The Greens are as alienating as a Spin-off dinner party where everyone is arguing over who hates white men the most.
But there's more!
The Greens repeatedly get screwed over by Labour in a never ending cycle of abuse that started with Helen Clark and you kind of feel like someone should step in and intervene now.
Jacinda’s tepid incrementalism will not be challenged by the Greens, it will be supported by them. As the climate crisis events explode over the next 2 years, as welfare reform goes no where, as housing stagnates, as poverty spreads, the Greens will sit alongside Labour like a parasitic twin unable to think for itself let alone change things.
I've made a few milder comments onsite here over the past year so I'm not disagreeing with his view, just inclined to cut Labour some slack on the basis of prioritising pandemic management. Let's see what this year brings us before rendering a verdict.
It is rapidly becoming apparent that Labour and the Greens are not the political vehicle for transformative change. With Labour too focused on preventing Covid from exploding in NZ and the Greens now gagged, no forward thinking vision on how to transform things will be articulated.
It’s a Labour + Green supported Government, that gives them 75 seats in a 120 seat Parliament and yet they STILL CAN’T be transformative?
Sad, but true. They believe they must walk and therefore they can't possibly chew gum at the same time. Conformity rules, ok?
The Greens don’t know if they are Arthur or Martha and if they did they would need a 7month hui to discuss pronoun use.
Dunno if it would take that long. More likely a couple of hours on a zoom call to hear all views, after which the Executive would meet to thrash out a way to fake consensus.
Despite my contempt for what the Greens have mutated into I will still probably vote for them in 2023 but will jump the second there is a real alternative.
There Is No Alternative. TINA. Got it?
Imagine Jacinda as Prime Minister with Chloe as Deputy.
Alternate realities can be fun. They can be instructive too, providing guidance. This one will not be permitted by Labour during this term. Get a grip, lad, the path to resilience gets easier if you toughen up first…
I have a little insight into governance and the challenges it holds and expect the Green leadership will be engaged in navigating those as best they can – mostly, anyone from outside of the "circle" won't be able to accurately gauge what's happening inside, so I don't expect to hear anything much beyond speculation tinged with prejudice on the issue of James & Marama. Accounts from high-profile people who have worked with James indicate that he's very able indeed and held in high regard in and around Parliament. I have met Marama – she seemed very capable also. Likeable too. I still celebrate The Green's having achieved the position they now hold, particularly when I remember how they were portrayed/regarded/treated in the years prior to this present situation, where they hold significant roles and sit beside, not opposite to, the Government.
Good response to a good question Robert. You are the right person to ask because we know the answer will be a rational one.
I have a little insight into governance and the challenges it holds and expect the Green leadership will be engaged in navigating those as best they can – mostly, anyone from outside of the "circle" won't be able to accurately gauge what's happening inside.
To put it another way: too many ignorant loud mouthed pseudo 'experts' think they can dogmatically crucify political parties of a left persuasion in particular despite their having no knowledge what they're talking about. Journos figure prominently among them. 😉
I don't, Blade. Have you been watching/listening to any of her interviews around Maori issues, particularly those made by Maori media? She's respected and hardworking, imo.
I saw one of her interviews on Maori TV. She was OK.
I believe she is in her co-leadership position as a token gesture to diversity. When Metiria Turei was disgraced, they seem to have picked another Maori person just to show the electorate not all Maori are bad.
Jeanette Fitzsimons noted in the 90s that the Greens had to expand from their hard leftist roots if they wanted to gain political power.
She was right. But that expansion has come at a cost. The Greens have gained factions the further they moved from their roots. I predicted last year the Greens would splinter. The run up to the next election will put huge pressure on all Green factions. What gives will be the question.
James and Marama are living on borrowed time in my opinion,
We are all of us, on borrowed time, Blade. Wider circumstances will dictate the future of The Greens, as they will all of us. They have taken an ideological position that will bring them further and further forward into the political and public "lime-light" – they recognised this long ago and have remained true to their realisation. Risk-taking now could jeopardise all that preparatory work. While relative caution has its downside (criticism from risk-taking supporters), maintaining a position where their very presence has a positive effect across the Parliament and public sphere (The Greens are in! The Greens are still in! What has the world come to!! * say all critics of The Greens) is vital. Their sinking back into Opposition and losing that "iconic" role would be something to worry all of us, Imo.
That's the subtext of what we get from the complaining Greens. Just wanna oppose govt when it doesn't do sufficiently leftist stuff. Sorta like driving a car while continually turning the steering wheel to the left regardless of whether the car is approaching a left turn or not.
The Greens have essentially created a noose for their own neck by taking two Associate Minister positions in areas of policy where it is highly improbable that there will be improvement even if they could implement any significant policy changes (which they won't be able to do). Taking on Housing and Family violence will just mean the Greens get blamed when nothing improves.
Big ups then for The Greens in taking on those roles, knowing they'd be thankless ones. Lesser politicians would perhaps choose easier challenges, for the sake of looking good in the public's eye; kudos to the Green MPs for their integrity, I say.
It might be noble but it is terrible politics. If the Greens want to be regarded as serious players they need to get better at playing the game. Politics is about the art of the possible. The Greens should focus on the areas that they can make progress in. Climate change is an obvious area which they are doing this in however they should have stuck to areas like conservation or even welfare reform where they could implement changes that might make a difference rather than housing and family violence.
It's the only goal of politics and The Greens are just like every other party, right – that's why, as Gosman points out, they choose only the soft-option roles … oh … hang on …
Loosing representation in Parliament after going with Labour.
That's priceless 🤣
The Greens are in for the longterm and don't rely on one person to gain power.
PR what you want is for the greens to collapse their vote.or to Moderate their policies to be able to form a coalition with National with policies that don't change anything.
The blue rinsing of the Greens something Winston was able to do.
The only chance National has to form a Coalition next election.
Winston's Days are over he only ever sucked in National voters who wanted to put a handbrake on Labour.
Do I wish The Greens played the same sort of game Winston plays?
No thank you.
Their game is a long one. It's not surprising people scratch and itch when they don't see the plays they are used to seeing in other parties.
Are they achieving what I'd like them to achieve?
I'm confident they'll achieve all they can and they certainly don't need me chiding them. As to what I'd like to see happen, in politics, society, the environment and so on… no party comes very close to what I'd like to see (will see 🙂 but The Greens are at least within cooee 🙂
'or to Moderate their policies to be able to form a coalition with National with policies that don't change anything.'
Well close but, as an example, I would like to see no more dairy farms in areas where they're not sustainable, less water taken out of Canterbury rivers and mandatory shade shelters put up in paddocks
I think thats something that would be quite achievable for a National/Green coalition or a Labour/Green coalition
Pucky – all that glisters is not gold – it's the unseen shifting of the Overton Window that I'm watchful for. I've seen this in my own council, to dramatic effect, over time but am aware that members of the public can't easily detect the changes, as they are looking for different markers.
Hmm. Yeah, I think having the Greens on board is useful for Labour in that any policies that are good for addressing climate change or the environment but that might be unpopular with voters also ensures that any dissatisfaction is directed at the Greens rather than Labour.
But against this has to be balanced the likelihood that many ordinary voters & younger voters in particular will likely approve of them.
I don’t think the Greens are doing too badly out of the current cooperation arrangement.
Addressing family violence & housing (homelessness) are certainly going to be big challenges though. There’s only so far one can take blaming family violence on a century of colonial oppression & I think that’s been done to death in the minds of most voters now. Somewhere along the line those who commit family violence are going to have to take responsibility for their bad behaviour themselves.
And filling the towns’ & cities’ hotels & motels & Kainga Ora state housing up with some homeless people that are gang members or affiliates, and antisocials, is generating negative reactions from ordinary townfolk who have to suffer the consequences of gang-related drug dealing/usage, violence & general antisocial behaviour they weren’t previously cursed with.
But I don’t think the Greens will carry the can problems in these two areas. I think Labour will.
There's some truth to his argument, but he's mixed up cause and effect. He slates them continually, urging his readers off them, then complains when they don't have leverage.
So they try any strategy to get cut through (wacky things, straight, boring things) then get slated for that.
I reckon if he encouraged his readers to vote for them, so Labour actually needed them, THEN they'd be able to demand more policy without compromise.
They actually do, Roy, insofar as they are partly within & partly without. So you can see they have a triad of options:
1. operating within the govt, which is what the co-leaders are doing
2. remainder of caucus operating outside the govt, of which the apparent lack thereof is the basis for the complaints from the disaffected Greens
3. using a principled basis to integrate those two and communicating the strategy to the party, the broader Green movement, and the public
Note that the comms strategy they ain't using is likewise a triad. That's an example of how suitable political framing can be derived from metaphysics.
The GP also don't have the adequate media coverage. So they'll try a combination of protests and stunts (C-word rally), compromise, if that's the right word (meetings with Feds), cage-rattling (Chloe's debating other poli's), and irony (that unicorn picture). Any publicity is good publicity and all that.
My point is that Bradbury and others can't seem to differentiate between the actions they are able to perform versus what the rest of the electorate 'must be thinking about them' (because they only see through the media lens). I just think it would be way more helpful if we highlighted the good stuff, which would translate to votes, then to action. Shaming them for how they appear just isn't working in our favour.
That's a very good psychological point. Too subtle for most punters, no doubt! But definitely one that any pr or media pro the GP is using ought to get their head around tout suite!
More and more people around the world are suffering because their immune systems can no longer tell the difference between healthy cells and invading micro-organisms. Disease defences that once protected them are instead attacking their tissue and organs.
The focus of the reporter is research "to identify common genetic patterns among those suffering from an autoimmune disease". Blaming fast food is easy, habitual, and I've never noticed correlative evidence being amassed to support it. I'm more inclined to suspect the web of electromagnetic fields we live in, which has intensified considerably in recent decades.
Think of it as a matrix. It is a deep dimension of our environmental habitat which we can escape only via retreat to living remotely. Science has discovered various ways that organisms are effected by these dynamic intangible components of our life matrix. The pandemic highlights the relation of the health of victims to the state of their auto-immune defence system. I hope researchers take a broader view.
A slight touch, no more. Just enough to remind us of the longish concern that the 5G pathology arises from – the historical context stretching back to the mid-20th century. The entirety of the thing is vast.
I've been diffidently attempting to encompass it throughout my life. Easy to see how those without scientific education get spooked by simplifying it!
Thank goodness for Tiwai and it's high-quality aluminium!
I wonder if anyone in Southland has realised the huge potential down here, for a hat-making industry?
Love how so many people look for a single cause for a complex problem.
Yes, DNA hasn't changed, but we're living a lot longer and counting better – especially in emergent economies/nations . Rheumatoid Arthritis, one of the highlighted examples, is prevalent in older age groups, despite onset often occurring much, much younger.
The headline is playing to the crowd. Further down is the more important:
If you look at some autoimmune diseases – for example, lupus – it has become clear recently there are many different versions of them, that may be caused by different genetic pathways,” said Vinuesa. “And that has a consequence when you are trying to find the right treatment.
“We have lots of potentially useful new therapies that are being developed all the time, but we don’t know which patients to give them to, because we now realise we don’t know exactly which version of the disease they have. And that is now a key goal for autoimmune research. We have to learn how to group and stratify patients so we can give them the right therapy.”
For Rheumatoid, tobacco smoking (primary or secondhand) is a proven environmental factor in the development of an important 'version' and there probably a range of other environmental factors, fast food might be one, or not one at all.
Yes I see it as a natural consequence of biodiversity but also of complex systems generally. Reductionists are averse to such contemporary views.
Correlating patients with causes & effects requires pattern-matching ability, and is more inherently sophisticated than the old put 'em in known simple categories…
Reductionists are averse to such contemporary views.
Also reductionists write headlines. Did you see how many times that piece has been shared?! I'm not looking forward to another round of 'advice' from the 'well-being' people (apologies to the ones that do good work).
I keep thinking about a review I once did on childhood immune-mediated inflammatory arthritis. There's a known decent correlation between peaks and earlier bacterial/viral disease outbreaks. It could be interesting, with Covid, to review the number of cases of various auto-immune diseases in a few years.
What if the law were not merely a fossilised instrumental arm of the patriarchy? What if it were to transform itself into a force for good? Natural rights! Dr Greg Severinsen is a senior policy adviser at the Environmental Defence Society and has a PhD in resource management law:
In a recent article in Policy Quarterly I outlined the different kinds of justice we can use to scrutinise whether change is necessary for our seas. These include distributional (or intragenerational) equity, environmental justice, intergenerational justice, ecological justice, and procedural justice. Cutting across all of these is te Tiriti o Waitangi and indigenous justice.
Ecological justice is different. It is more about the interests and rights of nature itself, and looking at ways we can give the natural world a “voice” in its own future… Perhaps nature as a whole should be recognised as an entity with recognisable rights that can be defended in court
No perhaps about it – the necessity has been evaded far too long already. We expect the law profession to conserve the past and ignore the future as usual, but when the survival of humanity is at stake we need legal advocates to extricate themselves from their congenital laziness and make progress instead. Advocates for Gaia are essential.
We don’t internalise the true costs of resource use to those causing damage, and the polluter doesn’t pay – society does. So too do future generations. Coastal communities, Māori and others who rely on the ocean for food and wellbeing are often disproportionately affected by such damage in their watery backyards. For some, including Māori, this harm can also have a spiritual or metaphysical component…. humans could be viewed as part of a complex web of relationships with the natural world that needs to be respected. We are not just resource users. The environment is not just a supermarket shelf. That view is more consistent with te ao Māori, which considers whakapapa and whanaungatanga (kinship relationships) to be at the heart of environmental management, with the moana taking pride of place as an ancestor.
Well day one was not quite what I was expecting but then the first test didn't go as I thought it would.
The Black Caps were obviously hurt by their performance in the first test and surprised by the outstanding performance by Bangladesh so they wanted to put out a statement and did they ever
Are the Black Caps looking to put on their biggest test score ever, previously 715/6 declared against Bangladesh 2019, bat 7 sessions and bowl them out twice?
Is Will Young shaping up to be the new Mark Richardson, average 45 but only 4 100s and a high of 140 so reliable and consistently made good scores but didn't push on and if Young does turn out like Richardson is that bad thing (I don't think it is at all)
Will the Boss get a 100 in his last game, will it matter?
Can Bangladesh come back from (two days in the field in hot weather takes it out of you)
Conway's third century in his first five tests certainly seems an admirable foundation for a test career. Statistics suggests he could maintain that 60% rate if he stabilises self-discipline with technique…
Not only that, it's promising for the future. I started listening to test cricket in the mid-1950s when we were non-contenders & like the way the side has been trending in recent years…
I'd imagine he would and even if it takes a little longer we finally have the depth to cover him being out (as much as you can cover someone like Williamson)
Too soon to say, eh? Most unlikely to be in Bradman's class, that's for sure. There's a natural tendency for young guys to start well and then fade slowly – notice how Williamson has been unable to maintain the high standard he set in his first few years, for instance.
I see your point but conditions come into it as well (Patel 10 for against India) plus the need for rotation so your bowlers don't break down has to be considered
Personally I like variation so my team (assuming injury free) would be:
1. Latham
2. Young (I'd prefer NZ develop another opening batter)
3. Williamson
4. Conway
5. Nicholls
6. Mitchell (keep it tight at one end for the others to attack)
7. Seifert (though I'd like to see him score some runs)
8. Kyle Jamieson (height for variety)
9. Trent Boult (left arm swing for variety)
10. Adam Milne/Ben Sears/bowler that clocks above 145 (pace for variety)
11. Patel (spinner for variety)
Wagner and Southee would then come in to rest bowlers or as injury replacements (the pace bowlers most likely)
Yeah that would be good as we haven't had any genuine all rounders since Chris Cairns and Dan Vettori but I sort of see it like Tim Southee
I think Tim Southee could have worked on his batting a more and contributed a bit more with the bat but, and its a pretty big but, hes taken over 300 test wickets at under 29, only the third NZ player to do so
Would he have taken over 300 wickets if he'd concentrated on his batting a bit more…I don't know but in the same vein for Kyle I'd rather see him concentrate on his bowling and bowl teams out and therefore win
I mean if he can do both then great but bowlers win matches and maybe Mitchell can become the number 6 (and bowl a tight line like Chatfield) and Ravindra can come in at 7 or that Nathan Smiths not tracking badly …
Yeah I thought at least another 20 overs, take the score to 600 and still have 10 sessions to bowl them out twice would have been a better plan
Theres forecast for rain on Wednesday but it doesn't look to bad…still if they win it'll be deemed a good decision by the captain especially in light of the last ashes test
Why would they bother? In the first test New Zealand only got 63 runs in the first innings after the fall of the sixth wicket and only 15 in the same interval in the second innings. At that sort of rate we would only have got another 40 or so runs and all the bowlers would have to have gone out to bat. We are probably better of having all the bowlers ready to fire without having to have a session out there batting.
I think the captain asks the bowlers if they can do it or if they need a session off, basically. Hot weather down here, but on the other hand, unsettled weather later in the week, so a finely balanced decision.
I would enforce because they basically played a one dayer so less bowling and less time in the field than usual plus they probably want a little bit of payback so an innings victory will on their minds
So yeah should be good to go again tomorrow however if the bowlers are feeling a bit iffy then you'd have to take that into account
Nice to see a different thread on this site. So while we are at it, when can we return to a commentary team of articulate knowledgeable pundits rather than the qualification of "I've played test cricket so I'm an expert." Commentary used to be given by wordsmiths who had a grounding in the game. As for television we are constantly given "expertise" on what we can see for ourselves.
And finally – when did the expression "running between the wickets" come in – where else do batsmen run to – square leg?
Actually it's not finally. The second new ball came after 160 overs or 400 runs. The new ball was due after 80 overs.
Ian Galloway, Alan McGilvray and Brian Johnston would be embarrassed by this current lot. (Right throughout the cricketing world of commentary boxes)
I fear that, to get some truly great commentators we are going to have to find some way of reincarnating the dead.
I always thought the best were Brian Johnstone and Richie Benaud. Johnstone unfortunately died in 1994 and Benaud in 2015 so getting them back in the commentary box might be difficult.
Benaud had one practice I always approved of. He was doing commentary before they had the third umpire but while they had instant replay on TV. He would show you the replay and sometimes the umpire had made a mistake. However he would always finish by playing the incident at full speed with the comment that "That was what the umpire saw". At full speed it was very easy to see how they could get it wrong.
It’ll be interesting to see how National play the early part of the year. Luxon seems to have decided to drop the consistently negative approach to our Covid response.
Attack lines are going to have to be carefully managed. Housing, immigration, inflation, poverty, all have serious fish hooks for National given their track record over their last term in office. My guess would be inflation will be a primary target. Voters don’t really care that it’s not the government’s fault when it comes to supply chains, product shortages etc. National will be blaming the government as much as they can.
Okay, I admit that as a non-economist I defaulted to global framing (inflation is produced when the capitalist system malfunctions) whereas your focus was Aotearoa.
Fake vax exemption doctor Jonie Girouard 'no longer able to practise in New Zealand'
"The North Canterbury doctor under investigation for allegedly issuing fake vaccine exemptions can no longer practise medicine in New Zealand.
Dr Jonie Girouard – who runs a weight loss clinic – is an unvaccinated GP who was captured in an undercover Newshub sting late last year issuing fake certificates and coaching patients on how to get away with using them."
Went to a garage sale on the weekend. It was at the front of six units of flats. I talked to a bro who was running the garage sale. He said the landlord was selling up because of new rules around renting. He said all tenants had told the landlord they wouldn't complain about anything even if the flats didn't meet new standards. But the landlord said it was too risky. The bro and one other flat tenant are the lucky ones. They both have clapped out vans that could be slept in. The other tenants will be hitting the streets. Not a good situation. But it's happening all over New Zealand. Its another reason why this Labour coalition gummint has to go. We need firm policy from National as to how they will tackle these renting market issues. Will they have the guts to make changes? Or will it be another typical Tory government that continues the status quo? I said last year it's only a matter of time before visible tent communities spring up all over New Zealand. It looks like that process is well under way.
Expecting a Natz government to give a solitary f**k about the poor of this country seems to fit the definition of insanity to me.
True – and yet it would probably be their best competitive strategy. Housing has already been identified as a govt. weak point – if National actually got off their gluteus and did something useful for the first time in four or five decades, they might have a dogs show of getting back in.
I've been spending a bit of time in the MacKenzie recently. One cannot help but notice that none of our current parties seems up to public interest projects on the scale of the canals. They are like jackals slinking through the ruins of our country – certainly not the equal of the parties that went before them.
Christchurch suffered a bit of an inflexion a few years back, and one of the curiosities in the way it was rebuilt, where it was, is that many rebuilds have, shall we say, a whiff of Evergrande about them – they seem somehow less permanent than they might be.
The first cause is still going strong all around the Ring of Fire, but as a housing solution, it does not bend especially readily to human convenience:
And if California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing until I pay my bill ~ Warren Zevon
I have a feeling however, that good governance lies more in deliberate constructive action, than in abandoning one's responsibilities to either the vagaries of 'the market' or to the cthonic forces released along the subduction zones of the Pacific plate.
Doing something different is the way to go when facing a vexing problem. However, doing something different – successfully or not – to only align with your ideological worldview is no better than keeping the status quo.
I had occasion to call the Apple-online assistance today. And the automated system gave me some options. What type of music I should prefer in the possible/likely event, that I might be on hold. I could choose Contemporary, Classic, Jazz, and (well I do not know how many further options because I had already pressed "2" for classical. Sadly, it didn't last the eternity of our IP's, Insurances, IRD or other help desks. Apple were too efficient and someone in The Philippines soon interrupted my blissful disposition and took up my service request. However, if only …
…one can still hope. Just who is it that selects the screeching crass sounds that pass for music on most "waiting" systems.
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Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
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Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
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Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
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Open access notablesA Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future:Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
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Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
Alwyn Poole writes – After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
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I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
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. ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
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 ...
Asia Pacific Report Barangay New Zealand’s Rene Molina has interviewed the country’s first Filipino Green MP Francisco Hernandez who was sworn into Parliament yesterday as the party’s latest member. This is the first interview with Hernandez who replaces former Green Party co-leader James Shaw after his retirement from politics to ...
An Australian Strategic Policy Institute report says Pillar Two could raise the industry to state of the art capability - or "crush" it "under the weight of the globe's biggest player". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marlene Longbottom, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education & Research Centre, James Cook University ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to ...
“Instead of following along countries that are investing in death and better ways of killing people faster, we need to invest in life and in making Aotearoa a fair, just and equitable place where everyone has what they need for a dignified life.” ...
MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI, TPM MP FOR TAI TOKERAU This Government will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori. CHRISTOPHER LUXON Oh well look you know I don’t think that hard-working Kiwis want to hear language like that. It’s just really unhelpful rhetoric. My Government is genuinely committed to advancing outcomes ...
The body positivity movement started with women confronting the unrealistic expectations and unrepresentative portrayals of them in media and advertising. Men weren’t part of it … their bodies hadn’t been sexualised to the same extremes and they didn’t really need it. But now that’s changed. And in a warped sort ...
The New Zealand comedy legend takes us through her life in television, including the time she hugged Elton John and the unshakeable legacy of a girl named Lyn. In 1981, Ginette McDonald stood on the stage of Auckland’s St James Theatre and directly addressed Queen Elizabeth II. It was a ...
An essay by Lily Duval from the just-released anthology Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child adjacent.I was 22 when my friend Alice gave birth in the living room of our pokey Addington flat. She laboured in the blow-up pool for hours. Garish fish swam along the inflated ...
Ella Borrie on the best books about motherhood she’s come across so far. Over the past few years I’ve been drawn to books about motherhood. I’m fascinated by the joys and horrors of becoming a parent. The question of children also feels more pressing than it used to. It’s like ...
Out of gift ideas for mum? You can’t go wrong with a bottle of toilet cleaner and a new squeegee. Emily Writes is the writer and editor of Emily Writes Weekly. This week marks five years since I published a post on The Spinoff about Mother’s Day marketing titled ‘A ...
My husband is posted overseas for 12 months and I’m armed with an expensive, newfangled vibrator. Will I miss him? The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.A few days after my husband leaves, a new sex toy arrives at the front door. Nestled ...
Jaimie Baird’s new book Here Today Gone Tomorrow is a record of four decades of graffiti and street art in Wellington, told through more than 1,200 photographs. He spoke with Joel MacManus about what inspired the book. How did you first get interested in photographing street art? I remember ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at a busy week where food of all political leanings dominated. Sometimes you’re just going about your week thinking you’ve got a good handle on what might be coming as far as news topics and then someone (usually a politician) says something so ridiculous that ...
In Melbourne’s hardscrabble western suburbs where AFL – Aussie rules football – is a state religion, Callum Donaldson has been quietly grafting away, four months into an odyssey that he hopes will take him to another promised land: the NRL. It was a solid 2023 for the softly spoken 20-year-old ...
In a week of cold rain and frost, the climate in courtroom four upstairs at the Invercargill courthouse was simmering with restrained indignation. At times it felt like the famous Mexican standoff scene from Reservoir Dogs, or, as someone watching the proceedings described it, there was so much throwing of ...
A banner notification alerts me to the fact that I’ve received an Instagram message from @felicity.loves. She always comments on my posts. I shouldn’t have opened the message, but clicked on the notification before rationalising this. OMG! Are you in Wellys? X I debate not replying, but Instagram will inform ...
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
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Greens voter slags the Greens:
But there's more!
I've made a few milder comments onsite here over the past year so I'm not disagreeing with his view, just inclined to cut Labour some slack on the basis of prioritising pandemic management. Let's see what this year brings us before rendering a verdict.
Sad, but true. They believe they must walk and therefore they can't possibly chew gum at the same time. Conformity rules, ok?
Dunno if it would take that long. More likely a couple of hours on a zoom call to hear all views, after which the Executive would meet to thrash out a way to fake consensus.
There Is No Alternative. TINA. Got it?
Alternate realities can be fun. They can be instructive too, providing guidance. This one will not be permitted by Labour during this term. Get a grip, lad, the path to resilience gets easier if you toughen up first…
"I warned the Greens!", warbles Bradbury, as he regularly does.
"I know what's best for them!" he doubtless thinks.
Are you happy with the GP ,its leadership and performance Robert?
I have a little insight into governance and the challenges it holds and expect the Green leadership will be engaged in navigating those as best they can – mostly, anyone from outside of the "circle" won't be able to accurately gauge what's happening inside, so I don't expect to hear anything much beyond speculation tinged with prejudice on the issue of James & Marama. Accounts from high-profile people who have worked with James indicate that he's very able indeed and held in high regard in and around Parliament. I have met Marama – she seemed very capable also. Likeable too. I still celebrate The Green's having achieved the position they now hold, particularly when I remember how they were portrayed/regarded/treated in the years prior to this present situation, where they hold significant roles and sit beside, not opposite to, the Government.
Good response to a good question Robert. You are the right person to ask because we know the answer will be a rational one.
To put it another way: too many ignorant loud mouthed pseudo 'experts' think they can dogmatically crucify political parties of a left persuasion in particular despite their having no knowledge what they're talking about. Journos figure prominently among them. 😉
So you don't consider Marama a liability for the Greens, Robert? I do, although I'm only going by her public utterances.
I don't, Blade. Have you been watching/listening to any of her interviews around Maori issues, particularly those made by Maori media? She's respected and hardworking, imo.
I saw one of her interviews on Maori TV. She was OK.
I believe she is in her co-leadership position as a token gesture to diversity. When Metiria Turei was disgraced, they seem to have picked another Maori person just to show the electorate not all Maori are bad.
Jeanette Fitzsimons noted in the 90s that the Greens had to expand from their hard leftist roots if they wanted to gain political power.
She was right. But that expansion has come at a cost. The Greens have gained factions the further they moved from their roots. I predicted last year the Greens would splinter. The run up to the next election will put huge pressure on all Green factions. What gives will be the question.
James and Marama are living on borrowed time in my opinion,
We are all of us, on borrowed time, Blade. Wider circumstances will dictate the future of The Greens, as they will all of us. They have taken an ideological position that will bring them further and further forward into the political and public "lime-light" – they recognised this long ago and have remained true to their realisation. Risk-taking now could jeopardise all that preparatory work. While relative caution has its downside (criticism from risk-taking supporters), maintaining a position where their very presence has a positive effect across the Parliament and public sphere (The Greens are in! The Greens are still in! What has the world come to!! * say all critics of The Greens) is vital. Their sinking back into Opposition and losing that "iconic" role would be something to worry all of us, Imo.
sinking back into Opposition
That's the subtext of what we get from the complaining Greens. Just wanna oppose govt when it doesn't do sufficiently leftist stuff. Sorta like driving a car while continually turning the steering wheel to the left regardless of whether the car is approaching a left turn or not.
The Greens have essentially created a noose for their own neck by taking two Associate Minister positions in areas of policy where it is highly improbable that there will be improvement even if they could implement any significant policy changes (which they won't be able to do). Taking on Housing and Family violence will just mean the Greens get blamed when nothing improves.
Big ups then for The Greens in taking on those roles, knowing they'd be thankless ones. Lesser politicians would perhaps choose easier challenges, for the sake of looking good in the public's eye; kudos to the Green MPs for their integrity, I say.
It might be noble but it is terrible politics. If the Greens want to be regarded as serious players they need to get better at playing the game. Politics is about the art of the possible. The Greens should focus on the areas that they can make progress in. Climate change is an obvious area which they are doing this in however they should have stuck to areas like conservation or even welfare reform where they could implement changes that might make a difference rather than housing and family violence.
Get better at playing the game?
They seem to be sitting on the better side of the House, Gosman.
That's well-played, in my opinion.
The Greens should, The Greens should, intone their opponents.
Perhaps The Greens have and are.
They're not flailing helplessly on the Opposition benches, as other small parties are and will be for some considerable time yet.
Power for the sake of power, is that it Robert?
Of course that's what I meant, Pucky!
It's the only goal of politics and The Greens are just like every other party, right – that's why, as Gosman points out, they choose only the soft-option roles … oh … hang on …
Are they achieving what you'd like them to achieve given what Winston was able to do?
Loosing representation in Parliament after going with Labour.
That's priceless 🤣
The Greens are in for the longterm and don't rely on one person to gain power.
PR what you want is for the greens to collapse their vote.or to Moderate their policies to be able to form a coalition with National with policies that don't change anything.
The blue rinsing of the Greens something Winston was able to do.
The only chance National has to form a Coalition next election.
Winston's Days are over he only ever sucked in National voters who wanted to put a handbrake on Labour.
Do I wish The Greens played the same sort of game Winston plays?
No thank you.
Their game is a long one. It's not surprising people scratch and itch when they don't see the plays they are used to seeing in other parties.
Are they achieving what I'd like them to achieve?
I'm confident they'll achieve all they can and they certainly don't need me chiding them. As to what I'd like to see happen, in politics, society, the environment and so on… no party comes very close to what I'd like to see (will see 🙂 but The Greens are at least within cooee 🙂
At Tricledrown:
'or to Moderate their policies to be able to form a coalition with National with policies that don't change anything.'
Well close but, as an example, I would like to see no more dairy farms in areas where they're not sustainable, less water taken out of Canterbury rivers and mandatory shade shelters put up in paddocks
I think thats something that would be quite achievable for a National/Green coalition or a Labour/Green coalition
At Robert, a very long game indeed
PR after Nick Smith single handedly undermined Ecan allowing unfettered pollution to destroy Canterbury rivers.
The chances of the Greens going into coalition with National are Zero.
So you would be better voting Green and Labour that would a least give a chance for Rivers to be cleaned up.
Under National more rivers will be damaged.
Pucky – all that glisters is not gold – it's the unseen shifting of the Overton Window that I'm watchful for. I've seen this in my own council, to dramatic effect, over time but am aware that members of the public can't easily detect the changes, as they are looking for different markers.
Hmm. Yeah, I think having the Greens on board is useful for Labour in that any policies that are good for addressing climate change or the environment but that might be unpopular with voters also ensures that any dissatisfaction is directed at the Greens rather than Labour.
But against this has to be balanced the likelihood that many ordinary voters & younger voters in particular will likely approve of them.
I don’t think the Greens are doing too badly out of the current cooperation arrangement.
Addressing family violence & housing (homelessness) are certainly going to be big challenges though. There’s only so far one can take blaming family violence on a century of colonial oppression & I think that’s been done to death in the minds of most voters now. Somewhere along the line those who commit family violence are going to have to take responsibility for their bad behaviour themselves.
And filling the towns’ & cities’ hotels & motels & Kainga Ora state housing up with some homeless people that are gang members or affiliates, and antisocials, is generating negative reactions from ordinary townfolk who have to suffer the consequences of gang-related drug dealing/usage, violence & general antisocial behaviour they weren’t previously cursed with.
But I don’t think the Greens will carry the can problems in these two areas. I think Labour will.
There's some truth to his argument, but he's mixed up cause and effect. He slates them continually, urging his readers off them, then complains when they don't have leverage.
So they try any strategy to get cut through (wacky things, straight, boring things) then get slated for that.
I reckon if he encouraged his readers to vote for them, so Labour actually needed them, THEN they'd be able to demand more policy without compromise.
Couldn't be worse than his current strategy.
they don't have leverage
They actually do, Roy, insofar as they are partly within & partly without. So you can see they have a triad of options:
1. operating within the govt, which is what the co-leaders are doing
2. remainder of caucus operating outside the govt, of which the apparent lack thereof is the basis for the complaints from the disaffected Greens
3. using a principled basis to integrate those two and communicating the strategy to the party, the broader Green movement, and the public
Note that the comms strategy they ain't using is likewise a triad. That's an example of how suitable political framing can be derived from metaphysics.
The GP also don't have
theadequate media coverage. So they'll try a combination of protests and stunts (C-word rally), compromise, if that's the right word (meetings with Feds), cage-rattling (Chloe's debating other poli's), and irony (that unicorn picture). Any publicity is good publicity and all that.My point is that Bradbury and others can't seem to differentiate between the actions they are able to perform versus what the rest of the electorate 'must be thinking about them' (because they only see through the media lens). I just think it would be way more helpful if we highlighted the good stuff, which would translate to votes, then to action. Shaming them for how they appear just isn't working in our favour.
That's a very good psychological point. Too subtle for most punters, no doubt! But definitely one that any pr or media pro the GP is using ought to get their head around tout suite!
The focus of the reporter is research "to identify common genetic patterns among those suffering from an autoimmune disease". Blaming fast food is easy, habitual, and I've never noticed correlative evidence being amassed to support it. I'm more inclined to suspect the web of electromagnetic fields we live in, which has intensified considerably in recent decades.
Think of it as a matrix. It is a deep dimension of our environmental habitat which we can escape only via retreat to living remotely. Science has discovered various ways that organisms are effected by these dynamic intangible components of our life matrix. The pandemic highlights the relation of the health of victims to the state of their auto-immune defence system. I hope researchers take a broader view.
A touch of 5G-itis this morning, Dennis?
A slight touch, no more. Just enough to remind us of the longish concern that the 5G pathology arises from – the historical context stretching back to the mid-20th century. The entirety of the thing is vast.
I've been diffidently attempting to encompass it throughout my life. Easy to see how those without scientific education get spooked by simplifying it!
Thank goodness for Tiwai and it's high-quality aluminium!
I wonder if anyone in Southland has realised the huge potential down here, for a hat-making industry?
Good thinking there! Raise it with your local chamber of commerce. Make
hayhats while thesun still shinesthing still produces.Tiwai Pt…the longest Bluff in NZ corporate history…'give us $30 million' or we …will..shoot ..ourselves!
Dr Neil Cherry.
Yep, has plenty of company too. A good global review of research here: https://www.healthline.com/health/emf
In this debate, you'll run the risk of being accused of cherry-picking, Blade!
Love how so many people look for a single cause for a complex problem.
Yes, DNA hasn't changed, but we're living a lot longer and counting better – especially in emergent economies/nations . Rheumatoid Arthritis, one of the highlighted examples, is prevalent in older age groups, despite onset often occurring much, much younger.
The headline is playing to the crowd. Further down is the more important:
For Rheumatoid, tobacco smoking (primary or secondhand) is a proven environmental factor in the development of an important 'version' and there probably a range of other environmental factors, fast food might be one, or not one at all.
Yes I see it as a natural consequence of biodiversity but also of complex systems generally. Reductionists are averse to such contemporary views.
Correlating patients with causes & effects requires pattern-matching ability, and is more inherently sophisticated than the old put 'em in known simple categories…
Also reductionists write headlines. Did you see how many times that piece has been shared?! I'm not looking forward to another round of 'advice' from the 'well-being' people (apologies to the ones that do good work).
I keep thinking about a review I once did on childhood immune-mediated inflammatory arthritis. There's a known decent correlation between peaks and earlier bacterial/viral disease outbreaks. It could be interesting, with Covid, to review the number of cases of various auto-immune diseases in a few years.
What if the law were not merely a fossilised instrumental arm of the patriarchy? What if it were to transform itself into a force for good? Natural rights! Dr Greg Severinsen is a senior policy adviser at the Environmental Defence Society and has a PhD in resource management law:
No perhaps about it – the necessity has been evaded far too long already. We expect the law profession to conserve the past and ignore the future as usual, but when the survival of humanity is at stake we need legal advocates to extricate themselves from their congenital laziness and make progress instead. Advocates for Gaia are essential.
January 9 2022 the date that the NZ Herald launched the National party election campaign for 2023:
Cricket, cricket, cricket!
Well day one was not quite what I was expecting but then the first test didn't go as I thought it would.
The Black Caps were obviously hurt by their performance in the first test and surprised by the outstanding performance by Bangladesh so they wanted to put out a statement and did they ever
Are the Black Caps looking to put on their biggest test score ever, previously 715/6 declared against Bangladesh 2019, bat 7 sessions and bowl them out twice?
Is Will Young shaping up to be the new Mark Richardson, average 45 but only 4 100s and a high of 140 so reliable and consistently made good scores but didn't push on and if Young does turn out like Richardson is that bad thing (I don't think it is at all)
Will the Boss get a 100 in his last game, will it matter?
Can Bangladesh come back from (two days in the field in hot weather takes it out of you)
Conway's third century in his first five tests certainly seems an admirable foundation for a test career. Statistics suggests he could maintain that 60% rate if he stabilises self-discipline with technique…
A top five of:
Latham
Young
Williamson
Conway
Nicholls
Isn't too shabby at all
Not only that, it's promising for the future. I started listening to test cricket in the mid-1950s when we were non-contenders & like the way the side has been trending in recent years…
Yeah our middle order batting looks strong and guys waiting in the wings, all these guys average 40+ in FC cricket:
Mark Chapman (handy spinner)
Dane Clever (wicket keeper)
Tom Bruce
Will Williamson recover from the elbow injury?
I'd imagine he would and even if it takes a little longer we finally have the depth to cover him being out (as much as you can cover someone like Williamson)
That would be quite a feat. After all Bradman only got centuries in 56% of the tests he played and Tendulkar only got a century in 26% of his tests.
Do you think that Conway is better than they were?
Too soon to say, eh? Most unlikely to be in Bradman's class, that's for sure. There's a natural tendency for young guys to start well and then fade slowly – notice how Williamson has been unable to maintain the high standard he set in his first few years, for instance.
I'd be more than happy with Conway averaging only 50 over his entire test career…
Well the Boss certainly has a good chance of a 100 now…
Regarding team selection.
Shouldn't you select your best bowlers no matter what the conditions?
And if the bowler who could take wickets when no one else could is one of your best, shouldn't they be selected?
I see your point but conditions come into it as well (Patel 10 for against India) plus the need for rotation so your bowlers don't break down has to be considered
Personally I like variation so my team (assuming injury free) would be:
1. Latham
2. Young (I'd prefer NZ develop another opening batter)
3. Williamson
4. Conway
5. Nicholls
6. Mitchell (keep it tight at one end for the others to attack)
7. Seifert (though I'd like to see him score some runs)
8. Kyle Jamieson (height for variety)
9. Trent Boult (left arm swing for variety)
10. Adam Milne/Ben Sears/bowler that clocks above 145 (pace for variety)
11. Patel (spinner for variety)
Wagner and Southee would then come in to rest bowlers or as injury replacements (the pace bowlers most likely)
Possibly Jamieson will evolve into a proper allrounder.
Hold his place as both bowler and batter. At the moment our all rounders don't achieve that.
Then he could bat at 6, and leave room for another bowler.
Yeah that would be good as we haven't had any genuine all rounders since Chris Cairns and Dan Vettori but I sort of see it like Tim Southee
I think Tim Southee could have worked on his batting a more and contributed a bit more with the bat but, and its a pretty big but, hes taken over 300 test wickets at under 29, only the third NZ player to do so
Would he have taken over 300 wickets if he'd concentrated on his batting a bit more…I don't know but in the same vein for Kyle I'd rather see him concentrate on his bowling and bowl teams out and therefore win
I mean if he can do both then great but bowlers win matches and maybe Mitchell can become the number 6 (and bowl a tight line like Chatfield) and Ravindra can come in at 7 or that Nathan Smiths not tracking badly …
Didn’t think we’d declare so early. Usually 30/40 minutes before stumps? Or just before lunch on day 3.
Yeah I thought at least another 20 overs, take the score to 600 and still have 10 sessions to bowl them out twice would have been a better plan
Theres forecast for rain on Wednesday but it doesn't look to bad…still if they win it'll be deemed a good decision by the captain especially in light of the last ashes test
Why would they bother? In the first test New Zealand only got 63 runs in the first innings after the fall of the sixth wicket and only 15 in the same interval in the second innings. At that sort of rate we would only have got another 40 or so runs and all the bowlers would have to have gone out to bat. We are probably better of having all the bowlers ready to fire without having to have a session out there batting.
11/4 so maybe not a bad decision
Not wanting to get ahead of myself but…
Do you enforce the follow on if they’re more than 250/300 behind. Aussie seem not, and it works for them.
I think the captain asks the bowlers if they can do it or if they need a session off, basically. Hot weather down here, but on the other hand, unsettled weather later in the week, so a finely balanced decision.
I would enforce because they basically played a one dayer so less bowling and less time in the field than usual plus they probably want a little bit of payback so an innings victory will on their minds
So yeah should be good to go again tomorrow however if the bowlers are feeling a bit iffy then you'd have to take that into account
Nice to see a different thread on this site. So while we are at it, when can we return to a commentary team of articulate knowledgeable pundits rather than the qualification of "I've played test cricket so I'm an expert." Commentary used to be given by wordsmiths who had a grounding in the game. As for television we are constantly given "expertise" on what we can see for ourselves.
And finally – when did the expression "running between the wickets" come in – where else do batsmen run to – square leg?
Actually it's not finally. The second new ball came after 160 overs or 400 runs. The new ball was due after 80 overs.
Ian Galloway, Alan McGilvray and Brian Johnston would be embarrassed by this current lot. (Right throughout the cricketing world of commentary boxes)
@logie97
I fear that, to get some truly great commentators we are going to have to find some way of reincarnating the dead.
I always thought the best were Brian Johnstone and Richie Benaud. Johnstone unfortunately died in 1994 and Benaud in 2015 so getting them back in the commentary box might be difficult.
Benaud had one practice I always approved of. He was doing commentary before they had the third umpire but while they had instant replay on TV. He would show you the replay and sometimes the umpire had made a mistake. However he would always finish by playing the incident at full speed with the comment that "That was what the umpire saw". At full speed it was very easy to see how they could get it wrong.
It’ll be interesting to see how National play the early part of the year. Luxon seems to have decided to drop the consistently negative approach to our Covid response.
Attack lines are going to have to be carefully managed. Housing, immigration, inflation, poverty, all have serious fish hooks for National given their track record over their last term in office. My guess would be inflation will be a primary target. Voters don’t really care that it’s not the government’s fault when it comes to supply chains, product shortages etc. National will be blaming the government as much as they can.
Whether it works or not, time will tell.
Steve Forbes has a binary view: https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveforbes/2022/01/07/will-inflation-cause-a-stock-market-crash-in-2022/?sh=6921bf3d5a44
Okay, I admit that as a non-economist I defaulted to global framing (inflation is produced when the capitalist system malfunctions) whereas your focus was Aotearoa.
I was pleased to see this:
Fake vax exemption doctor Jonie Girouard 'no longer able to practise in New Zealand'
"The North Canterbury doctor under investigation for allegedly issuing fake vaccine exemptions can no longer practise medicine in New Zealand.
Dr Jonie Girouard – who runs a weight loss clinic – is an unvaccinated GP who was captured in an undercover Newshub sting late last year issuing fake certificates and coaching patients on how to get away with using them."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-fake-vax-exemption-doctor-jonie-girouard-no-longer-able-to-practise-in-new-zealand/ELYAK5VECGTJDU6KLBDQTX4DEM/
Went to a garage sale on the weekend. It was at the front of six units of flats. I talked to a bro who was running the garage sale. He said the landlord was selling up because of new rules around renting. He said all tenants had told the landlord they wouldn't complain about anything even if the flats didn't meet new standards. But the landlord said it was too risky. The bro and one other flat tenant are the lucky ones. They both have clapped out vans that could be slept in. The other tenants will be hitting the streets. Not a good situation. But it's happening all over New Zealand. Its another reason why this Labour coalition gummint has to go. We need firm policy from National as to how they will tackle these renting market issues. Will they have the guts to make changes? Or will it be another typical Tory government that continues the status quo? I said last year it's only a matter of time before visible tent communities spring up all over New Zealand. It looks like that process is well under way.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127062235/the-people-sleeping-rough-in-nelson
Einstein's (I think it was) definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Expecting a Natz government to give a solitary f**k about the poor of this country seems to fit the definition of insanity to me.
Expecting a Natz government to give a solitary f**k about the poor of this country seems to fit the definition of insanity to me.
True – and yet it would probably be their best competitive strategy. Housing has already been identified as a govt. weak point – if National actually got off their gluteus and did something useful for the first time in four or five decades, they might have a dogs show of getting back in.
I've been spending a bit of time in the MacKenzie recently. One cannot help but notice that none of our current parties seems up to public interest projects on the scale of the canals. They are like jackals slinking through the ruins of our country – certainly not the equal of the parties that went before them.
Ok so if all prices are raising but Christchurch is still rated as affordable (for now)
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/454639/christchurch-housing-remains-affordable-despite-rising-prices
The question should be asked is how did Christchurch manage this and can it be done in other centres
Christchurch suffered a bit of an inflexion a few years back, and one of the curiosities in the way it was rebuilt, where it was, is that many rebuilds have, shall we say, a whiff of Evergrande about them – they seem somehow less permanent than they might be.
The first cause is still going strong all around the Ring of Fire, but as a housing solution, it does not bend especially readily to human convenience:
And if California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing until I pay my bill ~ Warren Zevon
I have a feeling however, that good governance lies more in deliberate constructive action, than in abandoning one's responsibilities to either the vagaries of 'the market' or to the cthonic forces released along the subduction zones of the Pacific plate.
Wizards aren't famous for explaining their spells – hadn't you noticed??
Doing something different is the way to go when facing a vexing problem. However, doing something different – successfully or not – to only align with your ideological worldview is no better than keeping the status quo.
Ah, bliss at last.
I had occasion to call the Apple-online assistance today. And the automated system gave me some options. What type of music I should prefer in the possible/likely event, that I might be on hold. I could choose Contemporary, Classic, Jazz, and (well I do not know how many further options because I had already pressed "2" for classical. Sadly, it didn't last the eternity of our IP's, Insurances, IRD or other help desks. Apple were too efficient and someone in The Philippines soon interrupted my blissful disposition and took up my service request. However, if only …
…one can still hope. Just who is it that selects the screeching crass sounds that pass for music on most "waiting" systems.
The credibility of this site takes a hit when any old shit like the It's Time junk is allowed past the vetting process.
Go ahead and unpick his arguments…then.