National voted for the Zero Carbon Bill. Will they now scaremonger, undermine public confidence in the Bill in order to amass votes at the coming election?
Of course they will! And they'll focus on the regions, getting MPs to dog-whistle like demented shepherds, at meetings, in local newspapers and on their many, many billboards, spreading the fear that the Government's climate change plans will bring economic ruin to all of us. Imo. Today's cartoon in The Southland Times captures the situation perfectly. It shows Simon Bridges at the pulpit, declaring, "We take climate change seriously! But we would rather see everyday New Zealanders burn in the fiery hell of global warming than pay money to stop it! Luxton pipes in, "I hear you Brother Simon!"
The issue with OK Boomer I've touched on elsewhere.
"The problem is people, often young people, buying into the right wing meme, of "intergenerational warfare, or theft" used to pit people against each other, and ignore the real cause, the rich and powerful of all generations. No one who sees National's entitled young prats, can think it is "boomers". I'm an enthusiastic supporter of Chloe Swarbrick, but i think her usual deft touch deserted her on this occasion. Lowering to the tone of the National idiot she was replying to".
I agree, the generational-divide is a red-herring in the search for "whodunnit", but Chloe's call was elegantly done, so I'm forgiving of it. The culprit, in my opinion, is the psychological "black hole" we created then fell into over 10 000 years ago and are presently trying to identify and climb out of. It's variously described as "greed" or "civilisation" etc, but however we call it, it's brought us to a dangerous place. Only when we identify it for what it is will we be able to do something about it. Finger-pointing's one thing; humans did bring this on, and when a finger's pointed at you, it's a good idea to explore the charges levelled, but a wide-view has to be taken, lest we end up in-fighting, skirmishing, winning battles but losing the war.
The evidence shows the shape of the curve and 10000 years ago it was flat.
Boomers, and I am one, have to own up to the shit that has happened in our lifetimes, that we have contributed to, that we still contribute to TODAY. Alas not taking responsibility is a trait of our little cohort – easier to blame others or blaming no one is even better – as long as the mirror is put away.
I don't think I said that I was speaking for all boomers – weird you'd get that so wrong. Good distraction from my point though. It is a false duality to go for enemies and friends – the point is acceptance of the reality and that is very hard especially for boomers who have so much justifiable guilt on our hands.
Robert – you and I have both much better things to do than argue in this way. I respect much of what you have done and say and you are an idiot sometimes.
I tend to be a "seek forgiveness rather than ask permission" type of person so I am always seeking forgiveness from others for my transgressions. I use a lot of IMO's (in my opinion) in my comments usually because I only ever want to speak from me and my experience – that's identity politics for ya.
We have rain coming – Tasman at about -19% rainfall for the year and we are even less. Thinking of getting another watertank for rain water as the drought last year was tough and this year I suspect will be even tougher. Also I am enjoying being alive. Have a nice day Robert.
Marty, I think you may have missed the signal sent by the line that begins, "Addicts…"
All groups that find it difficult to "own up to their failings" are addicted to the culture they are part of. Do we require those addicted to substances to "own up" before we help them, or do we recognise the difficultly they may have in doing that and get on with helping them anyway?
"Like much of online culture, “OK Boomer” tells us something about the cultural dominance of upper-middle-class youth. These young people are surrounded by baby boomers who’ve “hoarded all the wealth” and polluted the planet in the process. They haven’t had to witness – or deal with the ramifications of – old age and precarity for millions of working people in that generational cohort. Instead they get to revel without self-reflection in oedipal angst about their elders – many of whom were kind enough to pass them their ill-gotten privileges".
… Furthermore, as an economist I see the word "boom" as having a generally positive connotation.
On the negative side, I worry that those who deploy "OK Boomer" are putting themselves down and signalling their own impotence. I am not arguing for "[Expletive Deleted] Boomer," even though it would have a vitality and rebellious spirit very much reminiscent of the 1960s or 1970s (which of course were quintessential boomer eras).
But when I read or hear "OK Boomer," I start to think there might be something special about baby boomers after all. We boomers may not be different in kind from other generations, but we do seem to inspire rhetorical creativity in our critics.
Marty. I think you are reacting, without trying to understand.
Māori were powerless to do anything about colonization for years. So I don't blame many older Māori for not doing anything. Also I don't blame those in the boomer generation who had no power to change things, either. It is not as though they didn't try. Which was why 1984 Labour only got two terms.
Environmental and economic destruction is hardly the fault of the type of people who spent their lives, opposing both.
I see lots of boomers who did well out of the neolib reforms and were/are uninterested in changing that. But I just don't see millennials as significantly better (eg if they really wanted to make change, then mobilise the vote). Each generation has its share of selfish people and those that will do the mahi to effect good change.
Millennials were raised by people to be more progressive than the previous generation, and they will become more conservative as they grow older, just like every other generation before them (including the radical boomers). I find the whole gen war stupid, and at this point in history it's dangerous.
I agree with you about the elite leading the way and that that is a 'class' issue for want of a better term. I think western countries are in the 'elite' group although groups within that are disadvantaged and vulnerable. The boomer label and ok boomer in particular are just another classification.
It is a bit low bringing colonisation into the argument – boomers PARTICIPATED they weren't dragged kicking and screaming as their culture was ridiculed and attempted to be destroyed.
Ngai Tahu participated, "marrying" off some of their wahine to sealers and whalers, making alignments and alliances through binding Maori and Pakeha into whanau. It was a wise strategy, instigated by tangata whenua. Whenua Hou served as the "melting pot" for many families who live in this part of the world. Holders of mana whenua were not "dragged kicking and screaming" into that relationship. IMO
what the hell would you know – lol – it is irrelevant to the discussion but it appears you have started dirty tactics eh – talk about your own heritage not mine Robert ok.
Should we discount Michael King's and Vincent O'Malley's writings because they aren't of Maori descent but they have written about your heritage and educated us all?
it was a pointed comment and he and I know it – your opinions are yours and bully for you – hint – not everything is as blunt and obvious as you suppose
On Boomers, many PARTICIPATED because they/we were born into the culture. It takes time to unravel that culture, see beyond it and move beyond it, if that's even possible. Are you critical of how boomers behaved when they were children? Do you have a cut-off point at which you expect boomers to reject their culture? And which boomer behaviours do you believe are wrong? All of them? How about altruism? Many boomers are altruistic . Intermarriage? Many boomers are married outside of their race. Environmental sensitivity? Many boomers are actively improving and protecting the wild environment. It's not as simple as requiring that boomers "accept responsibility for their actions". IMO
I think we were. Our culture of fairness, egalitarianism, and equal opportunity, was destroyed. In a very few short years. We did believe in a “fair go” for everyone.
It was like we were colonized by yet another strange culture. In this case the Chicago Boys.
And. Some of the boomers who suffered the most, were fairly prosperous boomer Māori working class, who were absolutely marginalised, along with many others who started work, young. Forced out of jobs like train driving, onto the dole.
We didn't participate, at least I didn't. Kicked and screamed all the way.
Ok boomer. Only stupid old boomers don’t get the meme. It’s not inter-generational warfare, it’s an ironic thank you for the mess the boomer generation left us, yet deny us any of our complaints because apparently things were so amazing in your times and we don’t do what you do. We do what we can in the world you left us, as you dreamily remember the good old days as if it was perfect, with no racism or sexism or misogyny, and feel a stirring in your loins at the outdated hate speech associated with class war.
you Just don’t get it do you? Your boomer mentality sees it as perhaps an age thing, along with the hairy old socialist trying to equate ok boomer as right wing meme so boomers like yourselves can feel above being mocked about being a boomer.
I've always said, "Respect my authoritah!" and having a young whipper-snapper like you speaking out of turn and criticising those who brought you this wonderful way of life is mighty galling!
Generational warfare, IS a right wing meme. To distract from the real problem, which is class.
Are you trying to tell me that the boomers who lost their livelihood in the 80's and never had a decent job since, are the cause of anything. I know many that are entering retirement with absolutely, nothing.
I suggest that many of the University educated commenters on here are somewhat divorced from the reality of the over 40% of boomers entering retirement, without a house in their name.
Particularly galling when it is young upper middle class, who have benefited from all the wrongs that were done, and very often vote for it’s continuation, use it.
'Boomer' is now a cultural group, no longer just a demographic fact.
'OK' is merely what younger-at-heart folk say when tired of responding rationally for the umpeenth time to someone saying they just need to stop eating avocados and do what we did 'in our day'.
Imagine constructing a negating meme around women, or disabled people, and then arguing that those are now cultural groups not just demographics.
That blurring of Boomer as old person and Boomer as selfish, regressive privilege holder is a problem because ageism is a real thing (esp for Pākehā) and we don't have good progressive politics around it. We generally leave it to Grey Power and the chuckle when they do something that's not oldie.
I have less of a problem with Ok Boomer, than I do with lefties and progressives largely ignoring the problems with old ageism in way they'd never tolerate with any other marginalised group and not being willing to bring old ageism into the conversation.
A really good example is the politics around Generation Rent that never talks about what happens to elderly people who are basically on the dole with high rents and shivering in their homes in winter.
I think the right wing has been so successful in pitting the generations against each other that even lefties, who should know better, are adopting it.
I am not so concerned about Chloe because she is a person whose achievements I have considerable respect for, and I think she will come to understand why it is counterproductive to spread RW, rich kid, memes. I am sad that people who should be allies, are blaming each other.
The "selfish boomers" is no more true of a generation, than the "Young mums breeding for a living", "teenage dole bludgers" "Māori ferals", and "Avocado munchers" are of anyone else.. I find all those unthinking stereotypes false and offensive.
Over 80% of the pre boomer generation owned their own homes.
Less than 60% of boomers. And many, like me, are still mortgaged to help our Kids.
I think some like Climaction are a bit confused about who got the 3% loans and land grants, Certainly long gone by my day. Removed by the people in Parliament, who gained from them.
Maybe you should stop running with a pack of idiots? The generation that presided over the greatest increase in wealth and expansion of the middle class, after free education and cheap houses, now approaches retirement with nothing? Don’t look to you her generations for support. You left the world, and obviously your own lives, in a mess we are expected to fix without the benefits you enjoyed.
By the way, Neo-liberalism was bought to us by politicians in the generation before boomers. We tried to vote the buggers out, but there was only a choice of two Neo-liberal parties. Which is why we supported MMP. So the barstards couldn’t do it again. Unfortunately they did, anyway.
Cheap houses? It cost a greater percentage of our weekly wage to buy a house when we bought ours, than it does, now. After scrambling to get 30% deposits while inflation was over 15%.
And we paid 60% top tax rate on moderate incomes, more than you pay in student loans and tax combined, now. so the previous generation could retire at 60 and so 10% of us, the children of the rich, had free tertiary education.
KJT – "Boomers" is such a nebulous topic that I think some people are unable to discuss it sensibly, whether they are inside or outside of the "Boomer" tent. It's curious. I wonder if, had Chloe said, "Okay Willy Wonker", the candy-producers would be getting a thrashing on the blogs and comments sections of the country's rags
I have lot's of clues. clues from all your "NeO-Luberalism is the enemy" rants that you can't see the problems that face society require a more nuanced and inclusive approach. but being a boomer, you've always had it so easy and you're generation spent so much time culturally colonising the whole world you can't stop spluttering in indigantion when the youth don't like your proscriptions and don't accept your pearls of wisdom are valid.
you may as well work on fox news for all your "Good ol' days with the good ol' union lads" rants are relevant.
Just wondering, Climaction, if you see yourself as representative of Post-Boomers? Typical of them, that is, able to think the way they do, act the way they do, express yourself the way they do?
Funny thing is the yoof, are advocating the policies and progress I've been fighting for all along.
I doubt you are really one of them, though. In fact it seems like the "boomer" mindset you describe describes your position more accurately, than mine.
You’ve been well brainwashed, by right wing propaganda.
Due to our efforts, you can now vote for a non Neo-liberal party, the Greens, where we only had the choice of either of two, Neo-liberal stuffups.
So. FFS. Put your money where your mouth is and vote for them. Non boomers are over 70% of eligible voters. So statistically it looks like you are mostly voting for a continuation of the same policies you reckon are "boomer", stuffups.
" ..the 3% loans… Removed by the people in Parliament, who gained from them." e.g. Wayne Mapp
Our Housing Corp mortgage was initially floating at 7%. Within 5 years it had been sold to ANZ and rose to 18%.
By the mid 1990s (when I was studying) tertiary education was not free. I still owe $40k in student loans.
Incidentally we built our home and changed the head gasket on our 30 yr old cars. The generation that followed us seems unable to change a light bulb for fear being non compliant and having a lack of the no.8 wire mentality.
I belong to the baby boomer demographic.
How much plastic have you bought this week Climaction?
And who the target audience is (and therefore the demographic advertisers believe have the disposable cash in society).
The "ok boomer" thing isn't just about generational war, it is actually about the power dynamics within society. About how the media get clickbait from "dumb millennial" stories, with headlines like "millennials don't know hard work" and then "millennials killed the power lunch".
And most people called "boomer" tend to be of apparent European descent. Could just be my perception, but that hints at maybe another social power dynamic going on as well.
oh dear what a pity – the nazi cowards will be quaking in their jackboots – all those 'respectable' nazis will be so worried and they will be driven into the light where we will all be able to see them and their disguises.
An apparent online leak of materials from influential neo-Nazi website Iron March, which has linked to several murders and acts of extremist terrorism, has the potential to identify hundreds of extremists around the world.
…According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Iron March was “affiliated with or offered support to at least nine fascist groups in nine different countries”, including Serbia, Greece, Australia and Ukraine. The chats, too, appear to feature users from a range of different countries.
The website was also central to the development of “accelerationist” neo-Nazi ideology – which seeks to destabilize and replace liberal democracy by exacerbating its tensions with violence – and aesthetic of so-called Siege culture, which takes in skull masks and violent and racist memes.
My wife has just finished an appeal hearing in the Whangarei District court. Byrne Vs NZTA, 4-6 nov, 2019. we are awaiting judgment.
During this hearing evidence was produced by nzta that confirmed they were spying on my wife and family,(including our 6yr old son).
They used a male employee to spy on a female employee of a nzta supplier (wsp opus) condoned by senior nzta management, with a special mention under oath for acting ceo of the time, brett gliddon.
They did not inform their supplier wsp opus that they were spying on an employee of theirs.
This male employee has a colourful police history. He also testified that he is spying on other families in our isolated community.
the spying is still continuing, and my wife has had to move away for work.
she fears for her safety from this male employee,
This has been ongoing for almost two years now.
they have spent in excess of $150,000 on this, while offering my wife $7,500 to shut up and go away.
a man from the agency said he was scared of my wife, she is 5; 4" and 45kgs. he is ex military.the nzta believed him and then ordered my wifes dismissal. she is a professional engineer with 20yrs experience. she took them to the era and the era found in nzta favour. my wife appealed and this is the hearing.
This is really a big problem – our society is not giving people what they want or need. So many people are suffering. The canaries in the coalmine are dying in front of our eyes.
A study by the New Zealand Medical Association published in the New Zealand Medical Journal on Friday analysed the number of antidepressants dispensed to those aged 24 and under between 2007 and 2016.
It showed the rate had increased by 83 per cent, from 1361 lots of antidepressants being dispensed to those aged between 13 and 17 for every 100,000 New Zealanders in that age group to 2494 per 100,000 young people.
…Rates were highest among women aged 18 to 24 but had also increased for children aged 12 and under by 15 per cent.
…Young Pākehā were being given antidepressants at nearly twice the rate of Māori and four times the rate of Pasifika and Asians.
No its not. My doctor clinic charges $18.50. The ones that charge $45 plus ARE in well off areas , as the funding is based in socio-economic status of the patients/neighbourhood.
Climaction. Above, has NFA, how devastating the 80's reforms were to so many working class families. Followed of course by Richardsons, welfare cuts, devastating communities even more.
wow – so bad imo – just resign – hasn't even watched the video about her departments utter disgraceful actions wtf?
The attempted removal was captured on film by Newsroom who brought the story to public attention, but Ms Martin and Oranga Tamariki's head questioned the video at the time. However, Ms Martin told Morning Report's Corin Dann she did not believe an apology was required and still had not watched it.
"I personally won't ever accept that trial by social media is the way to do care and protection … I don't need to watch the video."
She said she did not need to watch the video in order to conduct her job.
When you skim through the report on Oranga Tamariki’s attempted removal of a newborn baby in Hawkes Bay you could be forgiven for thinking it was a governmental introduction to Māori language and culture.There’s smatterings of Māori words and cultural terminology liberally sprinkled throughout. It looks like an attempt to hide behind a façade of Maori culture while completely missing the point of the cultural values it’s trying to co-opt.
Because then there’s the jarring phrases that admit they screwed it up.
Whānau Ora Commissioning Chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait says a fish rots from the head and Oranga Tamariki leadership needs to take responsibility for its systemic failures – not throw its staff under the bus.
…She said the response by Children’s Minister Tracy Martin and OT CEO Grainne Moss to blame their own social workers’ frontline practices is indicative of the toxic culture that is deeply entrenched and imbued within the failing system.
“The hypocrisy is not lost on us. Here you have a state agency destructively making its own determination on what’s best for whānau riding rough shot without any consideration of the far reaching intergenerational devastating impacts,” Raukawa-Tait says.
“Yet ironically it is perpetuating a violent act which is what it seeks to protect the pēpi from.”
You follow politics , you follow NZ politics to the nth degree, you you still dont follow that the Ministers arent involved in these sort of operational decisions. Nor would they want to.
Why would she resign? Sure if it was a 'process' that required ministerial signoff , sure . It wasnt.
Where was Raukawa Tait of Te Pou Matakana/WOCA when this happened –
“One of three commissioning agencies, Te Pou Matakana receives around $40 million in Whānau Ora funding each year.
Yes I do follow politics ta Ministers can resign for all sorts of reasons such as this example
On 30 May 1996 Denis Marshall resigned as minister of conservation as an 'expression of sorrow' for the Cave Creek tragedy of the previous year, in which 14 people had been killed when a Department of Conservation viewing platform collapsed. He had chosen not to resign at the time, but to stay on and rectify matters in his department – an interpretation of ministerial vicarious responsibility that had some support from other politicians. However, some of those affected by the tragedy, and members of the public, felt he should have resigned earlier.
The minister today can't even watch the recording of the events which led to the inquiry and severe reprimand for her department – so severe that practices of staff have been changed immediately!!! She should go imo.
Capital is hard to find in NZ. No. Not the hidden away city at the bottom of the N.Island. No, financing businesses. Seems that if we advantage capital gain it sucks investment capital for other projects. Labour have said No. National think benefitaries can get us back, yeah like a few hundred beanies if only they were in work… ..no, the problem is our parliament is hidden away on a fault line waiting to be moved to S. Auckland. Next big shake…
12% business interest rates, when overseas competitors are paying less than 3% is a big margin to make up. Unless you are buying land for capital gains tax free farming, of course.
Well. The ChCh shake sure paved the way for some well overdue development investment in the area.
I keep spare, fresh drinking water in the shed and in a wardrobe in the house just in case. And I live within walking distance of a fresh water river.
A small burner, a lighter, a torch and a sealed plastic box full of long life basic beverage additives (cordial, tea, coffee, whatever and some sugar) may not seem much day to day. But you may really need it after a major event.
[lprent: Just what every useless unsafe dimwit needs – right? Along with vitamin deficiencies and bad breath and other hygiene issues.
*sigh* – Any irresponsible dickhead who says something like that is someone who should never hold a firearms license or a weapon. At the very least they need to gets some arms training, and some socialisation training in how to deal with people without waving a surrogate penis as if it was magic talisman. Clearly their parents failed in the socialisation, hygiene or installation of common sense. ]
Well put (gun, that is). However, I understand the emotive posts in response though.
But bluntly, many do say that most societies are only three meals from anarchy, so firearms (or other weapons) as protection tools do make sense. Although cohesive communities (as opposed to general society) that are geared towards survival in a crisis might look to other ways of managing that crisis.
Guns, traps, fishing nets and lines in times of civil emergency would at least provide some means to acquire protein and nourishment by way of animal, fish and bird as prey.
Perhaps your post might have been somewhat misconstrued by others.
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Judith Collins’ National Party leadership is under more scrutiny, with increased talk in the media of her being replaced by brand new MP Christopher Luxon. For many commentators it’s just a question of “when” rather than “if” Collins is replaced. While others ponder whether Luxon really has what it takes ...
‘Tis the season for unearthing the rarest gems in Tolkien adaptation – which, considering that the fandom has been dominated by Peter Jackson for nigh on two decades, is a positively heart-warming development. It is why I have devoted so much blog space to the obscure and weirdly wonderful ...
Whatever the damage, especially to the British economy, Brexit has done us a service by illustrating the complexity of trade.Brexit is the only example we have of two closely integrated sophisticated economies severing trading ties. The European Union and Britain still do not have tariffs or import quotas between them ...
The Palmerston North City Council has voted for Māori wards: Palmerston North Māori will be guaranteed one or two seats on the city council from 2022, and this time, there is nothing opponents can do about it. The council decided by an 11-5 vote at its monthly meeting this ...
Kids are striking for the climate today, demanding a decent, liveable future. Meanwhile, the National Party, the reliable servant of the farm lobby and other polluting businesses, is calling for action to be delayed: National has written to Climate Change Minister James Shaw calling for him to extend the ...
Today tens of thousands of schoolkids have walked out of school to strike for a future free from climate change. And tens of thousands of older New Zealanders have joined them. Their demands are clear: eliminate fossil fuels, implement 100% renewable energy with a just transition, and support our Pacific ...
The Gods That Failed.We studied the dialecticRead the whole of ‘Capital’So we could follow youSo we could follow youHow we shoutedHow we scrawledPainted slogans on city wallsOn prison wallsProof we had followed youBut, we still didn’t find what we’re looking forAnd we still haven’t found what we’re looking forWhen they ...
Conventional Wisdom? The Republican Right is convinced that to “go woke” is to “go broke”. It simply does not believe sufficient Americans feel strongly enough about social justice to make any kind of boycott remotely effective. Clearly, the Boards of Directors of more and more American corporations disagree. RECENT MOVES by ...
On November 25, 2020 Skeptical Science Inc. became a registered nonprofit organization and on March 17, 2021 our application to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for 501(c)(3) status was approved. In this blog post, we’ll explain why we went down this path and what will come next. Since its ...
Blowing Hot And Cold: Mike Hosking’s bosses should, perhaps, ask themselves what message Newstalk-ZB (and NZME) is sending to the people of New Zealand if Mike Hosking, their self-appointed “People’s Prosecutor”, is accorded bragging rights for “cancelling” the democratically-elected Prime Minister of New Zealand. Especially when said Prime Minister’s only ...
Ali Boyle, University of CambridgeIf you ask people to list the most intelligent animals, they’ll name a few usual suspects. Chimpanzees, dolphins and elephants are often mentioned, as are crows, dogs and occasionally pigs. Horses don’t usually get a look in. So it might come as a surprise that ...
Selwyn Manning and I dedicated this week’s video podcast to the potential emergence of rival blocs within the transitional process involved in the move from a unipolar to a multipolar international system currently underway. However one characterises the phenomenon–autocracies versus democracies, East versus West, colonial versus post-colonial–the global order is ...
With the rediscovery of the lost Soviet Lord of the Rings, the time has come for the important things in life. Specifically, compiling the Tom Bombadil scenes from the three known screen adaptations that feature him: This is a collection of scenes from:– Sagan om Ringen (1971: ...
Back in February the Climate Change Commission recommended a ban on new coal-fired boilers, and a phase out of existing ones by 2037. And today, the government has said they will implement that policy, and backed it up with funding to help transition some of our large pollution sources: ...
A ballot for three members bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Income Tax (Adjustment of Taxable Income Ranges) Amendment Bill (Simon Bridges) Regulatory Standards Bill (David Seymour) Human Rights (Disability Assist Dogs Non-Discrimination) Amendment Bill (Ricardo Menéndez March) The first two ...
Back in 2014, the police raided and searched journalist Nicky Hager's home over his book Dirty Politics, seizing his journalistic work in an effort to identify his sources to please their political masters in the National party. The raid - and much of the police's related investigative work - was ...
By Professor Tony Blakely, Dr Tim Wilson, Luke Thorburn and Professor Nathan Grills, University of MelbourneA new web tool, COVID-19 Pandemic Trade-offs, allows people to weigh the costs and benefits of different policy responses as Australia rolls out vaccines and considers opening borders.See here for an associated explanatory ...
This evening I was engaging in polite conversation (well, I was polite, anyway) on an RNZ Facebook post about – you guessed it! – the covid19 vaccination program. One of those present offered up a link to a blog post by Joseph Mercola to support a claim he was making ...
by Jordan Levi (Contributed) I don’t remember when I first came across the concept of gender identity, but it was definitely before Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner) came out as transgender because I’m sure that would’ve confused me way more if it was my first acquaintance with the phenomenon. The ...
The fact that the much vaunted “most advanced, richest Nation on the planet, ever”, that being America, ran into a brick wall in its responses to the problems across the world of late is because, at its heart, of the economic system that we’ve all been largely forced to ...
The EPA has commenced the 2021 “denewing” of new organisms. Their New Organisms team explain what this means, and ask you to put forward your proposals. The places we inhabit are shared with thousands of different kinds of organisms. They’re in the trees, flying in the sky, in our yoghurt, ...
As we roll out the COVID-19 vaccine across NZ there will inevitably be people who experience adverse events after getting their jab. Here are some super important things to keep in mind about adverse events following immunisation. Terminology – words matter Any event that is undesirable and follows administration of ...
Nature Climate Change celebrates 10 years of obfuscation The Nature Publishing Group is distinguished not only by what we're told (most of us must take somebody's word for it) are exceptionally high quality research publications but also by what some might term an outlier, extremist policy on locked-down content. In many ...
How can we stop the Ministry of Health censoring and sanitising vital mental health statistics to make themselves (and Ministers) look good? Legislate for annual reporting: Green Party mental health spokeswoman Chlöe Swarbrick says the Ministry of Health should be legally required to produce a wide range of mental ...
Here’s a few short interesting developments or discussions I’ve seen recently. Loosely bundled together in a theme of “values.” Irregular labour Is the private sector the best provider and facilitator of “gig work”? That’s challenged in a New Yorker profile of Wingham Rowan, an English social entrepreneur. For many years ...
In 1997 the Law Commission reviewed the OIA. In the process, they identified a problem: decisions to transfer a request could not be investigated by the Ombudsman under the Act. They also identified a workaround: transfer decisions by agencies subject to the Ombudsmen Act could be investigated under that Act, ...
Today is a Member's Day, though with no particularly controversial bills up, it is likely to be a pretty boring one. First up is Maureen Pugh's Adverse Weather-affected Timber Recovery on Conservation Lands Bill, an attempt to sidestep the Forests (West Coast Accord) Act 2000 and allow the effective mining ...
The area of mental health has been a key strength for Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Government over the last few years. They campaigned strongly in 2017 on fixing up the dysfunctional system, and initially they made some vital strides forward in reforming the sector. An in-depth inquiry was instigated ...
By Jamie Stewart, Federated Mountain ClubsFederated Mountain Clubs (FMC), founded in 1931, represents 96 clubs, 22,000 members and 300,000 people that regularly recreate in the New Zealand backcountry. This article first appeared in the June 2020 issue of Backcountry magazine and is reproduced with permission. (Read the original article). ...
Stuff had an appalling story on Sunday about the Ministry of Health's attempts to hide unflattering mental health statistics and sanitise a regular report. The report came out last week, and showed a massive increase in the use of "seclusion", a practice which has been condemned by the UN Committee ...
Another unpleasant surprise at Tiwai Point: in addition to the declared stockpiles of toxic waste, they may have tens of thousands of tons secretly buried in the early 1990's to avoid the RMA: Investigators are looking into claims highly toxic waste has been buried in unmapped sites at Tiwai ...
This morning the government is deciding on the start-date for a trans-Tasman travel bubble. Note the way that that's phrased: the existence of such a bubble is taken as a given, and the only question is how to implement it. Obviously, we're going to have to re-open the borders eventually, ...
Qualified To Give - And Take - Advice: Most Labour MPs are self-conscious members of the meritocracy, meaning they have succeeded where the vast majority of their fellow citizens have failed. The primary political obligation, understood by all members of the First Labour Government, was to listen to the people. ...
The Green Party is putting a Member’s Bill into the ballot today which will be a significant step towards overhauling the Social Security Act by embedding a tikanga Māori framework into the welfare system. ...
The Green Party have reaffirmed their strong commitment to the union movement in Aotearoa New Zealand by renewing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with E Tū. ...
Soon, more kids in Aotearoa will have access to the in-school mental health support that has boosted the resilience of tamariki and whānau in Canterbury. ...
The Green Party supports the open letter released today by a cross-sector coalition calling for the Government to treat all drug use as a health issue, to repeal and replace the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. ...
Small businesses are not only the heart of our economy – they’re also the heart of our communities. They provide important goods and services, as well as great employment opportunities. They know and love their locals. And after a tough year, they need our support! ...
Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples Teanau Tuiono MP, supports the demand from Pasifika communities fighting for climate action as their homelands are more at risk in the Pacific region. ...
The Green Party supports the six demands for climate action put forward by School Strike for Climate NZ, who are striking across the country today. ...
The Ministry of Justice Māori victimisation report, released today, reinforces what we already know about the impact of systemic racism in Aotearoa and that urgent action is needed. ...
Ricardo Menéndez March’s Members Bill to ensure that disabled New Zealanders do not face discrimination for having a disability assist dog was today pulled from the biscuit tin to be debated in Parliament. ...
More than one million people will be better off from today, thanks to our Government’s changes to the minimum wage, main benefits and superannuation. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to do more for New Zealanders who continue to miss out, as main benefits are set to rise by less than $8 a week tomorrow, Thursday 1 April (at the start of the financial year). ...
Sunday 28th March 70 Rongomaiwahine descendants welcomed members of the Green Party’s Māori Caucus, Te Mātāwaka, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere and Teanau Tuiono, to discuss concerns about RocketLab’s operations on the Mahia Peninsula. ...
Pacific people in New Zealand will be better supported with new mental health and addiction services rolling out across the Auckland and Wellington regions, says Aupito William Sio. “One size does not fit all when it comes to supporting the mental wellbeing of our Pacific peoples. We need a by ...
New measures are being proposed to accelerate progress towards becoming a smokefree nation by 2025, Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced. “Smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke kills around 12 people a day in New Zealand. Recent data tells us New Zealand’s smoking rates continue to decrease, but ...
More children will be able to access mental wellbeing support with the Government expansion of Mana Ake services to five new District Health Board areas, Health Minister Andrew Little says. The Health Minister made the announcement while visiting Homai School in Counties Manukau alongside Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate ...
The Government’s COVID-19 response has meant a record number of people moved off a Benefit and into employment in the March Quarter, with 32,880 moving into work in the first three months of 2021. “More people moved into work last quarter than any time since the Ministry of Social Development ...
A stocktake undertaken by France and New Zealand shows significant global progress under the Christchurch Call towards its goal to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. The findings of the report released today reinforce the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach, with countries, companies and civil society working together to ...
Racing Minister Grant Robertson has announced he is appointing Elizabeth Dawson (Liz) as the Chair of the interim TAB NZ Board. Liz Dawson is an existing Board Director of the interim TAB NZ Board and Chair of the TAB NZ Board Selection Panel and will continue in her role as ...
The Government has announced that the export of livestock by sea will cease following a transition period of up to two years, said Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “At the heart of our decision is upholding New Zealand’s reputation for high standards of animal welfare. We must stay ahead of the ...
WORKSHOP ON LETHAL AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS SYSTEMS Wednesday 14 April 2021 MINISTER FOR DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL OPENING REMARKS Good morning, I am so pleased to be able to join you for part of this workshop, which I’m confident will help us along the path to developing New Zealand’s national policy on ...
For the first time, all 18 prisons in New Zealand will be invited to participate in an inter-prison kapa haka competition, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. The 2021 Hōkai Rangi Whakataetae Kapa Haka will see groups prepare and perform kapa haka for experienced judges who visit each prison and ...
The Government has introduced the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill, designed to boost New Zealand's ability to respond to a wider range of terrorist activities. The Bill strengthens New Zealand’s counter-terrorism legislation and ensures that the right legislative tools are available to intervene early and prevent harm. “This is the Government’s first ...
Coal boiler replacements at a further ten schools, saving an estimated 7,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next ten years Fossil fuel boiler replacements at Southern Institute of Technology and Taranaki DHB, saving nearly 14,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next ten years Projects to achieve a total ...
Attorney-General David Parker today announced the appointment of Cassie Nicholson as Chief Parliamentary Counsel for a term of five years. The Chief Parliamentary Counsel is the principal advisor and Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO). She is responsible for ensuring PCO, which drafts most of New Zealand’s legislation, provides ...
Every part of Government will need to take urgent action to bring down emissions, the Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw said today in response to the recent rise in New Zealand’s greenhouse emissions. The latest annual inventory of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions shows that both gross and net ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark says Aotearoa New Zealand has become the first country in the world to introduce a law that requires the financial sector to disclose the impacts of climate change on their business and explain how they will manage climate-related risks and opportunities. The Financial ...
Exceptional employment practices in the primary industries have been celebrated at the Good Employer Awards, held this evening at Parliament. “Tonight’s awards provided the opportunity to celebrate and thank those employers in the food and fibres sector who have gone beyond business-as-usual in creating productive, safe, supportive, and healthy work ...
Applications are now invited from all councils for a slice of government funding aimed at improving tourism infrastructure, especially in areas under pressure given the size of their rating bases. Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has already signalled that five South Island regions will be given priority to reflect that jobs ...
The Construction Skills Action Plan has delivered early on its overall target of supporting an additional 4,000 people into construction-related education and employment, says Minister for Building and Construction Poto Williams. Since the Plan was launched in 2018, more than 9,300 people have taken up education or employment opportunities in ...
An innovative new Youth Justice residence designed in partnership with Māori will provide prevention, healing, and rehabilitation services for both young people and their whānau, Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. Whakatakapokai is located in South Auckland and will provide care and support for up to 15 rangatahi remanded or ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today expressed New Zealand’s sorrow at the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. “Our thoughts are with Her Majesty The Queen at this profoundly sad time. On behalf of the New Zealand people and the Government, I would like to express ...
We, the Home Affairs, Interior, Security and Immigration Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (the ‘Five Countries’) met via video conference on 7/8 April 2021, just over a year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Guided by our shared ...
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni has today announced the opening of the first round of Ngā Puninga Toi ā-Ahurea me ngā Kaupapa Cultural Installations and Events. “Creating jobs and helping the arts sector rebuild and recover continues to be a key part of the Government’s COVID-19 response,” Carmel ...
Interim legislation that is already proving to keep people safer from drugs will be made permanent, Health Minister Andrew Little says. Research by Victoria University, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, shows that the Government’s decision in December to make it legal for drug-checking services to operate at festivals ...
Public consultation launched on ways to improve behaviour and reduce damage Tighter rules proposed for either camping vehicles or camping locations Increased penalties proposed, such as $1,000 fines or vehicle confiscation Rental companies may be required to collect fines from campers who hire vehicles Public feedback is sought on proposals ...
The Government is continuing to support Air New Zealand while aviation markets stabilise and the world moves towards more normal border operations. The Crown loan facility made available to Air New Zealand in March 2020 has been extended to a debt facility of up to $1.5 billion (an additional $600 ...
Christchurch’s Richmond suburb will soon have a new community hub, following the gifting of a red-zoned property by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to the Richmond Community Gardens Trust. The Minister for Land Information, Damien O’Connor said that LINZ, on behalf of the Crown, will gift a Vogel Street house ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the reopening of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ (MPP) Languages Funding in 2021 will make sure there is a future for Pacific languages. “Language is the key to the wellbeing for Pacific people. It affirms our identity as Pasifika and ...
It is a pleasure to be here tonight. Thank you Cameron for the introduction and thank you for ERANZ for also hosting this event. Last week in fact, we had one of the largest gatherings in our sector, Downstream 2021. I have heard from my officials that the discussion on ...
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods has today announced the 16 projects that will together get $3.9 million through the 2021 round of Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund, further strengthening the Government’s commitment to Māori knowledge in science and innovation. “We received 78 proposals - the highest ...
The Government is delivering on a key election commitment to tackle climate change, by banning new low and medium temperature coal-fired boilers and partnering with the private sector to help it transition away from fossil fuels. This is the first major announcement to follow the release of the Climate Commission’s ...
Six projects, collectively valued at over $70 million are delivering new schools, classrooms and refurbished buildings across Central Otago and are helping to ease the pressure of growing rolls in the area, says Education Minister Chris Hipkins. The National Education Growth Plan is making sure that sufficient capacity in the ...
Two more schools are now complete as part of the Christchurch Schools Rebuild Programme, with work about to get under way on another, says Education Minister Chris Hipkins. Te Ara Koropiko – West Spreydon School will welcome students to their new buildings for the start of Term 2. The newly ...
The Government is acting to ensure decisions on responding to the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic are informed by the best available scientific evidence and strategic public health advice. “New Zealand has worked towards an elimination strategy which has been successful in keeping our people safe and our economy ...
Six Māori scholars have been awarded Ngārimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial scholarships for 2021, Associate Education Minister and Ngārimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The prestigious Manakura Award was also presented for the first time since 2018. “These awards are a tribute to the heroes of the 28th ...
New Zealand’s aerospace industry is getting a boost through the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), to grow the capability of the sector and potentially lead to joint space missions, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods has announced. 12 New Zealand organisations have been chosen to work with world-leading experts at ...
The Government is backing more initiatives to boost New Zealand’s food and fibre sector workforce, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “The Government and the food and fibres sector have been working hard to fill critical workforce needs. We've committed to getting 10,000 more Kiwis into the sector over the ...
Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni has welcomed the first reading of the Social Security (Subsequent Child Policy Removal) Amendment Bill in the House this evening. “Tonight’s first reading is another step on the way to removing excessive sanctions and obligations for people receiving a Main Benefit,” says ...
The Government has taken a significant step towards delivering on its commitment to improve the legislation around mental health as recommended by He Ara Oranga – the report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, Health Minister Andrew Little says. The Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment ...
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has welcomed the Local Government (Rating of Whenua Māori) Amendment Bill passing its third reading today. “After nearly 100 years of a system that was not fit for Māori and did not reflect the partnership we have come to expect between Māori and the Crown, ...
New Zealand’s successful management of COVID means quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia will start on Monday 19 April, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed the conditions for starting to open up quarantine free travel with Australia have ...
Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little welcomed ngā uri o Ngāti Hinerangi to Parliament today to witness the third reading of their Treaty settlement legislation, the Ngāti Hinerangi Claims Settlement Bill. “I want to acknowledge ngā uri o Ngāti Hinerangi and the Crown negotiations teams for working tirelessly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Barratt, Lecturer, Centre for Work + Wellbeing, Edith Cowan University Menulog, Australia’s second-largest food ordering and delivery platform, has declared it will break with the standard “gig platform” business model and engage some of its couriers as employees, not independent contractors. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nareen Young, Industry Professor, Jumbunna Institute of Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney The spotlight is once again on bullying and unfair treatment at work. Former Australia Post CEO, Christine Holgate, this week said she had been “bullied out of my ...
The Government’s discussion document on ‘Proposals For A Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan’ alarmingly reveals there’s little intention to elevate vaping as a much safer and cheaper alternative to smoking, says a leading tobacco harm reduction ...
Our Beehive bulletin Enhancing the wellbeing of people banged up in our prisons was the subject of one Beehive announcement yesterday. Enhancing the wellbeing of farm animals was the subject of another. And enhancing the wellbeing of all of us by protecting us from terrorists was the subject of a ...
Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission is proposing changes to succession law, which addresses who inherits a person’s property when they die. In an issues paper and a consultation website released today, the Commission has identified some ...
From Flatmates to Popstars to Celebrity Treasure Island, New Zealand reality television was at its best when nobody really knew what they were doing. José Barbosa looks back wistfully and wonders: can we ever get that magic back?I don’t know about you, but I remember the late 90s and early ...
Our beginner’s guides are quick and simple explainers on everyday money topics hitting headlines right now. This week, we take a look at the new $20 minimum wage.What is the minimum wage and where did it come from?The minimum wage is the lowest amount of money employers can legally pay ...
Internet safety company Safe Surfer has commended Kiwibank for being the first bank to introduce a feature that lets customers block payments to gambling sites. Safe Surfer CEO and co-founder Rory Birkbeck says Kiwibank’s move to let ...
The 2021 Our Land report has raised serious warnings about our most productive food-growing land being turned over to housing. Alex Braae explains.What’s all this then?The environment ministry and Stats NZ have produced a new report called Our Land, which outlines exactly what New Zealand’s land is being used for, ...
The Ministry for the Environment’s latest environmental report presents a damning indictment of the way food is produced in New Zealand. “The Ministry for the Environment has told the country in plain terms the way we farm is eroding the foundations of ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Click here to subscribe to Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup and New Zealand Politics Daily. Today’s contentLive animal export ban Stuff: Editorial – The tide goes out on animal exports Luke Malpass ...
*This story first appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. The man convicted of the Christchurch mosque shootings has held off from initiating a judicial review of his prison conditions, and designation as a terrorist entity. He was due to represent himself in a fresh legal challenge at ...
Commodities are leading the global economic recovery. International demand for grains, dairy and forestry products is extremely strong – driven primarily by increased demand from China, ANZ Bank economists say in their latest NZ Agri Focus. Dairy markets shot up in March, driven by strong buying from China, among challenging ...
Yesterday Jacinda Ardern angrily declared that an MIQ worker had lied. That should not be a sufficiently sophisticated technique to get around our border defences, argues Duncan Greive.It emerged yesterday that “case B” in the small yet still concerning cluster of Covid-19 cases related to the Grand Millennium Hotel in ...
The Spinoff, in conjunction with Daylight Creative and Copyright Licensing New Zealand, is proud to announce a new monthly slot for great one-off comics by a rotating cast of New Zealand comic creators. Below, Toby Morris introduces the series and our first artist, Indira Neville.I’m a huge believer in comics. ...
The absolute last thing the National Party should be considering right now is another change in leadership – its third in less than a year were it to happen in the next few months. National has far more pressing tasks at hand. To have any prospect of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Freeland, Professorial Fellow, Bond University / Emeritus Professor of International Law, Western Sydney University, Western Sydney University Space is getting crowded. More than 100 million tiny pieces of debris are spinning in Earth orbit, along with tens of thousands of bigger ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Whittaker, Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and/or images of deceased people. Five Aboriginal people have died in custody in the last month in Australia. It’s been 30 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Archa Fox, Associate Professor and ARC Future Fellow, University of Western Australia The world’s first mRNA vaccines — the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna — have made it in record time from the laboratory, through successful clinical trials, regulatory approval and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University In May 2011, almost precisely a decade ago, the government-appointed Climate Commission released its inaugural report. Titled The Critical Decade, the report’s final section warned that to keep global ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Hubble, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Last month’s flood in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River region of western Sydney peaked at a staggering 12.9 metres, with water engulfing road signs and reaching the tops of many houses. There hasn’t been a major flood ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ziguras, Professor of Global Studies, RMIT University Victorian universities recently re-proposed a previously conceived plan to get international students back under a similar model used to fly in tennis players for the Australian Open. Under the proposal, universities would help pay ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology When Marilyn Monroe was asked, “What do you wear to bed?”, she famously replied, “Just a few drops of No. 5″. Monroe was perhaps the most famous fan of the ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for April 14, bringing you the latest news throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz 8.00am: Hipkins won’t put all MIQ workers ‘under suspicion’ despite Case B ‘lying’ to employer There are no plans to increase monitoring of border workers after a security ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Calls made for return of Epidemic Response Committee, Māori wards coming in around the country, and police admit to illegal intelligence gathering tactics.Serious flaws in the government’s Covid response have been exposed on a day of sustained pressure at parliament. Hundreds ...
The Labour and Green government had a chance to introduce harsher penalties for people who assault our first responders, but voted it down and have shown once again just how out of touch and soft on crime they really are, says Darroch Ball co-leader ...
ACT Leader David Seymour has welcomed the Government’s decision to trial Datamine’s ëlarm with border workers. “ We’ve been urging the Government to adopt ëlarm for 314 days now ,” says Mr Seymour. “It shouldn’t have taken ten months for ...
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) is not surprised by the recent developments regarding the terrorist seeking a judicial review. The terrorist is following the same pattern as previous convicted terrorists in Europe and Canada. ...
Three incidents in quick succession show fish aren’t being properly protected, Forest & Bird argues. David Williams reports. Some images are seared into your memory. For Napier City Council’s Cameron Burton, his confronting moment happened on February 5 while responding to a hydrochloric acid spill into the stormwater system and ...
Business & Investing: With the Official Cash Rate left at 0.25 percent, market watchers look to the RBNZ's May update, Plus: 2 Degrees goes with Ericsson over Huawei for 5G ...
The speed of the UK's vaccine roll-out contrasts starkly with the slow and hesitant roll-outs in New Zealand and Australia. Do our high-trust strategies signal a long wait until we're open for business? With the arrival of effective vaccines against Covid-19 we can ask a Churchillian question. Do the vaccines signal the ...
Delayed, anaemic government reporting on mental health has seen key missing information end up in strange and inaccessible places. Jess McAllen has some simple answers to what are becoming unnecessarily complex problems. Accessing services is hard enough, we don’t need finding information about them to be a scavenger hunt. In 2016, sitting in ...
We conclude our week-long look at Charlotte Grimshaw's sensational memoir with a review by Philip Matthews At Home with CK Stead has become something of a journalistic genre, and why not? Who wouldn’t want to encounter the writer in his natural habitat, where, it is usually assumed, an enviable balance ...
One of the world's fastest female rally drivers, Emma Gilmour is biding her time to race in the radical new Extreme E series by competing in the NZ Rally Championship. As a kid, Emma Gilmour would hold on tight in the back seat of the family car while her mechanic ...
Things went from bad to worse for a survivor of domestic violence who tried to get a court-ordered sharing of marital assets. She lost, was then charged with the crime of perjury, sentenced to home detention, and later bankrupted. Bonnie Sumner and Melanie Reid report. A woman alleging abuse by her ...
While we're overdosing on the death of the Duke, we're being starved of news of a possible changing of the guard in our backyard, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell Samoa may have its first female Prime Minister, but do not let that distract you from the news that Prince Philip designed his ...
A sobering series of stumbles yesterday showed the country’s Covid-19 response, lauded around the world for its performance, is showing cracks as it enters its second year. Political editor Justin Giovannetti writes from parliament.The opposition was left demanding more oversight of the country’s Covid-19 response through the re-establishment of the ...
The 1994 chainsaw attack on the pine tree atop Auckland’s Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill wasn’t a simple act of vandalism, as many assumed at the time – it was an act of protest informed by centuries of history.“It is people who have interests, rights and dignity; not trees.” This ...
New Zealand is set to become the first country in the world to introduce a comprehensive ban on live animal exports by sea. There are good reasons behind the decision, writes Mirjam Guesgen.It’s hot and sticky. Temperatures reach those of summer highs and humidity levels hang in the 80s. Animals ...
Labour's signature policies are atrophying as the Government focuses on the Covid-19 pandemic and recovery. Peter Dunne asks if managing the virus will be enough to get Labour re-elected in two years ...
Facebook protests that the new algorithm that curates your newsfeed is just a mirror reflecting yourself back at you. If that's the case, says one digital expert, it's a funhouse mirror. On the surface, a change in algorithm by Facebook to fill your newsfeed with friends and family news, and push ...
The National Party is six months into its rebuild following a disastrous election result and once again leaking and leadership rumours are making headlines. ...
The Government has come under fire for being slow to reform hate crime legislation, even after it was recommended by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the March 15 terror attack. ...
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anyone else getting a sustained barrage of climate change denier paid adv on facebook ?
Ok boomer…Who still uses Facebook? Let mark melting man stutterberg harvest your dets and get paid
Guilty. I am getting these adv because I am "over 40 and live in NZ"
And who still comments on blogs???
roflnui.
No but I am noticing an increase in denier trolling for sure on facecloth
Doesn't come to me. But I don't read facebook much.
However I suspect that with the passing of the bill that the ads will diminish again for a while.
National voted for the Zero Carbon Bill. Will they now scaremonger, undermine public confidence in the Bill in order to amass votes at the coming election?
Of course they will! And they'll focus on the regions, getting MPs to dog-whistle like demented shepherds, at meetings, in local newspapers and on their many, many billboards, spreading the fear that the Government's climate change plans will bring economic ruin to all of us. Imo. Today's cartoon in The Southland Times captures the situation perfectly. It shows Simon Bridges at the pulpit, declaring, "We take climate change seriously! But we would rather see everyday New Zealanders burn in the fiery hell of global warming than pay money to stop it! Luxton pipes in, "I hear you Brother Simon!"
very true the adv are specifically scaremongering rural NZ and the agricultural sector
The issue with OK Boomer I've touched on elsewhere.
"The problem is people, often young people, buying into the right wing meme, of "intergenerational warfare, or theft" used to pit people against each other, and ignore the real cause, the rich and powerful of all generations. No one who sees National's entitled young prats, can think it is "boomers". I'm an enthusiastic supporter of Chloe Swarbrick, but i think her usual deft touch deserted her on this occasion. Lowering to the tone of the National idiot she was replying to".
OK now, Woman?
I agree, the generational-divide is a red-herring in the search for "whodunnit", but Chloe's call was elegantly done, so I'm forgiving of it. The culprit, in my opinion, is the psychological "black hole" we created then fell into over 10 000 years ago and are presently trying to identify and climb out of. It's variously described as "greed" or "civilisation" etc, but however we call it, it's brought us to a dangerous place. Only when we identify it for what it is will we be able to do something about it. Finger-pointing's one thing; humans did bring this on, and when a finger's pointed at you, it's a good idea to explore the charges levelled, but a wide-view has to be taken, lest we end up in-fighting, skirmishing, winning battles but losing the war.
Ko tenei the ra o te Pakanga Nui!
The evidence shows the shape of the curve and 10000 years ago it was flat.
Boomers, and I am one, have to own up to the shit that has happened in our lifetimes, that we have contributed to, that we still contribute to TODAY. Alas not taking responsibility is a trait of our little cohort – easier to blame others or blaming no one is even better – as long as the mirror is put away.
Are you speaking on behalf of all boomers, Marty?
"I have seen the enemy, and he is us" can be said by boomers and non-boomers alike
I don't think I said that I was speaking for all boomers – weird you'd get that so wrong. Good distraction from my point though. It is a false duality to go for enemies and friends – the point is acceptance of the reality and that is very hard especially for boomers who have so much justifiable guilt on our hands.
"Boomers have to…"
Probably better to say, "I have to…", or it will seem as though you're speaking on behalf of…
I notice when someone says, "Group "A" needs to…or Group "B" must… or Group "C" has to…"
Do you, also, feeling uncomfortable when you read those kinds of statements?
lol jeeze anything other than the point eh – sad and stupid
Your point being that boomers need to own up?
Yes?
Robert – you and I have both much better things to do than argue in this way. I respect much of what you have done and say and you are an idiot sometimes.
Yeah, and I think those "sometimes" are drawing closer and closer together the more I tune in to the thoughts of the wider community
Never had the experience of someone misinterpreting your meaning, Marty?
I admire your clarity of thought and expression and seek to be more like you. And reduce my moments of idiocy with it.
I agree that we both have better things to do. In-between comments, I'm planting hebe. 50 so far this morning, 150 to go; better get busy!
He be planting hebe.
(sorry, the best I could do, although it has a nice scan to it)
I tend to be a "seek forgiveness rather than ask permission" type of person so I am always seeking forgiveness from others for my transgressions. I use a lot of IMO's (in my opinion) in my comments usually because I only ever want to speak from me and my experience – that's identity politics for ya.
We have rain coming – Tasman at about -19% rainfall for the year and we are even less. Thinking of getting another watertank for rain water as the drought last year was tough and this year I suspect will be even tougher. Also I am enjoying being alive. Have a nice day Robert.
That's very good, weka.
Yoda would have said, "Planting hebe, he be. "
Boomers find it hard to own up to their failings.
Privileged people find it hard to own up to their failings.
Colonists find it hard to own up to their failings.
Men find it hard to own up to their failings.
Patriarchs find it hard to own up to their failings.
Greedy people find it hard to own up to their failings.
Addicts find it….hang on!
I swear there's a pattern here!
lol – you just checkmated yourself ta
Marty, I think you may have missed the signal sent by the line that begins, "Addicts…"
All groups that find it difficult to "own up to their failings" are addicted to the culture they are part of. Do we require those addicted to substances to "own up" before we help them, or do we recognise the difficultly they may have in doing that and get on with helping them anyway?
Boomers deserve help with humility just like every other group does.
'zakly
Yes – healing can only begin when we accept the truth of who we are and what we do. It starts with us all individually Robert. IMO
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/06/ok-boomer-meme-older-generations
"Like much of online culture, “OK Boomer” tells us something about the cultural dominance of upper-middle-class youth. These young people are surrounded by baby boomers who’ve “hoarded all the wealth” and polluted the planet in the process. They haven’t had to witness – or deal with the ramifications of – old age and precarity for millions of working people in that generational cohort. Instead they get to revel without self-reflection in oedipal angst about their elders – many of whom were kind enough to pass them their ill-gotten privileges".
mate here is another one boomersplaining
Marty. I think you are reacting, without trying to understand.
Māori were powerless to do anything about colonization for years. So I don't blame many older Māori for not doing anything. Also I don't blame those in the boomer generation who had no power to change things, either. It is not as though they didn't try. Which was why 1984 Labour only got two terms.
Environmental and economic destruction is hardly the fault of the type of people who spent their lives, opposing both.
I see lots of boomers who did well out of the neolib reforms and were/are uninterested in changing that. But I just don't see millennials as significantly better (eg if they really wanted to make change, then mobilise the vote). Each generation has its share of selfish people and those that will do the mahi to effect good change.
Millennials were raised by people to be more progressive than the previous generation, and they will become more conservative as they grow older, just like every other generation before them (including the radical boomers). I find the whole gen war stupid, and at this point in history it's dangerous.
Hear hear!!
I agree with you about the elite leading the way and that that is a 'class' issue for want of a better term. I think western countries are in the 'elite' group although groups within that are disadvantaged and vulnerable. The boomer label and ok boomer in particular are just another classification.
It is a bit low bringing colonisation into the argument – boomers PARTICIPATED they weren't dragged kicking and screaming as their culture was ridiculed and attempted to be destroyed.
Ngai Tahu participated, "marrying" off some of their wahine to sealers and whalers, making alignments and alliances through binding Maori and Pakeha into whanau. It was a wise strategy, instigated by tangata whenua. Whenua Hou served as the "melting pot" for many families who live in this part of the world. Holders of mana whenua were not "dragged kicking and screaming" into that relationship. IMO
what the hell would you know – lol – it is irrelevant to the discussion but it appears you have started dirty tactics eh – talk about your own heritage not mine Robert ok.
"talk about your own heritage not mine Robert"
That's just bloody stupid.
Should we discount Michael King's and Vincent O'Malley's writings because they aren't of Maori descent but they have written about your heritage and educated us all?
fuksake man
it was a pointed comment and he and I know it – your opinions are yours and bully for you – hint – not everything is as blunt and obvious as you suppose
On Boomers, many PARTICIPATED because they/we were born into the culture. It takes time to unravel that culture, see beyond it and move beyond it, if that's even possible. Are you critical of how boomers behaved when they were children? Do you have a cut-off point at which you expect boomers to reject their culture? And which boomer behaviours do you believe are wrong? All of them? How about altruism? Many boomers are altruistic . Intermarriage? Many boomers are married outside of their race. Environmental sensitivity? Many boomers are actively improving and protecting the wild environment. It's not as simple as requiring that boomers "accept responsibility for their actions". IMO
ffs have a chamomile tea and go plant some more trees mate and get over yourself
Ice creams supposed to make you happy
Boomers love ice-cream – it'll have to go!
I think we were. Our culture of fairness, egalitarianism, and equal opportunity, was destroyed. In a very few short years. We did believe in a “fair go” for everyone.
It was like we were colonized by yet another strange culture. In this case the Chicago Boys.
And. Some of the boomers who suffered the most, were fairly prosperous boomer Māori working class, who were absolutely marginalised, along with many others who started work, young. Forced out of jobs like train driving, onto the dole.
We didn't participate, at least I didn't. Kicked and screamed all the way.
Ok boomer. Only stupid old boomers don’t get the meme. It’s not inter-generational warfare, it’s an ironic thank you for the mess the boomer generation left us, yet deny us any of our complaints because apparently things were so amazing in your times and we don’t do what you do. We do what we can in the world you left us, as you dreamily remember the good old days as if it was perfect, with no racism or sexism or misogyny, and feel a stirring in your loins at the outdated hate speech associated with class war.
"old" boomers?
Are there young boomers?
you Just don’t get it do you? Your boomer mentality sees it as perhaps an age thing, along with the hairy old socialist trying to equate ok boomer as right wing meme so boomers like yourselves can feel above being mocked about being a boomer.
What's a "meme"?
Mock the boomers! *Mock the boomers!
Mock! Mock! Mock!
*Always ends well
An old white male expressing borrow that he isn’t instantly shown respect… what a surprise
Your borrow is my sorrow, Climaction.
I've always said, "Respect my authoritah!" and having a young whipper-snapper like you speaking out of turn and criticising those who brought you this wonderful way of life is mighty galling!
RESPECT MY AUTHORITAH!
I'd wage Robert has done more for the climate in real practical actions than most in New Zealand.
Generational warfare, IS a right wing meme. To distract from the real problem, which is class.
Are you trying to tell me that the boomers who lost their livelihood in the 80's and never had a decent job since, are the cause of anything. I know many that are entering retirement with absolutely, nothing.
I suggest that many of the University educated commenters on here are somewhat divorced from the reality of the over 40% of boomers entering retirement, without a house in their name.
Particularly galling when it is young upper middle class, who have benefited from all the wrongs that were done, and very often vote for it’s continuation, use it.
'Boomer' is now a cultural group, no longer just a demographic fact.
'OK' is merely what younger-at-heart folk say when tired of responding rationally for the umpeenth time to someone saying they just need to stop eating avocados and do what we did 'in our day'.
It is this year's equivalent of 'whatever'.
Imagine constructing a negating meme around women, or disabled people, and then arguing that those are now cultural groups not just demographics.
That blurring of Boomer as old person and Boomer as selfish, regressive privilege holder is a problem because ageism is a real thing (esp for Pākehā) and we don't have good progressive politics around it. We generally leave it to Grey Power and the chuckle when they do something that's not oldie.
I have less of a problem with Ok Boomer, than I do with lefties and progressives largely ignoring the problems with old ageism in way they'd never tolerate with any other marginalised group and not being willing to bring old ageism into the conversation.
A really good example is the politics around Generation Rent that never talks about what happens to elderly people who are basically on the dole with high rents and shivering in their homes in winter.
I'm explaining what the term is, not agreeing with all of its implications. Today's younger people are more attuned to style as well as substance.
‘Not All Boomers’ looks like Not All Men’.
OK Sprog.
Nicest thing I've been called for ages
Happy to oblige. 🤣
I think the right wing has been so successful in pitting the generations against each other that even lefties, who should know better, are adopting it.
I am not so concerned about Chloe because she is a person whose achievements I have considerable respect for, and I think she will come to understand why it is counterproductive to spread RW, rich kid, memes. I am sad that people who should be allies, are blaming each other.
The "selfish boomers" is no more true of a generation, than the "Young mums breeding for a living", "teenage dole bludgers" "Māori ferals", and "Avocado munchers" are of anyone else.. I find all those unthinking stereotypes false and offensive.
Over 80% of the pre boomer generation owned their own homes.
Less than 60% of boomers. And many, like me, are still mortgaged to help our Kids.
I think some like Climaction are a bit confused about who got the 3% loans and land grants, Certainly long gone by my day. Removed by the people in Parliament, who gained from them.
Maybe you should stop running with a pack of idiots? The generation that presided over the greatest increase in wealth and expansion of the middle class, after free education and cheap houses, now approaches retirement with nothing? Don’t look to you her generations for support. You left the world, and obviously your own lives, in a mess we are expected to fix without the benefits you enjoyed.
talk about giving yourself an uppercut
You don't have a fucking clue, do you?
By the way, Neo-liberalism was bought to us by politicians in the generation before boomers. We tried to vote the buggers out, but there was only a choice of two Neo-liberal parties. Which is why we supported MMP. So the barstards couldn’t do it again. Unfortunately they did, anyway.
Cheap houses? It cost a greater percentage of our weekly wage to buy a house when we bought ours, than it does, now. After scrambling to get 30% deposits while inflation was over 15%.
And we paid 60% top tax rate on moderate incomes, more than you pay in student loans and tax combined, now. so the previous generation could retire at 60 and so 10% of us, the children of the rich, had free tertiary education.
KJT – "Boomers" is such a nebulous topic that I think some people are unable to discuss it sensibly, whether they are inside or outside of the "Boomer" tent. It's curious. I wonder if, had Chloe said, "Okay Willy Wonker", the candy-producers would be getting a thrashing on the blogs and comments sections of the country's rags
Not All Wonkas
And in any case, most of the Oompa Loompas know which side their Eskimo Sandwich is wafered on.
Meming:
https://imgflip.com/i/3fmtxu
I have lot's of clues. clues from all your "NeO-Luberalism is the enemy" rants that you can't see the problems that face society require a more nuanced and inclusive approach. but being a boomer, you've always had it so easy and you're generation spent so much time culturally colonising the whole world you can't stop spluttering in indigantion when the youth don't like your proscriptions and don't accept your pearls of wisdom are valid.
you may as well work on fox news for all your "Good ol' days with the good ol' union lads" rants are relevant.
Just wondering, Climaction, if you see yourself as representative of Post-Boomers? Typical of them, that is, able to think the way they do, act the way they do, express yourself the way they do?
(coz I don't believe you are one
Funny thing is the yoof, are advocating the policies and progress I've been fighting for all along.
I doubt you are really one of them, though. In fact it seems like the "boomer" mindset you describe describes your position more accurately, than mine.
You’ve been well brainwashed, by right wing propaganda.
Due to our efforts, you can now vote for a non Neo-liberal party, the Greens, where we only had the choice of either of two, Neo-liberal stuffups.
So. FFS. Put your money where your mouth is and vote for them. Non boomers are over 70% of eligible voters. So statistically it looks like you are mostly voting for a continuation of the same policies you reckon are "boomer", stuffups.
" ..the 3% loans… Removed by the people in Parliament, who gained from them." e.g. Wayne Mapp
Our Housing Corp mortgage was initially floating at 7%. Within 5 years it had been sold to ANZ and rose to 18%.
By the mid 1990s (when I was studying) tertiary education was not free. I still owe $40k in student loans.
Incidentally we built our home and changed the head gasket on our 30 yr old cars. The generation that followed us seems unable to change a light bulb for fear being non compliant and having a lack of the no.8 wire mentality.
I belong to the baby boomer demographic.
How much plastic have you bought this week Climaction?
Boomer is an attitude. And it wasn't millenials who published all thoise media puffpieces about avocados and snowflakes.
Have a look at the age of many writing those clickbait, pieces.
Have a look at the age of the owners and editors – anyway it's no longer about age, it's attitude.
And who the target audience is (and therefore the demographic advertisers believe have the disposable cash in society).
The "ok boomer" thing isn't just about generational war, it is actually about the power dynamics within society. About how the media get clickbait from "dumb millennial" stories, with headlines like "millennials don't know hard work" and then "millennials killed the power lunch".
And most people called "boomer" tend to be of apparent European descent. Could just be my perception, but that hints at maybe another social power dynamic going on as well.
Some of you people on here need to eat some ice cream as it will make you happy.
I'm off to sue Red Bull as I drank a can and didn't get any wings.
You ought to have drunk the contents of the can, Jimmy! It's little wonder you failed to fly.
Next time, try pads.
oh dear what a pity – the nazi cowards will be quaking in their jackboots – all those 'respectable' nazis will be so worried and they will be driven into the light where we will all be able to see them and their disguises.
My wife has just finished an appeal hearing in the Whangarei District court. Byrne Vs NZTA, 4-6 nov, 2019. we are awaiting judgment.
During this hearing evidence was produced by nzta that confirmed they were spying on my wife and family,(including our 6yr old son).
They used a male employee to spy on a female employee of a nzta supplier (wsp opus) condoned by senior nzta management, with a special mention under oath for acting ceo of the time, brett gliddon.
They did not inform their supplier wsp opus that they were spying on an employee of theirs.
This male employee has a colourful police history. He also testified that he is spying on other families in our isolated community.
the spying is still continuing, and my wife has had to move away for work.
she fears for her safety from this male employee,
This has been ongoing for almost two years now.
they have spent in excess of $150,000 on this, while offering my wife $7,500 to shut up and go away.
I say , shame on you NZTA.
Talk to Radio NZ and tell them.
You'll find them sympathetic.
hi Ad, thank you for your comment.
we are not looking for sympathy.
i did get a fair airing on magic talk last week, and i thank steven for that.
RNZ are a little aloof for me.
The reason for the court case please ? Do they want to compulsory acquire your land or its it related to vehicle certification?
Regarding spying , wasnt that stopped after all the Thompson and Clark shady details came out. Look that up and ask how that decision affects you.
There is an employment dispute mentioned in the Herald.
a man from the agency said he was scared of my wife, she is 5; 4" and 45kgs. he is ex military.the nzta believed him and then ordered my wifes dismissal. she is a professional engineer with 20yrs experience. she took them to the era and the era found in nzta favour. my wife appealed and this is the hearing.
they were spying on us to get dirt on her.
Name not listed on Engineers NZ register
This is really a big problem – our society is not giving people what they want or need. So many people are suffering. The canaries in the coalmine are dying in front of our eyes.
At $45 plus a doctors visit, only the well off can afford to be healthy.
No its not. My doctor clinic charges $18.50. The ones that charge $45 plus ARE in well off areas , as the funding is based in socio-economic status of the patients/neighbourhood.
Mine charges $17, in a relatively average area. But there is no way any new patients can get in.
The one in the poor area in town charges $45, for new patients. As does the A and E.
I suspect in part because of a funding cut, when he was getting too loud supporting his patients.
wow – that creates an epiphany for me – so obvious once known
Not surprised.
And the many Māori Men put out of work by the Neo-liberal, "unfortunate experiment" shortly afterwards.
Yep – good to join the dots
Climaction. Above, has NFA, how devastating the 80's reforms were to so many working class families. Followed of course by Richardsons, welfare cuts, devastating communities even more.
Missing jigsaw piece, eh. NZ disability activism in the 1980s came from the same source – state residential institutions.
Comes with a trigger warning for 'moderates' as it's from RT.
It's humour and it's talking about Chile. 5 min long – In solidarity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxNyeKzA_xY&feature=em-uploademail
No more sitting at the beach in the Hiace with a cold Heineken.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/117261827/walmart-toyota-heineken-warehouse-workers-wear-trackers
wow – so bad imo – just resign – hasn't even watched the video about her departments utter disgraceful actions wtf?
Nice analysis
Good call
You follow politics , you follow NZ politics to the nth degree, you you still dont follow that the Ministers arent involved in these sort of operational decisions. Nor would they want to.
Why would she resign? Sure if it was a 'process' that required ministerial signoff , sure . It wasnt.
Where was Raukawa Tait of Te Pou Matakana/WOCA when this happened –
“One of three commissioning agencies, Te Pou Matakana receives around $40 million in Whānau Ora funding each year.
It distributes money to frontline providers. But it has been revealed a surplus of $600,000 was pocketed by the commissioning agency and paid out to its private shareholder.”
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/wh-nau-ora-minister-demands-explanation-after-commissioning-agency-pays-600k-its-shareholder
WOCA is a private company inspite of the ‘agency’ in the name
Yes I do follow politics ta Ministers can resign for all sorts of reasons such as this example
The minister today can't even watch the recording of the events which led to the inquiry and severe reprimand for her department – so severe that practices of staff have been changed immediately!!! She should go imo.
In the event of a sudden decompression passengers inside the Dreamliner might die from lack of oxygen. Good to know.
https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/exengineer-claims-boeings-dreamliner-could-be-dangerous/news-story/63af8c84a7cbe94db5655d64463edfc7
Ghost planes are a thing.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_plane
Not a reliable source . He seems to only have minor level job
If this story doesn't do a person's head in then there is something wrong with the person:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/402840/abuse-survivor-raped-at-foster-homes-sexually-abused-by-nun
Capital is hard to find in NZ. No. Not the hidden away city at the bottom of the N.Island. No, financing businesses. Seems that if we advantage capital gain it sucks investment capital for other projects. Labour have said No. National think benefitaries can get us back, yeah like a few hundred beanies if only they were in work… ..no, the problem is our parliament is hidden away on a fault line waiting to be moved to S. Auckland. Next big shake…
Hamilton or Whangarei are safer, if that's the criteria.
12% business interest rates, when overseas competitors are paying less than 3% is a big margin to make up. Unless you are buying land for capital gains tax free farming, of course.
Well. The ChCh shake sure paved the way for some well overdue development investment in the area.
I keep spare, fresh drinking water in the shed and in a wardrobe in the house just in case. And I live within walking distance of a fresh water river.
A small burner, a lighter, a torch and a sealed plastic box full of long life basic beverage additives (cordial, tea, coffee, whatever and some sugar) may not seem much day to day. But you may really need it after a major event.
get a can opener and a…gun!
[lprent: Just what every useless unsafe dimwit needs – right? Along with vitamin deficiencies and bad breath and other hygiene issues.
*sigh* – Any irresponsible dickhead who says something like that is someone who should never hold a firearms license or a weapon. At the very least they need to gets some arms training, and some socialisation training in how to deal with people without waving a surrogate penis as if it was magic talisman. Clearly their parents failed in the socialisation, hygiene or installation of common sense. ]
Blazer.
Well put (gun, that is). However, I understand the emotive posts in response though.
But bluntly, many do say that most societies are only three meals from anarchy, so firearms (or other weapons) as protection tools do make sense. Although cohesive communities (as opposed to general society) that are geared towards survival in a crisis might look to other ways of managing that crisis.
Guns, traps, fishing nets and lines in times of civil emergency would at least provide some means to acquire protein and nourishment by way of animal, fish and bird as prey.
Perhaps your post might have been somewhat misconstrued by others.