Checkpoint understands National Party President Peter Goodfellow facilitated a "gentlemen's agreement" with a woman who complained about Mr Ross' bullying behaviour. The agreement required her to not speak publicly about Mr Ross' conduct.
I have lost a lot of respect for Amnesty International after this tweet that is disgusting on so many levels:
"Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas."
Firstly, Russia is shelling and firing missiles at civilian areas regardless of whether Ukrainian military are there. The primary reason that civilians are at risk is because of Russian actions, independent of the location of Ukrainian forces.
Whereas, Russia intentionally undertakes actions that put civilians at risk, such as placing its forces and equipment deep inside a nuclear power plant and other such positioning of forces to intentionally put civilians in danger. And other human rights violations such as forced conscription in occupied areas.
Finally, the most disgusting aspect of this tweet is that it gives the Russians moral authority to attack Ukrainian civilians even more, because Amnesty International says that the Ukrainians are placing their forces in those areas.
And in Finland, a member of the government of the Finnish chapter of Amnesty International is sharing literal Russian propaganda. https://t.co/tt8EtYIPFH
Board member of @amnestyfinland has made a thread accusing @amnesty of underreporting human rights abuses by the ukrainian armed forces etc. Recommends pro-russian disinfo site Grayzone as a source for this. pic.twitter.com/GI1x7jbsrY
Wow—@OPokalchuk, the head of @amnesty's Ukraine team, is resigning, after she said her office tried to stop Amnesty's report that accused Ukraine of placing civilians in harm’s way, due to its “one-sidedness.” But Amnesty gave a “firm no” and published. https://t.co/kmj9LOy1L3pic.twitter.com/JIzKrksyrW
I infortunately came across an image of the head of a murdered Ukrainian POW on a stake in Popasna, with his hands impaled on a fence railing behind him. Last week a Ukrainian soldier was castrated then shot by Chechen savages in Putin's employ.
Heads on spikes, ritual castrations, mass murder of POWs. It reads like a recitation of the atrocities of the SS, but it is happening now. This week, yesterday, tomorrow in Europe.
One struggles for an emotional response to this, except to observe that for savages like the Chechens and the Wagner group the only legitimate response is not to make excuses for Putin or blame NATO or talk about the temerity of the Ukrainian army and it's refusal to relocate from the cities they are defending to a nearby featureless plain for the convenience of Russian artillery but to grimly decide to go about the business of killing the bastards. And if you capture the perpetrators of the atrocities, take them round the back and show them more mercy they showed your mates by doing it quickly.
Just like our grand/great grand parents did to the last lot of fascist savages in Europe.
Amnesty in Ireland and the UK have turned their backs on women. The Amnesty head in Ireland said that Gender Critical people did not deserve political representation and in England the organisation supported "Trans Rights" activists picketing the FiLia international women's conference.
Balanced against all this, is all the good work that Amnesty has done around the world.
It makes me wonder what can be said about this.
Was the pressure of the Russian trolls too much?
Is Amnesty International trying too hard to make their position clear that they are neutral in war zones between the two sides. (The balanced argument approach).
Amnesty International has some questions to answer
I am no military expert, isn't the aggressor not the defenders, responsible for the deaths of civilians, if those civilians are being attacked?
What is Amnesty saying? That the Ukrainian Forces defending their country from Russian aggression should not place themselves in positions to defend civilian areas from Russian attack?
What does Amnesty think the Ukraine forces should do to protect civilians?
As the conflict in Ukraine has dragged on, Russia’s security service has been at the forefront of the country’s total war effort at home, with terrifying consequences for Russian citizens, write @AndreiSoldatov and @irinaborogan. https://t.co/E78r1EjUVH
This guy, Chris, describes conifers and their usefulness to native plant restoration and land use change, very well. Those who loathe Pinus radiate might learn from his post.
They don't loath Pinus Radiatus, they loath why and how Pinus Radiatus is planted and harvested.
Chances are they have never seen a decent mix forest in the first place, but they for sure see the scars of clear logging from the car whilst travelling and they may had their house flooded cause slash blocked a river and blablabla – that was my MiL a few years back.
when i speak to people about the need to re-green and plant the issue comes up and with it the general upset with the damage it does to the environement. I think the idea that one could use these trees in accordance with nature and the specifics here in NZ is yet to be properly advertised and explained. A bit like gorse, when i first came across this plant people thought it a toy of the devil, mind you it is quite a usefull plant used in the correct ways.
I'd love to have a go at changing your mind, solkta 🙂
I spent many hours sitting in contemplation of one of the oldest stands of conifer in the country; a mix of pines from around the world. By that stage, they were "elders" and emanated sagacity and poise like no trees I'd ever studied before. We cut them down before they get a chance to express their value, in my opinion 🙂
From time spent cutting pines down in various places understory depends on where the trees are , around tokoroa it was a jungle in 28 years, out on the coast down kapiti just plain needles , up in the Napier taupo needles and shrub scrub .
Contorta did seem to just blanket out all life given time though.
Of course pines can kill rural communities dead though . All for a bit of xhort term gain and feel good .
Depends somewhat on the proximity to stands of native forest. Those pine forests that didn't develop a strong native understory would have benefitted from seeds from elsewhere, applied by humans.
Yes some exotic conifers can help with restoration, and other exotics such as gorse can too but it still all depends on the particular biome and environment and on the species. For example some Pinus species are incredibly invasive in upland environments and destroy local plant and animal communities.
On Banks Peninsula for example, my own experience is that Pinus radiata is great when thinned out as it matures and allows mahoe etc. to establish but only in the gullies and lower areas. It is also great habitat for piwakawaka and other birds if it is not a dense monoculture of pine. Radiata however has and is wiping out the shrublands on the upper slopes where numerous small-leaved plants and climbers that insects and lizards depend on are the natural habitat.
Indigenous plants also create fantastic successional habitat and indeed the variation and differences between species are critical to healthy ecosystems as they respond to different environmental factors and disturbance over time. Pinus radiata shades out light loving species such as Manuka, kanuka, tumatakorou (matagouri).
Established forest via succession (basically taller more woody plants come to dominance over time) is not an end point and, in my opinion, nor should it be a goal for everywhere. Shrublands, tussocklands, alpine ecosystems and wetlands are all just as critical to a healthy living environment.
Finally, we also have our own conifers in New Zealand – the mighty ones such as Totara, Matai, Kahikatea, Rimu, Kawaka – they just need time.
In the old Kaingaroa there were a couple of compartments that were planted in the very early days (20's – 30's) and just left, with no silvicultural inputs to see what happened. The old NZFS did a lot of that in it's function as a research institute. In the late 70's I was tasked with surveying a road line through the corner of the compartment and we may as well have been across the valley in Te Urewera, the understory was so thick. At around 50 years old the pines were going through a phase of self thinning where the stronger trees were displacing weaker ones, dead and fallen pines all over the place and vigorous native understory coming away in the gaps. Took us several weeks to cut and survey 300m of line. Strangely I don't remember cutting any young pines, just native understory.
In another mature (30 yrs and about to harvest) compartment at Minganui that abutted the native, at the boundary between the pines and native the understory was very similar but the big trees were pines at regular spacings rather than mixed native at much wider random spacings.
Thanks for that insight, Graeme. The key is leaving the pines to mature. My hope is the pine plantations going in now will never be mass-harvested and most with live long and their native understory, prosper.
This also reminds me of a Country Calendar episode I saw many years ago about a couple who had an open forest style paddock (it was the site of the original farmhouse and had numerous large exotic trees planted a century ago). They ran dairy cattle in the paddock, they didn't need to irrigate or fertilise it and claimed a 20% increase in milk productivity. Sadly I can't find any reference online.
However I did also find this:
Ngāi Tahu and the government have joined forces on a new project to validate the science of regenerative farming.
The seven year research programme will compare side-by-side dairy farms to assess the environmental impacts of their practices.
One 286-hectare farm will use regenerative farming practices while the adjacent 330-hectare farm will use conventional methods.
Both farms will have a stocking rate of 3.2 cows per hectare.
The regenerative farm will use a more diverse pasture species, will have a longer rotation length and will use natural fertilisers over synthetic ones.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if that was done around East Cape. Worked on some of the early re-foresting of abandoned farms up there and it was obvious harvesting was going to be a marginal exercise when we were trying to put roads in to just plant the blocks, let alone get the logs out on them. I can remember a Forester at the time saying that leaving the blocks to revert to permanent native or hybrid was the best thing to do with them.
It depends on the pine species and on the local environment. Lodgepole pine is a very destructive pest in subalpine areas for example. Pinus radiata (Monterey pine) is not too bad in many lowland areas if it is allowed to stand and is not planted too densely so that lowland indigenous forest species can establish quickly. Not much lowland land would be allowed to have such pine forests though as it is prime land thanks to the millennia of tall lowland forest.
Around here, Central Otago and specifically Whakatipu, it's not so much the introduced pine but the specific species. Here the endemic forest cover would be Mountain Beech forest from valley floor to 1000m, with alpines and tussock above.
The wilding conifers, Douglas Fir, Larch and P. Contorta, will grow up to 2000m so we'll end up with something very different to what was natural.
There's a lot of work going on locally exploring the possibilities of re-establishing Mountain Beech to replace wildings with some very encouraging results. Interestingly there is evidence of a mycorrhizal relationship between Beech and Douglas Fir, and possibly other introduced conifers. Beech seem to do a lot better when the roots are in association with a Douglas Fir's roots. Some experiments going on to replicate this and explore other species of conifer. It's early days but idea of replacing the Douglas Firs above Queenstown and around Whakatipu with Mountain Beech may quickly become a thing.
Work in progress Robert. There's some very high risk Douglas Fir blocks that are being removed, like the Arrowtown Endowment block behind Millbrook which is going to be replaced. There's also trials with encouraging supercedure within Douglas Fir and other conifer species.
All very live science with a couple of PHDs underway. Unfortunately not a lot of funding but it's looking promising.
I hope you'll keeps posted, Graeme. Your mention of the fungal interdependence interested me the most. I think we know too little about this. One aspect of the fungal nets is their capacity for sequestering carbon. We haven't yet factored that in. Presently, we value connectivity poorly and allow our systems, livestock farming in particular, to dice up our landscapes into disconnected units. This is far more damaging than we perceive presently, I believe.
I observed up here in Auckland some trees are promiscuous hosts of mycorrhizae. If you want to hasten succession identifying those species in each biome would prove valuable.
Personally I dont think monoculture forest should count towards carbon credits. I'd like to see far more mixed forest planted co training both native and exotics with a view to providing nectar sources.
Here in Auckland Prunus campanulata is in full bloom (recently banned here) every tree in my street is packed with Tuis except the few that have a resident that's puffed up and really doesn't want to share.
It's an invaluable source of nectar in a time of scarcity we need to be far smarter with our approach to reforestation.
But it's more complicated than that, they can enhance our biodiversity given they provide abundant nectar to our native birds thus supporting a population recovery.
Give me a deciduous Prunus forest over Pine any day of the week.
They do not enhance our biodiversity. What bullshit. What will Tui eat the rest of the year when we only have this shit because they have crowded everything else out?
These attractive birds can often be heard singing their beautiful melodies before they are spotted. You will recognise them by their distinctive white tuft under their throat.
They are important pollinators of many native trees and will fly large distances, especially during winter for their favourite foods. They feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants such as kōwhai, puriri, rewarewa, kahikatea, pohutukawa, rātā and flax.
I've not seen any dense Prunus forest in NZ even remotely like Gorse or wind blown Pine… the fact that its deciduous kinda prevents that… I'd be more worried about Kiwifruit now that's a real problem…
Taiwan cherry invades all types of shrublands, light gaps in the forest, roadsides, gardens and reserves. It has the potential to spread and dominate over native vegetation, displacing it completely and negatively impacting on entire naturally occurring ecosystems.
Love the trees or hate them, the tui have no qualms at all. The nectar is manna from heaven to them. And therein lies the problem. I was contacted recently by someone who is crusading against the sale and planting of campanulata cherries and I was only relatively sympathetic because I think we are in danger of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
The problem is the seeding habits of some campanulatas. Many set prodigious amounts of seed which is then spread far and wide by our bird population. There is an alarmingly high rate of germination. The seedlings grow rapidly and after the second season, plants are too big to hand pull out. If you cut them off, they grow again. So bad is the problem that they have been banned in Northland and this correspondent would like to see them banned everywhere.
“There are loads of better trees for Tui such as Kowhai, Rewarewa that can be available at the same time” he claimed. I don’t want to be picky with someone who genuinely cares for the environment, but on a property packed with food for the birds, I have never seen a plant as attractive to tui as the campanulata cherries. Besides, in late winter, neither kowhai nor rewarewa are in flower yet.
I mentioned babies and bathwater because the problem is seeding. There are sterile forms of campanulata and both gardeners and tui alike may rue the day if ALL campanulatas get banned, even the named forms that never set seed. This is a problem we gardeners have brought upon ourselves. The record of garden escapes into the wild is not a proud one and too many gardeners don’t take responsibility for their weeds."
Mostly in agreement with that although whilst abundant I dont see a situation where Prunus will prevent the establishment of or overtake our very hardy natives (which can outlast gorse.) They're more a useful addition at least for our birds and those of us that enjoy the winter blossom… Not to different to Karaka really just many generations later…
Woolly nightshade can look after itself – doesn't need our help.
The primary plant-agent-of-destruction of native forests here in NZ has been the pasture grasses; it's everywhere and our forests have fallen at their approach.
Steve Ubl, who leads the nation’s top industry group for drugmakers, is offering a final salvo to Congress as Democratic lawmakers inch closer to passing their sweeping reconciliation package that includes drug pricing measures — and threatening swift retaliation if they don’t listen, he told POLITICO.
Ubl’s group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, and its 31 board members sent a letter to every member of Congress on Thursday afternoon, urging them to vote against the package
We know it’s not ideal, it’s not New Zealand salmon yet, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
According to the Tribe, this event is one step in the journey that was launched in 2010, when Winnemem tribal members went to Aotearoa in New Zealand to sing and dance for their salmon relatives that have been waiting for 100 years to return to their home waters.
“PRC military exercises after Pelosi’s visit are akin to silverback male gorillas who run around thrashing branches and beating their chests when annoyed, disturbed or seeking to show dominance. They are certainly dangerous and not to be ignored, but their aggression is about signaling/posturing, not imminent attack. In other words, the behaviour is a demonstration of physical capabilities and general disposition rather than real immediate intent. If and when the PRC assault on Taiwan comes, it will not be telegraphed.”
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness
― John Kenneth Galbraith
"To young people who don’t want to work: You might have a free ride under Labour, but under National, it ends,” Luxon said.
Well surprise surprise the national Party promises consequences and sanctions (did they forget to say 'crackdown'?) on beneficiaries. SSDD they really are the supreme arseholes of New Zealand.
PR I remember well the JK years – when approaching elections the National would go big on beneficiary crackdowns – promises of sanctions and punishments and new hoops to jump through for those least able to fare well in our society. The National Party did this for electoral advantage as many of their fans really enjoy the underclass being punished Luxon is busy now wooing these people by throwing them lots of 'raw meat'. We have recently seen some people claim that the Labour Government has caused division with the vaccine mandates – yet there is fuck all said about Nationals promotion of of ill will to beneficiaries. Same Shit Different Day.
It's the national party ,it'll be all whip , smashing down on what they see as weak people who just need to get it together and become high achieveing self made winners like them . !!!
Help? That'd be great – if the promise meant anything …
When I became unemployed about a decade ago I went to WINZ and asked for help. Sure, I got some financial support, and I was glad of that, but I was very down and really wanted the kind of one-on-one counselling that Luxon mentions today in his speech:
“Young jobseekers will get more support, with a proper assessment of their barriers, and an individual job plan to address those barriers, and find a job.
(instead of currently …)
You don't have to have a case manager, though you can call an 0800 number if you want one. That is far too casual.”
So why didn't I have a case manager? Why wasn't somebody dedicated to my personal support?
Simple. Cost. Yes, Luxon is proposing an expensive investment in people, call them coaches, counsellors, case workers, whatever.
I'd be all for that, but it will come with a hefty price tag, and only a fool would believe National wants to fund it.
Last year it was race relations and it proved a big hit — this year it is beneficiaries.
National leader Don Brash returned to the Orewa Rotary Club north of Auckland — the scene of last year's triumphant "one law for all" speech — with welfare firmly in his sights.
Comparing himself to the first Labour prime minister Michael Joseph Savage, who he called a fiscal and moral conservative, Dr Brash said they both saw welfare as a temporary measure.
Yea just more nat party dogwhistlin’ from the playbook ! Note Brash…ex Reserve Bank, Ex Nat Leader, still Act ?…..but anyway…Comparing himself to Michael J Savage ? asshole. !
What's the number of people that he is targeting? How many are already using case managers? The use of a payment for a years's good work after a year on a benefit is on the face of it a reasonable idea. As PR says at 10.1.1 the devil is in the detail- of which little was provided by Luxon.
There should be very few young people on job seeker benefit for over a year as I've said on here before (although all the three amigos (moderators) disagree with me). Shops, factories, companies, restaurants all around NZ are crying out for staff and offering wages well in excess of job seeker benefit. But too many NZ'ers would rather stay on the benefit. Time for these young people to contribute to society rather than be a burden on it.
… (although all the three amigos (moderators) disagree with me).
You obviously refuse to inform yourself of the facts and rather act like an unthinking parrot flapping your little wings when you think you hear the sounds of bennie bashing. If you had at least some kind of opinion with a decent argument we could debate you, but as it stands our efforts would be wasted like pouring rum into an alcoholic’s mouth.
Looking at MSD's fact sheets young people are the smallest group on benefit at 15.3% down from 16.3% a year ago. In fact they have had the biggest drop in the last twelve months. That suggests young people are going to work faster than all other groups. Those lazy 55-64 year olds have gone up the most. Sanction them. Fucking retiring early bastards. Hit them before they turn into the most hardworking, honest, never been off work a day in my life deserving people at 65.
I don't have excel so can't look at the detailed data but it seems Luxon is dog whistling at the wrong group of people.
The key detail is that National wants to contract out management of these (under 25) cases, not MSD staff.
MSD uses work brokers to interface (matching skills) between business and those on the JS Benefit.
The pertinent issue is why these "youth" are not being connected to training for work providers – one reason might be staffing issues in them and MSD due to COVID and general labour issues slowing down delivery of services.
Just like Paula Bennet gave millions of dollars in funding to her religious mates to run parenting courses (still waiting for an evaluation of their effectiveness), the churches are busy making money helping the homeless now they will be "helping" our young people.
Bring back orphanages and homes for unmarried mothers I say. Poorhouses for the sanctioned ones.
GOP candidate for Minnesota secretary of state questions whether non-English speakers and people with disabilities should be allowed to votehttps://t.co/Qtm5GZ1G7Q
I'm sorry if this has already been covered (I've been mostly offline over the past few days, with work and family)
But I thought this was a really interesting result – a hefty and increasing percentage of Kiwis think that if you have to shift because of climate change (rising sea levels, etc.) 'society' (govt or local govt) should not have to pay the whole of the cost, and that the home-owner should have to pay a significant percentage.
The really key question of 'who pays' not answered in the National Adaptation plan, just released.
Caveat. The research was commissioned by an insurer – so caveat emptor.
Have to say, in Auckland, at least, the communities most 'threatened' by climate change, sea level rise and/or extreme weather – are the wealthy ones. I don't see why a landowner on Takapuna Beach should have the 'value' of a beachfront house for 20+ years, then have the taxpayer/ratepayer pay the bill for them to relocate once the rising tide is lapping at their front doorstep.
This seems to be a shift from the public attitude around the 'red zone' relocations in Christchurch. Where the public attitude was that this was an entirely unforeseen issue (no one predicted earthquakes and/or liquefaction prior to 2010), and residents could hardly be blamed for not planning ahead.
Whereas the rise in climate risks is entirely predictable, and you can take sensible precautions (sell your beach-front lifestyle while you still can; re-build houses to be transportable; invest some of your millions in other residential sections, to manage your own retreat, etc.)
For some years Councils have been aware of sea level rises, storm surge extents, flood plain capacities etc. This information is on LIM reports and on Council GIS systems. In a previous incarnation I was a Land Use Planner and I regularly had to contend with restrictions on site developments because of these factors. They ranged from a site subject to a 1.5m high storm surge where the lower level of the dwelling was not able to be habitable – restricted to storage, garage, laundry etc, and all electrical works had to be above the 1.5m height – to sites where any further development or subdivision required safe egress (basically – a bridge) to be constructed from the dwelling to the driveway – or where no further development was possible because of the nature of the flood danger. There will be an ever increasing number of these areas,
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Beyond Fixing? The critical question confronting New Zealanders is whether we any longer have the resources to repair our physical and human infrastructure?WHO WILL MAKE the New Zealand of the next 50 years? We had better hope that, whoever they are, they make a better job of it than those ...
Today’s speech by Jacinda Ardern to the China Business Summit in Auckland was full of soothing words for Beijing. The headline-grabber was Ardern’s comment that ‘a few plans are afoot’ for New Zealand ministers to return to China – and that the Prime Minister herself hopes to return to the ...
Rule-Breaker? It is easy to see why poor James Shaw found himself brutally deposed as the Greens’ co-leader. By seeking the responsibilities of leadership – and exercising them – he violated the first rule of Green Party governance. Then, by accepting the limitations of the Green Party’s electoral mandate (7.8 ...
After the incredibly sad story about the deaths of over 50 Ukrainian POWs in a Ukrainian missile attack on the prison they were housed in (see Over 50 POWs killed. A military accident or a cynical war crime?)I came across the heartwarming story about another Ukrainian POW. It’s about a ...
British mercenary Aiden Aslin, now a prisoner in the Donetsk People’s Republic, expressed real concern that he may die from the Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk. He has experienced many missile attacks that came close to the prison.Is he still alive? Understandably, we are always shocked about the losses ...
Politics is largely reported as theatre: tragedy and comedy, thriller and farce. Andrea Vance captures it all very successfully in Blue Blood. But it is the politics of personality, not of policy – of the impact of government on the people’s wellbeing. Even so, we can see from the book ...
This year the government finally got its clean car feebate scheme into place. But there's a problem: it's been too successful: Transport Minister Michael Wood will shortly review the cost of the fees and rebates in the Government's "feebate" scheme after the runaway success of the policy has meant ...
Given how the pandemic has disrupted the sporting calendar, no-one would begrudge our elite athletes their chance to compete at international level. What with the war in Ukraine and the cost of living, there are also not many ‘good news” stories out there. So… I suppose the strenuous efforts the ...
Everybody Having A Say: Democracy commands us to look outward; it demands our trust; it tells us what is expected of our humanity; it elevates the collective above the self; it celebrates the things we have in common; it defines our morals and values; it calculates what we owe one ...
Even right-wing commentators have, over recent days, and jusrifiably enough, been taking the National leader, Christopher Luxon, to task. They have lambasted him over his soft-shoe shuffle over abortion, for bad-mouthing New Zealand business while he was overseas, and for pretending to be in Te Puke while he was actually ...
So, now we know for sure. The “protesters” who defiled the grounds of parliament and who (according to their own account) intended to create in three of our major cities “maximum disruption and inconvenience” to other citizens, are not interested in democracy – indeed, quite the contrary. Their objective, quite ...
The issue with Christopher Luxon’s social media post talking about his day in Te Puke when he was in Hawaii is it’s fake news. He has since apologised for the mistake. But this doesn’t negate its impact. This mistake, misstep, gaffe or whatever you like to call it, is about ...
Over the last couple of years there has been a disturbing trend of new legislation containing secrecy clauses, which effectively make it illegal for affected government bodies to disclose information under the Official Information Act. Some of these are re-enacting old legislation from the pre- or early-OIA era (in which ...
Allegations of political corruption are once again at the heart of a new High Court trial this week. The trial follows straight on from the “not guilty” verdict for those running the New Zealand First Foundation. And this latest trial is once again about whether wealthy businesspeople and political parties ...
Ukrainian operation to steal Russian military aircraft exposed [English edit] Representatives of the Ukrainian special services offered up to $2 million for hijacking Russian military aircraft, as well as European passports for the pilots and their families. In order to gain trust, Ukrainians shared information they were not allowed ...
Struck Down: As James Shaw saved the pure Greens from themselves in 2017, they resented him. As he secured the Climate Change portfolio for his party, they suspected him. As he achieved cross-party support for crucial climate change legislation, they condemned him. And, as he was white, and male, and ...
If nothing else, some of the media treatment of the Luxon lu’au has reeked of a double standard. If Jacinda Ardern – or any of her Cabinet Ministers – had been holidaying in Hawaii while their social media imagery was depicting them working hard on the public’s behalf in Te ...
The Emissions Trading Scheme is broken. Stuffed with free allocations and rigged with a "cost containment reserve" which floods the market any time prices get "too high" (for a definition of "too high" set in a different world), its basicly served as a machanism to subsidise the production of the ...
Think Big: A democratic-socialist government could remove GST from basic food items. It could re-nationalise and centralise the generation and distribution of electric power, and then retail it to citizens at an affordable price. A democratic-socialist government could nationalise the public transportation system and make it free for everyone. A democratic-socialist government ...
Pure Poison: It is when the fetid atmosphere created by the Right’s toxic accusations and denunciations is at its thickest, that comparisons with the Woke Left spring most easily to mind. If the level of emotion on display, and the strength of the invective used, is inversely related to the ...
New Zealand companies are using their oligopolistic market power to gouge mega profits, driving up inflation. Overseas, such actions have resulted in windfall taxes, which have been used both to drive down inflation, and ameliorate its impacts (while driving down emissions). With New Zealand petrol companies pocketing record margins and ...
Poll Axed: What happened to James Shaw on Saturday, 23 July 2022 exposed the Greens’ minoritarian political culture for all to see. Once voters grasp the enormity of 30 percent of Green delegates to the Green AGM being constitutionally empowered to overrule the wishes of the 70 percent of delegates ...
Now, that was strange. That was very strange. Having dropped an initial July teaser for The Rings of Power, Amazon put out a full two-minute trailer in the middle of the month. That one, I liked. Now, however, we have an additional three-minute trailer, released a couple of days ...
I have prepared the following (draft) submission on the Electoral (Māori Electoral Option) Legislation Bill, which you all have until Saturday to submit on. Happy to consider comments, or to fix typos: have I used the word whakapapa incorrectly, etc? Please let me know :-)======The Justice CommitteeElectoral (Māori Electoral Option) ...
The big news over the weekend was that Green party delegates at their AGM voted to re-open nominations for James Shaw's co-leadership position, effectively toppling him as co-leader. I'm not a member of the Greens, so its not really my place to have an opinion on who should lead them ...
James Shaw has lost his co-leadership position in the Green Party, and there’s a good chance he won’t be able to get it back. And he shouldn’t – it won’t be good for either him or his party. When delegates at the Green Party AGM voted on his position as ...
Climate change has gone from being one of those allegedly wacky Green ideas to wide mainstream acceptance. In their own ways, leaders like Jeanette Fitzsimons, Russel Norman and James Shaw each added to the increased credibility the Greens’ now have among the voting public. The decision not to re-endorse Shaw ...
So, now we know for sure. The “protesters” who defiled the grounds of parliament and who (according to their own account) intended to create in three of our major cities “maximum disruption and inconvenience” to other citizens, are not interested in democracy – indeed, quite the contrary. Their objective, quite ...
Don Franks was interviewed by Dr Toby Boraman in December 2013 about his time working in the militant Ford car plant in the 1970s. This is the fifth and final installment of that interview. The first installment is here, the second installment here, the third here and fourth installment here. (The interview has ...
Politics in New Zealand isn’t in a very good place at the moment. Not only do we have the opposition once again undermining our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, right when the number of cases are exploding, we also have former MPs thumbing their noses at the law and claiming ...
Imagine being a Green Party activist at the moment. You joined the party because climate change is an existential threat and truly radical change needs to be undertaken immediately. You’re deeply upset by inequality. You think that conventional politicians are part of the problem. However, you begin to realise that ...
Chris Trotter has put out a piece, lamenting the myopic focus of modern student activism on, well, students, and the tendency of university-educated policy-makers to take care of their own: https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/07/poverty-is-indivisible-ms-swarbrick.html I think he raises some fair points, at least in the sense that assisting New Zealand’s university ...
Are We Keeping Up With the Changing Global Trade Patterns?Much of the response to the recent New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement was disheartening, especially the complaints about the limited gains for our meat and dairy products. Yes, the gains were small, but significant in the circumstances.About a decade ago ...
Well, it has happened. Forty degrees Celsius. It was bound to happen eventually, given the lack of determined action to halt our rising temperatures worldwide. Those who insisted such a temperature was impossible here in the UK have been left with egg on their faces. It was not a case ...
Today’s January 6 committee hearings from Washington DC captured a series of remarkable, damning moments that make it clear Donald Trump is not fit for any role in public office, let alone the highest in the land. A series of moments, but one above all that leaves us in no ...
The Green Party is once again calling on the Government to announce its support for a moratorium on deep sea mining, and to support a member’s bill going to select committee. ...
The Government must take steps to ensure that the way we build our homes is helping to meet New Zealand’s climate change targets, the Green Party said. ...
The Government’s employment initiatives led by the Ministry of Social Development must guarantee liveable incomes and fair working conditions, the Green Party says. ...
New Zealanders deserve a health system that works for everyone, no matter who you are or where you live. Our Government has a plan to make this a reality, and we’re taking the next steps. We now have thousands more health professionals, such as doctors and nurses, working in New ...
During her time as Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has navigated New Zealand through unprecedented times. Through it all, she’s become known as someone who leads with kindness, compassion and strength, while keeping the wellbeing of Kiwis at the heart of her approach. To celebrate five years of Jacinda leading the ...
Since taking office in 2017, our Government has worked hard to lift wages and make life more affordable for New Zealanders, as we move forward with our plan to grow a secure economy for all. ...
The Government must use the opportunity of the Electoral Amendment Bill in Parliament to close the loophole in the political donations regime, the Green Party says. ...
Thanks to political pressure from the Green Party and the more than 900 personal stories of birth injury and trauma delivered to Minister Sepuloni, more injuries have been added to the ACC birth injuries bill. ...
Supporting New Zealanders is at the heart of our approach as a Government, and we’re working hard to tackle the big issues Kiwis are facing. While long term challenges like child poverty won’t be solved overnight, we’re putting in place policies that make a real difference for New Zealanders. Here ...
Delegates at the AGM of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have voted to retain Marama Davidson as Green Party co-leader and to re-open nominations for the other co-leader position. ...
Every New Zealander deserves a healthy, affordable place to call home. We have a comprehensive plan to make it happen, and we’re making good progress. Here's the latest on how we're supporting Kiwis into homes: ...
The Government is allowing wealthy individuals to ‘purchase’ residency while entrenching a system that keeps low-waged workers on a precarious and temporary status, the Green Party says. ...
The Election Access Fund established by a Green Party members’ bill opened for submissions this week, showing positive progress towards more accessible elections. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to pass legislation to increase pay transparency, saying it is an urgent step that needs to be taken in response to shocking new evidence that most of the pay gap for Pacific, Māori, and other ethnic minorities cannot be explained. ...
The Foreign Minister has wrapped up a series of meetings with Indo-Pacific partners in Cambodia which reinforced the need for the region to work collectively to deal with security and economic challenges. Nanaia Mahuta travelled to Phnom Penh for a bilateral meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Aotearoa New Zealand, ...
Extension of Aotearoa Touring Programme supporting domestic musicians The Programme has supported more than 1,700 shows and over 250 artists New Zealand Music Commission estimates that around 200,000 Kiwis have been able to attend shows as a result of the programme The Government is hitting a high note, with ...
Minister of Defence Peeni Henare will depart tomorrow for Solomon Islands to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. While in Solomon Islands, Minister Henare will also meet with Solomon Islands Minister of National Security, Correctional Services and Police Anthony Veke to continue cooperation on security ...
The Government is partnering with Ngāi Tahu Farming Limited and Ngāi Tūāhuriri on a whole-farm scale study in North Canterbury to validate the science of regenerative farming, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The programme aims to scientifically evaluate the financial, social and environmental differences between regenerative and conventional practices. ...
52.5% of people on public boards are women Greatest ever percentage of women Improved collection of ethnicity data “Women’s representation on public sector boards and committees is now 52.5 percent, the highest ever level. The facts prove that diverse boards bring a wider range of knowledge, expertise and skill. ...
I am honoured to support the 2022 Women in Governance Awards, celebrating governance leaders, directors, change-makers, and rising stars in the community, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. For the second consecutive year, MPP is proudly sponsoring the Pacific Governance Leader category, recognising Pacific women in governance and presented to ...
Today Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash turned the sod for the new Whakatāne Commercial Boat Harbour, cut the ribbon for the revitalised Whakatāne Wharf, and inspected work underway to develop the old Whakatāne Army Hall into a visitor centre, all of which are part of the $36.8 million ...
New Zealanders are not getting a fair deal on some key residential building supplies and while the Government has already driven improvements in the sector, a Commerce Commission review finds that changes are needed to make it more competitive. “New Zealand is facing the same global cost of living and ...
Mana in Mahi reaches a milestone surpassing 5,000 participants 75 per cent of participants who had been on a benefit for two or more years haven’t gone back onto a benefit 89 per cent who have a training pathway are working towards a qualification at NZQA level 3 or ...
The Government has invested $7.7 million in a research innovation hub which was officially opened today by Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Dr Ayesha Verrall. The new facility named Te Pā Harakeke Flexible Labs comprises 560 square metres of new laboratory space for research staff and is based at ...
Unemployment has remained near record lows thanks to the Government’s economic plan to support households and businesses through the challenging global environment, resulting in more people in work and wages rising. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in the June quarter, with 96,000 people classed out ...
Action to address the risks identified in the 2020 climate change risk assessment, protecting lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses and infrastructure A joined up approach that will support community-based adaptation with national policies and legislation Providing all New Zealanders with information about local climate risks via a new online data ...
Māori with mental health and addiction challenges have easier access to care thanks to twenty-nine Kaupapa Māori primary mental health and addiction services across Aotearoa, Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare says. “Labour is the first government to take mental health seriously for all New Zealanders. We know that Māori ...
A Bill which updates New Zealand’s statistics legislation for the 21st century has passed its third and final reading today, Minister of Statistics David Clark said. The Data and Statistics Act replaces the Statistics Act, which has been in effect since 1975. “In the last few decades, national data and ...
The Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament today, marking a significant milestone to improve the lives of disabled people. “The Bill aims to address accessibility barriers that prevent disabled people, tāngata whaikaha and their whānau, and others with accessibility needs from living independently,” said ...
Kia ora koutou, da jia hao It’s great to be back at this year’s China Business Summit. I would first like to acknowledge Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister Helen Clark, His Excellency Ambassador Wang Xiaolong, and parliamentary colleagues both current and former the Right Honourable Winston Peters, the ...
Narrowing the expenses considered by lenders Relaxing the assumptions that lenders were required to make about credit cards and buy-now pay-later schemes. Helping make debt refinancing or debt consolidation more accessible if appropriate for borrowers The Government is clarifying the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance (CCCFA) Regulations, to ensure ...
The Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill will be passed through all remaining stages by the end of next week, Police Minister Chris Hipkins said. The Justice Select Committee has received public feedback and finalised its report more quickly than planned. It reported back to the House on Friday. “The Bill will ...
The Government has stepped up activity to protect kauri, with a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) coming into effect today, Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor and Associate Environment Minister James Shaw said. “We have a duty to ensure this magnificent species endures for future generations and also for the health of ...
Prime Minister Ardern met with members of Samoa’s Cabinet in Apia, today, announcing the launch of a new climate change partnership and confirming support for the rebuild of the capital’s main market, on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for the Indo-Pacific region today for talks on security and economic issues at meetings of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, and during bilateral engagements in Malaysia. “Engaging in person with our regional partners is a key part of our reconnecting strategy as ...
United Nations Headquarters, New York City Thank you, Mr President. Ngā mihi ki a koutou. I extend my warm congratulations to you and assure you of the full cooperation of the New Zealand delegation. I will get right to it. In spite of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the nuclear ...
A major milestone of 10,037 additional public homes has been achieved since Labour came into office, the Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods confirmed today. “It’s extremely satisfying and a testament to our commitment to providing a safety net for people who need public housing, that we have delivered these warm, ...
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced further sanctions on the armed forces and military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation. “President Putin and the Russian military are responsible for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is a grave breach of fundamental international law,” Nanaia Mahuta ...
Easing the process for overseas nurses and provision of up to $10,000 in financial support for international nurses for NZ registration costs. Provide for the costs of reregistration for New Zealand nurses who want to return to work. Covering international doctors’ salaries during their six-week clinical induction courses and ...
A new future between Pacific Aotearoa and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is the essence of a Dawn Raids Apology anniversary event in Auckland this month, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. One year ago, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern formally apologised to Pacific communities impacted by the Dawn Raids in ...
Tēnā koutou katoa Tuia ngā waka, Tuia ngā wawata, Tuia ngā hou-kura Let us bind our connection, let us bind our vision, let us bind our shared aspiration for peace and prosperity. This year marks a significant milestone in the New Zealand – China relationship. Fifty years ago – 1972 – ...
It’s Cook Islands Language week and the Minister of Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio wants the community to focus on what it means to keep the language alive across the generations. “Our Cook Islands community in Aotearoa have decided to focus on the same theme as last years; ‘ Ātuitui’ia ...
From 1 August an estimated 2.1 million New Zealanders will be eligible to receive the first targeted Cost of Living Payment as part of the Government’s plan to help soften the impact of rising global inflationary pressures affecting New Zealanders, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. The payments will see eligible ...
· New Zealand’s international border opens to all visitors, including from non-visa waiver countries, and international students from 11:59PM, 31 July 2022. · Cruise ships and recreational yachts able to arrive at New Zealand ports. This evening marks the final step in the Government’s reconnecting plan, with visitors from non-visa ...
New Action Plan to eliminate HIV transmission released for consultation today $18 million Budget 2022 boost Key measures to achieve elimination include increasing prevention and testing, improving access to care and treatment and addressing stigma The Government has today released its plan to eliminate the transmission of HIV in ...
A report released today shows Government support has lifted incomes for Beneficiaries by 40 percent over and above inflation since 2018. “This is the first time this data set has been collected, and it clearly shows Government action is having an impact,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “This Government made a commitment ...
Thirty new warm, safe and affordable apartments to be delivered by Tauhara North No 2 Trust in Tāmaki Makaurau Delivered through Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme, jointly delivered by Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Allocation of the apartments will be prioritised to support ...
Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Twyford will lead Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations in New York next week. “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons,” Phil Twyford said. “The NPT has ...
I am delighted to join you today for the launch of the Construction Sector Accord Transformation Plan 2022-2025. I would like to acknowledge my colleagues – the other Accord Ministers, the Accord governance and sector leadership, the CEOs of Government agencies, and leaders from the construction sector. The construction ...
Associate Minister of Transport Kieran McAnulty was joined this morning by the Mayors of Carterton and Masterton, local Iwi and members of the Wairarapa community to turn the first sod on a package of crucial safety improvements for State Highway 2 in Wairarapa. “The work to improve safety on this ...
The board to take the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) forward has been announced by Minister of Conservation Poto Williams today. “The Milford Opportunities Project is a once in a generation chance to reshape the gateway to Milford Sound Piopiotahi and redesign our transport infrastructure to benefit locals, visitors, and our ...
A new three year plan to transform the construction industry into a high-performing sector with increased productivity, diversity and innovation has been unveiled by the Minister for Building and Construction Dr Megan Woods and Accord Steering group this morning. As lead minister for the Construction Sector Accord, Dr Woods told ...
For the first time counsellors will be able to become accredited to work in publicly funded clinical roles to support the mental wellbeing of New Zealanders. The Government and the board of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) have developed a new opt-in accreditation pathway so NZCA members can ...
Kua waitohua he Whakaaetanga Whakataunga i waenga i a Ngāti Tara Tokanui me te Karauna, te kī a te Minita mō ngā Take Tiriti o Waitangi, a Andrew Little. Ko Ngāti Tara Tokanui tētahi o ngā iwi 12 o Hauraki, ko te pokapū o tōna rohe whai pānga ko Paeroa, ...
Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says there's no evidence National's welfare plan will work, while the Greens say it shows a "depressingly familiar side of the National Party". ...
Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says there's no evidence National's welfare plan will work, while the Greens say it shows a "depressingly familiar side of the National Party". ...
The Greens are the only party with a comprehensive plan to support people on low incomes so everyone in and out of work has enough to make ends meet and provide for their families. “It is clearer today than ever before that thousands of families ...
Sylvia Wood has been elected President of the National Party by the Party’s board of directors at its annual conference in Christchurch. Ms Wood has been on the board since 2021 and will serve as National’s 18th President after the retirement of ...
PROFESSOR ELIZABETH RATAgave this address – ‘In Defence of Democracy’ – to the New Zealand ACT Party Annual Conference, in Wellington and Auckland, last month. Although the address was given at a political party event, she says she was a guest speaker and the ideas she presents are her ...
National has taken aim at those on welfare for longer than a year, in particular young people, saying it's unacceptable in a time of extreme labour shortages. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney Judith Durham, one of Australia’s most recognisable voices, has passed away at 79. An icon of the Australian music industry as lead singer for The Seekers and a solo artist, hers ...
RNZ News Protesters blocked roads in central Auckland this afternoon for the second time in two weeks, marching past the main entrance to the city’s hospital. The Auckland motorway onramp used by protesters two weeks ago was closed ahead of another rally at the Auckland Domain today. Aucklanders were warned ...
National Party outgoing president Peter Goodfellow has acknowledged mistakes in his final speech, but says he does not regret trying to move the party into the 21st century. ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers were dishing out money to musicians and Māori farmers over the past day or so while also announcing awards for women and – in the case of our Minister of Defence – travel plans for a a trip to the Solomon Islands. The announcement of ...
RNZ Pacific The Solomon Islands government has prompted anger by ordering the censorship of the national broadcaster. The government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has forbidden it from publishing material critical of the government, which will vet all stories before broadcast. The Guardian reports that on Monday the government announced ...
PNG Pacific A former Papua New Guinea military commander who drew up a plan 17 years ago to try to end gun violence says the first thing he would do is ban the public from owning guns. Major-General Jerry Singirok compiled a gun control report in 2005. It included 244 ...
By Peter Korugl of the PNG Post-Courier “Shame on yous!” … these are the three powerful words Julie Soso, former governor and candidate for the Eastern Highlands regional seat, had to say for the newly elected members to Papua New Guinea’s Parliament — all men so far. Soso, Carol Mayo ...
National's deputy Nicola Willis has sought to extinguish any doubt over her tax plan, telling members the party will deliver as much relief as it "responsibly can". ...
PSNA is holding nationwide rallies on Saturday August 6th in solidarity with Palestinians resisting ethnic cleansing in Masafer Yatta, an area of the South Hebron hills which is home to over 1200 Palestinians living in 20 villages. “Many of these people ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. A couple of weeks ago I received a number of articles mainly about Covid19 deaths in the United States. (See below.) As I have noted in the past, it is important to address the reported facts, rather than to ignore them. As they stand, these articles ...
Former Labour Party leader Andrew Little and the Prime Minister's chief press secretary have appeared as witnesses in a trial about anonymous donations to the country's two biggest political parties. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has met with her Chinese counterpart face-to-face for the first time at the East Asia and ASEAN summits in Cambodia. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Micah DJ Peters, Senior Research Fellow / Director – Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) National Policy Research Unit (Federal Office), University of South Australia Shutterstock Former Health Department Chief Martin Bowles has reportedly proposed “virtual nurses” could help address ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. Michelle and Caroline discuss the first fortnight sitting of the new parliament, with the government’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt King, Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, University of Tasmania Shutterstock Atomic clocks, combined with precise astronomical measurements, have revealed that the length of a day is suddenly getting longer, and scientists don’t know ...
It sounded curiously like something out of a Marxist textbook – the notion that power sits with ownership. The relationship between ownership and power – it seems – should be more important to us than the issue of representation in the country’s democratic institutions or the concept of one person, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Shutterstock The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID, originated from bats and then, probably after passing through an intermediary host, gained the ability to infect humans. Many new viruses that emerge in this way, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University Shutterstock In what seems like excellent news, coral cover in parts of the Great Barrier Reef is at a record high, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. But ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. Michelle and Caroline discuss the first fortnight sitting of the new parliament, with the government’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorinda Cramer, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Australian Catholic University The question of what counts as professional dress for Australia’s politicians loomed large again this week. New Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather rose to speak in question time. He wore a neat navy suit ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Glavovic, Professor in Natural Hazard Planning, Massey University Fiona Goodall/Getty Images New Zealand’s first climate adaptation plan, launched his week, provides a robust foundation for urgent nation-wide action. Its goals are utterly compelling: reduce vulnerability, build adaptive capacity ...
First-of-its-kind ranking report highlights food delivery companies taking important steps to improve chicken welfare in New Zealand and those lagging behind. Animals Aotearoa has today released a ranking report of food delivery service businesses ...
There’s a small hole in current law which a responsible camping group wants plugged. Often publicly blamed for fouling our natural environment, freedom campers and van travellers have been the target of a lot of poo-slinging lately. Tourism Minister ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne The Bureau of Meteorology recently announced a negative Indian Ocean Dipole event is underway. But what does that mean and how does it affect Australia’s weather? Will we get a ...
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui are this morning welcoming yesterday’s news that a members bill to ban seabed mining will finally enter the parliamentary process. “Ngāti Ruanui is thrilled to hear that Debbie Ngarewa-Packers bill to ban seabed mining ...
The Government’s meddling is driving up the cost of land and contributing to the ongoing housing crisis, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says. “The ‘huge upfront’ purchase of land at Ferncliffe Farms is setting off major ...
By Susana Suisuiki and Finau Fonua of RNZ Pacific The Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland came alive with music, glitz and glam for the first live Pacific Music Awards in two years last night. The annual ceremony has been held online for the past two years due to covid-19 ...
By Murray Horton As I was having breakfast in my Christchurch suburban dining room on Monday morning, I heard a loud but indeterminate noise. I actually thought it was a quake, but as there was no shaking, I assumed it came from the noisy construction site two doors away. So, ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the censoring of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) as an “assault on press freedom” and an “unacceptable development” amid mounting concern over China’s influence on the media and security. “The censoring of the Solomon Island’s national ...
By Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby People’s National Congress party leader Peter O’Neill has blown the race for the Papua New Guinea prime minister’s job wide open by declaring he will not run for the country’s top post. As the national election winds down and lobbying intensifies among Pangu Pati, ...
COMMENTARY:By Anton Lutz The sun rises over a strange landscape. Come with me and meet these people over here. Even though they have stayed awake all night, now that the sun has risen, they are jumping up and down, singing happy songs and even expressing tears of joy. Next ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lont, Professor of Accounting and Finance, University of Otago Getty Images When record-breaking heatwaves cause train tracks to bend, airport runways to buckle, and roads to melt, as happened in the United Kingdom last month, it is likely that ...
Morning Report - In a new Friday feature dissecting the latest political yarns, this week RNZ and TVNZ's political editors Jane Patterson and Jessica Mutch-McKay talk tax attacks and the payments shemozzle. ...
The Justice Committee is seeking submissions on the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) No 175. The bill and SOP would amend the Child ...
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'I've seen it all': Peter Goodfellow looks back at 50 years as National member https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/472348/i-ve-seen-it-all-peter-goodfellow-looks-back-at-50-years-as-national-member
Trying.
😂
Well there was one Legacy. moment. I wonder who the “gentlemen” were?
I have lost a lot of respect for Amnesty International after this tweet that is disgusting on so many levels:
"Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas."
Firstly, Russia is shelling and firing missiles at civilian areas regardless of whether Ukrainian military are there. The primary reason that civilians are at risk is because of Russian actions, independent of the location of Ukrainian forces.
Secondly, Zelensky specifically ordered civilians to leave the danger zones precisely to avoid the possibility of putting civilians in danger.
Whereas, Russia intentionally undertakes actions that put civilians at risk, such as placing its forces and equipment deep inside a nuclear power plant and other such positioning of forces to intentionally put civilians in danger. And other human rights violations such as forced conscription in occupied areas.
Finally, the most disgusting aspect of this tweet is that it gives the Russians moral authority to attack Ukrainian civilians even more, because Amnesty International says that the Ukrainians are placing their forces in those areas.
Donated for forty years. No more.
Well said.
Lotsa useful idiots.
ffs
I infortunately came across an image of the head of a murdered Ukrainian POW on a stake in Popasna, with his hands impaled on a fence railing behind him. Last week a Ukrainian soldier was castrated then shot by Chechen savages in Putin's employ.
Heads on spikes, ritual castrations, mass murder of POWs. It reads like a recitation of the atrocities of the SS, but it is happening now. This week, yesterday, tomorrow in Europe.
One struggles for an emotional response to this, except to observe that for savages like the Chechens and the Wagner group the only legitimate response is not to make excuses for Putin or blame NATO or talk about the temerity of the Ukrainian army and it's refusal to relocate from the cities they are defending to a nearby featureless plain for the convenience of Russian artillery but to grimly decide to go about the business of killing the bastards. And if you capture the perpetrators of the atrocities, take them round the back and show them more mercy they showed your mates by doing it quickly.
Just like our grand/great grand parents did to the last lot of fascist savages in Europe.
Amnesty in Ireland and the UK have turned their backs on women. The Amnesty head in Ireland said that Gender Critical people did not deserve political representation and in England the organisation supported "Trans Rights" activists picketing the FiLia international women's conference.
https://www.filia.org.uk/latest-news/2021/10/26/filia-statement-on-amnesty-international-uk?fbclid=IwAR0ScYk4zWELO2RNS0fuVVtwWZyQMO1cRLhnzXqNMLYdORvOA6qRI6VHYjY
Balanced against all this, is all the good work that Amnesty has done around the world.
It makes me wonder what can be said about this.
Was the pressure of the Russian trolls too much?
Is Amnesty International trying too hard to make their position clear that they are neutral in war zones between the two sides. (The balanced argument approach).
Amnesty International has some questions to answer
I am no military expert, isn't the aggressor not the defenders, responsible for the deaths of civilians, if those civilians are being attacked?
What is Amnesty saying? That the Ukrainian Forces defending their country from Russian aggression should not place themselves in positions to defend civilian areas from Russian attack?
What does Amnesty think the Ukraine forces should do to protect civilians?
Withdraw?
Always the Chekist.
https://archive.ph/2022.07.29-125048/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russian-federation/putins-new-police-state
This guy, Chris, describes conifers and their usefulness to native plant restoration and land use change, very well. Those who loathe Pinus radiate might learn from his post.
They don't loath Pinus Radiatus, they loath why and how Pinus Radiatus is planted and harvested.
Chances are they have never seen a decent mix forest in the first place, but they for sure see the scars of clear logging from the car whilst travelling and they may had their house flooded cause slash blocked a river and blablabla – that was my MiL a few years back.
I do believe "they" transfer their loathing onto the tree.
Are they barking up the …?
Pining for something they've lost…
can't see the trees for the wood.
not sure honestly.
when i speak to people about the need to re-green and plant the issue comes up and with it the general upset with the damage it does to the environement. I think the idea that one could use these trees in accordance with nature and the specifics here in NZ is yet to be properly advertised and explained. A bit like gorse, when i first came across this plant people thought it a toy of the devil, mind you it is quite a usefull plant used in the correct ways.
I loath them. Fucking ugly trees.
I'd love to have a go at changing your mind, solkta 🙂
I spent many hours sitting in contemplation of one of the oldest stands of conifer in the country; a mix of pines from around the world. By that stage, they were "elders" and emanated sagacity and poise like no trees I'd ever studied before. We cut them down before they get a chance to express their value, in my opinion 🙂
have you been to eastwoodhill ? the nz national arboretum. fantastic place.
I haven't. I've been invited, but my dislike of travel works against me. I believe it to be, as you say, a fantastic place.
Link for those that can’t see the FB embed
https://www.facebook.com/chris.perley.39/posts/10162210935169358
From time spent cutting pines down in various places understory depends on where the trees are , around tokoroa it was a jungle in 28 years, out on the coast down kapiti just plain needles , up in the Napier taupo needles and shrub scrub .
Contorta did seem to just blanket out all life given time though.
Of course pines can kill rural communities dead though . All for a bit of xhort term gain and feel good .
Depends somewhat on the proximity to stands of native forest. Those pine forests that didn't develop a strong native understory would have benefitted from seeds from elsewhere, applied by humans.
In the case of the Napier taupo end of kiangaroa I'd say the hungry nature of the pumice soils where the limiting factor.
Yes some exotic conifers can help with restoration, and other exotics such as gorse can too but it still all depends on the particular biome and environment and on the species. For example some Pinus species are incredibly invasive in upland environments and destroy local plant and animal communities.
On Banks Peninsula for example, my own experience is that Pinus radiata is great when thinned out as it matures and allows mahoe etc. to establish but only in the gullies and lower areas. It is also great habitat for piwakawaka and other birds if it is not a dense monoculture of pine. Radiata however has and is wiping out the shrublands on the upper slopes where numerous small-leaved plants and climbers that insects and lizards depend on are the natural habitat.
Indigenous plants also create fantastic successional habitat and indeed the variation and differences between species are critical to healthy ecosystems as they respond to different environmental factors and disturbance over time. Pinus radiata shades out light loving species such as Manuka, kanuka, tumatakorou (matagouri).
Established forest via succession (basically taller more woody plants come to dominance over time) is not an end point and, in my opinion, nor should it be a goal for everywhere. Shrublands, tussocklands, alpine ecosystems and wetlands are all just as critical to a healthy living environment.
Finally, we also have our own conifers in New Zealand – the mighty ones such as Totara, Matai, Kahikatea, Rimu, Kawaka – they just need time.
lovely commentary, thanks.
What would have been growing on the upper slopes of Banks Peninsula originally?
Thank you. Sometimes the love of poetry takes over Robert's love of ecology.
In the old Kaingaroa there were a couple of compartments that were planted in the very early days (20's – 30's) and just left, with no silvicultural inputs to see what happened. The old NZFS did a lot of that in it's function as a research institute. In the late 70's I was tasked with surveying a road line through the corner of the compartment and we may as well have been across the valley in Te Urewera, the understory was so thick. At around 50 years old the pines were going through a phase of self thinning where the stronger trees were displacing weaker ones, dead and fallen pines all over the place and vigorous native understory coming away in the gaps. Took us several weeks to cut and survey 300m of line. Strangely I don't remember cutting any young pines, just native understory.
In another mature (30 yrs and about to harvest) compartment at Minganui that abutted the native, at the boundary between the pines and native the understory was very similar but the big trees were pines at regular spacings rather than mixed native at much wider random spacings.
Thanks for that insight, Graeme. The key is leaving the pines to mature. My hope is the pine plantations going in now will never be mass-harvested and most with live long and their native understory, prosper.
This also reminds me of a Country Calendar episode I saw many years ago about a couple who had an open forest style paddock (it was the site of the original farmhouse and had numerous large exotic trees planted a century ago). They ran dairy cattle in the paddock, they didn't need to irrigate or fertilise it and claimed a 20% increase in milk productivity. Sadly I can't find any reference online.
However I did also find this:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/472289/government-and-ngai-tahu-to-work-together-on-regenerative-farming-project
Let's hope they can include increased tree-planting as part of this experiment.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if that was done around East Cape. Worked on some of the early re-foresting of abandoned farms up there and it was obvious harvesting was going to be a marginal exercise when we were trying to put roads in to just plant the blocks, let alone get the logs out on them. I can remember a Forester at the time saying that leaving the blocks to revert to permanent native or hybrid was the best thing to do with them.
So why are wilding pines such a major threat then?
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/weeds/common-weeds/wilding-conifers/
Is it that they create 'forest' in previously unforested areas?
Because if, left alone, they result in re-forestation of primarily indigenous species – they shouldn't be a problem….
It depends on the pine species and on the local environment. Lodgepole pine is a very destructive pest in subalpine areas for example. Pinus radiata (Monterey pine) is not too bad in many lowland areas if it is allowed to stand and is not planted too densely so that lowland indigenous forest species can establish quickly. Not much lowland land would be allowed to have such pine forests though as it is prime land thanks to the millennia of tall lowland forest.
Thanks, to the uninitiated 'pine' tends to mean all pines – so interesting/useful to know that different varieties are pests of differing severity.
Around here, Central Otago and specifically Whakatipu, it's not so much the introduced pine but the specific species. Here the endemic forest cover would be Mountain Beech forest from valley floor to 1000m, with alpines and tussock above.
The wilding conifers, Douglas Fir, Larch and P. Contorta, will grow up to 2000m so we'll end up with something very different to what was natural.
There's a lot of work going on locally exploring the possibilities of re-establishing Mountain Beech to replace wildings with some very encouraging results. Interestingly there is evidence of a mycorrhizal relationship between Beech and Douglas Fir, and possibly other introduced conifers. Beech seem to do a lot better when the roots are in association with a Douglas Fir's roots. Some experiments going on to replicate this and explore other species of conifer. It's early days but idea of replacing the Douglas Firs above Queenstown and around Whakatipu with Mountain Beech may quickly become a thing.
Replacing the Douglas fir, or adding to the Douglas fir?
Work in progress Robert. There's some very high risk Douglas Fir blocks that are being removed, like the Arrowtown Endowment block behind Millbrook which is going to be replaced. There's also trials with encouraging supercedure within Douglas Fir and other conifer species.
All very live science with a couple of PHDs underway. Unfortunately not a lot of funding but it's looking promising.
I hope you'll keeps posted, Graeme. Your mention of the fungal interdependence interested me the most. I think we know too little about this. One aspect of the fungal nets is their capacity for sequestering carbon. We haven't yet factored that in. Presently, we value connectivity poorly and allow our systems, livestock farming in particular, to dice up our landscapes into disconnected units. This is far more damaging than we perceive presently, I believe.
I observed up here in Auckland some trees are promiscuous hosts of mycorrhizae. If you want to hasten succession identifying those species in each biome would prove valuable.
Personally I dont think monoculture forest should count towards carbon credits. I'd like to see far more mixed forest planted co training both native and exotics with a view to providing nectar sources.
Here in Auckland Prunus campanulata is in full bloom (recently banned here) every tree in my street is packed with Tuis except the few that have a resident that's puffed up and really doesn't want to share.
It's an invaluable source of nectar in a time of scarcity we need to be far smarter with our approach to reforestation.
"Here in Auckland Prunus campanulata is in full bloom (recently banned here) every tree in my street is packed with Tuis "
Therein lies he rub – what to do, what to do?
Work with those generous plants, not against them.
When they become redundant, retire them.
They won't mind.
Till then, respect them for what they do.
Imo
Retire them. Haha. Have you seen how this shit grows in Northland?
Introduced weed trees..like other INTRODUCED pest plants…pest animals..pest insects. harmful to our NZ Native Biodiversity.
Aye Weedbusters !
But it's more complicated than that, they can enhance our biodiversity given they provide abundant nectar to our native birds thus supporting a population recovery.
Give me a deciduous Prunus forest over Pine any day of the week.
They do not enhance our biodiversity. What bullshit. What will Tui eat the rest of the year when we only have this shit because they have crowded everything else out?
And Aye !!. I have been growing some of these (Kowhai, Flax, Cabbage Tree ,etc; ). Tui Love. them and Bellbird !
I've not seen any dense Prunus forest in NZ even remotely like Gorse or wind blown Pine… the fact that its deciduous kinda prevents that… I'd be more worried about Kiwifruit now that's a real problem…
Pasture-grasses for stock feed are by far the greater agent of destruction of our native forests – by FAR!
https://www.nrc.govt.nz/Environment/Weed-and-pest-control/pest-control-hub/?pwsystem=true&pwid=33
I don't know about them, so I did my research 🙂
"
Love the trees or hate them, the tui have no qualms at all. The nectar is manna from heaven to them. And therein lies the problem. I was contacted recently by someone who is crusading against the sale and planting of campanulata cherries and I was only relatively sympathetic because I think we are in danger of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
The problem is the seeding habits of some campanulatas. Many set prodigious amounts of seed which is then spread far and wide by our bird population. There is an alarmingly high rate of germination. The seedlings grow rapidly and after the second season, plants are too big to hand pull out. If you cut them off, they grow again. So bad is the problem that they have been banned in Northland and this correspondent would like to see them banned everywhere.
“There are loads of better trees for Tui such as Kowhai, Rewarewa that can be available at the same time” he claimed. I don’t want to be picky with someone who genuinely cares for the environment, but on a property packed with food for the birds, I have never seen a plant as attractive to tui as the campanulata cherries. Besides, in late winter, neither kowhai nor rewarewa are in flower yet.
I mentioned babies and bathwater because the problem is seeding. There are sterile forms of campanulata and both gardeners and tui alike may rue the day if ALL campanulatas get banned, even the named forms that never set seed. This is a problem we gardeners have brought upon ourselves. The record of garden escapes into the wild is not a proud one and too many gardeners don’t take responsibility for their weeds."
https://jury.co.nz/2013/08/23/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-campanulata-cherries/
Mostly in agreement with that although whilst abundant I dont see a situation where Prunus will prevent the establishment of or overtake our very hardy natives (which can outlast gorse.) They're more a useful addition at least for our birds and those of us that enjoy the winter blossom… Not to different to Karaka really just many generations later…
Agreed, I just cant abide a monoculture 🙃
Next you will be saying we should save the Woolly Nightshade for the Kereru.
Woolly nightshade can look after itself – doesn't need our help.
The primary plant-agent-of-destruction of native forests here in NZ has been the pasture grasses; it's everywhere and our forests have fallen at their approach.
Deeply saddening (see kahikatea especially).
That's no moon …
That's a choritzo sausage
Scientist admits 'space telescope image' was actually a slice of chorizo – CNN
Ad (5.1) … a chorizo sausage eh?
For a moment there, I thought it was Te Puke kid Luxon's head after his holiday in the sun.
yum….piggy fat..
The alternative to Pharmac.
Steve Ubl, who leads the nation’s top industry group for drugmakers, is offering a final salvo to Congress as Democratic lawmakers inch closer to passing their sweeping reconciliation package that includes drug pricing measures — and threatening swift retaliation if they don’t listen, he told POLITICO.
Ubl’s group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, and its 31 board members sent a letter to every member of Congress on Thursday afternoon, urging them to vote against the package
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/04/head-of-top-pharma-group-says-dems-who-vote-for-bill-wont-get-a-free-pass-00049898
The ethos of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli is alive and well in pharma land
This is a truly lovely read of salmon, native tribes of the US and "Aotearoa in New Zealand" and a much desired and cherished home coming.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/8/6/2114937/-After-80-years-Winnemem-Wintu-and-partners-return-winter-run-Chinook-to-Mccloud-River
Pablo putting the latest Chinese manoeuvres in perspective.
https://www.kiwipolitico.com/2022/08/considering-pelosis-visit-to-taiwan/
“PRC military exercises after Pelosi’s visit are akin to silverback male gorillas who run around thrashing branches and beating their chests when annoyed, disturbed or seeking to show dominance. They are certainly dangerous and not to be ignored, but their aggression is about signaling/posturing, not imminent attack. In other words, the behaviour is a demonstration of physical capabilities and general disposition rather than real immediate intent. If and when the PRC assault on Taiwan comes, it will not be telegraphed.”
With the arrest of Joseph Stalin in Sri Lanka questions are being asked.
And arseholery.
― John Kenneth Galbraith
"To young people who don’t want to work: You might have a free ride under Labour, but under National, it ends,” Luxon said.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129502939/christopher-luxon-uses-conference-speech-to-promise-end-to-free-ride-for-young-beneficiaries
So Natioanl wants to help young people have a shot at a life of earning an income and having some self esteem and you think that's a bad thing????
The devils in the details, I'll wait to see what it actually means.
Well surprise surprise the national Party promises consequences and sanctions (did they forget to say 'crackdown'?) on beneficiaries. SSDD they really are the supreme arseholes of New Zealand.
All political parties lie but in this instance I want to see what they're actually saying beyond the headline
PR I remember well the JK years – when approaching elections the National would go big on beneficiary crackdowns – promises of sanctions and punishments and new hoops to jump through for those least able to fare well in our society. The National Party did this for electoral advantage as many of their fans really enjoy the underclass being punished Luxon is busy now wooing these people by throwing them lots of 'raw meat'. We have recently seen some people claim that the Labour Government has caused division with the vaccine mandates – yet there is fuck all said about Nationals promotion of of ill will to beneficiaries. Same Shit Different Day.
It's the national party ,it'll be all whip , smashing down on what they see as weak people who just need to get it together and become high achieveing self made winners like them . !!!
Help? That'd be great – if the promise meant anything …
When I became unemployed about a decade ago I went to WINZ and asked for help. Sure, I got some financial support, and I was glad of that, but I was very down and really wanted the kind of one-on-one counselling that Luxon mentions today in his speech:
“Young jobseekers will get more support, with a proper assessment of their barriers, and an individual job plan to address those barriers, and find a job.
(instead of currently …)
You don't have to have a case manager, though you can call an 0800 number if you want one. That is far too casual.”
So why didn't I have a case manager? Why wasn't somebody dedicated to my personal support?
Simple. Cost. Yes, Luxon is proposing an expensive investment in people, call them coaches, counsellors, case workers, whatever.
I'd be all for that, but it will come with a hefty price tag, and only a fool would believe National wants to fund it.
National, as usual, wants to ensure that exploitative underpaying arseholes of employers, have a constant supply of forced labour.
Punching down on our young people right after a 1 in 100 year pandemic.
This mirrors the time when egghead said NZ businesses are soft. Zero compassion. Should be easy for the PM to tear the Botany bumbler a new one.
He’s going to give 20 somethings a grand if the stay in a job for a year? I’ve worked for 30 years, where’s my money?
Yea just more nat party dogwhistlin’ from the playbook ! Note Brash…ex Reserve Bank, Ex Nat Leader, still Act ?…..but anyway…Comparing himself to Michael J Savage ? asshole. !
What's the number of people that he is targeting? How many are already using case managers? The use of a payment for a years's good work after a year on a benefit is on the face of it a reasonable idea. As PR says at 10.1.1 the devil is in the detail- of which little was provided by Luxon.
https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/initiatives/phrae/youth-service-for-neet.html doesn't exactly answer all those questions, but it suggests that there is already something in place.
That quote from JK Galbraith is pure gold. "Because we earned it", "because we deserve it," "because we are blessed by it…."
National says, "Because we hard -working kiwis earned it and we deserve it whereas they don't because they are lazy, sinful and not like us".
There should be very few young people on job seeker benefit for over a year as I've said on here before (although all the three amigos (moderators) disagree with me). Shops, factories, companies, restaurants all around NZ are crying out for staff and offering wages well in excess of job seeker benefit. But too many NZ'ers would rather stay on the benefit. Time for these young people to contribute to society rather than be a burden on it.
You obviously refuse to inform yourself of the facts and rather act like an unthinking parrot flapping your little wings when you think you hear the sounds of bennie bashing. If you had at least some kind of opinion with a decent argument we could debate you, but as it stands our efforts would be wasted like pouring rum into an alcoholic’s mouth.
Why pick on young people?
Looking at MSD's fact sheets young people are the smallest group on benefit at 15.3% down from 16.3% a year ago. In fact they have had the biggest drop in the last twelve months. That suggests young people are going to work faster than all other groups. Those lazy 55-64 year olds have gone up the most. Sanction them. Fucking retiring early bastards. Hit them before they turn into the most hardworking, honest, never been off work a day in my life deserving people at 65.
I don't have excel so can't look at the detailed data but it seems Luxon is dog whistling at the wrong group of people.
https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/statistics/monthly-reporting/2022/june/monthly-benefits-update-june-2022.pdf
restaurants all around NZ are crying out for staff
lol. I thought most were crying poverty because there are no tourists and no-one working in the CBD.
The key detail is that National wants to contract out management of these (under 25) cases, not MSD staff.
MSD uses work brokers to interface (matching skills) between business and those on the JS Benefit.
The pertinent issue is why these "youth" are not being connected to training for work providers – one reason might be staffing issues in them and MSD due to COVID and general labour issues slowing down delivery of services.
There's work to be done for them churches.
Just like Paula Bennet gave millions of dollars in funding to her religious mates to run parenting courses (still waiting for an evaluation of their effectiveness), the churches are busy making money helping the homeless now they will be "helping" our young people.
Bring back orphanages and homes for unmarried mothers I say. Poorhouses for the sanctioned ones.
Hallelujah!
It's like Jesus put on few pounds, shaved off his beard, put on shades and died his hair.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/an-ode-for-bishop-brian
It would have been so easy for Luxon to give just a tiniest bit of the steps to making us a more prosperous, more engaged, more uplifted country.
Going down the route of beneficiaries is the same sad punitive bullshit.
I would give National $1,000 to get themselves off their donor welfare, and then just make them all go cold turkey.
Sounds a bit hitlery.
I'm sorry if this has already been covered (I've been mostly offline over the past few days, with work and family)
But I thought this was a really interesting result – a hefty and increasing percentage of Kiwis think that if you have to shift because of climate change (rising sea levels, etc.) 'society' (govt or local govt) should not have to pay the whole of the cost, and that the home-owner should have to pay a significant percentage.
The really key question of 'who pays' not answered in the National Adaptation plan, just released.
Caveat. The research was commissioned by an insurer – so caveat emptor.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129480406/half-of-new-zealanders-think-there-should-be-no-right-to-live-in-highrisk-climate-areas
Have to say, in Auckland, at least, the communities most 'threatened' by climate change, sea level rise and/or extreme weather – are the wealthy ones. I don't see why a landowner on Takapuna Beach should have the 'value' of a beachfront house for 20+ years, then have the taxpayer/ratepayer pay the bill for them to relocate once the rising tide is lapping at their front doorstep.
This seems to be a shift from the public attitude around the 'red zone' relocations in Christchurch. Where the public attitude was that this was an entirely unforeseen issue (no one predicted earthquakes and/or liquefaction prior to 2010), and residents could hardly be blamed for not planning ahead.
Whereas the rise in climate risks is entirely predictable, and you can take sensible precautions (sell your beach-front lifestyle while you still can; re-build houses to be transportable; invest some of your millions in other residential sections, to manage your own retreat, etc.)
For some years Councils have been aware of sea level rises, storm surge extents, flood plain capacities etc. This information is on LIM reports and on Council GIS systems. In a previous incarnation I was a Land Use Planner and I regularly had to contend with restrictions on site developments because of these factors. They ranged from a site subject to a 1.5m high storm surge where the lower level of the dwelling was not able to be habitable – restricted to storage, garage, laundry etc, and all electrical works had to be above the 1.5m height – to sites where any further development or subdivision required safe egress (basically – a bridge) to be constructed from the dwelling to the driveway – or where no further development was possible because of the nature of the flood danger. There will be an ever increasing number of these areas,