New Zealand beats England by eight wickets in the first ODI with over three overs to spare. Set a big total they stayed calm. The opposition's loose bowling got hammered and the batsmen showed focus and great shots to both sides of the wicket; especially remarkable was an ability to straight hit slow bowlers for six off the back foot.
An aging team with a too much say, an incompetent board that can't be held to account and who appointed a medicority as coach in a triumph for the chummocracy, and all with so much denial you'd think they were on a felucca in Egypt.
Actually, the lack of accountability or consequences for disasterous decisions made at board level that have led to the decline of the All Blacks brand is an almost perfect metaphor for the rotten state of much of the governance of NZ's endless parade of monopolies.
I'll get your assistance with fixing the first problem you identify – an 'ageing' team. In the squad of 33 there seem to be nine who've gone past 30 years.
I'm going to cut them, too old, so who takes their places? A Smith, B Barrett, B Retallick, C Taylor, S Whitelock, D Coles, S Cane, O Tu'ungafasi, N Laulala.
If New Zealand get knocked out of the cup in the early knockout stages that will favour National as a lot of angry rugby followers will be spoiling to take out their frustration on someone – heads must roll! – and what better heads to roll than these wimpy Labour Greenies?
I am being serious.
Winning a major world competition is often a vote winner for the incumbent government anywhere in the world because happy people who don't particularly care about politics tend to stick to the status quo – vote for the government, whilst unhappy people vote for the opposition. The All Blacks getting knocked out just before voting day would not be good for Labour.
Labour will be praying that the All Blacks are still in it come election day whilst the political right will be quietly hoping they won't. Of course that won't stop the NACTs taking credit if the ABs actually win the cup and the NACTS win the election, Luxon and Seymour will be offering up parades through Central Auckland – although that doesn't look so likely based on this morning's effort.
As above. There would seem to be nine players past 30 years old. If that's too many (out of 33), which from that list would you cull and who would you replace them with?
Cull B.Barrett,A.Smith,S.Whitelock,S.Cane,B.Retallick,-put Jordan back to FB,R.Ione to wing,Roigard to HB,Savea at 7,Samisoni hooker,Williams.Lomax,LF-Jacobsen,Savea,centres J.Barret,Havili,wings Telea,Reiko…still working on…the rest.
To continue the political analogies, the All Blacks incurred too many penalties, dropped the ball and kicked aimlessly at times. Too little time spent in the opposition's half.
Some good play, though.
The opposition however proved they were not as fit, were time-wasters and used cheating tactics to try to persuade the ref of foul play.
Let's hope that we play better, that we get good coverage, that our commentators are unbiased and that we realise what is really important.
Which is not rugby. It's our nation's life that is important. We should reject an opposition's desire to "take our country back" to old and useless attitudes and rules, promoting racism, elitism and all other forms of bigotry.
We want in our country what we want from sport; fair play for all, level playing fields, access to good coaching, support for the injured, the right to play wherever, and the civil notion that we are all in a team, together.
Justice for all. Equal opportunity for all. Education for all. Access to health care for all. Freedom from bigotry and hatred. Social cohesion.
"In it for you" also means "In it for us" because to live in a society which practises these values benefits us all.
It would appear that their 4th ranking might well be accurate. If so, their first loss in a group stage might well be followed by a first win for Ireland in a quarter-final (and our second loss in one) should they finish second to South Africa in their group.
In another tournament they would be a semi-final side. In this, if they win the quarter-final they look like losing in the final.
They will have to re-think their kick in the air and chase game – because Jordan will be in the referee sights from now on (continuing with it after Jordan took out their full-back early was high risk and then after Jordan was carded and back on the field was madness). But the most notable thing about the game was that in the end the AB's gave up because whenever they attacked they lost the ball at the breakdown (were turned over and or penalised).
So they have to work on their ball retention when they attack through the hand, play as a pack closer in more and kick in behind (on the ground and or not so high in the air – Carter style) for variation.
It would be Stevenson for Narawa, but we might have a loose forward injury problem.
On the Left-Right economic axis, ACT is as far Right as a party can be, i.e., “ultra-neoliberal”. On the Libertarian-Authoritarian social axis, ACT showed a dramatic shift southwards in 2020 (cf. 2017) and is now positioned almost as Libertarian as the Greens.
The other big mover is NZ First, which not only jumped a fair bit to the Right in 2020 (cf. 2017) but also more towards the Authoritarian end of the social spectrum. It is now the most Authoritarian party in NZ on the Compass.
It is also interesting to note that Labour has been gradually drifting rightward and towards Authoritarian, and is not and has not been a centre-Left party for quite some time (some might consider the inflection point as 1984).
The commentary/analysis in the link is worth a read.
Stick to your approved username. You’re one step away of receiving a ban. Read the Mod notes and replies to your comments before you continue commenting here!
Interesting, thanks – compared to 2020, Labour has shifted slightly further right-of-centre, with Te Pāti Māori and then the Green Party still closest to and left of centre.
Will our next govt foster the societal resilience (less inequality) needed to weather future economic/environmental shocks, or will our next govt sell public assets, cut taxes/welfare/services, and weaken worker rights?
A shift to the right [8 September 2023]
Despite their relatively good result, the SDP came third in the April election and ended up in the opposition. Only one percentage point more would have probably won the party the post of prime minister in the Finnish system. Now, however, an extreme right-wing government by Finnish standards was formed, in which the traditionally right-wing National Coalition Party (NCP) was joined by the populist Finns Party, known for their anti-foreigner and anti-EU stance. Despite the other two, smaller supporting parties, the government's majority in the parliament is slim. Nevertheless, it seems to be aiming for a systemic change with its program.
Before the elections, the NCP and the Finns Party distinguished themselves from the left by advocating a significant reduction in the budget deficit, i.e. austerity measures. However, their government program seems to focus on weakening the negotiating position of employees and trade unions in various ways, as well as shrinking the welfare state. Compared to the pre-election promises, the government's fiscal consolidation seems to remain moderate, but it consists almost exclusively of cuts to social security benefits and public services. At the same time, the government intends to allocate significant tax reductions to the highest earners.
Perhaps even very good extant education systems can at best delay regressive changes in these interesting times. We don't know how lucky we are, and were.
I see what you mean about ACT between 2017 and 2020 – it looks like they took TOP's position for their own rather than keeping on as National's sock puppet. I am slightly curious about the methodology of how the charts were created, but not enough to dive into a Heritage Foundation website.
That's our team up against a far larger country, using a poorly tested disputes mechanism, and going a long way to getting reasonable dairy market access into the nortoriously protective Canadian market.
A handsome end-of-term win for a quiet but very effective Trade minister.
University of Otago law professor Andrew Geddis said he suspected ACT's gambit was "more of a negotiating ploy" than a solid position, but "if it's been mooted, and it's been said by one of the parties that this is something they're prepared to do, then I guess we have to take that seriously".
However, it would make the next Budget in mid-2024 something of a crunch point – and indeed, every annual budget for the three-year term – and Prof Geddis believed the remaining disagreements over spending would need to be sorted out well before then.
"If they can't get to an arrangement of what that looks like and they can't get a majority to vote for a Budget, at that point the government would fall apart," he said.
"I'd imagine in practice, the parties would come to an arrangement as to what their term's going to look like over the three years very quickly – they'd have to. If they tried to do it year on year, just sort of limping along, they wouldn't be able to make any long-term plans, they wouldn't be able to do any big picture developments."
More likely that National would turn to Labour to form a budget if ACT went there.
Since it would be negotiated, such a budget would look remarkably similar to the Labour one of 2023.
ACT don't have a strong view of what the state is for, other than that it should protect life, liberty and property. They are proper Bentham Utilitarians. So if the state shrank as a result of sustained Parliamentary weakness apropos 1987-1996 then ACT have achieved their policy direction.
Would be interesting to see a post / discussion on the effects on our democracy of a "Grand Coalition" of Labour and National, both over the initial term and the ongoing future of the two parties.
It would hold the Blairites and the blue greens, and those operating around management of the status quo.
Social liberals and conservatives would have issues, as would social democrats and libertarians of small government.
Social liberals and social democrats would go to the Greens who would flourish.
The right would have the more of a problem, libertarians and social conservatives? Social conservatives do not necessarily support small government.
NZF would receive those social conservative and in favour of a nationalist economy and government capability. And also those in favour of majoritarian assimilation, less immigration. So it would survive sans Peters – and end up beyond the house Maori orbit.
ACT would remain as they are. Apologising for the American regime – lifestyle for the gated community haves and a regime over the rest. They are only the future where government fails and we no longer have a modern nation state, just jurisdictions of the global market of for and by the elite.
The problem for such a L/N N/L coalition would be how it balanced migration with the status of an indigenous people. Tiriti and UNDRIP as to management of public state domain. Greens and NZF would cater to those disappointed here.
The wild card is the impact of loss of confidence in government – lack of infrastructure and or growing debt. And how we managed the change from a generation that expected to own property (boomers) to one that did not.
"There might be other reasons why Islamic countries might not openly criticise China, which is notoriously touchy & grumpy about any form of criticism and which responds with idiosyncratic ‘diplomatic’ responses."
There might be (althought doubtful), at the governmental level (in any case not as touchy and grumpy of criticism or being outside the fold as the US —the US bombs countries they don't like on false pretexts).
Yet even on the streets the average Muslim is pretty much OK with China. Yet talk to him about Israel and many will blow a fuse.
"Your flawed logic is to assume that absence of evidence is evidence of absence."
It's an assumption that is actually quite reasonable. In the absence of evidence that my neighbour is a serial killer, it is reasonable to assume he is not, although not proof obviously.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I see, you talk to ‘the average Muslim’ in the street in Islamic countries or you making up more shit.
You dismiss any other reasons as ‘doubtful’ without knowing, enquiring, or considering them, which again contradicts that you’re about facts & truth.
The public silence of other Islamic countries proves nothing and doesn’t contradict the reports of human rights breaches.
You are grasping at straws and I’m still waiting for support of your false accusation of me. If you continue wasting my time with this, you go straight from Pre-Mod into the Black List until after the General Election.
Lastly, use the Reply button when replying/responding to comments.
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The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
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. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
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. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Treby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University P.j.Hickox, Shutterstock Peatlands store more carbon per square metre than any other ecosystem on Earth. These waterlogged, mossy bogs beat even dense rainforests for their ability to act as carbon reservoirs. Under the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Goss, Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra Government spending on health has been growing so rapidly that a decade ago the then health minister Peter Dutton called it “unmanageable” and “unsustainable”. Health spending grew in real terms by ...
New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions. ...
New Zealanders have been asked to conserve energy this morning to combat a possible electricity shortfall, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A call to conserve power New Zealand is facing a possible electricity shortfall, with people up ...
Writer Rebecca K Reilly breaks down the national book awards. What are the Ockhams?The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are our annual national awards for books published for adults, and have existed in this form since 2016. There are four categories: Fiction, Poetry, General Non-fiction and Illustrated Non-fiction. There ...
Wellington City Council should keep its 34% ownership share in Wellington International Airport, argue Unions Wellington spokespeople Finn Cordwell and Ashok Jacob. Insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Wellington City Council (WCC) is yet again proposing to dispose ...
New Zealand’s largest book publisher has undergone drastic changes this week, leaving its future role in local publishing uncertain. Two of the most recognisable local publishers in New Zealand are among those restructured out of Penguin Random House, it was announced this week. Head of publishing Claire Murdoch will leave ...
Experts in financing social investment initiatives say New Zealand is in a prime position to tackle social issues via a social investment approach The post What will Willis’ social investment fund look like? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
In 2021 the Public Interest Journalism Fund launched the Te Rito Journalism project, a $2.4 million initiative to boost diversity in New Zealand’s newsrooms. The initiative was in response to the decades-long shortage of Māori and Pacific journalists in the media industry. It was billed as New Zealand’s ...
The Black Ferns Sevens appeared to be a mile behind Australia at the halfway point of the 2023-24 SVNS international circuit. Winless in three tournaments, a cup quarter-final exit in Perth was one of their worst results. To add insult to injury, talismanic skipper Sarah Hirini had been ruled out ...
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Successive governments have tried, and failed, to count Māori. But with the return of social investment, it’s more important than ever to get good data. The post Government looks for a better way to count Māori appeared first on Newsroom. ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A former Tuvalu prime minister says while the New Zealand government’s oil and gas plans show it is concerned about its economy, he is more concerned about the livelihoods and survival of the Tuvalu people. Enele Sopoaga — who still serves as an MP ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Many people who follow federal budgets know about the magnificent “budget tree” in a parliamentary courtyard, which turns a glorious red in time for the May event. This week Treasurer Jim Chalmers posed by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Bennett, Professor of Music, Australian National University Richard P J Lambert/flickr, CC BY The future belongs to the analogue loyalists. Fuck digital. As a tsunami of CDs, DAT tapes and samplers swept the recording industry in the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate professor, Music Industry, RMIT University This week American rapper Macklemore released a new track, Hind’s Hall, which has gained a lot of attention because of its explicitly political nature. The track is unapologetically pro-Palestine. It declares the artist’s ...
Explainer - The government from 2025 is mandating how state schools teach children to read. But what is structured literacy and how does it compare to other teaching methods? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danica Jenkins, Lecturer in European Studies, University of Sydney On a freezing spring night in March, Georgia’s national soccer team beat Greece in a nail-biter penalty shootout to qualify for the Euro 2024 championships. The atmosphere on the streets of the capital ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Somwrita Sarkar, Senior Lecturer in Design and Computation, University of Sydney The “latte line” is the infamous, invisible boundary that divides Sydney between the more affluent north-east and the south-west. Historically, people north of the line enjoy better access to jobs and ...
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RNZ Pacific Former Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been sentenced to one year in prison, Fiji media are reporting. Bainimarama, alongside suspended Fiji Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho appeared in the High Court in Suva today for their sentencing hearing for a case involving their roles in blocking a police ...
Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo says, “Addressing violence and abuse remains New Zealand’s most significant human rights issue affecting women. ...
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The PSA is alarmed that ACC is proposing to shed 309 jobs including 29 dedicated injury prevention jobs at a time when the number and cost of injuries is rising. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Baker, Associate Professor in Human Geography, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images As local and regional councils struggle with inadequate infrastructure and unsustainable costs, New Zealand will be hearing a lot more about the potential solution offered by ...
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Fears that New Zealand is relying too heavily on low-cost forests to absorb its carbon dioxide emissions have been reignited by a report from the OECD. ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed the total dollar savings target from public sector cuts has been met, but the reductions have not been felt evenly across public agencies. Government departments were told to make savings set at 6.5 percent or 7.5 percent where headcount had grown by more than ...
She doesn’t have a single kind word for me and it’s getting under my skin.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,I have two amazing friends that I absolutely adore. Grace (all names have been changed) and I lived together across 2023 and Olivia moved in with us this ...
Can Western science and Māori science work together to support our well-being? The Te Ohu Mō Papatūānuku (TOMP) Trials Project was a landmark case for healing the land and people with the guidance of Māori science and leadership. This is what happened when Papatūānuku (Earth) was contaminated by toxic discharge, ...
The District Plan is a blueprint for a bigger, better Wellington, through tens of thousands of new apartments and townhouses and a new approach to urban growth. Joel MacManus lays out the vision. The process of putting together Wellington’s new District Plan has been long and excruciating. As a city, ...
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Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman says, "The Fast-Track Bill is the most damaging piece of environmental legislation any Government has introduced in living memory. People are angry, and it’s time to march." ...
The school lunches programme has been retained – and will be extended to some preschoolers. So how is it going to cost $107 million less? To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. The minister with many hats David Seymour wears a number of hats, but this week ...
“Show us the bird,” I found myself muttering at times while reading Hard by the Cloud House by Peter Walker, a deeply thoughtful, often hilarious, at times rambling – but somehow delightfully so – search for the story of a big bird. But not just any bird: the bird. This ...
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A senior lawyer has filed a complaint about tikanga becoming a required law school module. Law lecturer Carwyn Jones explains what he’s getting wrong. “…the first law of Aotearoa, a law that served the needs of tangata whenua for a thousand years before the arrival of tauiwi.”– Ani Mikaere ...
In 2019, an Auckland woman woke up from surgery to find that she had undergone a treatment she didn’t consent to. She tells Alex Casey about her experience. From her very first period at the age of 14, Laura experienced “debilitating” levels of pain that forced her to withdraw from ...
An example for Labour in the election, really!
New Zealand beats England by eight wickets in the first ODI with over three overs to spare. Set a big total they stayed calm. The opposition's loose bowling got hammered and the batsmen showed focus and great shots to both sides of the wicket; especially remarkable was an ability to straight hit slow bowlers for six off the back foot.
Brilliant match report Mac, writing as it should be, its not too late for a career change.
Enjoyed every moment Mac1. Great game.
I see the All Blacks have broken another record first ever defeat in pool stages at the world. I think that's a lot of grumpy New Zealanders
Its probably the kick in the arse they need. The final may well be a rerun.
Nah sadly we just dont have the personal to win this one. Were at an ebb in the teams cylcle with our great players at the end of their careers.
Pretty much.
An aging team with a too much say, an incompetent board that can't be held to account and who appointed a medicority as coach in a triumph for the chummocracy, and all with so much denial you'd think they were on a felucca in Egypt.
Actually, the lack of accountability or consequences for disasterous decisions made at board level that have led to the decline of the All Blacks brand is an almost perfect metaphor for the rotten state of much of the governance of NZ's endless parade of monopolies.
I'll get your assistance with fixing the first problem you identify – an 'ageing' team. In the squad of 33 there seem to be nine who've gone past 30 years.
I'm going to cut them, too old, so who takes their places? A Smith, B Barrett, B Retallick, C Taylor, S Whitelock, D Coles, S Cane, O Tu'ungafasi, N Laulala.
(11 are 25 or under.)
If New Zealand get knocked out of the cup in the early knockout stages that will favour National as a lot of angry rugby followers will be spoiling to take out their frustration on someone – heads must roll! – and what better heads to roll than these wimpy Labour Greenies?
I am being serious.
Winning a major world competition is often a vote winner for the incumbent government anywhere in the world because happy people who don't particularly care about politics tend to stick to the status quo – vote for the government, whilst unhappy people vote for the opposition. The All Blacks getting knocked out just before voting day would not be good for Labour.
Labour will be praying that the All Blacks are still in it come election day whilst the political right will be quietly hoping they won't. Of course that won't stop the NACTs taking credit if the ABs actually win the cup and the NACTS win the election, Luxon and Seymour will be offering up parades through Central Auckland – although that doesn't look so likely based on this morning's effort.
The quarter finals begin on Oct 15th .The AB's will be there for sure.
So if Natz win the election and the AB's are knocked out…the blame can be laid on !
I can't see them winning.Too many older players,players playing out of position and a coach who couldn't coach a duck to…swim.
As above. There would seem to be nine players past 30 years old. If that's too many (out of 33), which from that list would you cull and who would you replace them with?
Cull B.Barrett,A.Smith,S.Whitelock,S.Cane,B.Retallick,-put Jordan back to FB,R.Ione to wing,Roigard to HB,Savea at 7,Samisoni hooker,Williams.Lomax,LF-Jacobsen,Savea,centres J.Barret,Havili,wings Telea,Reiko…still working on…the rest.
To continue the political analogies, the All Blacks incurred too many penalties, dropped the ball and kicked aimlessly at times. Too little time spent in the opposition's half.
Some good play, though.
The opposition however proved they were not as fit, were time-wasters and used cheating tactics to try to persuade the ref of foul play.
Let's hope that we play better, that we get good coverage, that our commentators are unbiased and that we realise what is really important.
Which is not rugby. It's our nation's life that is important. We should reject an opposition's desire to "take our country back" to old and useless attitudes and rules, promoting racism, elitism and all other forms of bigotry.
We want in our country what we want from sport; fair play for all, level playing fields, access to good coaching, support for the injured, the right to play wherever, and the civil notion that we are all in a team, together.
Justice for all. Equal opportunity for all. Education for all. Access to health care for all. Freedom from bigotry and hatred. Social cohesion.
"In it for you" also means "In it for us" because to live in a society which practises these values benefits us all.
It would appear that their 4th ranking might well be accurate. If so, their first loss in a group stage might well be followed by a first win for Ireland in a quarter-final (and our second loss in one) should they finish second to South Africa in their group.
In another tournament they would be a semi-final side. In this, if they win the quarter-final they look like losing in the final.
They will have to re-think their kick in the air and chase game – because Jordan will be in the referee sights from now on (continuing with it after Jordan took out their full-back early was high risk and then after Jordan was carded and back on the field was madness). But the most notable thing about the game was that in the end the AB's gave up because whenever they attacked they lost the ball at the breakdown (were turned over and or penalised).
So they have to work on their ball retention when they attack through the hand, play as a pack closer in more and kick in behind (on the ground and or not so high in the air – Carter style) for variation.
It would be Stevenson for Narawa, but we might have a loose forward injury problem.
Cozen's brother dishes the dirt.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/i-would-never-forgive-him-says-act-candidates-client
FWIW, the two parties that have moved the most on the Political Compass since the General Election in 2008 are ACT and NZ First.
https://www.politicalcompass.org/nz2023
On the Left-Right economic axis, ACT is as far Right as a party can be, i.e., “ultra-neoliberal”. On the Libertarian-Authoritarian social axis, ACT showed a dramatic shift southwards in 2020 (cf. 2017) and is now positioned almost as Libertarian as the Greens.
The other big mover is NZ First, which not only jumped a fair bit to the Right in 2020 (cf. 2017) but also more towards the Authoritarian end of the social spectrum. It is now the most Authoritarian party in NZ on the Compass.
It is also interesting to note that Labour has been gradually drifting rightward and towards Authoritarian, and is not and has not been a centre-Left party for quite some time (some might consider the inflection point as 1984).
The commentary/analysis in the link is worth a read.
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Interesting, thanks – compared to 2020, Labour has shifted slightly further right-of-centre, with Te Pāti Māori and then the Green Party still closest to and left of centre.
Will our next govt foster the societal resilience (less inequality) needed to weather future economic/environmental shocks, or will our next govt sell public assets, cut taxes/welfare/services, and weaken worker rights?
Party Vote GREEN – https://www.greens.org.nz/ending_poverty_together
The political situation in Finland is despite the best education system in the world, apparently.
Perhaps even very good extant education systems can at best delay regressive changes in these interesting times. We don't know how lucky we are, and were.
I see what you mean about ACT between 2017 and 2020 – it looks like they took TOP's position for their own rather than keeping on as National's sock puppet. I am slightly curious about the methodology of how the charts were created, but not enough to dive into a Heritage Foundation website.
A big shoutout to Minister O'Connor and the MFAT, MPI and Crown Law team who took on the Canadians at the disputes panel of the CPTPP and won.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/business/nz-victory-over-canada-in-dairy-trade-dispute
That's our team up against a far larger country, using a poorly tested disputes mechanism, and going a long way to getting reasonable dairy market access into the nortoriously protective Canadian market.
A handsome end-of-term win for a quiet but very effective Trade minister.
100% endorse that. Our Trade Minister has done us proud.
Talk about a "Coalition of Chaos"
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/election-2023/497636/act-s-david-seymour-floats-confidence-only-partnership-no-supply
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300967527/act-party-loses-another-candidate-weeks-out-from-election
Will they have any candidates left by election day?
Hope not…ooops who said that!
ACT working for the left, /darklol.
More likely that National would turn to Labour to form a budget if ACT went there.
Since it would be negotiated, such a budget would look remarkably similar to the Labour one of 2023.
ACT don't have a strong view of what the state is for, other than that it should protect life, liberty and property. They are proper Bentham Utilitarians. So if the state shrank as a result of sustained Parliamentary weakness apropos 1987-1996 then ACT have achieved their policy direction.
Would be interesting to see a post / discussion on the effects on our democracy of a "Grand Coalition" of Labour and National, both over the initial term and the ongoing future of the two parties.
It would hold the Blairites and the blue greens, and those operating around management of the status quo.
Social liberals and conservatives would have issues, as would social democrats and libertarians of small government.
Social liberals and social democrats would go to the Greens who would flourish.
The right would have the more of a problem, libertarians and social conservatives? Social conservatives do not necessarily support small government.
NZF would receive those social conservative and in favour of a nationalist economy and government capability. And also those in favour of majoritarian assimilation, less immigration. So it would survive sans Peters – and end up beyond the house Maori orbit.
ACT would remain as they are. Apologising for the American regime – lifestyle for the gated community haves and a regime over the rest. They are only the future where government fails and we no longer have a modern nation state, just jurisdictions of the global market of for and by the elite.
The problem for such a L/N N/L coalition would be how it balanced migration with the status of an indigenous people. Tiriti and UNDRIP as to management of public state domain. Greens and NZF would cater to those disappointed here.
The wild card is the impact of loss of confidence in government – lack of infrastructure and or growing debt. And how we managed the change from a generation that expected to own property (boomers) to one that did not.
Might give it a go over the weekend. Something like the Danish and German setups.
"There might be other reasons why Islamic countries might not openly criticise China, which is notoriously touchy & grumpy about any form of criticism and which responds with idiosyncratic ‘diplomatic’ responses."
There might be (althought doubtful), at the governmental level (in any case not as touchy and grumpy of criticism or being outside the fold as the US —the US bombs countries they don't like on false pretexts).
Yet even on the streets the average Muslim is pretty much OK with China. Yet talk to him about Israel and many will blow a fuse.
"Your flawed logic is to assume that absence of evidence is evidence of absence."
It's an assumption that is actually quite reasonable. In the absence of evidence that my neighbour is a serial killer, it is reasonable to assume he is not, although not proof obviously.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I see, you talk to ‘the average Muslim’ in the street in Islamic countries or you making up more shit.
You dismiss any other reasons as ‘doubtful’ without knowing, enquiring, or considering them, which again contradicts that you’re about facts & truth.
The public silence of other Islamic countries proves nothing and doesn’t contradict the reports of human rights breaches.
You are grasping at straws and I’m still waiting for support of your false accusation of me. If you continue wasting my time with this, you go straight from Pre-Mod into the Black List until after the General Election.
Lastly, use the Reply button when replying/responding to comments.