Rashbrooke touches on the solution (or at least the best available chance) when he mentions taxation….our domestic inflation can be controlled by taxing that which we want more of less and vice versa, especially if it is progressive.
Until we openly recognise that 'work' (output) is what supports an economy we will continue to fail…..and speculation isnt 'work' as much as those engaged in it will claim otherwise….make work rewarding (again)
“.and speculation isnt 'work' as much as those engaged in it will claim otherwise”
I don't think anyone is claiming that. There are some, mostly supporters of capital gains taxes, who claim that gains from speculation constitute "income". However those gains are offset by losses on the part of buyers, so don't affect the money supply.
Na ,you go get a mortgage the bank tells you how much you can go to on a given property, if they were limited to lending at no more than inflation then house prices couldn't rocket out of control and investors would need to be in it for long term rental profits instead of going for massive capital gain.
Houses generally double in price every 10 years, its ridiculous
It's also what helped screw us with dairy, banks happily lending way to much for conversions etc valuing farms based on very high prices for milk solids and outputs based on heaps of fert, irrigation and supplemental feed… the bank doesnt care the bigger the mortgage the more interest paid amd the better their balance sheet.
Dangerously close to irresponsible lending if you ask me…
TOP is suggesting a 100% loan to value ratio for rental purposes. This would mean that an intending landlord would not be able to enter the market unless he already owned an available freehold property, or had sufficient funds to be able to purchase one without borrowing. I think he has plagiarized one or two of my earlier comments.
Banks and finance companies loan to those with assets and perpetuate a bad system. Greedy asset holders are the problem…they seek out the loans to add to their already large asset bases and inflate asset values.
A few who have over reached are being impacted by the current credit squeeze and interest rises and revision of values against other commodities.
Banks and Finance Companies are complicit, but not the whole problem, but are the conduit for Asset Owner's GREED.
The process you refer to cannot happen unless finance is available for your so called "greedy asset holders" to access.
The process is a circular one. The more the banks lend against property the more prices rise, and the more interest the banks earn. And the more prices rise the more money the banks can lend. To put a stop to the process we need to curtail bank lending. We can't blame "greedy asset holders" for taking advantage of the situation as it exists.
Alternatively we could try to discourage them by making property investment less attractive, e.g. by taxing property ownership.
Shrinking demand via taxation has most of the same problems as shrinking demand via monetary policy. NZs price hikes are due to supply side factors, coming from overseas or are otherwise related to market structure.
It's possible to shrink the demand side down to match the supply side while that's going on, but its pretty socially destructive. It also damages your economic resilience and productivity for once supply side inflationary pressures abate.
If domestic inflation was coming from the demand side the understanding would be different.
"Shrinking demand via taxation has most of the same problems as shrinking demand via monetary policy."
And there is your mistake….it depends upon the target of the taxation.
What is fuelling the RBNZ fear of a price/wage spiral?…the pressures exerted by overpriced assets (property) on both labour and inputs.
It is not the working poor that are continuing to support the higher prices in NZ…as Rashbrooke notes "If there genuinely is excess cash, it sits in the hands of the well-off. But current policies don’t target them. "
The Reserve Bank has to take into account unemployment as well as inflation as part of its remit.
Rashbrooke's solutions are a bit waffly for me, though he is right about raising interest rates being a blunt tool and in terms of higher pay for workers being seen as a good thing rather than being seen as a cost to business.
No. The RB remit has to take into account rising unemployment/the level of employment. If unemployment is judged to be rising too quickly interest rate rises would have to be smaller or even reversed.
The RBNZ should talk to INZ so that that we can open the borders asap and flood the labour markets with poorly checked cheap labour from who-cares. Oh wait, that sounds remarkably similar to National’s second bullet point on their PowerPoint slide that they call Plan for Aotearoa 2023-2024 with the footnote saying We are better managers of the egonomy.
The better understood, how these policies are supposed to work, are the easier to point out the assumptions involved (such as the assumption, not recorded in the data, that median NZ wages are too high and driving inflation).
Is that the same TOP under which Gareth Morgan proposed taking 1/3 of beneficiaries income and redistributing it to everybody else as a bonus (called UBI sans welfare). Mr Rashbrooke seems more socially responsible than that, to me.
I think that he's absolutely fine where he is and continue his excellent work outside of Parliament and most certainly not sell his soul to some political cult party.
Are they all cults or just top? They come across as more progressive than any other and not blinded by ideology like the rest. although to be honest I haven't given them much attention of late.
Russia puts Bellingcat partner Dobrokhotov on wanted list: Journalist is accused of illegally crossing state border into Ukraine
The Russian authorities have put Roman Dobrokhotov, the founder of online publication The Insider, on the country’s wanted list, after he fled the country by allegedly illegally crossing the border to Ukraine’s Lugansk region…..
….Dobrokhotov was placed on a wanted list after apparently fleeing Russia by crossing the border to Ukraine’s Lugansk region. At the same time, the police raided his parents’ home, and brought his wife in for questioning.
Following the charges, he announced that he had “had every right to leave the territory of Russia,” despite his passport being seized, calling the criminal case a means of pressuring his relatives.
How about that? Last week, 'The Russian authorities' didn't consider the territory of Lugansk, to be part of Russia. This week Putin claimed Lugansk is part of Russia.
Will the Russian authorities be dropping the charges of illegally crossing into a foreign country brought against Russian journalist Roman Dobrokhotov?
I can recall that even as a child I remember feeling the saying and song that people have no control over their fate was terribly depressing and fatalistic.
The opposite is true.
Ukraine's victory is not fated. It is hard won.
Sure. With American weapons, which the Russians seem unable to match. I think the latter will eventually have to resort to their own nuclear weapons in order to defend themselves.
"….I think the latter will eventually have to resort to their own nuclear weapons in order to defend themselves." Mikesh
This war is not Russia defending 'themselves', Mikesh.
Invading and forcibly occupying territory of a neighbouring sovereign country is not defence.
Mikesh calling for Russia to use nuclear weapons to prevail in this aggression. Is to call for genocide.
Nuclear weapons are the ultimate weapon of genocide. Killing far more people in less time than any other previous invented method. No need for messy cattle cars or the construction of complex networks of death camps and crematoria.
Committing and calling for genocide is the hallmark of fascists.
This is what the Ukrainian people of the Donbas think of people like you and your dirty ilk.
Its not possible to watch RT. In the interest of monopoly propaganda from the West, many alternative sources have been banned, not only from TV but also YouTube and Twitter.
As Ukraine advances into Kherson threaten to close the land bridge to Crimea, and with the sea bridge gone. Crimea is about to become physically cut off from Russia.
I suspect many of the inhabitants of Crimea will be secretly renewing their Ukrainian passports.
For years, Lotto pitched certain stores as "lucky". They weren't. In fact, the chances of becoming a problem gambler far outweigh the chances of winning a big Powerball prize.
King Charles III Conflicted Head of The Commonweath
Why hasn’t Jacinda, Anthony and Justine (along with the other PMs of 13 Kingly states) stood up to Lizz Truss and insisted that the Head of the Commonwealth, that includes NZ, Australia, and Canada along with 54 other independent states, should be allowed to represent our collective views at COP27. Apparently, Liz’s decision was made is because she has appointed a Climate Denier Jacob Rees-Mogg as her UK Environmental Minister, and she doesn’t want to be embarrassed by her King’s views on the world stage. On the other hand, Global Warning is a serious international issue, Charles III is our King and head of the Commonwealth and apparently well qualified to represent smaller states that are anxious about the impacts of climate change. Moreover in 1961 our former Queen set a precedent for independent action by ignoring Thatcher’s “advice” not a to attend the Commonwealth conference on Apartheid, danced with the PM of Ghana and thereby “saved” the Commonwealth from breaking up. The question we might ask ourselves, if Liz has so much power over our present head of state why do we bother keeping him on?
“ the use of Crimean crews amounted to "indirect sponsorship of Russia's war crimes".
“there are doubts over the towns and addresses on their official documentation, which places them as being from the Russian Federation and not other contested regions currently, or historically, fought over.”
Crimea is an annexed Ukrainian state so if they were Crimean born not Russian, no problem.
“Sources claim the crews are "aggressively pro-war and pro-Putin", it's alleged, broadcasting Russian "propaganda" on the fishing boats and allegedly "mandated" to hang Putin's portrait in the galley and wardroom”.
This activity needs banning on a NZ registered boat until Russia stops its aggression in the Ukraine.
Let's see how many get on the plane to go home when their contract ends.
They'd all be liable for conscription so would be quite pleased to be tucked away down south for the duration. And is Uncle Vlad's portrait hanging the right way up for here or up north.
Drowsy M. KramTak, comrade, never liked Russian fudge as much as the chocolate kind â hope sanctions kick in before the school gala. Rooting for the underdog of the moment. 6.2.1.1
Sorry weka, I copied the text of my comment before deleting it, and then tried to paste the copied text into a new comment – must have pasted in the wrong place.
I'm sure Russia would be more than happy to talk peace with the Ukrainian government. However the latter seems more interested in saving face rather than agreeing to peace talks. In any case I'm pretty sure Mr Biden would not allow it.
Should've been banned decades ago on legal grounds – they pay illegally low wages – which is the whole point.
Contemporary NZ politicians are however utterly corrupt. "Slave & trafficked workers? Have as many as you like!" they say. As long as they're off camera, that is.
Crimea is an annexed Ukrainian state so if they were Crimean born not Russian, no problem.
The majority of Crimea's citizenry are ethnic Russians. From 1954 to the end of the soviet era Crimea was administered from Ukraine, but that did not imply that it "belonged" to Ukraine. I think it was a separate oblast within the soviet system and doubt whether Russia acquiesced in a transfer of ownership – though of course I could be wrong. After the soviet collapse Yeltsin may have handed it over, though I doubt whether Putin would have agreed to a handover had he been in power at the time.
In 2014 a referendum indicated that a majority of its citizens did not want to be part of Ukraine. It has been suggested that the referendum was phony, but this has never been proved, and foreign observers present in Crimea at the time seemed to think that the result was kosher. This was the basis for Russia's annexation, though the real reason was that ownership of the territory was important for Russia’s defense.
Another hurdle to overcome for life to emerge has been discovered.
Waterfalls.
Some worlds like Saturn's 6th moon Enceladus, may be covered in deep oceans. But without waterfalls, (and land), the emergence of life may not be possible.
….Basically, for life to form, it needs water, but also the loss of some water.
Cooks explained this “water paradox,” to VICE. “The water paradox is the contradiction between (i) the very considerable evidence that the chemical reactions leading to life occurred in the prebiotic ocean and (ii) the thermodynamic constraint against exactly these (water loss) reactions occurring in water….
….tiny droplets flying through the air or sliding down rocks, interacting with the air and forming quick chemical reactions. “The rates of reactions in droplets are anywhere from a hundred to a million times faster than the same chemicals reacting in bulk solution,” said Cooks.
This speedy chemical reactions do not require a catalyst to begin the reaction, which made the evolution of life on Earth possible. The team used “droplet fusion” experiments to reconstruct the possible formation of peptides, that simulate how water droplets collide in the air.
Add this to the growing mountain of evidence already collected, points toward the conclusion that except for this small corner, the universe is as inanimate as it is vast.
" Auckland Action Against Poverty is one of those groups with on-the-ground experience, and co-chair Agnes Magele said the report did not give the full picture.
" She said the government's decisions and actions were partly to blame for keeping people locked in poverty "
The Chekist thug has memory-holed his predecessors' atrocities.
Liquidation of the International Memorial
12/28/2021
On December 28, 2021, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decided to liquidate the International Memorial.
The formal reason stated in the suit of the General Prosecutor's Office is the absence of the label “foreign agent” on some materials. During the hearing, the inconsistency of these claims was clearly demonstrated.
But today, the court finally named not a formal reason, but the real reason for the liquidation of the International Memorial: the General Prosecutor's Office claims that we are misinterpreting Soviet history, “creating a false image of the USSR as a terrorist state,” “lashing out criticism at the state authorities”. And the state, according to our opponents, is beyond criticism.
The decision of the Supreme Court once again confirmed that the history of political terror organized and directed by the state authorities remains for Russia not an academic topic of interest only to specialists, but an acute problem of our time. Our country needs an honest and conscientious reflection on the Soviet past; this is the guarantee of her future. It is ridiculous to believe that the judicial liquidation of International Memorial will remove this issue from the agenda. The entire Russian society needs to remember the tragedies of the past. And not only Russian: the memory of state terror unites all the former Soviet republics.
Of course, we will challenge the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in all ways available to us. And we will find legitimate ways to continue our work. A memorial is not an organization, it is not even a social movement. The memorial is the need of the citizens of Russia for the truth about its tragic past, about the fate of many millions of people. And no one will be able to "eliminate" this need.
Today is Poot's 70th. Awarding prizes to a human rights group that he shut down, a Ukrainian rights group documenting his war crimes and a Belarusian rights activist imprisoned by his bestie Lukashenko.
I don't see why the protesters should be awarded the peace prize when they have not succeeded in bringing about an actual peace in Ukraine. The award in this case seems to be just a gimmick to further demonize Russia. Protesters against the Vietnam war were not awarded the peace prize; but of course in that conflict it was the USA and its supporters that were being protested against.
The rail bridge looks unusable due distortion of the metal and likely weakening of reinforcing steel in the rail bridge concrete. Also, I imagine the extreme heat would weld the train wheels to the tracks. So, clearing the train off the bridge is not going to be easy.
I am expecting the expected offensive towards Melitopol to start straight away now. It would be a great move to have the Russians fighting on three fronts while their logistics are stuffed.
I fixed the link. If you link to the person's twitter account, the tweet gets lost in the embed as new tweets are posted. Instead, click on the date/time stamp of the tweet you are referring to, then copy and paste the URL.
From a supply point of view, the key thing will be how badly the rail bridge is damaged. Obviously the train will need to be cleared off. But it might not simply roll off because the heat will have distorted the metal of the rails and the wheels, and may have even welded the rails to some of the wheels if the fire was hot enough. Then, likely rails will need to be replaced.
So, in the best case, I would say the rail bridge will be out of action for at least a week. But if the heat has damaged the integrity of the bridge itself, then it could be out a lot longer.
That bridge also pipes water and electricity to Crimea – albeit not enough. As Kherson falls, those utilities are likely to be in short supply.
The big engineers in the region are Ukraine, not Russia. They built both the Moskva and the Admiral Kuznetsov. A massive floating crane can likely fix the rail part rapidly (about a month) if Russia still have one. I think they're going to have a few too many problems however.
A month should be long enough. If the Ukrainians start the third front towards Melitopol the stress on the remaining Russian logistics could be too much.
The Ukrainians are putting major stress on the Russian logistics in the north at the moment as well. So, I think this is definitely a major turning point in the war.
If you look at that link you fixed for me, it looks very much like a truck exploding. That is what the Russians are saying. Though, other reports I have seen, have pointed out that freeze-frames show some sort of boat coming into view. I know the US has given the Ukrainians some drone boats. So, it isn't absolutely clear. But it is definitely a large explosion.
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On the weekend, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop admitted that not everyone will “like” his fast track wish-list, before adding: “We are a government that does not shy away from those tough decisions.” Hmm. IMO, there’s nothing “tough” about a government using its numbers in Parliament to bulldoze aside the public’s ...
First they came for Newshub, and I said nothing because I didn’t watch TV3. Then they came for One News, and I said nothing because I didn’t pay much attention to them either. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out because all the ...
Something I especially like about you all, you loyal and much-appreciated readers of More Than A Feilding, is that you are so very widely experienced and knowledgeable. Not just saying that. You really are.So I'm mindful as I write today that at least one of you has been captain of an ...
On Friday, Luxon and Reti were at Ormiston Private Hospital to talk up the benefits of private money in public health. [And defend Casey Costello - that’s a given for now by our National Party Ministers - including the medical doctor Shane Reti.]Luxon and Reti said we were going to ...
Hi,If you are unfortunate like me, you will have seen this image over the weekend.Donald Trump returned to the site of his near-assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania — except this time he brought Elon Musk with him. It’s difficult to keep up with Trump’s brain, but he seems to have dropped ...
Last week finally saw the first major release of detailed data from last year’s Census. There are a huge number of stories to be told from this data. Over the next few weeks we’ll be illuminating a few of them – starting today with an initial look at how New ...
The Government finance hand brake that stalled construction momentum in early 2024 remains firmly on. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, October 7:Infrastructure and Housing Minister Chris Bishop ...
Change is coming to America. Next month’s elections are likely to pave the way for an overhaul of US foreign policy– regardless of whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the presidency. Decisions made in Washington will also have a direct impact on Wellington. While the Biden administration started its ...
Those business leaders who were calling last week for some indication of an economic plan from the Government got their answer yesterday. In what amounted to the first substantial pointer to the future rather than the past from a Government Minister, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop set out the reasons for ...
A listing of 30 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 29, 2024 thru Sat, October 5, 2024. Story of the week We're all made of standard human fabric so it's nobody's particular fault but while "other" parts of the world ...
The National Government has sneakily reneged on protecting the Hauraki Gulf, reducing the protected area of the marine park and inviting commercial fishing in the depleted seascape. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the Government’s response to the report into the North Island weather events but urges it to push forward with legislative change this term. ...
The Green Party echoes a call for banks to divest from entities linked to Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine, and says Crown Financial Institutions should follow suit. ...
Te Whatu Ora’s finances have deteriorated under the National Government, turning a surplus into a deficit, and breaking promises made to New Zealanders to pay for it. ...
The Prime Minister’s decision to back his firearms minister on gun law changes despite multiple warnings shows his political judgement has failed him yet again. ...
Yesterday the government announced the list of 149 projects selected for fast-tracking across Aotearoa. Trans-Tasman Resources’ plan to mine the seabed off the coast of Taranaki was one of these projects. “We are disgusted but not surprised with the government’s decision to fast-track the decimation of our seabed,” said Te ...
At Labour’s insistence, Te Whatu Ora financial documents have been released by the Health Select Committee today showing more cuts are on the way for our health system. ...
Fresh questions have been raised about the conduct of the Firearms Minister after revelations she misled New Zealanders about her role in stopping gun reforms prior to the mosque shootings. ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford still can’t confirm when the Government will deliver the $2 billion worth school upgrades she cut earlier this year. ...
Labour acknowledges the hundreds of workers today losing their jobs as the Winstone Pulp mill closes and what it will mean for their families and community. ...
In Budget '24, the National Government put aside $216 million to pay for a tax cut which mainly benefitted one company: global tobacco giant Philip Morris. Instead of giving hundreds of millions to big tobacco, National could have spent the money sensibly, on New Zealand. ...
Te Whatu Ora’s financials from the last year show the Government has manufactured a financial crisis to justify making cuts that are already affecting patient care. ...
Over 41,000 Palestinian’s have been murdered by Israel in the last 12 months. At the same time, Israel have launched attacks against at least four other countries in the Middle East including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. “You cannot play the aggressor and the victim at the same time,” said ...
Associate health minister Casey Costello has made a fool of the Prime Minister, because the product she’s been fighting to get a tax cut for and he’s been backing her on is now illegal – and he doesn’t seem to know it. ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into climate adaptation is something that must be built on for an enduring framework to manage climate risk. ...
The Government is taking tertiary education down a worrying path with new reporting finding that fourteen of the country’s sixteen polytechnics couldn’t survive on their own,” Labour’s tertiary education spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell says. ...
Today the government announced a $30m cut to Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori- a programme that develops te reo Māori among our kaiako. “This announcement is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks on te iwi Māori,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi. ...
The Government has shown its true intentions for the public service and economy – it’s not to get more public servants back to the office, it’s more job losses. ...
The National Government is hiding the gaps in the health workforce from New Zealanders, by not producing a full workforce plan nearly a year into their tenure. ...
Today, the Crown Mineral Amendment Bill was read for the first time, reversing the ban on oil exploration off the coast of Taranaki. It was no accident that this proposed law change was read directly after the Government started to unravel the ability of iwi and hapū Māori to have ...
Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Justice, Tākuta Ferris, has hit out at the Government, demanding the Crown prove its rights to the foreshore, following the Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill, passing its first reading. "Māori rights to the foreshore pre-exist the Declaration of Independence, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and ...
The one-stop-shop Fast-track Approvals Bill, and the 149 projects listed in the Bill, will help rebuild our struggling economy and kick-start economic growth across the country, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop says. “Since 2022, New Zealand has battled anaemic levels of economic growth. If we want Kiwi kids to stop ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today announced the appointment of Sir Brian Roche as the next Public Service Commissioner. “I am delighted to appoint Sir Brian to this crucial leadership position,” Mr Luxon says. “Sir Brian is a highly respected New Zealander who has held significant roles across the public and ...
Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced the establishment of a Forestry Sector Reference Group to drive better outcomes from the Forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Registry. “We are committed to working with the forestry sector to provide greater transparency and engagement on the forestry ETS registry as we work to ...
New Zealand’s fuel resilience is being strengthened to ensure people and goods keep moving and connected to the world in case of disruptions, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says. “Fuel security is a priority for the Coalition Government. We are acutely aware of how important engine fuels are to our ...
The Government will reform New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system to provide significant regulatory relief for businesses, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Cabinet has approved an AML/CFT reform work programme which will ensure streamlined, workable, and effective regulations for businesses, law enforcement, and ...
Significant reforms are underway in the building and construction portfolio to help enable more affordable homes and a stronger economy, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “If we want to grow the economy, lift incomes, create jobs and build more affordable, quality homes we need a construction sector that ...
Minister Responsible for the GCSB and Minister of Defence Judith Collins will travel to Singapore and Brussels for Singapore International Cyber Week and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting. New Zealand has been invited to attend the NATO meeting alongside representatives from the European Union and the ...
Toitū ngā pōito o te kupenga a Toitehuatahi! A Government commitment to restoring the health and mauri of the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana will enhance the area for generations to come, Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka says. Cabinet recently agreed to pass the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill into law, ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour says the Government has committed to action on overseas investment, where the country’s policy settings are the worst in the developed world and holding back wage growth. “Cabinet has agreed to the principles for reforming our overseas investment law. At the core of these principles ...
The annual East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Laos this week underscored the critical role that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plays in ensuring a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. "My first participation in an EAS has been a valuable opportunity to engage ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says the feedback from the health and safety roadshow will help shape the future of health and safety in New Zealand and grow the economy. “New Zealand’s poorly performing health and safety system could be costing this country billions,” says Ms van ...
The Government has released the independent Advisory Group’s report on the 384 projects which applied to be listed in the Fast-track Approvals Bill, and further detail about the careful management of Ministers’ conflicts of interest, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. Independent Advisory Group Report The full report has now been ...
The Government Policy Statement (GPS) on electricity clearly sets out the Government’s role in delivering affordable and secure electricity at internationally competitive prices, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand’s economic growth and prosperity relies on Kiwi households and businesses having access to affordable and secure electricity at internationally competitive prices. ...
The Government has broadly accepted the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care whilst continuing to consider and respond to its recommendations. “It is clear the Crown utterly failed thousands of brave New Zealanders. As a society and as the State we should have done better. ...
The brakes have been put on contractor and consultant spending and growth in the public service workforce, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Workforce data released today shows spending on contractors and consultants fell by $274 million, or 13 per cent, across the public sector in the year to June 30. ...
The Crown accounts for the 2023/24 year underscore the need for the Government’s ongoing efforts to restore discipline to public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Financial Statements of the Government for the year ended 30 June 2024 were released today. They show net core Crown net debt at ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will chair negotiations on carbon markets at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) alongside Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and Environment, Grace Fu. “Climate change is a global challenge, and it’s important for countries to be enabled to work together and support each other ...
A new confirmation of payments system in the banking sector will make it safer for Kiwis making bank transactions, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “In my open letter to the banks in February, I outlined several of my expectations of the sector, including the introduction of a ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the Government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our ...
The Government has released its long-term vision to strengthen New Zealand’s disaster resilience and emergency management, Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “It’s clear from the North Island Severe Weather Events (NISWE) Inquiry, that our emergency management system was not fit-for-purpose,” Mr Mitchell says. “We’ve seen first-hand ...
Today’s cut in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 4.75 per cent is welcome news for families and businesses, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Lower interest rates will provide much-needed relief for households and businesses, allowing families to keep more of their hard-earned money and increasing the opportunities for businesses ...
Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has asked Sport NZ to review and update its Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Community Sport. “The Guiding Principles, published in 2022, were intended to be a helpful guide for sporting bodies grappling with a tricky issue. They are intended ...
The Coalition Government is restoring confidence to the rural sector by pausing the rollout of freshwater farm plans while changes are made to ensure the system is affordable and more practical for farmers and growers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “Freshwater farm plans ...
The latest report from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ, Our air 2024, reveals that overall air quality in New Zealand is improving, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Statistics Minister Andrew Bayly say. “Air pollution levels have decreased in many parts of the country. New Zealand is ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has announced the appointment of Stuart Horne as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador. “I am pleased to welcome someone of Stuart’s calibre to this important role, given his expertise in foreign policy, trade, and economics, along with strong business connections,” Mr Watts says. “Stuart’s understanding ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello have announced a pilot to increase childhood immunisations, by training the Whānau Āwhina Plunket workforce as vaccinators in locations where vaccine coverage is particularly low. The Government is investing up to $1 million for Health New Zealand to partner ...
The Government is looking at strengthening requirements for building professionals, including penalties, to ensure Kiwis have confidence in their biggest asset, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says “The Government is taking decisive action to make building easier and more affordable. If we want to tackle our chronic undersupply of houses ...
The Government is taking further action to tackle the unacceptable wait times facing people trying to sit their driver licence test by temporarily extending the amount of time people can drive on overseas licences from 12 months to 18 months, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The previous government removed fees for ...
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring New Zealand is a safe and secure place to do business with the launch of new cyber security resources, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Cyber security is crucial for businesses, but it’s often discounted for more immediate business concerns. ...
Investment in Apprenticeship Boost will prioritise critical industries and targeted occupations that are essential to addressing New Zealand’s skills shortages and rebuilding the economy, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston say. “By focusing Apprenticeship Boost on first-year apprentices in targeted occupations, ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced a funding boost for Palmerston North ED to reduce wait times and improve patient safety and care, as well as new national standards for moving acute patients through hospitals. “Wait times in emergency departments have deteriorated over the past six years and Palmerston ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced a funding boost for Palmerston North ED to reduce wait times and improve patient safety and care, as well as new national standards for moving acute patients through hospitals. “Wait times in emergency departments have deteriorated over the past six years and Palmerston ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia! If it’s good for the people, get on with it! A $35 million Government investment will enable the delivery of 100 affordable rental homes in partnership with Waikato-Tainui, Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka says. Investment for the partnership, signed and announced today ...
This week’s inaugural Ethnic Xchange Symposium will explore the role that ethnic communities and businesses can play in rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee says. “One of my top priorities as Minister is unlocking the economic potential of New Zealand’s ethnic businesses,” says Ms Lee. “Ethnic communities ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters are renewing New Zealand’s calls for restraint and de-escalation, on the first anniversary of the 7 October terrorist attacks on Israel. “New Zealand was horrified by the monstrous actions of Hamas against Israel a year ago today,” Mr Luxon says. ...
Kia uru kahikatea te tū. Projects referred for Fast-Track approval will help supercharge the Māori economy and realise the huge potential of Iwi and Māori assets, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Following robust and independent review, the Government has today announced 149 projects that have significant regional or national ...
The Fast-track Approvals Bill will list 22 renewable electricity projects with a combined capacity of 3 Gigawatts, which will help secure a clean, reliable and affordable supply of electricity across New Zealand, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Government has a goal of doubling New Zealand’s renewable electricity generation. The 22 ...
The Government has enabled fast-track consenting for 29 critical road, rail, and port projects across New Zealand to deliver these priority projects faster and boost economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and our Government is working to fix it. Delivering the transport infrastructure Kiwis ...
The 149 projects released today for inclusion in the Government’s one-stop-shop Fast Track Approvals Bill will help rebuild the economy and fix our housing crisis, improve energy security, and address our infrastructure deficit, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop says. “The 149 projects selected by the Government have significant regional or ...
A new multi-purpose recreation centre will provide a valuable wellbeing hub for residents and visitors to Ruakākā in Northland, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Ruakākā Recreation Centre, officially opened today, includes separate areas for a gymnasium, a community health space and meeting rooms made possible with support of ...
“You can do this mate!” | Watch the full series: http://thespinoff.co.nz/videos/home-education 🌲Rachel never thought she’d be homeschooling ever in her entire life, but Felix was having trouble finding a school that fit him. Now, he’s making friends at Forest School, and growing his confidence at improv theatre classes. Still, Rachel ...
Over 10,000 school students in New Zealand learn outside of school, but that doesn’t mean they’re always learning at home. The Spinoff Cover Story is our premier long-form feature offering, made with the generous support of our members. Read our other cover stories here. On a ridge near Mount Eden, a ...
How a debate about asset sales became a fascinating real-time case study in co-governance and what it means to uphold te Tiriti o Waitangi. Windbag is The Spinoff’s Wellington issues column, written by Wellington editor Joel MacManus. It’s made possible thanks to the support of The Spinoff Members. Last week, ...
Crown cover-up? A five-part Newsroom series looks at the political and legal strategy the Crown used for decades to marginalise and defeat claims from victims of state abuse and torture. Part 1 – When the state turned on its victimsPart 2 – Legal trickery Part 3 – Full disclosure ...
My fascination with graffiti has been with me from an early age. When I first encountered it, the words literally being applied to landscape had a brutal honesty to them; an honesty that spoke in loud fluorescent capitals and swore like a bastard. At its worst graffiti is a futile ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 15 October appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Conservation minister Tama Potaka is playing down last-minute changes to a Bill that would see 19 areas of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf protected.The “protected” areas won’t be protected from the ring nets of commercial fishers.That’s produced a chorus of outrage from most of the many groups that have spent a decade ...
Not all cricketers get to contest one, never mind two major finals during their playing days. Rachel Candy once managed two in consecutive days, and that would end up drawing a line under that part of her life.It was February 2017, and the Canterbury Magicians had succeeded in getting the ...
Analysis: Most readers will be familiar now with RNA thanks to the development of the Covid vaccine, with the two scientists whose research into RNA enabled the vaccine’s development winning the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine in 2023. Readers would be forgiven for missing the fact that research into ...
Home Education follows the everyday lives of six families in Aotearoa educating their children at home. Meet Felix, who didn’t fit in at school, but is making friends elsewhere.Home Education is filmed across Aotearoa, in and around the homes of six families who have taken schooling outside ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Wille, Senior research fellow, The University of Melbourne The Australian government has committed A$95 million to fight a virulent strain of bird flu wreaking havoc globally. With the arrival of millions of migratory birds this spring, there is an increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lizzy Lowe, Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow in Ecology and Entomology, Edith Cowan University If you notice a tiny, strikingly coloured spider performing an elaborate courtship dance, you may have seen your first peacock spider. New species of peacock spider are discovered ...
The coalition would return to government, but both Christophers - Luxon and Hipkins - have lost popularity, according to the latest 1News-Verian poll. ...
The coalition would return to government, but both Christophers - Luxon and Hipkins - have lost popularity, according to the latest 1News-Verian poll. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Powles, Associate Professor of Law and Technology; Director, UWA Tech & Policy Lab, Law School, The University of Western Australia Since 2019, the Australian Department for Industry, Science and Resources has been striving to make the nation a leader in “safe ...
A View from Afar – In this episode of A View From Afar political scientist Paul Buchanan and host Selwyn Manning analyse how the state of Israel has gone rogue, attacking United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. At this juncture it is clear this is an intentional attack. ...
Exclusive: New leadership hires at the Human Rights Commission were contrary to recommendations made by the independent panel tasked with leading the process, documents released under the Official Information Act reveal.On a quiet Friday afternoon in August, justice minister Paul Goldsmith announced the appointment of three leadership roles at ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Lecturer In Nutrition & Dietetics, University of the Sunshine Coast Queensland Premier Steven Miles has announced free school lunches if Labor is re-elected at the state’s upcoming election on October 26. The A$1.4 billion policy would cover primary students ...
By New Zealand Parliament failing to adequately address political corruption, Parliament fails to ensure a culture of integrity is led from the top. Human rights will always be better protected in countries that can demonstrate political integrity and transparency. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kellie Toohey, Associate Professor Clinical Exercise Physiology, Southern Cross University Ivan Samkov/Pexels When you think of lung cancer treatment, what comes to mind – chemotherapy, radiation, surgery? While these can be crucial, there’s another powerful tool that’s often overlooked: exercise. Our ...
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Alex Casey returns to a New Zealand classic on its 30th birthday. Just yesterday I walked a track through Christchurch’s Victoria Park and boy was it pleasant. The sunlight beamed through the canopy of trees, providing welcome warm zones in the cool forest air. Everyone grinned goofily as they passed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The United States presidential election will be held on November 5. In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris ...
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Pete Douglas tunes in for Matt Heath’s first week in his new job on Newstalk ZB. There are two ways to view Newstalk ZB. One is that it is a boomer hellscape, full of ads for retirement care facilities, patronised by a pitchfork-wielding mob desperate to jump on the blower ...
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/129996098/the-covid-cloud-and-the-silver-lining-was-change-possible
Pandemic as a portal?
Re imagineing money?
A hefty read for your breakfast.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130102321/max-rashbrooke-sacrificing-50000-workers-on-the-altar-of-inflation-is-madness
Max Rashbrooke ripping into the arsholes that think we need to chuck 50.000 people on the scrap heap so rich people get to keep spending?
Go support stuff by the way ,they are doing tremendous work
Rashbrooke touches on the solution (or at least the best available chance) when he mentions taxation….our domestic inflation can be controlled by taxing that which we want more of less and vice versa, especially if it is progressive.
Until we openly recognise that 'work' (output) is what supports an economy we will continue to fail…..and speculation isnt 'work' as much as those engaged in it will claim otherwise….make work rewarding (again)
“.and speculation isnt 'work' as much as those engaged in it will claim otherwise”
I don't think anyone is claiming that. There are some, mostly supporters of capital gains taxes, who claim that gains from speculation constitute "income". However those gains are offset by losses on the part of buyers, so don't affect the money supply.
Define 'money'…they certainly impact the supply of credit as we have witnessed.
So it is excessive bank lending that is the problem, not the speculation. All I can say is: "so what else is new"
Finally, some else who think it's the banks that cause housing inflation. it's always sheeted home to the market or the buyers.
Without a market or buyers speculating how would a bank cause housing price inflation?
They all play a role.
Everyone involved is seeking to maximise their return and as pat intimated, the whole process provides very little benefit to the rest of us.
Na ,you go get a mortgage the bank tells you how much you can go to on a given property, if they were limited to lending at no more than inflation then house prices couldn't rocket out of control and investors would need to be in it for long term rental profits instead of going for massive capital gain.
Houses generally double in price every 10 years, its ridiculous
It's also what helped screw us with dairy, banks happily lending way to much for conversions etc valuing farms based on very high prices for milk solids and outputs based on heaps of fert, irrigation and supplemental feed… the bank doesnt care the bigger the mortgage the more interest paid amd the better their balance sheet.
Dangerously close to irresponsible lending if you ask me…
TOP is suggesting a 100% loan to value ratio for rental purposes. This would mean that an intending landlord would not be able to enter the market unless he already owned an available freehold property, or had sufficient funds to be able to purchase one without borrowing. I think he has plagiarized one or two of my earlier comments.
Mikkesh.Flippant and fact free.
Banks and finance companies loan to those with assets and perpetuate a bad system. Greedy asset holders are the problem…they seek out the loans to add to their already large asset bases and inflate asset values.
A few who have over reached are being impacted by the current credit squeeze and interest rises and revision of values against other commodities.
Banks and Finance Companies are complicit, but not the whole problem, but are the conduit for Asset Owner's GREED.
Patricia
The process you refer to cannot happen unless finance is available for your so called "greedy asset holders" to access.
The process is a circular one. The more the banks lend against property the more prices rise, and the more interest the banks earn. And the more prices rise the more money the banks can lend. To put a stop to the process we need to curtail bank lending. We can't blame "greedy asset holders" for taking advantage of the situation as it exists.
Alternatively we could try to discourage them by making property investment less attractive, e.g. by taxing property ownership.
Monetarism: Your soaking in it.
Shrinking demand via taxation has most of the same problems as shrinking demand via monetary policy. NZs price hikes are due to supply side factors, coming from overseas or are otherwise related to market structure.
It's possible to shrink the demand side down to match the supply side while that's going on, but its pretty socially destructive. It also damages your economic resilience and productivity for once supply side inflationary pressures abate.
If domestic inflation was coming from the demand side the understanding would be different.
"Shrinking demand via taxation has most of the same problems as shrinking demand via monetary policy."
And there is your mistake….it depends upon the target of the taxation.
What is fuelling the RBNZ fear of a price/wage spiral?…the pressures exerted by overpriced assets (property) on both labour and inputs.
It is not the working poor that are continuing to support the higher prices in NZ…as Rashbrooke notes "If there genuinely is excess cash, it sits in the hands of the well-off. But current policies don’t target them. "
The Reserve Bank has to take into account unemployment as well as inflation as part of its remit.
Rashbrooke's solutions are a bit waffly for me, though he is right about raising interest rates being a blunt tool and in terms of higher pay for workers being seen as a good thing rather than being seen as a cost to business.
So you think we should raise the unemployment rate to curb inflation?
No. The RB remit has to take into account rising unemployment/the level of employment. If unemployment is judged to be rising too quickly interest rate rises would have to be smaller or even reversed.
The RBNZ should talk to INZ so that that we can open the borders asap and flood the labour markets with poorly checked cheap labour from who-cares. Oh wait, that sounds remarkably similar to National’s second bullet point on their PowerPoint slide that they call Plan for Aotearoa 2023-2024 with the footnote saying We are better managers of the egonomy.
Very clever Incognito especially the 'egonomy'.
That's an excellent link.
The better understood, how these policies are supposed to work, are the easier to point out the assumptions involved (such as the assumption, not recorded in the data, that median NZ wages are too high and driving inflation).
I thought Mr Rashbrooke would be a good fit for the TOP
Is that the same TOP under which Gareth Morgan proposed taking 1/3 of beneficiaries income and redistributing it to everybody else as a bonus (called UBI sans welfare). Mr Rashbrooke seems more socially responsible than that, to me.
I think that he's absolutely fine where he is and continue his excellent work outside of Parliament and most certainly not sell his soul to some political
cultparty.Are they all cults or just top? They come across as more progressive than any other and not blinded by ideology like the rest. although to be honest I haven't given them much attention of late.
Wasn’t thinking of any party in particular.
From the Kremlin mouthpiece RT
How about that? Last week, 'The Russian authorities' didn't consider the territory of Lugansk, to be part of Russia. This week Putin claimed Lugansk is part of Russia.
Will the Russian authorities be dropping the charges of illegally crossing into a foreign country brought against Russian journalist Roman Dobrokhotov?
Somehow, I don't think so.
I don't watch RT, but I suspect that crossing an imaginary border is not the real reason he has been placed on a wanted list.
In my opinion Mikesh, Roman Dobrokhotov is one of the few people to have crossed the Ukrainian border legally in recent times.
Guilty of crossing this border illegally, 200,000 Russian troops who illegally crossed this border on February 24, 2022.
We will see how ‘imaginary’ this border is Mikesh, when they are forcibly pushed back over it.
As the song says;
Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que sera, sera.
I can recall that even as a child I remember feeling the saying and song that people have no control over their fate was terribly depressing and fatalistic.
The opposite is true.
Ukraine's victory is not fated. It is hard won.
He tangata, He tangata, He Tangata.
https://commons.com.ua/en/yak-inozemni-livi-dopomagayut-ukrayini-u-vijni/?
The future is ours to win.
It is hard won.
Sure. With American weapons, which the Russians seem unable to match. I think the latter will eventually have to resort to their own nuclear weapons in order to defend themselves.
'
"….With American weapons, which the Russians seem unable to match." Mikesh
It is not just the weapons that Russians seem unable to match.
The willingness to fight and die in Putin’s war, is also something that the Russians are unable to match.
And as for the American weapons. The people of Ukraine would fight the Russians with sticks and stones if they had to.
"The arc of history is long but it bends towards justice" Martin Luther King
All the American weapons have done is shortened the arc of history.
'
"….I think the latter will eventually have to resort to their own nuclear weapons in order to defend themselves." Mikesh
This war is not Russia defending 'themselves', Mikesh.
Invading and forcibly occupying territory of a neighbouring sovereign country is not defence.
Mikesh calling for Russia to use nuclear weapons to prevail in this aggression. Is to call for genocide.
Nuclear weapons are the ultimate weapon of genocide. Killing far more people in less time than any other previous invented method. No need for messy cattle cars or the construction of complex networks of death camps and crematoria.
Committing and calling for genocide is the hallmark of fascists.
This is what the Ukrainian people of the Donbas think of people like you and your dirty ilk.
Its not possible to watch RT. In the interest of monopoly propaganda from the West, many alternative sources have been banned, not only from TV but also YouTube and Twitter.
Just google RT and you can watch RT content till your eyes bleed.
RT is streaming live on it's own platform. Right now they're crying about a bridge.
As Ukraine advances into Kherson threaten to close the land bridge to Crimea, and with the sea bridge gone. Crimea is about to become physically cut off from Russia.
I suspect many of the inhabitants of Crimea will be secretly renewing their Ukrainian passports.
RNZ : Guyon Espiner
And this spin from the ODT? As if lotto needs any free feelgood stories?
King Charles III Conflicted Head of The Commonweath
Why hasn’t Jacinda, Anthony and Justine (along with the other PMs of 13 Kingly states) stood up to Lizz Truss and insisted that the Head of the Commonwealth, that includes NZ, Australia, and Canada along with 54 other independent states, should be allowed to represent our collective views at COP27. Apparently, Liz’s decision was made is because she has appointed a Climate Denier Jacob Rees-Mogg as her UK Environmental Minister, and she doesn’t want to be embarrassed by her King’s views on the world stage. On the other hand, Global Warning is a serious international issue, Charles III is our King and head of the Commonwealth and apparently well qualified to represent smaller states that are anxious about the impacts of climate change. Moreover in 1961 our former Queen set a precedent for independent action by ignoring Thatcher’s “advice” not a to attend the Commonwealth conference on Apartheid, danced with the PM of Ghana and thereby “saved” the Commonwealth from breaking up. The question we might ask ourselves, if Liz has so much power over our present head of state why do we bother keeping him on?
No comments have been facilitated for this article in this morning’s NZ Herald.
Wondering what Kiwi reaction is.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/long-standing-use-of-russian-fishing-crews-on-new-zealand-flagged-boats-raises-questions-as-war-rages-in-ukraine/7ZH2R567XTS7JACL66ALSNHAJ4/
“ the use of Crimean crews amounted to "indirect sponsorship of Russia's war crimes".
“there are doubts over the towns and addresses on their official documentation, which places them as being from the Russian Federation and not other contested regions currently, or historically, fought over.”
Crimea is an annexed Ukrainian state so if they were Crimean born not Russian, no problem.
“Sources claim the crews are "aggressively pro-war and pro-Putin", it's alleged, broadcasting Russian "propaganda" on the fishing boats and allegedly "mandated" to hang Putin's portrait in the galley and wardroom”.
This activity needs banning on a NZ registered boat until Russia stops its aggression in the Ukraine.
Let's see how many get on the plane to go home when their contract ends.
They'd all be liable for conscription so would be quite pleased to be tucked away down south for the duration. And is Uncle Vlad's portrait hanging the right way up for here or up north.
Russians on fishing boats etc
Yes Janet important too to continue keeping Russian cats out of cat shows also , we shouldnt let our high standards slip by golly !!
Dude, your text box.
Sorry weka, I copied the text of my comment before deleting it, and then tried to paste the copied text into a new comment – must have pasted in the wrong place.
you’ve just done it again.
I'm sure Russia would be more than happy to talk peace with the Ukrainian government. However the latter seems more interested in saving face rather than agreeing to peace talks. In any case I'm pretty sure Mr Biden would not allow it.
Should've been banned decades ago on legal grounds – they pay illegally low wages – which is the whole point.
Contemporary NZ politicians are however utterly corrupt. "Slave & trafficked workers? Have as many as you like!" they say. As long as they're off camera, that is.
Crimea is an annexed Ukrainian state so if they were Crimean born not Russian, no problem.
The majority of Crimea's citizenry are ethnic Russians. From 1954 to the end of the soviet era Crimea was administered from Ukraine, but that did not imply that it "belonged" to Ukraine. I think it was a separate oblast within the soviet system and doubt whether Russia acquiesced in a transfer of ownership – though of course I could be wrong. After the soviet collapse Yeltsin may have handed it over, though I doubt whether Putin would have agreed to a handover had he been in power at the time.
In 2014 a referendum indicated that a majority of its citizens did not want to be part of Ukraine. It has been suggested that the referendum was phony, but this has never been proved, and foreign observers present in Crimea at the time seemed to think that the result was kosher. This was the basis for Russia's annexation, though the real reason was that ownership of the territory was important for Russia’s defense.
Another hurdle to overcome for life to emerge has been discovered.
Waterfalls.
Some worlds like Saturn's 6th moon Enceladus, may be covered in deep oceans. But without waterfalls, (and land), the emergence of life may not be possible.
Add this to the growing mountain of evidence already collected, points toward the conclusion that except for this small corner, the universe is as inanimate as it is vast.
So look after it.
2 minutes to votes close
" Auckland Action Against Poverty is one of those groups with on-the-ground experience, and co-chair Agnes Magele said the report did not give the full picture.
" She said the government's decisions and actions were partly to blame for keeping people locked in poverty "
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/476277/child-poverty-report-stokes-demands-for-stronger-government-action
https://twitter.com/NobelPrize/status/1578309539870318603
Previously on TS
https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-29-12-2021/#comment-1847006
Today is Poot's 70th. Awarding prizes to a human rights group that he shut down, a Ukrainian rights group documenting his war crimes and a Belarusian rights activist imprisoned by his bestie Lukashenko.
Genius.
In his 70th year, to demonstrate fealty to the Pharaoh two great pyramids were erected in his honour.
https://inshorts.com/en/news/putin-gifted-pyramids-of-melons-watermelons-by-tajikistan-president-on-his-birthday-1665209752186
Oh guys, you shouldn’t have.
I mean really. You shouldn’t have.
I don't see why the protesters should be awarded the peace prize when they have not succeeded in bringing about an actual peace in Ukraine. The award in this case seems to be just a gimmick to further demonize Russia. Protesters against the Vietnam war were not awarded the peace prize; but of course in that conflict it was the USA and its supporters that were being protested against.
Phew, back to ‘normal’
BREAKING NEWS
A defining moment in the Ukraine war.
The Kerch bridge has been taken down. Putin will be pissed. For those who don't know, the Kerch bridge is a key component of the logistics network for getting supplies to the army from Russia and through Crimea.
So… the Crimean pocket is being closed.
Yet another demonstration of the gifted strategic response of Ukraine to Russian terrorism.
More details on the attack Ukraine Strikes Train on Crimean Bridge! – YouTube
The rail bridge looks unusable due distortion of the metal and likely weakening of reinforcing steel in the rail bridge concrete. Also, I imagine the extreme heat would weld the train wheels to the tracks. So, clearing the train off the bridge is not going to be easy.
I imagine a lot of foreign folk in Kherson, Crimea and Zaporizhzhia are thinking pretty hard about their lines of retreat.
I am expecting the expected offensive towards Melitopol to start straight away now. It would be a great move to have the Russians fighting on three fronts while their logistics are stuffed.
According to the Russians it was a truck bomb, which makes sense.
A video of the blast. Quite clearly a truck exploding.
https://twitter.com/GirkinGirkin/status/1578634672753762306
I fixed the link. If you link to the person's twitter account, the tweet gets lost in the embed as new tweets are posted. Instead, click on the date/time stamp of the tweet you are referring to, then copy and paste the URL.
Thanks for that.
The span has collapsed. Crimean Bridge Collapses! – YouTube
Looking a little worse for wear.
https://twitter.com/JimmySecUK/status/1578639387843526656
From a supply point of view, the key thing will be how badly the rail bridge is damaged. Obviously the train will need to be cleared off. But it might not simply roll off because the heat will have distorted the metal of the rails and the wheels, and may have even welded the rails to some of the wheels if the fire was hot enough. Then, likely rails will need to be replaced.
So, in the best case, I would say the rail bridge will be out of action for at least a week. But if the heat has damaged the integrity of the bridge itself, then it could be out a lot longer.
That bridge also pipes water and electricity to Crimea – albeit not enough. As Kherson falls, those utilities are likely to be in short supply.
The big engineers in the region are Ukraine, not Russia. They built both the Moskva and the Admiral Kuznetsov. A massive floating crane can likely fix the rail part rapidly (about a month) if Russia still have one. I think they're going to have a few too many problems however.
A month should be long enough. If the Ukrainians start the third front towards Melitopol the stress on the remaining Russian logistics could be too much.
The Ukrainians are putting major stress on the Russian logistics in the north at the moment as well. So, I think this is definitely a major turning point in the war.
it's odd it's being reported as a collapse rather than that someone blew it up. Is it too soon to know what happened officially?
If you look at that link you fixed for me, it looks very much like a truck exploding. That is what the Russians are saying. Though, other reports I have seen, have pointed out that freeze-frames show some sort of boat coming into view. I know the US has given the Ukrainians some drone boats. So, it isn't absolutely clear. But it is definitely a large explosion.
Step through this video. You will notice some sort of boat goes under the bridge just at the time of the explosion.
I am thinking one of the drone boats the US have provided.
Likely not the truck.
https://twitter.com/WarintheFuture/status/1578617204316442625
On the futility and cost of Poots' special military operation.
https://twitter.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1578535591762747392
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1578535556061233152.html