A blunder by a government worker sent Northland into an 11-day lockdown after travel documents that were meant to be declined were mistakenly approved.
The case of three women who travelled from Auckland to Northland hit headlines in October 2021 in the midst of a Delta outbreak – but new documents released under the Official Information Act finally outline the truth behind the saga, and the reason Northland was put into lockdown.
The OIA papers show the women – who had earlier been blamed for using "false information" to get travel permits – had no links to gangs and weren't sex workers, as had been suggested.
Among the documents released is a summary of a police investigation into the women which found "no offence" and no "deception" in obtaining the travel documents.
Detective Inspector Aaron Proctor's summary of "Operation Hiking" quoted an email from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment which said the travel documents were "issued in error by the Ministry of Social Development, (the error not being the fault of the applicant)".
snip……..
Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni said she was briefed at the time.
“I understand that the information contained in the application wouldn’t have met the criteria at the time and it was approved in error.
“I’ve spoken to MSD officials who are very sorry this occurred. Overall MSD staff assessing business travel register applications for travel across borders during lockdown did a great job, and while this incident was an isolated one, it should not have happened.”
How many more of these stories will come out?
And again, the point is not the lock down. The point is that these people were vilified, slandered, defamed, and in part by a government that could not admit to the public that a Winz Drone provided travel documents by mistake – the Winz Drone mistake.
And dear Carmel Sepuloni, YOU should apologize on behalf of your ministry to these People that were slandered and vilified in public by government employees, the press and the public .
To be fair, Sepuloni was briefed at the time but she may not have been told of the "blunder" by the Social Welfare ministry worker. That information appears to have come to light further down the track.
Even so, I agree Sepuloni needs to formally apologise to the young women concerned. They must be deeply scarred by the experience. They will have to carry the ignominy of being charged by public opinion as gang related prostitutes which is effectively what happened. Racism was also up there from the start.
Believe me, sweeping embarrassing situations under metaphorical carpets is par for the course when it comes to some government agencies. It has been going on for decades. The plight of the unsuspecting victim or victims is not considered to be of any consequence. Indeed they often are – or were – bullied into silence.
I hope those young women receive compensation for what they've been through.
Thanks Anne for providing an absolute model of how to respond rationally to these sorts of inevitable administrative cock-ups and the ensuing (but not inevitable) cover-ups. There is a way of criticising Labour from the left that does not give succour and support to the right-wing Jimmies (1.1) who will leverage it to discredit any progressive policy or intentions. In this case, the right-wing Jimmies will try and use it to re-write history and trash the best overall Covid response in the western world.
It was the media who were making the 'inferences' during the blanket coverage at the time. Chris Hipkins was repeating the official line he had been given… that the young women had not been truthful about their reasons for travel. He reacted the same way as the rest of the country by expressing his "disappointment" with them – just did it a little more diplomatically than the rest of us.
We now know through the inquiry that was not correct. The fault lay fairly and squarely with the Social Welfare ministry and so it looks like it is they who should be apologising and recompensing the young women concerned.
I should qualify my comment above by placing the responsibility for the apology on Social Welfare minister, Carmel Sepuloni which is what I said @ 1.2. That is the correct procedure. It should have happened before now, but I guess it would be better late than never.
“My understanding at this point – and I want to be clear this is not yet verified – is that this person obtained a document by providing false information in order to get the document to travel across the border,” Hipkins said.
I can't find any media statement where he corrected this information – on or after the 13th of October, when his office had a briefing, telling them that it was a bureaucratic error, rather than deliberate deception.
This led to the October 13 briefing from MBIE to Hipkins, Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash. The briefing said: "It is our understanding that the intention was to decline the application but it was approved in error."
The women were publicly vilified for crossing the border with then Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins accusing them of using "false information to travel across the border".
The case also saw reporters quizzing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over whether the women were prostitutes and former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters was forced to apologise for falsely claiming the pair were helped by Hawke's Bay-based Mongrel Mob leader Harry Tam.
The police inquiry summary said: "The police investigation found no evidence to suggest that (the women) had any connection to Harry Tam, the Mongrel Mob or were involved in prostitution."
this might be a better article on this issue as it is not behind pay wall.
So that was some shitstirring too considering it was a Winz Drone that got it wrong. But then its easy to accuse beneficiaries of fraud as that always provides a nice scapegoat behind the short comings of highly paid public servants can be hidden.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern referred questions on the Government blunder that sent Northland into an 11-day lockdown to former Covid Minister Chris Hipkins.
New documents released under the Official Information Act have revealed the truth about the highly publicised case of three women who travelled from Auckland to Northland in October 2021 in the midst of a Delta outbreak, putting Northland into an alert level 3 lockdown.
The OIA papers show the women – who had earlier been blamed for using "false information" to get travel permits – had no links to gangs and weren't sex workers, as had been suggested, and their permit had been approved in error.
Hipkins claimed there was nothing new in today's reporting as the error that led to the Northland lockdown in October last year was made public.
So, Sabine you are happy for the government's opponents including the right wing media to milk the inquiry findings in order to create the perception that it was…
all this evil government's fault n' the ministers are to blame n' we hate em so's we're going to trash em for all they're worth and forget the two women at the centre cos they don't count.
You are doing exactly what AB @1.2.1 notes should not happen:
… criticising Labour from the left that gives succour and support to the right-wing Jimmies (1.1) who will leverage it to discredit…
I wrote a comment initially in support of your stand, but of you think the above tactic is going to be helpful to the young women concerned then you are wrong.
"The claims, along with other allegations about the woman, have been widely circulated on social media, text and email but have not been confirmed by officials or the Government.
The Ministry of Health has not commented on the claims and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told a hastily arranged press conference last night that he did not have information to suggest the woman was connected to a gang.
A reporter at the press conference said they had been told the woman is a sex worker but Hipkins said he could not confirm that – he had not been briefed that was the case"
'Winston Peters' TV claims – woman at centre of Northland scare 'connected to Mongrel Mob'
However, locations of interest were limited to two service stations as the woman had been "uncooperative" with authorities in determining her movements in the region, according to Hipkins.
Of course they were uncooperative. They were scared witless. The authorities were intimidating in their attitude and they ran away and hid.
I don't blame Hipkins. He couldn't possibly have known exactly what was going on. He was repeating what he had been told. Everyone assumed they were guilty and when a bunch of arseholes are spreading false stories via social media and a former deputy leader repeats them as being for real, then it is only going to make matters worse.
I can understand why these two women seem to think it was the government's fault, but the real culprits were a) the ministry for attempting to play down the error and b) the social media 'bottom feeders’ along with Winston Peters who picked up the crap and ran with them.
Even though we now know Govt. ministers were not to blame, I hope they will still offer them a full apology on behalf of those who were responsible for their plight.
Sorry can't answer because it is not in the context of whatever the conversation was about. One thing I can say: it was NOT referring to front line health staff. What I have witnessed – including a few days in hospital earlier this year – they have gone above and beyond. All of them deserve gongs.
This reminds me if what Celia Lashlie wrote about in reference to people (usually mothers) who become involved with state agencies.
The individual is closely held to account and made responsible for every transgression or omission, and yet, MSD, WINZ, Police, IRD etc can be incorrect. Often leading to dire consequences for the people at the bottom of the heap and never be held to the same scrutiny.
Totally agree. Have witnessed it happen to others and have also been on the receiving end. For decades there was a left/right divide too. If you were on the 'right' then a blind eye was turned on your transgressions. If you were 'left' then the lights were shone on your every move.
Greenhouse gas emissions fell during lockdowns – Stats NZ
Household emissions fell in most regions of New Zealand between 2019 and 2021, the result less use of transport during Covid-19 restrictions, Stats NZ says
Where did emissions increase the most?
Stats NZ said the Canterbury increase was largely from agriculture, forestry, and fishing (up 6.5 percent), and most significantly because the number of dairy cattle had increased.
First Link.CO2 increase bad enough..but the Methane and NO2 increase are a clear danger.
Second Link. Well….not too hard to see that reduced cars on roads….(often stuck in jams) would lead to less polluting gases. Sad that ..as lockdowns ended people just reverted back. Even with huge fuel increases….
Why the fuck should we be having more rights to existance then cows? What other animal could we cull in order to save our overconsuming, lazy asses? Horses? Pigs? Dogs? Hedgehogs? Squirrels? Buffalo? Crickets? Bees? Flying insects (mind we done a good job here already).
The problem really is that most humans can't imagine a world in which they don't have electricity to squander, they don't have supermarket full of shit that is not good for their bodies but nicely packaged, that they don't be able to pull a boat/bikes/gadgets from the North Island to the south Island for some biking on some new track in some nice natural parks for leisure and so on and so forth.
Maybe we cull half of humanity, and safe the cows. Cows have never harmed anyone. Also, cows don't need oil, dumb arse human beings do.
That is right. Profit for humans, human governments etc etc etc.
Again, nothing that the cow should be carrying responsibility for, and nothing for which cows should be culled / exterminated/ kept in a zoo to preserve the species. They are the exploited natural being. Humans in their zeal for more are the exploiters, polluters and world killers.
DB Brown knows full well what i am saying. But hey, him/her/they being hyperbole about me gives them the excuse to actually not comment on the fact that I am blaming human overconsumption and the need for new shit every other day rather then cows, who are the most unlikely beast on this planet to harm anyone.
The world ruining predator is US, humans and their need to need more in order to feel fullfilled.
Hey RB just an idea. Why not brush up on figures and mechanisms of speech – you know metaphor, irony, sarcasm, alliteration before you try to derail an argument (because that is what you are doing) with some careless rigid approach.
Consider reading poetry or Shakespeare. There are more ways of expressing oneself and making an impact than a bare recitation of facts.
Consider Churchill from his speech to the House of Commons on 4/6/1940
'…
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty’s Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.'
So memorable that my mother could recite this last paragraph, right down to intonation until the end of her life in 2010 ……from hearing on the radio in 1940.
Last time she went on a genocidal rant I believe it was prompted by my mentioning making cheese from fermented cashews. Or maybe it was cows again. It was in recent memory. And long term, it's not so much a debating style as an unhinged asshole venting their spleen. We all vent, sometimes.
I just spent the morning mulching weed species to plant productive tree species. My 'green' neighbor makes some snide comment about what we determine to be weeds, as if the privet will feed us.
Sometimes I really can't be fucked with stupid. I don't need to be told off for not engaging with such nonsensical ranting. Sabine's points on climate are as new to me as climate change itself.
Hi DB Brown. Sounds like you walk the talk into Positive action. Always the best way. Oh I did see you and Stuart Munro talking about Black Soldier fly? Interesting!
There was a Country Calendar episode on Regenerative Farming ..and Dung Beetles
Do you have Tiger worms ? They are voracious…eat old veges, leaves, grass clippings,cardboard, even carpet ! Turns all into fantastic compost…..can even get the liquid out as it is a super growth formula !
I'm not sure what worms are currently in the compost bin, though I've done a bit of worm wrangling before. I like those fast shiny native ones, good lookin' – for worms.
I'm keen on the more food forest approach of mulching in place and letting the critters make compost on the spot. The compost bin is simply convenient (throw scraps out window, scraps land in bin). But in drought mulch simply wasn't breaking down so plants weren't getting compost… Climate change is one MF'er of a challenge! Now we've had some wet it's better. I only lost a couple of trees to drought which is great considering I didn't water (swales to soak water in). Harvesting bananas that haven't been watered in a drought – LOL. That's pushing the edge.
I will irrigate some of my new trees, sparingly, as I don't want to lose my avocados (again).
The large privet I just dropped are still alive. They'll get coppiced and used for fuel (outdoor rocket stove summers), mushroom logs (only Tramates so far, but experimenting with four local edibles with this new lot of wood), garden poles, landscaping logs… They can stay on the perimeter and provide shelter/goods till I'm ready to replace them with something 'better'.
Got too much wood right now. Might make a big hugelkultur though they're very labor intensive they do build fantastic soil.
I've written a paper on privet's uses, it got people mighty upset. CULL that shit too apparently. The purists are pointlessly spouting ideals that no longer apply, everything's changing, keep up!
Only four hours food foresting today. Back inside for a nice dahl and… I just harvested, today… some kumara! Crazy but true. Harvested kumara and at the same time rooting kumara slips for the next crop. To get them real late (yet small and edible) put slips under tree drip lines in poor hard soil so they've competition for (and few) resources. They'll take all year to make you lovely wee baby kumara.
The Botanical Gardens on Saturday has the Auckland Tree Crop Association Annual Sale, for anyone who wants some great deals/variety/tips. I'm way excited. Clear out the bank balance and got the mate engaged with his truck.
A food forest, and place to teach from, that's the plan. Blame Robert if we're to yell at anyone.
"Mulching in place" – yes x a million – it's so elegant! Hard to watch though, over the fence.
Don't chip; prune, chop, snap and crunch underfoot, as if you were a bear or an elk.
I envy you the "Auckland Tree Crop Association Annual Sale" – if only!
Brought pigeon pea plants yesterday. Cajanus cajan. Excited! Dividing and relocating various bamboos today. Love it. The bananas are throwing out their first post-winter leaves and cannas are pushing through. I love this stuff 🙂
Yes I'm very excited about the sale. Almost perfect timing except there's a months work down back not 2-3 weeks as I'd planned. But they will be fine sitting under the macadamia while I finish the mulch/landscaping. Close to perfect timing…
I have a slope downhill to the west. I'm planning tall species at back (right up to the native bush) medium in centre and small/shrubs at the top. So there's a level canopy and you walk down the hill till you are under a canopy of food. This is an extension to an existing garden/forest garden which provides much for me, I couldn't be happier except for the huge workload up front! Could call a working bee but nah, just get fit.
Huge Karaka stand right behind where the food forests going too. For those in the know, there'll be no shortages here.
I disagree…….it was a plea not to be so literal when we have a beautiful language to use. The point too was being so literal actually missed the point that was being made by Sabine.
Who wants to be a slave to Twitter? Or, as my sister says, have brains the size of the tiny screen in front of us? Why do we need to even think of doing this in this forum?
Ecofascism is a thing, and, among other things, it proposes various ways of population control some of which even go as far as culling [certain] people. It is no joke, no metaphor, irony, sarcasm, or alliteration; it is serious.
I have no idea what Sabine is or is not, as I don’t know her, have never met her, and only read her comments here on TS. Her commenting & debating style can be aggressive, acerbic, antagonistic, and acrimonious at times, IMO. Others could easily mistake her comment about culling people as an ecofascist argument, particularly when it is poorly articulated with little explanatory context and no nuance – you know how hard it can be for people to clearly state here what they mean (e.g., https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-03-09-2022/#comment-1908901). Anywho, that’s it from me on this.
touche. Although I think Sabine is pretty direct. I do know her, from her comments and talking with her online over the years. I guess she would be an ecofascist and playing double game but I prefer to take people at face value.
And yes, it does take some work to understand her at times, which is why I made a point of pointing this out to DB. I don't think her point is poorly articulated, I think her commenting style is outside the bell curve of what is usual here. I count that as a good thing. If people are unclear they can always ask.
The cull (population reduction) is part of the SRES emission scenarios,it requires the human population to cap at 8 billion,then reduce to 6 billion by 2100.
There is also a widespread increase in Eco anxiety ( mostly due to decreased Fe transport of O2 brain) a side effect of the prozac generation and increase in the size of social studies faculty's and decrease in STEM ability.
Reduce cow herd size by reducing cow breeding of new stock. Certainly stop the ever increasing cow population across the world at the expense of other animals (including insects, birds, fish) plants and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (methane and coal burning at the dairy production end).
Return the bulk of New Zealand farmland to woodland; manage it for "food'n'fibre" (mahingakai) and provide space and opportunity for people to live and work, create community and contribute to the health of the planet 🙂
Yes. And dairy farmers already cull cows for multiple reasons – such as low production, failure to conceive and produce offspring and susceptibility to disease. Those who call for a reduction in cow population are not advocating some new mass slaughter that does not already occur – it does. Cow number reduction would occur through exactly these same mechanisms – as well as regulatory restrictions preventing new dairy conversions from other land uses.
Dairy cattle numbers increased by 82 percent nationally from 3.4 million to 6.3 million
Between 1990 and 2019
Southland dairy cattle increased sixteen-fold (1,584 percent) from 38,000 to 636,000. beef cattle decreased by 15.3 percent nationally from 4.6 million to 3.9 million. sheep decreased by 53.6 percent nationally from 57.9 million to 26.8 million.15/04/2021
A reduction in land use probably as exotic tree planting by foreigners to offset their lignite use in Sweden and Germany seems to be the new esg rainbow.
That may be true Sabine but to keep them in existence you need bulls as well. Bulls have certainly harmed lots of people. Indeed I have never yet met a farmer who would turn his back on a bull. They can attack with no warning at all.
Good grief, the first thing we learned as little kids on the country side was that: Do not enter any paddocks/stalls of any lifestock without competent handlers. I.e. farmers, farm hands. That included goats, cows, pigs, horses, ponies, and also…..stay away from bee hives. Ditto if you don't know the dog, don't touch/pet it, you might lose a hand. lol. Heck, some even put signs up for the townies and tourists that came for the good air cause humans are actually quite stupid.
clyptosporidium, nitrates from industrial dairy farming are killing people.Bowel cancer rates increasing in areas where intensified dairy farming areas.
Humans "can't imagine", Sabine, for a number of reasons, one being the erosion of the ability to imagine anything at all, thanks to civilisations need to quell imagination for its own security. When someone with a functioning imagination appears and alerts us to their imaginings, we ring-fence, diminish and dismiss them as "crazy folk", to ease our anxiety. The recent Kim Hill interview with George Monbiot is a good example of this.
For what its worth we can imagine the killing/culling of animals rather then downsizing and consuming less. But i guess consuming until this planet looks like the Easter Island is a human right, or lack of imagination.
It's purely lack of imagination. If everyone could "see" the outcomes of this behaviour and that behaviour, all would change. Our ability to "picture" or envision scenarios other than what we have been presented with, through movies and books; media of all sorts, Government and business decrees, religious instructions, cultural imperatives etc. blinds us to the real situation and this is exploited by those who seek the various forms of power that appeal. Our best bet, on a personal and global level, is to cultivate imagination; seek it's source, explore and share your discoveries; artists do this, and by artists, I mean everyone who does this 🙂
maybe raise that imagination in those that really believe that cows, or other animals that the human being exploits for profit is the issue.
we know what we have to do, in general i elieve that people know, but it is hard to stop squandering resources be they cows, water, farmland and/or humans.
in the end, we will only have ourselfs to eat once we killed everything else.
Yes, we've discovered, finally, in the Western World, that
"…it is hard to stop squandering resources be they cows, water, farmland and/or humans."
Other/earlier cultures faced the same issue and came up with solutions – rahui, potlatch etc. to rein themselves in. Our culture has yet to reach that state of maturity.
Yep. just never going to attempt a mindset change…because their minds are set in reinforced concrete. And what do "they" care about their/OUR Future? Most so focused on the end of the day… they cant even imagine what World our Children will inherit. And the others…making a LOT of Moo lah (some humour cause its a bit not)
Anyway. Gotta keep trying ! Always rate your comments. Informative
Eric Crapton Crampton has jumped the shark today, with another repulsive polemic full of distortions and outright lies in his latest Herald brainfart opinion piece.
Then Luxon goes on TVNZ Breakfast and RNZ Morning Report and repeats this rubbish, with nobody pulling him up, or asking what National will actually *do*
This shrill misinfo campaign from the Herald, Newshub, and other National Party regurgitators, reeks of desperation.
I know it’s hard to keep them apart sometimes but perhaps you meant Bryce instead of Eric? It doesn’t matter all that much because Clint is on to them both, it appears 😉
Whano These sandflys thugs are trying to take my eldest grandchild off her mother who is working with me full time what the FUCK that is how low these thugs will go use anything in the state system to get people to kiss their ass im going to Lawyer up for this bull shit
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New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
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oh well…….i guess someone will send an apology to the Non-Penishavers that were slandered as gang bangers and prostitutes’ and drug runners. In fact, it was WINZ that fucked up.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-19-outbreak-blunder-in-wellington-let-women-into-northland-and-shut-the-region-for-11-days/D3OIYTFMDOSWGRYBTHFO2VY7JQ/
How many more of these stories will come out?
And again, the point is not the lock down. The point is that these people were vilified, slandered, defamed, and in part by a government that could not admit to the public that a Winz Drone provided travel documents by mistake – the Winz Drone mistake.
And dear Carmel Sepuloni, YOU should apologize on behalf of your ministry to these People that were slandered and vilified in public by government employees, the press and the public .
Another day, another fuck up comes to light. No wonder they do not want an enquiry in to the Covid response.
Another day another old story dug up to attack Labour with even though it wasn't their fault on the information available at the time.
To be fair, Sepuloni was briefed at the time but she may not have been told of the "blunder" by the Social Welfare ministry worker. That information appears to have come to light further down the track.
Even so, I agree Sepuloni needs to formally apologise to the young women concerned. They must be deeply scarred by the experience. They will have to carry the ignominy of being charged by public opinion as gang related prostitutes which is effectively what happened. Racism was also up there from the start.
Believe me, sweeping embarrassing situations under metaphorical carpets is par for the course when it comes to some government agencies. It has been going on for decades. The plight of the unsuspecting victim or victims is not considered to be of any consequence. Indeed they often are – or were – bullied into silence.
I hope those young women receive compensation for what they've been through.
Thanks Anne for providing an absolute model of how to respond rationally to these sorts of inevitable administrative cock-ups and the ensuing (but not inevitable) cover-ups. There is a way of criticising Labour from the left that does not give succour and support to the right-wing Jimmies (1.1) who will leverage it to discredit any progressive policy or intentions. In this case, the right-wing Jimmies will try and use it to re-write history and trash the best overall Covid response in the western world.
Thanks AB.
Chris Hipkins sums up what happened very well in this morning's stand up with Jacinda Ardern and others:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-to-explain-govt-blunder-that-led-to-northland-lockdown/4LOTIORD7EGBRDETVUW3JR5P3I/
Yes and Press that enlarged the story should also apologise.
I may be wrong, but I don’t remember any Govt spokesperson calling out the women for their reasons heading north.
A citation would be useful.
It was the media who were making the 'inferences' during the blanket coverage at the time. Chris Hipkins was repeating the official line he had been given… that the young women had not been truthful about their reasons for travel. He reacted the same way as the rest of the country by expressing his "disappointment" with them – just did it a little more diplomatically than the rest of us.
We now know through the inquiry that was not correct. The fault lay fairly and squarely with the Social Welfare ministry and so it looks like it is they who should be apologising and recompensing the young women concerned.
I should qualify my comment above by placing the responsibility for the apology on Social Welfare minister, Carmel Sepuloni which is what I said @ 1.2. That is the correct procedure. It should have happened before now, but I guess it would be better late than never.
Hipkins did
https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/10/08/covid-case-who-visited-northland-uncooperative-may-have-lied-to-travel-hipkins/
I can't find any media statement where he corrected this information – on or after the 13th of October, when his office had a briefing, telling them that it was a bureaucratic error, rather than deliberate deception.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-19-outbreak-blunder-in-wellington-let-women-into-northland-and-shut-the-region-for-11-days/D3OIYTFMDOSWGRYBTHFO2VY7JQ/
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/covid-19/453437/chris-hipkins-on-alert-level-decisions-border-exemption-error [9:32 am on 13 October 2021]
I'd also like to know how they were accused of fraud, having gang connections and being prostitutes. Where did that come from?
From the article linked in my above comment.
this might be a better article on this issue as it is not behind pay wall.
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/covid-19-outbreak-blunder-in-wellington-let-women-into-northland-and-shut-the-region-for-11-days/
So Winston was shit stirring. But he isn’t and wasn’t a member of the Govt.
Yes, he was.
And Hipkins accused them of fraud.
So that was some shitstirring too considering it was a Winz Drone that got it wrong. But then its easy to accuse beneficiaries of fraud as that always provides a nice scapegoat behind the short comings of highly paid public servants can be hidden.
You’re shit stirring yourself, as you have no idea how much the person is or was paid who made the error. It is utterly irrelevant anyway.
The election was at the end of 2020. All this happened in October 2021. Winston was long gone from Govt.
Stephen D
government response here
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/chris-hipkins-defends-northland-lockdown-amid-calls-for-responsibility-over-govt-blunder/4LOTIORD7EGBRDETVUW3JR5P3I/
So, Sabine you are happy for the government's opponents including the right wing media to milk the inquiry findings in order to create the perception that it was…
all this evil government's fault n' the ministers are to blame n' we hate em so's we're going to trash em for all they're worth and forget the two women at the centre cos they don't count.
You are doing exactly what AB @1.2.1 notes should not happen:
I wrote a comment initially in support of your stand, but of you think the above tactic is going to be helpful to the young women concerned then you are wrong.
The following backs Hipkins
"The claims, along with other allegations about the woman, have been widely circulated on social media, text and email but have not been confirmed by officials or the Government.
The Ministry of Health has not commented on the claims and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told a hastily arranged press conference last night that he did not have information to suggest the woman was connected to a gang.
A reporter at the press conference said they had been told the woman is a sex worker but Hipkins said he could not confirm that – he had not been briefed that was the case"
'Winston Peters' TV claims – woman at centre of Northland scare 'connected to Mongrel Mob'
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-winston-peters-tv-claims-woman-at-centre-of-northland-scare-connected-to-mongrel-mob/IUAPS4YERU4NNAPSCI2YOCLWVM/
Of course they were uncooperative. They were scared witless. The authorities were intimidating in their attitude and they ran away and hid.
I don't blame Hipkins. He couldn't possibly have known exactly what was going on. He was repeating what he had been told. Everyone assumed they were guilty and when a bunch of arseholes are spreading false stories via social media and a former deputy leader repeats them as being for real, then it is only going to make matters worse.
I can understand why these two women seem to think it was the government's fault, but the real culprits were a) the ministry for attempting to play down the error and b) the social media 'bottom feeders’ along with Winston Peters who picked up the crap and ran with them.
Even though we now know Govt. ministers were not to blame, I hope they will still offer them a full apology on behalf of those who were responsible for their plight.
Anne, given any thought to the question I asked you on Open Mike 31/7/22?
Wouldn't have a clue what you asked me on the 31st.
"
…. a Health Minister repeatedly getting offside with the workforce while trying to reform (rebrand) the system.
Uggh? The other way round imo."
Do you mind expanding a little on that Anne?
My reckons have it health staff have gone above and beyond the last 8 or so years and in particular the last 33 months, especially front line staff.
Sorry can't answer because it is not in the context of whatever the conversation was about. One thing I can say: it was NOT referring to front line health staff. What I have witnessed – including a few days in hospital earlier this year – they have gone above and beyond. All of them deserve gongs.
I want to know who was vilified, slandered, defamed. Can you give me their names so I won't vilify, slander and defame them?
Does anyone know what Chris Bishop said about them at the time?
This reminds me if what Celia Lashlie wrote about in reference to people (usually mothers) who become involved with state agencies.
The individual is closely held to account and made responsible for every transgression or omission, and yet, MSD, WINZ, Police, IRD etc can be incorrect. Often leading to dire consequences for the people at the bottom of the heap and never be held to the same scrutiny.
Violence always goes down a hierarchy.
Totally agree. Have witnessed it happen to others and have also been on the receiving end. For decades there was a left/right divide too. If you were on the 'right' then a blind eye was turned on your transgressions. If you were 'left' then the lights were shone on your every move.
First Link.CO2 increase bad enough..but the Methane and NO2 increase are a clear danger.
Second Link. Well….not too hard to see that reduced cars on roads….(often stuck in jams) would lead to less polluting gases. Sad that ..as lockdowns ended people just reverted back. Even with huge fuel increases….
And the Dairy cattle. Not going to end until…
https://www.renews.co.nz/series/milk-and-money-the-true-cost-of-dairy-in-aotearoa/
They simply can't imagine a world without
powercows and oil.Why the fuck should we be having more rights to existance then cows? What other animal could we cull in order to save our overconsuming, lazy asses? Horses? Pigs? Dogs? Hedgehogs? Squirrels? Buffalo? Crickets? Bees? Flying insects (mind we done a good job here already).
The problem really is that most humans can't imagine a world in which they don't have electricity to squander, they don't have supermarket full of shit that is not good for their bodies but nicely packaged, that they don't be able to pull a boat/bikes/gadgets from the North Island to the south Island for some biking on some new track in some nice natural parks for leisure and so on and so forth.
Maybe we cull half of humanity, and safe the cows. Cows have never harmed anyone. Also, cows don't need oil, dumb arse human beings do.
Wow.
But the cow population has exploded because humans want to milk them…for all they're…worth!
That is right. Profit for humans, human governments etc etc etc.
Again, nothing that the cow should be carrying responsibility for, and nothing for which cows should be culled / exterminated/ kept in a zoo to preserve the species. They are the exploited natural being. Humans in their zeal for more are the exploiters, polluters and world killers.
That's twice in a week you've called for the culling of people.
Unhinged.
How about you try cleaning up your diet those prions seem to be taking hold.
she's not calling for the culling of people. She's using hyperbole to point out the problems with humans.
DB Brown knows full well what i am saying. But hey, him/her/they being hyperbole about me gives them the excuse to actually not comment on the fact that I am blaming human overconsumption and the need for new shit every other day rather then cows, who are the most unlikely beast on this planet to harm anyone.
The world ruining predator is US, humans and their need to need more in order to feel fullfilled.
"Maybe we cull half of humanity" – gimme a break. She's doing exactly what I said.
And apparently I'm looking for excuses.
A fucking bore and an idiot.
hahahahahahahaha
thanks for the laugh.
cheers.
Hey RB just an idea. Why not brush up on figures and mechanisms of speech – you know metaphor, irony, sarcasm, alliteration before you try to derail an argument (because that is what you are doing) with some careless rigid approach.
Consider reading poetry or Shakespeare. There are more ways of expressing oneself and making an impact than a bare recitation of facts.
Consider Churchill from his speech to the House of Commons on 4/6/1940
So memorable that my mother could recite this last paragraph, right down to intonation until the end of her life in 2010 ……from hearing on the radio in 1940.
well said. Sabine's style of political discourse is challenging but rewarding imo if one makes the effort at understanding.
and that's true when I'm agreeing or disagreeing with her.
Last time she went on a genocidal rant I believe it was prompted by my mentioning making cheese from fermented cashews. Or maybe it was cows again. It was in recent memory. And long term, it's not so much a debating style as an unhinged asshole venting their spleen. We all vent, sometimes.
I just spent the morning mulching weed species to plant productive tree species. My 'green' neighbor makes some snide comment about what we determine to be weeds, as if the privet will feed us.
Sometimes I really can't be fucked with stupid. I don't need to be told off for not engaging with such nonsensical ranting. Sabine's points on climate are as new to me as climate change itself.
Hi DB Brown. Sounds like you walk the talk into Positive action. Always the best way. Oh I did see you and Stuart Munro talking about Black Soldier fly? Interesting!
There was a Country Calendar episode on Regenerative Farming ..and Dung Beetles
Do you have Tiger worms ? They are voracious…eat old veges, leaves, grass clippings,cardboard, even carpet ! Turns all into fantastic compost…..can even get the liquid out as it is a super growth formula !
I'm not sure what worms are currently in the compost bin, though I've done a bit of worm wrangling before. I like those fast shiny native ones, good lookin' – for worms.
I'm keen on the more food forest approach of mulching in place and letting the critters make compost on the spot. The compost bin is simply convenient (throw scraps out window, scraps land in bin). But in drought mulch simply wasn't breaking down so plants weren't getting compost… Climate change is one MF'er of a challenge! Now we've had some wet it's better. I only lost a couple of trees to drought which is great considering I didn't water (swales to soak water in). Harvesting bananas that haven't been watered in a drought – LOL. That's pushing the edge.
I will irrigate some of my new trees, sparingly, as I don't want to lose my avocados (again).
The large privet I just dropped are still alive. They'll get coppiced and used for fuel (outdoor rocket stove summers), mushroom logs (only Tramates so far, but experimenting with four local edibles with this new lot of wood), garden poles, landscaping logs… They can stay on the perimeter and provide shelter/goods till I'm ready to replace them with something 'better'.
Got too much wood right now. Might make a big hugelkultur though they're very labor intensive they do build fantastic soil.
I've written a paper on privet's uses, it got people mighty upset. CULL that shit too apparently. The purists are pointlessly spouting ideals that no longer apply, everything's changing, keep up!
Only four hours food foresting today. Back inside for a nice dahl and… I just harvested, today… some kumara! Crazy but true. Harvested kumara and at the same time rooting kumara slips for the next crop. To get them real late (yet small and edible) put slips under tree drip lines in poor hard soil so they've competition for (and few) resources. They'll take all year to make you lovely wee baby kumara.
The Botanical Gardens on Saturday has the Auckland Tree Crop Association Annual Sale, for anyone who wants some great deals/variety/tips. I'm way excited. Clear out the bank balance and got the mate engaged with his truck.
A food forest, and place to teach from, that's the plan. Blame Robert if we're to yell at anyone.
I'll shoulder the blame, no worries 🙂
"Mulching in place" – yes x a million – it's so elegant! Hard to watch though, over the fence.
Don't chip; prune, chop, snap and crunch underfoot, as if you were a bear or an elk.
I envy you the "Auckland Tree Crop Association Annual Sale" – if only!
Brought pigeon pea plants yesterday. Cajanus cajan. Excited! Dividing and relocating various bamboos today. Love it. The bananas are throwing out their first post-winter leaves and cannas are pushing through. I love this stuff 🙂
Yes I'm very excited about the sale. Almost perfect timing except there's a months work down back not 2-3 weeks as I'd planned. But they will be fine sitting under the macadamia while I finish the mulch/landscaping. Close to perfect timing…
I have a slope downhill to the west. I'm planning tall species at back (right up to the native bush) medium in centre and small/shrubs at the top. So there's a level canopy and you walk down the hill till you are under a canopy of food. This is an extension to an existing garden/forest garden which provides much for me, I couldn't be happier except for the huge workload up front! Could call a working bee but nah, just get fit.
Huge Karaka stand right behind where the food forests going too. For those in the know, there'll be no shortages here.
Karaka – nice – prepare carefully!
(I have them growing here, in Southland 🙂
Complaining about commentators not rising to the heights of Shakespeare or Churchill in an age of Twitter is just a bit silly.
Best to apply facts with comments that are testable.
Otherwise, OpenMike just is what it is.
I disagree…….it was a plea not to be so literal when we have a beautiful language to use. The point too was being so literal actually missed the point that was being made by Sabine.
Who wants to be a slave to Twitter? Or, as my sister says, have brains the size of the tiny screen in front of us? Why do we need to even think of doing this in this forum?
oh, so you're a literalist? I hadn't picked that.
Ecofascism is a thing, and, among other things, it proposes various ways of population control some of which even go as far as culling [certain] people. It is no joke, no metaphor, irony, sarcasm, or alliteration; it is serious.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecofascism
I know what ecofascism is, but Sabine isn't an ecofascist and people reading her comment literally are misinterpreting what she is saying.
Maybe an argument can be made that this kind of mockery shouldn't be done, but that's a different argument.
I have no idea what Sabine is or is not, as I don’t know her, have never met her, and only read her comments here on TS. Her commenting & debating style can be aggressive, acerbic, antagonistic, and acrimonious at times, IMO. Others could easily mistake her comment about culling people as an ecofascist argument, particularly when it is poorly articulated with little explanatory context and no nuance – you know how hard it can be for people to clearly state here what they mean (e.g., https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-03-09-2022/#comment-1908901). Anywho, that’s it from me on this.
touche. Although I think Sabine is pretty direct. I do know her, from her comments and talking with her online over the years. I guess she would be an ecofascist and playing double game but I prefer to take people at face value.
And yes, it does take some work to understand her at times, which is why I made a point of pointing this out to DB. I don't think her point is poorly articulated, I think her commenting style is outside the bell curve of what is usual here. I count that as a good thing. If people are unclear they can always ask.
The cull (population reduction) is part of the SRES emission scenarios,it requires the human population to cap at 8 billion,then reduce to 6 billion by 2100.
There is also a widespread increase in Eco anxiety ( mostly due to decreased Fe transport of O2 brain) a side effect of the prozac generation and increase in the size of social studies faculty's and decrease in STEM ability.
https://www.iberdrola.com/social-commitment/what-is-ecoanxiety
I assume that the IPCC didn't use the word cull though, which by definition means slaughter.
No the EU just restricted european investment ( not in gas production or lng) but in ammonia production,by technology transfer constraints in Africa.
Eco-fascism ≠ eco-anxiety
However, there might be a relatively strong correlation between the two, and even causation.
I recommend hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment once daily for 6 weeks and gradually lowering the dose of any mood-altering substances.
Reduce cow herd size by reducing cow breeding of new stock. Certainly stop the ever increasing cow population across the world at the expense of other animals (including insects, birds, fish) plants and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (methane and coal burning at the dairy production end).
Ethical animal husbandry would be a nice thing to see promoted. Ethical farming – in any aspect – would be a nice thing to see promoted.
Agreed, pingao.
Return the bulk of New Zealand farmland to woodland; manage it for "food'n'fibre" (mahingakai) and provide space and opportunity for people to live and work, create community and contribute to the health of the planet 🙂
Yes. And dairy farmers already cull cows for multiple reasons – such as low production, failure to conceive and produce offspring and susceptibility to disease. Those who call for a reduction in cow population are not advocating some new mass slaughter that does not already occur – it does. Cow number reduction would occur through exactly these same mechanisms – as well as regulatory restrictions preventing new dairy conversions from other land uses.
Let's not mention bobby calves and hammers.
Reduce cow herds to the size ones land can sustain. Ban the use of palm kernel.
Seems to be the Kernel of it
in 1990 there were around 9 million sheep now around 3 million.
Even though Merino wool..and sheep meat, there is more money….in milk.
Southland destocked by 6 million ovine stock units,(since 1990) increased bovine by 600 k,what is the differential in carrying capacity?
Did the total hectarage of farmland change at all?
Was more land retired to biodiverse woodland and wetland?
Or did we spray and pray?
A reduction in land use probably as exotic tree planting by foreigners to offset their lignite use in Sweden and Germany seems to be the new esg rainbow.
Paying to plant trees in other countries seems to be New Zealand's favoured option as well.
Wonder what the folk living in those countries think about that?
Four million two hundred thousand stock units. So there was a higher carrying capacity with sheep.
PN Though that may be the case.
3 million?
You forgot to add…circa 5million to the..total.
Read it again.
ovine = sheep
Yes,but sometimes humans are referred to as…'sheep'….we have a team…of…
Ah…i see, very good.
You are quite possibly correct.
Might be missing a zero there, friend.
As of June 2021, there were approximately 25.97 million sheep in New Zealand, ~ https://www.statista.com/statistics/974492/new-zealand-sheep-livestock-numbers/#:~:text=As%20of%20June%202021%2C%20there,million%20sheep%20in%20the%20country.
talking about southland
Palm kernel, yes, palm oil also.
Reduce cow herd size to … whatever cow herd sizes were pre-domestication 🙂
"Cows have never harmed anyone".
That may be true Sabine but to keep them in existence you need bulls as well. Bulls have certainly harmed lots of people. Indeed I have never yet met a farmer who would turn his back on a bull. They can attack with no warning at all.
Good grief, the first thing we learned as little kids on the country side was that: Do not enter any paddocks/stalls of any lifestock without competent handlers. I.e. farmers, farm hands. That included goats, cows, pigs, horses, ponies, and also…..stay away from bee hives. Ditto if you don't know the dog, don't touch/pet it, you might lose a hand. lol. Heck, some even put signs up for the townies and tourists that came for the good air cause humans are actually quite stupid.
clyptosporidium, nitrates from industrial dairy farming are killing people.Bowel cancer rates increasing in areas where intensified dairy farming areas.
Humans "can't imagine", Sabine, for a number of reasons, one being the erosion of the ability to imagine anything at all, thanks to civilisations need to quell imagination for its own security. When someone with a functioning imagination appears and alerts us to their imaginings, we ring-fence, diminish and dismiss them as "crazy folk", to ease our anxiety. The recent Kim Hill interview with George Monbiot is a good example of this.
For what its worth we can imagine the killing/culling of animals rather then downsizing and consuming less. But i guess consuming until this planet looks like the Easter Island is a human right, or lack of imagination.
It's purely lack of imagination. If everyone could "see" the outcomes of this behaviour and that behaviour, all would change. Our ability to "picture" or envision scenarios other than what we have been presented with, through movies and books; media of all sorts, Government and business decrees, religious instructions, cultural imperatives etc. blinds us to the real situation and this is exploited by those who seek the various forms of power that appeal. Our best bet, on a personal and global level, is to cultivate imagination; seek it's source, explore and share your discoveries; artists do this, and by artists, I mean everyone who does this 🙂
🙂 according to you i am such an artist. thanks.
maybe raise that imagination in those that really believe that cows, or other animals that the human being exploits for profit is the issue.
we know what we have to do, in general i elieve that people know, but it is hard to stop squandering resources be they cows, water, farmland and/or humans.
in the end, we will only have ourselfs to eat once we killed everything else.
Yes, we've discovered, finally, in the Western World, that
"…it is hard to stop squandering resources be they cows, water, farmland and/or humans."
Other/earlier cultures faced the same issue and came up with solutions – rahui, potlatch etc. to rein themselves in. Our culture has yet to reach that state of maturity.
My hope is that we will.
My fear is that there isn't much time left…
🙂
For humanity? Yes there is time left i believe. For our civilization however i tend to agree with you.
Shouldn't we start to…'eat the rich'…first?
not enough fat to make for nice gravy.
Yep. just never going to attempt a mindset change…because their minds are set in reinforced concrete. And what do "they" care about their/OUR Future? Most so focused on the end of the day… they cant even imagine what World our Children will inherit. And the others…making a LOT of Moo lah (some humour cause its a bit not)
Anyway. Gotta keep trying ! Always rate your comments. Informative
Eric
CraptonCrampton has jumped the shark today, with another repulsive polemic full of distortions and outright lies in his latest Heraldbrainfartopinion piece.Clint V Smith straightened out a few of his lies.
https://twitter.com/ClintVSmith/status/1567284641182396424?s=20&t=66R_aIpeKID9nwvAmxKOSg
Then Luxon goes on TVNZ Breakfast and RNZ Morning Report and repeats this rubbish, with nobody pulling him up, or asking what National will actually *do*
This shrill misinfo campaign from the Herald, Newshub, and other National Party regurgitators, reeks of desperation.
I know it’s hard to keep them apart sometimes but perhaps you meant Bryce instead of Eric? It doesn’t matter all that much because Clint is on to them both, it appears 😉
Oops yeah they seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet
Clint shot both Sherriff and Deputy.
That's a fistful of dollars there.
The good vs. the bad & the ugly.
Perhaps needs a '…few dollars more'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNt9NcLteoU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X2DtiE7VLw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1PfrmCGFnk
Good old Clint was a bit younger then.
Yahoooooo…..
We were so much younger then…
Whano These sandflys thugs are trying to take my eldest grandchild off her mother who is working with me full time what the FUCK that is how low these thugs will go use anything in the state system to get people to kiss their ass im going to Lawyer up for this bull shit
Ka kite Ano