Open mike 08/05/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 8th, 2019 - 222 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

222 comments on “Open mike 08/05/2019 ”

    • Jenny - How to get there? 1.1

      As useful as a rubber chicken

      With a 2050 Zero Carbon target but no definite actions to rein in green house gas emissions in the here and now, the Zero Carbon Act can only be described as as-per-rashun-nul

    • marty mars 1.2

      Russ the muss

      The Bill sends some good signals until you get to the section at the end that negates everything else you’ve just read. This section states there is no remedy or relief for failure to meet the 2050 target, meaning there’s no legal compulsion for anyone to take any notice.

      “The most anyone can do is get a court to make a ‘declaration’ that the Government isn’t achieving its climate goals, but this declaration doesn’t make the Government actually do anything.”

      Norman says without a legal mechanism to enforce targets, the only way the Bill could achieve its targets in practise is through public pressure.

      https://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/press-release/russel-norman-toothless-zero-carbon-bill-has-bark-but-no-bite/

      Seems like more rubbish to me. Talk about ineffectual leadership – our nuclear free moment? Our chance to make the changes needed? yeah nah the farmers are too strong, the bankers are too strong, we must increase everything… looks like we are going to have to do it ourselves because we will make the changes one way or the other.

      • Sacha 1.2.1

        Yep, our current political system has had its chance. People will need to seize power from them. Won't be pretty but then neither will doing nothing.

      • Rosemary McDonald 1.2.2

        …yeah nah the farmers are too strong, the bankers are too strong,

        And Winston has way, way too much power.

      • The Chairman 1.2.3

        @marty mars (1.2)

        Another day another Labour coalition disappointment.

        They are on a roll of late. CGT. Welfare Reform. Not so binding referendum and now this.

        Have I missed anything? Moreover, what’s next?

        • McFlock 1.2.3.1

          I'm sure you'll find something.

          • The Al1en 1.2.3.1.1

            But only to help 🙄

            • The Chairman 1.2.3.1.1.1

              @The Al1en

              Of course. They still have time to do more if they start acting now.

              And I'm sure you would agree, it's better we air our disappointment now rather than on election day.

              • McFlock

                Elections aren't about airing disappointment. They're about showing support. The difference is continually beyond you.

                You want stronger action? "Air your disappointment" about NZ1. Winston is calling the dilution of the climate policy a victory.

                • The Chairman

                  Elections aren't about airing disappointment. They're about showing support.

                  The point you totally missed is, to get and maintain support one can't afford to continue to disappoint. Thus, it's better for them to know they are letting us down now rather than us remaining silent and not supporting them come election day.

                  • McFlock

                    They're letting us down? What would you have them do – tell NZ1 to get stuffed and put forward climate change bills that will be opposed by NZ1 and national, even if NZ1 doesn't wind up the government?

                    NZ1 is going after National's regional support. They're doing this, in part, by watering down climate change action. The only way to get a better deal is to have national in the mid thirties with labgrn on mid-fifties together, and NZ1 not big enough to be kingmaker.

                    You think the response to that should be for lefties and greenies to not vote labgrn in 2020? Maybe the answer is to increase their support, rather than look for disappointment.

                    • The Al1en

                      You're wasting your time, McFlock. All this was put out the other day.

                      When you repeatedly tell someone the same thing over and over, and they just ignore it, it makes one question motive and intent. It's my opinion the chairman is completely disingenuous, and has an agenda working against the best interests of labour and the greens. It's got so bad, the number of anti posts outnumber those of the right wingers on here by far.

                      For a supposed lefty and green voter, that’s quite something.

                    • The Chairman

                      NZ1 is going after National's regional support. They're doing this, in part, by watering down climate change action. The only way to get a better deal is to have national in the mid thirties with labgrn on mid-fifties together, and NZ1 not big enough to be kingmaker.

                      Interesting logic you are laying out there. So your argument is Labour helping NZF gain National's regional support is going to help in Winston not being big enough to become Kingmaker.

                      Some would say Labour are extremely poor negotiators going off how much Winston seems to win. So perhaps they should start making improvements there.

                    • The Chairman

                      You think the response to that should be for lefties and greenies to not vote labgrn in 2020? Maybe the answer is to increase their support, rather than look for disappointment.

                      No. You missed the point again.

                      The response is for the left to air their grievances, thus not only making them (the Government) aware of the growing disappointment but also putting supporter pressure on them to up their game so as they can maintain and increase their support come next election.

                      At the rate of disappointment being created, some would think the Government are doing their best to turn off supporters.

                      Hell, it's getting that bad we now have left wing supporters talking of voting ACT.

                    • The Al1en

                      Hell, it's getting that bad we now have left wing supporters talking of voting ACT.

                      If a lefty is serious about voting act, then I'm pretty sure they're not a real lefty to begin with.

                    • As the Al1en said, we've been through this before. Labour and the Greens are in coalition with a conservative party. They don't have either the mandate from voters or the numbers in Parliament to implement the policies you're demanding. Your "disappointment" that they haven't used their minority of votes in Parliament to ram through a radical legislative programme simply defies logic. If you'd like Labour and Green to implement your preferred policies, help them get a majority in the House.

                    • The Al1en

                      Stunningly simple, isn't it?

                  • Incognito

                    At the rate of disappointment being created, some would think the Government are doing their best to turn off supporters.

                    Are you really saying that the Government is creating disappointment in you? Wow. Have you ever considered that you are the one who creates your own disappointment because you set your own expectations? Unrealistic expectations that are beyond your control so that you choose to feel disappointed? Don’t you ever get tired of playing the role of disappointed victim? Maybe you should choose a cause that is within your control, something that you can positively influence. Because your negativity is getting tedious.

                • The Chairman

                  You want stronger action? "Air your disappointment" about NZ1. Winston is calling the dilution of the climate policy a victory.

                  Diluting it a little is the least of the concern when the whole thing has no teeth.

            • The Chairman 1.2.3.1.1.2

              If a lefty is serious about voting act, then I'm pretty sure they're not a real lefty to begin with.

              Don't be to complacent in that sentiment. There is more than one and reasons why have be laid out.

              Moreover, things are getting bad out there. We have no right turn (who is definitely left wing) calling for voters to punish this Government. One can only assume at the polls.

              • The Al1en

                NRT sounds like a bit of a wanker if they're advocating labour/green voters do a 180 and punish the parties by all of us getting a nat/act government after the shit 9 years we had last time.

                I guess if you have an upper middle sized income to match your moral outrage it might make things a bit easier to live through.

          • The Chairman 1.2.3.1.2

            @McFlock

            Disappointment is about all they seem to be delivering on of late.

            • McFlock 1.2.3.1.2.1

              It's all you're capable of detecting.

              • The Chairman

                From the growing amount of disappointment they are creating, I'm far from the only one detecting it. And by the way, while I may not comment on it, I detect far more than that.wink

        • James 1.2.3.2

          well they won’t commit to the 100k houses for kiwibuild today – so you can add that to your list.

          • Robert Guyton 1.2.3.2.1

            Eeyore's little helper!

            • cleangreen 1.2.3.2.1.1

              smileyYeah Robert wonder where he was maybe shooting ducks again?

          • The Chairman 1.2.3.2.2

            @James

            Labour – the party the left can count on to let them down.

            • Chris 1.2.3.2.2.1

              Labour is a promising party. It has delivered a lot of promises, and the Year of Delivery was no exception.

        • solkta 1.2.3.3

          Another day, another string of crap posts from a crap troll.

          • cleangreen 1.2.3.3.1

            smileytrue that solkta, they are like a broken record eh?

          • The Chairman 1.2.3.3.2

            If only I was a troll, you'd have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, the disappointment is widespread.

            • solkta 1.2.3.3.2.1

              You are a troll, and there is little to worry about as most here know so.

              • The Chairman

                Yet, here you are perpetuating the libel. Doing your best to diminish any criticism. Of course you are not worried.laugh

                • marty mars

                  Yeah you are a troll of the worst sort – using misery to get your jollies mate – be disgusted with yourself please.

                  • The Chairman

                    I'm disgusted in you for not standing up more. Don't blame me for calling the Government out for its disappointments. I don't create them.

                    • Robert Guyton

                      The Chairman accepts no responsibility for what he says here, because…

                    • marty mars

                      yeah 'don't blame me for being a wanker' says the hairman

                    • solkta

                      Of course you create them, by piling bullshit on top of bullshit.

                    • Incognito

                      I don't create them.

                      Yes, you do, that is exactly what you’re doing! You choose how you feel and react and then spread your concern and disappointment as far and wide as you can and blame these feelings on the Government (Labour and the Greens, to be more precisely). And when we point this out to you, you say “it is not about me” or “there are many others”. I think the Government can and must do better but I resist jumping onto your bandwagon of boo-hoo-hoo. Own your own feelings, like an adult.

                    • The Chairman

                      What utter nonsense.

                      I have nothing to do with the Government's policy creation and what they decide to fall short on.

                      Of course, I'm expressing my opinion and highlighting these shortcomings – in the hope that the more the public roar the more chance the Government will take heed.

                      And of course, I'm far from the only one the Government has disappointed, as I've highlighted many times. And it's not us that are disappointed that are at fault for speaking out. It's the Government for falling short.

                      I think the Government can and must do better but I resist jumping onto your bandwagon of boo-hoo-hoo.

                      You and others holding back only signals to the Government that you are ok with their failings. And one can't expect more out of a Government if you don't let them know you want more. So stop resisting and get on board.

                    • Incognito

                      <Sigh> Problems with reading comprehension; you set yourself up for disappointment or exhilaration. I assume you have never done relationship counselling or similar.

                      You and others holding back only signals to the Government that you are ok with their failings.

                      False binary and a perfect illustration of your black & white thinking. Life is simple and complex problems can be broken down in small easy parts. I resist your binary and reductionist thinking because that is not reality. So, stop resisting, open your eyes, and see the World how it is and what it may become.

      • The Chairman 1.2.4

        @marty mars (1.2)

        If Russel stayed with the Greens perhaps he could have secured something with a little more teeth.

        Wonder how bad the blowback will be for the Greens?

        • Psycho Milt 1.2.4.1

          Please do elaborate on how Russel Norman could have secured a majority of votes in the House for something the majority of MPs would be opposed to?

          • Robert Guyton 1.2.4.1.1

            Elaborate? Elaborate?

            The Chairman doesn't elaborate, The Chairman seeks always to de-Labour-ate; that is, erode confidence in Labour. That's The Chairman's The Fear-man‘s mission.

          • The Chairman 1.2.4.1.2

            @Psycho Milt

            He’s more of a fighter than our Shaw. Hence, perhaps may have had a better fighting chance to secure more.

            Do you think the Greens will face much blowback from this disappointment? After all, it was their crown jewel.

            • Psycho Milt 1.2.4.1.2.1

              So getting parties to vote against their own interests in Parliament is just a matter of fighting harder? That's no doubt a comforting notion, but it bears no relationship to reality.

              Do you think the Greens will face much blowback from this disappointment?

              They'll certainly face a lot of propaganda from people who wish them harm, sure. Those of us who don't wish them harm will credit the party with a significant win in getting NZF to swallow this sizable dead rat.

              • The Chairman

                So getting parties to vote against their own interests in Parliament is just a matter of fighting harder?

                Seems to work for Winston. But of course, fighting harder is just a part of it.

                They'll certainly face a lot of propaganda from people who wish them harm, sure.

                So you think Greenpeace is spreading propaganda and wishes the Greens harm?

                Those of us who don't wish them harm will credit the party with a significant win in getting NZF to swallow this sizable dead rat.

                It was the Greens that had to swallow another (CGT, Welfare Reform, non binding referendum) dead rat. Open your eyes.

                • McFlock

                  NZ1 went with the migration pact. Residency requirement for superannuation is still ten years. Didn't even have an MJ policy, and here they are agreeing to implement the decision of the reeferendum.

                  Labour has a similar list.

                  So either it's a banquet of Discworld dwarves where everyone is tucking in to the ratburgers for the fun of it, or maybe compromise means a little bit of respectful give and take between partners.

                  • The Chairman

                    Of course Winston isn't winning them all but they don't say he's calling the shots for nothing. wink

              • The Chairman

                They say it because they're right-wing propagandists trying to damage Labour and Green's re-election chances.

                Indeed. Nevertheless, propaganda tends to have an element of truth. And clearly Winston is doing ok out of the negotiations.

                • Of course it has an element of truth. Peters has indeed done OK out of coalition negotiations, because that's in the nature of coalition government. Propaganda takes that element of truth and deploys it in support of a propaganda lie, eg " they don't say he's calling the shots for nothing."

                  The lie is quickly revealed if you look at how it's been deployed the opposite way. Peters has also done badly out of coalition negotiations, because that's in the nature of coalition government – for instance, he's had to accept the ban on future oil and gas exploration, the UN compact on migration, social welfare reform and now zero-carbon goals. His party's acceptance of the first two in particular led to loud calls by propagandists of Peters being Ardern's lapdog. I wouldn't be surprised if it were the same propagandists peddling both lies.

                  • The Chairman

                    Peters has indeed done OK out of coalition negotiations…

                    Yes, that's the element of truth and why they say he's calling the shots.

                    He's had to accept the ban on future oil and gas exploration, the UN compact on migration, social welfare reform and now zero-carbon goals.

                    The ban on future oil and gas exploration isn't what is was cranked up to be, no doubt due to Winston. Welfare reform fell far short and it's yet to be shown he opposes it. And zero carbon has got no teeth. Moreover, was apparently diluted by Winston.

        • marty mars 1.2.4.2

          I know how bad the blowfly is – norman is a dick but greenpeace are cool. All plans and ideals get fucked when reality hits and only the goopless get surprised – grow up and do something worthwhile while you're still alive chair.

          • Robert Guyton 1.2.4.2.1

            … grow up and do something worthwhile while you're still alive, Chair…

            Wise words.

          • The Chairman 1.2.4.2.2

            All plans and ideals get fucked when reality hits

            Indeed. And the reality is the Greens (at this stage) have no backbone. And I would also question their competence going off their track record. Not really made of the right stuff to win negotiations.

            • Robert Guyton 1.2.4.2.2.1

              The Chairman is a blanket so wet you could fill him with gators and name him "Florida".

              • Incognito

                Oh no! He might attract a Great Swamp Drainer who will transform him into a National Golf Club. I thought we had enough of nine years of John Key playing golf while New Zealand society was sinking deeper away into the mud after selling off the more valuable bits (no, not the swamp Kauri).

            • marty mars 1.2.4.2.2.2

              wtf would you know well poisoner – go troll off

  1. WeTheBleeple 2

    What is this 'loose leaf marijuana' Mark Mitchell keeps talking about. It's like he's got a cue card somewhere to outline 'his' stance on cannabis. This is language nobody ever uses thus it came out of a right wing think-tank.

    The Mitchell's need think tanks desperately, to give the illusion of thought.

    Mark Mitchell – the loose leaf politician.

    • Cinny 2.1

      mark cabbage mitchell

    • solkta 2.2

      Yeh, like if they are only going to legalise cabbage then what's the point.

      This phrase did get thrown around by Nact when talking about medical use. It could be that he is using an old cue card.

      • Cinny 2.2.1

        Speaking of an old cue card… he also said he was too scared to try it for fear of the police… typical old school scare tactics, which do not work since the majority of kiwi's have tried cannabis.

        • Anne 2.2.1.1

          No-one should ever forget how Mark Mitchell came to be a National MP in the first place. He hired Simon Lusk and, with Cameron Slater's help, they got rid of the front runner for the Rodney electorate and Mitchell moved in to take the candidacy. Dirty Politics at a local level.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Mitchell_(politician)

          “In 2014, Nicky Hager’s book Dirty Politics presented evidence which suggested that Mitchell had hired political strategist Simon Lusk during the National Party selection process for the Rodney electorate. Lusk appeared to have collaborated with blogger Cameron Slater to discredit Mitchell’s opponents, particularly Brent Robinson. Mitchell strongly denies ever paying Lusk or Slater.[9]”

          Of course he lied. He’s a born liar.

          • marty mars 2.2.1.1.1

            yep mark the cabbage is the worst of a bad bunch. Like a coldslaw he keeps coming back only to show once again how unfit for any leadership position he is. Sad little cabbage.

          • Anne 2.2.1.1.2

            I don't like this new comment formatting.

            How does one blockquote or use italics when editing?

            • greywarshark 2.2.1.1.2.1

              You go back to the old system – is it http it's called?

              <i> <blockquote> with the forward slash over when you finish the format.

            • lprent 2.2.1.1.2.2

              You write the text

              There are many ways. But the way that I do it is to use the keyboard to select what I want to quote (using shift + movement keys) then push the Double Quote button in the button bar.

              • Shift + (Left | Right) : character at a time
              • Shift + (Up | Down) : line at a time
              • Shift + Ctrl + (Left | Right) : word at time
              • Shift + End : from current position to end of line
              • Shift + Home : from current position to start of line
              • Shift + Ctrl + Home : from current position to start of edit.
              • Shift + Ctrl + End : from current position to end of edit.

              etc…

        • Kevin 2.2.1.2

          Too scared to smoke a joint but no problem being hired as a contract killer.

    • Chris T 2.3

      Exactly what it says

      Loose leave weed.

      What you roll a joint with

      Think pouch of tobacco but it is weed

      • WeTheBleeple 2.3.1

        Chris, you just sound as stupid as Mitchell. Nobody rolls up loose leaf unless they're kids or stoners who've run out of the stuff they actually smoke.

        This shows that the Mitchells of the world have done no learning yet much posturing as opposition to the matter. Really shitty service for tax dollars having clueless opposition.

      • solkta 2.3.2

        If you are smoking joints of leaf then you have my sympathy. Good for giving up cigarettes but that's about it.

        Perhaps this is why so many MPs said they didn't like it or it didn't do anything for them?

      • Cinny 2.3.3

        Loose leaf weed aka cabbage (cannabis leaf) is usually used for cooking. The flowers of the plant are what is typically smoked, such flowers are dense and sticky and need breaking up, they are never ever loose.

    • Sacha 2.4

      He's distinguishing from those marijuana teabags Nat voters are more used to.

    • mauī 2.5

      Whatever you do, don't mention Gummi Bears.

    • millsy 2.6

      Mark Mitchell's aspiration for NZ comes from watching too much 80's dystopian sci-fi movies. Oh sorry, that is most of today's right wing.

  2. Adrian Thornton 3

    FAIRNESS & ACCURACY IN REPORTING

    May 7, 2019

    Failed ‘Coup’ a Fake Corporate News Story Designed to Trick Venezuelan Soldiers—and US (and NZ) Public

    "After days of breathless reporting in the US media about public and military support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro collapsing, and about an April 30 coup by presidential poseur Juan Guaidó, we now know the truth: The whole thing was a fraud, staged at the instigation of Washington in hopes that the Venezuelan people and rank-and-file troops would fall for the trick and think an actual coup was underway. "

    https://fair.org/home/failed-coup-a-fake-corporate-news-story-designed-to-trick-venezuelan-soldiers-and-us-public/?awt_l=CnT3e&awt_m=i0ap_rf.8IR._TQ

    Once Again, Mainstream Media Get It Wrong on Venezuela

    The Nation

    May 2, 2019

    "Foreign outlets, dutifully supporting Trump administration calls for regime change, reported that a widespread uprising was underway, even though Juan Guaidó’s coup attempt had little support."

    https://www.thenation.com/article/venezuela-coup-media-guaido/

  3. lprent 4

    Reiterating…

    Partial fix on the search engine.

    It now does the fast search on comments and posts correctly, but with limited selection (ie the Advanced buttons aren't remembering). The @author and other keyword searches need looking at.

    And the engine underneath sometimes crashes (looks like a simple SEGV – possibly memory?) and restarts. That displays as a screen with no results. Just do it again.

    Anyway, I'll have a crack at the rest of it as soon as I get some time. But work calls and so does my father's 80th. So don't expect it too fast.

    • gsays 4.1

      Hey thanks lprent, some of your jiggery-pokery has now made me able to reply on my huawei bat fone.

      Chur.

  4. Rosemary McDonald 5

    Northland DHB Chair does his bid to increase vaccination compliance in his rohe no favours when he seems determined to misrepresent basic facts.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/388706/schools-asked-to-consider-excluding-unvaccinated-children

    He claims that … Those at risk include other unvaccinated children, those being treated for cancer and the elderly.

    …while according to the Immunisation Advisory Centre, Adults born in New Zealand prior to 1969 are considered to be immune to measles as there was no measles containing vaccine until 1969 and the disease is so highly infectious. MMR vaccination is not generally indicated for adults born in New Zealand prior to 1969.

    http://www.immune.org.nz/hot-topic/measles-overseas-and-new-zealand

    Chamberlain also strongly implies that the low rates of vaccination in the North are due to the movie Vaxxed being shown …

    The anti-vaccination movement has targetted the region in recently years, he said, and some parents were choosing not to get the children immunised.

    "We had [an anti-vaccination] movie which was shown early last year and was targeting Northland in a big way – it started off in Northland and it was shown many, many times throughout Northland."

    Yes, the movie Vaxxed was shown throughout the North in early 2017….https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11863219

    …but as to the effect on immunisation rates…https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/immunisation-coverage/national-and-dhb-immunisation-data

    ….he really ought to do a little research, as the data implies the rates have actually increased since the dreaded movie was shown.

    So, on the back of this misinformation, and with a grand total of two cases of measles being diagnosed in the North they are strongly suggesting forcing parents of unvaccinated children to keep their children away from school.

    • One Two 5.2

      Measles – Vaccine Risk Statement (VRS)

      Is the dishonesty deliberate…

      • Andre 5.2.1

        Is the dishonesty deliberate?

        In the case of Physicians for Informed Consent, it clearly appears to be yes, the dishonesty from them is indeed deliberate. As always in the case of internet info, it pays to check the source. Here's a few of the hits:

        https://vaxopedia.org/2018/01/15/measles-propaganda-from-the-physicians-for-informed-consent/

        https://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/physicians-for-informed-consent-another-radical-anti-vaccine-group/

        https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-strange-saga-of-peter-gotzsche-and-physicians-for-informed-consent/

        The third link is from Dr David Gorski. As yet another internet source, Gorski is worth checking out. Here's what he has to say about himself, where he also helpfully includes links to his detractors.

        https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/editorial-staff/david-h-gorski-md-phd-managing-editor/

        • marty mars 5.2.1.1

          Awesome links thanks

          That Gorski one is a classic

          Examples of the campaign of vilification over the last 18 years clearly designed to try to silence Dr. Gorski include an accusation of pedophilia by neo-Nazis for his work debunking Holocaust denial, a reference to him as being a “nipple ripper” by a man named Patrick “Tim” Bolen, and a false accusation in 2010 of a nonexistent conflict of interest by an antivaccine website that led to a campaign on the part of antivaccinationists to try to get him fired from his job, as documented here. False claims that he is secretly a shill for the pharmaceutical industry (known as the “pharma shill gambit”) are frequently used to try to discredit him.

        • Andre 5.2.1.2

          Oh, and when it comes the Physicians for Informed Consent's specific dishonesty:

          Febrile seizures: by themselves they're common-ish (about 1 in 20 kids will have at least one growing up) and they're scary, but long term effects are very rare. So a 1 in 640 chance after an MMR shot isn't an argument against getting the shot.

          https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/febrile-seizures.html

          Death rate from measles is usually listed at about 1 in a thousand, not the one in 10,000 PIC stated. Some of my family members were permanently disabled from getting measles before the first vaccine was developed. In contrast, I'm not acquainted with or personally aware anyone old enough to have been vaccinated against measles with a measles or vaccine related disability, and the latter group is much larger than the former. PIC are waaay understating the risk from actual measles.

          • Rosemary McDonald 5.2.1.2.1

            There are a number of published papers addressing adverse effects of vaccines, and while acknowledging harm has been caused by the vaccine, there is much discussion on how best to manage the fallout so as not to deter parents from vaccinating their children.

            https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mauricio_Barreto/publication/254468384_Outbreak_of_Aseptic_Meningitis_associated_with_Mass_Vaccination_with_a_Urabe-containing_Measles-Mumps-R_ubella_Vaccine/links/548deb3c0cf2d1800d842001/Outbreak-of-Aseptic-Meningitis-associated-with-Mass-Vaccination-with-a-Urabe-containing-Measles-Mumps-R-ubella-Vaccine.pdf

            Not that anyone will actually even read the Discussion…

            • Andre 5.2.1.2.1.1

              The only reason the Urabe strain MMR vaccine is in any way an argument against vaccination is because there are other MMR vaccines with even lower risk of side effects than the already very low risk of Urabe strain MMR vaccines. But the Urabe strain was continued in use in some places after the others were developed, because Urabe was cheaper.

              As far as I can tell, the last wealthy country to use Urabe MMR was the UK, and it was discontinued there 30ish years ago. We're a wealthy country, we don't use Urabe, it's not an an argument against vaccination programs here in NZ.

              Rosemary, by your eagerness to throw out these out-of-context historical factoids that are irrelevant to modern NZ context, you are very much part of the problem.

            • One Two 5.2.1.2.1.2

              Mumps outbreak in highly vaccinated populations

              Merck are defending/stalling against two of their own researchers who claim the efficacy statistics of the mumps component of MMR were fraudulently derived…

              The claims stem from 2011 and are qualified by the recent and present time mumps outbreaks in highly vaccinated populations…

              • Andre

                The mumps vaccine is widely acknowledged to be lower effectiveness than measles and rubella vaccines.

                One dose of MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles, 78% effective against mumps, and 97% effective against rubella.

                Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles and 88% effective against mumps.

                https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html

                That mumps outbreaks continue to happen in highly vaccinated population (mumps vaccine effectiveness is quoted as 78% to 88% effective), but the likelihood of measles outbreaks in highly vaccinated populations is effectively zero (measles vaccine effectiveness 93% to 97%) neatly shows that herd immunity is indeed a thing.

                But even those for whom the mumps vaccine isn't effective, they're still likely to benefit from having had it. Because the disease is likely to be less severe for them. Which is why it's recommended to get a booster shot if you're at risk during an outbreak.

                edit: That difference in effectiveness is why measles and rubella are considered eradicable diseases (like smallpox was eradicated) but mumps is not.

                • Rosemary McDonald

                  The mumps vaccine is widely acknowledged to be lower effectiveness than measles and rubella vaccines.

                  The initial version of MMR, deployed back in the mid eighties contained the Urabe strain of mumps which was quite effective.

                  Unfortunately there were quite significant adverse effects….such as aseptic meningitis similar to what could be a complication of actual mumps.

                  https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/165/6/704/63700

                  Furthermore, there was an increased risk of hospital admission for febrile convulsion 15–35 days after receipt of a Urabe-containing MMR vaccine (an attributable risk of approximately 1 in 1,500 doses), indicating that the real risk of acute neurologic consequences from the Urabe mumps component of MMR was underestimated when using case ascertainment methods that were reliant on laboratory investigations (5).

                  So, the Urabe strain fell out of favour (although it is/was still used, as in the above study, in places like Brazil and El Salvador) and the more benign yet less effective Jeryl Lynne strain of mumps was used.

                  A similar scenario played out with pertussis if I remember rightly….initial strains gave good protection but had unacceptable levels of harm, so a less harmful but also less effective version was rolled out which still struggles to protect especially babies. I understand the latest protocol demands that the pregnant mum be vaccinated to afford protect to the newborn. http://www.immune.org.nz/diseases/pertussis

                  DISCUSSION( From the link at 5.2.1.2.1)

                  The risk of aseptic meningitis associated with MMR

                  vaccine has been well described, especially concerning

                  Urabe-containing products (1-4, 11, 12), and our

                  results are similar to previous risk estimations (as in the

                  work by Miller et al. (1)) of an incidence of nearly 1

                  case per 10,000 vaccinees. In spite of previous reports,

                  the Urabe-containing MMR vaccine was previously

                  judged by the Brazilian National Immunization

                  Program to be beneficial for use in a mass immuniza-

                  tion campaign, for reasons that included 1) the relative

                  rarity of adverse events, 2) the relative cost and possi-

                  bly higher immunogenicity in comparison with the

                  Jeryl Lynn-containing MMR vaccine (13-15), and

                  3) the clear net benefit of MMR immunization in a con-

                  text of high incidence of natural mumps infection and a

                  consequently high incidence of meningitis (16).

                  This study raises new practical questions regarding

                  public health. The issue is not simply whether or not a

                  specific vaccine is associated with an adverse event,

                  but the extent to which a specific vaccination strategy

                  influences the visibility of the adverse event despite its

                  confirmed relative rarity, and hence affects public con-

                  fidence.

              • Andre

                BTW, you got a link for your assertion about Merck and their researchers? Or is it just a slur that you're trying to give credibility by including it with a separate topic you have actually linked to?

          • lprent 5.2.1.2.2

            Some of my family members were permanently disabled from getting measles before the first vaccine was developed.

            I know what you mean. I used to run across people with some truly crippling injuries from various diseases before vaccines for them, and then afterwards in the interregnum as the population gained enough immunisation density to stop the diseases. Polio, german measles, adult mumps, even bad scarring chickenpox plus a host of other diseases.

            There are also a host of other diseases that the young and stupid simply have no idea about. For instance, one of grandfathers had a simple boil in the 1920s (something that is really rare these days compared to when I grew up). But his was before the days of antibiotics. The boil went all the way into the bone marrow of his left leg (it is called osteomyelitis) and he lost all of the marrow.

            Which meant that his leg didn’t grow fully. Moreover, he lost about half of his natural immunity levels from the loss of white corpuscle. He was a sickly cripple in the depression and would have died if penicillin hadn’t arrived when he was in hospital. He lived until he was over 80 working steadily until retirement, but was on massive antibiotic doses for more than 40 years.

            Ummm.. found this while looking up the name of, this now, rare disease as well about penicillin and osteomyelitis.
            https://corpus.nz/miracle-drug-penicillins-first-use-new-zealand/

            The problem with anti-vaxxers generally seems to be that they are simply choose to unaware of the history benefits of various medical procedures and the much smaller risks associated with using them.

            Rather than pushing for “informed consent”, I mostly view every anti-vaxxer I have seem as just being the “ill-informed discontent”. Apparently too foolish to read the history of diseases over the last century.

            Not to mention that they seem to specialise in lying by accident or design with some of the really idiotic statistics they keep quoting (with no apparent basis) about what they seem to view as being the halcyon days before vaccines dropped the disease exposure rates, antibiotics stopped people dying of bacterial diseases, and inadequate sewerage systems reduced the death rates in cities from incipient cholera to people being able to complain about the taste of the water.

            • Andre 5.2.1.2.2.1

              I wonder how many pro-diseaser minds would change if they actually experienced or saw a lot of people around them suffering from these diseases.

              There's reasons third world mothers walk for hours carrying their kids in the hot sun when a vaccination clinic visits their nearest town. They can see the difference between those who get vaccinated and those who don't. (Fuck I felt bad when we drove past a couple of mums carrying their kids walking down the road, then hours later in the town where we stopped they walk up to the clinic. Even though there wasn't anywhere we could have fitted them in the car)

            • Macro 5.2.1.2.2.2

              I had osteomyelitis as a kid. It was hell. The pain I experienced was in the hip and was excruciating. I had to lie with a pillow between my legs for hours. I was off school for weeks, and had to give up all sport for years. Lots of penicillin and then it was gone. At the time I had constant sore throats, scarlet fever, mumps and every other thing going. I have no lasting effects fortunately, and had completely forgotten about it until your story above.

      • Tuppence Shrewsbury 5.2.2

        Is your dishonesty deliberate?

        One immunologist on the whole leadership panel? holistic medicine practitioners on the leadership council? The founder felt personally assaulted when California removed personal and religious choice options about vaccination?

        That website is not run by a medically recognised council. they're quacks

        You know infectious disease rates are higher in poor areas with strong church affiliations?

        • higherstandard 5.2.2.1

          https://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/physicians-for-informed-consent-another-radical-anti-vaccine-group/

          I advise not engaging with OT on the issue of vaccination as the person using that pseudonym has little of merit to offer apart from very selective misrepresentation of science.

          • Andre 5.2.2.1.1

            It would be nice if the likes of One Two posting malicious bullshit could be just ignored. The problem is if the bullshit gets taken as an actual truth and acted on by someone, then real harm could be the result.

            • higherstandard 5.2.2.1.1.1

              Indeed – therefore best just to post information that refutes their position (as you did) and then avoid engaging with their bluster which'll undoubtedly follow at some stage.

              • Andre

                Although, if you're in the right mood for it, it can be quite entertaining being the subject of derogatory commentary that's nuttier than a pot of satay sauce.

                • marty mars

                  onya mate – I'm pleased you are putting good info up cos it is a time consuming, repetitive business – kia kaha

          • Rosemary McDonald 5.2.2.1.2

            In the meantime, the Chair of the Northland DHB thinks it makes good sense to spread bullshit in an attempt to justify excluding kids from school.

            When they (DHBs calling for a national campaign against anti vaxxers) have already been told by IMAC that anti-vaxxers are not the major cause of low vaccine uptake.

            https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/384112/hospital-bosses-want-anti-anti-vax-campaign

            Sigh.

            • Andre 5.2.2.1.2.1

              Anecdata from my niece who is a practicing doctor in Northland suggests there are pockets where immunisation rates are low enough, coupled with the extreme contagiousness of measles, that excluding unvaccinated kids from schools is at least justifiable.

              It's a shitload easier to deal with the downside of some kids not going to school for a while than it is dealing with a measles outbreak. Any parents finding it too hard to deal with their kids being at home because they're unvaccinated has an easy and free solution: get their kids vaccinated.

              • Rosemary McDonald

                Still not addressing the issue of the Chair of the Northland DHB using false and misleading statements to justify excluding kids from school.

                • McFlock

                  Firstly, elderly born in NZ are regarded as immune.

                  Secondly, just because I had a little free time at work, I had a look at northland vax rates for 5 calendar years, using your link. Short story: vax rates in 5yo increased 2014-2018. Vax rates at 6months, 8months, 12 months, 18months, and 24 months were all static or increasing 2014-2017, decreasing in 2017-2018.

                  Looks like some fools are delaying vaccination until their kids get the B4school check.

                  6m 8m 12m 18m 24m 5y

                  12 month period ending December 2014 67%88%90%79%88%75%

                  31 December 2015 67.7%87.5%89.8%80.2%88.2%77.6%

                  31-Dec-2016 70.4%89.5%90.7%79.3%88.7%80.1%

                  31-Dec-2017 66.4%86.4%88.3%75.4%86.7%82.3%

                  31-Dec-2018 61.8%82.6%85.9%73.0%84.7%83.2%

            • greywarshark 5.2.2.1.2.2

              Don't automatically diss the system. They have a problem and are attempting to confront it and get people to acknowledge it. Crazy to keep on doing what has always been done.

              We used to have buses that went around areas making it easy toget medical help. When we were a country with aspirations for being a good place to bring children up in.

              • Rosemary McDonald

                Don't automatically diss the system.

                So, it is acceptable for the regional health authority to lie and misrepresent?

                Answer…No. Never. It is lazy and indicates utter contempt for the population they are responsible for.

                He needs to get off his chuff and go and find out why the children are not being vaccinated…and perhaps not calling it an outbreak when when at least one of the two cases of measles is from out of the area.

                And perhaps asking why its ok to threaten excluding kids from school in the North after only two cases, when this was not touted as an option in regions with more confirmed cases of measles and similar immunisation rates.

          • Tuppence Shrewsbury 5.2.2.1.3

            I'll engage with any anti-vax idiot. While they won't listen and continue to seek out self selecting, pseudo-science bull shit on the internet, it doesn't mean they shouldn't be held to account for their stupidity.

            Every time is see some fuckwit complaining that anti-vaxxers get a bad rep, despite their claims they only use 'Facts", I remind myself how many people died from preventable communicable diseases before vaccination.

            • halfcrown 5.2.2.1.3.1

              + 100%

            • KJT 5.2.2.1.3.2

              I am old enough to remember the many of my schoolmates, who ended up in hospital, from the effects of diseases that vaccines have made uncommon. Some have ended up with serious lifelong disabilities, and a couple had deformed children from Rubella. My mother remembers classmates who died from polio, and whooping cough. I had shingles in my teens, from chicken pox, and nearly lost an eye.

              Anyone who refuses to vaccinate their kids, exposing them to those risks, is, make no mistake, a child abuser.

              If vaccines are as bloody dangerous, as the anti vaxxers claim, where are the hospitals full of 'vaccine injured" children'? I've only met one person, in my life, who genuinely and provably seriously reacts to vaccines. And she fully recovered after an allergic reaction. Do anti vaxxers seriously believe that millions of Doctors, nurses and hospital staff are hiding millions of vaccine reactions. The hospitals would be full and overflowing.

              The really silly thing about it is, if we vaccinated enough people to eradicate diseases such as chicken pox and measles, then we would no longer have to vaccinate against them. Removing the, small risk, of vaccinating against them, for future generations.

              • Tuppence Shrewsbury

                The do believe that millions of doctors and nurses are wrong They probably believe the wards of vaccine injured children are hidden behind the ice walls patrolled by the world army. all part of the same conspiracy doncha know?

        • cleangreen 5.2.2.2

          The cannabis debate; questions;

          Will the smoke that is emitted from smoking cannabis weed be more climate change alkenes and the alkynes emission those alkanes?

          Has any robust studies science based been done about this climate change effects of the extra set of those extra mixed alkanes emitted to our atmosphere?.

          • Tuppence Shrewsbury 5.2.2.2.1

            Too old to find the relevant reply button?

            Burning toast is probably a climate change factor if your reasoning is anything to go by.

            Do you think before you type?

      • Rosemary McDonald 5.2.3

        Is the dishonesty deliberate…

        That, One Two is the $64,000000 question.

        Dr Chamberlain seems to be assuming no one is going to actually take the time to check his claims against the nationally collected and collated data. Pity, because you win no one over when you treat them like fools. Those seriously committed to vaccine transparency (as are the Physicians for Informed Consent you linked to) will jump all over his claims.

        The ordinary person? Some of the not so bright will simply forget that anyone over the age of 55 has most likely got natural immunity to this,and many other, common diseases and will probably not know about the well documented decline in some of these diseases before the advent of vaccinations. This is history, but like so much these days it can be revised to fit a particular narrative.

        I guess with our NDHB Chair we have a simple case of him being desperate to blame something for the perceived low uptake of vaccination in the North, but as Nikki Turner from IMAC said a few months ago…the anti vaxxers are only a small part of the 'problem' of low compliance. There's other stuff going on that leads to low uptake….blaming a movie is sheer idleness, and when this is combined with outright bullshittery it would not surprise me if more parents decline some vaccinations because the local health boss lied to guilt trip them into compliance.

        No one likes to be treated like an idiot.

        • One Two 5.2.3.1

          As you can see from the responses to my comments, the linked references to FDA CDC WHO etc are not being replied to…

          I've no need to respond to any of those handles who I've previously supplied with more than enough reference data from so called official sources…

          It appears some do in fact like being treated as an idiot…

          • Tuppence Shrewsbury 5.2.3.1.1

            so your claims of official sources are only "So called" as such

            Autism runs through the family dingbat. blame yourself for your own childrens inadequacies. not vaccines

            • WeTheBleeple 5.2.3.1.1.1

              There is no evidence Autism is specifically genetically linked. You are also talking through a hole.

              • cleangreen

                smileyYes WTB he is a hole for rubbish himself.

              • Tuppence Shrewsbury

                There is 1:1 correlation between suffering autism and having parents. All official sources acknowledge this, therefore it is true.

                Just like there is a 1:1 correlation between cleangreen posting something about trains and that post not being relevant to the thread it’s posted on.

                • Robert Guyton

                  If Jesus was autistic, Tuppence's claims would be negated. If Jesus wasn't autistic, Tuppence's claims would be negated.

                  • Tuppence Shrewsbury

                    a neat summation of the stupidity of the pro-plague supporters intellectual thought patterns

                    • One Two

                      A neat summation of your maths/logic and why your comments are bigoted.

                      There is 1:1 correlation between suffering autism and having parents.

                      • There is a 1:1 correlation between a mother and a child…
                      • There is a 1:1 correlation between being a vaccinated child and having a mother…
                      • There is a 1:1 correlation between a vaccine and the chemical compounds / ingredients which do cause damage (including autism)…
                      • There is a 1:1 correlation between suffering vaccine damage and having received vaccine(s)…
                      • There is a 1:1 correlation between a vaccine damaged child and having a mother…
                      • There is a 1:1 correlation between your insulting and abusive comments towards mothers (and fathers) who choose to selectively vaccinate or not vaccinate at all …. being misogynistic and bigoted…

                      Following your 'maths'…every child who has received vaccine(s) has a mother …and is therefore genetically pre-disposed to autism…which could be triggered by vaccination(s)…

                      One size doe not fit all.

  5. millsy 6

    I have yet to see a sound reason coming from the prudes as to why we should continue to criminalise people for having a couple of cones on a Saturday night or having a a couple of tinnies in their pocket. This is the real issue at hand. It really all stems from the whole Calvinistic attitude that if you make the slightest mistake, you have to spend the rest of your life paying for it, in this case, apparently Bennett, Bridges, Garner and McCroskie think that having a few tinnies makes you an evil sinner, and is grounds for having a conviction against your record, leaving you locked out of housing and job oppurtunties for the rest of your life.

    Discliamer: I have never touched cannabis, and I probably never will.

    • Robert Guyton 6.1

      Do you get someone to roll up for you?

      (Just joshing')

      • Andre 6.1.1

        When you put it that way, I too can claim probably claim to have never touched cannabis. On all the occasions I've partaken, someone else supplied it and the joints were just getting passed around.

    • gsays 6.2

      Instead of the 'have you ever used cannabis?' carry on from journalists, I would rather they asked 'have you met with any alcohol/supermarket lobbyists?'

      It would be far more illuminating.

      • Robert Guyton 6.2.1

        They'd say, "Yes, but we barely spoke."

        • greywarshark 6.2.1.1

          Very witty Robert. What do those in the know think about marijuana – does it make you witty, think you are witty when not, slow the brain down or make you feel good then depressed?

          • BM 6.2.1.1.1

            Very personal and very dependant on how much you have

            can make you laugh at anything,

            can make you super paranoid,

            can give you fast reaction speeds,

            can heighten the senses,

            can stimulate creativity,

            can fill your head full of utter shite,

            can put you to sleep,

            can make you completely misinterpret what's going on around you,(sort of fall into your own world).

            combine with booze can make you aggressive and angry

            • Andre 6.2.1.1.1.1

              Only ever driven once after having a few tokes. It scared the crap out of me. I lost the ability to see and interpret anything outside of the twenty metres or so in front of me that was brightly lit by my headlights.

              Then when I was at a party where I needed to drive home, and some joints were getting passed around, I was going to pass. But then my girlfriend at the time said she'd be fine to drive, so I went ahead and had some puffs. When she drove us home, it was obvious her night vision was impaired in exactly the same way.

              • BM

                Driving stoned is not a great experience.

                I only ever did it once during the day and that was bad enough, couldn't judge distances properly which caused quite a bit of stress.

                Particularly bad at the lights, if you had to turn right and there was no turning arrow, while there was quite a bit on oncoming traffic;

                Also crawling down the road doing about 40kph but feels like you're doing over 100 while paranoid as shit that the cops may pull you over.

                Terrible.

                • Also crawling down the road doing about 40kph but feels like you're doing over 100 while paranoid as shit that the cops may pull you over.

                  Ha ha that brings back memories. God yes, the cops could probably just police driving stoned by looking out for drivers creeping along at low speed while looking terrified at how fast they're going – might mistakenly arrest a few old people, though.

          • McFlock 6.2.1.1.2

            less fights than alcohol, quieter too. Not completely aggro free, and paranoia can come into play, but doesn't affect coordination as much. Does slow people down, though.

        • gsays 6.2.1.2

          Too busy enjoying the restaurant meal.

    • BM 6.3

      I smoked up a storm when I was a young man.

      Haven't smoked for a very long time, personally, I'm not keen about the commercialisation of weed and making it socially mainstream.

      I have no issue with people who want to smoke it, grow a few plants or buy a bit off their mates and do that legally, but I don't want to go down the same path as Colorado and have a full-blown recreational drug industry.

      I wouldn't like to see this sort of shit happening in NZ, we've got enough societal issues as it is.

      http://saynopetodope.org.nz/colorado/

      • marty mars 6.3.1

        on the ground floor eh – I'm sick of people telling others what not to do especially when they did it themselves. growers will never let it go coloradolegal – get real – try sorting out climate change instead of bullshittingly trying to be a moral pygmy on this.

        Learn More About Our Campaign

        ORGANISATIONS CONNECTED WITH THIS CAMPAIGN

        to be announced…

        • BM 6.3.1.1

          What the fuck has climate change got to do with the legalisation of cannabis?

          Less cones for you fool.

          • gsays 6.3.1.1.1

            You mention societal issues, these would include the high (boom boom) arrest and conviction rates for our caramel cousins.

            I have long argued the most damaging aspect of cannabis is it's status in law.

      • Tuppence Shrewsbury 6.3.2

        Why not have it fully legal and commercialised?

        By my own admission I can barely keep a basil plant alive, let alone grow potent pot.

        I'd rather buy edibles than smoke it. I find smoking weed makes me paranoid but hash doesn't. But eating it? I love eating it. so relaxing.

        I do all this in amsterdam and denver, I've seen first hand how good legalisation is.

        It's about six months of buying and holding dominoes shares then everyone chills out and life goes back to normal.

  6. JohnSelway 7

    Anyone know what happened to Draco? He’s been missing quite sometime now and I miss his painful gibberish.

  7. greywarshark 8

    When we think of government and elect people to represent us, we think of governmenht running things, directing things with a strong overview of their expectations to fulfil policies we want. What we get is the job of government siphoned off to agencies with the power of royalty. I think we have been, and are being hornswoggled. That is a made-up word for a cunning plan to sell us a made-up story about having a government that's 'ours', nationally and locally.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/388718/south-auckland-land-sale-the-poor-subsidising-the-wealthy

    Panuku Developments Ltd – Auckland know all about how to combat fairness and imbalance.

    n a statement, Panuku Development said it aimed to make the best use of any revenue from land sales. "When we sell a site, the revenue generated is channelled into a pot from which we prioritise expenditure based on the best use of those funds," the statement said.

    "This is as opposed to a specific area being promised it will retain all of the funds raised from the sale of assets in its location, which is a system that creates unfairness and imbalance."

    But Otara community leaders don't agree:

    Efeso Collins, the chair of Ōtara Health, said while the community was happy to share some of the revenue, 40 percent going to wealthier suburbs was hard to take. "The disappointment is that so much of it is the poor subsidising the wealthy," he said.

    Mr Collins said the money could be spent on local health services instead.

    "The thinking needs to be what's going to serve Ōtara first and then what can we share with what's left over as opposed to work out a plan that doesn't really have our voice in it and then go off and split the money that way."

    This is the mission statement that tops the Paunuku Developments site. Shaping spaces for Aucklanders to love

    Examples: April 2019 : Consent granted for Queens Wharf upgrade; New plan for Northcote's Town Centre; Urban Walking Festival.

    Sounds like nice things for the haves with time and money and opportunity to enjoy the provisions of spaces aimed at the middle-class.

    About:

    Panuku Development Auckland helps to regenerate parts of our city – from small projects that refresh a site or building, to major transformations of town centres or neighbourhoods….

    Panuku Development Auckland is the Council-controlled organisation that delivers urban regeneration in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). We’re here to radically improve your quality of living.

    Our city is facing rapid growth. Quality development is required to accommodate this growth, and to ensure people love and can afford to live in Auckland.

    We imagine a city of strong neighbourhoods.

    We work across many neighbourhoods throughout our city – from large, long-term urban regeneration plans to small projects on specific sites – to meet the needs of the city’s long-term growth, including more types of homes people can afford.

    We work alongside the locals, other parts of council and businesses to regenerate our city in ways that benefit both our local communities and Auckland as a whole.

    We make a profit for council, but at the same time we ensure our buildings contribute positively to their neighbourhoods.

    We also manage around $3 billion of land and buildings that Auckland Council owns, which we regularly review to find smart ways to make money for our city.

    Lately:
    https://www.interest.co.nz/property/99483/council-development-agency-panuku-shows-its-hand-aucklands-property-market%C2%A0
    and
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018693763/what-is-panuku
    and
    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/05/auckland-council-takes-itself-to-court-over-luxury-apartment-block.html
    and
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1905/S00108/takapuna-deadline-tomorrow-for-visionary-developers.htm

    Someone living in an area Whangaparoa? which Panuku has plans to sell wrote to the old Council about access
    and received this modspeak : “Patricia seems to be getting no further with Auckland Transport (AT), since the Councils amalgamated. AT clearly told her in recent correspondence that although it “supports walking to make Auckland one of the world’s most liveable cities”, her problems score low against their set criteria for pavement construction and improving safety.” Words, words.
    https://localmatters.co.nz/news/32469-twentyyear-battle-safe-access.html
    and

  8. joe90 9

    The only man on the planet who could bankrupt a business where the house always wins. And then he started a cult.

    But in the granular detail of tax results, it gives a precise accounting of the president’s financial failures and of the constantly shifting focus that would characterize his decades in business. In contrast to his father’s stable and profitable empire of rental apartments in Brooklyn and Queens, Mr. Trump’s primary sources of income changed year after year, from big stock earnings, to a single year of more than $67.1 million in salary, to a mysterious $52.9 million windfall in interest income. But always, those gains were overwhelmed by losses on his casinos and other projects.

    The new information also suggests that Mr. Trump’s 1990 collapse might have struck several years earlier if not for his brief side career posing as a corporate raider. From 1986 through 1988, while his core businesses languished under increasingly unsupportable debt, Mr. Trump made millions of dollars in the stock market by suggesting that he was about to take over companies. But the figures show that he lost most, if not all, of those gains after investors stopped taking his takeover talk seriously.

    http://archive.li/qf6bY

    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/07/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html

    • Siobhan 9.1

      I'm a little surprised the powers that be want to highlight these losses and shenanigans. For starters he's simply operating in an economic and legal structure/system specifically designed and lacking in proper regulation to allow this sort of thing.

      And secondly, I was going to type out a list of companies, corporations and rich individuals that operate at a loss, or small profit, but the list is so long I don't even know where to start.

      Though I guess you could say its a shame Trump wasn't more invested in Banking, subprime mortgages and hedge funds…he could have been bailed out by Bush/Obama

      • joe90 9.1.1

        The notion that tRump's hugely successful businesses would make him a successful president swayed a goodly portion of the electorate.The fact that he's always been a loser in business will hurt him. Hence the secrecy about his taxes.

        And losses accounting for fully 1 percent of all the losses that the I.R.S. reported had been declared by individual taxpayers in a particular year do rather set him apart.

        • greywarshark 9.1.1.1

          The peeps also have a mistaken idea about busines, as being next to God somehow. Unfortunately much of USA religion is connected to a business, so they are in double trouble when trying to discriminate what is good, what is gold, what is dross and fool's gold.

        • Siobhan 9.1.1.2

          Yeah, but the IRS don't know very much about anything, they have very select insights into a very small group of individuals..simply because they do not make a habit of investigating the very rich.

          https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/12/rich-people-are-getting-away-not-paying-their-taxes/577798/

          And I can not find very good information on why people voted for Trump..just supposition by people who were probably absolutely clueless as to why so many people didn't buy the Democrats vision. However I have been repeatedly been assured it was because of the Russians.

          Personally I agree with you..it was because of his perceived 'success'. which was all smoke and mirrors..but that pretty much sums up most wealth..and in America it would seem appearances are what matter. Certainly, until he ran for President, his 'success' was enough to earn him Bill and Hillarys friendship.

          However my point still stands..all this simply highlights the corrupt system..as much as The Donalds uselessness. Assuming you can call becoming President a failure.

  9. greywarshark 10

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1905/S00069/landmark-climate-change-bill-goes-to-parliament.htm

    “To address the long-term challenge of climate change, today we introduce the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill to Parliament,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

    “We’ve built a practical consensus across Government that creates a plan for the next 30 years, which provides the certainty industries need to get in front of this challenge.

  10. greywarshark 11

    Are we now on a list of missile sites? The space experiments that have gone on from our country are USA militarily connected. Would we be a handy target now if a warning shot was to be sent as a prelude to actually firing directly at he USA. Nobody in our eager beaver money players seems to have our strategy in mind when they sign up to doing some sort of overseas collaboration. Is there money in it? Okay let's do it.

    Rocket Lab is touted as a NZ entrepreneurial success story. Indeed it is, although it is now a US based company headquartered in Huntington Beach, USA, with a NZ subsidiary based in Auckland and on the Mahia Peninsula. Most of the capital invested in Rocket Lab now comes from US based funds and companies. The Electron engines are built in Huntington Beach and the launch vehicle assembled in Auckland.

    There can be no doubt that Rocket Lab is revolutionising the space industry. But the launch of foreign military satellites by a NZ based company from a launch site on sovereign NZ soil raises some important political, practical and legal questions.

    http://www.kiwipolitico.com/2019/05/launching-into-trouble/

  11. Poission 12

    Rbnz cuts OCR economy weak,

    Will the Government issue more irrelevant policy to divert from underlying issues?

  12. greywarshark 13

    This got put in Open Mike for the 7th but it is really current so I carry over the last bits of the discussion on the WWEG and the government and the spending and Budget etc.

    • In Vino …

      7 May 2019 at 11:45 pm

      Coming in late at the end of a long thread.. I love that phrase 'The Disappointment Accumulator'

      I too have long seen The Chairman as a concern troll – the most persistent and devious I have seen.

      But I would now like name The Chairman "The Disappointment Accumulation Dispersal Man."

      His messages always spread discouragement… so far.

      Reply

      • greywarshark …

        8 May 2019 at 12:57 pm

        In Vino I note and agree with you, which is pretty usual.

        I used to dislike The Chairman because he was negative too early in my opinion, a disagreeable old moaner, in my opinion, when we needed to watch, encourage, wait for results and not put weedkiller on our patch.

        But I read some of his stuff the other day and think his opinion was right for the time. He made a case that would allow Prime Minister Jacinda to press forward using leverage on her popularity with NZ, and get the austerity-for-everyone-but-me Labourites off their bums and looking across the room at other figures and numbers. They don't care about people in need and the founding ideals of Labour. But figures and numbers that show money spent now will save huge expense later would crown their miserly minds; and Labour could draw on reserves set aside now for those high expected future expenses. Spend now, and produce three-fold advantage of drops in expenditure in ten years or such.

        From my comment at 1 1 1 1 I think I quoted The Chairman saying what I consider should be pressed on the Labour Coalition leaders prior to the Budget of the 30th May.

        Sixty-five percent of New Zealand First supporters wanted the party to go with Labour. Who widely campaigned on addressing poverty and inequality.

        Additionally, if it were just Bradford and I that are disappointed Labour wouldn't have a problem. Unfortunately for them, the disappointment is widespread.

        Moreover, failing to deliver on more of the recommendations sooner will lead to their fiscal management coming under the spotlight. People will question why they aren't prepared to invest now to save the greater cost and social harm of not doing so.

    • In Vino 13.1

      I agree, Greywarshark.. he has lately posted some fair arguments and material. But I am still wary. I remember the lovely 'out' that hard-out bible-bangers use – 'The Devil may use the Scriptures for his own purposes.' ..

      I remain sceptical, even if he may be quite correct in your quote above. Even a subversive may use the truth.

  13. One Two 14

    Non-genetic factors play surprisingly large role in determining autism, says study by group

    From prior studies of shared autism in twins, scientists had estimated that 90 percent of autism risk was attributable to genes and only 10 percent to non-genetic environmental factors.

    But the new study — the largest ever of twins in which at least one in each pair has autism — shows almost the opposite

    Environmental v Genetic

    • Bazza64 14.1

      One Two,

      Did you read the study about wearing tin foil hats (TFH) makes it easier for the government to track your thoughts ?

      https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/09/tin-foil-hats-actually-make-it-easier-for-the-government-to-track-your-thoughts/262998/

      I thought this was weird but on closer reading it makes a lot of sense. I have to weigh up whether I continue to wear my TFH or biff it & risk wifi-madness vs. government knowing my thoughts. Would be happy with Jacinda in the know, but not Simon, so may ditch the TFH if Nats win the next election.

    • WeTheBleeple 14.2

      The spectrum's diversity can be explained much more easily when one lends weight to environmental factors as exacerbating pre-existing tendencies (genetics) to a disease outcome.

      Vaginal vs caesarian birth, breast milk vs formula, country vs city, spray regimes, antibiotic history, diet, peer group, travel history… makeup of the microbiome…

      • Robert Guyton 14.2.1

        WTB – read Charles Eisenstein's "Climate – A new story" yet?

        • WeTheBleeple 14.2.1.1

          No. Reading the blurb he'd be preaching to the choir. Deep ecology. Bring it.

          My money's on the microbes as to who might survive all these shenanigans however. Give them another billion years or so the next rise of 'intelligence' – hairless bunnies rule the earth, then, being very fond of refrigerated carrots, but not having learned the whole CFC thing, they all die of sunburn. Rumor has it some go deep underground and wage war on the mollipedes for cavern space.

          Life will find a way.

      • One Two 14.2.2

        Yes, quite probably…

        As you politely pointed out to one of this sites less informed commentators (quite a feat among that angry little mans group) who attempted to claim autism was simply the outcome of genetics

        There are an impossible number of environmental variations injected, injected (untested) and absorbed into and by pregnant woman and new borns from within moments of birth , many of which are only recently being explored regarding the microbiome and potential trigger factors…

        Taking an absolute position that one single type of one single product line does not, or will not cause autism…is a ridiculous position to hold…

        • Tuppence Shrewsbury 14.2.2.1

          so if there are an impossible number of environmental variations that can cause autism and 10% of the factors are genetic, genetics are a larger risk factor than vaccines in causing autism.

          do the math, educate yourself. Parenting can lead to autism

          • One Two 14.2.2.1.1

            There is 1:1 correlation between suffering autism and having parents.

            • There is a 1:1 correlation between a mother and a child…
            • There is a 1:1 correlation between being a vaccinated child and having a mother…
            • There is a 1:1 correlation between a vaccine and the chemical compounds / ingredients which do cause damage (including autism)…
            • There is a 1:1 correlation between suffering vaccine damage and having received vaccine(s)…
            • There is a 1:1 correlation between a vaccine damaged child and having a mother…
            • There is a 1:1 correlation between your insulting and abusive comments towards mothers (and fathers) who choose to selectively vaccinate or not vaccinate at all …. being misogynistic and bigoted…

            Following your 'maths'…every child who has received vaccine(s) has a mother …and is therefore genetically pre-disposed to autism…which could be triggered by vaccination(s)…

            One size doe not fit all.

            • Tuppence Shrewsbury 14.2.2.1.1.1

              …"Following your 'maths'…every child who has received vaccine(s) has a mother …and is therefore genetically pre-disposed to autism…which could be triggered by vaccination(s)…"

              I'm glad to know you agree that there is a stronger link between genetics and autism than vaccines and austism.

              …"There is a 1:1 correlation between your insulting and abusive comments towards mothers (and fathers) who choose to selectively vaccinate or not vaccinate at all …. being misogynistic and bigoted…"

              It's not misogynistic or bigoted. It's a refusal to let idiots who harm the community be allowed to harm the community.

              I'm like a one person climate change march

              • One Two

                It's not misogynistic or bigoted.

                I've just used your own commentary against you to illustrate that it is both misogynistic and bigoted.

                Notably, those such as yourself must all be guys who push the same misogynistic and bigoted ignorance…

                It's a refusal to let idiots who harm the community be allowed to harm the community.

                The refusal (denial), is by those who share views such as evidenced in commentary on this site (all guys), to accept or acknowledge decades of medical and scientific archives full with studies regarding vaccine failure and vaccine related damage and death.

                Such denial is pure anti-science and bigotry… perhaps that goes over your head or is filtered out …

                I'm like a one person climate change march

                Conflating vaccine damage , death, denial and bigotry with climate change activism…

                I responded to use your own commentary against you…that was the only reason…I just needed to hold back until you provided the material.

                Which I knew that you would.

                • higherstandard

                  'The refusal (denial), is by those who share views such as evidenced in commentary on this site (all guys), to accept or acknowledge decades of medical and scientific archives full with studies regarding vaccine failure and vaccine related damage and death.

                  Such denial is pure anti-science and bigotry… perhaps that goes over your head or is filtered out …'

                  The most repetitive purveyor of pure anti-science and non-acceptance of the weight of scientific and medical literature is the poster who goes under the handle of one two.

                  There is no evidence that immunisation with MMR vaccine leads to autism, there is considerable evidence that Andrew Wakefield (previously Dr now struck off) authored a fraudulent research paper claiming a link between the MMR vaccine and autism and bowel disease. This fraud, understandably, caused a number of concerned parents at the time to not vaccinate their children.

                  • One Two

                    The most repetitive purveyor of pure anti-science and non-acceptance of the weight of scientific and medical literature is the poster who goes under the handle of one two

                    Are you upset from the ethics discussion?…you should stop projecting your lack of knowledge, understanding …and weak linkage onto me…

                    You should consider broadening the inputs of the material you read…I see you enjoy the links to Offit/Gorski etc…and comment in support of the angry uninformed men who also exhibit their misogynistic bigotry (Gorski style) …

                    That is not the material which will assist your personal growth…

                    Reading and absorbing such material is keeping you, and others who function at a similar stunted level, on this subject…fixated on the same tired and misused tropes such was MMR/Wakefield…

                    If you were remotely capable of having this discussion, then you would have something more to offer…at this stage, you do not…

                    So you post comments projecting your under-informed frustrations outwards…

                    • Tuppence Shrewsbury

                      Pivoting from junk science to pseudo ethics to support your increasingly fragile premise?

                      I've noted you do this every time your sources and arguments are factually refuted. It's sad really, a classic example of the crazy person who thinks they are the only sane person in a world full of crazies

                • Tuppence Shrewsbury

                  But you didn't use my own argument against me? you proved my argument to be correct and your own argument wrong. You then used your proof to label me misogynistic and bigoted.

                  So what you've done is slur a factually correct argument with labels because you don't like it being correct, despite your assertions proving it correct.

                  Congratulations. you played yourself.

                  • One Two

                    But you didn't use my own argument against me?

                    Yes. I did. The question mark you use signals that you don’t even back yourself…

                    you proved my argument to be correct and your own argument wrong.

                    What was my argument ?

                    You then used your proof to label me misogynistic and bigoted.

                    Yes, your comments are misogynistic and bigoted…and I used your comments and stated opinion regarding genetic pre-disposition to autism as being related to all children (your stated comments)…who all have mothers/parents…

                    I linked a study which indicates that genetic pre-disposition is a factor…(so I ask you again…what was my argument)…oh yes…that your comments are abusive, insulting… misogynistic bigotry…

                    …which of course they are …

                    Against the Mothers/parents whose genetically pre-disposed children are damaged by environmental elements and compounds including the ingredients of vaccines…

                    And you continue to abuse and insult those mothers/parents…

                    I'll not be spending any more energy responding to point out the misogynistic bigotry contained within your insults and abuse towards the mothers/parents of genetically pre-disposed vaccine damaged children…

                    • Tuppence Shrewsbury

                      yet look at all the energy you expend by even starting out wrong.

        • WeTheBleeple 14.2.2.2

          No no no, don't drag me into the nutty shit.

          Autism is a spectrum, there are many factors attributed to higher incidences of Autism in many studies which I examined for over 18 months. Vaccines were NEVER one of them.

          I'm on the spectrum and have a vested interest in the truth.

          So STFU with the nonsense.

          • One Two 14.2.2.2.1

            No no no, don't drag me into the nutty shit.

            You replied to the study I linked to…I dragged you nowhere…

            I'm on the spectrum and have a vested interest in the truth.

            You do not have the monopoly on vested interests or on truth.

            Edit: 18 +/- months does not say you have examined every study. Keep reading.

            • WeTheBleeple 14.2.2.2.1.1

              You're not interested in what professionals say. You're spreading nonsense and no matter what is said/shown you sit on your silly high horse continuing like everyone else is a shill.

              You are a flat earthing asshat on this subject.

              • One Two

                You're not interested in what professionals say.

                I am absolutely interested in what professionals have to say on the subject…

                I am absolutely interested on what the parents have to say on the subject of vaccine damage including autism to their children…

                I am interested in what all studies, data and legal rulings say on the subject of vaccine damage…

                In fact I can tell you that I am interested in every possible angle, aspect and facet of the subject of vaccination and its consequences…

                You are a flat earthing asshat on this subject.

                Believe whatever you like wtb…

                I will keep enjoying your comments on gardens and the like…

                • greywarshark

                  I was interested in reading about early colonial history and the women who was paid to ride a horse to visit isolated Maori villages and talk about the problems of alcohol and encourage the women in particular to be alcohol free. She found in one area the whole hapu laid low with measles, with no outside help, no medicines. Their was some control about leaving the area so as to prevent it spreading which I think was set by Maori; a sort of rahui. She knew that they would die if help wasn't given and had to slip away to get out so she could advise the hospital authorities for that area. She succeeded and would not, I am sure, indulge in the rhetoric of anti-vaccers calling mostly, on their own bloated authority.

                  The strength of argumentative people who want to apply exactness to disease prevention here, has to be viewed alongside those who have upset people against the WHO trying to vaccinate against polio. They have been so inflamed by the diseased words they hear that they have killed health workers.

                  This behaviour has been a political ploy in the past, spreading the word that the vaccinations are sneaky ways of killing off your children by politicians and powers trying to clear people off the area, or take control of their lives. I think basically it is a power-play and is really despicable behaviour going straight to emotion and fear of the vulnerable, not encouraging people to look at it from the factual and rational POV.

                  • One Two

                    Vitimin A Treatmen of Measles

                    Woman of all generations have assisted then, as they do today…

                    She succeeded and would not, I am sure, indulge in the rhetoric of anti-vaccers calling mostly, on their own bloated authority.

                    Name calling of mothers/parents (who are also women) thereby belittling their experiences, their knowledge and understandings…

                    …while sharing an anecdote promoting the presumed humility of the woman horse rider…

                    Contradictory, insulting, derogatory, misogynistic bigotry…on your part, gw…

                    …upset people against the WHO trying to vaccinate against polio.

                    Oral Polio Vaccine – India Paralysis

                    [NEW DELHI] While India’s oral polio vaccine (OPV) drives have eliminated polio from the country, they have also resulted in over 490,000 cases of paralysis during 2000—2017, says a new study based on national surveillance statistics.

                    I think basically it is a power-play and is really despicable behaviour going straight to emotion and fear of the vulnerable, not encouraging people to look at it from the factual and rational POV

                    Your comments, like others here are laced with emotion, and lack both factual and rational content…in direct aggression against the vulnerable…

                    As I have illustrated above. Using your own comments and providing examples against them…

                    • Andre

                      India uses the very cheap oral live polio vaccine, New Zealand (like most wealthy countries) uses injectable inactivated (dead) polio vaccine which is even safer than the already very very low hazard of the oral vaccine. Using figures from a poor vastly populous country like India (which necessarily uses the cheapest) to scaremonger in wealthy New Zealand (which has the money to buy what’s best for the people) is just straight-up malicious dishonesty.

                      Now to look at the actual numbers: the risk of oral polio vaccine induced paralysis is generally quoted at around 3 per million doses. The generally quoted risk of paralysis from an actual wild polio infection is 5000 per million. If I were heading to a polio-endemic area and the oral vaccine was the only one available, the 3 per million risk of the vaccine vs the 5000 per million risk of the disease makes it a no brainer (as indeed I had in 1969). But the inactivated booster I got in 1998 is even more of a no-brainer.

                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polio_vaccine

                      https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/polio-poliomyelitis – see the Prevention tab

                    • One Two []

                      Even when you try…you fail…

                      Either you can't or don't read so well…or your trying to score points…

                      GW raised a point about WHO polio campaigns…to which I countered with an example of severe levels of damage caused…by the polio vaccine…

                      If gw was referring to Nz…I presumed he was not..and linked accordingly…

                      Back to Gorski you go for your mysogynistic bigotry training…

                      Anything you have..I'll counter directly through it…

                      Without using Gorski style name calling and bigotry…

                    • Andre

                      One Two, the actual article your scaremongering piece springboarded off of looked at Non-Polio Acute Flaccid Paralysis.

                      It found a weak correlation in parts of India with OPV administration and no causative mechanism was even suggested. A weak correlation in parts of India with its poor sanitation, poor nutrition, and massive load of other disease is hardly solid grounds for making the kinds of assertions the SciDev piece made and you repeated here.

                      Now, there's a couple of things to note about Non-Polio Acute Flaccid Paralysis that are right there in the name.

                      The Non-Polio bit means that the usual means of diagnosing polio turned up negative for those patients. It's not polio. And indeed, it occurs in places where polio has long been eradicated, like the US.

                      The second bit to note is the Acute bit. That means it's non-permanent. It's certainly a nasty illness, but it doesn't leave a permanent disability the way actual polio does.

                    • One Two []

                      I actually do read and can understand what the article and isissues are, Andre…Gorski and Offit have caused your self excused arrested development…

                      Stop shifting the goal posts…dismissing yet another example of vaccine caused damage to the children of mothers…

                      …to make excuses for your history of repetitive and bigoted comments…

      • Incognito 14.2.3

        Exactly! Instead of Environmental versus Genetic or Nature versus Nature it is the interplay between these two ‘levels’ (for want of a better word) that mutually influence each other through multiple positive and negative feedback loops.

        • WeTheBleeple 14.2.3.1

          Coming from a team of professionals (Minds for Minds) who studied this exact subject it surprised me the amount of people still trying to pin down one gene/bacteria/incidence to Autism. But then the drive for creating a drug is very strong in this crowd. Many genuinely care. Others… meh.

          Things that sometimes alleviate ASD symptoms

          Antibiotics. (often better at first, then worse)

          Fecal transplants.

          The gut bacteria are obviously key players in the severity of presentation of the disease. A healthy gut flora can help but the picky diets of many ASD sufferers make this difficult. The prebiotic fibres of many fruits and vegetables are important feedstocks for various probiotic species.

          The reasons for picky food preferences, however, are not just do to with texture and taste. Often the gut microbiome is already compromised and a bad stomach ache and/or the squirts follow healthy eating as microbes do battle and the immune system goes into overdrive. In these cases antibiotics then a direct fecal transplant may help where a microbe population should be replaced rather than encouraged toward a more healthy makeup.

          It's all relatively new to science, this thinking across disciplines, supposing maybe more than one thing is at play. They like to pin stuff down and make claims A begets B!

          A is connected to the whole damn alphabet.

          • greywarshark 14.2.3.1.1

            From my reading about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome what you say above seems relevant to people with this \also.

  14. sumsuch 16

    Much more liveliness in Martyn Bradbury's blog — his excitement sparking around. Lumpfing-around 'letter-writers' otherwise. I remember a respected 60s Listener editor's memoir's dry condemning chapter on such.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    39 mins ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    4 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    9 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    12 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T07:01:52+00:00