The better team won, but the USA individuals created more chances, only to stopped from winning by the Swedish keeper (token brunette).
Then in the penalty shootout, the American keeper was good, but her team lost because teammates could not shoot on target.
A major success for those who train at The New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport for worldies. In the local club area of two former Ferns Sarah Gregorius and Wendi Henderson (and current PM).
I felt sorry for the US keeper, out of the cup by a few millimetres! Rather cruel way to go.
But happy with the result because I have a small bet at the TAB on Sweden to lift the cup and now they are past the US I think they have a great chance.
We have certainly seen some great football over the past couple of weeks.
Can any of the political geniuses around here explain why Labour’s “three tunnels” should not be considered an Auckland iteration of the “Springfield Monorail”? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_vs._the_Monorail
To put it bluntly, Act and Natzos want to destroy FPAs, slash public service, sit on minimum wage increases, attack Māori and wind back many of the incremental reforms Labour has enacted–it needs to be met head on with strong statements. NZ Labour may as well have announced a sky car for every home…
Get real, this general election is likely the last throw of the dice for the selfish section of boomers and should be taken more seriously.
The announcement yesterday was complete nonsense, grandiose vapourware that will be shelved by February if Labour win. And anyway, why does the North Shore need so much transport infrastructure? They've got the harbour bridge, ferries, two motorways, a dedicated busway, Penlink – talk about the home of the long white whine. Meanwhile, the Northwestern is a complete sh*tshow without even a bus lane, you can't commute to town from Howick without changing bus 40 million times and taking three hours or paying a ransom for the ferry, the Bermuda triangle of cycleways from New Lynn to Ellerslie/Penrose is a thing, the eastern line is closed for a year, and Dannemora/Flatbush resembles a giant carpark such is the paucity of transport options.
This tunnel plan from labour is bullshit…with a capital b..and a bevy of exclamation marks…
It is a classic diversion tactic ..
'look..!…over there..!'..
The bridge isn't the problem .(as others have noted above..)
Traffic on the bridge flows…it is the roads on both sides that are the problem..
Brown on rnz noted that traffic on the bridge hasn't increased because of the success of the busway..
He also pointed out the places on motorway that clog…all the time…and said they should be re-engineered…
(Strange to agree with brown..but there ya go..!)
And of course taking on board the roaring success of the north shore busway…it would seem bleeding obvious to look at the other busways ..and to re-engineer them to get the same results as the nth shore one..
And more of them ..
Which brings me to my idea for transport to airport…why not build a dedicated busway ..that could only be used by busses and emergency vehicles..and express busses could feed into it from those public transport deserts..
..much cheaper/nimble/multi/efficient option…I would submit..
I also agree with those asking why this ginormous expense should be focused on the north shore…an area already well served by public transport/road/bridge options..when so many other/poorer areas are those public transport deserts…
And here is something that could be done for public transport…use a small fraction of the cost of labours' pipe-dream ..and buy the ferry company…and slash the fares..and expand the fleet with electric ferries….with a larger terminal for them as part of the port plans..
Whichever way you look at it…this multi-tunnel/ginormously expensive idea from labour..is total bullshit ..
This election is becoming a hectic lolly scramble with most of the parties promising more and bigger lollies than the others. It is pretty obvious that they don't know how much their grandiose projects would really cost, but incredibly they seem to think that we – the voters – don't really care. They talk about projects costing an estimated $30 billion as if it is loose change begging to be spent.
I would like to see the parties looking at smaller, more targeted initiatives such as you mention that cover things like wealth equality, climate change, poverty and transport, but with the possible exception of the Greens, they are too obsessed with Think Big 2023.
And what's there even to do in the North shore once you get there?? Nothing but listening to Lorde and moan about not taking the Yacht out enough.
The scary thing about the project is if they say in 2023 it's gonna cost $15 billion, by 2029 it's gonna cost $20-25 billion and then there will be the usual project blow outs and construction will take about 5 years longer than estimated…it always does…
Eye watering.
Sure…. They actually do need a crossing at some point because the current bridge will not last forever, engineers are constantly telling us about Auckland harbour bridge being at risk of total structural failure.
But … $15 billion (which will really end up costing $20-25 billion) far out…
Those who see other transport priorities reducing congestion first as a priority might wonder about another option.
The current bridge has a problem with durability because of the clip-on. It could be replaced, but this reduces capacity during the work.
One option is to reserve the clip-on for lightweight use only – cars and light commercial vehicles and otherwise motorbikes/e bikes, bicycles and pedestrians.
If this does not provide enough capacity, then a new (toll) bridge (let the truckies pay for it).
Yep. I just cant see all the $ Billions…tunnels,time factor (cost overruns) et al, being appropriate, or needed.
And re your
If this does not provide enough capacity, then a new (toll) bridge (let the truckies pay for it).
Hell yes !
Re your earlier comment on Coastal Shipping. I am just baffled why NZ isnt "on board" with this. Coastal Ships should be Operational in NZ wherever possible !
You do realize that it's not the "truckies" paying for it – that cost will be loaded onto everything they transport – and onto the hourly rate of contractors.
It's not the truckies who will pay, it's their customers.
You could write a sternly worded letter to the Labour for failing to repeal legislation from National that allowed for the heavier trucks. You could then write another sternly worded letter to the Green Party – the one party that cancels out working with anyone else but Labour – defacto being a fully owned subsidiary to Labour – as to why they did not compel Labour for rescinding that policy.
Yes National did allow larger trucks and larger loads. The Road User charges are complex, and depend on the configuration and weight. I suspect it is time that those charges were reviewed, and I have believed for a long time that we should follow the UK with emission testing and registration based on how much pollution the vehicle emits. A friend who is an engineer told me that his truck with a heavy extendable crane on the back may cause as much damage as a larger truck with more wheels. I suspect a lot of the problem now is because National only put half the money into maintenance that they needed to for nine years and let the potholes develop.
And what did Labour do over the last 6 years? just asking, because the current government is a labour one with a full majority. National left the building in 2016 when Labour and NZFirst with supply from the Greens formed the government that unseated National.
And again, this changes nothing on the fact that businesses don't pay GST or Tolls. The tax payer does, the end consumer does, the purchaser of the goods that got transported do.
We will pay twice for it. First time the cost of toll will be factored in teh cost of delivery, end consumer pays. Second time, the cost of toll will be factored into the cost of doing business and will be written of as a business expense, the tax payer pays the toll.
But yeah, the evil truckies who bring good to a supermarket, warehouse, building site.
Just such limited thinking on who actually pays the shit everyone wants for free.
The old let the truckies write transport policy, they are in it for us, and let the tobacco companies write the rules for retailing – they are just giving people what they are addicted to.
let you do
The driving principle behind laissez-faire, a French term that translates to "leave alone" (literally, "let you do"), is that the less the government is involved in the economy, the better off business will be, and by extension, society as a whole. Laissez-faire economics is a key part of free-market capitalism.
Also known as Leave it to Lassie, a popular propaganda show from the 1950's.
You are putting a lot of words there where i left none.
Again, the costs of Tolls are paid by the end user of the trasnported product as the toll is factored into the purchasing price of any goods. Then the tolls are paid again, this time by the tax payer who will pay for the write off costs of doing business.
So in essence you could say that your toll roads are a net benefit for transport companies. They get to charge the toll + profit and then they get to write it off as a cost of doing business reducing their taxable income.
As for laissez faire economics, no one better then the current lot in government who have regulated nothing. See inflation, high cost of living, falling healthcare services, education failing on all levels, high crime, shootings by criminals leaving the country littered in dead bodies…..my oh my, so much laissez faire.
Which, btw, is going to be the reason for many people to not donate to labour, not volunteer for labour, not door knock for labour, not put signs up for labour and in the end not vote for labour.
Tolls and GST are things that only the end consumer and tax payer pays. Businesses charge them on and then demand a write of of their expenses. And labour no more will regulate that then national. Cause they both benefit of it.
The trouble in NZ is that we need decent roads, but we have not a single party in government that is honest about what we need, what we can finance. So in essence due to the cowardly suits in NZ politics we have shitty private transport, shitty public transport, and shitty commercial transport. It's almost as if it is by design. Underfunded, understaffed, like our schools, hospitals, coppers, but gazillions of people who earn 6 figures drawing dumb arse pictures with tunnels all the way to china.
Oh, I agree. This was in response to the very short-sighted comment about 'just make the truckies pay'
The reality is, that it's the truckies customers who will pay – and in the end (unless you live off what you grow in your backyard, and don't buy anything) – that's all of us.
The Labour plan has the road tunnels in the role of a new bridge (with the separate rail tunnel to complete its light rail network plan).
As the tunnels were built, two lanes on the existing bridge would be turned into dedicated bus lanes to extend the Northern Busway to the CBD, and some clip-on lanes would become cycling lanes and walkways. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency was also looking into building an elevated walkway above the cycle lanes to separate pedestrians.The remaining four lanes would be for general traffic.
I'd go with a cheaper option of a new bridge than the road tunnels and leave the idea of a rail tunnel and the city wide light rail development till later.
Disclosure – vote Green, and not competing with National for the car-driven mad vote.
Meanwhile – there is actually no reason for there to be dedicated bus lanes across the bridge itself.
The hold-ups are on the approaches – where on-ramps feed into the motorway – which is why the bus lanes were implemented and are effective.
Once the motorway is past the last on-ramp (Onewa Rd) – the traffic is free flowing and there is no need for buses to be separated out- there will be no advantage to them – they can't move faster than the rest of the traffic at 80K, even in their own lane.
This is one of those 'sound good' policies which actually has little, if any, benefit.
One option is to reserve the clip-on for lightweight use only – cars and light commercial vehicles and otherwise motorbikes/e bikes, bicycles and pedestrians.
That light use scenario has played out at various times across the bridge – when heavy traffic (including buses) has been directed to the centre span. It doesn't really have a big impact on the volume of traffic – although it makes it a bit difficult for buses to manoeuvre across to and from the side-of-the-motorway bus lanes.
Walking and cycling across the existing bridge is a dead duck. It's quite simply not going to happen unless the Government legislates for it – and accepts all H&S liability (I can't see them doing this either).
ATM – AT know that if they allowed walkers/cyclists to use the existing lanes – and there was an accident resulting in deaths – they would be liable. Every board of directors and CEO in the country is watching the White Island court case with shivers running down their spines.
In addition, any restriction of capacity (and using one or more lanes for walking/cycling will significantly restrict capacity) – will make the Government deeply unpopular (and the current Government appears to be courting popularity at all costs).
No one (least of all the cyclists) appears to be interested in any alternatives. The cheapest and quickest would be an EV cycle shuttle from the old toll plaza to the Curran St on-ramp – running on an endless cycle during rush hour – and on call at other times.
Pedestrians, of course, already have their alternative in place – the bus system. Which has the advantage of running from close to where you live – rather than requiring you to walk for an hour to get to the bridge.
Sure- Springfield’s monorail is a solution without a problem.
This plan is essential to keep a secure and consistent connection between the shore and the city. Good density on the Shore and good access to public transport would be part of the solution to reducing a carbon footprint.
At the moment the bridge is the only point of crossing. It is currently dangerous in high winds. We are going to see more storms. That would see emergency services on either side of the harbour unnecessarily separated. It is an aging structure not designed for the kind of loads it currently takes. We will need new harbour crossings to keep the city functioning. It is a good idea to plan for them.
Solving one problem doesn’t mean not solving other problems too. What a redundant argument! If we have police we can’t have hospitals?
The mayor was busy planning cosmetic swimming pools rather than focus on urgent issues a day ago. He’s allowed to do that but central government isn’t allowed to plan for a much more pressing problem?
Having seen the plans (where it reaches surface level especially on the Shore side), I'm more worried about sea level rise. The section of the motorway where the road tunnel lands on the NS is already subject to being splashed by waves in a king tide with following winds.
Projecting for a 30 centimetre sea-level rise by 2050 – the whole area is going to be underwater. I wouldn't feel safe in a tunnel….
I can't comment on the projected rail link landing – the maps are too waffly to know where it would actually end up.
Plenty of stormwater / sewer / power tunnels under Auckland already, most of them in recent times with TBMs
The geology of the place is generally sandstone / greywacke with the volcanics coming up through that in known places. Makes for pretty good tunnelling conditions.
Didn't some German engineering students do a report that recommended a commuter monorail system up the centre of the North Shore motorway some years back?
It wouldn't require using extra land, although motorway overbridges would be a problem.
Can anyone shed some light on the issue of our current distribution system?
Is any of our inward cargo to Auckland and Tauranga sent down to Christchurch or Wellington via coastal shipping? And if not, why not?
Is there any reason why the government should not run a state owned coastal shipping service to get trucks (less of them and phase back down the maximum size/weight) off our roads and ensure resilience for when roads are washed out (supply into Northland or Hawkes Bay etc)?
Another issue is reducing Auckland to a coastal port – receiving goods for the local area (apart from some down from Northport by train). And having Northport and Tauranga as the two international ports (for onward shipment to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch).
PS Another (related) matter is the failure of the Cook Strait service to food from north to south and south to north reliably.
Yes. Unfortunately National’s “open Coast” policy in the 90’s decimated reliable coastal shipping services in favour of much more expensive and resource intensive, trucking.
Need to encourage coastal shipping. But we already have a Government owned coastal service. The rail ferries.
Having shipping on a level footing with overly subsidised trucking should be the first step.
Doesn't make sense to replace Auckland with Whangarei and Tauranga when most of the cargo goes to and from South Auckland. Both are limited for larger ships and need cargo transported from South Auckland to them.
Firth of Thames, Orere Point is the sensible option for the North Island main port for the future. However local politics prevents sensible solutions. As NZ fails to plan ahead Sydney may well become the hub port with all the associated costs and inefficiencies. Or we will continue to try and get ever larger ships into ports which will never be suitable for them without ongoing and ever increasing inefficiencies and expense.
Even if Auckland becomes a coastal port the capability and area used on the existing site will need to be improved/increased.
Anyone who suggests the Manukau, loses their credibility straight away.
Having alternative shipping services to and from more smaller ports helps solve the bottleneck of Cook Strait weather and the reliance on only a few ships.
Then there is the issue of whether exporting cheap bulk commodities to China, in return for short lived manufactered junk, is actually a sustainable future path for Aotearoa.
Try http://www.coastalbulkshipping.co.nz The present government has also done some sort of deal with two other offshore shipping companies, one of which is Swires. The latest 'CBS' ship came into service in time to pick up a 3 month contract servicing the east coast area after the cyclone wrecked the roads.
Be careful, if you criticise the Greens you'll need at least two learned opinions from top law firms, several linked citations and a correct translation from the original Sanskrit or Weka will ban you until after the election.
Nope. The Standard has long used Notices and Features to publish media releases or other material from political parties. It also gets used for cross posting, caption contests etc. Basically it's for posts that don't have a TS author commentary.
Correctly 4 midfield (Havili over Goodhue with Ennor injured) with cover from Fainga'anuku,
* a surprise extra at the back
Will Jordan and Mark Telea and Narawa is fit enough, Leicester Fainga'anuku but for mine Stevenson has the form this year, rather than Clarke if there is an extra one.
She’s beautiful this way. (And as for the Soviet fetishists on here – you can fuck right off. I’m telling you this as the direct descendant of Red Army officers on both sides of the family. We’ve moved on. Fuck Moscow. Enough is enough.)
Ukraine’s national trident was installed on a monument depicting the Motherland in Kyiv on Sunday, replacing Soviet symbols in one of the most visible examples of breaking away from the past and Moscow’s influence.
[…]
Originally, the shield bore the Soviet Union’s coat of arms – a crossed hammer and sickle surrounded by ears of wheat.
The 'corner dairy campaign' quietly backed by big tobacco
Since 1 August, ads have started showing up on Facebook urging people to support a petition to "save our stores".
And much earlier, similar tactic in Britain (same link)
In 2008, British MPs were fooled by a 'save our shop' campaign they thought was from independent retailers protesting rules for displaying cigarettes. The campaign was run by the Tobacco Retailers' Association which was linked to tobacco companies British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco and Gallaher.
Yep. Poisonous creeps. In all meanings. I still remember when B.A.T. went into Africa, particularly targetting the young smoker market….
Big Tobacco indeed….
With its young and growing population, Africa is one of the only regions in the world where cigarette sales are still increasing. BAT’s dubious activities helped keep consumers addicted to its deadly products.
How come the perception that Youth Crime is raging out of control? Derek Chang has a brilliant column under "Election Analysis 2023" Graphs and all:
The number of charges has also fallen, though not as sharply as the number of those facing charges; there were 10,701 charges across those aged 10 to 16 in 2013, but this dropped by 43 per cent to 6060 charges by 2022, and is still a decent drop (22 per cent) if charges against 17-year-olds are included.
Sometimes someone has already archived it, use the 2nd field first to check. But if it hasn't been, use the first one. It will take a while to archive then you can click on the latest version and copy and paste the direct link here.
Allowing Wayne Brown to blowhard on RNZ this morning. Geeeeeez.
For a while for the right the harbour crossing was more important than any light rail. Now it’s a distraction from other things, apparently. Outmaneuvered, they shift attack.
No one seems to have pulled him up for spending his time talking about putting swimming pools on the waterfront and moving the port ahead of other pressing business.
Or the fact that we can walk and breathe and it’s vitally important to keep the Shore properly connected to the city so we need to get started well before the bridge starts failing or the rate of high winds etc increases. We can do that and resurface other roads etc etc.
And the right had organised good Vox popli follow up to support the mayor too, as if starting the planning for this was responsible for too many cones in streets in the city.
On the back foot and the opposition is getting time to frame their policies.
Both major parties are looking at a new Harbour crossing.
The busway is already heavily subscribed.
The bridge is already dangerous in high winds. This is something that needs replacing and because of the size it needs to be looked at early to get it done.
I know chewing gum and walking is a problem for some- but we can plan to deal with this issue as well as working on other problems across the transport network. It’s a false argument.
My point is yesterday the Mayor was talking about a long term plan, but no one said Oh no! No more road resurfacing because we want to put a swimming pool downtown.
As well in a city very well served with beaches, and considering the failure of the Wynyard tram you have to wonder about the value of these developments on what can be a cold, windy space. A two month a year development? Perhaps less with sub tropical summer storms.
Under the usual scenario in NZ infrastructure you don’t actually build something or even think about it until the original structure is well past its use by date or falls down. Then 2 decades go by while we drive around it or climb over it before a replacemet is thrown together. It seems also to be a mantra especially at local level to build something for yesterday instead of 30 or 50 years down the track. The number of one- way bridges in this country is testament to that cross-eyed yokel thinking. it is still going n, I drive across two of them built within the last 15 years to go 20kms to a large town. The previous ones were 90 and 110 years old, if one lane was enough a hundred years ago I suppose another 100 years of backing trucks backwards off bridges so at least someone can get past will just have to do, can’t spend too much money y’know.
The time to build a second harbour crossing was yesterday.
The planning for the tunnels and rail started as Ad said in 2014. Nine years looking at what is long lasting and feasible. Making a commitment. Brown complains about consultation. What a crock.
Show us the consultation on Budget cuts he high handedly announced. Show us the consultation and planning for his Ports idea. Both were non existent, but now he wants consultation.?????
To be entirely fair to Brown, the budget cuts came after what was the most submitted upon budget in Auckland Council history.
We (the public) did have our say. And the Councillors (from all sides of the political spectrum) did have to agree upon it. He's not a one-man-dictatorship, he only has one vote on the Council.
I never put down organised labour–apart perhaps from tactical differences–having been a life long unionist myself, but…would note that a number of public sector workers were way more timid when sirkey was in office, with the honourable exception of those teacher unions that held out against Hekia Parata’s National Standards, Charter schools, and bulk funding and “performance” pay.
Labour spent big during COVID basically, pity so much of it went into property via finance capital!
We only accepted in the knowledge that if we held out the Mecca would drag out past October and a change of Government would mean no settlement for years.
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Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
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Interesting game of football – Sweden vs USA.
The better team won, but the USA individuals created more chances, only to stopped from winning by the Swedish keeper (token brunette).
Then in the penalty shootout, the American keeper was good, but her team lost because teammates could not shoot on target.
A major success for those who train at The New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport for worldies. In the local club area of two former Ferns Sarah Gregorius and Wendi Henderson (and current PM).
I felt sorry for the US keeper, out of the cup by a few millimetres! Rather cruel way to go.
But happy with the result because I have a small bet at the TAB on Sweden to lift the cup and now they are past the US I think they have a great chance.
We have certainly seen some great football over the past couple of weeks.
Can any of the political geniuses around here explain why Labour’s “three tunnels” should not be considered an Auckland iteration of the “Springfield Monorail”?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_vs._the_Monorail
To put it bluntly, Act and Natzos want to destroy FPAs, slash public service, sit on minimum wage increases, attack Māori and wind back many of the incremental reforms Labour has enacted–it needs to be met head on with strong statements. NZ Labour may as well have announced a sky car for every home…
Get real, this general election is likely the last throw of the dice for the selfish section of boomers and should be taken more seriously.
The announcement yesterday was complete nonsense, grandiose vapourware that will be shelved by February if Labour win. And anyway, why does the North Shore need so much transport infrastructure? They've got the harbour bridge, ferries, two motorways, a dedicated busway, Penlink – talk about the home of the long white whine. Meanwhile, the Northwestern is a complete sh*tshow without even a bus lane, you can't commute to town from Howick without changing bus 40 million times and taking three hours or paying a ransom for the ferry, the Bermuda triangle of cycleways from New Lynn to Ellerslie/Penrose is a thing, the eastern line is closed for a year, and Dannemora/Flatbush resembles a giant carpark such is the paucity of transport options.
your comments got held back because there’s a typo in your email address. please fix for next comment.
Frankly, I'm beginning to wonder what the f*** Labour stands for anymore!
This tunnel plan from labour is bullshit…with a capital b..and a bevy of exclamation marks…
It is a classic diversion tactic ..
'look..!…over there..!'..
The bridge isn't the problem .(as others have noted above..)
Traffic on the bridge flows…it is the roads on both sides that are the problem..
Brown on rnz noted that traffic on the bridge hasn't increased because of the success of the busway..
He also pointed out the places on motorway that clog…all the time…and said they should be re-engineered…
(Strange to agree with brown..but there ya go..!)
And of course taking on board the roaring success of the north shore busway…it would seem bleeding obvious to look at the other busways ..and to re-engineer them to get the same results as the nth shore one..
And more of them ..
Which brings me to my idea for transport to airport…why not build a dedicated busway ..that could only be used by busses and emergency vehicles..and express busses could feed into it from those public transport deserts..
..much cheaper/nimble/multi/efficient option…I would submit..
I also agree with those asking why this ginormous expense should be focused on the north shore…an area already well served by public transport/road/bridge options..when so many other/poorer areas are those public transport deserts…
And here is something that could be done for public transport…use a small fraction of the cost of labours' pipe-dream ..and buy the ferry company…and slash the fares..and expand the fleet with electric ferries….with a larger terminal for them as part of the port plans..
Whichever way you look at it…this multi-tunnel/ginormously expensive idea from labour..is total bullshit ..
..and does them no favours…
I agree.
This election is becoming a hectic lolly scramble with most of the parties promising more and bigger lollies than the others. It is pretty obvious that they don't know how much their grandiose projects would really cost, but incredibly they seem to think that we – the voters – don't really care. They talk about projects costing an estimated $30 billion as if it is loose change begging to be spent.
I would like to see the parties looking at smaller, more targeted initiatives such as you mention that cover things like wealth equality, climate change, poverty and transport, but with the possible exception of the Greens, they are too obsessed with Think Big 2023.
And what's there even to do in the North shore once you get there?? Nothing but listening to Lorde and moan about not taking the Yacht out enough.
The scary thing about the project is if they say in 2023 it's gonna cost $15 billion, by 2029 it's gonna cost $20-25 billion and then there will be the usual project blow outs and construction will take about 5 years longer than estimated…it always does…
Eye watering.
Sure…. They actually do need a crossing at some point because the current bridge will not last forever, engineers are constantly telling us about Auckland harbour bridge being at risk of total structural failure.
But … $15 billion (which will really end up costing $20-25 billion) far out…
Those who see other transport priorities reducing congestion first as a priority might wonder about another option.
The current bridge has a problem with durability because of the clip-on. It could be replaced, but this reduces capacity during the work.
One option is to reserve the clip-on for lightweight use only – cars and light commercial vehicles and otherwise motorbikes/e bikes, bicycles and pedestrians.
If this does not provide enough capacity, then a new (toll) bridge (let the truckies pay for it).
Yep. I just cant see all the $ Billions…tunnels,time factor (cost overruns) et al, being appropriate, or needed.
And re your
Hell yes !
Re your earlier comment on Coastal Shipping. I am just baffled why NZ isnt "on board" with this. Coastal Ships should be Operational in NZ wherever possible !
And just make it possible !
You do realize that it's not the "truckies" paying for it – that cost will be loaded onto everything they transport – and onto the hourly rate of contractors.
It's not the truckies who will pay, it's their customers.
We sure pay for it. We allow the heavier trucks on the add-on and the bridge life is compromised.
We allow the heavier trucks on the roads and they crack faster and the rain makes holes.
We undermine alternatives to the trucks and lack (regional) resilience when the roads go down – GW anyone?
You could write a sternly worded letter to the Labour for failing to repeal legislation from National that allowed for the heavier trucks. You could then write another sternly worded letter to the Green Party – the one party that cancels out working with anyone else but Labour – defacto being a fully owned subsidiary to Labour – as to why they did not compel Labour for rescinding that policy.
After all we are globally boiling? Right? Right?
Yes National did allow larger trucks and larger loads. The Road User charges are complex, and depend on the configuration and weight. I suspect it is time that those charges were reviewed, and I have believed for a long time that we should follow the UK with emission testing and registration based on how much pollution the vehicle emits. A friend who is an engineer told me that his truck with a heavy extendable crane on the back may cause as much damage as a larger truck with more wheels. I suspect a lot of the problem now is because National only put half the money into maintenance that they needed to for nine years and let the potholes develop.
And what did Labour do over the last 6 years? just asking, because the current government is a labour one with a full majority. National left the building in 2016 when Labour and NZFirst with supply from the Greens formed the government that unseated National.
And again, this changes nothing on the fact that businesses don't pay GST or Tolls. The tax payer does, the end consumer does, the purchaser of the goods that got transported do.
We will pay twice for it. First time the cost of toll will be factored in teh cost of delivery, end consumer pays. Second time, the cost of toll will be factored into the cost of doing business and will be written of as a business expense, the tax payer pays the toll.
But yeah, the evil truckies who bring good to a supermarket, warehouse, building site.
Just such limited thinking on who actually pays the shit everyone wants for free.
The old let the truckies write transport policy, they are in it for us, and let the tobacco companies write the rules for retailing – they are just giving people what they are addicted to.
Also known as Leave it to Lassie, a popular propaganda show from the 1950's.
You are putting a lot of words there where i left none.
Again, the costs of Tolls are paid by the end user of the trasnported product as the toll is factored into the purchasing price of any goods. Then the tolls are paid again, this time by the tax payer who will pay for the write off costs of doing business.
So in essence you could say that your toll roads are a net benefit for transport companies. They get to charge the toll + profit and then they get to write it off as a cost of doing business reducing their taxable income.
As for laissez faire economics, no one better then the current lot in government who have regulated nothing. See inflation, high cost of living, falling healthcare services, education failing on all levels, high crime, shootings by criminals leaving the country littered in dead bodies…..my oh my, so much laissez faire.
Which, btw, is going to be the reason for many people to not donate to labour, not volunteer for labour, not door knock for labour, not put signs up for labour and in the end not vote for labour.
Tolls and GST are things that only the end consumer and tax payer pays. Businesses charge them on and then demand a write of of their expenses. And labour no more will regulate that then national. Cause they both benefit of it.
The trouble in NZ is that we need decent roads, but we have not a single party in government that is honest about what we need, what we can finance. So in essence due to the cowardly suits in NZ politics we have shitty private transport, shitty public transport, and shitty commercial transport. It's almost as if it is by design. Underfunded, understaffed, like our schools, hospitals, coppers, but gazillions of people who earn 6 figures drawing dumb arse pictures with tunnels all the way to china.
We all pay through the nose already for trucking roads, energy and pollution costs.
Just that it is not obvious, because the costs are paid indirectly.
Oh, I agree. This was in response to the very short-sighted comment about 'just make the truckies pay'
The reality is, that it's the truckies customers who will pay – and in the end (unless you live off what you grow in your backyard, and don't buy anything) – that's all of us.
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2023/03/30/harbour-crossing-project-now-estimated-to-cost-15-25-billion/
The Labour plan has the road tunnels in the role of a new bridge (with the separate rail tunnel to complete its light rail network plan).
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/auckland-harbour-crossing-mayor-wayne-brown-fires-shot-at-major-parties-over-start-date-and-price-tag/U45RBB2DYBGDNF3IIPFYM4VWFA/
I'd go with a cheaper option of a new bridge than the road tunnels and leave the idea of a rail tunnel and the city wide light rail development till later.
Disclosure – vote Green, and not competing with National for the car-driven mad vote.
Meanwhile – there is actually no reason for there to be dedicated bus lanes across the bridge itself.
The hold-ups are on the approaches – where on-ramps feed into the motorway – which is why the bus lanes were implemented and are effective.
Once the motorway is past the last on-ramp (Onewa Rd) – the traffic is free flowing and there is no need for buses to be separated out- there will be no advantage to them – they can't move faster than the rest of the traffic at 80K, even in their own lane.
This is one of those 'sound good' policies which actually has little, if any, benefit.
We’re talking a couple of decades into the future at least. There will be no buses and more cars you’d think.
It also has the added benefit of problems with other traffic- breakdowns and so on, not affecting the buses.
I'm not sure what you're getting at here??? Do you think that PT is no longer going to be necessary?
noThat light use scenario has played out at various times across the bridge – when heavy traffic (including buses) has been directed to the centre span. It doesn't really have a big impact on the volume of traffic – although it makes it a bit difficult for buses to manoeuvre across to and from the side-of-the-motorway bus lanes.
Walking and cycling across the existing bridge is a dead duck. It's quite simply not going to happen unless the Government legislates for it – and accepts all H&S liability (I can't see them doing this either).
ATM – AT know that if they allowed walkers/cyclists to use the existing lanes – and there was an accident resulting in deaths – they would be liable. Every board of directors and CEO in the country is watching the White Island court case with shivers running down their spines.
In addition, any restriction of capacity (and using one or more lanes for walking/cycling will significantly restrict capacity) – will make the Government deeply unpopular (and the current Government appears to be courting popularity at all costs).
No one (least of all the cyclists) appears to be interested in any alternatives. The cheapest and quickest would be an EV cycle shuttle from the old toll plaza to the Curran St on-ramp – running on an endless cycle during rush hour – and on call at other times.
Pedestrians, of course, already have their alternative in place – the bus system. Which has the advantage of running from close to where you live – rather than requiring you to walk for an hour to get to the bridge.
Sure- Springfield’s monorail is a solution without a problem.
This plan is essential to keep a secure and consistent connection between the shore and the city. Good density on the Shore and good access to public transport would be part of the solution to reducing a carbon footprint.
At the moment the bridge is the only point of crossing. It is currently dangerous in high winds. We are going to see more storms. That would see emergency services on either side of the harbour unnecessarily separated. It is an aging structure not designed for the kind of loads it currently takes. We will need new harbour crossings to keep the city functioning. It is a good idea to plan for them.
Solving one problem doesn’t mean not solving other problems too. What a redundant argument! If we have police we can’t have hospitals?
The mayor was busy planning cosmetic swimming pools rather than focus on urgent issues a day ago. He’s allowed to do that but central government isn’t allowed to plan for a much more pressing problem?
Take a breath people!
I'd love to know what geologists think of a tunnel in a volcanic city?
totes ok, now give that consultant a 6 figure check.
Having seen the plans (where it reaches surface level especially on the Shore side), I'm more worried about sea level rise. The section of the motorway where the road tunnel lands on the NS is already subject to being splashed by waves in a king tide with following winds.
Projecting for a 30 centimetre sea-level rise by 2050 – the whole area is going to be underwater. I wouldn't feel safe in a tunnel….
I can't comment on the projected rail link landing – the maps are too waffly to know where it would actually end up.
Ad might comment on that. According to him this plan began in 2014 so in 9 years surely that problem would dictate the route?
Plenty of stormwater / sewer / power tunnels under Auckland already, most of them in recent times with TBMs
The geology of the place is generally sandstone / greywacke with the volcanics coming up through that in known places. Makes for pretty good tunnelling conditions.
Didn't some German engineering students do a report that recommended a commuter monorail system up the centre of the North Shore motorway some years back?
It wouldn't require using extra land, although motorway overbridges would be a problem.
Can anyone shed some light on the issue of our current distribution system?
Is any of our inward cargo to Auckland and Tauranga sent down to Christchurch or Wellington via coastal shipping? And if not, why not?
Is there any reason why the government should not run a state owned coastal shipping service to get trucks (less of them and phase back down the maximum size/weight) off our roads and ensure resilience for when roads are washed out (supply into Northland or Hawkes Bay etc)?
Another issue is reducing Auckland to a coastal port – receiving goods for the local area (apart from some down from Northport by train). And having Northport and Tauranga as the two international ports (for onward shipment to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch).
PS Another (related) matter is the failure of the Cook Strait service to food from north to south and south to north reliably.
Having shipping on a level footing with overly subsidised trucking should be the first step.
Firth of Thames, Orere Point is the sensible option for the North Island main port for the future. However local politics prevents sensible solutions. As NZ fails to plan ahead Sydney may well become the hub port with all the associated costs and inefficiencies. Or we will continue to try and get ever larger ships into ports which will never be suitable for them without ongoing and ever increasing inefficiencies and expense.
Even if Auckland becomes a coastal port the capability and area used on the existing site will need to be improved/increased.
Anyone who suggests the Manukau, loses their credibility straight away.
Then there is the issue of whether exporting cheap bulk commodities to China, in return for short lived manufactered junk, is actually a sustainable future path for Aotearoa.
Try http://www.coastalbulkshipping.co.nz The present government has also done some sort of deal with two other offshore shipping companies, one of which is Swires. The latest 'CBS' ship came into service in time to pick up a 3 month contract servicing the east coast area after the cyclone wrecked the roads.
I believe this government move was an attempt to make our transport system more resilient following the kaikoura earthquake
Is The Standard really now just doing cut and paste political media releases with zero commentary?
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Be careful, if you criticise the Greens you'll need at least two learned opinions from top law firms, several linked citations and a correct translation from the original Sanskrit or Weka will ban you until after the election.
Funny, I thought he was unable to criticise the GP free dental policy so resorted to criticising how The Standard works instead.
I've just seen this Ad…..it is definitely laugh or at least smirk material.
Yes.
Mod note: you were warned a week ago to stop the trolling. Take a week off.
.https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31-07-2023/#comment-1962394
Nope. The Standard has long used Notices and Features to publish media releases or other material from political parties. It also gets used for cross posting, caption contests etc. Basically it's for posts that don't have a TS author commentary.
https://thestandard.org.nz/author/notices-and-features/
eg https://thestandard.org.nz/labours-party-list/
It's useful because it gives readers and the commentariat broader material than what TS authors are able to do posts about.
Oh well, I guess the US team could ask for another pay rise.
The men's team also aspire to win a group 16 game to make the quarter-finals.
AB's
Newshub.
I prefer Weber to Christie at halfback (Kerr-Barlow if they changed their rules). Finau or Blackadder?
I'd have 4 in midfield (Ennor or Havili and Goodhue missing out).
And add Narawa or Stevenson to the FB/wing group. Fainga'anuku can cover midfield. The one missing out, injury reserve.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/08/ollie-ritchie-predicting-all-blacks-rugby-world-cup-squad-for-france.html
No Moody.
4 locks and one injured.
Only 5 loose forwards.*
Correctly 4 midfield (Havili over Goodhue with Ennor injured) with cover from Fainga'anuku,
* a surprise extra at the back
Will Jordan and Mark Telea and Narawa is fit enough, Leicester Fainga'anuku but for mine Stevenson has the form this year, rather than Clarke if there is an extra one.
Better late than never.
Natalia Antonova
@NataliaAntonova
She’s beautiful this way. (And as for the Soviet fetishists on here – you can fuck right off. I’m telling you this as the direct descendant of Red Army officers on both sides of the family. We’ve moved on. Fuck Moscow. Enough is enough.)
Ukraine’s national trident was installed on a monument depicting the Motherland in Kyiv on Sunday, replacing Soviet symbols in one of the most visible examples of breaking away from the past and Moscow’s influence.
[…]
Originally, the shield bore the Soviet Union’s coat of arms – a crossed hammer and sickle surrounded by ears of wheat.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/06/ukraine-replaces-soviet-symbol-on-motherland-monument-in-kyiv
please link to the tweet directly, not just the person's twitter account.
https://twitter.com/NataliaAntonova/status/1688221147848957952
And much earlier, similar tactic in Britain (same link)
Scumbags.
Sneaking in vaping shacks within dairies before the new vaping legislation ….corporate tobacco killing it transferring nicotine addiction to vaping.
They are only doing it because National want to slow down the phase out of tobacco retailing – a certain Bishop worked for BAT.
Na Philip Morris
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/10074746/Hutt-South-candidate-downplays-his-tobacco-past
Yep. Poisonous creeps. In all meanings. I still remember when B.A.T. went into Africa, particularly targetting the young smoker market….
Big Tobacco indeed….
And IMO, the very sad corruption of the Vape alternative to smoking and cessation of same.
+1 SPC
Damn. Behind the paywall. Someone?
How come the perception that Youth Crime is raging out of control? Derek Chang has a brilliant column under "Election Analysis 2023" Graphs and all:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-youth-crime-the-politics-numbers-and-what-would-make-a-difference/USKHTN6HTREZJFBXE3HSRHVLMU/
https://archive.is/
Sometimes someone has already archived it, use the 2nd field first to check. But if it hasn't been, use the first one. It will take a while to archive then you can click on the latest version and copy and paste the direct link here.
eg
https://archive.is/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-youth-crime-the-politics-numbers-and-what-would-make-a-difference/USKHTN6HTREZJFBXE3HSRHVLMU/
What the direct link looks like https://archive.is/IUUMm
Allowing Wayne Brown to blowhard on RNZ this morning. Geeeeeez.
For a while for the right the harbour crossing was more important than any light rail. Now it’s a distraction from other things, apparently. Outmaneuvered, they shift attack.
No one seems to have pulled him up for spending his time talking about putting swimming pools on the waterfront and moving the port ahead of other pressing business.
Or the fact that we can walk and breathe and it’s vitally important to keep the Shore properly connected to the city so we need to get started well before the bridge starts failing or the rate of high winds etc increases. We can do that and resurface other roads etc etc.
And the right had organised good Vox popli follow up to support the mayor too, as if starting the planning for this was responsible for too many cones in streets in the city.
On the back foot and the opposition is getting time to frame their policies.
I thought he made some sense…
What exactly did you disagree with..?
And the nth shore is already well-served..with road/bridge/ferry options…lots of other areas are public transport deserts..
And I have no problem with the port being reclaimed for people to use…
What have you got against that idea..?
Both major parties are looking at a new Harbour crossing.
The busway is already heavily subscribed.
The bridge is already dangerous in high winds. This is something that needs replacing and because of the size it needs to be looked at early to get it done.
I know chewing gum and walking is a problem for some- but we can plan to deal with this issue as well as working on other problems across the transport network. It’s a false argument.
My point is yesterday the Mayor was talking about a long term plan, but no one said Oh no! No more road resurfacing because we want to put a swimming pool downtown.
As well in a city very well served with beaches, and considering the failure of the Wynyard tram you have to wonder about the value of these developments on what can be a cold, windy space. A two month a year development? Perhaps less with sub tropical summer storms.
Under the usual scenario in NZ infrastructure you don’t actually build something or even think about it until the original structure is well past its use by date or falls down. Then 2 decades go by while we drive around it or climb over it before a replacemet is thrown together. It seems also to be a mantra especially at local level to build something for yesterday instead of 30 or 50 years down the track. The number of one- way bridges in this country is testament to that cross-eyed yokel thinking. it is still going n, I drive across two of them built within the last 15 years to go 20kms to a large town. The previous ones were 90 and 110 years old, if one lane was enough a hundred years ago I suppose another 100 years of backing trucks backwards off bridges so at least someone can get past will just have to do, can’t spend too much money y’know.
The time to build a second harbour crossing was yesterday.
So, Phillip "all for a view?"
The planning for the tunnels and rail started as Ad said in 2014. Nine years looking at what is long lasting and feasible. Making a commitment. Brown complains about consultation. What a crock.
Show us the consultation on Budget cuts he high handedly announced. Show us the consultation and planning for his Ports idea. Both were non existent, but now he wants consultation.?????
I see you don't address what he said..
He is wanting different not better is why.
To be entirely fair to Brown, the budget cuts came after what was the most submitted upon budget in Auckland Council history.
We (the public) did have our say. And the Councillors (from all sides of the political spectrum) did have to agree upon it. He's not a one-man-dictatorship, he only has one vote on the Council.
HUUUUGE shoutout to the nurses unions and teachers unions who stuck it out and got what they needed, accepting their big offers.
Have to ask why a Labour government made it all so hard.
But a win's a win for everyone.
I never put down organised labour–apart perhaps from tactical differences–having been a life long unionist myself, but…would note that a number of public sector workers were way more timid when sirkey was in office, with the honourable exception of those teacher unions that held out against Hekia Parata’s National Standards, Charter schools, and bulk funding and “performance” pay.
Labour spent big during COVID basically, pity so much of it went into property via finance capital!
We only accepted in the knowledge that if we held out the Mecca would drag out past October and a change of Government would mean no settlement for years.
Bread and knowing which side is buttered with a little honey on the side.
Theres something to be said for honesty….and all those that say the PS Unions target Labour admins are vindicated.
Depends on the union. Serious action also requires members to want to do it – if they don't, it doesn't matter who the government is.
https://youtu.be/HFqQGIBUDWA