Here we are at 9.49am on a grey overcast day in Auckland and not a single comment on Open Mike.
I went to the heading Water, one of my pet subjects
and this is what I found.
WATER
Categories under water
No categories
I am puzzled (that’s not unusual) but whilst there are big discussions going on on TS about TPP and Free Trade ad nauseum, mostly trolls winding up the argument it seems, there is NO category for Water.
I have commented on other occasions about my concerns and in
particular the Ecan(Environment Canterbury) has been set up with National Party appointed members and will stay that way for another 3 years at least. This in an area that has huge dairy growth and is a major pollution problem.
Ensuring that the water quality in Canterbury, is preserved for future generations might just be a more fruitful subject to discuss and argue than the some the other subjects which trolls start and TS contributors perpetuate.
We’ve had a high number of comments about water quality in the past week or so. In fact I would say it’s been one of the main discussions. Including about Ecan.
If you want to see posts on water, you can always submit a guest post 🙂
Hi Weka,
Thanks for your reply but I am still puzzled or not understanding how the site is set up.
I got to http://thestandard.org.nz/category/environment/water/
as you suggested but apart from a good recent article from No Right Turn there seems to be little about water and most of the articles are older rather than recent.
Time to sort dinner will have another go later.
Most of them are about politics and water. ie oils spills, political fiddling to Environment Canterbury (which administers water in Canterbury), water pollution standards, irrigation, dams, lack of water, etc.
9 posts in 2015. It varies according to what is happening and if authors find something they want to write about.
Hi Weka,
Thanks for your reply but I am still puzzled or not understanding how the site is set up.
I got to http://thestandard.org.nz/category/environment/water/
as you suggested but apart from a good recent article from No Right Turn there seems to be little about water and most of the articles are older rather than recent.
Time to sort dinner will have another go later.
A few days ago (?) I read a lengthy thread about water quality and Ecan on Open Mike. It was, as usual for most discussion on TS, a worthy read. I’m guessing this is what weka is leading you too. Sorry I can’t help you with the date.
I think you can also search the site by the name of the commenter. From memory weka contributed to this discussion (?)
I’m sure we should be thinking about water more. Here is something relevant that was on RADIONZ this morning.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201785128
Choose Clean Water
8:10 AM. Marnie Prickett is part of group touring around the country to draw attention to diminishing water quality. She is part of the Choose Clean Water tour, traveling down the east coast of both islands, then up the west, finally finishing in Waitangi on Waitangi Day. The group will be filming their travels, engaging with locals to find out about what’s polluting our waterways and what people are doing to restore their streams, lakes and rivers. On the tour she will be stopping to see Jill Roberts in Geraldine. Jill has been a resident in the town for 10 years and has seen the water quality of the river diminish quite significantly.
Out of interest, how does this work? I recently submitted a Guest Post by e-mail and although I didn’t expect it to be posted, straightaway or at all, I’ve not heard a dicky bird. Just asking.
The problem is me. A lack of time to deal with the mail queue, and I think that I am the only person left who reads it. The other authors who had logins have long since gone.
Basically I pick off things that are urgent (problems on the blog, legal threats, etc) and leave the rest until I have time. Because of the time taken to set up a post, that tends to be the lowest on the priority queue, and I used to get around to it every week.
But these days I seldom have any time. Either work or family or blog or simple exhaustion always seem to get in the way.
In fact I will be heading back to the chills of a European winter next week for work with some very long days. That isn’t going to help.
I’ll see if I can get some of the others interested in reading and acting on the mail.
Thank you for the reply and clarification, which I (now) fully understand. There are many high-quality posts appearing on TS so my ‘mind-spew’ can wait indefinitely 😉
Consumer power is a big weapon against corporate power.
‘No GMO Soup for You’? Consumer Victory as Campbell Announces New Labels
Campbell made the announcement on Thursday, declaring its support for “mandatory national GMO labeling.” In addition to disclosing GMOs—from corn to soy—the company said it will also “advocate for federal legislation that would require all foods and beverages regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to be clearly and simply labeled for GMOs.”
The company’s announcement marks a shift from its former policy. Campbell, in fact, was previously targeted by a boycott after brands under its umbrella donated large sums of money to defeat GMO labeling initiatives in different states.
Campaigners say that the nationwide, grassroots push for GMO labeling played a critical role in pressing Campbell to shift its policy. And indeed, polling consistently shows overwhelming support for transparency measures.
It has to be viewed in the context of the pre-existing endemic corruption though greywarshark. From what i read it’s not that corruption is getting worse, the complaint is the Govt isn’t doing enough to combat what’s already there
The ousting of Yanukovich looks to have been largely driven by a population finally fed up with the top-level corruption, he and his cronies alone looted close to Ukraine’s national debt it’s no wonder the country is broke.
The ordinary people in Ukraine would likely be pretty upset that corruption is still rampant but I doubt many would be pining for the old days of even worse corruption.
The Pacific islands will need our attention and concern. Already some have had drought conditions and there is a fear that a big weather depression is going to form early in the season.
Oxfam is keeping an eye on the Pacific plight and watching this strong El Nino.
Oxfam said that New Zealand must immediately act on promises made under the new global climate agreement, as evidence suggested climate change may increase the frequency of extreme El Niño occurring.
Around 4.7 million people face hunger, poverty and disease across the Pacific alone due to El Niño-related droughts, erratic rains and frosts. Globally, 18 million people are already in need of assistance. –
See more at: http://www.oxfam.org.nz/news/el-ni-o-warning-bells-deafening-early-action-vital-saving-lives#sthash.oVDuVB3x.dpuf
News story-Philadelphia policeman shot by Islam nutter.Policeman survives, defends himself and wounds the nutter.
Other TV channels report the facts but Fox news (sic) blames Obama. If the policeman didn’t have a gun (because of Obama as Fox implies) he’d be defenseless. Never mind that the nutter had his own (stolen) gun.
Intrigues me how Fox spins it that Obama wants to take guns away from Police.
..Fox republican policy…….More guns = less dead people…WFM
Thank you gentle people. Point taken. Hope I make fewer or less grammatical errors in future. Thanks for reading my comments.I too suffer from pedantopathy.
I’ve attended lots of barbeques over the last month and negativity to the National government was never heard even once. I sense no mood for change in real people. I honestly do not know what Andrew Little can do to change things.
Grant
Delightful. Any fisher would look at that and say my precious. And fishiani?
Who can follow his train of thought. I keep wishing he’d find the station and leave for a holiday.
Sounds good. Big steppes.
The idea brings to mind Peter Sellers in Balham Gateway to the South
where the tone-deaf son of the Mayor bangs away on a piano before the villagers who are raising money to send him away – to Vienna, or Paris, or anywhere.
I haven’t attended any bbqs – I prefer my meat cooked.
But the mood I pick up at my dinner parties is also universal and totally opposed to the present govt!
But then again that’s what happens when like meets like. But Fisi being of little brain wouldn’t understand the error of sampling bias.
Polling over last 6 months suggests Govt and Oppo neck-and-neck, if anything with the Oppo slightly in front.
Or, to put it another way
2014 Election Party-Vote = NZF nowhere near holding balance of power
Poll Average over last 6 months = NZF holds balance of power.
All down to Labour’s 6 point surge since last election.
National rode to power on the coat tails of the GFC promising magic fairy dust to all and sundry. They have a solid bloc of perhaps 30% support from the highly influential upper middle class who also happen to run the elite news media and their sponsors.
Little and the Left need to engage the “missing million” voters who, if motivated, could easily kick out the incumbents
I honestly believe the dotcom fiasco gifted key the election and possible the next one to. With no rabble rousing far left party there is a lot of votes going begging.
Money is not to be sneezed at, at election time. Mana should have told Dotcom to keep his mouth shut and breathe through his nose. All election stunts and rallies should have been passed by Leila and her cohorts without putting pressure on her to compromise with what she knew would work best.
The election push got mixed up with Dotcom’s private fight and the Mana message got overlooked, as it got overshadowed by Dotcom’s grievance and the dirty government spying and secretive message from Julian Assange. That was not the main problem that Mana was wanting to put forward.
If engaged….despondency and fear are the 2 things that stop people voting according to Tony Benn, so National have it sewn up, unless people have hope and stop being afraid!
It’s worth a look, but you may find parts of it challenging.
Here’s a taste.
“One of the things we do know about voting behaviour is that a high voter turn out favours truly left wing governments. Why? Because, in theory, the Left can appeal to a larger number of ” have not” people than the privileged Right. However 30 years ago that pattern was disrupted when a supposedly Left wing Labour government introduced the New Right economics of neo-liberalism. So for 3 decades now voters on the traditional Left have not seen a viable alternative economic policy for which they could vote.
The result? A general decline in the number of people voting which has increased the chances of the Right of being elected . “
All this might change. There is mounting evidence that rises in health spending are failing to meet rising health needs. If this becomes widely known and the bad news outweighs the good, the politics of health will turn toxic.
The latest (anecdotal) evidence of trouble comes from Christchurch, where elderly people complain they are being refused elective surgery and must continue to live in pain and distress. Canterbury District Health Board chief executive David Meates says the board is meeting Health Ministry targets but acknowledges it should be doing more. This is in effect an admission of unmet need.
Measuring the shortfall is difficult and controversial. The total health budget has fallen from 6.32 per cent of gross domestic product in 2009 to just over 6 per cent in 2014.
Meeting the shortfall would cost $750m.As the system creaks under the strain, more stories of pain and suffering are likely.
Massive cuts to the Health System Funding has some how been Kept off the Front Pages of The New Zealand Media for… https://t.co/3xltoRmy9V— Geoff (@GSilbery) January 9, 2016
Somehow #HeraldActPartyNewsletter would rather tell us someone owns 11 houses so what are the poor complaining about
Talking about the health system. For some months I have briefly chatted to an Indian man who works in my local supermarket. I noticed him limping and expressed sympathy. He said he was waiting for an appointment for treatment for a sore foot.
I saw him at Christmas and he said he has been waiting to see a specialist, not for the treatment as I had thought. He can’t even get his foot examined and diagnosed, though he has pain as he’s standing and walking all day. He says he has decided to get it done in India, along with treatment to his knee which is also giving trouble. I said that’s no good, it’s a shame that our health system is declining. He made the side to side hand movement of judging on balance, and said that overall NZ was still better.
But that is based on how we are at present, we are still declining, and the present tranche of politicians and power brokers have no desire or vision to return us to the vibrant, hopeful, socially mobile, modern society that we were.
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Thanks to political pressure from the Green Party and the more than 900 personal stories of birth injury and trauma delivered to Minister Sepuloni, more injuries have been added to the ACC birth injuries bill. ...
Supporting New Zealanders is at the heart of our approach as a Government, and we’re working hard to tackle the big issues Kiwis are facing. While long term challenges like child poverty won’t be solved overnight, we’re putting in place policies that make a real difference for New Zealanders. Here ...
Delegates at the AGM of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have voted to retain Marama Davidson as Green Party co-leader and to re-open nominations for the other co-leader position. ...
Biosecurity co-operation topped the agenda when Australia and New Zealand’s agriculture ministers met yesterday. Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Murray Watt met with his New Zealand counterpart, Damien O’Connor, Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity, and Rural Communities in a conference call, which had particular focus on foot and ...
People could spend less time in hospital, thanks to a smart new remote device that lets patients be monitored at home, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Technology has the potential to really change the way we do things – to do things that are better for patients and at the ...
Concrete steps to clarify inclusive, evidence-informed teaching practices Strengthen capability supports along the professional pathway Enhance partnerships between the education system and whānau, iwi, communities Embed equitable additional learning supports and assessment tools that help teachers effectively notice and respond to the needs of students Improved student achievement is a ...
Aotearoa New Zealand has committed to strengthen global prevention, preparedness and responses to future pandemics with seed funding for a new World Bank initiative, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We cannot afford to wait until the next pandemic. We must all play our part to support developing countries ...
A law change to ensure that forestry conversions by overseas investors benefit New Zealand has passed its final reading in Parliament. Previously, overseas investors wishing to convert land, such as farm land, into forestry only needed to meet the “special forestry test”. This is a streamlined test, designed to encourage ...
International tourism recovery well underway with higher level of overseas visitor arrivals than previously expected UK and US card spend already back at pre-COVID levels Visitors staying in New Zealand longer and spending more compared to 2019 Govt support throughout pandemic helped tourism sector prepare for return of international ...
The Ministry for Ethnic Communities has released its first strategy, setting out the actions it will take over the next few years to achieve better wellbeing outcomes for ethnic communities Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan announced today. “The Strategy that has been released today sets out ...
The Prime Minister has officially opened the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre today saying it is a huge asset to the region and to the country. “This is a world class facility which will be able to host national and international events including the world championships. With a 10-lane Olympic ...
The Associate Minister of Education, Aupito William Sio, has today announced the recipients of the Tulī Takes Flight scholarships which were a key part of last year’s Dawn Raids apology. The scholarships are a part of the goodwill gesture of reconciliation to mark the apology by the New Zealand Government ...
96% of estimated menstruating students receive free period products 2085 schools involved 1200 dispensers installed Supports cost of living, combats child poverty, helps increase attendance Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti today hailed the free period products in schools, Ikura | Manaakitia te whare tangata, a huge success, acknowledging ...
The Tourism Industry Transformation Plan outlines key actions to improve the sector This includes a Tourism and Hospitality Accord to set employment standards Developing cultural competency within the workforce Improving the education and training system for tourism Equipping business owners and operators with better tools and enabling better work ...
Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications Dr David Clark welcomes Google Cloud’s decision to make New Zealand a cloud region. “This is another major vote of confidence for New Zealand’s growing digital sector, and our economic recovery from COVID 19,” David Clark said. “Becoming a cloud region will mean ...
A package of changes to NCEA and University Entrance announced today recognise the impact COVID-19 has had on senior secondary students’ assessment towards NCEA in 2022, says Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti. “We have heard from schools how significant absences of students and teachers, as a result of COVID-19, ...
Te Reo Māori tauparapara… Tapatapa tū ki te Rangi! Ki te Whei-ao! Ki te Ao-mārama Tihei mauri ora! Stand at the edge of the universe! of the spiritual world! of the physical world! It is the breath of creation Formal acknowledgments… [Your Highness Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Masiofo] ...
The Government’s commitment to combatting firearms violence has reached another significant milestone today with the passage of the Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill, Police Minister Chris Hipkins says. The new law helps to reduce firearm-related crime by targeting possession, use, or carriage of firearms by people whose actions and behaviours ...
Minister for Veterans, Hon Meka Whaitiri sends her condolences to the last Battle for Crete veteran. “I am saddened today to learn of the passing of Cyril Henry Robinson known as Brant Robinson, who is believed to be the last surviving New Zealand veteran of the Battle for Crete, Meka ...
Legislation to repeal the ‘Three Strikes’ law has passed its third reading in Parliament. “The Three Strikes Legislation Repeal Bill ends an anomaly in New Zealand’s justice system that dictates what sentence judges must hand down irrespective of relevant factors,” Justice Minister Kiri Allan said. “The three strikes law was ...
Work is under way on preliminary steps to improve the Government’s support for survivors of abuse in care while a new, independent redress system is designed, Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins says. These steps – recommended by the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry – include rapid payments for ...
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Online Forum 77 years ago today, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Three days earlier, on the 6th of August 1945, the same fate had befallen the people of Hiroshima. Tens of thousands died instantly. In the years that followed 340,000 ...
An agreement signed today between the New Zealand and United States governments will provide new opportunities for our space sector and closer collaboration with NASA, Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash said. Stuart Nash signed the Framework Agreement with United States Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman. The signing ...
An agreement signed today between New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the United States’ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will strengthen global emergency management capability, says Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty. “The Government is committed to continually strengthening our emergency management system, and this Memorandum of Cooperation ...
New Zealand will remain at the Orange traffic light setting, while hospitalisations remain elevated and pressure on the health system continues through winter. “There’s still significant pressure on hospitals from winter illnesses, so our current measures have an ongoing role to play in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases and ...
Streets will soon be able to be transformed from unsafe and inaccessible corridors to vibrant places for all transport modes thanks to new legislation proposed today, announced Transport Minister Michael Wood. “We need to make it safe, quicker and more attractive for people to walk, ride and take public transport ...
More young minds eyeing food and fibre careers is the aim of new Government support for agricultural and horticultural science teachers in secondary schools, Agriculture and Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The Government is committing $1.6 million over five years to the initiative through the Ministry for Primary ...
Kākāpō numbers have increased from 197 to 252 in the 2022 breeding season, and there are now more of the endangered parrots than there have been for almost 50 years, Conservation Minister Poto Williams announced today. The flightless, nocturnal parrot is a taonga of Ngāi Tahu and a species unique ...
The relationship between Aotearoa New Zealand and Malaysia is to be elevated to the status of a Strategic Partnership, to open up opportunities for greater co-operation and connections in areas like regional security and economic development. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta met her Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah today during a ...
With additional trains operating across the network, powered by the Government’s investment in rail, there is need for a renewed focus on rail safety, Transport Minister Michael Wood emphasised at the launch of Rail Safety Week 2022. “Over the last five years the Government has invested significantly to improve level ...
The Foreign Minister has wrapped up a series of meetings with Indo-Pacific partners in Cambodia which reinforced the need for the region to work collectively to deal with security and economic challenges. Nanaia Mahuta travelled to Phnom Penh for a bilateral meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Aotearoa New Zealand, ...
Kia ora koutou Firstly, thank you to the President of the Criminal Bar Association, Fiona Guy Kidd QC, for her invitation to attend the annual conference this weekend albeit unfortunately she is unable to attend, I’m grateful to the warm welcome both Chris Wilkinson-Smith (Vice-President, Whanganui) and Adam Simperingham (Vice-President, Gisborne) ...
Extension of Aotearoa Touring Programme supporting domestic musicians The Programme has supported more than 1,700 shows and over 250 artists New Zealand Music Commission estimates that around 200,000 Kiwis have been able to attend shows as a result of the programme The Government is hitting a high note, with ...
Minister of Defence Peeni Henare will depart tomorrow for Solomon Islands to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. While in Solomon Islands, Minister Henare will also meet with Solomon Islands Minister of National Security, Correctional Services and Police Anthony Veke to continue cooperation on security ...
The Government is partnering with Ngāi Tahu Farming Limited and Ngāi Tūāhuriri on a whole-farm scale study in North Canterbury to validate the science of regenerative farming, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The programme aims to scientifically evaluate the financial, social and environmental differences between regenerative and conventional practices. ...
52.5% of people on public boards are women Greatest ever percentage of women Improved collection of ethnicity data “Women’s representation on public sector boards and committees is now 52.5 percent, the highest ever level. The facts prove that diverse boards bring a wider range of knowledge, expertise and skill. ...
I am honoured to support the 2022 Women in Governance Awards, celebrating governance leaders, directors, change-makers, and rising stars in the community, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. For the second consecutive year, MPP is proudly sponsoring the Pacific Governance Leader category, recognising Pacific women in governance and presented to ...
Today Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash turned the sod for the new Whakatāne Commercial Boat Harbour, cut the ribbon for the revitalised Whakatāne Wharf, and inspected work underway to develop the old Whakatāne Army Hall into a visitor centre, all of which are part of the $36.8 million ...
New Zealanders are not getting a fair deal on some key residential building supplies and while the Government has already driven improvements in the sector, a Commerce Commission review finds that changes are needed to make it more competitive. “New Zealand is facing the same global cost of living and ...
Mana in Mahi reaches a milestone surpassing 5,000 participants 75 per cent of participants who had been on a benefit for two or more years haven’t gone back onto a benefit 89 per cent who have a training pathway are working towards a qualification at NZQA level 3 or ...
The Government has invested $7.7 million in a research innovation hub which was officially opened today by Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Dr Ayesha Verrall. The new facility named Te Pā Harakeke Flexible Labs comprises 560 square metres of new laboratory space for research staff and is based at ...
Unemployment has remained near record lows thanks to the Government’s economic plan to support households and businesses through the challenging global environment, resulting in more people in work and wages rising. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in the June quarter, with 96,000 people classed out ...
Action to address the risks identified in the 2020 climate change risk assessment, protecting lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses and infrastructure A joined up approach that will support community-based adaptation with national policies and legislation Providing all New Zealanders with information about local climate risks via a new online data ...
Aucklanders now have a clear choice between continuing the failing status quo or choosing a candidate who can fix Auckland, Mayoral candidate Wayne Brown says. “They can choose more of the same from current councillor Efeso Collins, or a new proactive ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The head of the Solomon Islands state-owned broadcaster has defended its role in the face of the government tightening control — a move that critics say is squarely aimed at controlling and censoring the news. The government said last Friday that the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation ...
What a difference less than a week can make: National lurching from success to controversy and Labour facing its own bombshell, Political Editor Jane Patterson writes. ...
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Te Pāti Māori co-leader and list MP based in Te Tai Hauāuru will this weekend share in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Pātea Māori club anthem, Poi E. “Iwi of Taranaki and Ngāti Ruanui will be reminiscing ...
Labour's Whip's office says it has always acted in good faith with Hamilton West MP Gaurav Sharma, after he made explosive allegations about bullying. ...
Today, XR Whakatū are blocking the Trafalgar St to launch “The People” in the form of Te Tiriti based peoples assemblies as their candidate for this year's local body elections. “The climate and ecological crisis proves our political system ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Mehigan, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Canterbury Getty Images However you look at it, the National Party has selected someone who once committed an act of criminal violence to represent the Tauranga electorate in parliament. It’s an unfortunate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patricia Davidson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wollongong Shutterstock Demand for health care is soaring as the population ages, medical treatments become more widely available and more people live with chronic and complex illnesses. However, there is global shortage of health professionals ...
A sexual abuse survivor group SNAP says the Government’s decision to allow faith-based institutions like the Catholic Church to continue providing redress to survivors would just re-traumatise Catholic Church survivors. SNAP’s national leader, Christopher ...
The 2022 round of the Rainbow Wellbeing Legacy Fund (RWLF) will see $299,999 in grants being distributed to programmes with a focus on mental health in rainbow communities thanks to a partnership with Foundation North. Foundation North, the community trust ...
The Government continuing to push through a Wairarapa treaty settlement without addressing serious flaws in it, is a slap in the face to natural justice and rank hypocrisy from the Crown. That’s the submission today to Parliament’s Maori Affairs ...
The rental price indexes measure the changes in prices that households pay for housing rentals. Key facts Monthly change In July 2022 compared with June 2022: the index for the stock measure of rental property prices rose 0.2 percent the index for the ...
Climate Change Minister James Shaw has been found wanting, after his response to a letter from Groundswell NZ lacked any evidence that New Zealand agriculture is contributing to climate warming, Groundswell NZ emissions spokesperson Steve Cranston ...
New research from HelloFresh bites into the nation’s changing diets and reveals what’s impacting the way we eat Leading meal-kit provider, HelloFresh serves up fresh research that explores New Zealand’s changing diets, revealing how eating ...
“The marked increase in violent youth crime has been long predicted and is being met by a chorus of excuses instead of admitting the soft youth system is a demonstrable failure,” says Darroch Ball Leader of Sensible Sentencing Trust. “Its time to ...
Morning Report - This week RNZ and Stuff's political editors Jane Patterson and Luke Malpass discuss the accusations by Labour's Gaurav Sharma, and those against National's Sam Uffindell. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myles Menz, Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology, James Cook University Christian Ziegler Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Author provided Migratory insects number in the trillions. They’re a major part of global ecosystems, helping to transport nutrients and pollen across continents ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Toole, Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute As monkeypox vaccination programs roll out and health authorities release information about how to reduce the spread of the virus, progress on another aspect of the outbreak is lagging: its name. On June 14, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Marc Pell/Unsplash, CC BY The world’s focus is sharply fixed on achieving net-zero emissions, yet surprisingly little thought has been given to what comes afterwards. In our new paper, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn Alders, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Foot-and-mouth disease now poses a high threat to Australia. This highly contagious livestock virus is sweeping Indonesia – the closest it’s been to Australia since the 1980s. A large outbreak here could cause decimate the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anita Wreford, Professor Applied Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto via Getty Images New Zealand’s national adaptation plan, launched last week, offers the first comprehensive approach to how communities can prepare for the inevitable impacts of a changing climate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Larissa McLean Davies, Professor of Teacher Education, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Today, state and federal education ministers will meet in Canberra to discuss the teacher shortage. In their first in-person meeting for more than a year, they will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury HBO HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones dominated television and pop culture discourse for much of a decade. Its upcoming prequel series, House of the Dragon, is similarly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The federal Liberals are in a parlous state, after an election that was not just lost to Labor but where “teals” stripped them of a batch of traditional seats. In coming months the Liberal ...
By Leah Tebbutt, RNZ News reporter A number of Māori wāhine have put their hat in the ring to become mayor at this year’s Aotearoa New Zealand local body election across the motu in October. Georgina Beyer is believed to be the first and only Māori woman ever elected as ...
By Concy Simon of the PNG Post-Courier Leadership of Papua New Guinea has “gone to the dogs” represented by a rapid increase in prices of goods and services and the “worst national election” ever, says a lawyer. Lawyer Goiye Kondago made the crtiticism during the official declaration of Kerenga Kua ...
COMMENTARY:By Barbara Dreaver, 1News Pacific correspondent Even from the grainy black and white footage of American soldiers wading towards shore while under fire, you can see and sense the fear, resignation and determination in that moment. The Battle of Midway in World War II may have been won, but ...
Cook Islands PressBy Jason Brown Tens of thousands of Cook Islanders celebrated 57th Constitution Day events these last weeks. Not just in the homeland, but overseas as well, with communities across New Zealand, Australia and beyond celebrating language, dance, culture and other arts. How many in all might be ...
A Labour backbencher has launched an extraordinary broadside, claiming MP-on-MP bullying is rampant within Parliament and facilitated by those supposed to prevent it. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rod Sims, Professor in the practice of public policy and antitrust, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Public interest journalism is essential to a well-functioning society, even for those who do not watch or read it. It holds ...
The Greens will continue to push for climate friendly, affordable transport options as part of a new cross-party Parliamentary inquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail in New Zealand. “Investing in rail is a great way to connect our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Huw Griffiths, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/ STCReview: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, directed by Kip Williams for Sydney Theatre Company With their new production, Kip Williams and the Sydney Theatre ...
National Party's leader and deputy leader say details of Sam Uffindell's flat are "not great" and "yuck", and the party will continue improving its candidate selection processes. ...
David Timbs from Peter Timbs Butchers has decided not to run in this year’s local body election. Mr Timbs initially said he would be running for council but has now put his support behind independent candidate Ali Jones who is running for the Innes ...
Buzz from the Beehive Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has been busy in the past 24 hours, joining the PM for the opening of a new aquatic centre, enthusing about data from the latest visitor statistics and announcing a new industry strategy. The Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University A record number of female Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander athletes represented Australia at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. While embracing their role model status, it is worth considering the weighty ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marnie Blewitt, Head, Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute leah hetteberg/unsplash What if we could inherit more than our parents’ genes? What if we could inherit the ability to turn genes on and off? These possibilities have come ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Orlando, Researcher: Digital Literacy and Digital Wellbeing, Western Sydney University Shutterstock This week, one Sydney high school made headlines for banning mobile phones during school hours. Phones can come to school but must stay in locked pouches allowing teachers ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Cheng, Professor in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Monash University People could have caught the virus from wild shrews.Shutterstock A new virus, Langya henipavirus, is suspected to have caused infections in 35 people in China’s Shandong and Henan provinces. It’s related to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dallas Rogers, Head of Urbanism and Associate Professor of Urban Studies, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney The redevelopment of the 22-hectare Barangaroo precinct on Sydney Harbour has long been a masterclass in poor urban development governance and lack ...
The Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA) is encouraging Kiwis to make a submission on the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill by 24 August. They say getting tough on tobacco is well overdue. Now with Parliament’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University Shutterstock The tragic case of Annie Moylan, who died in Melbourne in 2017 from sepsis, when 18 weeks pregnant, has put a spotlight on ...
A View from Afar – In this podcast, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning analyse hostilities and the pathway ahead for Taiwan, China, Asia Pacific nations and the United States of America. Buchanan and Manning examine why hostilities have intensified, what defence and pre-emptive security moves have been ...
An award-winning Rotorua-based app development company Salt + Tonic have released its voter engagement solution to the public, enabling all local district councils to bring a future-focused and technology driven solution to voter engagement to their ...
When a Royal New Zealand Air Force C130 Hercules broke down in Vanuatu this week there was a certain irony in the event. It left Defence Minister Peeni Henare stranded in the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, where he had been leading a delegation of 30 New Zealanders, including officials from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Chinese reaction to United States Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit further escalated tensions in our region, as China becomes more bellicose in language and action. On Wednesday, China’s Ambassador Xiao Qian spoke at ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist), The Conversation Shawn Thew/EPA/AP On June 24, the US Supreme Court denied a constitutional right to an abortion, overturning its Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. I covered this and two other late June right-wing ...
By Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 10 August 2022 Original url: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/08/10/fxcj-a10.html COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death in New Zealand, equal with heart disease. The New Zealand Herald reported on August 7 that in the week ending 17 July, 120 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven W. Salisbury, PhD; Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland Herschel Hoffmeyer/Shutterstock For the first time, we have shown that a soft heel pad was crucial to how sauropod dinosaurs supported their immense weight, according to ...
Grassroots sports on Saturday afternoon with the family - it’s a key weekend ingredient for many New Zealanders and one we want to enjoy free from the advertising of harmful, addictive substances. The recently drawn Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) ...
The latest Ipsos Global Advisor study found that the vast majority of New Zealanders recognise that cycling plays an important role in the reduction of carbon emissions (84%) and traffic reduction (73%). However, 42% of New Zealanders are still more ...
The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than ...
There was a provisional net migration loss of 11,500 people in the 12 months ended June 2022, the 16th month in a row that an annual net migration loss has occurred, Stats NZ said today. There were 49,200 migrant arrivals and 60,700 migrant departures ...
Embattled National MP Sam Uffindell was put on notice for living in one of North Dunedin's filthiest flats, described as a haven for vermin and disease by health inspectors. ...
Former National Party leader Simon Bridges has given evidence in a trial over alleged concealed political donations, agreeing Jami-Lee Ross became a political kamikaze. ...
“The peace movement is deeply concerned about rumours that the Labour Government is considering joining the US military alliance with Australia and the UK, called AUKUS,” said Valerie Morse, a member of the Cancel RIMPAC Coalition. The visit ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Apisalome Movono, Senior Lecturer in Development Studies, Massey University Getty Images With Samoa fully reopening its borders on August 1, another Pacific country moved tentatively forwards after two years of border closures and little or no international tourism. But opening ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Power, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University The recent global outbreak of monkeypox largely among men who have sex with men has raised concerns homophobia will undermine effective ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Reem Abbas, Research Fellow, Auckland University of Technology Shutterstock/Joseph Sorrentino New Zealand’s healthcare policies for migrants rate among the top five countries globally. Yet research shows persistent health inequities among women and children with migrant and refugee backgrounds. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Woessner, Lecturer in Clinical Exercise and Research Fellow, Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Victoria University Lars Bo Nielsen/Unsplash, CC BY-SA Every week millions of Australian children play community sport. Participating in community sport can improve children’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Downie, Associate Professor, Australian National University Getty If politics moves slowly, climate politics often feels like it doesn’t move at all. Yet at the weekend, US senators worked through the night to accomplish something they have failed to ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Burton, Lecturer, Theatre, University of Southern Queensland Jason LaVeris/ Getty If you felt the world stop turning for a moment in July, it’s because Beyoncé dropped her new album, Renaissance. Rolling Stone has described her as the world’s ...
Here we are at 9.49am on a grey overcast day in Auckland and not a single comment on Open Mike.
I went to the heading Water, one of my pet subjects
and this is what I found.
WATER
Categories under water
No categories
I am puzzled (that’s not unusual) but whilst there are big discussions going on on TS about TPP and Free Trade ad nauseum, mostly trolls winding up the argument it seems, there is NO category for Water.
I have commented on other occasions about my concerns and in
particular the Ecan(Environment Canterbury) has been set up with National Party appointed members and will stay that way for another 3 years at least. This in an area that has huge dairy growth and is a major pollution problem.
Ensuring that the water quality in Canterbury, is preserved for future generations might just be a more fruitful subject to discuss and argue than the some the other subjects which trolls start and TS contributors perpetuate.
We’ve had a high number of comments about water quality in the past week or so. In fact I would say it’s been one of the main discussions. Including about Ecan.
If you want to see posts on water, you can always submit a guest post 🙂
The water heading under Environment has 80 posts.
http://thestandard.org.nz/category/environment/water/
Hi Weka,
Thanks for your reply but I am still puzzled or not understanding how the site is set up.
I got to http://thestandard.org.nz/category/environment/water/
as you suggested but apart from a good recent article from No Right Turn there seems to be little about water and most of the articles are older rather than recent.
Time to sort dinner will have another go later.
Most of them are about politics and water. ie oils spills, political fiddling to Environment Canterbury (which administers water in Canterbury), water pollution standards, irrigation, dams, lack of water, etc.
9 posts in 2015. It varies according to what is happening and if authors find something they want to write about.
Hi Weka,
Thanks for your reply but I am still puzzled or not understanding how the site is set up.
I got to http://thestandard.org.nz/category/environment/water/
as you suggested but apart from a good recent article from No Right Turn there seems to be little about water and most of the articles are older rather than recent.
Time to sort dinner will have another go later.
Hi John.
A few days ago (?) I read a lengthy thread about water quality and Ecan on Open Mike. It was, as usual for most discussion on TS, a worthy read. I’m guessing this is what weka is leading you too. Sorry I can’t help you with the date.
I think you can also search the site by the name of the commenter. From memory weka contributed to this discussion (?)
Helen Kelly’s post is attracting huge attention. I suspect that most people are heading straight there.
I’m sure we should be thinking about water more. Here is something relevant that was on RADIONZ this morning.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201785128
Choose Clean Water
8:10 AM. Marnie Prickett is part of group touring around the country to draw attention to diminishing water quality. She is part of the Choose Clean Water tour, traveling down the east coast of both islands, then up the west, finally finishing in Waitangi on Waitangi Day. The group will be filming their travels, engaging with locals to find out about what’s polluting our waterways and what people are doing to restore their streams, lakes and rivers. On the tour she will be stopping to see Jill Roberts in Geraldine. Jill has been a resident in the town for 10 years and has seen the water quality of the river diminish quite significantly.
If you’re that concerned about it then submit a guest post on it. We’ll all love to read it.
Out of interest, how does this work? I recently submitted a Guest Post by e-mail and although I didn’t expect it to be posted, straightaway or at all, I’ve not heard a dicky bird. Just asking.
The problem is me. A lack of time to deal with the mail queue, and I think that I am the only person left who reads it. The other authors who had logins have long since gone.
Basically I pick off things that are urgent (problems on the blog, legal threats, etc) and leave the rest until I have time. Because of the time taken to set up a post, that tends to be the lowest on the priority queue, and I used to get around to it every week.
But these days I seldom have any time. Either work or family or blog or simple exhaustion always seem to get in the way.
In fact I will be heading back to the chills of a European winter next week for work with some very long days. That isn’t going to help.
I’ll see if I can get some of the others interested in reading and acting on the mail.
Thank you for the reply and clarification, which I (now) fully understand. There are many high-quality posts appearing on TS so my ‘mind-spew’ can wait indefinitely 😉
Seen this?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11571162
Another story how a young fellow managed to start buying property so he could play WOW all day. What a great had work story!
But, read the fine print.
He started with a $200,00 wedding gift..
About the plutocrat – Mickey has a post on it now.
Consumer power is a big weapon against corporate power.
+1 TMM
Kiev is having corruption tussles – there is talk about not being a banana republic. There is a familiar ring about their difficulties.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/kiev-struggles-to-battle-rampant-corruption-1451641811
It has to be viewed in the context of the pre-existing endemic corruption though greywarshark. From what i read it’s not that corruption is getting worse, the complaint is the Govt isn’t doing enough to combat what’s already there
The ousting of Yanukovich looks to have been largely driven by a population finally fed up with the top-level corruption, he and his cronies alone looted close to Ukraine’s national debt it’s no wonder the country is broke.
The ordinary people in Ukraine would likely be pretty upset that corruption is still rampant but I doubt many would be pining for the old days of even worse corruption.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11571180
Canadian company set to sue USA under NAFTA this is what key the shmuck is signing us up to with tppa.
Fern-themed teatowels are the policy focus at the moment.
Your “facts” are just an annoyance.
The Pacific islands will need our attention and concern. Already some have had drought conditions and there is a fear that a big weather depression is going to form early in the season.
Water rationing introduced as Port Moresby copes with drought.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201783140/water-rationing-introduced-as-port-moresby-copes-with-drought
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201783140
800,000 people short of food in PNG
…A co-author of a compilation of 200 reports from government, NGOs, church organisations and individuals in drought- and frost-affected regions says immediate action is needed to alleviate ongoing suffering.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/293730/800,000-people-short-of-food-in-png
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/75600686/tonga-takes-stock-after-cyclone-ula-creates-widespread-damage
http://reliefweb.int/report/world/el-ni-o-strengthens-pacific-preparing-impacts-drought
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/rare-january-depression-in-central-pacific-atlantic-subtropical-storm
Oxfam is keeping an eye on the Pacific plight and watching this strong El Nino.
Oxfam said that New Zealand must immediately act on promises made under the new global climate agreement, as evidence suggested climate change may increase the frequency of extreme El Niño occurring.
Around 4.7 million people face hunger, poverty and disease across the Pacific alone due to El Niño-related droughts, erratic rains and frosts. Globally, 18 million people are already in need of assistance. –
See more at: http://www.oxfam.org.nz/news/el-ni-o-warning-bells-deafening-early-action-vital-saving-lives#sthash.oVDuVB3x.dpuf
http://phys.org/news/2015-12-urgent-aid-super-el-nino.html
http://phys.org/news/2015-09-el-nino-strongest.html#nRlv
News story-Philadelphia policeman shot by Islam nutter.Policeman survives, defends himself and wounds the nutter.
Other TV channels report the facts but Fox news (sic) blames Obama. If the policeman didn’t have a gun (because of Obama as Fox implies) he’d be defenseless. Never mind that the nutter had his own (stolen) gun.
Intrigues me how Fox spins it that Obama wants to take guns away from Police.
..Fox republican policy…….More guns = less dead people…WFM
Not to confuse, that less guns will equal less ‘dead people’
Which is a false equilvilance that many attach themselves to
Pedants Revolt: https://twitter.com/johnrentoul/status/439327593687703552
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/less-versus-fewer?page=all
Indeed Grant.
The words were lifted from the comment by Rodel, which should have been obvious ,” ” aside
Pedants add nothing to a conversation…..
Thank you gentle people. Point taken. Hope I make fewer or less grammatical errors in future. Thanks for reading my comments.I too suffer from pedantopathy.
I’ve attended lots of barbeques over the last month and negativity to the National government was never heard even once. I sense no mood for change in real people. I honestly do not know what Andrew Little can do to change things.
You go to the wrong bbqs every one I have attended the feeling is universal …
fishy probably has a primus set up on his back porch and talks to himself 😜
Something like this?….
Grant
Delightful. Any fisher would look at that and say my precious. And fishiani?
Who can follow his train of thought. I keep wishing he’d find the station and leave for a holiday.
Perhaps we could send him a brochure for this little excursion?
http://www.phoenixexpeditionmedicine.co.uk/snowy-morning-in-the-steppes-of-northern-mongolia/
Sounds good. Big steppes.
The idea brings to mind Peter Sellers in Balham Gateway to the South
where the tone-deaf son of the Mayor bangs away on a piano before the villagers who are raising money to send him away – to Vienna, or Paris, or anywhere.
lol
I haven’t attended any bbqs – I prefer my meat cooked.
But the mood I pick up at my dinner parties is also universal and totally opposed to the present govt!
But then again that’s what happens when like meets like. But Fisi being of little brain wouldn’t understand the error of sampling bias.
Polling certainly backs up my BBQ findings.
yes, we all know there is power in the Dark Side.
Polling over last 6 months suggests Govt and Oppo neck-and-neck, if anything with the Oppo slightly in front.
Or, to put it another way
2014 Election Party-Vote = NZF nowhere near holding balance of power
Poll Average over last 6 months = NZF holds balance of power.
All down to Labour’s 6 point surge since last election.
You having a laugh or just thinking no one would call you out?
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6599-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-december-2015-201512092333
You’re simply pointing to one solitary poll, I’m talking about poll averages over recent months.
In case you haven’t noticed, a clear gap opened up in 2015 between:
(1) The TV News Polls (One News Colmar Brunton and 3 News Reid Research) = which, since May, have consistently placed the Oppo ahead of the Govt
and
(2) The Roy Morgan and (infrequent) Herald-Digi Polls = Most of the former (and all of the latter) favour the Govt.
(You’ve simply quoted the latest Roy Morgan)
Result of this divergence between the 2 sets of polls = Oppo and Govt neck-and-neck over last 6 months, when taking all polls into account.
Take, as an example, Polls since Sep 2015.
Average of All Polls
Govt 49.9 … Oppo 49.2
Average of Colmar Brunton / Reid Research Polls
Govt 48.4 … Oppo 51.0
Average of Roy Morgan / Herald-Digi Polls
Govt 51.1 … Oppo 47.7
polling says roughly 50/50, has done for the last 7 years.
Your bbq was 100% tory.
So, no, your bbq survey was more shit than what you usually spew out.
National rode to power on the coat tails of the GFC promising magic fairy dust to all and sundry. They have a solid bloc of perhaps 30% support from the highly influential upper middle class who also happen to run the elite news media and their sponsors.
Little and the Left need to engage the “missing million” voters who, if motivated, could easily kick out the incumbents
The missing million was mana territory and their hopes were sold for
$3 million .
Mana should have told Dotcom to stick his money up his arse. They may have had a chance.
yep that was a colossal fuck-up on their part. but Kelvin Davis was a good result for TTT.
I actually belive that Davis will become leader of the Labour Party and NZ’s first Maori PM.
Though he and his supporters need to take care that he isn’t placed in the job too soon, like Shearer and Cunliffe were.
I honestly believe the dotcom fiasco gifted key the election and possible the next one to. With no rabble rousing far left party there is a lot of votes going begging.
Money is not to be sneezed at, at election time. Mana should have told Dotcom to keep his mouth shut and breathe through his nose. All election stunts and rallies should have been passed by Leila and her cohorts without putting pressure on her to compromise with what she knew would work best.
The election push got mixed up with Dotcom’s private fight and the Mana message got overlooked, as it got overshadowed by Dotcom’s grievance and the dirty government spying and secretive message from Julian Assange. That was not the main problem that Mana was wanting to put forward.
I like this bit of plain English analysis from Bryan Bruce. http://bryanbruce.co.nz/feature/election-2014/voting-and-inequality
Great link,
Also the rise of Dirty Politics has turned a lot of people off *all* politicians.
If engaged….despondency and fear are the 2 things that stop people voting according to Tony Benn, so National have it sewn up, unless people have hope and stop being afraid!
Hi WN. Did you read my Bryan Bruce link above?
It’s worth a look, but you may find parts of it challenging.
Here’s a taste.
“One of the things we do know about voting behaviour is that a high voter turn out favours truly left wing governments. Why? Because, in theory, the Left can appeal to a larger number of ” have not” people than the privileged Right. However 30 years ago that pattern was disrupted when a supposedly Left wing Labour government introduced the New Right economics of neo-liberalism. So for 3 decades now voters on the traditional Left have not seen a viable alternative economic policy for which they could vote.
The result? A general decline in the number of people voting which has increased the chances of the Right of being elected . “
Could Health Policy be the Nats’ Achilles Heel?
Hat tip @GSilbery:
Somehow #HeraldActPartyNewsletter would rather tell us someone owns 11 houses so what are the poor complaining about
Talking about the health system. For some months I have briefly chatted to an Indian man who works in my local supermarket. I noticed him limping and expressed sympathy. He said he was waiting for an appointment for treatment for a sore foot.
I saw him at Christmas and he said he has been waiting to see a specialist, not for the treatment as I had thought. He can’t even get his foot examined and diagnosed, though he has pain as he’s standing and walking all day. He says he has decided to get it done in India, along with treatment to his knee which is also giving trouble. I said that’s no good, it’s a shame that our health system is declining. He made the side to side hand movement of judging on balance, and said that overall NZ was still better.
But that is based on how we are at present, we are still declining, and the present tranche of politicians and power brokers have no desire or vision to return us to the vibrant, hopeful, socially mobile, modern society that we were.