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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Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
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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