoids a very steep track over the mountain. I'd say this trail well be very well used.
I did a lot of work on the local trails and it was a hoot watching all the local true blue landowners having meltdowns about the trails coming alongside, and in some cases right through, their properties. They couldn't say much since it was all John Key's idea, but Bill had to do a bit to pacify a few. Amy Adams got her nickers in a right knot about the Dunstan one too, goes right past her place.
The Dunstan trail is 42km from Cromwell to Clyde, but the run out/in through Bannockburn is 13km of that. If you could get across the lake from Old Cromwell it could be a worthwhile alternative to the drive through the gorge. The times I've done it, it was a full day round trip, but that involved a couple of pretty solid climbs following the hydro tracks put in to get drill rigs on site, and a bit of trespass. A good trail along lake level, probably an hour or less at commute pace.
They have little influence over financialised housing 'markets' and councils get funding with strings attached about what they do with it. Tourism infrastructure is not from the same bucket as housing, strangely enough.
Btw, seeing housing as outside of council purview, and not seeing the connections between tourism and housing in that part of the country is a definition of the silo rather than system thinking I mentioned.
Nowadays, people don’t read, they react, to what they think they’d read if they did in fact read it. Too much effort goes into moaning, IMHO; it is 95% of reality.
You should expect a bit of moaning. Bad governance leaves a mighty long tail.
It will take decades to halt the rise of inequality stemming from the Rogergnomic …experiment. Those exposed to its effects need something more substantial than the incremental rises to welfare payments announced thus far, which will like as not be erased by the next ripple of incontinent greed from the rentier set. The government has done many positive things, but it has not set things to rights. Not remotely.
Too much of government action is putting on band aids. They can be helpful in healing if underneath them is prepared. clean and healthy, otherwise they just lead to festering!
I fear that their only option for change is leaps and bounds. They are leaping out of multi-educators bleeding the polytech and training system, so there is going to be one control and one ring will bind them all. Same with hospitals and medicals, and they want one tech system which when it can be effectively hacked will make us all ill. And that sounds like another expensive overblown contraption like the old police Incis system.
Maybe they're in the stranglehold of this neolib smaller government where every man, ambitious woman, and their dogs can sniff out goodly salaries telling us how we are all wrong and they can put us right. And these consultants and CEOs seem to get away with things very close to fraud! Pollies have to pass the work to them, it is the system, and we are the meat going through the grinder and coming out as mince. Perhaps their only option is to change the whole system, throw it out, and start again hoping for better. That is very inefficient as far as using human and other resource and skills go. But efficiency and productivity are just words to wave round like a magician distracting the peeps, while other things get done by sleight of hand.
i know that it is 'intended' for cyclists and for walker /runner
And then i said, I would not want to 'compete' for space. and then It 'seemed' to be only for cyclists, judging on the width of the track. All of it is "MY" opinion. Not what the article said.
So yeah, it can be 'intended' but it ain't 'inclusive'. I can see a whole lot of people not trying to be on there together with some cyclists that want to go at speed and without stopping. Its a bit like the track linking Whakamaru and Mangakino. You do not want to be on certain spots on this bicyle track/walkway as as pedestrian when you have on both sides lycra clad aucklanders / wellingtonians/ and other entitled people on bikes. They will tell you to get outta ways, cause after all they paid to be there.
And generally the track is used mainly by cyclists over summer. Go figure.
I don't care about your fixation in equating cycling to excesses of the middle classes, I disagree with it on the whole as I still see biking for many as a form of transport, whether that be because they don't have cars, access to public transport, or have decided to lose a few carbon emissions as part of the effort to beat climate change.
As part of my job, I plant and maintain areas along the new Kawatiri trail, and have been there many times from very early on to late afternoon. While not as spectacular as the one in the news above, it's also a shared track with narrow choke points, boardwalks and even a swing bridge, I've witnessed no collisions, near misses or anti social behaviour from either walkers or cyclists alike.
Along with the pleasure walkers and gaggle of lycra 'tour de francers', I also see kids riding to and back from school, people going to or back from work, and seniors doing the track for some safe, low impact exercise. What's not to like with that? Fresh air, burning calories and not using petrol.
To finish, I originally replied to your stating "it seems that this is only for cyclists". My comment that the article says it isn't still stands.
'seems'. 🙂 personal opinion. nothing to do with anything else then that.
I don't equate cycling with nothing, and i am not sure this path was even concepted under Labour, i think it was key the king of the mother of all cycle ways up and down the country. so really don't care. so its not even political.
Same with the Harbour Cycling bridge, again not something i would use, but to each their own. My point equating that bridge to the one that needs replacing in Ashburton is simply raising the question of need vs wants, as both bridges made it in to the news virtually the same weekend.
All i said is that I would not use this track as a person who now walks, competing with cyclists. That is literally all i said. To me it seems that this track is not suited for both. Maybe that is more to your liking? And the future will tell how suited it is to its intended dual purpose.
And i live in Rotorua which is as cycle friendly as it gets and its beautiful here for that.
“That scientists coming to the issue from two different angles reach the same conclusions about a given dataset should foster confidence in the scientific process and the conclusions reached by both groups.
Please make sure to use both citations when disseminating.”
"The research conducted so far has studied untrained transgender women."
hmmmmm
and a correction says :
"EH and TL have given talks and engaged in the mainstream media and academic press regarding the biology of sex and how they have concluded that this should impact sporting categories."
We can say they have an agenda
DR E Hilton is research technician at University of Manchester, and not a published researcher in Sports medicine at all
'Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine '
Play the ball not the woman. Not even going to respond beyond that because if your debate is based on marginalising people there's nowhere useful to go.
Got to agree with Weka on this one. Your criticisms of Hilton seem unfair – it's still a peer-reviewed article.
The two articles do leave a lot of questions unanswered, but then the sample-size of transgender athletes who were approaching olympic-level before and after transition is a tad small.
So it turns out labour aren't raising benefits they are just moving money from payments around like musical chairs and deducting payments from other top ups and getting praised for literally doing nothing. Some people will be worse off
The audacity. The shame. Shame on Labour. Shame. I'm so mad and done. This pathetic increase gave people hope and it turns out the pittance is all an illusion and now when someone wants to increase welfare middle nz will go crazy saying they are giving too much to beneficaries because of this bullshit and lies.
How is it so difficult to ring fence funding so people actually get extra. Does labour actually want people to get extra or did they want a nice pr story. NOONES getting anything extra. The yearly inflation increases also get swallowed up and see people getting less.
Honestly. I'm starting to miss the nats because atleast they didn't hide their hatred of beneficiaries labour is worse because it tell us it love us and is giving us $80 extra since they got in. No they arent. The only increase they've done is the $20 covid increase and winter energy and it's funny how they could do that increase last year without it cutting into other top ups but not this grand much praised increase that is taking a legitimate year to implement. Wtaf
What a bullying arrogant lying joke this government has become and I'm a party member. Refusing to do interviews, being forced to court or by the ombudsman to release OIAs, shouting down opposition and journos and turning select committees into a circus when people ask questions they wanna hear. Bugger the tories I hate them but this govt is yuck.
How many goddamn legions of consultants and pr gurus did it take to come up with this lie of a welfare increase!?! Spin spin spin spin
I see the upper middle class get billions and billions for their cycle lanes and get to run around lecturing poor people about how ignorant evil and privlidged we all are and what do the poor get ? An end to ruthensha ? Was that a good spin for the Twitter crowd …. Yeah thanks so much for giving us money we already get and telling us it's new funding
Lies. Spin. Misdirection. Spin.
Who cares who wins next time. It doesn't matter it genuinely doesn't matter. Happy nice sweet lies from labour or insults and abuse from national neither side gives a flying f about the poor.
'So it turns out labour aren't raising benefits they are just moving money from payments around like musical chairs and deducting payments from other top ups"
Any evidence for that ?
Your link is actual increases like this
Sole Parent Support from $386 last year to $406 this year and $434 next year
You misunderstand what 'top ups' or Temporary Additional Support are about.
'Temporary Additional Support is a weekly payment that helps you when you don't have enough money to cover your essential living costs"
Only up to 13 weeks , and clearly the benefit increases will mean 'dont have enough money' will reduce.
That was a rather incensed diatribe – I am a beneficiary and I am both surprised and grateful with the number and amounts of the increases I have received as well as those which I will be receiving. My situation has improved markedly – I regret that yours has not.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said reports of this type were “concerning” and said “if this type of behaviour were to eventuate, employers would be at risk of losing their accreditation and therefore not able to hire any migrants”.
I guess he's trying not to frighten the horses, but systematic criminal exploitation of the kind that was normalised under the Key Kleptocracy, should not only result in loss of accreditation, but massive fines to fund full damages to exploited workers, together with loss of residency status. You want to set up as an employer criminal? Go somewhere else – NZ doesn't need you – we've far too many like that already.
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TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney After several highly publicised alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years ...
Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels All systems are “go” for tonight’s launch of China’s next step in a carefully planned lunar exploration program. Placed on top of a powerful Long March 5 rocket, the Chang’e 6 ...
National returned a massive donation the day after a Newsroom story linked the donors to a property being investigated for operating unlawfully as a migrant workers’ hostel. The party’s 2023 donation filings, released on Friday, show it returned a $200,000 donation from Buen Holdings on August 23. That was the ...
Pacific Media Watch New Zealand has slumped to an unprecedented 19th place in the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index survey released today on World Press Freedom Day — May 3. This was a drop of six places from 13th last year when it slipped out of its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. Key facts Marriages and civil unions In ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
In this excerpt from her new memoir, Dame Susan Devoy remembers her turn as star contestant on the 2022 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. The most anxious time of every day was pre-elimination, when you knew this could be your final day on the show. I felt such contradictory emotions, ...
A week that began in triumph ended in an all-too-familiar disaster for the Green Party. Duncan Greive asks if there’s something in the mission that breaks its best and brightest. A long, strange week for the Green party began with a fantastic poll result. On one level this is hardly ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he ...
What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start? Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception ...
The striking report goes far beyond the proposed repeal of the Oranga Tamariki Act’s Treaty of Waitangi provision, and its impact should be felt far beyond the unique circumstances of the claim it addresses. Earlier this week, the Waitangi Tribunal released an interim report on the government’s proposed repeal of ...
The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Monash University Ken stocker/Shutterstock In the wake of numerous killings of women allegedly by men’s violence in 2024, thousands of Australians have joined rallies across the country to demand action ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University Oleg Ivanov IL/Shutterstock Waiting times for public hospital elective surgery have been in the news ahead of this year’s federal budget. That’s the type of non-emergency surgery ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Amna Artist/Shutterstock One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia on the Black Sea, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney LanaElcova/Shutterstock Electric vehicles are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions – and air pollution – from transport. Is this view correct? Yes – but only once uptake accelerates. Despite the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Natassia Woodley, Researcher and Phd Candidate, Edith Cowan University There is widespread agreement Australia needs to do better when it comes to gender-based violence. Anger and frustration at the numbers of women being killed saw national rallies over the weekend and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Mark and Anna Photography/Shutterstock As home ownership moves further out of reach for many Australians, “rentvesting” is being touted as a lifesaver. Rentvesting is the practice of renting one property to live ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sukhmani Khorana, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Netflix The new season of Heartbreak High is garnering mixed reviews. Critics are writing about the racy story lines, comparing it to other coming-of-age series about teenage relationships and ...
Bob Carr intends to launch legal action against Winston Peters and Julie Anne Genter is facing a second allegation of bullying. Both sucked the air out of an announcement on education, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
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Let me be the first to say 'this is completely bonkers'.
Cycling is not a viable form of commuting for the tens of thousands who cross the Bridge every working day.
The government are spending $785 million indulging the leisure-time activity of cycling enthusiasts.
It wasn't a viable form of commuting either along SH16 until they built a dedicated cycle way there. 2 years and tens of thousands of people a day later …
Same for Tamaki Drive-Quay Street.
When they build it, they will come.
And they get yo work same time or faster than a car.
So where is any evidence to support your claim that this crossing will have any major daily usage ? Take a look at the population close proximity to the bridge and what destinations there are that warrant the pop. to cross to the other side. For a start there is no demand to cross over for schooling.
We hear when it suits the govt on evidence basis decisions, I haven’t seen any compelling evidence by the supporters put forward, just a nice to have and spend what will be close to a $Billion, and we are told commencing construction “hopefully mid 2022.
there is not. but the good people of herne bay and ponsnobby might actually consider voting for a different party next time, say the greens or say some other party. And than labour might actually have to go into a coalition with all the other parties. Its future planning at its finest – for labour. After all these guys need jobs.
Never mind the broken bridge in Ashburton, which is costed at 30 mil give or take a few and which NEEDS to be rebuild. Heck, they could just build a new bridge and leave the old for pedestrians and cyclists for peanuts all things considered.
SH16 ' tens of thousands of people a day later …'
They do daily counts and its not 10sK per day for that cycleway. Plus it was just a minor part of the roadway and construction not a special build
For the actual figures: https://at.govt.nz/media/1985751/april-2021-cycle-counts.xlsx
Create the opportunity and they’ll take it or moan about it until the cows come home, on Open Moan.
Thanks , my Excel license no longer works on this desktop, so Ive just put in Google sheets to do so.
The answer is 500 or so for weeks days . The highest 1031 was a easter holiday .
Id happily replace the cycle way with a LR line and then we could say 10s thousands per day'
Why replace, why not have both? What is it with this either-or reasoning? Money? Space? Or just good-old binary thinking that seems to be a hallmark of neo-liberalism, i.e. my gain is your loss.
As we transit to a green economy I would like our public spending to be of the highest quality. I don't see that this government even has an operating framework that it runs these decisions through to give some order of priority. And frankly I don't see this spend which covers largely high income areas of Auckland passing any sort of evidence based tests. Would it be better spent on solar subsidies or insulation in poorer areas.
Since when is $68.50 close to $100? When it suits your narrative, obviously.
Plenty of students cross the Bridge daily. AUT has its North Campus on the ‘wrong’ side of the Bridge.
If you had not already been saying the same thing for days now, you might indeed be 'the first to say'.
What do you want to hear that people have not said yet?
If I had been sayiing it for days now, that really would make me the first. to say the $785 million pedestrian/cycle bridge was bonkers.
I had started off talking about the bikeway proposal, not the new bridge proposal. And that a fare free bus lane would be far better way than a bike lane in getting thousands of drivers out their cars, better for the climate, better for the environment.
Then the government's new bridge proposal broke,
I had been expecting to see a post on it.
Not seeing one I did my own.
Yes I think a $785 million biking, walking, skate boarding bridge crossing the Waitemata preposterous, ridiculous and quite frankly 'bonkers'.
Maybe when the shock has worn off, anyone who thinks this a good idea, could do a post on it?
You were pissing all over the recent post on cycling with 20 mostly negative comments so far: https://thestandard.org.nz/cycling-politics-is-winnable-politics/.
With commenters such as you writing another post on this topic is like opening a hornets’ nest. Why don’t you write a Guest Post if you feel so strongly about it instead of thrashing posts and comments by others?
Incognito1.2.1.1
Why don’t you write a Guest Post if you feel so strongly about it…..
I thought you would never ask.
I’m starting to think that English is not your first language, as you seem not to understand the difference between ask, suggest, and demand, for example.
I guess some people will always read 'winnable politics' as 'whineable'..
Done and sent.
P.S. Feel free to thrash it as much as you like
I can’t and won’t ‘thrash’ your submission for a Guest Post for two reasons:
Good on you for putting your money where your mouth is and I look forward to the final version appearing here on TS in due course, which will hopefully stimulate robust but constructive debate.
Naa thrash it all you like, don't pull your punches I need to see any weaknesses in the argument I put up.
Here's a taster…..
I'd suggest trialling bus priority lanes without making it free of charge. Otherwise you are testing two things at once and cannot generalise results.
\shrug
You get paid?!
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/125352433/this-government-promised-to-be-open-and-transparent-but-it-is-an-artfullycrafted-mirage
Show us you're capable of being more than a link whore with an amoeba's braincell.
This government is trodding down a track of sound bites and creating noise and lime light instead of looking at the country as a whole. This Government should be making decisions for ALL people which means a bit more thinking a bit less noise. But hey, there is always the phone pic that can make the rounds and populism that needs to be fanned with no less than 4 press secretaries, all curtesy of the taxpayer. Sigh.
well you and i and the resto of the population are not in a 'need to know' position, so we get meaningless pictures and are told to be happy. 🙂 After all, they are pretty pictures.
its gonna be so funny when in the future Labor will be again sitting on the opposition bench and will shriek about the 'others who don't be transparent'. lol.
Trust your eyes, they will tell you more about what happens in this country then any politician or journalist will ever tell you. And these press secretaries need jobs, what else would these communication specialists do otherwise?
Don't despair, there are many who know and see through this vail of deceptive behaviour and non disclosure. It is worse than I have seen in Europe behind the iron curtain. Pity that NZ has to go through the pain first. Humans don't learn any other way. This is why the Lange Govt and in the end the National Govt have lost. As for this lot, no amount of social media will put food on the table. The greater concern is that there is now a fear connected with the motion that if you don't agree with what this government does, you are ostracized. And this definitely looks very worrying.
and the same counts for being able to secure a rental or buy an affordable house. And that in the end will define the next election. Not just some nice vote gathering cycling bridges. And the sad thing about all this is that our issues and problems are real. We are smack dab in the middle of climate change, we have a pandemic in its second of many years to come, we are running out of the resources the Mensch needs to physically survive and we discuss if or not what we see happening is real. Incredible. And such a waste of opportunity and skill.
Good news though, the little Rotorua urchin in need of cleft palate surgery finally got it, after a year on a waiting list. The first smile was incredible and this 1 year old bub will now be able to almost live a normal life.
Well, well.
A moan from Andrea Vance who is just discovering the truth of the old adage
"He who sups with the devil must use a long spoon".
Late on in this piece Andrea tells us that this Government makes it very hard to get information and doesn't give interviews or provide material to journalists. Then she says, as if surprised, "Because the public’s impression of this government is the very opposite."
Well of course it is baby. Why are you surprised? It is you, and your ilk, who chose to sup with the devil. It is you who sold out to them and provided the fawning adulation they want. News? Nah. Tell us that the PM is planning a wedding and that her daughter handed mummy a lovely Mother's Day card.
Well you forgot the basic rule of your profession "News is what somebody does not want you to print. All the rest is advertising." Andrea, you sold out to the advertising. Now you are finding out that, having already sold you soul, you don't have any leverage to demand the truth about what the Government is up to.
And we, the Public, are left in the dark.
Yeah but they a still a better government than anything the nats are or will be capable of for years to come.
Oh well, I suppose you are a member of the public and as Andrea Vance says.
"Because the public’s impression of this government is the very opposite.".
You've been conned, and you love it. With journalism like Vance's you haven't been allowed to see how bad the current lot really are.
I certainly agree the National Party is in rather a mess. Bad as they are they would still be a better Government than would the pack of numpties currently occupying the Beehive.
rather a mess
Rather an understatement – unfit to be out in public, much less running anything.
Lazy, sleazy, incompetent and dishonest, and given to browbeating anyone who points it out.
Agree Stuart….."rather a mess"….a complete and utter shambles that may not survive….would be more accurate.
The problem for the Nats is that there are 3 other parties who are well organised with clear and strong messages and with a strong voter base. National has none of these, and is essentially morally bankrupt.
Appointing Crusher as leader was a disastrous further step towards irrelevance.
Chris Bishop is shifty and not well liked in his electorate so he is not an option….maybe Nicola Willis could stem the tide? Can anyone? Nick Smith?…oh wait…
and is that not the case with all things in life? Parties re-group and rebirth. Same politics different dress. And people will vote for them. See the Grand Ole Party of the US.
Good lord, what a reply. You will be surprised how many out there have it up to the neck with this government. I think the next election will be interesting to say the least.
Yes. That is what i see. It will be funny to see how many 'friends' labour has left to form a coalition with.
@ Fw
How come then they are leading all the polls by a very healthy margin?
There are none so blind….. 🙄
With all polls it always is a matter of who asks, what is asked, whom is asked.
It was the same under John Key and Helen Clark.
I personally know not one person who was ever asked their opinion about anything a., and b. if the Question were: Did J.A a good job with Covid, i would say yes, Do you approve of her as PM – never did. Now spin this 🙂
I voted for labor the last time in the hope something is getting done about the poorest and the ones living in motels hotels and cars. Oh was I wrong! The only thing that changed is that the people in cars now sleep in motels. It costs the taxpayer 1 Million smackers a week and no plan to build anything is on the table. Yes, talking about the blind. I think there were many of us but we are waking up. The "healthy" margin will soon disappear if enough people are left behind who have believed in all the bs.
both you and sabine seem confused as to what party you are dissing. voting for labor or endlessly moaning about labor would tell me you are in the land of the wrong white crowd.
Don’t let facts get in the way and spoil your internal narrative.
https://www.hud.govt.nz/assets/News-and-Resources/Statistics-and-Research/Housing-Dashboard-2020/Housing-Dashboard-April-2021.pdf
Did you vote for them last time ?
I happily voted for a losing third party. 🙂 The game is MMP and not some beefed up majority that does what it wants due to a so called 'mandate'. Unless we want to go back to the good two party system of the past.
'Former News of the World hack finds it difficult to get interviews in New Zealand'.
What a surprise!
irrespective of us liking or not some journalists, but this should be an issue.
Or, let me put it this way, in the future no more whinging about National not being open to journalists and questions. What is good for the goose, is then also good for the gander.
In fact we would all benefit from some news, even if they come from people we don't like, There is no such thing as fake news, only news we might not like.
I don’t give a flying fuck about her previous employment or political leanings. Want to know why? Because she just wrote an incredibly important opinion piece on democracy. Take her name off it and read it again and tell me what’s wrong with what she said.
unless of course you are ok with Labour running a massive propaganda machine that is both hypocritical and suppressive of democracy.
I'm confused. An increase in the number of communications people in government is reducing communication?
In reality, the media landscape has changed, the demands are ever increasing and in real time, and governments' response to that naturally changes too.
Vance's piece seems like a bit of a moan that she's losing scoops, and are similar to Barry Soper's complaints, ie, that he no longer has priority messaging.
Seriously, wants more communication but fewer press conferences and announcements? Looks to me like Andrea just wants the information to herself and no-one else.
no in the good old time of East Germany it would have been called 'amplifying the message'. Instead of a few you know have many bleating all the same thing, and more often then not actually not answering any questions, but standing there and like good parrots read some words of a piece of paper. All at an 6 figure expense paid for by the tax payer. We are so generous, aren't we?
yes, if that is the only form of communicating then it looks like your bog standard 'all attendance required' corporate meeting where you are told the 'news', while no questions are taken.
So you can pay a whole lot of people to say nothing, which is what this government does – and this is as wrong under National as it is under Labour.
Unless you are only for state controlled media?
You've been teetering on the edge for the the last year but equating labour to east Germany tells me you've gone off the edge .
Get a grip.
Nothing in this equates the Labour Party to the East Germany. It is just that a communications method, and our dear Leader is a specialist in communications methods, and were you see many people answering friendly questions, others see many people touting the same script -amplifying the governments message.
I find it interesting that you compare the Labour government to East Germany, because i certainly did not. They ain't communist enough, and they ain't socialist enough. Not enough affordable houses, no land reform etc. They are as far removed from communism as they could be.
It’s not an increase in communication because the positions she’s talking about are created to control. More communication officers = less access to the people who actually know what they’re talking about and can answer specific questions. I’m wondering where you’ve been the last 40 years, this isn’t new. Ardern is an expert communicator and that’s a double edged sword in a party that sees their job as primarily about control. As opposed to sharing power, or being transparent, or increasing democracy. It doesn’t hurt the left to critically examine this.
good point muttonbird. as you say all media has changed hugely and is continueing to change. last years daily 1pm standup should have been a wakeup call, not because of the actual standup and journo intereaction, but because it was instantly on facebook twitter etc. hacks like soper are looking at being bypassed . trump ,for all of his faults, has shown how to bypass trad media, and trad media are worried.
Media are quick to promote outrage and dispossession. That's what Vance trained in and it's what she does now. The prime focus is drama reporting for the purposes of promoting the reporter/media outlet, rather than some dispassionate observation of an issue.
Here's an article with amusing links in a similar vein; 'The Nimby photo formula', aka people with their arms folded.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018798432/the-nimby-photo-formula
+1
There are now more opinion "makers" employed than ever before. If this is needed than the government has an agenda that we have not been told. That much is becoming increasingly clear. It also looks more and more like a textbook case of how to convert a country to a oppressive state. Not many cotton on to this yet but I think its starting to get noticed.
A well-functioning OIA that is fit for purpose is at the core of a well-functioning democracy and the delicate relationship between citizens and government. No wonder people are venting their spleen online only to find that the powers that be also want to ‘manage’ this aspect of our lives. We live in interesting times.
So..the g7 strikes a deal to tax the tax-avoiding corporate-gougers..
but those two aggregators of click-bait shite…herald and stuff..
don't seem it to be news-worthy..?
You refer to this? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-57368247
or this from the Herald?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/g7-rich-nations-back-global-minimum-corporate-tax-of-at-least-15
or this from Stuff?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/300326263/g7-back-global-minimum-tax-to-deter-dodging-by-multinational-firms
This was on bbc news last nite…
and 10-12 hrs later still nothing on stuff/herald..
yeah…that's what I'm talking about..
and that both stuff and the herald post the most dreadful click-bait shite..
and lot's of fresh shite this morning..
but nothing on the g7 deal..
yeah..that's what I'm talking about..
Mac1 has already given links above.
Posted on stuff at 8.18 am?
G-7 back global minimum tax to deter dodging by multinational firms
The herald posted at 9.04 am?
G7: Rich nations back global minimum corporate tax of at least 15%
There goes the narrative
What are you talking about?
Numpty neoliberalism. For those that missed it at the time, Corbyn campaigned on free broadband.
https://twitter.com/richdsi/status/1400767518902566914
And yet in the recent past they jailed people who failed to pay a licencing fee. At least they seem to have moved on from that now. What a backwards place.
I'm not sure they have moved on at all. All though it is apparently legal to own, or possess, a TV without having a licence it is illegal to watch or to record from it any program that is broadcast.
Oh well, it would still appear that it would be legal to watch the greatest story ever told. I don't know if it works with a digital set but on the old analogue devices you could turn you TV on, tune it to a frequency where no station was broadcasting and you could watch the creation of the Universe. About 1% of the snow you saw on the screen was the background radiation from the Big Bang. Now tell me any other program that could compete with that.
so a 'pending' problem was ignored under Helen Clark, then duly ignored under John Key and then again under Jacinda Ardern, and now the 'pending' problem has become an acute problem. Yet here we discuss the need of a bicycle bridge for well heeled and leisure lycra clad 'bikers', while the broken bridge in Ashburton is………………! Never mind we have priorities, and the government allowed for an initial 500.000 NZD to be made available to all those that have lost their stuff in the floods (surely another few hundred thousands will be made available soon) and heavy transport will just take the 13 hour detour. Right?
I guess if some lycra clad citydwellers were to storm a police barrier and all took their bicycles on to the bridge – after all light traffic is 'ok', surely the government would throw oodles of money at them for a new 'bridge'. Right?
I hope that the Government comes to its mind, and axes that vanity project for votes in Auckland and gives the people of Ashburton a piece of infrastructure that is actually needed.
When you have made a promise and had a phot opportunity to build a crossing for less than $80m so you cannot be called out for a broken promise you have to allow yourself some wiggle room. Even if the additional cost is over $600m but you get another chance for an announcement and another photo opportunity 🙈🙊🙉
I do hope the govt follows public sentiment and gives graciously in kind, mental support and $$ how those in the Canterbury region have suffered.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-fully-fund-skypath-part-390m-investment-walking-and-cycling
And we should really pay no heed to these 'social media outings of the government'.
We should ask where the announcement is for Ashburtons new bridge. Heck, someone could get the PM some stylish gumboots for a we Photo Op with a shovel. It would make for some positive news, actually.
New bridge …. hardly needed except for those in a hurry. Cost benefit is probably the stumbling block and often the local council is biggest roadblock to getting going – like they were at old Kopu bridge at Thames-
Ive checked into this and the Council wants a new bridge not far from the old one and using an existing street – residential Chalmers St- to access it from it from the town side and by pass Tinwald .
Common sense would presume a new state highway bridge and access roads bypasses the town completely, I suppose to the western side, which would reduce through traffic and heavy trucks completely and make the town centre a safer and less fume ridden alley.
Shop keeper hate complete by passes like this and new shopping strip malls open up alongside and draw away customers from 'the town'
I doubt the people of Ashburton really care of all of that, they would just like to be able to not drive 13 hours to the next town, or fall into the river once the current bridge gives up.
But a good deflection from what i actually pointed out, namely that we are really good at ignoring pending problems until they become acute, and then we posture about a cycling bridge for the smallest lobbygroup in NZ. The lycra brigade from Ponsonby and Herne Bay. Who, incidentally can break a police barrier, cause a huge traffic problem for others and get rewarded with 870 million worth of pork.
There was a single day it was out , and it was a really rare event for them. Within the last 5 years theres been other occasions the main highway south has been cut by floodwaters
http://floodlist.com/australia/new-zealand-canterbury-otago-december-2019
Half a dozen similar in other parts of NZ in last couple of years alone
people in Asburton can join the queue…
you are all over the place. two weeks ago, you went on(at length) about needing more cycleways public transport etc, then when a cycleway over harbour is announced, off you go on a tangent about a bridge that WAS FUNCTIONING. perhaps you should have warned the gov that mother nature was going to cut canterbury in half . if you got out from behind your keyboard and talked to engineers, you would find that much infrastructure in NZ is worn out. there are hundreds of bridges etc around the country thats are passed their use-by date. as is much of the water reticulation, sewage etc. too leap up and down and try to link a long planned bridge in one place with another recently washed out is ridiculous.
This is bizzare
'The Green Party says Facebook shouldn't be the sole arbiter in breaching New Zealanders' free speech rights, Marc Daalder reports
Nobody has free speech rights on The Standard or any other social media platform..
even weirder
'Ghahraman also said the decision by Facebook during last year's election to remove the page of the Advance New Zealand party, which was a registered political party fairly and legally competing in New Zealand's election, raised questions around the company's involvement in New Zealand democracy."
yeah right. Is Ghahraman doing her gig again – like previously-by arguing for the side of haters and those accused of genocide
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/greens-want-new-law-for-content-moderation
Which is bizarre?
Dalder’s opening sentence is an odd construction, I had to read it three times to understand what he is reporting.
I’m not a particular fan of Ghahraman, she’s a bit of a loose unit politically at times, but here I’m just left with questions around what is her actual position. Not the best Newsroom piece.
i find it quite simple
Rather then leave the moderation solely to private entities she suggest that that rules and regulations are provided by the state as to what falls under these categories and that FB should then follow that legal framework rather then its own, or together with its own.
this comment here i think states it quite clearly
And yes, she should be critisising the company, as the company should follow NZ privacy laws in regards to its "NZ customers".
Yep, got that bit, think it’s a good idea. What I don’t get is where she thinks the lines should be drawn once goby has that power. Also how to stop that power being abused. I’d rather have a Labour in charge rather than FB, but what about NACT? Or a NZ Trump?
the point is you can't stop that.
So what you must do is legislate, set rules and regulations and then deal with the political changes when they arise – as they will. There will be a NACT or N /Coalition of sorts, and there will be a LGreen or L/Coalition of sorts. So what must be done is to work for rules that pass the muster of all – so that another government don't undo the work of the previous government. And under MMP that actually works quite well.
So she is right, it is now that the government should look at what can be set as 'nevers'. In Germany that is anything to do with Nazi'sm. – You try to salute or shout a Heil Hitler – you will find yourself locked up and fined etc.
It does not prevent people from believing this shit, but it prevents outright promotion of it, which is i guess the best that can be done.
The swastika rules are just a legal requirement in Germany – but only banned when used as symbols or messages for anti constitutional organisations
But they can be used "Swastikas and other banned symbols can, however, be displayed in Germany if they are used for "civic education, countering anti-constitutional activities, art and science, research and education, the coverage of historic and current events, or similar purposes"
https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-confusing-rules-on-swastikas-and-nazi-symbols/a-45063547
Not sure how this about symbols is related to Advance Party or even Facebook and free speech.
"The logo of the banned communist party KPD and symbols associated with terrorist groups such as the Islamic State are also considered anti-constitutional and thus illegal."
The KPD star with hammer and sickle is banned in Germany if used for political purposes
[image resized]
Yes, there are distinction between hate speach and education.And i guess some find this hard to understand and/or to accept.
I guess NZ will find this out when it gets on with teaching history as it happened rather then the white wash mess that is currently thought in NZ.
Anecdotally, Sister Gisela – who was a Student at the University of Munich during the war years – to become a teacher, had a box full of stuff. She took that box to the class room once a year, to show us what method the Nazi Party used to 'brainwash' the population if you so like. It was a very big moving house box full of cards, posters, postcards, playing cards. Sticker books, newspapers, etc full of Hitler and his henchmen. It was articles upon articles about how the people greated him in Austria and what was then the Sudeten Land. And the last thing she showed us was a Flyer from the White Rose, and then we learned about the Siblings Scholl. We were eleven years old. That is called education. Then the box went back into the darkest place in the convent.
I have no issues with people finding these laws so confusing that they stay a way from it if they can't understand the principle, of 'don't be a Nazi, don't promote a Nazi, don't deify Nazism", and if you do, prison and fine.
Again, I understand that. What I don’t yet know is where she thinks the line should be.
we know the Greens have suppressed gender critical debate within their own party, so I think it’s an important question
Maybe start with something simple. The AFD +Alternative for Germany – is a legal party albeit on the extreme right. That is legal and their free speeching is protected by the law, that includes FB. However individual Members are not free to speechify how refugees in Germany are lesser humans and a certain moustached man would have had a solution for it. And if they were to do so, FB would be in its rights to shut them down, and FB would be following certain laws should say Nazi regalia be displayed. Should AFD be posting such things and displaying Nazi regalia or symbolism then FB would also be in its right to shut their site down. Again, German law does actually protect FB should they do that. Start with the obvious and start providing a legal frame work that makes sense.
What would be a NZ example?
What gets me more often then not overlooked online, is violence against women , racism, and religious intolerance. Start with the easy.
I can't tell NZ – and will never – how to handle their own past – i am a migrant and really don't have enough knowledge and i also don't have skin in the game as i have no children. But i think the discussion around how to teach NZ History in the future will raise this question more often then not and hopefully some good will come from it.
so violence against women on FB. Where should the setting be?
@ weka
simple as currently when you review 'violence against women' (and i am talking here about the bog standard biological women who identifies as such and is a she / her in this case) chances are that it will not 'infringe' on community standards.
Maybe we need to define then in this country what really constitutes 'violence against women' and then we give this list to FB and state that if people report these instances you shut down the account.
And then you roll this over to violence against all others. Start with something that we know happens.
and also maybe let FB now that breastfeeding in NZ does not fall under porn, because that is the only time boobs get censored. When a baby is latched on.
But surely Weka, you too could find a sample that could be used? Or else, we do nothing and heck, no harm done?
Tiriti-denial seems constitutionally similar.
what would be some examples? Are you thinking of someone running a group on FB and telling lies about the Treaty in the context of overt racism?
Top contender. Still not sure how it would work.
https://twitter.com/tauhenare/status/1401339769020289025
The problem arises simply because the people promoting 'de-colonising' have always been remarkably coy on the details of exactly what they propose. Into the vacuum rushes all manner speculative ideas – some more palatable than others so to speak.
Brash's lot fit the bill, yes.
yes, That one would be an excellent one.
Facebooks hate speech moderation standards ( from the Objectionable Content section)
'We define hate speech as a direct attack against people on the basis of what we call protected characteristics:
race,ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and serious disease.
We define attacks as :
violent or dehumanising speech, harmful stereotypes, statements of inferiority, expressions of contempt, disgust or dismissal, cursing and calls for exclusion or segregation.
We consider age a protected characteristic when referenced along with another protected characteristic.
We also protect refugees, migrants, immigrants and asylum seekers from the most severe attacks, though we do allow commentary and criticism of immigration policies."
Theres others for Safety, Violence and Criminal behaviour , Bullying and harassment, Human exploitation etc
Orwellian. But many don't even know what that means. Maybe its objectionable.
Well, no, I'm pretty sure many of the broadcasts against Eastasia would have run afoul of Facebook's policy.
Censorship or ‘human error’, the effect is the same.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/04/microsoft-bing-tiananmen-tank-man-results
People get really ‘antsy’ when they believe their online rights have been curbed and their search results and comments are being monitored and possibly ‘managed’.
And even more antsy when they are proven right.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/mine-sniffing-rat-magawa-ends-years-of-hard-work-in-cambodia/IOUEUP5XV4PVLDKXNXSFNKRUSU/
this is quite cute and very awesome. This we rat actually did five years of mine sniffing and is now retiring. Glasses fogging up stuff. Riveting reading. Honestly.
One of the tutors at Waikato spent a few years with Apopo – a great initiative. There are a few things bio-sensing might be harnessed for, not least of which might be Covid, but also some forms of cancer. It has been used with Tb.
Sound, solid advice from South Auckland doctor.
Keep up with the hand-washing, covering coughs an sneezes and maintaining a safe distance when respiratory viruses are around.
Last year, under Covid 'rules' , hospitalisations due to Respiratory Syncytial Viruses fell dramatically.
We've gone back to our sloppy ways…
But he said last year there was an 80 percent drop in cases, because of Covid-19 precautions.
"I think it's back to those important public health strategies, washing your hands, coughing and sneezing into your elbow and particularly looking after your babies by keeping away from them young children and old people when you've got respiratory stuff going on.
"It was amazing and particularly great that the disadvantaged kids got a break last year – but it's back."
Dr Trenholme said he is worried because there has already been a rise in RSV cases this year.
Really wish NZ would put some effort into this.
This and scanning in at premises.
It is a matter of when, not if, we have a community outbreak, IMO. The complacency/arrogance/indifference of folk will be our undoing.
I was gobsmacked in a recent exchange here on TS, 'I shouldn't have to upgrade my phone to sign in' or some such piffle. Then the same conceited piece of work is one of the loudest complainers of the vaccine roll-out.
To my mind these two activities are or should be linked. High compliance in registering movements entitles one to complimentary vaccination(s).
My comment was about handwashing etc in relation to limiting the spread of cold and flu.
As for scanning, sorry to break this to you, but no-one here scans. And they won't so long as the perception of risk is low. What we need is systems that can be booted up rapidly if there is community outbreak. I don't think the South Island has had community transmission for a year.
This Government likes to take advice but not to invest in scientific research. Especially early-career and emerging researchers are finding it hard here in NZ. No wonder they’ll disappear overseas once the pandemic has waned. The system is broke(n), but Dr Woods and Dr Verrall are asleep at that particular wheel.
https://sciblogs.co.nz/news/2021/06/02/new-zealand-relies-on-scientific-research-for-good-policy-its-a-pity-the-budget-didnt-reflect-this/
For a crowd that wants the country to pivot from exporting raw products to higher paid industries, you would think this was a no-brainer.
After enjoying Fight for the wild re preditor free 2050
I was wondering if anyone knows if doc are intending to make Stuart Is preditor free ?as think what an is that size would be in providing an amazing lifeboat for many our our native species. I could not find anything on the internet. Many who have been there have commented what a place to visit. And that the wonders it provides in its current state with introduced species is breath taking. I tip my cap to all those volunteers and amazing DOC staff out there.
It would be amazing. Tricky with the community I think
The haters are gonna hate, the converted will love it. The photos speak volumes.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/experiences/cycling-holidays/300324106/lake-dunstan-trail-new-zealands-most-spectacular-bike-ride-has-just-opened
Lol, Aucklanders be very jealous.
I’m not a hater so much as frustrated that we can do such clever engineering but can’t figure out how to build low cost housing using that same discipline.
btw, that landscape is where they had to pour concrete into the hills after engineers said this is a dodgy af place to build a dam given quake potential. Damn the science, and the High Court, Muldoon stomped all over both and nature with his big thinking.
And again, what gets me, it seems that this is only for cyclists as as a wanderer/walker i would not like to compete with these guys.
It is that single use that is so wasteful.
Oh we can figure out low cost housing, but 'the market' won't allow for it, and the government won't build it in the place of 'the market'. With all things, we have the money, but we don't spend it wisely. But some well to doer Aucklanders get to travel to there and then they get to bike there. Never mind the homeless or soon to be homeless.
The ironies and classism abound, although I expect high use from locals and Southland and Otago people especially in the first year.
completely agree about the single use. Betting it’s a beloved project for someone or some group, and from pre covid/tourism collapse, but we really have to move past this reductionist thinking to looking at whole systems.
Some people are so quick to judge.
https://centralotagonz.com/tracks-and-trails/lake-dunstan-trail/
Can you reconcile that with the volume speaking photos?
I can.
Lol, I meant sharing with the rest of us.
Spectacular views of a trail and not a single suggestion it was for lycra-wearers only; perception is not reality. In fact, the Stuff article did mentioning walking but was obviously written from a cycling PoV.
I have to say that I find this pitting of cyclists against car drivers or cyclists against walkers symptomatic of many of the ‘debates’ we’re having nowadays, particularly the political ones (which doesn’t leave many others). I thought it was all about sharing, inclusivity, finding common ground and, ideally, consensus, i.e. the opposite of what’s been happening more and more in recent times.
Work’s calling.
Let the unicycle commute commence!
Wasn’t a pitting of cyclists and walkers against each other, but pro tourism leaders against the same who refuse to address climate, ecology, housing, preparing for what’s coming.
As I said not hate so much as frustration. I remember when they ripped up the rail lines in Central to build a bike track. It’s a lack of vision of the bigger picture and urgency of the situation that bothers me.
Apologies, although I replied to you, it was not all (!) about you or your comments in particular, but more of a general moan from a growing general sense of frustration. Sorry, I should have made that more clear.
all good And yes, agreed about the frustrating nature of polarised and pitted debates.
The Whakatipu trails are heavily used by locals and visitors, both cyclists and walkers, and carry a surprising amount of commuter traffic. Use well in excess of most expectations. During lockdown they were almost too busy.
The CO Rail Trail is well used but it's taken a while for the associated support businesses to get sorted and understand the opportunities. Still a stunning resource, both for biking and walking in whole or parts with some great day walks / rides. Every time I've been on it I've only met New Zealanders, mostly from Central. Want to walk it depths of winter some time, staying in the pubs along the way, there's plenty.
The Southland trail from Kingston through Mavora to Walter Peak is a bit of a fizzer, but that doesn't have much population along it so is tourist only.
The Lake Dunstan trail is a stunner. Only word to describe it. I've been through there before the lake filled on a bike and it was quite an adventure along the farm and hydro tracks. The 'clip-on' section avoids a very steep track over the mountain. I'd say this trail well be very well used.
I did a lot of work on the local trails and it was a hoot watching all the local true blue landowners having meltdowns about the trails coming alongside, and in some cases right through, their properties. They couldn't say much since it was all John Key's idea, but Bill had to do a bit to pacify a few. Amy Adams got her nickers in a right knot about the Dunstan one too, goes right past her place.
Good to hear from a local with first-hand real experience rather than from armchair critics from afar.
Lol the Nats.
How long does it take to bike from Clyde to Cromwell? Is it suitable for commuting? I’d been assuming it was too far.
The Dunstan trail is 42km from Cromwell to Clyde, but the run out/in through Bannockburn is 13km of that. If you could get across the lake from Old Cromwell it could be a worthwhile alternative to the drive through the gorge. The times I've done it, it was a full day round trip, but that involved a couple of pretty solid climbs following the hydro tracks put in to get drill rigs on site, and a bit of trespass. A good trail along lake level, probably an hour or less at commute pace.
On a good day there's people commuting from Gibbston to Frankton or Queenstown along the Queenstown trail, about an hour and arrive at work with a good grin. That's about 40km all the way or 30-35km to Frankton.
Thanks for that insight, Graeme.
The article states it isn't single use with reference to runners and walkers sharing the trail
But where is the housing on it – people want to know!
No houses because trolls live underneath bridges lol
You know there’s a housing crisis locally right?
On our tourist cycle tracks, even!
More like via local council and businesses.
They have little influence over financialised housing 'markets' and councils get funding with strings attached about what they do with it. Tourism infrastructure is not from the same bucket as housing, strangely enough.
Sometimes a cycle track is just a cycle track.
Councils have lots of options for responding to the housing crisis and they choose not to take them.
Let’s see how much CODC is shifting its tourism focus post covid. I will be surprised.
Btw, seeing housing as outside of council purview, and not seeing the connections between tourism and housing in that part of the country is a definition of the silo rather than system thinking I mentioned.
There is seeing the world you want to be true, and what is there. Progress requires acknowledging both.
Of course. Could have done without the mocking and instead talking about that.
Nowadays, people don’t read, they react, to what they think they’d read if they did in fact read it. Too much effort goes into moaning, IMHO; it is 95% of reality.
I 95% agree or +95%
You should expect a bit of moaning. Bad governance leaves a mighty long tail.
It will take decades to halt the rise of inequality stemming from the Rogergnomic …experiment. Those exposed to its effects need something more substantial than the incremental rises to welfare payments announced thus far, which will like as not be erased by the next ripple of incontinent greed from the rentier set. The government has done many positive things, but it has not set things to rights. Not remotely.
Too much of government action is putting on band aids. They can be helpful in healing if underneath them is prepared. clean and healthy, otherwise they just lead to festering!
I fear that their only option for change is leaps and bounds. They are leaping out of multi-educators bleeding the polytech and training system, so there is going to be one control and one ring will bind them all. Same with hospitals and medicals, and they want one tech system which when it can be effectively hacked will make us all ill. And that sounds like another expensive overblown contraption like the old police Incis system.
Maybe they're in the stranglehold of this neolib smaller government where every man, ambitious woman, and their dogs can sniff out goodly salaries telling us how we are all wrong and they can put us right. And these consultants and CEOs seem to get away with things very close to fraud! Pollies have to pass the work to them, it is the system, and we are the meat going through the grinder and coming out as mince. Perhaps their only option is to change the whole system, throw it out, and start again hoping for better. That is very inefficient as far as using human and other resource and skills go. But efficiency and productivity are just words to wave round like a magician distracting the peeps, while other things get done by sleight of hand.
As i said, I would not want to compete against the cyclists and runners as a walker, others might feel more comfortable with it.
You also said…
Which is why I posted it actually isn't.
i know that it is 'intended' for cyclists and for walker /runner
And then i said, I would not want to 'compete' for space. and then It 'seemed' to be only for cyclists, judging on the width of the track. All of it is "MY" opinion. Not what the article said.
So yeah, it can be 'intended' but it ain't 'inclusive'. I can see a whole lot of people not trying to be on there together with some cyclists that want to go at speed and without stopping. Its a bit like the track linking Whakamaru and Mangakino. You do not want to be on certain spots on this bicyle track/walkway as as pedestrian when you have on both sides lycra clad aucklanders / wellingtonians/ and other entitled people on bikes. They will tell you to get outta ways, cause after all they paid to be there.
And generally the track is used mainly by cyclists over summer. Go figure.
I don't care about your fixation in equating cycling to excesses of the middle classes, I disagree with it on the whole as I still see biking for many as a form of transport, whether that be because they don't have cars, access to public transport, or have decided to lose a few carbon emissions as part of the effort to beat climate change.
As part of my job, I plant and maintain areas along the new Kawatiri trail, and have been there many times from very early on to late afternoon. While not as spectacular as the one in the news above, it's also a shared track with narrow choke points, boardwalks and even a swing bridge, I've witnessed no collisions, near misses or anti social behaviour from either walkers or cyclists alike.
Along with the pleasure walkers and gaggle of lycra 'tour de francers', I also see kids riding to and back from school, people going to or back from work, and seniors doing the track for some safe, low impact exercise. What's not to like with that? Fresh air, burning calories and not using petrol.
To finish, I originally replied to your stating "it seems that this is only for cyclists". My comment that the article says it isn't still stands.
'seems'. 🙂 personal opinion. nothing to do with anything else then that.
I don't equate cycling with nothing, and i am not sure this path was even concepted under Labour, i think it was key the king of the mother of all cycle ways up and down the country. so really don't care. so its not even political.
Same with the Harbour Cycling bridge, again not something i would use, but to each their own. My point equating that bridge to the one that needs replacing in Ashburton is simply raising the question of need vs wants, as both bridges made it in to the news virtually the same weekend.
All i said is that I would not use this track as a person who now walks, competing with cyclists. That is literally all i said. To me it seems that this track is not suited for both. Maybe that is more to your liking? And the future will tell how suited it is to its intended dual purpose.
And i live in Rotorua which is as cycle friendly as it gets and its beautiful here for that.
Useful references here.
https://twitter.com/fondofbeetles/status/1368174222992961547
In the conclusions
"The research conducted so far has studied untrained transgender women."
hmmmmm
and a correction says :
"EH and TL have given talks and engaged in the mainstream media and academic press regarding the biology of sex and how they have concluded that this should impact sporting categories."
We can say they have an agenda
DR E Hilton is research technician at University of Manchester, and not a published researcher in Sports medicine at all
'Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine '
https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/emma.hilton.html
So we can say its not worth much at all.
Play the ball not the woman. Not even going to respond beyond that because if your debate is based on marginalising people there's nowhere useful to go.
Shock! Horror!
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2021/06/former-olympians-challenge-sport-nz-draft-guidelines-on-transgender-athletes-want-more-consultation.html
A newspiece questioning the safety and fairness to women of transwomen playing in women's sports teams…. that doesn't utilise the slur Terf.
Aired tonight.
Got to agree with Weka on this one. Your criticisms of Hilton seem unfair – it's still a peer-reviewed article.
The two articles do leave a lot of questions unanswered, but then the sample-size of transgender athletes who were approaching olympic-level before and after transition is a tad small.
So it turns out labour aren't raising benefits they are just moving money from payments around like musical chairs and deducting payments from other top ups and getting praised for literally doing nothing. Some people will be worse off
The audacity. The shame. Shame on Labour. Shame. I'm so mad and done. This pathetic increase gave people hope and it turns out the pittance is all an illusion and now when someone wants to increase welfare middle nz will go crazy saying they are giving too much to beneficaries because of this bullshit and lies.
How is it so difficult to ring fence funding so people actually get extra. Does labour actually want people to get extra or did they want a nice pr story. NOONES getting anything extra. The yearly inflation increases also get swallowed up and see people getting less.
Honestly. I'm starting to miss the nats because atleast they didn't hide their hatred of beneficiaries labour is worse because it tell us it love us and is giving us $80 extra since they got in. No they arent. The only increase they've done is the $20 covid increase and winter energy and it's funny how they could do that increase last year without it cutting into other top ups but not this grand much praised increase that is taking a legitimate year to implement. Wtaf
What a bullying arrogant lying joke this government has become and I'm a party member. Refusing to do interviews, being forced to court or by the ombudsman to release OIAs, shouting down opposition and journos and turning select committees into a circus when people ask questions they wanna hear. Bugger the tories I hate them but this govt is yuck.
How many goddamn legions of consultants and pr gurus did it take to come up with this lie of a welfare increase!?! Spin spin spin spin
I see the upper middle class get billions and billions for their cycle lanes and get to run around lecturing poor people about how ignorant evil and privlidged we all are and what do the poor get ? An end to ruthensha ? Was that a good spin for the Twitter crowd …. Yeah thanks so much for giving us money we already get and telling us it's new funding
Lies. Spin. Misdirection. Spin.
Who cares who wins next time. It doesn't matter it genuinely doesn't matter. Happy nice sweet lies from labour or insults and abuse from national neither side gives a flying f about the poor.
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-work-and-income/news/2021/2021-budget.html#:~:text=On%201%20April%202022,%2425%20per%20adult%20a%20week.
'So it turns out labour aren't raising benefits they are just moving money from payments around like musical chairs and deducting payments from other top ups"
Any evidence for that ?
Your link is actual increases like this
Sole Parent Support from $386 last year to $406 this year and $434 next year
You misunderstand what 'top ups' or Temporary Additional Support are about.
'Temporary Additional Support is a weekly payment that helps you when you don't have enough money to cover your essential living costs"
Only up to 13 weeks , and clearly the benefit increases will mean 'dont have enough money' will reduce.
I suppose this is part of what having 4 press secretaries gets you.
FWIW, my Mum is 80 and each week I hear the gratitude from her with the amount she gets on the pension.
“Never would get that with Judith in charge…”
That was a rather incensed diatribe – I am a beneficiary and I am both surprised and grateful with the number and amounts of the increases I have received as well as those which I will be receiving. My situation has improved markedly – I regret that yours has not.
Barfly, so pleased to hear that. All the best.
Waiting-person (M/F), there’s a fly on my radar!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/444165/new-radar-drone-tech-being-developed-to-track-insects
This is so cool.
Edit: there’s a spy on the wall.
Although the object of proposed changes to Immigration monitoring seem well intended, we have had an accreditation system before – in fact we have one now.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said reports of this type were “concerning” and said “if this type of behaviour were to eventuate, employers would be at risk of losing their accreditation and therefore not able to hire any migrants”.
I guess he's trying not to frighten the horses, but systematic criminal exploitation of the kind that was normalised under the Key Kleptocracy, should not only result in loss of accreditation, but massive fines to fund full damages to exploited workers, together with loss of residency status. You want to set up as an employer criminal? Go somewhere else – NZ doesn't need you – we've far too many like that already.