Donald Trump's criminal defence lawyer, admits live on Fox News, than one of the indictments is valid.
He said that Trump had asked Pence to go with "option D" (cited in the charges against Trump, that he conspired to … )
The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC
Donald Trump’s Lawyer Is Dumber Than Donald Trump
The case is made here, based on the testimony so far by John Lauro, Trump's lawyer. The freedom of speech defence ridiculed, he’s charged with organised conspiracy to commit a crime.
Trump once boasted that he could commit a crime every American knew he was guilty of and get away with it – he used the example of shooting someone in the street (or organising someone to do a crime for him like a mob boss).
That was Trump posing as a fascist political leader (his version of Putin’s cornered rat story) offering to seize power on behalf of those who supported him, to end the contest for political legitimacy through a fair democratic process – because their might was right.
He noted many Christian dominionists were little more than white race nation supremacists, and when they prayed kingdom come, they were seeking their power over other Americans. Thus control of SCOTUS etc.
This is a result of GOP adopting the southern strategy.
Before, all healthy men in Russia aged between 18 and 27 had to serve one year of compulsory military service. Conscription was carried out twice a year.
Now, all men up to 30 years of age can be called up.
About the only thing that gives me hope is the increasing reluctance of young men to go to war.The exception ,sadly, would be those young men who view the military as their only economic option.
But the imperialist needs of nations will persevere regardless.We're heading for remote controlled AI wars
In Israel there were those reluctant to serve in the IDF on the occupied West Bank and now reservists saying they will not be available (unless Israel is attacked) because of the move to negate the Basic Law (protecting the rights of citizens) and subject the nation to the rule of any government with a parliamentary majority.
The unnecessary war is now entering its stalemate phase, the lines on the map do not change no matter how many lives are placed at risk in any offensive (Haig/ Joffre reprise) – so it’s likely to be drone and missile attacks behind the lines – as per WW2).
They're letting their rapists, murderers and washing machine thieves off the hook, too. What could possibly go wrong.
@mobilizationnews
Translated from Russian by
Wagner suspected of killing 6 people In Karelia, two friends were arrested on suspicion of killing six people. One of them recently returned from the war. On the night of August 1, five men and one woman were found stabbed to death in the village of Derevyannoye. The killers set fire to two houses belonging to the dead. Security forces detained suspects in severe intoxication. They were Igor Sofonov and Maxim Bochkarev. According to journalists, the men were friends and were in prison together. They were tried on serious articles, including murder, robbery, robbery, rape and drugs. Igor Sofonov was recently pardoned. He went to fight, presumably in the Wagner PMC. During the meeting on the choice of a measure of restraint, Sofonov tried in every possible way to emphasize his belonging to the military, local media reported. To the questions of the judge, he answered "Yes, exactly." The court arrested both men for two months. In a criminal case on the murder of several people, they face life imprisonment (Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
Russian soldiers may now be able to avoid criminal prosecution if they serve on the frontline in Ukraine, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday, citing a recent ruling by Russia’s Supreme Court.
The new legal precedent was set in a deadly automobile accident case where Corporal Vladislav Ustinov was handed a two-year prison sentence in May 2022 for running over and killing two people.
But instead of being dismissed from the military following his conviction, Ustinov was sent to to fight in Ukraine, where Kommersant says he is still serving.
[…]
Russian courts will now be able to cite a defendant’s involvement in military operations as mitigating circumstances and grounds for reviewing sentences, according to Ustinov’s lawyer Sergei Bizyukin.
Days before the Supreme Court ruling, Russian lawmakers approved legislation allowing convicts to clear their criminal records in exchange for joining the country’s depleted military.
Legal experts told Kommersant that Russian courts could now use both the new law and the Supreme Court precedent in Ustinov’s case to free criminally convicted soldiers who serve in Ukraine.
Seems to be a Slavic thing,it happened in Ukraine very early in the piece.The harsh upside is that probably people aren't too fussed when criminals get killed
The actors seeking to be National's support partners (the nice Maori who believe in assimilation, David Seymour and Winston Peters) having been competing for attention by lying about the size of holes – parroting the lines of Steven Joyce.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness”. As Oscar Wilde once noted.
Of course whether Steven Joyce was ever great is something for others to determine. Someone like William Birch, once Mr Think Big, then Mr No (his filibusters without extravagant language or change in tone, till people gave up and went away and never come back asking him for any money, indicated his road to damascus conversion to fiscal prudence – reminding some of the character Marvin the Paranoid Android)
The fact Moody’s credit rating agency, in its latest report, held the country’s rating at Aaa stable, saying New Zealand’s fiscal position is “healthy … compared with that of peers” ought to give pause for extreme scepticism to anyone considering the various Eeyore-ish claims.
We will have to wait until the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) on September 12 for Treasury’s latest view. At the same time, we will be able to judge – as has been suggested – whether Robertson and his colleagues are reacting to an early warning from Treasury of a sharper and deeper deterioration.
Normal and everyday garden variety administrative practice.
In truth, the Government’s books are under pressure, but it is extremely unlikely Treasury will suddenly forecast a “fiscal hole” as serious as this week’s shroud-waving might suggest.
There are any number of potential blunders and “fiscal holes” to be discovered among the parties’ manifestos and election promises, and that is the place to look.
External auditing of the ACT manifesto, to demonstrate best practice and readiness for government responsibility, or not?
SPC this was a reply that did not attach.
Those lies about fiscal responsibility, fit in with the "Chaos meme" of the right.
"The Government is in chaos, therefore there is a hole in the funding and planning." (Well Fitch did not find that. Aaa is a very good rating in todays shaky world.)
Lies will be repeated, and it is hoped that voters will jump from left to right.
This goes with the misleading headlines, the failure to report on completed projects except as "Too little too late
The lack of real reporting on gains by the left is amazing on one level, but on another no surprise.
Jenna Lynch, partner of Act's Andrew Ketels, is hardly a balanced reporter given her affiliations.
Thanks for showing how these lies are started and used and repeated, especially in parliament where MPs are not able to be held to account for such accusations.
It looks like the government has trumped the NAct revelation concerning alleged proposed changes to GST on fruit and vegetables with a stunning revelation of their own. As far as I can tell they kept it under wraps without anyone knowing it was coming!
I refer to the proposed new harbour crossings… one from Akoranga (almost alongside the present bridge) and a light rail tunnel system from Albany passing though Takapuna and Belmont and across the harbour. Both projects end up at Victoria Park with links to all the present motorways. The details coming.
That should send shockwaves through Nicola Willis' undies. She never saw that coming.
Its massive Patricia. Without doubt the biggest transport project ever commissioned in NZ. I recall recently some government minister (I think it was PM Hipkins) reflecting on the fact "they were mindful of the huge economic importance of Auckland to the whole country". Words to that effect anyway. He knew what was coming.
PS The good thing about it is that CC was front and centre of the decisions made – unlike the other lot who just want to build more and more roads regardless of the effects on our future weather patterns.
I'm sure I can remember a big project that the current Government were going to carry out. They were going to build a walkway/cycleway alongside the current harbour bridge at a cost of about a billion dollars weren't they? Then little Napoleon Wood blotted his copybook and got fired , having meantime managed to waste a lot of money on preparations for his brain explosion.
Doesn't that count as planning a big project? I note you only said planned. You didn't say anything about completing a project.
I used to work in the movie industry and if an art director came up with a fairly ridiculous idea for a set that the producers couldn't or didn't want to pay for, we in construction were quietly told to price it, quadruple it and double it again so that it was untenable. ( Yes, yes, all you frustrated ADs out there, that's what happened to your precious. ).
I'm pretty sure the same thing happened to the Harbour Bridge Bike Rack.
I got my comment into moderation so I’ll try a re-phrase.
Good crisp communication from Chippy. There’s a reason he’s got good numbers.
Clear distinction from the National party whose policy is to ignore climate change and shirk their responsibility, ignoring the consequences that are already with us.
Co-leader James Shaw said the government seemed to have a tendency to choose the most expensive and over-engineered plans possible.
"I don't think that six lanes of traffic are going to solve Auckland's congestion problem. Frankly, during a climate crisis it's a bit bonkers to be building more roads and inducing more traffic and more car dependency."
So I gather Belladonna. I believe they are wrong. In fact, I voted for them last time because of CC. It won’t happen this time around.
Its time the Greens re-entered the real world. There is no way you can banish petrol driven vehicles overnight so there is no way you can do without sufficient roads to accommodate them until such a time when they can be written off as an extinct inorganic species. The trick is to build the extra transport lanes required now in a manner which enables that extinction to occur sooner rather than later.
Building more roads like Nact plan to do, will do nothing to assist the transition to an almost carbon free environment. All it shows is they are tunnel-visioned when it comes to combating climate change.
What the Govt. is proposing is by far the better option imo and it is more realistic with the ultimate aim of getting people out of their cars and on to swift, trouble-free public transport.
And another positive is that it should drastically reduce the current road toll.
There is no way you can banish petrol driven vehicles overnight so there is no way you can do without sufficient roads to accommodate them until such a time when they can be written off as an extinct inorganic species. The trick is to build the extra transport lanes required now in a manner which enables that extinction to occur sooner rather than later.
What you are describing has been the pattern thus far; this leads to induced demand. It is a well-studied fact that building more roads increases congestion. Public transport that shares the road will inevitably be caught in this same congestion making it less appealing and less used. Prioritising public transport options, such as light rail, is better overall and this is the Greens preference.
A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It's where the rich use public transportation. – Gustavo Petro
As the Julie Anne Genter says:
“These road tunnels are carbon intensive to build, and they would cost tens of billions of dollars that should instead be invested in low carbon transport options like regional rail.
“At the very least, the Government should have prioritised the light rail first.
“It is maddening that on the one hand Labour can say the economic conditions aren’t right for a fair tax system that will benefit millions of people, and on the other announce unbelievably expensive and poorly thought through transport projects.
“The Prime Minister says money doesn’t grow on trees, but apparently it does grow on roads.
“Labour and National seem to be in a road race to come up with the worst possible transport plan. Induced demand is a real thing – more urban roads, equals more cars, equals more congestion. People deserve better.
“Green Ministers in Cabinet to speak up for the climate in every decision has never been more essential.
“The Green Party is 100% committed to transforming rail in Auckland with a new Harbour connection, and making space for walking and cycling over the current Harbour bridge immediately. This will save billions of dollars which can be used to upgrade other rail links in the region and beyond. The time is now for real transport solutions.
I'm a bit divided on it , in an ideal world yes rail should come first, but it would be a disaster for Auckland if the bridge failed before the tunnel was built,
National and Labour will likely agree on the 6 lanes of traffic tunnels. This has been in advanced planning since 2014 and has strong momentum within NZTA.
My hesitancy of launching this without any idea of how to pay for it is that it gets to precisely the same place Labour were in prior to the 2017 election when they announced light rail for Auckland going to both the airport and up to Westgate. I know we can remember what happened through 2018 to that.
To pay for it I'd put a toll on the bridge today for personal vehicles, 6 years of revenue in the bank for those that will enjoy the bridge most, might get a few of them on the bus to😉
To pay for it I'd put a toll on the bridge today for personal vehicles, 6 years of revenue in the bank for those that will enjoy the bridge most, might get a few of them on the bus to
No, it won't. Anyone who can (i.e. they are going to the CBD, and can afford the time out of their working day for PT) – is already taking the bus (or, rarely, the ferry) – train isn't an option from the North Shore. The Shore bus transit lane is the envy of Auckland – it's the only one which has any level of effectiveness at all (although, we all hope the NW motorway will be as effective once it finally becomes operational)
Note, the majority of the traffic headed over the Harbour Bridge in the morning isn't going to the CBD – it's heading on South.
Penalizing people who have no alternative (the buses don't take them where they need to go within a reasonable timeframe) – doesn't get people on side – it antagonizes and alienates them.
The people who have carparks in the CBD – and therefore drive – (what I think of as the high-priced lawyer brigade) – are entirely unmoved by tolls or congestion charging – it's simply a business expense for them. The only thing which might be remotely effective is a very high FBT on carparks, and daily parking fees ($80+). And, of course, these are entirely independent of any toll on a bridge crossing.
Still waiting for the tolls to be applied to the new motorway in Wellington (after all, why shouldn't "those who enjoy it most" pay for it). Politicians seem to be reluctant to trial these things in their own back-yard, for some reason….
Andrew Little wants to increase our defense forces and uses, as an example, the need to protect our $20B of trade through the South China Sea. He didn't mention China by name.
Can anyone else see the elephant in the room. If this trade is threatened by a war, then on which side should our forces side with? Giving military support to a nation attacking China in a conflict is going to help protect this trade?
How about you include the fact that the increase in spending amounts to no more than a maximum of 1% of GDP. That is, it will be closer to 2% of GDP – well below other comparable countries.
How about you include the major factors at play? I refer to the poor retention rates within the Defence Services, the rapid spread of disinformation and the effects it has on society and most important of all, the effects of CC related cataclysmic events requiring immediate action in order to save lives and property.
Something in the order of 80% of Defence Service activity is tied up with disasters and potentially dangerous situations – plus search and rescue operations – within NZ and the wider South Pacific. In order to properly carry out all of its functions it requires sufficient personnel and up to date equipment. You know, a bit like when a person runs their car into the ground and has to replace it with a newer and more reliable model so it can continue to be of service.
Yes. It's funny and there is a healthy grain of truth to it. 😀
But to be fair. We do have to think about out trade routes – all of them. We rely more heavily than most countries on our food exports so it is essential we have a way of getting them to our major markets.
As for China. Its an enigma that seems impossible to resolve.
Professor Davis joins Hayden Donnel in saying F this lazy media pile on campaigning for the Nacts.
Whereas Hayden points out that Australia has award wages and a whole bunch more tax than us, and is much more unionised. IE the rich are screwing us in NZ and the complaining is to keep the bill low. The Spin-off- linked yesterday.
Professor Davis says actually we don’t know how lucky we are: we’re doing quite well in the grand scheme of things. It might be miserable with all Paula Bennett’s buddies, but not universally. On Newsroom.
Everyone will be rushing to get their contracts renewed, projects passed through Boards and procurement teams, as Act seeks BIMs that explicitly state how much they can cut in MBUE staff, Three Waters, He Waka Eke Noa, Auckland Light Rail, Fees-Free and the Provincial Growth Fund.
Act wants its BIMs to contain three key details:
The teams that sit within ministries and departments.
The activities the teams do and the outputs they produce.
A breakdown of expenditure on the teams and activities.
Seymour said ministers would use that information to “identify teams and activities they require departments to cut because they aren’t providing value for taxpayers or because they overlap with functions that exist elsewhere in the bureaucracy”.
I am particularly worried for the funding for the Transport Recovery East Coast Alliance, which National wants to raid for pothole funding.
TREC is the largest state investment the East Coast peoples will ever receive and they need every dollar of it.
Seymore will dress this up as collecting wasteful spending. It is Dog eat Dog spiral to the bottom, all MBIE staff looking over their shoulder, waiting to be fingered, wondering who will have their lives wrecked next, while the money "saved" after redundancies, will go to tax cuts? He is a dangerous little man, and I agree with Jacinda's description!!
“Act are definitely worth fighting against. ” 100% He has delusions of Grandeur .
We all know that the huge savings ACT say will happen, won't actually happen. We know because they didn't happen before (and don't happen elsewhere with right wing governments). If National/ACT are in government, then in 3 years' time there will be stories about more private consultants and minimal savings. "Red tape" will be cut, and then stuck together again with sellotape, making for false economies.
National say they will "invest" in so many projects it's hard to keep count, all of which will require more spending on those bureaucrats they despise. Or … cut costs on oversight, and bring back Leaky Homes Part Two. Real cost to taxpayers … billions.
So as its Monday tomorrow get ready for the latest revelation from the rights Disinformation Project, we have been warned that there will be one a week until the election. Maybe the first was the anynomous More Yelled At Staffers in the ministers office, leaked through who knows, and last Monday's leaking $20 billion hole initially through Winston Peters. What's up tomorrow, can't wait, whatever it is it will be fantastic, and then rubbished by reason and proven to be lies a few days later.
Suzie Fergusson project on Disinformation and misinformation, and recovered bodies who ended up looking where they had been and deciding who they would in future talk to online. Very revealing and shows how family and friends influenced people who were already anti in some way. It is worth a listen… Could someone kind link for me after 7am Sun news on RNZ.
You're welcome Patricia, and thanks for asking for the link and saying when/where it was 👍 This is so much better than someone just saying they can't find the link or whatever.
“Dental care for adults in Aotearoa is now among the most expensive in the world. Unbelievably, we have a higher rate of unmet dental care in Aotearoa because of cost than even the United States.
“Seventeen years ago, the former Prime Minister Helen Clark expanded dental care from our youngest children to everyone aged 18 and under. The time is now to finish the job.
“Free dental will be fully funded through fair and simple changes to the tax system that will unlock the resources we need. Every dollar will come from those most able to contribute.
“Our fully costed plan will give everyone the peace of mind that no matter what, they can visit the dentist when they need to,” says James Shaw.
The plan would include free annual check-ups; mobile dental vans and funding for community clinics, including on marae; specialist care for people needing oral surgery and "complex treatment"; Māori-run community and whānau oral health services; and "a plan to train the next generation of dentists", with increased caps on training placements (from 60 to 80) and support for encouraging more Māori and Pasifika into dentistry.
A poll earlier this year found three-quarters of voters back free dental care.
Earlier this year, then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it would be "enormously expensive".
The Greens estimated it would cost $1.41 billion in the first year, rising to $1.71b in the 2025 and 2026. Buying a few hundred more dental vans would cost $150 million.
"We anticipate that costs will decrease long-term as a greater focus on preventative care improves oral health outcomes for all New Zealanders," the party said.
Have the Greens said where they are going to find the dentists to implement this policy?
Increasing the training cap from 60 to 80 is a drop in the bucket – won't even reach replacement for current dentists retiring; and, most importantly – won't even kick in for 5 years (takes 5 years to train a dentist at Otago)
Dentists are in just as short-supply in NZ as GPs are; and dental nurses (or dental hygienists) aren't much better.
We can see this, by the immense pressure the school dental service (with the free treatment) is – many, many children are not seen within 3 years, let alone annually, as they are supposed to be. And, while it's free to have the dentist check your child's teeth out – most practices (certainly in Auckland) won't enrol children or teens (they don't get enough in payments from the government to even cover their costs).
Announcing a policy, with no practical idea of how to staff it – does not incline people to take you seriously.
Not surprising that a NZ Labour government expanded dental care from our youngest children to everyone aged 18 and under.
Announcing a policy, with no practical idea of how to staff it – does not incline people to take you seriously.
Gosh, sounds as if the Green's policy of a 33% increase in the training cap for dentists could be worse than nothing – a respectful ‘centrist's’ work is never done.
Will NAct favour voters with a reaction – perhaps even a policy of their own?
Or maybe NAct have faith that the invisible hand of the market will provide.
The Guardian view on the dentist shortage: a gap that needs filling
[2 May 2022]
As with healthcare in general, prevention is infinitely preferable to cure. So areas lacking dentists must have them. Like the NHS’s wider staffing problems, this one cannot be fixed overnight.
8. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Do special needs grants for dental treatment adequately meet need for dental care, considering 40 percent of adult New Zealanders are unable to afford treatment?
Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): This Government has shown that it is committed to ensuring New Zealanders have access to dental care when they need it. For the first time in 25 years, we increased the maximum special needs grants for dental treatment from $300 to $1,000 in Budget 2022. This has seen the number of non-recoverable dental grants nearly doubling from 23,025 to 43,479 and the total amount of support provided through the grant increasing nearly five-fold from $6,395,819 to $30,773,018. Previously, you could only receive one dental grant per year, even if it did not reach the $300 limit; now clients can access the grant multiple times in one year up to the value of $1,000. This is making a difference for whānau, but we certainly know there is more to do.
"More to do." What more might Labour do? Or NAct for that matter – vouchers?
An increase of 20 places a year – which will – at the very best – start to have an impact in 5 years time, does not incline anyone other than the most one-eyed of lefties to believe this is a well-thought-through policy – let alone a priority for the Green Party.
I note that you have carefully avoided answering the question of where the dentists are going to come from – for at least the next 5 years.
I'm on record as supporting a whole new dental school (I'd suggested Waikato) – in order to actually deal with the gap between the numbers being trained and the evident need.
Centrists are placed to see the policy benefits of all sides of the political spectrum – not being constrained to support 'my party, right or wrong'.
An increase of 20 places a year – which will – at the very best – start to have an impact in 5 years time, does not incline anyone other than the most one-eyed of lefties to believe this is a well-thought-through policy – let alone a priority for the Green Party.
This policy clearly indicates that providing free dental care to all Kiwis is a priority for the Green Party – only the most one-eyed NAct enthusiast would be pushing a different line, imho.
Your chief moans seem to be that it takes 5 years to train a dentist (what, precisely, do you expect the Greens to do about that?), and that they should be increasing the dentistry training cap by more than 33%.
Do NAct even have a policy? Maybe it's not their priority, and why would it be.
The shortage of dentists in NZ didn’t happen overnight, and will take years to fix – think less ‘a filling’, and more ‘orthodontic correction.’ Not doubt NAct will rubbish the Greens policy for free dental care in due course, without suggesting any alternative solutions.
Nope – it's an election bribe that they devoutly hope they'll never be called upon to deliver – because they literally can't.
A true attempt to resolve the issue would be to have pushed for a substantial increase in training places for dentists (and other dental professionals) – sometime in the last 2.5 years (when they were actually part of the government). Not as a last-minute election promise.
Trying to pretend that NZ has the capacity to provide this level of service – is frankly disingenuous. It doesn't matter how much money you're prepared to throw at the issue – if there aren't the people there to deliver the service.
Only the most one-eyed of lefties doesn't recognise an election bribe, just because it comes from his party.
It may be news to you – but dental practices have already been heavily recruiting immigrant dentists. The problem is that they can get better money elsewhere – and NZ's lifestyle bonus isn't holding up so well (floods, etc.)
The reductionist branded firms are the problem. The owners make the money not the dentists. The owners set them quotas.
Starting to see the same thing with GP's.
The businesses providing public dentistry must be state owned and profit taken out of the picture. Maybe time for a rethink on public medical services overall.
Yes agree BD. I initially read that the policy will be funded by the so-called wealthy again per wealth tax. As Labour has ruled out a wealth tax following the Greens etc publicity before, despite working on a a very fair & reasonable version itself, this indeed is pie in the sky.
I guess the reason for publishing is so that a potential coalition partner can look at what they may have to agree to……..oh I forgot,,,,,,the Greens have ruled out several potential coalition partners.
In my view The Greens have a potential partner in Labour, with whom they have been 'mates' with for sometime. Were any of these policies raised at the time ie when there was a chance they could be implemented?
When are the Greens going to say what their plans are for when they are faced with a potential coalition? I guess not.
What are the Greens plans for combatting inflation, breaking up the supermarket duopoly, breaking down the energy costs for households ie pushing back the Bradford reforms, Bank profits, …….rail/coastal shipping
As the Greens may be in an important place after the next election I would like to know how/when/if etc they will support Labour in the deep issues we are facing. Surely we have grown up a little and don't need election bribes any more…or perhaps election bribes that rely on being funded by something that has already been ruled out by a potential coalition partner.
Excuse my cynicism.
(Waits for the 'RW'/'incrementalist'/ or whatever the insult du jour is.)
What are the Greens plans for combatting inflation, breaking up the supermarket duopoly, breaking down the energy costs for households ie pushing back the Bradford reforms, Bank profits, …….rail/coastal shipping
The answers exist if you actually look for them
Inflation:
“Last year the Reserve Bank admitted in response to my questioning that they are engineering a recession to try and rein in inflation.
“We know this will disproportionately impact low income people in Aotearoa. It doesn’t have to be like this. This is only happening because the Government isn't acting.
“Reducing government spending on essential public services would be a mistake at a time when we know our crucial infrastructure across health, housing, education, the environment, and transport desperately needs investment.
“Instead of relying on the Reserve Bank to use blunt monetary policy like raising the OCR, or manufacturing a recession, the Government can tax the super wealthy.
“Instead of allowing trickle-down economic thinking to drive economic policy that perversely pushes people out of work, the Government can tax the rich and build a fairer society,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.
“A report released today says that the Government’s proposed reforms will not be enough to address the high cost of groceries,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for commerce and consumer affairs, Ricardo Menéndez March.
“The report agrees with what the Green Party has been saying for a really long time: that the time is now to break up the supermarket duopoly.
“Not only that but the government can take immediate action with a tax on excessively high supermarket profit and use the money to help people.
Fundamentally reform the electricity market structure and ensure that the market works in the public interest. (1.2)
Ensure a national integrated energy transition strategy that includes: phasing out the use of fossil fuels while maintaining energy security for households and essential public services. (2.6.3)
Establish Tiriti-based energy legislation that provides an enabling framework for Māori and Community involvement, ownership and leadership in energy projects. (3.1)
Prioritise maintaining, strengthening and/or transforming existing energy infrastructures so they better withstand extreme weather events and can manage mass electrification and increase distributed energy resources. (3.9)
Set an ambitious goal, consistent with our commitments to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees, to increase the share of renewable energy in the total primary energy supply, taking a strategic whole-of-system approach. (5.1)
With calls growing for inquiries and action on bank profits, the Greens say the Government has all the information it needs to act now and put a levy on banks.
“Four Australian banks made $180 a second in the past year while lower income New Zealanders spent ever more of their income on essentials,” says Green Party revenue spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.
“These banks make, on average, adjusted for income, 20% more from New Zealand customers than their Australian counterparts.
“There’s a clear and immediate solution and that’s an excess profits tax. A 10% tax on those excess billions would raise more than half a billion and go a very long way to supporting flood and cyclone impacted New Zealanders.
“When the Reserve Bank and Monopoly Watch argue there’s something far more sinister under the hood of these banks, politicians of course should take a deeper look. That’s why we also support an inquiry, of whatever form we can get across the line, to look at far more fundamental problems.
“The bottom line remains: the big banks are fleecing New Zealanders and should be taxed to help pay for the cyclone clean up. The only thing standing in the way is political willpower,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.
“The Green Party would transform public transport networks, build light rail in Auckland and Wellington, and provide comprehensive bus lanes in all cities. We will invest in nationwide rapid rail for passengers, and rail and coastal shipping for freight, to connect regions and major cities, and contribute to economic development, and decarbonisation.
“Plus, we’d create safe walking and biking routes for every school with more pedestrian crossings, and lower speed limits near schools.
“The Greens are the only party with a plan that shows how we can make things better for everyone in Aotearoa. With more Green MPs we will invest in a transport system that gives people real affordable options that protect the climate,” says Julie Anne Genter.
And all these have been announced with a big fanfare 'rah rah' with special individual threads on TS?
Pardon my cynicism.
I know Labour's poilicies are light on the ground so far but I feel we waste our time on Green policies that
1) can only come into force if there is a left- leaning group holding seats and courage enough to beat off other comers, and
2) can only come into force if they are picked up as part of a coalition, and
3) rely on being funded by forms of taxes or other regimes that the possible majority left leaning partner has ruled out
It is for those reasons and noting those constraints that I would go along with the notion that they are election bribes and bribes put up with a degree of cynicism as The Greens, failing an absoloute miracle, have no ability to grab enough seats to hold a majority and this be assured of the ability to bring these policies into fruition.
Labour has actually worked on this and has increased the amount available via grants substantially since 2022.
What you call bribes are election promises, just like every other party. They are seeking the votes of people who want action on these issues. That you think they are cynical about it indicates your cynicism towards the Greens seems to be boundless. I can't help you with that.
A vote for Labour is an endorsement of their current approach. For all those who want a aspirational left party, the Greens and TPM are the only options. With a larger share of the vote they will be able to demand more of any future government. The idea that a majority is required to enact policy is an oversimplification of MMP.
The argument against the Greens policies is only 'we can't do anything that upsets the status quo.'
Trying to pretend that NZ has the capacity to provide this level of service…
Belladonna, who (apart from you) is pretending “that NZ has the capacity“?
It's clear you find the Green Party's policy to provide free dental care for all Kiwis galling, and with ~40% of Kiwis unable to access affordable dental services, it may prove particularly popular among those less likely to vote.
Building the capacity to providing free dental care for all Kiwis will take time – better to start sooner rather than later (or never), imho.
Well, indeed, apparently the Green Party is pretending that "NZ has the capacity" to deliver on this promised service. Otherwise, why have they released the policy?
Several commenters here have repeated the GP announcement about training, as an absolute answer to questions about dental workforce capacity for 2024. [Hint: Not at all the same thing]
I don't find the policy galling – I find the … misinformation …. about being able to deliver on it disingenuous.
Aspirational is fine. Putting in place policies to seriously and (hopefully) rapidly increase the dental workforce, excellent. Building health workforce capacity – I'm going to cheer that on, regardless of the political party championing it.
Implying that people will be getting free dental from 2024? A disingenuous election bribe at the most blatant, as you seem to be acknowledging. "it may prove particularly popular among those less likely to vote."
I don't find this kind of pork-barrel electioneering any more palatable from the left side of politics than I do from the right.
Well, indeed, apparently the Green Party is pretending that "NZ has the capacity" to deliver on this promised service. Otherwise, why have they released the policy?
Isn't the Green's policy on providing free dental care to all Kiwis partly about building capacity in the dental services sector? See @14.3.2.
If "the Green Party is pretending that "NZ has the capacity" to deliver", then why would their policy include details about how to “deliver a public dentistry workforce“?
Implying that people will be getting free dental from 2024?
That's what you're implying. You're not thick, so what does that leave?
For the many, not the few
I don’t find this kind of pork-barrel electioneering any more palatable from the left side of politics than I do from the right.
What are some examples of “pork-barrel electioneering” “from the right“, in your opinion?
Oh, and just to make you happy – here's an example of pure pork-barrelling from National
"To support Kiwi families bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis, National will introduce FamilyBoost – a childcare tax rebate of up to $75 per week on the costs of childcare."
I'm aware of and acknowledge my political biases – "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", nuff said.
But "perhaps you might look at your biases", as evinced by your furious barrage of 'centrist' comments dissing the Green's detailed and costed policy on free dental care for all Kiwis.
Still, fairs fair – with about two months until the general election, you deserve the benefit of the doubt. After all, you could be making equally prolific and disparging comments about ACT's policies on a right-leaning political blog – only you can know for sure.
Btw, are there any broadly centrist parties that appeal to you this election – perchance TOP, or New Zealand First?
I've been entirely clear that I dislike Winston Peters – and feel that his only priority in power is 'what's in it for Winston'.
I do wonder if you understand that the Left needs to persuade Centrists to vote for their parties/polices. If so, you're, personally, doing a really poor job of persuading anyone who isn't already on board with your declared biases.
But, perhaps, as someone with a self-declared Marxist philosophy – the opinions of the bourgeoisie are irrelevant – after all – what value is democracy….
But, perhaps, as someone with a self-declared Marxist philosophy – the opinions of the bourgeoisie are irrelevant
You're middle class too? I'd be interested in your opinion about the value of "for the many, not the few", given spaceship Earth's inability to support our overshoot civilisation.
Zen and the art of motorway maintenance [7 August 2023]
In this sense the pothole is a good symbol how of this election is proceeding. There are itches all around the body politic that demand scratching. In the moment we are far more aware of them than we are of the tumour quietly growing inside, the virus caught but not yet symptomatic, the vehicle crash that awaits around the corner, the fire about to engulf our home. The snake oil retailers draw attention to the easy solutions to the surface and immediate issues and we are often only too willing to reward them for it.
As for "what value is democracy", it's easy voting Green. You have my sympathy for the trickier choices that political centrists face.
There has been a notable increase in migrants from Sth America in the last decade.Perhaps Brazil can help NZ with the shortage of dentists.
'Dentistry is the area of health that has expanded the most in recent years in Brazil, with more than 264,000 dentists. That is equivalent to almost 20% of the dentists in the entire world, according to Dentistry Federative Counsel, in 2015. Dentistry, along with medicine and nursing, constitutes the basic nucleus of professionals of higher level of health in Brazil (IPEA 2015; Morita, Haddad, & Araujo, 2010). The rate of dentists to population in Brazil is about 737 habitants per dentist.
That's your reasoning for the status quo? From the policy document:
To deliver a public dentistry workforce, the Green Party will:
Increase domestic placements for dentistry
Despite the clear need for more dentists, successive governments have capped the number of training places at just 60 per year. The Green Party will fund an additional 20 placements from 2024. We’ll review training pipelines and placement numbers in subsequent years to ensure we’re meeting demand for dentists. This will start to close workforce gaps and ensure the increased demand for public dental services can be met.
Boost the Māori and Pasifika Workforce
When whānau visit the dentist, it is important they feel safe and comfortable accessing the services they are entitled to. A key part of this is making sure the dentistry workforce reflects our communities. Right now, only 5 percent of dentists are Māori or Pasifika. The Green Party will support Māori and Pasifika pursue careers in dentistry by:
Introducing scholarships.
Ensuring Māori and Pasifika are supported to access domestic placements and complete their dentistry studies.
Ensuring the Health Workforce Plan 2023/24 actions to boost the Māori and Pasifika workforce apply to dentistry
Training and upskilling Oral Health Therapists
The Green Party will provide pathways for oral health therapists to treat adults through community providers. We will make sure licensing and workforce training reflects this and lift the cap on the domestic placements for oral health therapists.
Recruitment
In addition to providing more training and career opportunities for people currently in Aotearoa, the Green Party will also maintain recruitment of internationally qualified dentists and specialists. We will develop recruitment actions in the Health Workforce 2023/24 Plan to apply to oral health professionals.
I don't have a problem with increasing denistry places. Although this is far too little, far too late. I'm a firm believer that we need another dentistry school – my suggestion would be Waikato.
The part I have issue with, is that – at the very earliest- this will result in an extra 20 dentists a year in 2029. Note: this will not even make up for the numbers retiring.
It is entirely disingenuous, then, to announce free dental care for all. The GP have no idea how they would be able to staff such a system.
It reminds one of the Labour promise of 100,000 houses – when it was clear that they had zero idea of how it could be carried out (and, indeed, all of the people who said that it was not actually possible, were right)
Your criticism is that there isn't sufficient staffing so therefore this policy is not possible to institute? That is 100% accepting the status quo. If we want to improve outcomes for everyone increased funding for services is one of the only ways to achieve it.
It's very easy to point out what's wrong with a plan; for instance your plan for a new dentistry school also wouldn't increase the number of dentists until 2029 either, so by your own standards it is a non-starter. Are you expecting to be taken seriously?
Opening a new dental school would increase the supply of dentists long-term and provide redundancy and flexibility in the training of this speciality (one-source of supply is never a safe option).
It has nothing to do with provision of free dental care.
However, a promise to deliver free-dental care is worthless without the dentists to deliver it. It doesn't matter how much money you are (theoretically) able to throw at it. Pointing out that, appears to be incurring the wrath of the lefties blinded by the bling of political promises.
Oh I see, current dentist cease to exist once free dental care is promised.
What you are pointing out is that you think there are insufficient dentists now and that means, according to you, the policy is completely unworkable. Clearly we need to run everything past you so that we can be 'taken seriously'. Trying to increase the provision of dental care is not worth attempting unless Belladonna has personally deemed the policy to be perfect from the outset, we can't possibly have goals that aren't immediately achievable, we can’t build capacity over time it must already be there before any action can be taken.
Gosh, if you have no answers – just say so.
Making personal attacks because you don't like people pointing out the flaws in policies – is both trite and trivial.
Personal attack? Lol. Can't see it, but I guess you did say I'm a 'blinded leftie'.
You have ignored any post pointing out the Greens are aware of the shortage and have a plan to increase dentist numbers. You have declared it won't work and is unserious. This is your opinion not a fact.
From the existing pool of dentists initially and from the increased training numbers eventually, as well as by immigration and upskilling. As has been pointed out to you repeatedly.
You don't think this will work, you advocate for another dental school, which also doesn't immediately solve the dentist shortage problem, this also would have at the very least a 5 year gap.
What you are arguing is that it is unrealistic but you don't have a better solution, you just have an alternative priority that doesn't include doing anything initially to help with the current crisis of provision of oral health.
I like my politics to be aspirational, with a vision, a goal, even if it may take a lot of work to get there. This is what the Greens are proposing.
Arkie, This whole board works on opinions and views provided these are arguments are made in a careful referenced manner.
You are making your opinion known and so is BD.
In the persistance you are showing about someone else's very reasonable opinions I am reminded of the statement 'you can't make someone love you'.
We want and need people who can see the flaws, who make us think.
As you say we also want/need aspirational policies. Some of us would agree.
There is a time and a place for these too. With the ruling out of a wealth tax and the big problems we are facing as we try to pull the country out of a 'slough of despair' we do not need 'pie in the sky' (which is a meaning from me for 'aspirational' applied incorrectly, naively or with eyes closed).
And Belladonna isn't also being persistent in their 'reasonable' assertions? The ‘flaws’ they point out are already acknowledged and planned for in the Greens policy, which is all I have been reiterating. I have not expressed an opinion on it other than praising the attempt to address the current inequity of oral health provision.
It is interesting to me that "Growing up/being realistic" means suppressing empathy/insisting society can't provide for all.
It is better to try, and fail, than it is to not try at all.
Estimate is that there are 40% of NZers who cannot afford to go to the dentist now. I think that's an under-representation – but even taking those figures. You'd need 40% more dentists than we have now to accommodate this demand.
In 2024. Not in some future far-off time.
NZ is already trying to recruit overseas dentists to work here – it's going about as well as trying to recruit any of the other medical specialities that we're short of. Not, very.
The GP policy is to train and recruit internationally – neither of which will be producing effective numbers in 2024.
As I've pointed out, and you've repeatedly ignored. Having a plan to increase numbers is not the same as having a plan to have the numbers in place in 2024.
Aspiration is all very well. But pretending that your aspirational goals are concrete political reality is profoundly disingenuous.
pretending that your aspirational goals are concrete political reality
Who is doing this? It's a policy proposal to take to post-election negotiations.
You are insisting that because the policy is not perfectly setup from it's proposed beginning it is somehow disingenuous and therefore no action should be taken. It's letting impossible perfection be the enemy of a good proposal.
This is such an important point. People don’t seem to understand how electioneering happens. In truth, if the Greens got day 20 MPs and had the power to get this policy near the top of the post-election coalition building list, it’s going to be revamped and more detail worked out.
What we could be doing in this debate is looking at how to make the policy work, instead of naysaying. We could be starting with the principle of dental health care for all, and seeing how it could come about now. Not in some vague hand wave future. This is the brilliance of this year’s Green campaign, they pointing repeatedly to how we don’t have these things because of political choices (not because of dentist shortages), and that we can make different choices.
One practical thing I’m wondering is how many dental practitioners who aren’t dentists can do initial checks.
Tl;dw – the US is going to freeze the conflict in order to give themselves and the UK the time to use their experiences with the Taliban, ISIS, and modern neurolinguistic programming, aided by pagan sectarians and a fake pseudo orthodox church, to create a shop-till-you-drop kamikaze making nation of zombies unified by their homosexuality. Or something.
Putin's former advisor Sergei Markov claimed to know America's plans for Ukraine and laid them out on state TV. He demanded that Saudi-hosted talks in Jeddah ensure the participation of Viktor Yanukovych and Viktor Medvedchuk in future Ukrainian elections.
Dollars to donuts the AfD isn't the only Western party getting Poots' cash.
/
Leaked communications between Vladimir Sergienko, a naturalized German citizen, and “Alexei,” a suspected FSB operative, show the extent of Russia’s infiltration of the Alternative for Germany party. Their “active measures” included a plan to stop or slow delivery of German main battle tanks to Ukraine using frivolous litigation against the German government. It would only cost $93,000.
Vladimir Sergienko, an aide to a Bundestag deputy, has been acting as an intermediary between the Kremlin and German lawmakers in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, a joint investigation between The Insider and Der Spiegel can reveal. Sergienko, a staff member of AfD parliamentarian Eugen Schmidt, has helped coordinate AfD speeches, lobby for pro-Russian initiatives, and even helped trigger a lawsuit against his own government aimed at halting or slowing German weapons transfers to Ukraine – all at the instruction of a suspected Russian intelligence officer. Moreover, Sergienko personally shuttled cash between Moscow and Berlin and directed wire transfers to a German NGO sympathetic to the Kremlin to facilitate his efforts.
New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced$802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
Open access notablesImproving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society:To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University Mainstream media are surprisingly muted at the prospect of the world’s most powerful nation being led for the first time by a woman – specifically a woman of colour, Vice President Kamala ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Bennett, PhD Student, Associate Research Fellow, Deakin University Last week, a drone delivery company called Wing (owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) started operating in Melbourne. Some 250,000 residents in parts of the city’s eastern suburbs can now order food from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Foo, Lecturer, Physiotherapy, Monash University pikselstock/Shutterstock In the next 40 years in Australia, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Grant, Research Associate, Power Institute for Arts and Visual Culture, University of Sydney Jonas Åkerström’s 1790 work, Session of the Accademia dell’Arcadia on August 17 1788.Nationalmuseum/Cecilia Heisser Ever wondered whether you’d have a better chance at winning an Olympic gold ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Jones, Program Lead, Food Governance, George Institute for Global Health wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock On Thursday, Australian and New Zealand food ministers at state, federal and national levels met to thrash out what’s next for health star ratings on packaged foods. Now, after ...
The Abuse in Care report found many Pacific survivors lost their connections to their culture and language, resulting in trauma that has been carried from generation to generation. ...
In the regulatory review, ECC intends to suggest that ERO focus on curriculum delivery reviews rather than the Ministry, because it’s not efficient or effective to have two agencies with radically different approaches climbing over each other. ...
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori invites the current government to work in partnership with them to develop a pathway forward, including the development of a parallel pathway and meaningful policy and strategy for Kura Kaupapa Māori ...
If you haven’t started watching yet, Tara Ward begs you to reconsider. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. In the world of New Zealand reality television, we have many gems in our crown. There’s the delicious second season of the Celebrity Treasure ...
A new poem by Fiona Kidman. The clothes of the dead I did not keep my mother’s furry red beret for long nor the stringy scarves that adorned the necks of my aunts, although I have kept tag ends of gold, the rings and trinkets they wore, the brooches no ...
The government’s announcement that it will re-open the foreshore and seabed controversy by changing the rules on recognising centuries-old Māori customary title for a third time goes against the rule of law and New Zealand values,” Mr Tipa says. ...
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 Lioness by Emily Perkins (Bloomsbury, $25) Roarrrr! Perkins’ brilliant, award-winning, Marian-Keyes anointed, darkly funny, long ...
The 2004 Act vested ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, extinguishing any Māori claims to ownership and causing widespread outrage and protests among Māori communities. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antje Deckert, Associate Professor (Criminology), Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Despite the connection between institutional harm and gang membership made clear in this week’s mammoth royal commission abuse-in care report, the government seems unlikely to soften its “get tough on ...
From Lewis Clareburt in the swimming to the start of the rowing – the first seven days of Paris 2024 promise to be big for New Zealand. There are few events that bring the country together quite like an Olympic Games. Nothing quite matches the excitement of getting up in ...
Groundbreaking local science just showed up in the most surprising of places: the season finale of The Kardashians. In the season five finale of The Kardashians last night, several members of the family gathered together in one of their signature empty, cream-coloured rooms to hear test results that had been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University The Middle East is on the brink of a possibly devastating regional war, with hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reaching an extremely dangerous level. Washington has engaged in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Elizabeth Eades, Rheumatologist, Monash University Lupus is an inflammatory autoimmune illness, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Lupus can affect virtually any part of the body, although it most commonly affects the skin, joints and kidneys. The symptoms ...
A law firm that specialises in working with survivors of abuse in State care is disappointed that the Government fails to recognise that its boot camps can be directly compared to previous boot camps from the 1990s and 2000s. ...
Dying is a natural part of life, like updating your Wof or seeing your hairdresser, but without the word-of-mouth recs that help guarantee a good service. What if we changed that? Dying Reviews received by The Spinoff have had the names of organisations redacted while Hospice NZ collects further data. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Mike Lewinski/Flickr, CC BY On any clear night, if you gaze skywards long enough, chances are you’ll see a meteor streaking through the sky. Some nights, however, are better than others. At ...
Despite having no bars or other designated spaces for lesbians, Auckland boasts a small but mighty lesbian museum. So how did it get here? The past 18 months has brought increasing hostility towards the queer community across Aotearoa. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s anti-trans rally in Tamaki Makaurau last March led to a ...
Poneke Antifascist Coalition has invited Wellingtonians to stand in solidarity with the Kanak people at 12pm today outside the French Embassy in Wellington. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University Drones are the signature technology of the Ukraine war. A few miniature aircraft designs were used in the war’s early days, but an incredible array of drones have now evolved. There are different types, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Slee, Associate Professor, Clinical Academic Neurologist, Flinders University Francisco Gonzelez/Unsplash Migraine is many things, but one thing it’s not is “just a headache”. “Migraine” comes from the Greek word “hemicrania”, referring to the common experience of migraine being predominantly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee White, Senior Lecturer and Horizon Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney Australia was slow to introduce minimum building standards for energy efficiency. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) only came into force in 2003. Older homes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney The past century of human-induced warming has increased rainfall variability over 75% of the Earth’s land area – particularly over Australia, Europe and eastern North America, new research shows. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Heynen, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Energy, The University of Queensland A temporary stadium in the Champ-de-Mars, ParisEkaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock As Paris prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the sustainability of the event is coming under scrutiny. The organisers have promoted ...
A night of karaoke and community in a pub that feels like a memory. You’d barely even notice it, unless you knew to look. Tucked away behind a liquor store on busy Constable Street is the capital’s last great pub. Newtown Sports Bar is an emblem of the pub culture ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Wright, Professor in Marine Geology, University of Canterbury Louise Corcoran/Getty Images The decline in the number of doctoral candidates at New Zealand universities is a worrying sign for the country’s effort to build a knowledge-based economy. Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laurie Berg, Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney defotoberg/Shutterstock Migrant worker exploitation is entrenched in workplaces across Australia. Tragically, a deep fear of immigration consequences means most unlawful employer conduct goes unreported. On Wednesday, however, the government officially launched a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Paris is about to host its third summer Olympics. While we don’t yet know what the legacy of this year’s games will be, let’s take the opportunity to reflect on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Breakey, Deputy Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Griffith University In the wake of the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump, there were calls from bothsides of US politics, as well as internationally, to reduce the brutal, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer, Modern European History and Sports History, Macquarie University Two high-profile assaults on Australians in Paris have raised concerns about security ahead of the Olympic Games. On Saturday evening, a young woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a ...
Dying is inevitable and, so it seems, is it costing a lot, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.The cost of dying ...
The government took Joyce Harris's first baby and sent her off to a girls' home. Half a century on - and out of oceans of hurt - it asked her to be a mother figure. ...
It’s the deadliest fictional town in the country, but which death has been the most bonkers? Alex Casey looks back at 10 seasons of The Brokenwood Mysteries to find out. Warning: The following ranking story contains famous New Zealand actors appearing to be dead (not alive). The Spinoff has been ...
Water cremation is the biggest thing to happen to the death industry in the last 100 years. Alex Casey meets the people trying to bring it to Aotearoa. Through a set of mirrored doors down the industrial end of Christchurch’s St Asaph Street, death is getting a new lease on ...
Donald Trump's criminal defence lawyer, admits live on Fox News, than one of the indictments is valid.
He said that Trump had asked Pence to go with "option D" (cited in the charges against Trump, that he conspired to … )
The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC
The case is made here, based on the testimony so far by John Lauro, Trump's lawyer. The freedom of speech defence ridiculed, he’s charged with organised conspiracy to commit a crime.
https://newrepublic.com/article/174847/donald-trump-lawyer-john-lauro-dumber-donald-trump
As in “The Apprentice”, the real ability of a CEO is to identify talent.
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-lawyer-john-lauro-charges-interview-1817439
Trump once boasted that he could commit a crime every American knew he was guilty of and get away with it – he used the example of shooting someone in the street (or organising someone to do a crime for him like a mob boss).
That was Trump posing as a fascist political leader (his version of Putin’s cornered rat story) offering to seize power on behalf of those who supported him, to end the contest for political legitimacy through a fair democratic process – because their might was right.
He noted many Christian dominionists were little more than white race nation supremacists, and when they prayed kingdom come, they were seeking their power over other Americans. Thus control of SCOTUS etc.
This is a result of GOP adopting the southern strategy.
More Russians are facing conscription. Younger singles have emigrated and now those young couples planning on starting a family are impacted.
This is a nation with a declining birth rate, and if these people leave and have children abroad will they return?
Even married men with young children are facing the risk of conscription or prison (will they leave or sign up to Wagner once in prison)?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66388422
About the only thing that gives me hope is the increasing reluctance of young men to go to war.The exception ,sadly, would be those young men who view the military as their only economic option.
But the imperialist needs of nations will persevere regardless.We're heading for remote controlled AI wars
In Israel there were those reluctant to serve in the IDF on the occupied West Bank and now reservists saying they will not be available (unless Israel is attacked) because of the move to negate the Basic Law (protecting the rights of citizens) and subject the nation to the rule of any government with a parliamentary majority.
The unnecessary war is now entering its stalemate phase, the lines on the map do not change no matter how many lives are placed at risk in any offensive (Haig/ Joffre reprise) – so it’s likely to be drone and missile attacks behind the lines – as per WW2).
They're letting their rapists, murderers and washing machine thieves off the hook, too. What could possibly go wrong.
https://twitter.com/mobilizationews/status/1686800372864610312
Russian soldiers may now be able to avoid criminal prosecution if they serve on the frontline in Ukraine, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday, citing a recent ruling by Russia’s Supreme Court.
The new legal precedent was set in a deadly automobile accident case where Corporal Vladislav Ustinov was handed a two-year prison sentence in May 2022 for running over and killing two people.
But instead of being dismissed from the military following his conviction, Ustinov was sent to to fight in Ukraine, where Kommersant says he is still serving.
[…]
Russian courts will now be able to cite a defendant’s involvement in military operations as mitigating circumstances and grounds for reviewing sentences, according to Ustinov’s lawyer Sergei Bizyukin.
Days before the Supreme Court ruling, Russian lawmakers approved legislation allowing convicts to clear their criminal records in exchange for joining the country’s depleted military.
Legal experts told Kommersant that Russian courts could now use both the new law and the Supreme Court precedent in Ustinov’s case to free criminally convicted soldiers who serve in Ukraine.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/07/26/russian-supreme-court-exempts-soldiers-fighting-in-ukraine-from-criminal-prosecution-a81968
Seems to be a Slavic thing,it happened in Ukraine very early in the piece.The harsh upside is that probably people aren't too fussed when criminals get killed
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10559879/Zelensky-reveals-prisoners-combat-experience-RELEASED-help-defend-Ukraine.html
The actors seeking to be National's support partners (the nice Maori who believe in assimilation, David Seymour and Winston Peters) having been competing for attention by lying about the size of holes – parroting the lines of Steven Joyce.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness”. As Oscar Wilde once noted.
Of course whether Steven Joyce was ever great is something for others to determine. Someone like William Birch, once Mr Think Big, then Mr No (his filibusters without extravagant language or change in tone, till people gave up and went away and never come back asking him for any money, indicated his road to damascus conversion to fiscal prudence – reminding some of the character Marvin the Paranoid Android)
Marvin the Paranoid Android is a fictional character in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_characters
Normal and everyday garden variety administrative practice.
External auditing of the ACT manifesto, to demonstrate best practice and readiness for government responsibility, or not?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/300943760/the-truth-about-the-governments-fiscal-hole
SPC this was a reply that did not attach.
Those lies about fiscal responsibility, fit in with the "Chaos meme" of the right.
"The Government is in chaos, therefore there is a hole in the funding and planning." (Well Fitch did not find that. Aaa is a very good rating in todays shaky world.)
Lies will be repeated, and it is hoped that voters will jump from left to right.
This goes with the misleading headlines, the failure to report on completed projects except as "Too little too late
The lack of real reporting on gains by the left is amazing on one level, but on another no surprise.
Jenna Lynch, partner of Act's Andrew Ketels, is hardly a balanced reporter given her affiliations.
Thanks for showing how these lies are started and used and repeated, especially in parliament where MPs are not able to be held to account for such accusations.
Oh dearie me,
It looks like the government has trumped the NAct revelation concerning alleged proposed changes to GST on fruit and vegetables with a stunning revelation of their own. As far as I can tell they kept it under wraps without anyone knowing it was coming!
I refer to the proposed new harbour crossings… one from Akoranga (almost alongside the present bridge) and a light rail tunnel system from Albany passing though Takapuna and Belmont and across the harbour. Both projects end up at Victoria Park with links to all the present motorways. The details coming.
That should send shockwaves through Nicola Willis' undies. She never saw that coming.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495241/tunnels-light-rail-cycling-and-bus-lanes-govt-unveils-ambitious-45b-new-harbour-crossing-plan
I will be interested to hear from Ad.
According to him, it is National that plan big projects!!![devil devil](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/devil_smile.png?x42494)
Its massive Patricia. Without doubt the biggest transport project ever commissioned in NZ. I recall recently some government minister (I think it was PM Hipkins) reflecting on the fact "they were mindful of the huge economic importance of Auckland to the whole country". Words to that effect anyway. He knew what was coming.![wink wink](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/wink_smile.png?x42494)
PS The good thing about it is that CC was front and centre of the decisions made – unlike the other lot who just want to build more and more roads regardless of the effects on our future weather patterns.
"it is National that plan big projects"
I'm sure I can remember a big project that the current Government were going to carry out. They were going to build a walkway/cycleway alongside the current harbour bridge at a cost of about a billion dollars weren't they? Then little Napoleon Wood blotted his copybook and got fired , having meantime managed to waste a lot of money on preparations for his brain explosion.
Doesn't that count as planning a big project? I note you only said planned. You didn't say anything about completing a project.
They canned it quickly Alwyn…..do try to get over it.
I used to work in the movie industry and if an art director came up with a fairly ridiculous idea for a set that the producers couldn't or didn't want to pay for, we in construction were quietly told to price it, quadruple it and double it again so that it was untenable. ( Yes, yes, all you frustrated ADs out there, that's what happened to your precious. ).
I'm pretty sure the same thing happened to the Harbour Bridge Bike Rack.
Well fronted by Hipkins too. Good messages. Clear distinction between National who are going to let it flood.
I got my comment into moderation so I’ll try a re-phrase.
Good crisp communication from Chippy. There’s a reason he’s got good numbers.
Clear distinction from the National party whose policy is to ignore climate change and shirk their responsibility, ignoring the consequences that are already with us.
I can’t see why your comment was held back. Maybe a glitch.
Put the email incorrectly perhaps?
dunno, looked ok to me, but pays to check.
Green Party not happy (from your link)
I think Labour will be happy if they can get criticised by the Greens on this. It means the PT derangement syndrome troops get undercut.
Two potential rapid transit modes created or enhanced sets their values clearly in comparison to National.
Just what the fuck do the Green Party think all the electric cars and buses and trucks are going to move around on? They still jam up like ICE ones.
So I gather Belladonna. I believe they are wrong. In fact, I voted for them last time because of CC. It won’t happen this time around.
Its time the Greens re-entered the real world. There is no way you can banish petrol driven vehicles overnight so there is no way you can do without sufficient roads to accommodate them until such a time when they can be written off as an extinct inorganic species. The trick is to build the extra transport lanes required now in a manner which enables that extinction to occur sooner rather than later.
Building more roads like Nact plan to do, will do nothing to assist the transition to an almost carbon free environment. All it shows is they are tunnel-visioned when it comes to combating climate change.
What the Govt. is proposing is by far the better option imo and it is more realistic with the ultimate aim of getting people out of their cars and on to swift, trouble-free public transport.
And another positive is that it should drastically reduce the current road toll.
What you are describing has been the pattern thus far; this leads to induced demand. It is a well-studied fact that building more roads increases congestion. Public transport that shares the road will inevitably be caught in this same congestion making it less appealing and less used. Prioritising public transport options, such as light rail, is better overall and this is the Greens preference.
As the Julie Anne Genter says:
https://www.greens.org.nz/irresponsible_auckland_harbour_crossing_bad_for_climate_and_bad_for_congestion
Greater Auckland on induced demand: https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2018/09/13/induced-demand-101/
I'm a bit divided on it , in an ideal world yes rail should come first, but it would be a disaster for Auckland if the bridge failed before the tunnel was built,
National and Labour will likely agree on the 6 lanes of traffic tunnels. This has been in advanced planning since 2014 and has strong momentum within NZTA.
My hesitancy of launching this without any idea of how to pay for it is that it gets to precisely the same place Labour were in prior to the 2017 election when they announced light rail for Auckland going to both the airport and up to Westgate. I know we can remember what happened through 2018 to that.
You forgot the high speed rail between Auckland and Tauranga! Was looking forward to hopping a train to the beach with a beer at 4:45pm…
To pay for it I'd put a toll on the bridge today for personal vehicles, 6 years of revenue in the bank for those that will enjoy the bridge most, might get a few of them on the bus to😉
+1 bwaghorn
No, it won't. Anyone who can (i.e. they are going to the CBD, and can afford the time out of their working day for PT) – is already taking the bus (or, rarely, the ferry) – train isn't an option from the North Shore. The Shore bus transit lane is the envy of Auckland – it's the only one which has any level of effectiveness at all (although, we all hope the NW motorway will be as effective once it finally becomes operational)
Note, the majority of the traffic headed over the Harbour Bridge in the morning isn't going to the CBD – it's heading on South.
Penalizing people who have no alternative (the buses don't take them where they need to go within a reasonable timeframe) – doesn't get people on side – it antagonizes and alienates them.
The people who have carparks in the CBD – and therefore drive – (what I think of as the high-priced lawyer brigade) – are entirely unmoved by tolls or congestion charging – it's simply a business expense for them. The only thing which might be remotely effective is a very high FBT on carparks, and daily parking fees ($80+). And, of course, these are entirely independent of any toll on a bridge crossing.
Still waiting for the tolls to be applied to the new motorway in Wellington (after all, why shouldn't "those who enjoy it most" pay for it). Politicians seem to be reluctant to trial these things in their own back-yard, for some reason….
The original bridge was paid by tolls.
In Australia you set up a digital account and it charges your number. Tauranga has this.
It was indeed. And the tolls went on for long after the bridge was actually paid for (and were only stopped by public outcry).
If tolls are such a wonderful idea – then I'm waiting to see them applied to Transmission Gully (probably only take 20 years to pay it off).
And behind the scenes…Angela Strange: Waikato Regional Councillor
We need more like…in our Councils and Govt Depts.
Onya !
Andrew Little wants to increase our defense forces and uses, as an example, the need to protect our $20B of trade through the South China Sea. He didn't mention China by name.
Can anyone else see the elephant in the room. If this trade is threatened by a war, then on which side should our forces side with? Giving military support to a nation attacking China in a conflict is going to help protect this trade?
How about you include the fact that the increase in spending amounts to no more than a maximum of 1% of GDP. That is, it will be closer to 2% of GDP – well below other comparable countries.
How about you include the major factors at play? I refer to the poor retention rates within the Defence Services, the rapid spread of disinformation and the effects it has on society and most important of all, the effects of CC related cataclysmic events requiring immediate action in order to save lives and property.
Something in the order of 80% of Defence Service activity is tied up with disasters and potentially dangerous situations – plus search and rescue operations – within NZ and the wider South Pacific. In order to properly carry out all of its functions it requires sufficient personnel and up to date equipment. You know, a bit like when a person runs their car into the ground and has to replace it with a newer and more reliable model so it can continue to be of service.
That is all that is happening.
I didn't criticise increased defense spending, just one of his reasons. Perhaps this is just a sop to to the USA.
I agree with all your reasons especially the final paragraph.
That's fair enough aj. Might have been better of you had made that clear. 🙂
Reminds me of this Utopia episode:
Utopia – Australia's Defence Policy
Thanks Satty. I laughed, but last time we were bombed it was France remember.
So know telling who we are protecting ourselves from.
We do need a standing Army and Reserves. Our region is not as stable as it used to be. Politically geographically and weather wise
Yes. It's funny and there is a healthy grain of truth to it. 😀
But to be fair. We do have to think about out trade routes – all of them. We rely more heavily than most countries on our food exports so it is essential we have a way of getting them to our major markets.
As for China. Its an enigma that seems impossible to resolve.
So. We need the defense force, to fight against China, to keep our trade routes to/from China in the South China sea open????
Understood!
Professor Davis joins Hayden Donnel in saying F this lazy media pile on campaigning for the Nacts.
Whereas Hayden points out that Australia has award wages and a whole bunch more tax than us, and is much more unionised. IE the rich are screwing us in NZ and the complaining is to keep the bill low. The Spin-off- linked yesterday.
Professor Davis says actually we don’t know how lucky we are: we’re doing quite well in the grand scheme of things. It might be miserable with all Paula Bennett’s buddies, but not universally. On Newsroom.
Very interesting to see Minister Little say that a National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) is a "priority task" that "is not too far away'.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/overarching-national-spy-agency-not-far-govt
Presumably it folds together the acronym soup of SIS, GCSB, NSG and many more.
I would at least like to see Labour inviting public debate on this before it is just implemented.
Everyone will be rushing to get their contracts renewed, projects passed through Boards and procurement teams, as Act seeks BIMs that explicitly state how much they can cut in MBUE staff, Three Waters, He Waka Eke Noa, Auckland Light Rail, Fees-Free and the Provincial Growth Fund.
Act wants its BIMs to contain three key details:
Seymour said ministers would use that information to “identify teams and activities they require departments to cut because they aren’t providing value for taxpayers or because they overlap with functions that exist elsewhere in the bureaucracy”.
I am particularly worried for the funding for the Transport Recovery East Coast Alliance, which National wants to raid for pothole funding.
TREC is the largest state investment the East Coast peoples will ever receive and they need every dollar of it.
Act are definitely worth fighting against.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-seymour-act-will-stop-work-on-wasteful-projects-cut-public-service-jobs/RER2ISDBEZDPBBUWTBZNLSKBZI/
Seymore will dress this up as collecting wasteful spending. It is Dog eat Dog spiral to the bottom, all MBIE staff looking over their shoulder, waiting to be fingered, wondering who will have their lives wrecked next, while the money "saved" after redundancies, will go to tax cuts? He is a dangerous little man, and I agree with Jacinda's description!!
“Act are definitely worth fighting against. ” 100% He has delusions of Grandeur .
Act are dangerous and would be damaging.
But it's worse than that. It's a fraud.
We all know that the huge savings ACT say will happen, won't actually happen. We know because they didn't happen before (and don't happen elsewhere with right wing governments). If National/ACT are in government, then in 3 years' time there will be stories about more private consultants and minimal savings. "Red tape" will be cut, and then stuck together again with sellotape, making for false economies.
National say they will "invest" in so many projects it's hard to keep count, all of which will require more spending on those bureaucrats they despise. Or … cut costs on oversight, and bring back Leaky Homes Part Two. Real cost to taxpayers … billions.
agree Observer 100%
So as its Monday tomorrow get ready for the latest revelation from the rights Disinformation Project, we have been warned that there will be one a week until the election. Maybe the first was the anynomous More Yelled At Staffers in the ministers office, leaked through who knows, and last Monday's leaking $20 billion hole initially through Winston Peters. What's up tomorrow, can't wait, whatever it is it will be fantastic, and then rubbished by reason and proven to be lies a few days later.
Suzie Fergusson project on Disinformation and misinformation, and recovered bodies who ended up looking where they had been and deciding who they would in future talk to online. Very revealing and shows how family and friends influenced people who were already anti in some way. It is worth a listen… Could someone kind link for me after 7am Sun news on RNZ.
RNZ haven't made it easy to find specific Undercurrent episodes, but I think today's might have been one of these.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/undercurrent/story/2018900008/undercurrent-episodes-5-6-and-7
Thank you Weka.![yes yes](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/thumbs_up.png?x42494)
A link to the full podcast from episode 1 to 7.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/undercurrent-podcast
I found the early episodes the most interesting.
Suzie Ferguson deserves accolades for the podcast series.
Thank you![heart heart](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/heart.png?x42494)
You're welcome Patricia, and thanks for asking for the link and saying when/where it was 👍 This is so much better than someone just saying they can't find the link or whatever.
Greens will fund free dental care:
https://www.greens.org.nz/green_party_promises_free_dental_for_all
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495244/greens-promise-free-dental-for-all-paid-for-by-fair-and-simple-tax-changes
That will be a popular Policy.
Have the Greens said where they are going to find the dentists to implement this policy?
Increasing the training cap from 60 to 80 is a drop in the bucket – won't even reach replacement for current dentists retiring; and, most importantly – won't even kick in for 5 years (takes 5 years to train a dentist at Otago)
Dentists are in just as short-supply in NZ as GPs are; and dental nurses (or dental hygienists) aren't much better.
We can see this, by the immense pressure the school dental service (with the free treatment) is – many, many children are not seen within 3 years, let alone annually, as they are supposed to be. And, while it's free to have the dentist check your child's teeth out – most practices (certainly in Auckland) won't enrol children or teens (they don't get enough in payments from the government to even cover their costs).
Announcing a policy, with no practical idea of how to staff it – does not incline people to take you seriously.
Not surprising that a NZ Labour government expanded dental care from our youngest children to everyone aged 18 and under.
Gosh, sounds as if the Green's policy of a 33% increase in the training cap for dentists could be worse than nothing – a respectful ‘centrist's’ work is never done.
Will NAct favour voters with a reaction – perhaps even a policy of their own?
Or maybe NAct have faith that the invisible hand of the market will provide.
"More to do." What more might Labour do? Or NAct for that matter – vouchers?![wink wink](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/wink_smile.png?x42494)
An increase of 20 places a year – which will – at the very best – start to have an impact in 5 years time, does not incline anyone other than the most one-eyed of lefties to believe this is a well-thought-through policy – let alone a priority for the Green Party.
I note that you have carefully avoided answering the question of where the dentists are going to come from – for at least the next 5 years.
I'm on record as supporting a whole new dental school (I'd suggested Waikato) – in order to actually deal with the gap between the numbers being trained and the evident need.
Centrists are placed to see the policy benefits of all sides of the political spectrum – not being constrained to support 'my party, right or wrong'.
This policy clearly indicates that providing free dental care to all Kiwis is a priority for the Green Party – only the most one-eyed NAct enthusiast would be pushing a different line, imho.
Your chief moans seem to be that it takes 5 years to train a dentist (what, precisely, do you expect the Greens to do about that?), and that they should be increasing the dentistry training cap by more than 33%.
Do NAct even have a policy? Maybe it's not their priority, and why would it be.
The shortage of dentists in NZ didn’t happen overnight, and will take years to fix – think less ‘a filling’, and more ‘orthodontic correction.’ Not doubt NAct will rubbish the Greens policy for free dental care in due course, without suggesting any alternative solutions.
Nope – it's an election bribe that they devoutly hope they'll never be called upon to deliver – because they literally can't.
A true attempt to resolve the issue would be to have pushed for a substantial increase in training places for dentists (and other dental professionals) – sometime in the last 2.5 years (when they were actually part of the government). Not as a last-minute election promise.
Trying to pretend that NZ has the capacity to provide this level of service – is frankly disingenuous. It doesn't matter how much money you're prepared to throw at the issue – if there aren't the people there to deliver the service.
Only the most one-eyed of lefties doesn't recognise an election bribe, just because it comes from his party.
The demand for new dentists would create pathways for foreign skilled workers to come here.
That our horticulture sector has been dependent on foreign tourists and the Pacific migrant workers does not mean it should not exist.
It may be news to you – but dental practices have already been heavily recruiting immigrant dentists. The problem is that they can get better money elsewhere – and NZ's lifestyle bonus isn't holding up so well (floods, etc.)
https://www.new-zealand-immigration.com/dentists-wanted-in-new-zealand
The reductionist branded firms are the problem. The owners make the money not the dentists. The owners set them quotas.
Starting to see the same thing with GP's.
The businesses providing public dentistry must be state owned and profit taken out of the picture. Maybe time for a rethink on public medical services overall.
Heavily recruiting … from overseas – Labour has yet to add them to the Green list of occupations.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2303/S00168/govt-needs-to-brush-up-on-dentistry-workforce-woes.htm
Yes agree BD. I initially read that the policy will be funded by the so-called wealthy again per wealth tax. As Labour has ruled out a wealth tax following the Greens etc publicity before, despite working on a a very fair & reasonable version itself, this indeed is pie in the sky.
I guess the reason for publishing is so that a potential coalition partner can look at what they may have to agree to……..oh I forgot,,,,,,the Greens have ruled out several potential coalition partners.
In my view The Greens have a potential partner in Labour, with whom they have been 'mates' with for sometime. Were any of these policies raised at the time ie when there was a chance they could be implemented?
When are the Greens going to say what their plans are for when they are faced with a potential coalition? I guess not.
What are the Greens plans for combatting inflation, breaking up the supermarket duopoly, breaking down the energy costs for households ie pushing back the Bradford reforms, Bank profits, …….rail/coastal shipping
As the Greens may be in an important place after the next election I would like to know how/when/if etc they will support Labour in the deep issues we are facing. Surely we have grown up a little and don't need election bribes any more…or perhaps election bribes that rely on being funded by something that has already been ruled out by a potential coalition partner.
Excuse my cynicism.
(Waits for the 'RW'/'incrementalist'/ or whatever the insult du jour is.)
The answers exist if you actually look for them
Inflation:
https://www.greens.org.nz/persistent_inflation_shows_urgent_need_to_tax_wealth
Supermarket duopoly:
https://www.greens.org.nz/govt_must_break_up_supermarkets
Energy:
https://www.greens.org.nz/energy_policy
Banks:
https://www.greens.org.nz/when_even_the_nats_agree_bank_profits_are_out_of_control_it_s_time_for_an_excess_profits_tax
Coastal shipping:
https://www.greens.org.nz/national_s_transport_policy_rehash_of_failed_ideas
And all these have been announced with a big fanfare 'rah rah' with special individual threads on TS?
Pardon my cynicism.
I know Labour's poilicies are light on the ground so far but I feel we waste our time on Green policies that
1) can only come into force if there is a left- leaning group holding seats and courage enough to beat off other comers, and
2) can only come into force if they are picked up as part of a coalition, and
3) rely on being funded by forms of taxes or other regimes that the possible majority left leaning partner has ruled out
It is for those reasons and noting those constraints that I would go along with the notion that they are election bribes and bribes put up with a degree of cynicism as The Greens, failing an absoloute miracle, have no ability to grab enough seats to hold a majority and this be assured of the ability to bring these policies into fruition.
Labour has actually worked on this and has increased the amount available via grants substantially since 2022.
What you call bribes are election promises, just like every other party. They are seeking the votes of people who want action on these issues. That you think they are cynical about it indicates your cynicism towards the Greens seems to be boundless. I can't help you with that.
A vote for Labour is an endorsement of their current approach. For all those who want a aspirational left party, the Greens and TPM are the only options. With a larger share of the vote they will be able to demand more of any future government. The idea that a majority is required to enact policy is an oversimplification of MMP.
The argument against the Greens policies is only 'we can't do anything that upsets the status quo.'
The first step in combating inflation was a rent freeze.
Belladonna, who (apart from you) is pretending “that NZ has the capacity“?
It's clear you find the Green Party's policy to provide free dental care for all Kiwis galling, and with ~40% of Kiwis unable to access affordable dental services, it may prove particularly popular among those less likely to vote.
Building the capacity to providing free dental care for all Kiwis will take time – better to start sooner rather than later (or never), imho.
Well, indeed, apparently the Green Party is pretending that "NZ has the capacity" to deliver on this promised service. Otherwise, why have they released the policy?
Several commenters here have repeated the GP announcement about training, as an absolute answer to questions about dental workforce capacity for 2024. [Hint: Not at all the same thing]
I don't find the policy galling – I find the … misinformation …. about being able to deliver on it disingenuous.
Aspirational is fine. Putting in place policies to seriously and (hopefully) rapidly increase the dental workforce, excellent. Building health workforce capacity – I'm going to cheer that on, regardless of the political party championing it.
Implying that people will be getting free dental from 2024? A disingenuous election bribe at the most blatant, as you seem to be acknowledging. "it may prove particularly popular among those less likely to vote."
I don't find this kind of pork-barrel electioneering any more palatable from the left side of politics than I do from the right.
Isn't the Green's policy on providing free dental care to all Kiwis partly about building capacity in the dental services sector? See @14.3.2.
If "the Green Party is pretending that "NZ has the capacity" to deliver", then why would their policy include details about how to “deliver a public dentistry workforce“?
That's what you're implying. You're not thick, so what does that leave?![smiley smiley](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/regular_smile.png?x42494)
For the many, not the few
What are some examples of “pork-barrel electioneering” “from the right“, in your opinion?
No point in discussing further. We're simply rehashing the ground.
If the GP want to convince the Centrists that this is serious policy, then they need to address the serious questions.
Implying that we're 'thick' for asking them – doesn't exactly get us on side.
Oh, and just to make you happy – here's an example of pure pork-barrelling from National
https://www.national.org.nz/familyboost
This is a direct subsidy to the childcare centre industry. Little, if any, will stay in the pockets of 'Kiwi families'.
Perhaps re-read @5:12 pm – your intelligence isn’t in question.
Just to make me happy?! Wouldn't a true centrist make an effort to highlight pork-barrelling from the left and the right? Time will tell![laugh laugh](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/teeth_smile.png?x42494)
The true Centrist has just done precisely that.
Even though it has nothing to do with the discussion in hand – and is actually an example of whaddaboutism.
Perhaps you might look at your biases – continually slinging off at me about being a true Centrist is getting pretty old.
I'm aware of and acknowledge my political biases – "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", nuff said.
But "perhaps you might look at your biases", as evinced by your furious barrage of 'centrist' comments dissing the Green's detailed and costed policy on free dental care for all Kiwis.
Still, fairs fair – with about two months until the general election, you deserve the benefit of the doubt. After all, you could be making equally prolific and disparging comments about ACT's policies on a right-leaning political blog – only you can know for sure.
Btw, are there any broadly centrist parties that appeal to you this election – perchance TOP, or New Zealand First?
I've been entirely clear that I dislike Winston Peters – and feel that his only priority in power is 'what's in it for Winston'.
I do wonder if you understand that the Left needs to persuade Centrists to vote for their parties/polices. If so, you're, personally, doing a really poor job of persuading anyone who isn't already on board with your declared biases.
But, perhaps, as someone with a self-declared Marxist philosophy – the opinions of the bourgeoisie are irrelevant – after all – what value is democracy….
You're middle class too? I'd be interested in your opinion about the value of "for the many, not the few", given spaceship Earth's inability to support our overshoot civilisation.
https://www.overshootday.org/newsroom/country-overshoot-days/
As for "what value is democracy", it's easy voting Green. You have my sympathy for the trickier choices that political centrists face.
There has been a notable increase in migrants from Sth America in the last decade.Perhaps Brazil can help NZ with the shortage of dentists.
'Dentistry is the area of health that has expanded the most in recent years in Brazil, with more than 264,000 dentists. That is equivalent to almost 20% of the dentists in the entire world, according to Dentistry Federative Counsel, in 2015. Dentistry, along with medicine and nursing, constitutes the basic nucleus of professionals of higher level of health in Brazil (IPEA 2015; Morita, Haddad, & Araujo, 2010). The rate of dentists to population in Brazil is about 737 habitants per dentist.
Dental genetics in Brazil: Where we are – PMC (nih.gov)
That's your reasoning for the status quo? From the policy document:
https://assets.nationbuilder.com/beachheroes/pages/18276/attachments/original/1691273205/Health_Full_Policy_Document.pdf
No. That's your assumption.
I don't have a problem with increasing denistry places. Although this is far too little, far too late. I'm a firm believer that we need another dentistry school – my suggestion would be Waikato.
The part I have issue with, is that – at the very earliest- this will result in an extra 20 dentists a year in 2029. Note: this will not even make up for the numbers retiring.
It is entirely disingenuous, then, to announce free dental care for all. The GP have no idea how they would be able to staff such a system.
It reminds one of the Labour promise of 100,000 houses – when it was clear that they had zero idea of how it could be carried out (and, indeed, all of the people who said that it was not actually possible, were right)
Your criticism is that there isn't sufficient staffing so therefore this policy is not possible to institute? That is 100% accepting the status quo. If we want to improve outcomes for everyone increased funding for services is one of the only ways to achieve it.
It's very easy to point out what's wrong with a plan; for instance your plan for a new dentistry school also wouldn't increase the number of dentists until 2029 either, so by your own standards it is a non-starter. Are you expecting to be taken seriously?
there's a post up now https://thestandard.org.nz/greens-free-dental-care-for-all/
Are the current posts here going to be migrated to the new thread?
Opening a new dental school would increase the supply of dentists long-term and provide redundancy and flexibility in the training of this speciality (one-source of supply is never a safe option).
It has nothing to do with provision of free dental care.
However, a promise to deliver free-dental care is worthless without the dentists to deliver it. It doesn't matter how much money you are (theoretically) able to throw at it. Pointing out that, appears to be incurring the wrath of the lefties blinded by the bling of political promises.
Oh I see, current dentist cease to exist once free dental care is promised.
What you are pointing out is that you think there are insufficient dentists now and that means, according to you, the policy is completely unworkable. Clearly we need to run everything past you so that we can be 'taken seriously'. Trying to increase the provision of dental care is not worth attempting unless Belladonna has personally deemed the policy to be perfect from the outset, we can't possibly have goals that aren't immediately achievable, we can’t build capacity over time it must already be there before any action can be taken.
That is you argument.
Gosh, if you have no answers – just say so.
Making personal attacks because you don't like people pointing out the flaws in policies – is both trite and trivial.
Personal attack? Lol. Can't see it, but I guess you did say I'm a 'blinded leftie'.
You have ignored any post pointing out the Greens are aware of the shortage and have a plan to increase dentist numbers. You have declared it won't work and is unserious. This is your opinion not a fact.
So, explain
The GP's 'plan to increase dentist numbers' can only come into effect from 2029?
Even the most blinded leftie should be able to see a 5 year gap.
From the existing pool of dentists initially and from the increased training numbers eventually, as well as by immigration and upskilling. As has been pointed out to you repeatedly.
You don't think this will work, you advocate for another dental school, which also doesn't immediately solve the dentist shortage problem, this also would have at the very least a 5 year gap.
What you are arguing is that it is unrealistic but you don't have a better solution, you just have an alternative priority that doesn't include doing anything initially to help with the current crisis of provision of oral health.
I like my politics to be aspirational, with a vision, a goal, even if it may take a lot of work to get there. This is what the Greens are proposing.
Arkie, This whole board works on opinions and views provided these are arguments are made in a careful referenced manner.
You are making your opinion known and so is BD.
In the persistance you are showing about someone else's very reasonable opinions I am reminded of the statement 'you can't make someone love you'.
We want and need people who can see the flaws, who make us think.
As you say we also want/need aspirational policies. Some of us would agree.
There is a time and a place for these too. With the ruling out of a wealth tax and the big problems we are facing as we try to pull the country out of a 'slough of despair' we do not need 'pie in the sky' (which is a meaning from me for 'aspirational' applied incorrectly, naively or with eyes closed).
And Belladonna isn't also being persistent in their 'reasonable' assertions? The ‘flaws’ they point out are already acknowledged and planned for in the Greens policy, which is all I have been reiterating. I have not expressed an opinion on it other than praising the attempt to address the current inequity of oral health provision.
It is interesting to me that "Growing up/being realistic" means suppressing empathy/insisting society can't provide for all.
It is better to try, and fail, than it is to not try at all.
Estimate is that there are 40% of NZers who cannot afford to go to the dentist now. I think that's an under-representation – but even taking those figures. You'd need 40% more dentists than we have now to accommodate this demand.
In 2024. Not in some future far-off time.
NZ is already trying to recruit overseas dentists to work here – it's going about as well as trying to recruit any of the other medical specialities that we're short of. Not, very.
The GP policy is to train and recruit internationally – neither of which will be producing effective numbers in 2024.
As I've pointed out, and you've repeatedly ignored. Having a plan to increase numbers is not the same as having a plan to have the numbers in place in 2024.
Aspiration is all very well. But pretending that your aspirational goals are concrete political reality is profoundly disingenuous.
Who is doing this? It's a policy proposal to take to post-election negotiations.
You are insisting that because the policy is not perfectly setup from it's proposed beginning it is somehow disingenuous and therefore no action should be taken. It's letting impossible perfection be the enemy of a good proposal.
This is such an important point. People don’t seem to understand how electioneering happens. In truth, if the Greens got day 20 MPs and had the power to get this policy near the top of the post-election coalition building list, it’s going to be revamped and more detail worked out.
What we could be doing in this debate is looking at how to make the policy work, instead of naysaying. We could be starting with the principle of dental health care for all, and seeing how it could come about now. Not in some vague hand wave future. This is the brilliance of this year’s Green campaign, they pointing repeatedly to how we don’t have these things because of political choices (not because of dentist shortages), and that we can make different choices.
One practical thing I’m wondering is how many dental practitioners who aren’t dentists can do initial checks.
Some might be induced to change from doing cosmetic surgery for the well off to actual dentistry.
Likely not they are a mercenary bunch.
The demand for new dentists would create pathways for foreign skilled workers to come here.
Tl;dw – the US is going to freeze the conflict in order to give themselves and the UK the time to use their experiences with the Taliban, ISIS, and modern neurolinguistic programming, aided by pagan sectarians and a fake pseudo orthodox church, to create a shop-till-you-drop kamikaze making nation of zombies unified by their homosexuality. Or something.
And Niger.
fwiw, transcript translation
Julia Davis
@JuliaDavisNews
·4h
Putin's former advisor Sergei Markov claimed to know America's plans for Ukraine and laid them out on state TV. He demanded that Saudi-hosted talks in Jeddah ensure the participation of Viktor Yanukovych and Viktor Medvedchuk in future Ukrainian elections.
https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/status/1688020442873749504
Dollars to donuts the AfD isn't the only Western party getting Poots' cash.
/
Leaked communications between Vladimir Sergienko, a naturalized German citizen, and “Alexei,” a suspected FSB operative, show the extent of Russia’s infiltration of the Alternative for Germany party. Their “active measures” included a plan to stop or slow delivery of German main battle tanks to Ukraine using frivolous litigation against the German government. It would only cost $93,000.
Vladimir Sergienko, an aide to a Bundestag deputy, has been acting as an intermediary between the Kremlin and German lawmakers in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, a joint investigation between The Insider and Der Spiegel can reveal. Sergienko, a staff member of AfD parliamentarian Eugen Schmidt, has helped coordinate AfD speeches, lobby for pro-Russian initiatives, and even helped trigger a lawsuit against his own government aimed at halting or slowing German weapons transfers to Ukraine – all at the instruction of a suspected Russian intelligence officer. Moreover, Sergienko personally shuttled cash between Moscow and Berlin and directed wire transfers to a German NGO sympathetic to the Kremlin to facilitate his efforts.
https://theins.info/en/politics/264014
Easy to see why he's a former advisor