DUAL NATURE OF POVERTY
Two kinds of poverty plague our schools; one readily observed via images of the students’ home refrigerators towards the close of a week; the second, poverty of self-belief leading to our high suicide rates, depression and bullying. A fertile field for its manifestation is the classroom where the bold extroverts, richly endowed with ego, raise their hand and offer answers with confidence day in and day out at the expense of the shy and the hesitant.
As in the monetary world the rich in spirit get richer. Each bold and happy answer is reinforced through positive teacher feedback, encouraging in turn ongoing vocal participation. Such students rise in stature, not only through the bolstering of esteem, but also in the eyes of their peers.
Though numbering perhaps 5 – 10 in a class of 30 their influence spreads to give an overall impression of buzz, participation, progress – warmly acclaimed by ERO as “lively atmosphere conducive to learning”. These kids enter life qualified with excellence in a subject for which there is no tick-box on the record of learning: confidence and self belief. Our school system serves them well.
Of course there are quiet learners who excel and attain. There are many more who could attain given genuine educational nourishment, but in a class of large numbers there’s just not enough sustenance to go round. The demands of the formal curriculum, pressure of the upcoming assessment, anticipation of ERO’s next visit, the inevitable demands of unruly students and the clamour of the happy extroverts bent on voicing their progress all sap the time and energy of the teacher. And there’s only ONE of them!
With numbers around 20 (as I experienced occasionally) a whole new world of possibility opens up. There is the opportunity to allow a hesitant student TIME to formulate an answer, to consider it in the light of an earlier contribution from another and to show how both ideas are relevant and valued. Through regular feedback the less confident come to believe they COUNT and the bold begin to note ‘hey, there are others here who know what’s going on.’ The class takes on an identity of its own, greater than a collection of individuals some of whom tend to dominate input. In short the class dynamic becomes a team with all individuals valued for their particular roles.
“Students who are happy and engaged at school are much more likely to be learning, achieving and better equipped for life after school.” (ERO) But now we are investigating (TV 3 Project, Thursday) whether its weak teachers that are failing to get them “happy and engaged.”
And National’s research indicates class side does not affect grades. After all grades are the currency, not rates of depression, obesity and suicide.
Ant, I’ve been asking a number of teachers lately how they feel about the education system, all of them believe it is failing kids, and this is why.
So much effort is being placed on National Standards for reading, writing and maths, some kids will never reach national standards, and if they are no good at reading, writing or maths at primary level then the whole system is loaded against them.
Teachers are saying that kids are unable to learn, grow and explore if the curriculum is so driven on those 3 subjects. They are unable to find something they are really good at doing, and thereby giving them a sense of accomplishment and the ability to feel good about themselves, which leads to depression, bullying, being withdrawn and in some cases taking their own lives.
For example a child may be really interested in building and creating, if a child is interested in something, everything else follows. Kids need to feel good about themselves, and if that isn’t happening at home, and they are not able to feel good about the 3 subjects that the education system are hell bent on pushing, one can only imagine the sense of failure going on inside of them.
Teachers are also sick of the government implementing education systems in NZ that have failed overseas.
Teachers are crying out for change, and with kids killing themselves is it any wonder.
If kids can’t read write and do basic maths they’re pretty much stuffed for life.
Any teachers who let children get through primary without the basics need to be kicked out of the teaching profession, they’re the ones responsible, not the government of the day.
There are poor teachers but they’re a small minority and it would probably be better and cheaper for the country if we just increased their training and support so that they become excellent teachers.
If a teacher is that bad the union will help get rid of them.
Thing is, I doubt if any of our teachers are that bad and some remedial training and support will do wonders for them and the schools that they work at.
And doing that will be far cheaper than the RWNJ solution of privatisation that always makes things worse.
Ed
You’re right, our trollers must wake up joyfully, with TS to fill their day ahead, giving them something to do with their narrow boneheads and idle minds.
Another day of delightful trolling for people who don’t care, can’t be bothered to care (about others’ concerns and welfare). Their cleverness shows in ability to wind the handle for the hurdy-gurdy and play the monkey capering around at the same time.
It is quite possible they went through an education system that taught them to read and write, but, unfortunately lacked in all other areas.
As such they are the victims of the very thing we are bemoaning and, in fact, deserve our sympathy rather than criticism.
I will agree with you that the three R’s are important. You’re failing to understand that the education system is ALL about the three R’s – and nothing else.
Combine that with too much competitive atmosphere due to too many kids in the class (much like too many players in a market) and the failure rate increases. If we only concentrate on the winners in a skewed market we run the risk of being overwhelmed by the losers.
Oh hang on – that describes many an aspect of modern society doesn’t it? I see a pattern…
Children who struggle with the ‘three Rs’ often learn best when they are able to approach them through an interest or ability. Cinny mentioned building – just think about all the maths and literacy skills required for building
Yep – but they still have to be able to read, write and do math. Else they dont end up a builder – they end up the guy pushing a wheelbarrow for the rest of their lives.
‘In Internet slang, a troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,often for the troll’s amusement.
BM
Two questions. Who is Paul? And why do you have entitlement to attack those who speak against the corroding drips from people like yourself? These interfere with the ability to have discussions leading to better understanding of problems and possible future effective policy.
I sense hypocrisy here, BM. You claim to be concerned about education, but hate teacher unions. Here is an inconvenient truth for you. Teachers get to know and really care about other people’s children. Right wingers like you don’t. Teachers therefore tend towards egalitarianism, which you find evil (leftie)..
What are the odds that you sent your own kids to a private school, BM, and by not supporting the state education system, left the other kids to sink? You may retort that all other parents ought to do the same, but the fact is that you are callously abandoning the children of the poor. I see you as a shallow, selfish ratbag.
“Usenet convention defines spamming as excessive multiple posting, that is, the repeated posting of a message (or substantially similar messages). The prevalence of Usenet spam led to the development of the Breidbart Index as an objective measure of a message’s “spamminess”.”
“For a guy that got banned for three years, you’re really demonstrating an utter lack of awareness as to why you got kicked off last time.”
Ed, it’s getting close to when I’ll say something in the back end about this. I’d suggest figuring out how you want to be here pretty quick. You know what the issues are.
Can’t understand why BM’s pronouncements are wise saws weka.
Trolls regularly cut people off at the knees without adding much and yet some seem to think they have some manipulation effect.
A better indication of that is the damage done to hearing due to hearing impairments. A study done in NZ back in the 90’s indicated more than 50% of prisoners had hearing impairments. Many a result of undiagnosed glue ear. Which would obviously have impacted on learning ability as well.
(Can’t link to the study, was one I read back at the time, but Google has few)
You know I really struggle to decide whether you are being obtuse or challenged when you continually respond to comments in ways that show that either you do not understand what they’ve said or you are deliberately undermining the conversation
Those type of kids do very well in the charter school environment, shame Labour is willing to throw them back on the garbage heap just to appease the teacher unions.
State schools work very well for the vast majority of kids, but there is a small group where it just doesn’t work, might be the teaching methods, might be the environment.
Your comments re charter schools shows a decided lack of knowledge. On a level of four legs good, two legs bad.
Charter schools are privatisation by stealth. And we should ensure that every child attending a state school gets what they need in order to learn.
That means, making sure that we have a society where they have a healthy, warm home to live in, food to eat and then attend a school where additional assistance is fully funded from central govenment – not operational budgets.
Ed, I very seldom agree with BM, but not everything he/she says is trolling. Yes, BM’s trying to provoke disagreement, but he/she isn’t using personal attacks or swerving off the topic under discussion. If anything, you seem to be the one doing this, with the repeated replies about trolling.
As for the “do very well in the charter school environment” bs, you need to dig a lot deeper than that, BM. These kids may well do better in smaller classes, often exploring the curriculum through a practical lens, but guess what? State schools can provide these learning environments if they’re given the resources, and plenty of them do even under the funding constraints that they currently deal with.
BTW, our schools are not a “garbage heap”. When was the last time you were in a school?
It is understandable that many people see benefits in charter schools, especially when they can see an opportunity to provide assistance and/or support to those who don’t fit the mainstream.
Charter schools act as a divide and conquer in this respect.
What he says about the delivery for the Maaori students attending is probably quite true. But the fundamental problem for other Maaori students is that within the state school, the deficiency will remain and that is the wider picture that needs to be addressed.
Unless you are surrounded by yes men and/or are one of them, it is unreasonable to expect to agree with everything a politician says. Willie Jackson is giving his opinion on charter schools, from his perspective and it is understandable. But I disagree with his conclusion.
My son is a “square peg” child who the standard school system doesn’t really fit. We are looking at putting him in the Vanguard Military Academy when he is older. Why should Labour deprive parents of educational options when Charter Schools makes up a minuscule percentage of total student numbers?
Because if the state schools got as much public cash as the charter schools on a per student basis, you wouldn’t have to send your kids to a school that doesn’t have to reach the same standards.
BTW, wasn’t Vanguard the one with the sub-par attainment levels?
But on a personal note, if your son is truly a “square peg” then Vanguard is probably not the best choice. As McFlock mentioned, they failed to meet their targets (which BTW are lower than state schools), and their expulsion and suspension rate is very high. (I suspect that is the result of some “square peg” students objecting to having their corners rounded off.)
A rigid discipline and routine may help your son, if he has issues with a chaotic learning environment, but this kind of approach reinforces extrinsic reinforcement rather than promoting long-term intrinsic motivation.
“Teachers and learning environments need to be conitually assessed to ensure that all learners are being catered for.”
Except, the funding goes to the continual assessment – and none at all, to the additional help that is required.
Teachers and students already know when they need help, without National Standards.
A better use of funding, would be to have that help available to be used. It shows the priorities of our current government. To require report after report, without providing what is needed.
Getting help for children who have learning challenges such as dyslexia, dyspraxia is very difficult in our schools. Any help, if offered needs to come out of the operational budget.
There are also issues regarding nutrition, sleep deprivation, transitional families, and stress that schools do not have the resources to deal with – and students are not even starting their education from a neutral position.
Children learn in different ways, and if the class size is too big and resources are stretched, then alternative methods of instruction are not able to be given.
The government of the day sets priorities (National Standards), funding programmes (non-existent to none), class size and teacher numbers. Of course they take a large measure of responsibility for outcomes.
There are also issues regarding nutrition, sleep deprivation, transitional families, and stress that schools do not have the resources to deal with – and
students are not even starting their education from a neutral position.
Is that not the sort of stuff cyps should be dealing with? why do teachers think they have to deal with it?
If a teacher thinks a child’s home life is poor and creating issues then the teacher needs to let cyps know.
Teachers have to deal with the results of a failure of social policy, which is also a responsibility of the government. Children don’t shirk off those issues as they walk through the school gates, whether you think they should or not.
As for the rest of your comment: Obviously, your knowledge of CYFS – is as wide as your knowledge of charter schools.
And what pray tell is the best way for kids to learn those basics? Through integrated approaches using flexibility. Hidebound assessment strictures mitigate against that and cretinous measurement mongrels with little knowledge or sense about how kids learn rabbit on demanding the cretinous approaches.
They spend half their lives criticising teachers for having ‘one size fits all’ approaches and the other half wanting teachers to measure kids by ‘one size fits all’ standards.
No one is saying reading, writing and maths are not important, because they are, but if one is not good at those 3 subjects at primary level they are not going to feel good about themselves and the flow on effects are as severe as taking their own lives.
Do you know of any teachers that use music in their maths class? Makes a massive difference, in their learning especially for the kid who is not great at maths but loves music, all of a sudden that kid is counting the beats and the maths start to flow after that.
What about the dyslexic child who has a fantastic imagination, but due to large class sizes and under funding no one has picked up on their disability? That child maybe falling in reading and writing, but in drama and storytelling the child shines. Still they are failing at two of the ‘core’ subjects, and as a result their self esteem plummets, no one knows that the child is a great story teller, the child is not given the chance. Meanwhile the child’s low self esteem has lead to them bullying other kids to feel good about themselves and before you know it, it gets physical… another child left behind.
Are you getting where I’m coming from now BM?
Re Charter Schools, I’m fiercely against unqualified adults teaching kids.
“Re Charter Schools, I’m fiercely against unqualified adults teaching kids.
I’m not per se. I am fiercely against charter schools though, because they take away the focus on delivering diversity and support for all students in state education, while funding private enterprise.
Children learn from a wide variety of sources, including adults that are not qualified teachers, or other ages.
I am also against a failure to recognise that a rich, learning environment exists with gifted facilitators and communicators. Current education policy requires delivery and assessments and that gets in the way.
Agree, with the perspective your example gives above. Our view of success should be much broader and diverse, and recognise the value of all students.
Some people never learn maths worth a damn, and some can’t learn to read beyond a basic understanding, because their brains don’t work that way. Should we just chuck them on the scrap heap? Or perhaps find something they are good at and emphasise their strengths?
Ant. That is a good summary.
If a 30+ size class is to run well it has to be mass organised. Most kids do the same size fits all. If you apply the same organisation to a class of 20 nothing much changes. Hence the claim that size doesn’t matter. Rubbish.
But in a class of 20 if the organisation is modified, then as you say, ” a whole new world of possibility opens up.” No wonder private schools can afford small classes. Individualised. Special needs catered for. Social tone lifts the behaviour or disruptive kids.
Exactly.
Private schools who cater to those with enough money to make choices are usually very proud of their small class sizes.
Point in case, Kings College, where I think Max Key attended..class size…18.
I don’t recall John Key ever bemoaning the fact that Kings (presumably) wastes money by having unnecessary small class sizes.
I recall a study of studies which concluded that class sizes of 14 were the maximum for individual attention – more than that means most kids get around 1 minute a day of individual attention.
Exemption applications for compulsory schooling have to meet “as well as and as regularly as ” state provided education.
Way back when my application was being made, the benchmark given by a study for individual attention for children in the classroom in NZ was five minutes a week. So I think your recall is accurate.
The classroom model with hour periods isn’t based on what we know about attention spans and similar learning constraints – that design is for institutional convenience, not for learning. There are ways of radically improving student outcomes – but charter school funding models don’t have much to do with them.
well said ant.
worthy of a post on it’s own.
then the heartless comments from bm could be moderated and the compasionate adults with an inkling of concern for others can have an adult conversation.
i am not a teacher, but am involved with youth (scouting) and what you say resonates.
the confident excell. the ones that show up carrying baggage from home, school or perhaps not prepared to engage (hungry), resort to disruptive or sometimes violent behaviour to get the attention we all crave.
i am mindful of last election where mana pledged to put a teacher aid(e?) in every classroom. not a solution in itself but a step in the right direction.
the wages paid to two recently ‘retired’ national mps could have gotten 7 or 8 aides into schools.
Though numbering perhaps 5 – 10 in a class of 30 their influence spreads to give an overall impression of buzz, participation, progress – warmly acclaimed by ERO as “lively atmosphere conducive to learning”. These kids enter life qualified with excellence in a subject for which there is no tick-box on the record of learning: confidence and self belief. Our school system serves them well.
I’m not so sure about that. They’ll probably all grow up to vote National because of all that false belief they have in themselves always being right.
True;
as I said where all are valued through attention and recognition of individuality the rowdy self-confident become integrated within a new dynamic of inclusiveness.
Sure:
“Of course there are quiet learners who excel and attain….”
“Through regular feedback the less confident come to believe they COUNT….”
“the class dynamic becomes a team with all individuals valued for their particular roles…..”
[text excerpt below]
“A rise in the use of zero hours contracts could be contributing to poor mental health among younger people, a new study suggests.
Young adults who are employed on the controversial contracts, under which they do not know if they have work from one week to the next, are less likely to be in good health and are at higher risk of poor mental health than workers with stable jobs.
Researchers from the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at the UCL Institute of Education analysed data on more than 7,700 people living in England who were born in 1989-90.
A total of 5% had zero hours contracts.
Researchers found that those employed under zero hours contracts were 50% more likely to report poor mental health than those in more secure employment.
The unemployed and shift workers were also more likely to report mental ill health.
Meanwhile, compared to those who were not on such a contract, having a zero hours contract reduced the odds of reporting good health by 41%.
“More people than ever are working on zero hours contracts in the UK, and this new data shows this to be contributing to poorer mental health among younger workers,” said Craig Thorley, senior research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research.
“Efforts to improve the UK’s mental health must recognise the important relationship between health and work.
“Government and employers must work together to promote better quality jobs which enhance, rather than damage, mental health and wellbeing.
“Without this, we risk seeing increased demand for mental health services, reduced productivity, and more young people moving on to out-of-work sickness benefits.”
The lead author, Dr Morag Henderson, added: “Millennials have faced a number of challenges as they entered the world of work. They joined the labour market at the height of the most recent financial crisis and faced higher than ever university fees and student loan debt.”
An argument I repudiate is that kids need to ‘harden up’ in preparation for the manner in which the ‘real world’ operates. The early years (including teenager time) are highly formative, – a setting in which hardening up will occur naturally at different times for individuals provided the classroom climate is supportive rather than confrontational. No one is without talent, present, emerging or latent.
Finland, currently rated in the top three for education amongst nations, honours these things and many more. A visiting educator checking out the ‘system’ asked a local teacher “what programs do you have in place for your gifted children?” Surprised, the teacher replied “all our children are gifted.”
Heads up to BM et al. Finland is not longer teaching compulsory subjects at secondary level.
Unfortunately, our MoE is looking at this, but missing the point that the whole system is set up completely differently with different priorities, so our education at primary level would need to be completely changed before this was a move that NZ could make.
We all know that confidence does not equal competence but that there’s a quality in confidence that makes it appear that way; confidence is attractive, sexy even, and no wonder superbly confident people get an easier ride [no pun] in life.
Lack of confidence and self-belief or worse, a negative self-image, is fostered during the early formative years and further cemented (confirmed) on a daily basis throughout life. Quiet learners might excel (academically?) and attain (…) but this doesn’t mean they will get anywhere near their ‘true potential’. And, as is often the case, they will always have to compete with the confident or extravert ones.
You can see this quite well on the sports field where the confident often wins over the more timid one, not because they are technically better or have better team-play and skills, but almost purely because of confidence and self-belief and, dear I say it, the will to win.
The sad truth is that in this day and age of hyper-individuality our society and education system appear to nurture the individuality of only some, the ‘winners’, and to ignore or even suppress that of a large number of other people who are less prominent.
Nobody knows for sure what the jobs of the future will look like and what kind of education or training is required. However, it seems likely that there will be a (increased) demand for people with social and emotion skills, people skills (incl. leadership & management), with creativity, with collaborative skills and attitudes, and for people who are flexible and resilient and who are life-long learners who can adapt to the increasing complexities of life and our societies.
This is what we should be, and should have been, focussing on in education and we need to build a value system to nurture these people for the public good – we also need (different) role models.
‘For the many, not the few’ or ”a fresh approach’.
Which slogan gives a clearer message that the concerns of the working class will be addressed?
Which slogan gives a clearer message that neoliberalism will be torn down and austerity got rid of?
” even some lefties cannot bring themselves to vote for labour.”
It’s going to be fascinating to see how many “righties”, National voters, don’t vote National in Barclay Country this election. Invercargill “righties” will show an even stronger rejection of National, now that the debacle has spread to the city. Sarah Dowie will be anxious.
I really hope Dowie mounts a spirited nothing-to-see-here-just-move-on watchoolookinat defence of Wee Toddy. That’ll go down like a cup of cold sick. I’d love to know if there’s a Hishon Barclay family link too.
Poor james ignorance on display again, like our other favorite troll puckish rouge this love and fetish for the polls proves one thing. You ant got anything else.
No. A slogan like “for the many, not the few” makes a massive difference, as it conveys a whole ideology in a short sentence. That has far greater cut-through than any range of policies.
Ultimately, the average voter responds to an idea, rather than people and policies.
Sure, have those to back up the idea. But the idea is key. It needs to be simple, easily repeated, easily understood – and believable.
That’s what works in elections. Not explaining. Not laying out detail. Labour have fallen into this trap many times. And National will try it on them again. “Labour have no detail”. “Explain exactly how this works”. “Show us where the money comes from”
And they will try and explain. And lose the voter in doing so.
They need to keep it simple. And believable. Let the voter make up their own mind about it, but if the message is clear enough, everything else flows through into that.
The left need to stop damn explaining everything. The right never do, and it works for them.
If the objective is to take the country in a completely different direction then you better provide some detail and get your salesperson hat on or otherwise you haven’t got a shit show of winning.
A cheesy slogan and some buzzwords really ain’t going to cut it.
National never runs to detail. Probably has a strong parallel with that admission by John Banks (ex-National MP) that if he actually told people his policies he’d never get voted in.
If National told people what they really wanted to do then they’d never get voted in.
“You can run a slogan – what I said that you need more than a slogan – like people and politics.” (… policies?)
I’ll help you out, by telling you where I’m currently thinking of putting my vote.
I’ll most likely vote Mana because despite wanting a different government to the current, I also want to use my vote to indicate to all politicians of every party what my priorities are. They are not completely in line with my values, but are pretty close (but I don’t expect a political party to be, unless it is a party of one, run by me)
I also would prefer a coalition government rather than a single party dominated one.
What – apart from a slogan – makes you vote National, James?
‘In Internet slang, a troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,often for the troll’s amusement.’
Own it, James. Accepting that you’re a troll won’t kill you and you might earn a point or two here for honesty. What people hate over lies is hypocrisy.
Nothing will be done or changed until people switch off the channel when Hosking is on. Otherwise, its business as usual, bad news will always be listened to, scandals and outrageous behavior seem to be more interesting than any other topic. Proven concept, stupid people abound so a certain no fail and money spinner. In other words, the media outlet has its clown and milk it for all its got.
‘Children suffer housing crisis fallout as rate of low-decile transience hits record
Transient children have hit record numbers in low-income schools as the housing crisis forces more renting families to move house repeatedly.
Numbers are still low, but the latest Ministry of Education data shows that 2.8 per cent of children in schools in the poorest tenth of areas moved at least twice last year – the highest low-income transience rate since records began in 2009.”The shortage of rental and social housing has meant that families are often having to move out of where they were,” she said.
“For example, if you are in social housing, you may find you have to shift out of the area where you were in one part of Auckland and now the housing is available in South Auckland.
“People at the higher end have more options available. They are usually going to shift within the same area. They have more control over their housing choices than poor people do.”
Although on average only 0.5 per cent of children moved at least twice in any one year, the data shows that 15 per cent of all children who started school aged 5 in 2011 moved schools at least twice before they left year 6 at the end of 2016.
And continued transience had a dramatic effect on whether students achieved the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).’
Ed
Your line on Jess Mulligan at the bottom of your comment gives the wrong impression of him and what he said.
But don’t say this Government is delivering for all New Zealanders when what you mean is that it’s delivering for all New Zealanders except the poor, the homeless, the first-home buyers, New Zealanders suffering from depression and mental illness and the 100-plus young New Zealanders who take their own lives each year.
Of course, that slogan isn’t quite so catchy.
Jesse Mulligan is a host for Three’s The Project.
That’s the end para summarising Jesse’s piece in your link to him. So we can see that he is asking hard questions about government.
Did anybody else realise TNZ were backed by a foreign billionaire? I knew sponsors such as Emirates and the baby-killing and plastic proliferating Nespresso were involved but this guy seems to have kept a very low profile. From the Herald today.
“The French turned their backs on Team New Zealand hours after the dramatic capsize….. claims Team NZ’s billionaire backer. In an exclusive interview with the Weekend Herald this week, Emirates Team New Zealand principal, Matteo de Nora…….”
Yes, James, he has been the team principle for years (your spelling!) – a billionaire, overseas sponsorship and foreign capital, with bought-in talent, in a ‘sport’ where only the super rich can play, who make the rules and sucker politicians into their service- all in the name of (great) entertainment for the masses.
It is the masses who decide whether it is entertainment or not.
There aren’t many other events, (sporting, political, cultural or otherwise) that gets 80,000 ordinary kiwis out on the streets on a wet misberable winter’s day.
No problem, at all. I got up and watched some races, after all.
But, I also put it into a historical and social perspective.
That which drove bigger crowds into the arenas of Rome throughout the Empire was entertainment provided and vetted by the elite of the day- the billionaires, ruling oligarchy and later the monarchy as well, with religious and social approval.
The masses attended, and the brutality of Roman civilisation was further inculcated with a diet of executions, public dismemberment and the sport of chariot racing which was also brutal and violent.
The masses were given their heroes to emulate, the bookies and their owners had the gambling scene sewn up.
Politicians used such entertainment to make themselves popular with the masses.
Charioteers, trainers, horses, chariot builders, the whole panoply of Roman technology and organisation, with talent from foreign countries to provide the muscle for the entertainment, willingly or otherwise…….
Bread and circuses, Enough is Enough, panis et circenses. Tho oldest populist trick in the political book.
The problem is the parallel between what is actually being served to us in the guise of entertainment, be it Roman games and circuses or The Americas Cup. Not so much the what, but rather the why.
Oh I did! And enjoyed the sight of nemesis meeting hubris.
But, after the race is over, and the Cup is put on the shelf? Enjoy some reading of history!
And for further motivation into something more beneficial to the human masses, there’s a wee matter of politics, where the question of bread for the masses, and housing, and health, and water can be addressed, in the interim, between Cups.
i enjoyed and was educated by that mac1.
i was mesmorised by the sight of those boats, the beautiful backdrop and the stunning quality of the camera work.
slightly bewildered by the drone camera technology too.
but back to the bigger picture: commonalities of empires in decline- bread and circuses,
large and growing inequality,
war,
the elevation of cooks to celebrity status.
even as a chef i am puzzled by the allure of the last one.
I think I came up with a good idea. James seems very concerned to get us on the right road in all matters. Perhaps we should use this great resource.
Can you tell us James if there is a way of cutting off salary for politicians that are under investigation and not carrying out their duties?
excellent greywarshark.
another one: should the consequences, for an individual who attempts to intimidate a witness in a police investigation, be harsher if they are high up in the hierarchy of a party that has ‘tough on crime’ as part of it’s dna?
You should watch the interview Gabby. I did at the time, and was dismayed at the level of arrogance shown by Kim Hill.
At a time when all media was in support of the invasion of Iraq, it was refreshing to have someone interviewed that disagreed. His response to her preparation (or lack of) was measured until it became apparent that she was just going to continue sneering at his answers.
Completely put me off watching Kim Hill at the time.
I had a look at that link for Kim Hill going back to 2003. It shows John Pilger in lordly rant talking down to Kim because she wants to ask some questions which is what interviewers do. He wants to dominate the time making a statement. I note that he is Australian – famous for being right about everything, and a male which would double the certainty when talking to a female.
Pilger has done much through his investigative reporting. But he can’t be right all the time. If he wants to get his message over on television and promote his book, he should try to earn his time by responding to questions, put on behalf of viewers wanting to be informed. To say that Kim hasn’t read the book, is ignorant! She is well known for being informed, all others in the world except Pilger think that, but he would be right. If she did not know something, perhaps she didn’t get the book in time to really study it.
And we have ideas about foreigners too waka, and sometimes reserve our opinion if the individuals are not worth even a passing judgment.
hey bm and james, there is a post up about tories in southland that needs your help.
maybe pop over there and give us your opinions rather than soiling open mike.
It was with the police from the start, James yet you’re still happy to “wait for the facts to come out”?
James; why do you think the police dropped the case? Why did they accept Barclay’s refusal to speak with them as a reason to stop investigating? Does that sound a little odd to you; dropping an investigation just because the accused won’t come in for a chat?
James?
I havnt been watching this closely – You may have noticed that my post over the last few weeks have been less – I have been out of the country for a bit of a winter break.
So just havnt been watching things at home that closely.
I just know that the entire thing has been a pile of ***** the entire way thru.
c’mon james, what do you think of the claim of mr joyce that the tape was heard in a non-ministerial capacity?
there is no shame in acknowledging the prime minister has obfuscated, mislead, diminished his role and potentially outright lied during this debarclay.
The New Zealand Defence Force is highlighting the diversity and spread of its international operations, saying 11 percent of Kiwi troops are now overseas.
“What is significant is the geographical spread of our operations, given the relative size of our defence force,” Major General Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said.
“We have personnel in six of the seven continents.”
Some of those deployments I’m in full support of. But many we shouldn’t be going anywhere near.
It’s a crazy thing if we are paying for ourselves to take part in overseas fights that are to advance some other country’s objectives. We should mind our own business which is needing some close scrutiny to see its state of health. Is that a strong pulse or a dying spasm I feel?
I have been reading about 12th century times in Britain. A lot of the fighting there was with mercenaries, it was a way of making a living for many. The English contender to the throne, Maud, apparently had Flemish forces, the Danes had ships that could be hired etc.
If we are using our Defence Forces in other theatres of activity I hope we are getting paid! We can’t afford to be somebody’s lapdog and not get nice regular payments and travel expenses!
What exactly do we think we are in New Zealand? We are just a little country with its main earner being dairy cows, borrowing huge amounts to boost the standard of living for some while others are in poverty. Almost a mirror image of 19th century NZ! We should be uniting with the Falklands, with a regular interchange of people from our fellow islanders down at the bottom of the world.
Thanks joe90 for exposing yourself to that germ-ridden place, you’re a stalwart.
I will follow my usual practice and not go there, I have enough problem coping with the trolls here like blowflies striking vulnerable targets.
Over the last three weeks, 140 countries have engaged in final negotiations of the new treaty. The nine states with nuclear weapons (US, Russia, China, France, UK, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea) have been boycotting the meeting in an attempt to rob the process of its legitimacy. NATO members have also stayed outside of the negotiations, and on the wrong side of history. Their absence is sadly significant; unless a country ratifies the treaty, it is not bound by it.
Unfortunately I think we can be pretty much assured that none of the present nuclear weapon holding countries will get rid of them. They’ll simply not sign on the dotted line ensuring that this law doesn’t apply to them.
This will mean that other countries, even if they sign, will be forced over time to develop their own nuclear weapons capabilities.
Trump Gives Speech to the People of Poland, Says 14 Words That Leave Americans Stunned https://t.co/8iKHEQemn9— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) July 7, 2017
A new criteria, added on Friday with no press release, requires the panel who consider applications to to take into account whether granting the money will “contribute to impeding or delaying the ability of people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being in relation to important needs, including employment, housing and infrastructure.”
Critics say this change will render the fund useless.
Working to protect business against the wishes of the people.
So make the protest/appeal process very expensive.
Then starve access to funds.
Protest/appeal dies.
See we the Government know that all the people must have wanted this project or else they would have objected. And they didn’t.
We are a very clever Government. (Does our Government get these ideas from Fiji?)
12-year-old Vaanan Murugathas will bring his do-it-yourself spectrometer to this weekend’s Maker Festival to shed light on how anyone hack their phone to measure water quality using just construction paper, a CD, and his mobile app.
In an interview on CBC’s Metro Morning, Murugathas said he was inspired by hearing host Matt Galloway and Indigenous critic Jesse Wente discussing the frequent and sometimes constant boil water advisories among First Nations reserves.
“Many [First Nations] reserves don’t have access to clean water and I feel like the government is not doing enough to actually stop this issue,” he said.
hardhitting – needs to be known – aussies and aussie lovers need to own up to the truth
Like children after an old, long-concealed family tragedy, we’ve all been left subtly bruised by the history we’ve repressed. I’m not the only Australian to sense that the brash, cocksure, sun-bronzed Aussie image we love – so easygoing, so delightfully laid-back – also comes with a paradoxical hint of dryness, emptiness, blustering adolescent uncertainty, in our national psyche.
Why the cultural cringe? The tall poppy suspicions? The strange timidity that has us creeping under the wing of one great and powerful friend or another? Our nation was built on a silent quicksand of wrongs. Aborigines; convicts; White Australia. We’re yet to crawl completely out; yet to turn into fully mature, proper grown-ups. But things are changing. Despite sneers at the “black armband view of history”, most of us now admit that terrible deeds were done, then hidden. Government apologies have elated almost everyone. And where now are those shrill massacre denials?
One truth, though, is still wincingly hard to face: that most Australians owe our comfortable living first and foremost to the fact that Aborigines used to own the precious land, and now we do. None of us is guilty of those old wrongs: but we have benefited prodigiously from them.
Unknowingly – and reluctant to probe too deeply – we’ve all lived well and thrived on the proceeds of crime.
Now, far too late, it really is time to get out those black armbands. And above all, to listen.
Just picked up my partner from watching the game at Eden Park.
I suggested before he left that he should lead a chant of “O, Jeremy Corbyn” and we had a laugh at how that would be taken by his workmates.
He’s sure that he heard several times during the game a chant very similar to “O, Jeremy Corbyn” coming from the Lions supporters. Could be mistaken, he – like me is getting older, and hard of hearing – but heartening to think the chant is becoming a way of calling out your Britishness to the world.
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
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The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
DUAL NATURE OF POVERTY
Two kinds of poverty plague our schools; one readily observed via images of the students’ home refrigerators towards the close of a week; the second, poverty of self-belief leading to our high suicide rates, depression and bullying. A fertile field for its manifestation is the classroom where the bold extroverts, richly endowed with ego, raise their hand and offer answers with confidence day in and day out at the expense of the shy and the hesitant.
As in the monetary world the rich in spirit get richer. Each bold and happy answer is reinforced through positive teacher feedback, encouraging in turn ongoing vocal participation. Such students rise in stature, not only through the bolstering of esteem, but also in the eyes of their peers.
Though numbering perhaps 5 – 10 in a class of 30 their influence spreads to give an overall impression of buzz, participation, progress – warmly acclaimed by ERO as “lively atmosphere conducive to learning”. These kids enter life qualified with excellence in a subject for which there is no tick-box on the record of learning: confidence and self belief. Our school system serves them well.
Of course there are quiet learners who excel and attain. There are many more who could attain given genuine educational nourishment, but in a class of large numbers there’s just not enough sustenance to go round. The demands of the formal curriculum, pressure of the upcoming assessment, anticipation of ERO’s next visit, the inevitable demands of unruly students and the clamour of the happy extroverts bent on voicing their progress all sap the time and energy of the teacher. And there’s only ONE of them!
With numbers around 20 (as I experienced occasionally) a whole new world of possibility opens up. There is the opportunity to allow a hesitant student TIME to formulate an answer, to consider it in the light of an earlier contribution from another and to show how both ideas are relevant and valued. Through regular feedback the less confident come to believe they COUNT and the bold begin to note ‘hey, there are others here who know what’s going on.’ The class takes on an identity of its own, greater than a collection of individuals some of whom tend to dominate input. In short the class dynamic becomes a team with all individuals valued for their particular roles.
“Students who are happy and engaged at school are much more likely to be learning, achieving and better equipped for life after school.” (ERO) But now we are investigating (TV 3 Project, Thursday) whether its weak teachers that are failing to get them “happy and engaged.”
And National’s research indicates class side does not affect grades. After all grades are the currency, not rates of depression, obesity and suicide.
Ant, I’ve been asking a number of teachers lately how they feel about the education system, all of them believe it is failing kids, and this is why.
So much effort is being placed on National Standards for reading, writing and maths, some kids will never reach national standards, and if they are no good at reading, writing or maths at primary level then the whole system is loaded against them.
Teachers are saying that kids are unable to learn, grow and explore if the curriculum is so driven on those 3 subjects. They are unable to find something they are really good at doing, and thereby giving them a sense of accomplishment and the ability to feel good about themselves, which leads to depression, bullying, being withdrawn and in some cases taking their own lives.
For example a child may be really interested in building and creating, if a child is interested in something, everything else follows. Kids need to feel good about themselves, and if that isn’t happening at home, and they are not able to feel good about the 3 subjects that the education system are hell bent on pushing, one can only imagine the sense of failure going on inside of them.
Teachers are also sick of the government implementing education systems in NZ that have failed overseas.
Teachers are crying out for change, and with kids killing themselves is it any wonder.
Biggest pile of bull shit ever.
If kids can’t read write and do basic maths they’re pretty much stuffed for life.
Any teachers who let children get through primary without the basics need to be kicked out of the teaching profession, they’re the ones responsible, not the government of the day.
Troll wakes up, starts typing hate speech….
Ed – the man who has to call everyone Troll who he disagrees with.
Truth is – if you cannot read and write or do basic math – your options in life are very limited.
Its not hate speech saying that they should be fired if they are not ensuring the very basics are provided to the kids they are trusted to learn.
There are good teachers and poor teachers. Unfortunately a poor teacher can ruin a kids future prospects. They should be fired.
And more BS from an ignorant RWNJ.
There are poor teachers but they’re a small minority and it would probably be better and cheaper for the country if we just increased their training and support so that they become excellent teachers.
“They should be fired.”
Can’t do that James, they hide behind the teachers union so the poor teacher has a job for life !
more BS from another ignorant RWNJ
If a teacher is that bad the union will help get rid of them.
Thing is, I doubt if any of our teachers are that bad and some remedial training and support will do wonders for them and the schools that they work at.
And doing that will be far cheaper than the RWNJ solution of privatisation that always makes things worse.
Ed
You’re right, our trollers must wake up joyfully, with TS to fill their day ahead, giving them something to do with their narrow boneheads and idle minds.
Another day of delightful trolling for people who don’t care, can’t be bothered to care (about others’ concerns and welfare). Their cleverness shows in ability to wind the handle for the hurdy-gurdy and play the monkey capering around at the same time.
They really hate being called up on it too.
The music is a bit jerky and repetitive IMO.
It is quite possible they went through an education system that taught them to read and write, but, unfortunately lacked in all other areas.
As such they are the victims of the very thing we are bemoaning and, in fact, deserve our sympathy rather than criticism.
I will agree with you that the three R’s are important. You’re failing to understand that the education system is ALL about the three R’s – and nothing else.
Combine that with too much competitive atmosphere due to too many kids in the class (much like too many players in a market) and the failure rate increases. If we only concentrate on the winners in a skewed market we run the risk of being overwhelmed by the losers.
Oh hang on – that describes many an aspect of modern society doesn’t it? I see a pattern…
Children who struggle with the ‘three Rs’ often learn best when they are able to approach them through an interest or ability. Cinny mentioned building – just think about all the maths and literacy skills required for building
Yep – but they still have to be able to read, write and do math. Else they dont end up a builder – they end up the guy pushing a wheelbarrow for the rest of their lives.
Or spending most of their lives in prison.
Troll.
‘In Internet slang, a troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,often for the troll’s amusement.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
Fuck off, Paul, you don’t get to decide who’s a troll and who isn’t.
If anyone’s ticking the troll box it’s you with your endless spam.
For a guy that got banned for three years, you’re really demonstrating an utter lack of awareness as to why you got kicked off last time.
Its Ed, can you read?
Yeah, it’s Ed, Pauls identical brother. 🙄
Wait, BM. Paul was an inveterate poster of vegan propaganda whenever there was a thread about climate change, whereas Ed… oh, I see. As you were.
Exactly completely different and I believe its a breach to identify users.
BM
Two questions. Who is Paul? And why do you have entitlement to attack those who speak against the corroding drips from people like yourself? These interfere with the ability to have discussions leading to better understanding of problems and possible future effective policy.
I sense hypocrisy here, BM. You claim to be concerned about education, but hate teacher unions. Here is an inconvenient truth for you. Teachers get to know and really care about other people’s children. Right wingers like you don’t. Teachers therefore tend towards egalitarianism, which you find evil (leftie)..
What are the odds that you sent your own kids to a private school, BM, and by not supporting the state education system, left the other kids to sink? You may retort that all other parents ought to do the same, but the fact is that you are callously abandoning the children of the poor. I see you as a shallow, selfish ratbag.
Spammer.
“Usenet convention defines spamming as excessive multiple posting, that is, the repeated posting of a message (or substantially similar messages). The prevalence of Usenet spam led to the development of the Breidbart Index as an objective measure of a message’s “spamminess”.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spamming#Newsgroup_and_forum
Ed
Disagreeing with your argument is not “inflamatory” unless of course you are very thin skinned.
It is you who destroys every thread with your mad “troll” rantings, everytime someone says something you disagree with.
BM said,
“For a guy that got banned for three years, you’re really demonstrating an utter lack of awareness as to why you got kicked off last time.”
Ed, it’s getting close to when I’ll say something in the back end about this. I’d suggest figuring out how you want to be here pretty quick. You know what the issues are.
Can’t understand why BM’s pronouncements are wise saws weka.
Trolls regularly cut people off at the knees without adding much and yet some seem to think they have some manipulation effect.
A better indication of that is the damage done to hearing due to hearing impairments. A study done in NZ back in the 90’s indicated more than 50% of prisoners had hearing impairments. Many a result of undiagnosed glue ear. Which would obviously have impacted on learning ability as well.
(Can’t link to the study, was one I read back at the time, but Google has few)
You know I really struggle to decide whether you are being obtuse or challenged when you continually respond to comments in ways that show that either you do not understand what they’ve said or you are deliberately undermining the conversation
He’s just being an internet troll.
Personally, I wish these troglodytes were banned so we could discuss topics without their intervention.
Yes, me too
Yes. Opposing speach must be stopped at all cost.
I wouldn’t mind if it was considered argument but the majority of it is just oppositional blather
Those type of kids do very well in the charter school environment, shame Labour is willing to throw them back on the garbage heap just to appease the teacher unions.
And that comment is not trolling?
State schools work very well for the vast majority of kids, but there is a small group where it just doesn’t work, might be the teaching methods, might be the environment.
That’s where charter schools fit in.
The language you employed was clearly intended to get a reaction.
It was trolling.
And you know it.
For BM.
Your comments re charter schools shows a decided lack of knowledge. On a level of four legs good, two legs bad.
Charter schools are privatisation by stealth. And we should ensure that every child attending a state school gets what they need in order to learn.
That means, making sure that we have a society where they have a healthy, warm home to live in, food to eat and then attend a school where additional assistance is fully funded from central govenment – not operational budgets.
Charter schools are not the magical answer.
A change in priorities is.
Ed, I very seldom agree with BM, but not everything he/she says is trolling. Yes, BM’s trying to provoke disagreement, but he/she isn’t using personal attacks or swerving off the topic under discussion. If anything, you seem to be the one doing this, with the repeated replies about trolling.
As for the “do very well in the charter school environment” bs, you need to dig a lot deeper than that, BM. These kids may well do better in smaller classes, often exploring the curriculum through a practical lens, but guess what? State schools can provide these learning environments if they’re given the resources, and plenty of them do even under the funding constraints that they currently deal with.
BTW, our schools are not a “garbage heap”. When was the last time you were in a school?
No they don’t as the real world has shown.
Charter schools don’t have to meet the National Standards if they don’t want to. And receive greater funding.
You have identified a couple of the major issues that get in the way of good educational environments.
And handing them over to God-freaks and corporates is going to solve everything.
You do realise that if charter schools are allowed to flourish, evolution will be effectively purged from the school curriculum,
“God-freaks”
Thats not very polite to rubbish other peoples views like that.
Gee really??? – lets look at what a certian Labour MP to be (if there are enough votes ) says about charter (partnership) schools:
http://partnershipschools.education.govt.nz/news/opinion-willie-jackson/
Now remember kids – vote for labour you are voting for a man with views like this – do you really want someone like him in power?
For james:
It is understandable that many people see benefits in charter schools, especially when they can see an opportunity to provide assistance and/or support to those who don’t fit the mainstream.
Charter schools act as a divide and conquer in this respect.
What he says about the delivery for the Maaori students attending is probably quite true. But the fundamental problem for other Maaori students is that within the state school, the deficiency will remain and that is the wider picture that needs to be addressed.
Unless you are surrounded by yes men and/or are one of them, it is unreasonable to expect to agree with everything a politician says. Willie Jackson is giving his opinion on charter schools, from his perspective and it is understandable. But I disagree with his conclusion.
My son is a “square peg” child who the standard school system doesn’t really fit. We are looking at putting him in the Vanguard Military Academy when he is older. Why should Labour deprive parents of educational options when Charter Schools makes up a minuscule percentage of total student numbers?
Because if the state schools got as much public cash as the charter schools on a per student basis, you wouldn’t have to send your kids to a school that doesn’t have to reach the same standards.
BTW, wasn’t Vanguard the one with the sub-par attainment levels?
Agree with McFlock’s comments above.
But on a personal note, if your son is truly a “square peg” then Vanguard is probably not the best choice. As McFlock mentioned, they failed to meet their targets (which BTW are lower than state schools), and their expulsion and suspension rate is very high. (I suspect that is the result of some “square peg” students objecting to having their corners rounded off.)
A rigid discipline and routine may help your son, if he has issues with a chaotic learning environment, but this kind of approach reinforces extrinsic reinforcement rather than promoting long-term intrinsic motivation.
Wrong.
Most can learn at their own pace. What can get in the way is a focus on learning reading and maths at the pace set by National Standards.
And the self-doubt that sets in from a very young age because of the failure to meet these arbitrary standards.
Thank goodness for you Molly your ideas stick to the real point of whatever is being discussed and bring something sound to the
discussion.
Thanks, I enjoy discussions where I have time to revisit and keep the dialogue going.
But also enjoy reading comments from many other commentators when I don’t – including yours.
MathSSSSS, jame.
Actually, you’re belief is the BS.
My nephew left school without SC and did have difficulty with basic maths. He’s now a qualified builder (maths essential).
He’s a slow learner but not stupid.
It’s people like this that National constantly throw away with their outdated policies such as National Standards.
Exactly!
I think that is the point he was trying to make Draco.
Different people have different learning needs. It is the learning environment that needs to be stress tested.
The point that BM was making was that people who don’t meet National’s strict criteria should be thrown away like so much garbage.
I am not speaking for him, but my interpretation of what he said is that if we allow kids to fail, then they will have a tougher road though life.
That is a matter of fact isn’t it?
That is the reason why we need to be flexible when it comes to teaching, as what works for Bill, might not work for Bob.
Teachers and learning environments need to be conitually assessed to ensure that all learners are being catered for.
“Teachers and learning environments need to be conitually assessed to ensure that all learners are being catered for.”
Except, the funding goes to the continual assessment – and none at all, to the additional help that is required.
Teachers and students already know when they need help, without National Standards.
A better use of funding, would be to have that help available to be used. It shows the priorities of our current government. To require report after report, without providing what is needed.
yes…
He insists that the slow learners fail.
True but BM is insistent that we not be flexible.
On the money.
Yet that is not what is happening. It is actually made more difficult by current policy.
Nailed it Draco 😀
Getting help for children who have learning challenges such as dyslexia, dyspraxia is very difficult in our schools. Any help, if offered needs to come out of the operational budget.
There are also issues regarding nutrition, sleep deprivation, transitional families, and stress that schools do not have the resources to deal with – and students are not even starting their education from a neutral position.
Children learn in different ways, and if the class size is too big and resources are stretched, then alternative methods of instruction are not able to be given.
The government of the day sets priorities (National Standards), funding programmes (non-existent to none), class size and teacher numbers. Of course they take a large measure of responsibility for outcomes.
There are also issues regarding nutrition, sleep deprivation, transitional families, and stress that schools do not have the resources to deal with – and
students are not even starting their education from a neutral position.
Is that not the sort of stuff cyps should be dealing with? why do teachers think they have to deal with it?
If a teacher thinks a child’s home life is poor and creating issues then the teacher needs to let cyps know.
Teachers have to deal with the results of a failure of social policy, which is also a responsibility of the government. Children don’t shirk off those issues as they walk through the school gates, whether you think they should or not.
As for the rest of your comment: Obviously, your knowledge of CYFS – is as wide as your knowledge of charter schools.
And what pray tell is the best way for kids to learn those basics? Through integrated approaches using flexibility. Hidebound assessment strictures mitigate against that and cretinous measurement mongrels with little knowledge or sense about how kids learn rabbit on demanding the cretinous approaches.
They spend half their lives criticising teachers for having ‘one size fits all’ approaches and the other half wanting teachers to measure kids by ‘one size fits all’ standards.
Are you an educator BM?
No one is saying reading, writing and maths are not important, because they are, but if one is not good at those 3 subjects at primary level they are not going to feel good about themselves and the flow on effects are as severe as taking their own lives.
Do you know of any teachers that use music in their maths class? Makes a massive difference, in their learning especially for the kid who is not great at maths but loves music, all of a sudden that kid is counting the beats and the maths start to flow after that.
What about the dyslexic child who has a fantastic imagination, but due to large class sizes and under funding no one has picked up on their disability? That child maybe falling in reading and writing, but in drama and storytelling the child shines. Still they are failing at two of the ‘core’ subjects, and as a result their self esteem plummets, no one knows that the child is a great story teller, the child is not given the chance. Meanwhile the child’s low self esteem has lead to them bullying other kids to feel good about themselves and before you know it, it gets physical… another child left behind.
Are you getting where I’m coming from now BM?
Re Charter Schools, I’m fiercely against unqualified adults teaching kids.
“Re Charter Schools, I’m fiercely against unqualified adults teaching kids.
I’m not per se. I am fiercely against charter schools though, because they take away the focus on delivering diversity and support for all students in state education, while funding private enterprise.
Children learn from a wide variety of sources, including adults that are not qualified teachers, or other ages.
I am also against a failure to recognise that a rich, learning environment exists with gifted facilitators and communicators. Current education policy requires delivery and assessments and that gets in the way.
Agree, with the perspective your example gives above. Our view of success should be much broader and diverse, and recognise the value of all students.
Some people never learn maths worth a damn, and some can’t learn to read beyond a basic understanding, because their brains don’t work that way. Should we just chuck them on the scrap heap? Or perhaps find something they are good at and emphasise their strengths?
Excellent piece, Ant. It’s not often are given the perspectives of intelligent, sensitive teachers struggling with the system as it is
Times infinity
Ant. That is a good summary.
If a 30+ size class is to run well it has to be mass organised. Most kids do the same size fits all. If you apply the same organisation to a class of 20 nothing much changes. Hence the claim that size doesn’t matter. Rubbish.
But in a class of 20 if the organisation is modified, then as you say, ” a whole new world of possibility opens up.” No wonder private schools can afford small classes. Individualised. Special needs catered for. Social tone lifts the behaviour or disruptive kids.
Exactly.
Private schools who cater to those with enough money to make choices are usually very proud of their small class sizes.
Point in case, Kings College, where I think Max Key attended..class size…18.
I don’t recall John Key ever bemoaning the fact that Kings (presumably) wastes money by having unnecessary small class sizes.
I recall a study of studies which concluded that class sizes of 14 were the maximum for individual attention – more than that means most kids get around 1 minute a day of individual attention.
Exemption applications for compulsory schooling have to meet “as well as and as regularly as ” state provided education.
Way back when my application was being made, the benchmark given by a study for individual attention for children in the classroom in NZ was five minutes a week. So I think your recall is accurate.
The classroom model with hour periods isn’t based on what we know about attention spans and similar learning constraints – that design is for institutional convenience, not for learning. There are ways of radically improving student outcomes – but charter school funding models don’t have much to do with them.
Fully agree – we need to invest in more teachers and their development, and work smarter.
well said ant.
worthy of a post on it’s own.
then the heartless comments from bm could be moderated and the compasionate adults with an inkling of concern for others can have an adult conversation.
i am not a teacher, but am involved with youth (scouting) and what you say resonates.
the confident excell. the ones that show up carrying baggage from home, school or perhaps not prepared to engage (hungry), resort to disruptive or sometimes violent behaviour to get the attention we all crave.
i am mindful of last election where mana pledged to put a teacher aid(e?) in every classroom. not a solution in itself but a step in the right direction.
the wages paid to two recently ‘retired’ national mps could have gotten 7 or 8 aides into schools.
I’m not so sure about that. They’ll probably all grow up to vote National because of all that false belief they have in themselves always being right.
Excessive positive feedback has it’s downsides.
True;
as I said where all are valued through attention and recognition of individuality the rowdy self-confident become integrated within a new dynamic of inclusiveness.
Hopefully you’re praising the quiet hesitant kids too Ant, not just the figjams.
Sure:
“Of course there are quiet learners who excel and attain….”
“Through regular feedback the less confident come to believe they COUNT….”
“the class dynamic becomes a team with all individuals valued for their particular roles…..”
Young workers on zero hour contracts in UK
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/young-workers-zero-hour-contracts-10738207?utm_source=IPPR+weekly+newsletter&utm_campaign=5a60819aaf-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_07_06&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0b30c067fe-5a60819aaf-277507253#ICID=nsm
[text excerpt below]
“A rise in the use of zero hours contracts could be contributing to poor mental health among younger people, a new study suggests.
Young adults who are employed on the controversial contracts, under which they do not know if they have work from one week to the next, are less likely to be in good health and are at higher risk of poor mental health than workers with stable jobs.
Researchers from the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at the UCL Institute of Education analysed data on more than 7,700 people living in England who were born in 1989-90.
A total of 5% had zero hours contracts.
Researchers found that those employed under zero hours contracts were 50% more likely to report poor mental health than those in more secure employment.
The unemployed and shift workers were also more likely to report mental ill health.
Meanwhile, compared to those who were not on such a contract, having a zero hours contract reduced the odds of reporting good health by 41%.
“More people than ever are working on zero hours contracts in the UK, and this new data shows this to be contributing to poorer mental health among younger workers,” said Craig Thorley, senior research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research.
“Efforts to improve the UK’s mental health must recognise the important relationship between health and work.
“Government and employers must work together to promote better quality jobs which enhance, rather than damage, mental health and wellbeing.
“Without this, we risk seeing increased demand for mental health services, reduced productivity, and more young people moving on to out-of-work sickness benefits.”
The lead author, Dr Morag Henderson, added: “Millennials have faced a number of challenges as they entered the world of work. They joined the labour market at the height of the most recent financial crisis and faced higher than ever university fees and student loan debt.”
An argument I repudiate is that kids need to ‘harden up’ in preparation for the manner in which the ‘real world’ operates. The early years (including teenager time) are highly formative, – a setting in which hardening up will occur naturally at different times for individuals provided the classroom climate is supportive rather than confrontational. No one is without talent, present, emerging or latent.
Finland, currently rated in the top three for education amongst nations, honours these things and many more. A visiting educator checking out the ‘system’ asked a local teacher “what programs do you have in place for your gifted children?” Surprised, the teacher replied “all our children are gifted.”
Heads up to BM et al. Finland is not longer teaching compulsory subjects at secondary level.
Unfortunately, our MoE is looking at this, but missing the point that the whole system is set up completely differently with different priorities, so our education at primary level would need to be completely changed before this was a move that NZ could make.
Thank you for another excellent comment Ant.
We all know that confidence does not equal competence but that there’s a quality in confidence that makes it appear that way; confidence is attractive, sexy even, and no wonder superbly confident people get an easier ride [no pun] in life.
Lack of confidence and self-belief or worse, a negative self-image, is fostered during the early formative years and further cemented (confirmed) on a daily basis throughout life. Quiet learners might excel (academically?) and attain (…) but this doesn’t mean they will get anywhere near their ‘true potential’. And, as is often the case, they will always have to compete with the confident or extravert ones.
You can see this quite well on the sports field where the confident often wins over the more timid one, not because they are technically better or have better team-play and skills, but almost purely because of confidence and self-belief and, dear I say it, the will to win.
The sad truth is that in this day and age of hyper-individuality our society and education system appear to nurture the individuality of only some, the ‘winners’, and to ignore or even suppress that of a large number of other people who are less prominent.
Nobody knows for sure what the jobs of the future will look like and what kind of education or training is required. However, it seems likely that there will be a (increased) demand for people with social and emotion skills, people skills (incl. leadership & management), with creativity, with collaborative skills and attitudes, and for people who are flexible and resilient and who are life-long learners who can adapt to the increasing complexities of life and our societies.
This is what we should be, and should have been, focussing on in education and we need to build a value system to nurture these people for the public good – we also need (different) role models.
‘For the many, not the few’ or ”a fresh approach’.
Which slogan gives a clearer message that the concerns of the working class will be addressed?
Which slogan gives a clearer message that neoliberalism will be torn down and austerity got rid of?
A fresh approach to what?
Screwing over the workers?
It’s not the slogan that is going to stop labour winning the elections (well labour / greens and whoever) – it’s their people and policies.
No James , it’s more the bloody media.
No garibaldi – Thats just an excuse – read the thread yesterday – even some lefties cannot bring themselves to vote for labour.
Its the media – geeeze you need a tin foil hat.
” even some lefties cannot bring themselves to vote for labour.”
It’s going to be fascinating to see how many “righties”, National voters, don’t vote National in Barclay Country this election. Invercargill “righties” will show an even stronger rejection of National, now that the debacle has spread to the city. Sarah Dowie will be anxious.
National deserve to lose votes down that way.
Lucky labour are losing votes elsewhere in larger numbers. 🙂
I really hope Dowie mounts a spirited nothing-to-see-here-just-move-on watchoolookinat defence of Wee Toddy. That’ll go down like a cup of cold sick. I’d love to know if there’s a Hishon Barclay family link too.
You’re misrepresenting James – the thread yesterday referred to campaigning for them.
The media are absolute shite – biased and frequently uninformed.
They still don’t pull Bill up on his ‘strong economy’ piffle.
Again with the ignorance james. It’s no longer FPP, and if you look outside – the sun is shining.
I know that its not FPP – but when labour are so low in the polls – the odds of them cobbling something together demolishes as their numbers go lower.
But I guess if you havnt learnt this in the last few elections – you wont learn after another loss this year.
Poor james ignorance on display again, like our other favorite troll puckish rouge this love and fetish for the polls proves one thing. You ant got anything else.
No. A slogan like “for the many, not the few” makes a massive difference, as it conveys a whole ideology in a short sentence. That has far greater cut-through than any range of policies.
Ultimately, the average voter responds to an idea, rather than people and policies.
Sure, have those to back up the idea. But the idea is key. It needs to be simple, easily repeated, easily understood – and believable.
That’s what works in elections. Not explaining. Not laying out detail. Labour have fallen into this trap many times. And National will try it on them again. “Labour have no detail”. “Explain exactly how this works”. “Show us where the money comes from”
And they will try and explain. And lose the voter in doing so.
They need to keep it simple. And believable. Let the voter make up their own mind about it, but if the message is clear enough, everything else flows through into that.
The left need to stop damn explaining everything. The right never do, and it works for them.
If the objective is to take the country in a completely different direction then you better provide some detail and get your salesperson hat on or otherwise you haven’t got a shit show of winning.
A cheesy slogan and some buzzwords really ain’t going to cut it.
You would think so, but they actually do.
Your mates in the Nats have done it for the last three elections.
And I don’t recall seeing a lot of actual details from them.
Exactly and when I saw labours slogan my first reaction was a WTF moment.
Zero passion, about as cutting as a spoon. More bs identity politics.
Its my fault for expecting more from beltway troughers, carrerists and national light pollys expecting a turn at the wheel for showing up
I know what you mean. Andrew Kirton talked it up on Twitter as something fantsatic about to be released, something inspiring.
Then he revealed and…..tumbleweeds.
A Fresh Approach? WTF
I am very worried about Kirton’s limitations asthe campaign manager.
I have a slogan for the Na(sty)tional Party-“For the few not the many”.
So why do the Tories run on slogans every election?
Think I answered that one for you Ed.
You did answer it very well.
The question though was posed to James, who is a Tory.
You can run a slogan – what I said that you need more than a slogan – like people and politics.
And people dont seem to want Little or labour / green policies.
reference poll results for the last 9 years.
Just checked out National’s policies:
https://www.national.org.nz/policies
It’s … a bit light … and I’m not just talking about the colour of the skin of every single person in the pictures.
Working for All New Zealanders. Yeah, right.
National never runs to detail. Probably has a strong parallel with that admission by John Banks (ex-National MP) that if he actually told people his policies he’d never get voted in.
If National told people what they really wanted to do then they’d never get voted in.
If people don’t seem to want Little or labour / green policie, jame, why do they vote nuttyanal? Do the mathSSSS jame.
Ive done the maths.
The left is going to lose.
Which makes comments like your even more funny.
Nuttyanal is about as left as Labour jame. Do the geography.
“People” lose elections for their parties?
Barclay
Collins
Bennett
Sabin
McCully
Brownlee
et al.
It’s allover, Blue Rover.
Not over till its over.
But looking at the poll results todate – trends, and even comments from a lot on here – I’d bet on National winning and not Labour.
So Id say all over for little and labour if anything.
Why do you vote National James?
because I believe they are the best for the country.
“You can run a slogan – what I said that you need more than a slogan – like people and politics.” (… policies?)
I’ll help you out, by telling you where I’m currently thinking of putting my vote.
I’ll most likely vote Mana because despite wanting a different government to the current, I also want to use my vote to indicate to all politicians of every party what my priorities are. They are not completely in line with my values, but are pretty close (but I don’t expect a political party to be, unless it is a party of one, run by me)
I also would prefer a coalition government rather than a single party dominated one.
What – apart from a slogan – makes you vote National, James?
Sure, but why do you believe that?
You expecting a reply?!!
Molly asked 4 hours ago and was ignored.
James only comes on the site for a certain purpose.
I normally come and go – Im not a tragic that needs to sit here all day.
Ive already answered the question – There is no requirement for me to go into it any more.
I gave my reason – if people dont like it – tough.
You mean “because they are best for the country.”
That means nothing. So general a comment , I guess intentionally, that it cannot be understood.
James is another troll who has woken up to pass on his anti-Labour vitriol.
Sorry Johan,
You have a pretty slim definition of vitriol. Just because you dont agree with it – dosnt make it wrong.
Sounds like Johan has defined you quite well.
‘In Internet slang, a troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,often for the troll’s amusement.’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
Own it, James. Accepting that you’re a troll won’t kill you and you might earn a point or two here for honesty. What people hate over lies is hypocrisy.
+100
Jesus you are boring.
I wasn’t looking for Jesus myself, but I’m glad for you that you found him.
Sorry that he instantly disappointed you.
Hosking again proves himself to be unfit to be employed by on our public broadcaster, TVNZ.
He is an outright sexist.
“When do we stop celebrating women’s achievements?”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/94356437/Hosking-When-do-we-stop-celebrating-womens-achievements
And remember this one?
“We don’t need a woman, this is man’s time. That’s what we said – man’s time! We’re going to talk about the league,”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/84193664/Newsreader-Bernadine-Oliver-Kerby-says-Mike-Hosking-mans-time-drama-hilarious
No its a sign tvnz needs a senior cleaning out of nact enablers and jobs for the boys.
Kendrick called netflix a passing fad the other day. Facepalm.
“Kendrick called netflix a passing fad the other day. Facepalm.”
Really ???????
He is an idiot.
Who is Kendrick?
CEO or something to TVNZ. Seems that he’s getting upset with the competition.
Not to mention stuck in the past.
If Fox ever opens a New Zealand channel, gods forbid, Hosking would be the first one signed up as a commentator, along with Leighton Smith,
Nothing will be done or changed until people switch off the channel when Hosking is on. Otherwise, its business as usual, bad news will always be listened to, scandals and outrageous behavior seem to be more interesting than any other topic. Proven concept, stupid people abound so a certain no fail and money spinner. In other words, the media outlet has its clown and milk it for all its got.
I think being on prime time means a certain percentage of the population watch automatically.
Only if they lost the TV control, I just switch channel.
Bill English.
Delivering for New Zealanders.
Not these New Zealanders…
‘Children suffer housing crisis fallout as rate of low-decile transience hits record
Transient children have hit record numbers in low-income schools as the housing crisis forces more renting families to move house repeatedly.
Numbers are still low, but the latest Ministry of Education data shows that 2.8 per cent of children in schools in the poorest tenth of areas moved at least twice last year – the highest low-income transience rate since records began in 2009.”The shortage of rental and social housing has meant that families are often having to move out of where they were,” she said.
“For example, if you are in social housing, you may find you have to shift out of the area where you were in one part of Auckland and now the housing is available in South Auckland.
“People at the higher end have more options available. They are usually going to shift within the same area. They have more control over their housing choices than poor people do.”
Although on average only 0.5 per cent of children moved at least twice in any one year, the data shows that 15 per cent of all children who started school aged 5 in 2011 moved schools at least twice before they left year 6 at the end of 2016.
And continued transience had a dramatic effect on whether students achieved the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11887420
Jesse Mulligan: Government delivering to ‘all NZers’? Yeah right
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/06/jesse-mulligan-government-delivering-to-all-nzers-yeah-right.html
Ed
Your line on Jess Mulligan at the bottom of your comment gives the wrong impression of him and what he said.
But don’t say this Government is delivering for all New Zealanders when what you mean is that it’s delivering for all New Zealanders except the poor, the homeless, the first-home buyers, New Zealanders suffering from depression and mental illness and the 100-plus young New Zealanders who take their own lives each year.
Of course, that slogan isn’t quite so catchy.
Jesse Mulligan is a host for Three’s The Project.
That’s the end para summarising Jesse’s piece in your link to him. So we can see that he is asking hard questions about government.
paul just spams though a deluded prism of his making , what do you expect, analysis or synthesis
Yes I knew that.
I meant that Mulligan’s line is one we could use regularly ourselves.
For aficionados of hilarious swivel-eyed loon rants, this one from Alex Jones is a real gem.
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/07/alex-jones-is-freaking-out-about-humanoids-who-are-80-percent-gorilla-80-percent-pig/
Alex Jones is a trained actor
You know that, right?
Noooo … are you telling me the patron saint of anti-vaxxers, 9/11 troofers, Deep State exposers, anti-GMO activists is an ACTOR? It’s all a FRAUD?
Did anybody else realise TNZ were backed by a foreign billionaire? I knew sponsors such as Emirates and the baby-killing and plastic proliferating Nespresso were involved but this guy seems to have kept a very low profile. From the Herald today.
“The French turned their backs on Team New Zealand hours after the dramatic capsize….. claims Team NZ’s billionaire backer. In an exclusive interview with the Weekend Herald this week, Emirates Team New Zealand principal, Matteo de Nora…….”
yes – hes been the team principle for ages. Listed on all the websites etc. hardly kept a secret.
Ozzie skipper too, makes you feel proud… just like Blake.
Yes, James, he has been the team principle for years (your spelling!) – a billionaire, overseas sponsorship and foreign capital, with bought-in talent, in a ‘sport’ where only the super rich can play, who make the rules and sucker politicians into their service- all in the name of (great) entertainment for the masses.
Bit like Roman chariot racing really.
Without the bread!
It is the masses who decide whether it is entertainment or not.
There aren’t many other events, (sporting, political, cultural or otherwise) that gets 80,000 ordinary kiwis out on the streets on a wet misberable winter’s day.
I am not sure what your problem with it is.
No problem, at all. I got up and watched some races, after all.
But, I also put it into a historical and social perspective.
That which drove bigger crowds into the arenas of Rome throughout the Empire was entertainment provided and vetted by the elite of the day- the billionaires, ruling oligarchy and later the monarchy as well, with religious and social approval.
The masses attended, and the brutality of Roman civilisation was further inculcated with a diet of executions, public dismemberment and the sport of chariot racing which was also brutal and violent.
The masses were given their heroes to emulate, the bookies and their owners had the gambling scene sewn up.
Politicians used such entertainment to make themselves popular with the masses.
Charioteers, trainers, horses, chariot builders, the whole panoply of Roman technology and organisation, with talent from foreign countries to provide the muscle for the entertainment, willingly or otherwise…….
Bread and circuses, Enough is Enough, panis et circenses. Tho oldest populist trick in the political book.
The problem is the parallel between what is actually being served to us in the guise of entertainment, be it Roman games and circuses or The Americas Cup. Not so much the what, but rather the why.
When will we say “Satis est satis?” indeed.
Relax and enjoy the sight of foiling sail boats.
Oh I did! And enjoyed the sight of nemesis meeting hubris.
But, after the race is over, and the Cup is put on the shelf? Enjoy some reading of history!
And for further motivation into something more beneficial to the human masses, there’s a wee matter of politics, where the question of bread for the masses, and housing, and health, and water can be addressed, in the interim, between Cups.
Good to hear Mac
i enjoyed and was educated by that mac1.
i was mesmorised by the sight of those boats, the beautiful backdrop and the stunning quality of the camera work.
slightly bewildered by the drone camera technology too.
but back to the bigger picture: commonalities of empires in decline- bread and circuses,
large and growing inequality,
war,
the elevation of cooks to celebrity status.
even as a chef i am puzzled by the allure of the last one.
Better a foreign billionaire than the taxpayer.
Bearded Git
You should have checked this out with James to get all relevant info and be uptodate.!@
I think I came up with a good idea. James seems very concerned to get us on the right road in all matters. Perhaps we should use this great resource.
Can you tell us James if there is a way of cutting off salary for politicians that are under investigation and not carrying out their duties?
excellent greywarshark.
another one: should the consequences, for an individual who attempts to intimidate a witness in a police investigation, be harsher if they are high up in the hierarchy of a party that has ‘tough on crime’ as part of it’s dna?
Or just read and get informed
Paraphrasing John Pilger, James? (@7:12)
That was unexpected.
Arrogant Kim Hill, unprepared is an understatement. To interview one of the best living journalists and display such ignorance did NZ no favors.
The bloody nerve of the woman, not seeing things his way and honouring his preeminence.
I think your ignorance is breath taking. Really. NZ is far away from everything and it shows.
You should watch the interview Gabby. I did at the time, and was dismayed at the level of arrogance shown by Kim Hill.
At a time when all media was in support of the invasion of Iraq, it was refreshing to have someone interviewed that disagreed. His response to her preparation (or lack of) was measured until it became apparent that she was just going to continue sneering at his answers.
Completely put me off watching Kim Hill at the time.
I had a look at that link for Kim Hill going back to 2003. It shows John Pilger in lordly rant talking down to Kim because she wants to ask some questions which is what interviewers do. He wants to dominate the time making a statement. I note that he is Australian – famous for being right about everything, and a male which would double the certainty when talking to a female.
Pilger has done much through his investigative reporting. But he can’t be right all the time. If he wants to get his message over on television and promote his book, he should try to earn his time by responding to questions, put on behalf of viewers wanting to be informed. To say that Kim hasn’t read the book, is ignorant! She is well known for being informed, all others in the world except Pilger think that, but he would be right. If she did not know something, perhaps she didn’t get the book in time to really study it.
And we have ideas about foreigners too waka, and sometimes reserve our opinion if the individuals are not worth even a passing judgment.
hey bm and james, there is a post up about tories in southland that needs your help.
maybe pop over there and give us your opinions rather than soiling open mike.
I commented about it before the post went up:
“Glenda Hughes to be investigated by police.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/07/police-to-investigate-board-member-over-todd-barclay-saga.html
the gift that keeps on giving for the left.”
They are morons down there.
big ups to the greens then for their oia request then, eh james?
so what should national do about this?
something honourable and principled, or wait and see what the polling reveals and decide then?
Isn’t Glenda Hughes from up there?
She’s no Southlander. Bill English is though.
Is he a “moron” as well, James?
Its been handled very poorly – everyone involved as acted like a moron in this circumstance.
You arnt going to find me sticking up for them.
Its with the police now – as it should be,
So I guess we have to wait for facts to come out from the investigation.
“Its with the police now – as it should be”
It was with the police from the start, James yet you’re still happy to “wait for the facts to come out”?
James; why do you think the police dropped the case? Why did they accept Barclay’s refusal to speak with them as a reason to stop investigating? Does that sound a little odd to you; dropping an investigation just because the accused won’t come in for a chat?
James?
I havnt been watching this closely – You may have noticed that my post over the last few weeks have been less – I have been out of the country for a bit of a winter break.
So just havnt been watching things at home that closely.
I just know that the entire thing has been a pile of ***** the entire way thru.
Simple as that really.
“Or just read and get informed”
Good advice, innit!
c’mon james, what do you think of the claim of mr joyce that the tape was heard in a non-ministerial capacity?
there is no shame in acknowledging the prime minister has obfuscated, mislead, diminished his role and potentially outright lied during this debarclay.
Knowing some of the facts, I’m very interested in the outcome of the investigation. JS
Kiwi soldiers spreading across the globe
Some of those deployments I’m in full support of. But many we shouldn’t be going anywhere near.
Which one don’t you support?
For starters as those are mostly based upon the US’s agenda to grab the ME oil for themselves.
What are the other three doing?
It’s a crazy thing if we are paying for ourselves to take part in overseas fights that are to advance some other country’s objectives. We should mind our own business which is needing some close scrutiny to see its state of health. Is that a strong pulse or a dying spasm I feel?
I have been reading about 12th century times in Britain. A lot of the fighting there was with mercenaries, it was a way of making a living for many. The English contender to the throne, Maud, apparently had Flemish forces, the Danes had ships that could be hired etc.
If we are using our Defence Forces in other theatres of activity I hope we are getting paid! We can’t afford to be somebody’s lapdog and not get nice regular payments and travel expenses!
What exactly do we think we are in New Zealand? We are just a little country with its main earner being dairy cows, borrowing huge amounts to boost the standard of living for some while others are in poverty. Almost a mirror image of 19th century NZ! We should be uniting with the Falklands, with a regular interchange of people from our fellow islanders down at the bottom of the world.
Multiple likes for this piece of hate posted in comments over on the sewer.
(if you have the stomach you’ll need to wash after reading)
http://archive.li/Ef5XV
Thanks joe90 for exposing yourself to that germ-ridden place, you’re a stalwart.
I will follow my usual practice and not go there, I have enough problem coping with the trolls here like blowflies striking vulnerable targets.
Probably someone has already put this up. But a little ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.
Today at the UN Headquarters in New York, a global treaty banning nuclear weapons has been adopted.
This is an historic moment: according to the treaty, to possess and develop nuclear weapons is now illegal under international law.
The treaty will be open for signature by states on September 20th.
(Activists release peace doves during the Hiroshima atomic bombing 60th anniversary in Japan, 2005. © Greenpeace / Jeremy Sutton-HibbertActivists release peace doves during the Hiroshima atomic bombing 60th anniversary. (2005))
Over the last three weeks, 140 countries have engaged in final negotiations of the new treaty. The nine states with nuclear weapons (US, Russia, China, France, UK, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea) have been boycotting the meeting in an attempt to rob the process of its legitimacy. NATO members have also stayed outside of the negotiations, and on the wrong side of history. Their absence is sadly significant; unless a country ratifies the treaty, it is not bound by it.
http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/blog/historic-day-at-the-un-nuclear-weapons-are-no/blog/59812/
Unfortunately I think we can be pretty much assured that none of the present nuclear weapon holding countries will get rid of them. They’ll simply not sign on the dotted line ensuring that this law doesn’t apply to them.
This will mean that other countries, even if they sign, will be forced over time to develop their own nuclear weapons capabilities.
is it a coincidence that the school holidays are here (no sat morn sport) and open mike is fizzing or some other reason?
The stranglehold on Gaza is still relentless.
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2017/07/07/dear-lord-please-have-mercy-on-gaza/
An economy like this pisses off the business people because it lowers their profits.
Great quote.
Do you access to the whole speech?
Warren Mosler’s talk in Chianciano, Italy, January 11, 2014
Thank you
Yup, she went there.
National doing the dirty again:
Working to protect business against the wishes of the people.
So make the protest/appeal process very expensive.
Then starve access to funds.
Protest/appeal dies.
See we the Government know that all the people must have wanted this project or else they would have objected. And they didn’t.
We are a very clever Government. (Does our Government get these ideas from Fiji?)
12-year-old inventor’s DIY phone hack packs a political punch
That is awesome, switched on young man he is, love his outlook…
“His mantra: Want it? Make it! “
A wee something to look forward to.
/
http://fe2017.com/
Apparently on the second day they have a rumble with the hollow earthers…
and the winner gets to take on the ice wallers…
https://wiki.tfes.org/The_Ice_Wall
Is that real? Because if it is, it’s pretty mind blowing.
Oh, they’re real, double dog batshit insane, but they’re real alright.
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/07/colorado-earth-flat-gravity-hoax/
hardhitting – needs to be known – aussies and aussie lovers need to own up to the truth
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-truth-behind-aboriginal-massacres-and-the-laidback-aussie-image-20170706-gx5si4.html
Terra nullius, huh.
http://ontheworldmap.com/australia/aboriginal-tribes-map-of-australia.jpg
amazing map – so much gone and lost – we could use that knowledge now
Hoh! halftime ABs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfqZtQOvKlM
Just picked up my partner from watching the game at Eden Park.
I suggested before he left that he should lead a chant of “O, Jeremy Corbyn” and we had a laugh at how that would be taken by his workmates.
He’s sure that he heard several times during the game a chant very similar to “O, Jeremy Corbyn” coming from the Lions supporters. Could be mistaken, he – like me is getting older, and hard of hearing – but heartening to think the chant is becoming a way of calling out your Britishness to the world.