Well, well, well–a gun lobbyist Act MP misleads the public on the semi-automatic weapon issue…Mrs McKee has talked up there being over 6600 people licensed to possess semis, whereas there are only 1593 allowed to possess the banned weapons–presumably mostly collectors–the Police say there are only around 328 pest controllers with permission to actually fire them.
It is rare for a Police Association President to criticise an individual MP, Mr Cahill said…
"Clearly she is using these figures to try and suggest that semi-automatic firearms are already widely available when they're not," he said.
"That goes to the heart of why I don't believe a gun lobbyist should be in charge of the firearms reform legislation or a review of the firearms registry."
Act–yes to lethal weapons in the community–no to school lunches!
I'm not especially anti gun (had my license for more than 30 years), but military style semi automatics aren't needed by 99% of hunters and I'm pleased to see them heavily restricted. I do a lot of hunting and know a lot of keen and skilled hunters… not one of them interested in using an mssa, and you never saw them even when legal. Of course they can be used, but only place they have a real benefit is in professional culling from helicopters, and our current laws already allow for that.
My biggest beef with this so-called Christian church is the belief in the Prosperity Gospel.
The Prosperity Gospel (PG) is a fast-growing theologically conservative movement frequently associated with Pentecostalism, evangelicalism, and charismatic Christianity that emphasizes believers' abilities to transcend poverty and/or illness through devotion and positive confession.
This is a religious off shoot of the type of person who blames poor people for being poor, 'bottom feeders' for short. Poor people or anyone not as rich as Croesus need 'bootstraps', 'short sharp shocks', time without money that 'we've' given them.
I looked up the ref to the phrase 'Rich as Croesus' and find how apt a description it is of PM Luxon. Croesus apart from being wealthy is also known for misinterpreting the words of the Oracle at Delphi. Sounds a bit like the Prosperity Church.
Croesus (r. 560-546 BCE) was the King of Lydia, a region in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and was so wealthy that the expression "as rich as Croesus" originates in reference to him. Best known for his wealth, he is also famous for misinterpreting the message from the Oracle at Delphi, leading to his downfall.
Ref as above from Harvard.
PS In the interests of balancing this sarcasm I did read that once he aspired to come to parliament he did not attend this 'church' regularly
In 2021 he said he had not attended a church for five or six years.
Thankfully there has been some really good work done by evangelicals to push back against prosperity teaching.
But I'm curious where you got the idea that this 'Upper Room' 'believes' in the Prosperity Gospel? I don't know much about the UR, but I've looked at both the NZ website (Welcome to The Upper Room | Church in Newmarket, Auckland – Our Story) and what appears to be the US equivalent (The Upper Room) and can't find anything about prosperity teaching. Genuine question because I know a family who visit there from time to time.
Some of the mainstream Christian publications have denounced it. But it's still massively popular along with the rise of Trump and "Christian" nationalism.
From where all heresy's must be fought and exposed – from within:
"Prosperity Gospel is a problematic issue for the Evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity, and it is so in at least two perspectives. First, it influences the teaching of many preachers who employ this approach to capture new believers on the one hand, and it is sharply criticised by many prominent Evangelical theologians who regard it as a serious heresy, a deception of many Christians, on the other."
They cleansed their sermons from their website some time ago when people started drawing attention to them. Apparently they were a bit odd. They also used to promote Rise Church as well on their webpage.
The Twitter link isn't that convincing – it references a single sermon. However if they've purged sermon history, that's a whole different level altogether.
Good to see that the Scottish "Hate Crime" Law is being recognised for the nonsense that it is.
"Those who support the new act have frequently, over the past week, sought to paint its critics as bigots, as if those of us who see flaws in the legislation are driven by fear we won’t be able to stir up hatred against anyone (except, maybe, women). This cheap attack shouldn’t be allowed to cloud the truth which is that the Hate Crime Act is a flawed law, its creation damaged by the influence of campaigners and the weakness of the former First Minister.
All of us – including both gender critical feminists and trans rights activists – should oppose a law so clearly open to abuse that it'll be impossible to uphold."
The intention of laws like this is to stifle dissent by those in power, to be used against those not in power, as well as to control the people. It has nothing to do with suppression of hate speech, but labelling as such makes it easier to justify these laws.
Jonathan Pie embarked on one of his sweary rants about this chilling legislation, which makes comedy and acting a risky enterprise in the tartan police state. He capped it off with a joke that's probably offensive to your Scottish granny, but pretty hilarious
"A summary of legal advice sought by the housing agency and released to Stuff under the Official Information Act shows that Kāinga Ora’s Māori-first name is its legal name and it’s entrenched in its establishing legislation, the Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Act 2019.
The advice says that this is in contrast to many other Crown entities, whose establishing legislation only contains an English name.
“There is nothing preventing Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities from using a ‘trading name’ to refer to itself in general communications (as some other Crown entities do), but it must use its legal name in formal documents such as contracts,” the advice says."
The Atlas Network conspiracy theory is getting really crazy now. People are now claiming that the FSU is part of Atlas despite people like Matt McCarten being involved. I didn't realise Matt McCarten was so easily turned.
Its a lot easier to prove the conspiracy, 10 minutes reading the face book posts of Gerard Otto.
Not sure how to share from his page but this is part of a post from March 11, and if you follow there are lots of pictures .
"The Atlas Network Grip on Government
This article is a summary of how embedded the influence of the two Atlas Network think tanks are in New Zealand's current government.
A useful roadmap is to scan through the front bench portfolios of the Cabinet and point out links – but there's also policy itself and where it came from and who it serves.
Plus who serves it up on a plate for consumption.
Notably Fran O'Sullivan "Went Swiss" with the NZ Initiative in May 2017 when she enjoyed a one week jolly with 39 others, mostly CEs of NZ Initiative member companies and this morning Fran has written a glowing endorsement for both David Seymour and Christopher Luxon's cabinet in the NZ Herald – mostly about opening up New Zealand for foreign investors.
"As the New Zealand Initiative has pointed out, other developed economies like France, the United Kingdom and Ireland do not even have laws with “character and competence” and “sensitive lands” requirements like our foreign investment regime." – wrote Fran before adding :
"As an Associate Finance Minister, Seymour has delegated authority in this area. Along with Cabinet minister Paul Goldsmith, he has ultimate sign-off on offshore applications to either buy existing businesses or establish greenfield ventures here."
Fran also speaks about how this neatly dovetails with fast track consenting – where Te Tiriti had been shoved aside as this Government decides it knows best and side steps the Environment Court – so it can crack on with making money for it's membership's vested interests.
The slogan "getting things done" equates to "making money for my mates" if you take a look at the kind of things getting done or getting "undone".
As you know Seymour is an Atlas Network alumni and denied Act was in any way linked to the Atlas Network to Mihingirangi Forbes on 7 February 2024.
That was proven to be a lie in may ways since – including ( but not limited to ) by the fact that Act's Vice President ( former President ) Catherine Isaac is an Honorary Member of the NZ Initiative ( Atlas Network ). Then there's Act's founder Roger Douglas ( 1993 ) and Ruth Richardson ( Ruthanasia ) both members of the Mont Pelerin society and advocates for Act. Roger Douglas recently dissed Act – but only because it was not being radical enough according to Seymour.
In 2008 Alan Gibbs donated $200K to Act and $100K in 2011, $32,000 in 2015, $100,700 from Jenny Gibbs in 2020 – and as you know – his daughter Debbi is Chair of the Atlas Network.
Alan Gibbs set up an Atlas Network think tank The Centre of Independent Studies ( there's three around the world ) and made a fortune from flicking Telecom with David Richwhite ( another honorary member of the NZ Initiative ) out of Rogernomics.
Recently Lord Hannan broke the news at the Gibbs Farm that Jordan "
Sorry if not allowed but its been very interesting to follow his well researched and backed up posts.
The FSU was set up by Jordan Williams in July 2018.. that's the same Jordan Williams that founded the TPU.. and the same Jordan Williams that has received funds from Atlas and I believe has been to workshops tun by the atlas network. In fact, if you go to the atlas network web page you'll find this article..
That Matt McCarten is involved at some small level should be of no consequence to their over all alignment with Atlas.
Also, there is no "conspiracy" regarding the atlas network, their purpose and intentions are well published as are their networks and members. They are quite open on their website what those intentions are, and they publish a yearly and quarterly report that covers off many of what they consider achievements.
So…because your 'ethical' meat hasn't been fed soy..that makes what I said about 85% of soy fed to animals bullshit..?
And you just double down on that false narrative..?
And are you just ignoring the environmental impact from farming animals..?..
You talk of mono-cultures…when animal farming has well and truly screwed over our environment..
Do the ‘ethical’ones not do that..?
[don’t grandstand under my posts. If you don’t want to engage with what people are saying, then take it to OM. Don’t extrapolate out from what people are saying so you can then project your own arguments onto other people – weka]
This cartoon (at least 5 years old) put the hoofprint of civilisation's animals on shapeship Earth in perspective for me.
Everyone has to eat (apart from 'exceptional' humans who claim to live on light – a bit like plants), and most NZers can do better, imho.
Worldwide, an estimated 2 billion people live primarily on a meat-based diet, while an estimated 4 billion live primarily on a plant-based diet. The US food production system uses about 50% of the total US land area, 80% of the fresh water, and 17% of the fossil energy used in the country. The heavy dependence on fossil energy suggests that the US food system, whether meat-based or plant-based, is not sustainable. The use of land and energy resources devoted to an average meat-based diet compared with a lactoovovegetarian (plant-based) diet is analyzed in this report. In both diets, the daily quantity of calories consumed are kept constant at about 3533 kcal per person. The meat-based food system requires more energy, land, and water resources than the lactoovovegetarian diet. In this limited sense, the lactoovovegetarian diet is more sustainable than the average American meat-based diet.
the hoofprint of civilisation's animals on shapeship Earth in perspective
The biomass of domestic cattle is close to seven times that of all wild mammals combined.
In order to put the total biomass of wild terrestrial and marine mammals (≈22 Mt and ≈39 Mt, respectively) in perspective, we compared them to domesticated mammals (Fig. 4). Many domesticated mammal species outweigh the top wild mammal biomass contributors by 10 to 1,000 fold (SI Appendix, Fig. S8). The most significant mammal biomass contributors are cattle (≈420 Mt), humans (≈390 Mt), and other livestock species most commonly reared for meat or dairy (including buffaloes, pigs, sheep, and goats). These are followed by pack animals (e.g., horses, camels, and donkeys). Domesticated pigs alone weigh ≈40 Mt, almost double the combined mass of all terrestrial wild mammals.
And a single species belonging to that "timy %" is punching unnaturally above its weight vis–à–vis ecosystem collapse and mass extinction. Our huge collective brain power has identified causes and solutions – it's only the effective implementation of those solutions at scale that has us stumped.
Homo sapiens won't be extinguished for ages, but Kiwis may have to make do with fewer epic sporting wins such as the White Ferns' triumph over England in Hamiltron ("City of the Future!") last Sunday.
Every dog has its day
…
But – a single swallow does not make a summer.
…
Two competitions. 8 matches. NZ won two, including a dead rubber.
They are bloody useless.
Many believe the changes we need to see now can be achieved fastest by prioritising the protection and preservation of nature over the interests of financial systems.
…
The future of our world hangs on our making what is perhaps the biggest international effort in history to reduce human impacts. We all have an active role to play, which requires deep transformation of our values, attitudes and behaviours.
And how am I not ' engaging'..when I am replying to three things you said..
And I'm sorry..but I am unable to comprehend what you are saying in yr final sentence..do you have an example of that..?
And am I allowed to ask you to define 'ethical' dairy/meat..and there also I am replying to you..as you have been promoting this..and mentioned it first..
Meat remains murder–how ever much people like to be in denial when they get it in plastic trays or already cooked from where ever. I predict many more vegetarians if people had to kill and butcher their own meat supplies.
The Far North where I live has a number of small outfits that advertise “Home Kills” which does sound a bit like murder eh…they roam around in vehicles with high winches and various slicing and dicing tools, despatching various types of farm animals, and then gutting and butchering them on site.
Plant based remains a better option for all of us.
Then there's tailing. I see some progress toward using anaesthetic, but still, it's appalling to think a removal is needed, as it's just correcting a situation we've caused (extra wool on animals that should be in drier parts of the world, eating rougher stuff). Tail-docking on cows, likewise appalling, to me. Hammering bobby-calves, castrating willy-nilly – the fun never ends!
Heh, that ranks up there with the classic courtroom question “when did you stop beating your wife?”
Not that it is anyone on The Standards business, I have been vegetarian most of my adult life, not an easy achievement in early days as an industrial worker, and do not have dairy products these days apart from a little cheese.
I say plant based is better for all of us in a general sense–land use, less waterway pollution, less animal cruelty and exploitation, better health for people.
Heh, that ranks up there with the classic courtroom question “when did you stop beating your wife?”
How so?
No-one here is under any obligation to answer a personal question. It's perfectly fine to ask. In this case because you are making a political argument that everyone should be vegan for climate, environment, health and animal welfare reasons. If you didn't want to answer, then just don't.
I'm glad you answered the question however, because vegetarian is not vegan, and in health terms that difference is significant. I would encourage you to listen to the voices of former vegans who had serious health problems, especially women, where those health problems often resolved when they stopped being vegan.
We also know that there are no vegan cultures historically. One of the reasons for that is because it's hard to maintain health on a vegan diet without industrial society especially across generations. Again, I would reference the numbers of women who have been vegan and had their health deteriorate after some years and then improve on eating animals again.
Menstruation, pregnancy, lactation are all quite hard on women's bodies and much harder when not getting adequate nutrients.
(and no, for those about to make the argument, it's not about badly done vegan diets, there's a whole subset of ex-vegans who were health freaks and paid a lot of attention to nutrient intake).
It appears there is are a small number of humans can be vegan over long periods of time. It doesn't look to me like it's something that most or many can sustain.
"It appears there is are a small number of humans can be vegan over long periods of time. It doesn't look to me like it's something that most or many can sustain. "
Weka I can easily make the argument going the other way :
How much longer can we sustain a meat diet growing towards 10 billion people on this planet?
And all the health implication on a personal level (diabetes, obesity) and globally with all the outbreaks we have had this far (including Covid 19). https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/20/factory-farms-pandemic-risk-covid-animal-human-health Farmageddon: The True Cost of Cheap Meat
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This week Kiwirail and Auckland Transport were celebrating the completion of the summer rail works that had the network shut or for over a month and the start of electric trains to Pukekohe. First up, here’s parts of the press release about the shutdown works. Passengers boarding trains in Auckland ...
Through its austerity measures, the coalition government has engineered a rise in unemployment in order to reduce inflation while – simultaneously – cracking down harder and harder on the people thrown out of work by its own policies. To that end, Social Development Minister Louise Upston this week added two ...
This year, we've seen a radical, white supremacist government ignoring its Tiriti obligations, refusing to consult with Māori, and even trying to legislatively abrogate te Tiriti o Waitangi. When it was criticised by the Waitangi Tribunal, the government sabotaged that body, replacing its legal and historical experts with corporate shills, ...
Poor old democracy, it really is in a sorry state. It would be easy to put all the blame on the vandals and tyrants presently trashing the White House, but this has been years in the making. It begins with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and the spirit of Gordon ...
The new school lunches came in this week, and they were absolutely scrumptious.I had some, and even though Connor said his tasted like “stodge” and gave him a sore tummy, I myself loved it!Look at the photos - I knew Mr Seymour wouldn’t lie when he told us last year:"It ...
The tighter sanctions are modelled on ones used in Britain, which did push people off ‘the dole’, but didn’t increase the number of workers, and which evidence has repeatedly shown don’t work. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, ...
Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, it’s hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
Pacific Media Watch Papua New Guinea’s civic space has been rated as “obstructed” by the Civicus Monitor and the country has been criticised for pushing forward with a controversial media law in spite of strong opposition. Among concerns previously documented by the civil rights watchdog are harassment and threats against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Younger, Lecturer in Southern Ocean Vertebrate Ecology, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Australia’s Antarctic territory represents the largest sliver of the ice continent. For decades, Australian scientists have headed to one of our three bases – Mawson, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Dwyer, Research Director, Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney 24K-Productions Our cars sit unused most of the time. If you have an electric vehicle, you might leave it charging at home or work after driving it. But there’s another step ...
Everything you missed from day four of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard two hours of submissions.Read our recaps of the previous hearings here.Parliament’s Room 3 was the same old, same old on Thursday morning for the fourth Treaty principles bill hearing – brown ...
By Melina Etches of the Cook Islands News A motion of no confidence has been filed against the Prime Minister and his Cabinet following the recent fiasco involving the now-abandoned Cook Islands passport proposal and the comprehensive strategic partnership the country will sign with China this week. Cook Islands United ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Dwyer, Research Director, Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney 24K-Productions Our cars sit unused most of the time. If you have an electric vehicle, you might leave it charging at home or work after driving it. But there’s another step ...
The December results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2024 (HYEFU 2024), published on 17 December 2024, and the results for the same period for the previous year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ajay Narendra, Associate Professor of Insect Neuroethology, Macquarie University Pranav Joshi Jumping spiders – one of the largest spider families – get their name from the extraordinary jumps they make to hunt prey, to navigate and also to evade predators. Male ...
Both ministers have confirm they shared a phone call on Thursday morning, with the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement due to expire next month. ...
The final designs for the long-awaited Courtenay Place revamp have been released. Joel MacManus takes a closer look at the details. At an embargoed media briefing on Wednesday, Wellington mayor Tory Whanau and a team of council staff showed journalists a 3D-printed model of Courtenay Place. For about an hour, ...
The Economic Growth Minister is targeting increasing competition in the banking, grocery, and electricity sectors for the government to address this year. ...
Ecomatters Bike Hub has helped 30,000 Aucklanders start cycling. Shanti Mathias rides over to understand the impact of these community bike workshops.When An Na moved with her husband and two kids to Auckland in 2022, it took a while to start learning their way around. “We started taking our ...
Echo Chamber is The Spinoff’s dispatch from the press gallery, recapping sessions in the House. Columns are written by politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Wellington editor Joel MacManus. Labour leader Chris Hipkins is on the war path – the path being the overthrowing of Act leader David Seymour, and hopefully ...
Callaghan Innovation told 63 workers their roles were being made redundant, including 16 commercialisation roles, 14 scientists and engineers, 6 Māori Innovation roles, and others working in data, digital, product design, risk and audit, marketing, government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Sheedy, Professor – Risk governance, culture, remuneration, Macquarie University This week the corporate regulator is taking on executives and directors of Star Entertainment in the Federal Court, in a landmark case for Australian corporate governance. ASIC will allege that despite multiple ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Allen, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University Shutterstock It’s hard to remember a time the United States seemed as tense and divided as it does today. That should serve as a stark reminder of just how important it is to monitor ...
I’m a proud atheist who outgrew my religious upbringing. So why am I getting antsy about the rapture all of a sudden? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera,I’m a proud atheist and since I managed to move past the childhood trauma of my religious upbringing ...
Analysis: A couple of hours ago, Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown posted a Facebook picture from a visit to China’s National Deep Sea Centre in Qingdao, 700km north of Shanghai. The centre’s crewed submarine ‘Jiaolong’ has just been given a major upgrade and is set for sea trials in March. This is no ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kaitlin Barham, Wildlife ecology researcher, The University of Queensland Australia Zoo Crocodiles are hardy creatures, capable of adjusting their behaviour to cope with the heat of the tropics. But there’s a limit to their endurance. Our new research shows the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Damien O’Meara, Lecturer, School of Media and Communication, RMIT University Stan Stan’s new series Invisible Boys follows four young gay men as they understand and explore their identities while living in Geraldton, a regional town in Western Australia. Charlie Roth ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pandanus Petter, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University The upcoming federal election will see the incumbent Labor prime minister, Anthony Albanese, face off against Liberal opposition leader, Peter Dutton. We’ll likely see a strong focus on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Barnes, Lecturer in Physics, Western Sydney University An artist’s impression of a high-energy particle travelling through the KM3NeT neutrino telescope.KM3NeT Three and a half kilometres beneath the Mediterranean Sea, around 80km off the coast of Sicily, lies half of a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Jensen, Associate professor, Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, University of Canberra Kemarrravv13/Shutterstock Hate speech on X was consistently 50% higher for at least eight months after tech billionaire Elon Musk bought the social media platform, new ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Ufuk Zivana/Shutterstock Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wants New Zealand to “go for growth”. But his plan, focused on reforming foreign investment, planning and competition laws, as well as boosting the ...
‘An economic own-goal’ or a triumph of democracy? Stewart Sowman-Lund explains in today’s edition of The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. No McDonald’s for Wānaka Wānaka ...
The PSA filed proceedings with the Employment Relations Authority on Wednesday, seeking an urgent hearing to try to immediately stop any dismissals. ...
The lead witness in Ngāi Tahu’s freshwater claim says the case raises an “existentialist question” for his people.“My greatest fear is that we will have our connection with our land and waterways extinguished,” Te Maire Tau (Ngāi Tahu/Ngāi Tūāhuriri) said in the Christchurch High Court, before Justice Melanie Harland. The university history ...
New Zealand employers are well-used to the constant evolution of employment and workplace health and safety law – but we think the scope of changes in this area may still surprise in 2025. In our view, the number of changes under active consideration and the potential practical impact of those ...
Finland is one of the few countries reducing homelessness. Reduced by 35% from 2008 to 2015.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2023/rpt/pdf/2023-R-0109.pdf?fbclid=IwAR02WdRzR6QyNd09z6iXRwRI9ri-on2n3epigHddf_5dCqWxfoIRZ2D3wI8_aem_AUVtls91taZ_x_QNeG2qskNh4aeVEOpKQgVB4idEildYtKeiTS04TYLEL4z5Ia88FWXWFxbt8U4OukFYgyldmgKu
Shows what you can achieve with a laser focus on low tax, small government and deregulation!
No, wait…
It mainly shows that less income inequality makes for a happier country and everything else will flow from there (IMO)
Well, well, well–a gun lobbyist Act MP misleads the public on the semi-automatic weapon issue…Mrs McKee has talked up there being over 6600 people licensed to possess semis, whereas there are only 1593 allowed to possess the banned weapons–presumably mostly collectors–the Police say there are only around 328 pest controllers with permission to actually fire them.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/513682/firearms-minister-accused-of-misleading-public-on-gun-stats
It is rare for a Police Association President to criticise an individual MP, Mr Cahill said…
"Clearly she is using these figures to try and suggest that semi-automatic firearms are already widely available when they're not," he said.
"That goes to the heart of why I don't believe a gun lobbyist should be in charge of the firearms reform legislation or a review of the firearms registry."
Act–yes to lethal weapons in the community–no to school lunches!
A really encouraging stance against McKee from Police.
It is, a pleasant surprise.
Gutsy to call her out on this. Where is the opposition? What do we pay them for?
"Where is the opposition? "
Being studiously ignored by the MSM.
What is McKee trying to achieve? Does ACT want to loosen regs on gun control?
Pre-election McKee and ACT clearly stated gun reform as part of election policy and key to coalition talks.
The Police Association challenged ACT's figures even then.
Yes as per tWig’s link. Looks like the gun registry that Labour set up–an essential tool in tracking who has what–will be repealed.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/06/government-officially-establishes-gun-register-act-vows-to-repeal-it-if-elected.html
so is McKee's messaging saying there are so many already out there, we don't need to worry about that silly tracking now?
100% McKee wants to weaken gun regulations, she was well known in the gun lobby before becoming an act mp.
Scoop 2023
Newsroom 2020
I'm not especially anti gun (had my license for more than 30 years), but military style semi automatics aren't needed by 99% of hunters and I'm pleased to see them heavily restricted. I do a lot of hunting and know a lot of keen and skilled hunters… not one of them interested in using an mssa, and you never saw them even when legal. Of course they can be used, but only place they have a real benefit is in professional culling from helicopters, and our current laws already allow for that.
Had one fb friend batching about semis being banned I told him to shoot straight and he wouldn't need one , that got him going!!!
Bob Mould is coming!
To get yr Husker/Sugar on.
Thurs 21st Nov, Loon, Chch.
Fri 22nd Nov, San Fran Wellies.
Sat 23rd Nov, Powerstation, Auck.
What was the name of the religious organisation Luxon belongs/belonged to; something about the Second Floor perhaps..?
The Upper Room.
Just like the Koru Lounge.
Ah, thanks, Ad.
Sounds like somewhere to sneak off to and swallow your ecstacy!
He's probably en(raptured) to be there.
My biggest beef with this so-called Christian church is the belief in the Prosperity Gospel.
https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/faq/prosperity-gospel#:~:text=The%20Prosperity%20Gospel%20(PG)%20is,through%20devotion%20and%20positive%20confession.
This is a religious off shoot of the type of person who blames poor people for being poor, 'bottom feeders' for short. Poor people or anyone not as rich as Croesus need 'bootstraps', 'short sharp shocks', time without money that 'we've' given them.
I looked up the ref to the phrase 'Rich as Croesus' and find how apt a description it is of PM Luxon. Croesus apart from being wealthy is also known for misinterpreting the words of the Oracle at Delphi. Sounds a bit like the Prosperity Church.
Ref as above from Harvard.
PS In the interests of balancing this sarcasm I did read that once he aspired to come to parliament he did not attend this 'church' regularly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Luxon#:~:text=In%202021%20he%20said%20he,guides%20what%20they%20care%20about%22.
This is an interesting interview.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3907220382652374
Weasel words – The Upper Room isn't a church. He went there, for sure.
Thankfully there has been some really good work done by evangelicals to push back against prosperity teaching.
But I'm curious where you got the idea that this 'Upper Room' 'believes' in the Prosperity Gospel? I don't know much about the UR, but I've looked at both the NZ website (Welcome to The Upper Room | Church in Newmarket, Auckland – Our Story) and what appears to be the US equivalent (The Upper Room) and can't find anything about prosperity teaching. Genuine question because I know a family who visit there from time to time.
"Thankfully there has been some really good work done by evangelicals to push back against prosperity teaching."
Has there?
Where?
Some of the mainstream Christian publications have denounced it. But it's still massively popular along with the rise of Trump and "Christian" nationalism.
Prosperity Gospel | Topics | Christianity Today
Retributive theology opened the door to growth of the prosperity gospel today – Baptist News Global
"But it's still massively popular along with the rise of Trump and "Christian" nationalism."
Too true, unfortunately. It's part of that ancient problem about 'itching ears' (2 Timothy 4:3).
"Where?"
From where all heresy's must be fought and exposed – from within:
"Prosperity Gospel is a problematic issue for the Evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity, and it is so in at least two perspectives. First, it influences the teaching of many preachers who employ this approach to capture new believers on the one hand, and it is sharply criticised by many prominent Evangelical theologians who regard it as a serious heresy, a deception of many Christians, on the other."
(PDF) The Prosperity Gospel: A Distortion of the Fundamental Evangelical Tenets (researchgate.net)
The Gospel Coalition: The Prosperity Gospel: How It Can Mislead and Harm (thegospelcoalition.org)
John Piper: Six Keys to Detecting the Prosperity Gospel | Desiring God
Centre for Faith & Culture: 5 Critical Errors of the Prosperity Gospel – Christ and Culture (sebts.edu)
Ligonier: What Is the Prosperity Gospel? (ligonier.org)
Christianity Today Prosperity Gospel | Topics | Christianity Today
Institute for Faith Work & Economics What Is the Prosperity Gospel? (tifwe.org)
Thanks. Good news. Good luck.
They cleansed their sermons from their website some time ago when people started drawing attention to them. Apparently they were a bit odd. They also used to promote Rise Church as well on their webpage.
https://twitter.com/publicaddress/status/1191501840489148416
The Twitter link isn't that convincing – it references a single sermon. However if they've purged sermon history, that's a whole different level altogether.
Good to see that the Scottish "Hate Crime" Law is being recognised for the nonsense that it is.
"Those who support the new act have frequently, over the past week, sought to paint its critics as bigots, as if those of us who see flaws in the legislation are driven by fear we won’t be able to stir up hatred against anyone (except, maybe, women). This cheap attack shouldn’t be allowed to cloud the truth which is that the Hate Crime Act is a flawed law, its creation damaged by the influence of campaigners and the weakness of the former First Minister.
All of us – including both gender critical feminists and trans rights activists – should oppose a law so clearly open to abuse that it'll be impossible to uphold."
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/euan-mccolm-hate-crime-act-damaged-from-the-start-by-influence-of-campaigners-and-weakness-of-nicola-sturgeon-4581976
The intention of laws like this is to stifle dissent by those in power, to be used against those not in power, as well as to control the people. It has nothing to do with suppression of hate speech, but labelling as such makes it easier to justify these laws.
Jonathan Pie embarked on one of his sweary rants about this chilling legislation, which makes comedy and acting a risky enterprise in the tartan police state. He capped it off with a joke that's probably offensive to your Scottish granny, but pretty hilarious
"Nobody expects the Scottish Inquisition" is hell-funny!
Oh Robert – was it funny for you haha
Ha!
"A summary of legal advice sought by the housing agency and released to Stuff under the Official Information Act shows that Kāinga Ora’s Māori-first name is its legal name and it’s entrenched in its establishing legislation, the Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Act 2019.
The advice says that this is in contrast to many other Crown entities, whose establishing legislation only contains an English name.
“There is nothing preventing Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities from using a ‘trading name’ to refer to itself in general communications (as some other Crown entities do), but it must use its legal name in formal documents such as contracts,” the advice says."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350236750/how-governments-push-english-first-names-tracking
The Atlas Network conspiracy theory is getting really crazy now. People are now claiming that the FSU is part of Atlas despite people like Matt McCarten being involved. I didn't realise Matt McCarten was so easily turned.
Where are your link(s) to substantiate your two claims:
Its a lot easier to prove the conspiracy, 10 minutes reading the face book posts of Gerard Otto.
Not sure how to share from his page but this is part of a post from March 11, and if you follow there are lots of pictures .
This article is a summary of how embedded the influence of the two Atlas Network think tanks are in New Zealand's current government.
A useful roadmap is to scan through the front bench portfolios of the Cabinet and point out links – but there's also policy itself and where it came from and who it serves.
Plus who serves it up on a plate for consumption.
Notably Fran O'Sullivan "Went Swiss" with the NZ Initiative in May 2017 when she enjoyed a one week jolly with 39 others, mostly CEs of NZ Initiative member companies and this morning Fran has written a glowing endorsement for both David Seymour and Christopher Luxon's cabinet in the NZ Herald – mostly about opening up New Zealand for foreign investors.
"As the New Zealand Initiative has pointed out, other developed economies like France, the United Kingdom and Ireland do not even have laws with “character and competence” and “sensitive lands” requirements like our foreign investment regime." – wrote Fran before adding :
"As an Associate Finance Minister, Seymour has delegated authority in this area. Along with Cabinet minister Paul Goldsmith, he has ultimate sign-off on offshore applications to either buy existing businesses or establish greenfield ventures here."
Fran also speaks about how this neatly dovetails with fast track consenting – where Te Tiriti had been shoved aside as this Government decides it knows best and side steps the Environment Court – so it can crack on with making money for it's membership's vested interests.
The slogan "getting things done" equates to "making money for my mates" if you take a look at the kind of things getting done or getting "undone".
As you know Seymour is an Atlas Network alumni and denied Act was in any way linked to the Atlas Network to Mihingirangi Forbes on 7 February 2024.
That was proven to be a lie in may ways since – including ( but not limited to ) by the fact that Act's Vice President ( former President ) Catherine Isaac is an Honorary Member of the NZ Initiative ( Atlas Network ). Then there's Act's founder Roger Douglas ( 1993 ) and Ruth Richardson ( Ruthanasia ) both members of the Mont Pelerin society and advocates for Act. Roger Douglas recently dissed Act – but only because it was not being radical enough according to Seymour.
In 2008 Alan Gibbs donated $200K to Act and $100K in 2011, $32,000 in 2015, $100,700 from Jenny Gibbs in 2020 – and as you know – his daughter Debbi is Chair of the Atlas Network.
Alan Gibbs set up an Atlas Network think tank The Centre of Independent Studies ( there's three around the world ) and made a fortune from flicking Telecom with David Richwhite ( another honorary member of the NZ Initiative ) out of Rogernomics.
Recently Lord Hannan broke the news at the Gibbs Farm that Jordan "
Sorry if not allowed but its been very interesting to follow his well researched and backed up posts.
The FSU was set up by Jordan Williams in July 2018.. that's the same Jordan Williams that founded the TPU.. and the same Jordan Williams that has received funds from Atlas and I believe has been to workshops tun by the atlas network. In fact, if you go to the atlas network web page you'll find this article..
https://www.atlasnetwork.org/articles/smith-fellow-spotlight-jordan-williams
That Matt McCarten is involved at some small level should be of no consequence to their over all alignment with Atlas.
Also, there is no "conspiracy" regarding the atlas network, their purpose and intentions are well published as are their networks and members. They are quite open on their website what those intentions are, and they publish a yearly and quarterly report that covers off many of what they consider achievements.
Soy-fact:
85% of soy grown is fed to animals..that humans then eat..
Soy grown for plant-based consumption is not the environmental-villain many carnivores claim…
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
My meat isn't fed soy, so you are comparing the wrong things. Also, soy grown for humans has all the issues I outlined to Robert above.
So…because your 'ethical' meat hasn't been fed soy..that makes what I said about 85% of soy fed to animals bullshit..?
And you just double down on that false narrative..?
And are you just ignoring the environmental impact from farming animals..?..
You talk of mono-cultures…when animal farming has well and truly screwed over our environment..
Do the ‘ethical’ones not do that..?
[don’t grandstand under my posts. If you don’t want to engage with what people are saying, then take it to OM. Don’t extrapolate out from what people are saying so you can then project your own arguments onto other people – weka]
mod note.
This cartoon (at least 5 years old) put the hoofprint of civilisation's animals on shapeship Earth in perspective for me.
Everyone has to eat (apart from 'exceptional' humans who claim to live on light – a bit like plants), and most NZers can do better, imho.
The biomass of domestic cattle is close to seven times that of all wild mammals combined.
In order to put the total biomass of wild terrestrial and marine mammals (≈22 Mt and ≈39 Mt, respectively) in perspective, we compared them to domesticated mammals (Fig. 4). Many domesticated mammal species outweigh the top wild mammal biomass contributors by 10 to 1,000 fold (SI Appendix, Fig. S8). The most significant mammal biomass contributors are cattle (≈420 Mt), humans (≈390 Mt), and other livestock species most commonly reared for meat or dairy (including buffaloes, pigs, sheep, and goats). These are followed by pack animals (e.g., horses, camels, and donkeys). Domesticated pigs alone weigh ≈40 Mt, almost double the combined mass of all terrestrial wild mammals.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FuPv4QdXgAEr_1T?format=jpg&name=4096×4096
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2204892120
Thanks joe90 for that more up-to-date information.
Chrs to you both…for the relevant info..
Mammals are a tiny % of global carbon biomass
Homo sapiens won't be extinguished for ages, but Kiwis may have to make do with fewer epic sporting wins such as the White Ferns' triumph over England in Hamiltron ("City of the Future!") last Sunday.
We could have had it all…
How exactly am I grandstanding..?
And how am I not ' engaging'..when I am replying to three things you said..
And I'm sorry..but I am unable to comprehend what you are saying in yr final sentence..do you have an example of that..?
And am I allowed to ask you to define 'ethical' dairy/meat..and there also I am replying to you..as you have been promoting this..and mentioned it first..
Meat remains murder–how ever much people like to be in denial when they get it in plastic trays or already cooked from where ever. I predict many more vegetarians if people had to kill and butcher their own meat supplies.
The Far North where I live has a number of small outfits that advertise “Home Kills” which does sound a bit like murder eh…they roam around in vehicles with high winches and various slicing and dicing tools, despatching various types of farm animals, and then gutting and butchering them on site.
Plant based remains a better option for all of us.
The "home kill" thing is hideous, isn't it!
Then there's tailing. I see some progress toward using anaesthetic, but still, it's appalling to think a removal is needed, as it's just correcting a situation we've caused (extra wool on animals that should be in drier parts of the world, eating rougher stuff). Tail-docking on cows, likewise appalling, to me. Hammering bobby-calves, castrating willy-nilly – the fun never ends!
I don't like it at all.
I favour plants as food also.
How long have you been vegan?
Heh, that ranks up there with the classic courtroom question “when did you stop beating your wife?”
Not that it is anyone on The Standards business, I have been vegetarian most of my adult life, not an easy achievement in early days as an industrial worker, and do not have dairy products these days apart from a little cheese.
I say plant based is better for all of us in a general sense–land use, less waterway pollution, less animal cruelty and exploitation, better health for people.
Nice answer. Well done, you.
We need more plants.
Big ones, especially.
That's all.
How so?
No-one here is under any obligation to answer a personal question. It's perfectly fine to ask. In this case because you are making a political argument that everyone should be vegan for climate, environment, health and animal welfare reasons. If you didn't want to answer, then just don't.
I'm glad you answered the question however, because vegetarian is not vegan, and in health terms that difference is significant. I would encourage you to listen to the voices of former vegans who had serious health problems, especially women, where those health problems often resolved when they stopped being vegan.
We also know that there are no vegan cultures historically. One of the reasons for that is because it's hard to maintain health on a vegan diet without industrial society especially across generations. Again, I would reference the numbers of women who have been vegan and had their health deteriorate after some years and then improve on eating animals again.
Menstruation, pregnancy, lactation are all quite hard on women's bodies and much harder when not getting adequate nutrients.
(and no, for those about to make the argument, it's not about badly done vegan diets, there's a whole subset of ex-vegans who were health freaks and paid a lot of attention to nutrient intake).
It appears there is are a small number of humans can be vegan over long periods of time. It doesn't look to me like it's something that most or many can sustain.
"It appears there is are a small number of humans can be vegan over long periods of time. It doesn't look to me like it's something that most or many can sustain. "
Weka I can easily make the argument going the other way :
How much longer can we sustain a meat diet growing towards 10 billion people on this planet?
And all the health implication on a personal level (diabetes, obesity) and globally with all the outbreaks we have had this far (including Covid 19).
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/20/factory-farms-pandemic-risk-covid-animal-human-health
Farmageddon: The True Cost of Cheap Meat
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/20/hidden-lives-the-animals-behind-the-products-we-consume-photo-essay?