"Trusted, impartial and independent? Or largely unaccountable and part of the Establishment? Sociologist Tom Mills considers the evidence on the enormously influential British Broadcasting Corporation or BBC."
A very interesting interview which goes a long way to explaining some of the very biased reporting from the BBC through some good old fashioned historical analysis…
The BBC has soiled its reputation so many times–Iraq WMD, Tony Blair, Russia, China, Mid East, Wikileaks etc. etc. it is amazing anyone takes it seriously as an accurate news source.
The Beeb has an old school tory class based internal culture (with a fair share of pervs of various persuasions).
I watch some BBC dramas, nicely produced usually–for a change from Netflix–but they too can have a sting–like submarine based whodunnit “Vigil” which has an interesting subtext supporting US and British Imperialism!
I remember my father telling me that the BBC did not report anti-nuclear testing activity by NZ against France in the Pacific….at a time the UK was hoping to join the EC and didn't want to offend the French (1970s)!
The head of Waikato's Mongrel Mob chapter was given an essential workers exemption to travel in and out of Auckland last weekend.
Newstalk ZB can reveal the exemption was granted to Sonny Fatupaito – who's been working with some of the harder to reach communities in the city, such as those with gang affiliations.
In a statement, via a spokesperson, Fatupaito said he has been liaising with health officials and police to assist in reaching people in communities within the gang's chapters and their whanau in Auckland.
He was asked to travel to Auckland by South Seas Healthcare, who have been co-ordinating much of the response to the South Auckland clusters.
I loathe the gangs. But I think this was probably a good thing to try. Will be interesting to see if it prompts any Auckland Mongrel Mob members to front up for Covid vaccinations.
But National's Police spokesman Simeon Brown is not convinced, and has called on the Government to front up on why Fatupaito was allowed to travel in and out of Auckland.
predictable knee jerk reaction from National. The answer's already in the news article. As many incentives as possible should be tried to get vax rates up as high as possible.
During my recent, admittedly brief, interaction with the Mongrel Mob, or the 'Kingdom' as they refer to themselves as.
What struck me most forcefully about the Mongrel Mob, was their poverty.
They say power corrupts. Well so does poverty.
My respect to Sonny Fatupaito for attempting to lift his people out of their degradation.
I heard him give a talk about the rise of P in the Waikato, which he claimed to have been against. Resorting to vigilante justice against the dealers. For which he was jailed. He said that when he was in prison many of younger 'Kingdom' members became P dealers.
Sonny Fatupaito recounted, that one day when he wasn't expecting any visitors he was called from his cell because there were visitors who wanted to see him.
As he told it, the visitors were senior Waikato police officers who told him we may have made a mistake.
Inequality and Shared Prosperity For more than two decades, extreme poverty was steadily declining. Now, for the first time in a generation, the quest to end poverty has suffered its worst setback.
There are exceptions, but it seems to me that most people with wealth and power don't really want society to change for the better, as they don't perceive that change to be in their own best interests, at least in the short-to-medium term. And who wants to think any further ahead these days?
If one aspires to extreme wealth then go for it – whatever floats your yacht. But it seems so pointless and short-sighted – an ‘own goal’ even.
Why poverty in New Zealand is everyone's concern
Liang describes poverty as a "heritable condition" that perpetuates and amplifies through generations: "It is also not hard to see how individual poverty flows into communities and society, with downstream effects on economics, crime and health, as well as many other systems. Loosen one strand and everything else unravels."
A Kete Half Empty Poverty is your problem, it is everyone's problem, not just those who are in poverty. – Rebecca, a child from Te Puru
I think the ever so slight loosening of restrictions is in recognition that at about 50% people need encouragement and hope that things are on the move and that contacts would become more surreptitious anyway. This is no way a” giving up” otherwise even at 95% the whining arseholes would be saying the Government was giving up the elimination strategy.
“Open up and let it rip” has been a relentless campaign in the media channels, which broke cover perhaps when sirkey was wheeled out. Brian Tamaki to some extent did what Judith Collins would liked NZ National to have done!
The sheer ratio of whingers to those quietly getting on with lockdown and vaccination, showed the establishment campaign is a reality. Elements included privatising MIQ, ending restrictions on foreign students and migrant workers, opening up free in and outflow of capital, and generally business as usual. The bad news for this lot is some people will not resume eating out, shows, sports or cinema for a long time yet.
In the end the NZ petit bourgeois sector with their well stocked pantrys, will get what they think they want, but at what cost? Owner operators, SMEs and corporates who espouse the superiority of the market were quick to put their hands out for State assistance. The Govt. bent over to appease them with wage subsidies and even a second tier unemployment benefit!
A lot of people are going to pay for this bullying of the Govt.–including those with non COVID healthcare and social needs.
For at least 20 years the CCP has deeply subsidised industries with incredibly damaging results across the rest of the democratic world, hurting workers and the middle classes.
As a small example – here in Australia the company I was working for found that it could buy steel skid frames (about 400kg of laser cut, drilled, fabricated and painted framework as equipment bases) delivered from China – cheaper than buying the raw steel locally. There was no way this was possible unless the Chinese govt was deeply subsidising their own industry. This story has been repeated millions of time across the developed world this past few decades and finally someone is saying enough.
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai lays out the Biden-Harris Administration's policy approach to US-China trade relations this speech. The language is measured as you might expect – the implications are wide ranging:
"The core of our strategy is to ensure that we work with our allies to create fair and open markets."
Her use of the word "allies" is instructive and unhelpful. Trade partners are not allies; they are simply entities who agree to rules to trade by. "Allies" conflates security with trade interests.
Trade Representative Tai didn't mention either CPTPP or RCEP. China is a member of RCEP. Neither China nor the United States are members of CPTPP. Instead she focuses on the World Trade Organisation, and doesn't acknowledge that the US went out of its way to kill it over 4 years.
Both CPTPP and RCEP have strong things to say about intellectual property protection, tariffs, market access by category, and bunches of other good stuff.
It would be a strong diplomatic signal for international trade and for multilateralism generally if the US and China jointly signed up to these (albeit imperfect) agreements.
The key insight here is that Biden's experience under Obama in dealing with the PRC on trade issues clearly comes through. He's no longer interested in promises.
And her reference to ‘allies’ aligns with the idea that the US is now going to start defining it’s interests much more narrowly. AUKUS is probably a very good example of this – and of the more transactional nature of these alliances.
The US can neither afford, nor is all that interested in, providing a security umbrella more or less for free. And sooner or later NZ is going to find this out. Of course all the anti-US types here will delight in this prospect – but will remain silent on the alternative.
Trade agreements aren't generally tied to security agreements and nor should they be.
New Zealand's only useful contribution to Trade Representative Tai is to do what we have successfully done before, which is to build mechanisms that enable countries and companies to make good and fair money. We've done that very well over 20 years.
Once countries consistently conflate trade agreements with security agreements by selling huge new arms technologies to opponents, all they do is militarise trade. You yourself have pointed out many times that China has every economic reason not to go to war in any form.
US war materiel is over-priced. I’ve sometimes wondered if we can’t get F16s, what the Russians might have on offer. I believe they still build their hi-performance warplanes as solid & dependable as brick shithouses.
The F16 Lease Deal brokered by Bill Clinton & Jenny Shipley in the late 90’s, was a very good deal, as the 28 F16’s had very low hrs on the clock with highest of F16’s was about 7hrs. Funding had already been set aside by then National Government & the RNZAF of between $250m & $350m NZD for Kahu 2 which was the planned A4 upgrade, but the money was then transferred to up grading the F16’s once they had been bedded in 75SQN & 2SQN’s respectively.
My Uncle who was the FSGT & acting. WOE in the RNZAF Ohakea at Base SQN Avionics, was heavily involved with the Kahu 2 Project which became the F16 Project & the later when the F16 Project got canned the Macchic Project until the bloody Greens jump up & down demanding that 14SQN got disbanded as well.
The Russian Aircraft aka the Su27- 30’s & Mig 29’s were actually studied by the RNZAF, but were dropped for a number of reasons when talked to Malaysia AF who operate the Mig29, TNIAF operating the Su27’s, the Indian AF who doing some crazy stuff on their Su30’s and the both the Luftwaffe & Poles as well.
1, Was the very poor after sales service from Russia,
2, The time it took to translate the various manuals & training the Tech’s
3, the mean time between technical failures & engine overhauls was very very low compared to their contemporaries with Western built Aircraft.
4, the small numbers of Aircraft being used the RNZAF was another issue, the RNZAF would’nt been unable to tap in the NATO Stores System if it was operating alongside Oz, the Poms, Canada or other like minded nations.
If NZ did decide to get back into the Fast Jet game ie Maritime Strike/ Interdiction
My pick would either be the Super Hornet similar to the RAAF ones, or failing that
The French Dassault Rafale B F3-R Two Seater
SAAB Gripen or this wee hot ship from
Sth Korea https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/KAI_T-50_Golden_Eagle.
Eventually the NZG will have to go down the UAV route at some stage if it wants to get the full use out of its for P8’s and whatever 2nd Tier Maritime Patrol Aircraft it choses under the 2018 DCP which both have to be Networked in with the Navy.
There are some major technical, including Security (both Active& Passive measures) issues to operating a UAV in NZ given the huge area that both the NZ Navy & RNZAF are likely to Patrol & operate in NZ before we even discuss the Moral & Ethical reasons to operate UAV’s.
I agree the US will probably only require NZ to continue to operate as the 'good citizen' it has in the past – but it doesn't take too much to imagine some other more subtle things they might ask of us.
And yes I agree that rationally Xi Xinping has no intention of going to war with the rest of the world – but if he continues his high stakes game of chicken over Taiwan, or elsewhere, events could easily run away from even his grasp.
PRC, as any country, has to deal with the global trade reality of blocs and agreements and “rules” organisations–which is in a bit of a mess when you tote them all up.
Various US producers were quick enough to move to China for cheaper production costs off the back of the Chinese working class, and still the free marketeers complain when China maximises its production strategies.
Essentially the US is complaining about a centrally planned economy, and it is rich indeed for the world centre of union busting (e.g. Amazon), and a poverty level federal minimum wage ($7.25 since 2009!) to criticise how workers are treated elsewhere.
and a poverty level federal minimum wage ($7.25 since 2009!) to criticise how workers are treated elsewhere.
Of course the actual story is more complex than this. And you might want to take a look at the data before painting the US as a poverty striken hell-hole. In reality it's a large diverse economy that defies simplistic characterisations.
Essentially the US is complaining about a centrally planned economy,
And yes – I gave an example above of precisely why this should be opposed. The Chinese workers who made those steel frames were not necessarily low paid – but that the companies involved in the supply chain could access unlimited state subsidies by various means to cover the fact that they were selling their product at a loss.
In essence this policy was a zero sum game that transferred jobs from one country to another – which is how China became the 'workshop of the world'. And then you wonder where the decent working class jobs in our part of the world went to.
As for the 'China bashing' – you may want to note the ethnicity of the person making the speech. Fail.
Also to note New Zealand is currently sending a frigate and an Orion to participate in Operation Bersama Gold 21, which is a big operation between the navies of Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, Malaysia and Singapore. Looks to be quite a big exercise.
It should actually read Ex Bersama Gold not Op Bersama Gold as there is no 2 Way Range. Ex Bersama Gold is the Annual 5 Power Defence Ex which has combined Ex Spearfish & Ex Vanguard together which were from memory 1-2 mth long Ex’s. The Yanks are not involved with 5 FPDA Ex, as it’s an all Commonwealth of Nations Affair & there has been talk of involving India over the last few yrs..
Delta beat the lockdown policy and the vaccines. It's endemic and you need to face up to the reality that like say the common cold or flu – we're all going to catch it sooner or later.
This speech faces this truth square on – regardless of who was saying it.
Delta did not beat the lockdown. It was those who wanted 'Freedom' (from what?), the conspiracy theorists and God Squaders along with the screamers of 'I want to make a profit' and the "I want to come home' moaners that have compromised the lockdown.
We should all now be ready to hear from those who can't come back to NZ for funerals or whose surgery is endlessly postponed, to start kicking up a ruckus?
Long term Pfizer (BNT162b2) immunity is better against hospitalisation (figure B) in California against SARS-CoV-2 delta variant (now it's been around long enough to tell, at least for 16+ age groups) than infection (figure A). Which suggests that boosters may come more in the form of natural infections, than yearly vaccines.
Effectiveness of BNT162b2 against infections caused by the delta variant, which became the predominant strain in KPSC {the health-care organisation Kaiser Permanente Southern California} by July, 2021, was 75% (95% CI 71–78) over the study period. Effectiveness against delta infections at 1 month after being fully vaccinated was high at 93% (85–97) but fell to 53% (39–65) up to 5 months after being fully vaccinated. Effectiveness against other (non-delta) variants within 1 month of being fully vaccinated was also high at 97% (95–99) and also waned, to 67% (45–80) up to 5 months after being fully vaccinated. Effectiveness against delta-related hospital admissions over the entire study period was high, at 93% (84–96) and was similar to effectiveness against hospital admissions for other (non-delta) variants.
I still haven't got the knack of posting images though! The second graph displays fine on mobile, but half of July is cut-off on laptop. The buttons where gone when I tried to edit and strange tech gibberish in its place (which I didn't dare touch).
This is also an interesting read on the Lancet (endemic coronaviruses = common colds; SARS-CoV = SARS) :
Reinfection by SARS-CoV-2 under endemic conditions would likely occur between 3 months and 5·1 years after peak antibody response, with a median of 16 months. This protection is less than half the duration revealed for the endemic coronaviruses circulating among humans (5–95% quantiles 15 months to 10 years for HCoV-OC43, 31 months to 12 years for HCoV-NL63, and 16 months to 12 years for HCoV-229E). For SARS-CoV, the 5–95% quantiles were 4 months to 6 years
I called the cops yesterday to do a welfare check on a young women (natal women) who got 'man' handled in front of our shops. – I don't think i ever felt more like a true Karen ever. But what is one to do when that shit happens, and fwiw, it is escalating in our fair wee town.
I did get a call from an officer later that day – rehashing the events that let to my call, and i did precise that i called for a 'welfare' check, essentially for both of them, the young women and the young bloke, as both were obviously not able to resolve what was going on without violence. Also that the guy bought booze at opening time of the booze shop.
So here we are, we have lost 4 women to violence in the last month. And yet, i still feel stink about calling the police. And i truly hope, that the young women has someone in her life that will tell her that getting the bash is not a sign of how he loves you, but rather is a sign of how he believes he ownes her and she is his to do as he likes, as i hope that the young bloke (natal) has a person in his life that will help him overcome what ever led him to bash his girlfriend in front of our shops.
I would have done the same and I did so earlier in the year as a male was explosive toward a female outside my home. More than one person reported it. I always shudder to think what goes on behind closed doors. Intervention is required and ongoing support. The shortage of affordable housing contributes to not having somewhere to be safe.
"Ardern’s perpetual struggle is transforming her care and compassion into public policy. Thus, the contradiction where she thrives in a crisis yet falters in its aftermath … the prime minister’s personal care and compassion do not always align with her public policy decisions."
But then – the young, brown, medically-compromised and disabled are not Ardern’s targeted voters.
A contrast of her gift of inspiring people when a political response aligns with her personal values, and her political work that is centrist at its core. She'll need her gift to regain that political capital she's just spent on changing tack, because Collins and Seymour don't even have to change their Covid policy to gain disenchanted who left National last election for the promises of Ardern – Labour has come to National/ACT (granted, ACT policy is a bit more blatant about everybody for themselves). They just have to convince people they can do Covid better and the opening is now there.
There are big questions for the Left that believes in social cohesion and equity.
The biggest danger is the buy-in of Nat/Act attitudes in Media and the business forum. The promotion of stories which point up every bump in the road, the wailing about MIQ, returnees and low rent supports and costs in general. Saying changing to the next step is a sign of failure, just generally white anting the elimination strategy. The stories about money for Gangs, Covid in the gangs. Certain Suburbs, so it goes.
It wasn't the entitled couple who flew south, it was not the Lawyer who went to the races over the border, it was not the entitled who spread covid, no no it was the poor.
Well wow!! What part of ghettoizing people is still not understood? If you live in large airy well ventilated warm housing with a full pantry reliable internet and respect from all health and other services… you live in a world of plenty with your expectations the Government will smooth any difficulties that you can't deal with then you conform to social norms generally, unless you are one of the spoiled entitled.!!
If you live in a crowded neighbourhood with older smaller homes without central kitchens food in the pantry money in the bank, poor transport, poor health with co-morbidities, and you are not trusted by a large section of the community because… you are poor, surly through past experiences, hungry, full of mis-information reinforced by facebook or in the certain religions/black economy/ gang communities , with bad experiences when you turn to "Social services", generally non-conforming to social norms.
How do we change that? Definitely NOT by austerity programmes. We have to practice inclusivity. If people opt out we separate them for special intensive assistance, as they have a social disorder.
We continue to increase education initiatives and investment, we increase health home visits and investment. We provide to mothers a suitable sum on the birth of a child to help with expenses universally. We listen to what communities want more actively and create a Welfare Ombudsperson.
We don't fall for PR letters and speeches written by vested interests… when did they work in the community? rather manipulating the view to a politically skewed window?
However, we have a PM who said the most important part of our Covid-19 response was health and that they were following the science.
Now, we know have some of those same scientists worried, disappointed and hoping for a bit of good luck to see us through this.
"If you live in a crowded neighbourhood with older smaller homes without central kitchens food in the pantry money in the bank, poor transport, poor health with co-morbidities, and you are not trusted by a large section of the community because…"
These are the people who are likely to be most severely impacts by this approach that includes crossed fingers and hope.
Moreover, we have a new health system on the way – why oh why did the government not recognise the spirit of the new system and (visibly?) bring in Māori to share the decision-making at the highest level around this response?
Barfly, your comment has really made me stop and consider. It’s not an “I reckon” or a political salvo, a sermon or a serve.
Rather, to me it is a true use of the word 'need'. Instead of reading someone opining "They need", I have read that someone said "I need" and acted upon that realisation. Thanks.
Bloody Brilliant.!! We know the struggle you faced. Our son faces that as well. Well done Barfly. I know you have other health issues, but that is a huge win. Made my day.. Suggest new monica Flying Free
That mallard hen knows where she's going, weka. Around the back of the buildings a little way further ahead of her there's a brook, one of several, that feeds, via a very large under-the-township culvert, straight into my stream.
The media have never liked strong, powerful woman.
They always try to bring them down but I'm confident that, like the Phoenix, JC will rise from the ashes and attain her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.
Sorry about that freudian slip, I mean as the Prime Minister.
All this talk of female empowerment and getting more females (sorry is that the correct term or should I say person who chest feeds) into politics but as soon as a person with XX chromosomes joins the "wrong" party its pitchforks and torches time
one of my customer is anti mask and anti vax, she is also african / american.
So anyways, we get to talk about things, and end up talking masks. I ask her why she did not wear them, and she said she did not see the point. Then she asked me why i wore mine. lol….I said, its simple really, i am vaccinated and thus might become a carrier of the virus but stay a-symptomatic not even a sniffle, thus risking the spread of the virus unknowingly. So i told her, that is why you should wear a mask, to protect yourself from someone like me.
Today she came to the shop wearing a N95 mask. Good girl. Good girl.
That is one thing us vaccinated people really must understand that we might become unwitting carriers. So testing is essential, which is why i hope that saliva tests will become a standard household item. My partner goes to test once every week and is considering doing it twice. His territory that he looks after is large, very large. He could potentially infect the lower half of the north island in a busy day. And he is an essential worker. As for myself, the shop is not open to anyone, its no contact pickup and will be for a long time coming.
I like this customer, she is a lovely lady and due to her own particular trauma as an african american women she has her own reasons to worry about this particular vaccine. But i am happy to see her now in a Mask everytime she is outside, rather then only wearing a flimsy cloth masks when in her office and nothing when out and about.
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With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...
The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...
Exhausted by the general election campaign, horrified by the twilight zone of coalition negotiations, distracted by the silly season and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, Raw Politics has been in hibernation since October. From today, we’re back. Our weekly political video show and podcast returns for ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Authorities in the small town of Boulouparis have commemorated Armistice Day on May 8 with a new memorial honouring New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II. The ceremony took place in the township on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skylineAleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/ShutterstockRecent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...
Papua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
The New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...
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 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...
By Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...
Tara Ward previews a new local TV series offering alternative visions of motherhood. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. A woman is clambering up the side of her two-story house, clinging desperately to a drainpipe. Nearby, her child is perched on the ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is supportive of the cross-party approach to climate adaptation announced by the Minister of Climate Change today. ...
The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome today’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand. ...
The Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs, and Minister Brooke Van Velden, to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. ...
Its new building in Wellington will not be nearly big enough for all its records, and it has also run out of money to build its new storage facility in Levin. ...
BusinessNZ is congratulating the Minister of Climate Change for his work in achieving cross-party consensus for a way forward on climate adaptation. ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
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One of my favourites, mary.
Boss Tui breakfasts on sugar water at Gezza's Cafe
https://i.imgur.com/f6Gg5j5.gif
He lets me get so close, it feels like a real privilege.
Tui trolling the cat with that bowl 😈
🙊 Tee hee. I wondered if anyone would notice that. 🙂
Boss Tui is the one who attacked the pūkeko who was stealing his sugar water.
Wouldn’t be surprised if he dive-bombed any cat on my property. 👷🏼
Nice
Your Tui is one magnificent bird. You have quite an amazing menagerie of wildlife where you are Gezza. Thanks again for sharing.
"Trusted, impartial and independent? Or largely unaccountable and part of the Establishment? Sociologist Tom Mills considers the evidence on the enormously influential British Broadcasting Corporation or BBC."
A very interesting interview which goes a long way to explaining some of the very biased reporting from the BBC through some good old fashioned historical analysis…
https://kpfa.org/episode/against-the-grain-september-1-2021/
The BBC has soiled its reputation so many times–Iraq WMD, Tony Blair, Russia, China, Mid East, Wikileaks etc. etc. it is amazing anyone takes it seriously as an accurate news source.
The Beeb has an old school tory class based internal culture (with a fair share of pervs of various persuasions).
I watch some BBC dramas, nicely produced usually–for a change from Netflix–but they too can have a sting–like submarine based whodunnit “Vigil” which has an interesting subtext supporting US and British Imperialism!
Yep the BBC has got plenty of good points (like The Guardian) which is what makes them so dangerous (politically) I guess.
I remember my father telling me that the BBC did not report anti-nuclear testing activity by NZ against France in the Pacific….at a time the UK was hoping to join the EC and didn't want to offend the French (1970s)!
BBC corruption is nothing new.
I loathe the gangs. But I think this was probably a good thing to try. Will be interesting to see if it prompts any Auckland Mongrel Mob members to front up for Covid vaccinations.
predictable knee jerk reaction from National. The answer's already in the news article. As many incentives as possible should be tried to get vax rates up as high as possible.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-mongrel-mob-boss-granted-essential-worker-exemption-to-come-to-auckland/BJZJRLGN3GQHAXOCMD5EB7INTE/
During my recent, admittedly brief, interaction with the Mongrel Mob, or the 'Kingdom' as they refer to themselves as.
What struck me most forcefully about the Mongrel Mob, was their poverty.
They say power corrupts. Well so does poverty.
My respect to Sonny Fatupaito for attempting to lift his people out of their degradation.
I heard him give a talk about the rise of P in the Waikato, which he claimed to have been against. Resorting to vigilante justice against the dealers. For which he was jailed. He said that when he was in prison many of younger 'Kingdom' members became P dealers.
Sonny Fatupaito recounted, that one day when he wasn't expecting any visitors he was called from his cell because there were visitors who wanted to see him.
As he told it, the visitors were senior Waikato police officers who told him we may have made a mistake.
"They say power corrupts. Well so does poverty."
A question – are people in gangs because of poverty, or they in poverty because of the gangs?
Both? That said, one of the major reasons to join a gang is loss of hope in a prospect's future, and poverty plays a big part in that loss of hope.
True that.
That's two questions – yes to both, I reckon.
Wealth, power, inequality and poverty can all contribute to the breeding grounds for corruption and other antisocial behaviours, that's for sure.
There are exceptions, but it seems to me that most people with wealth and power don't really want society to change for the better, as they don't perceive that change to be in their own best interests, at least in the short-to-medium term. And who wants to think any further ahead these days?
If one aspires to extreme wealth then go for it – whatever floats your yacht. But it seems so pointless and short-sighted – an ‘own goal’ even.
Thanks Drowsy, a thoughtful response.
I think the ever so slight loosening of restrictions is in recognition that at about 50% people need encouragement and hope that things are on the move and that contacts would become more surreptitious anyway. This is no way a” giving up” otherwise even at 95% the whining arseholes would be saying the Government was giving up the elimination strategy.
“Open up and let it rip” has been a relentless campaign in the media channels, which broke cover perhaps when sirkey was wheeled out. Brian Tamaki to some extent did what Judith Collins would liked NZ National to have done!
The sheer ratio of whingers to those quietly getting on with lockdown and vaccination, showed the establishment campaign is a reality. Elements included privatising MIQ, ending restrictions on foreign students and migrant workers, opening up free in and outflow of capital, and generally business as usual. The bad news for this lot is some people will not resume eating out, shows, sports or cinema for a long time yet.
In the end the NZ petit bourgeois sector with their well stocked pantrys, will get what they think they want, but at what cost? Owner operators, SMEs and corporates who espouse the superiority of the market were quick to put their hands out for State assistance. The Govt. bent over to appease them with wage subsidies and even a second tier unemployment benefit!
A lot of people are going to pay for this bullying of the Govt.–including those with non COVID healthcare and social needs.
Hell pizza always seem to 'push the envelope' when it comes to advertising and marketing. This is a bold move.
How dare they! 'Greta Thunberg can go to Hell' – Kiwi company's message to environmentalist – NZ Herald
Yeah – I saw that yesterday. Had a smile on my dial as I idly wondered whether Greta would get to hear of it & know what it was really all about. 😎
For at least 20 years the CCP has deeply subsidised industries with incredibly damaging results across the rest of the democratic world, hurting workers and the middle classes.
As a small example – here in Australia the company I was working for found that it could buy steel skid frames (about 400kg of laser cut, drilled, fabricated and painted framework as equipment bases) delivered from China – cheaper than buying the raw steel locally. There was no way this was possible unless the Chinese govt was deeply subsidising their own industry. This story has been repeated millions of time across the developed world this past few decades and finally someone is saying enough.
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai lays out the Biden-Harris Administration's policy approach to US-China trade relations this speech. The language is measured as you might expect – the implications are wide ranging:
"The core of our strategy is to ensure that we work with our allies to create fair and open markets."
Her use of the word "allies" is instructive and unhelpful. Trade partners are not allies; they are simply entities who agree to rules to trade by. "Allies" conflates security with trade interests.
Trade Representative Tai didn't mention either CPTPP or RCEP. China is a member of RCEP. Neither China nor the United States are members of CPTPP. Instead she focuses on the World Trade Organisation, and doesn't acknowledge that the US went out of its way to kill it over 4 years.
Both CPTPP and RCEP have strong things to say about intellectual property protection, tariffs, market access by category, and bunches of other good stuff.
It would be a strong diplomatic signal for international trade and for multilateralism generally if the US and China jointly signed up to these (albeit imperfect) agreements.
https://www.nber.org/papers/w26877
Signatories to those agreements should call for the strengthening of multilateral trade law that this would achieve.
The key insight here is that Biden's experience under Obama in dealing with the PRC on trade issues clearly comes through. He's no longer interested in promises.
And her reference to ‘allies’ aligns with the idea that the US is now going to start defining it’s interests much more narrowly. AUKUS is probably a very good example of this – and of the more transactional nature of these alliances.
The US can neither afford, nor is all that interested in, providing a security umbrella more or less for free. And sooner or later NZ is going to find this out. Of course all the anti-US types here will delight in this prospect – but will remain silent on the alternative.
Trade agreements aren't generally tied to security agreements and nor should they be.
New Zealand's only useful contribution to Trade Representative Tai is to do what we have successfully done before, which is to build mechanisms that enable countries and companies to make good and fair money. We've done that very well over 20 years.
Once countries consistently conflate trade agreements with security agreements by selling huge new arms technologies to opponents, all they do is militarise trade. You yourself have pointed out many times that China has every economic reason not to go to war in any form.
US war materiel is over-priced. I’ve sometimes wondered if we can’t get F16s, what the Russians might have on offer. I believe they still build their hi-performance warplanes as solid & dependable as brick shithouses.
The F16 Lease Deal brokered by Bill Clinton & Jenny Shipley in the late 90’s, was a very good deal, as the 28 F16’s had very low hrs on the clock with highest of F16’s was about 7hrs. Funding had already been set aside by then National Government & the RNZAF of between $250m & $350m NZD for Kahu 2 which was the planned A4 upgrade, but the money was then transferred to up grading the F16’s once they had been bedded in 75SQN & 2SQN’s respectively.
My Uncle who was the FSGT & acting. WOE in the RNZAF Ohakea at Base SQN Avionics, was heavily involved with the Kahu 2 Project which became the F16 Project & the later when the F16 Project got canned the Macchic Project until the bloody Greens jump up & down demanding that 14SQN got disbanded as well.
The Russian Aircraft aka the Su27- 30’s & Mig 29’s were actually studied by the RNZAF, but were dropped for a number of reasons when talked to Malaysia AF who operate the Mig29, TNIAF operating the Su27’s, the Indian AF who doing some crazy stuff on their Su30’s and the both the Luftwaffe & Poles as well.
1, Was the very poor after sales service from Russia,
2, The time it took to translate the various manuals & training the Tech’s
3, the mean time between technical failures & engine overhauls was very very low compared to their contemporaries with Western built Aircraft.
4, the small numbers of Aircraft being used the RNZAF was another issue, the RNZAF would’nt been unable to tap in the NATO Stores System if it was operating alongside Oz, the Poms, Canada or other like minded nations.
👍🏼 Thanks for that Scud.
Very informative. I’d forgotten Clinton offered a sweet deal on the F-16s.
If NZ did decide to get back into the Fast Jet game ie Maritime Strike/ Interdiction
My pick would either be the Super Hornet similar to the RAAF ones, or failing that
The French Dassault Rafale B F3-R Two Seater
SAAB Gripen or this wee hot ship from
Sth Korea https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/KAI_T-50_Golden_Eagle.
Eventually the NZG will have to go down the UAV route at some stage if it wants to get the full use out of its for P8’s and whatever 2nd Tier Maritime Patrol Aircraft it choses under the 2018 DCP which both have to be Networked in with the Navy.
There are some major technical, including Security (both Active& Passive measures) issues to operating a UAV in NZ given the huge area that both the NZ Navy & RNZAF are likely to Patrol & operate in NZ before we even discuss the Moral & Ethical reasons to operate UAV’s.
I agree the US will probably only require NZ to continue to operate as the 'good citizen' it has in the past – but it doesn't take too much to imagine some other more subtle things they might ask of us.
And yes I agree that rationally Xi Xinping has no intention of going to war with the rest of the world – but if he continues his high stakes game of chicken over Taiwan, or elsewhere, events could easily run away from even his grasp.
Another day, another China bash.
PRC, as any country, has to deal with the global trade reality of blocs and agreements and “rules” organisations–which is in a bit of a mess when you tote them all up.
Various US producers were quick enough to move to China for cheaper production costs off the back of the Chinese working class, and still the free marketeers complain when China maximises its production strategies.
Essentially the US is complaining about a centrally planned economy, and it is rich indeed for the world centre of union busting (e.g. Amazon), and a poverty level federal minimum wage ($7.25 since 2009!) to criticise how workers are treated elsewhere.
I thought you'd love it.
and a poverty level federal minimum wage ($7.25 since 2009!) to criticise how workers are treated elsewhere.
Of course the actual story is more complex than this. And you might want to take a look at the data before painting the US as a poverty striken hell-hole. In reality it's a large diverse economy that defies simplistic characterisations.
Essentially the US is complaining about a centrally planned economy,
And yes – I gave an example above of precisely why this should be opposed. The Chinese workers who made those steel frames were not necessarily low paid – but that the companies involved in the supply chain could access unlimited state subsidies by various means to cover the fact that they were selling their product at a loss.
In essence this policy was a zero sum game that transferred jobs from one country to another – which is how China became the 'workshop of the world'. And then you wonder where the decent working class jobs in our part of the world went to.
As for the 'China bashing' – you may want to note the ethnicity of the person making the speech. Fail.
Also to note New Zealand is currently sending a frigate and an Orion to participate in Operation Bersama Gold 21, which is a big operation between the navies of Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, Malaysia and Singapore. Looks to be quite a big exercise.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300423965/hmnzs-te-kaha-joins-uk-carrier-strike-group-in-south-china-sea
It should actually read Ex Bersama Gold not Op Bersama Gold as there is no 2 Way Range. Ex Bersama Gold is the Annual 5 Power Defence Ex which has combined Ex Spearfish & Ex Vanguard together which were from memory 1-2 mth long Ex’s. The Yanks are not involved with 5 FPDA Ex, as it’s an all Commonwealth of Nations Affair & there has been talk of involving India over the last few yrs..
Cheers Scud on point with the military detail as ever. A bit more detail here.
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/news/nzdf-exercises-with-international-counterparts-in-south-east-asia/
If anyone wonders why Act is rising so fast and so high, well, it's got something to do with David Seymour’s speechwriter:
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2110/S00055/the-speech-ardern-should-have-given-yesterday.htm
Yup. That nails it.
Yeah, nail it to a coffin. That Act contribution is piffle – the virus doesn't comply with set dates.
Delta beat the lockdown policy and the vaccines. It's endemic and you need to face up to the reality that like say the common cold or flu – we're all going to catch it sooner or later.
This speech faces this truth square on – regardless of who was saying it.
Damn straight 💪🏼
Delta did not beat the lockdown. It was those who wanted 'Freedom' (from what?), the conspiracy theorists and God Squaders along with the screamers of 'I want to make a profit' and the "I want to come home' moaners that have compromised the lockdown.
We should all now be ready to hear from those who can't come back to NZ for funerals or whose surgery is endlessly postponed, to start kicking up a ruckus?
Simplistic nonsense – typical of the black and white mentality so prevalent among ACT supporters. I know this from personal and historical experience.
They are not able to see all the grey areas… or human intransigence together with a virus that is elusive and constantly changing direction.
God help us if they ever gain the treasury benches.
Elimination is not dead, it is merely a flesh wound!
On the money. Again. Never voted ACT, but it's getting tempting.
Long term Pfizer (BNT162b2) immunity is better against hospitalisation (figure B) in California against SARS-CoV-2 delta variant (now it's been around long enough to tell, at least for 16+ age groups) than infection (figure A). Which suggests that boosters may come more in the form of natural infections, than yearly vaccines.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02183-8/fulltext
And this one is just neat for showing how Delta took over other variants:
Thanks FN that's a great summary. Hope that it convinces vaccine hesitant friends on Facebook.
Forget now Most informative Thank You.
I still haven't got the knack of posting images though! The second graph displays fine on mobile, but half of July is cut-off on laptop. The buttons where gone when I tried to edit and strange tech gibberish in its place (which I didn't dare touch).
This is also an interesting read on the Lancet (endemic coronaviruses = common colds; SARS-CoV = SARS) :
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00219-6/fulltext
On the Gibberish. I got the same when I tried to edit a comment to Barfly. It did not put the smiley up.. just the word! You do great from a phone.
I called the cops yesterday to do a welfare check on a young women (natal women) who got 'man' handled in front of our shops. – I don't think i ever felt more like a true Karen ever. But what is one to do when that shit happens, and fwiw, it is escalating in our fair wee town.
I did get a call from an officer later that day – rehashing the events that let to my call, and i did precise that i called for a 'welfare' check, essentially for both of them, the young women and the young bloke, as both were obviously not able to resolve what was going on without violence. Also that the guy bought booze at opening time of the booze shop.
So here we are, we have lost 4 women to violence in the last month. And yet, i still feel stink about calling the police. And i truly hope, that the young women has someone in her life that will tell her that getting the bash is not a sign of how he loves you, but rather is a sign of how he believes he ownes her and she is his to do as he likes, as i hope that the young bloke (natal) has a person in his life that will help him overcome what ever led him to bash his girlfriend in front of our shops.
Good bold step there Sabine. Never been in that situation myself.
And yet, i still feel stink about calling the police.
Understood – but it was still the least worst choice in that moment.
I would have done the same and I did so earlier in the year as a male was explosive toward a female outside my home. More than one person reported it. I always shudder to think what goes on behind closed doors. Intervention is required and ongoing support. The shortage of affordable housing contributes to not having somewhere to be safe.
Sometimes calling the cops has to be done. That stuff needs to be addressed quickly and unequivocally. Good job.
Morgan Godfery in The Guardian
"Ardern’s perpetual struggle is transforming her care and compassion into public policy. Thus, the contradiction where she thrives in a crisis yet falters in its aftermath … the prime minister’s personal care and compassion do not always align with her public policy decisions."
But then – the young, brown, medically-compromised and disabled are not Ardern’s targeted voters.
A contrast of her gift of inspiring people when a political response aligns with her personal values, and her political work that is centrist at its core. She'll need her gift to regain that political capital she's just spent on changing tack, because Collins and Seymour don't even have to change their Covid policy to gain disenchanted who left National last election for the promises of Ardern – Labour has come to National/ACT (granted, ACT policy is a bit more blatant about everybody for themselves). They just have to convince people they can do Covid better and the opening is now there.
There are big questions for the Left that believes in social cohesion and equity.
The biggest danger is the buy-in of Nat/Act attitudes in Media and the business forum. The promotion of stories which point up every bump in the road, the wailing about MIQ, returnees and low rent supports and costs in general. Saying changing to the next step is a sign of failure, just generally white anting the elimination strategy. The stories about money for Gangs, Covid in the gangs. Certain Suburbs, so it goes.
It wasn't the entitled couple who flew south, it was not the Lawyer who went to the races over the border, it was not the entitled who spread covid, no no it was the poor.
Well wow!! What part of ghettoizing people is still not understood? If you live in large airy well ventilated warm housing with a full pantry reliable internet and respect from all health and other services… you live in a world of plenty with your expectations the Government will smooth any difficulties that you can't deal with then you conform to social norms generally, unless you are one of the spoiled entitled.!!
If you live in a crowded neighbourhood with older smaller homes without central kitchens food in the pantry money in the bank, poor transport, poor health with co-morbidities, and you are not trusted by a large section of the community because… you are poor, surly through past experiences, hungry, full of mis-information reinforced by facebook or in the certain religions/black economy/ gang communities , with bad experiences when you turn to "Social services", generally non-conforming to social norms.
How do we change that? Definitely NOT by austerity programmes. We have to practice inclusivity. If people opt out we separate them for special intensive assistance, as they have a social disorder.
We continue to increase education initiatives and investment, we increase health home visits and investment. We provide to mothers a suitable sum on the birth of a child to help with expenses universally. We listen to what communities want more actively and create a Welfare Ombudsperson.
We don't fall for PR letters and speeches written by vested interests… when did they work in the community? rather manipulating the view to a politically skewed window?
All of what you say is true.
However, we have a PM who said the most important part of our Covid-19 response was health and that they were following the science.
Now, we know have some of those same scientists worried, disappointed and hoping for a bit of good luck to see us through this.
"If you live in a crowded neighbourhood with older smaller homes without central kitchens food in the pantry money in the bank, poor transport, poor health with co-morbidities, and you are not trusted by a large section of the community because…"
These are the people who are likely to be most severely impacts by this approach that includes crossed fingers and hope.
Moreover, we have a new health system on the way – why oh why did the government not recognise the spirit of the new system and (visibly?) bring in Māori to share the decision-making at the highest level around this response?
Thanks Patricia, best thing I've seen written on the Standard in a long time, appreciated!
At least she is trying.. Boris???
Well not that it's news or an opinion or a discussion point but congratulations to me one year without alcohol today.
Well done! Time for a pseudonym change? 🙂
New handle suggestion: FreedomDay
Respect.
well done 😎
Barfly, your comment has really made me stop and consider. It’s not an “I reckon” or a political salvo, a sermon or a serve.
Rather, to me it is a true use of the word 'need'. Instead of reading someone opining "They need", I have read that someone said "I need" and acted upon that realisation. Thanks.
Well done!
Bloody Brilliant.!! We know the struggle you faced. Our son faces that as well. Well done Barfly. I know you have other health issues, but that is a huge win. Made my day.. Suggest new monica Flying Free
Congratulations, indeed. Well done!
I am now thee years – its great as it only gets better. Good on you.
Well done! You deserve a drink to celebrate a great achievement.
Jimmy that is not reflecting well.Thoughtless or cruel.
It was obviously sarcasm. I'll have a drink for him tonight.
onya
Good stuff,Freedom day.
Happy anniversary.
Congratulations for sure!
Have I missed anything?
Only this, at my Chemist's yesterday:
https://i.imgur.com/DN0gVoy.gif
I like your posts, best things on here
love how she stops on the other side of the car park and they all congregate towards her and wait.
That mallard hen knows where she's going, weka. Around the back of the buildings a little way further ahead of her there's a brook, one of several, that feeds, via a very large under-the-township culvert, straight into my stream.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/452419/judith-collins-sinks-below-david-seymour-as-preferred-pm
Well, you did ask 😇
Welcome back PR.
The media have never liked strong, powerful woman.
They always try to bring them down but I'm confident that, like the Phoenix, JC will rise from the ashes and attain her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.
Sorry about that freudian slip, I mean as the Prime Minister.
Chloe before Collins
is that Nat/JC's smiley icon?
Other options: 🤡 🃏
😀
Typical.
All this talk of female empowerment and getting more females (sorry is that the correct term or should I say person who chest feeds) into politics but as soon as a person with XX chromosomes joins the "wrong" party its pitchforks and torches time
Poor Jude
Part of Judith’s problem is that most of “The Girls” (who seem to make up most of the Press Gallery journo pack these daze) just don’t like her.
Thats true
She has asked for her Christmas present. "Lock down must be over by Christmas"…… Should have been "Vaccinated ready for Christmas"
Shes not wrong
Despite what the MSM tell us, it’s not just Brian Tamaki.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300423371/destiny-church-isnt-the-only-problem-what-about-the-white-megachurches
I dunno. The brethren get shit whenever they get caught dabbling in politics.
Maybe we have some megachurches running covid rallies that I've not noticed?
Not sure about rallies but certainly misinformation & discouraging vaccines & lockdowns from their pulpits. Webworm has put up a story
Surprise… the world did not end:
Small Business cope with minimum Wage increase
and, not surprisingly, employees are happier.
please fix username on next comment 🙂
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-mp-mark-mitchell-not-standing-for-auckland-mayoralty/2H376ZQG5AW3W5KYTMFK6YJTUM/
He must fancy his chances come coup time.
really.. the plots thicken!!
Not an unreasonable deduction there, imo.
Mitchell, as my late ma would say, has got tickets on himself. 😐
With his back story?
This name may be implying more of a sense of panic than Labour really wants to present for the planned event on the 16th of October!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Saturday
This reminds me of the debate we are having here right now..
😄
RBNZ moves to innoculate those with FOMA 21
https://www.reuters.com/article/newzealand-economy-rbnz/new-zealand-central-bank-hikes-interest-rate-to-0-50-idUSW9N2OR01A
Appeared to be 100% mask/distancing/recording compliance in the main street of Whanganui this AM.
Meanwhile….
https://twitter.com/Te_Taipo/status/1445531030002176001
one of my customer is anti mask and anti vax, she is also african / american.
So anyways, we get to talk about things, and end up talking masks. I ask her why she did not wear them, and she said she did not see the point. Then she asked me why i wore mine. lol….I said, its simple really, i am vaccinated and thus might become a carrier of the virus but stay a-symptomatic not even a sniffle, thus risking the spread of the virus unknowingly. So i told her, that is why you should wear a mask, to protect yourself from someone like me.
Today she came to the shop wearing a N95 mask. Good girl. Good girl.
Good for you Sabine
Good psychology too.
It is true though.
That is one thing us vaccinated people really must understand that we might become unwitting carriers. So testing is essential, which is why i hope that saliva tests will become a standard household item. My partner goes to test once every week and is considering doing it twice. His territory that he looks after is large, very large. He could potentially infect the lower half of the north island in a busy day. And he is an essential worker. As for myself, the shop is not open to anyone, its no contact pickup and will be for a long time coming.
I like this customer, she is a lovely lady and due to her own particular trauma as an african american women she has her own reasons to worry about this particular vaccine. But i am happy to see her now in a Mask everytime she is outside, rather then only wearing a flimsy cloth masks when in her office and nothing when out and about.
Did the most recent Roy Morgan get much MSM time?