My wait time to get hip Xrays was seven weeks.
Now I am in the third week of waiting for the specialist to look at my Xrays and say where I am on the scale and the likely wait for an appointment.
After this wait, I might be lucky and receive a date stamp assuring me of an operation within 4 months.
Being 76 and due for an unpaid mammogram, I rang a private provider. A robotic voice asked me my name and address, and then asked me to confirm my phone number and place in the queue by pressing the hash key. Is this our future?
We contact a department an get put in a queue for a future contact?
Has been the new normal for some time patricia bremner . Especially with the so called super ministries. IRD has been like that for an age.
If I was being cynical, I’d suggest it’s so community agencies like age concern, citizens advice bureau , and community law can’t help people directly. If I was being cynical.
Best of luck with the medical professions, these days you need a bucket load of luck, just to survive the bureaucracy in the health system.
What DHB are you dealing with?
A friend of mine, in Capital and Coast went through the whole thing, from referral by his GP to having the Op in less than 3 months last year, starting in June.
My own experience from 2014 was about 4 months from referral to Op in the same DHB area. That was for both hips so it might have been a different set of priorities.
I know the DHBs vary but yours seems ridiculously long just to get through the Specialist examination.
When you do get it the main thing seems to be to complain about how painful it is. That seems to be the main criteria for how urgent it is.
Am I being unduly cynical if I suggest that things seem to have got worse, not better since the change of Government?
Hello Alwyn, Rotorua Lakes. They did have a fire in records late last year, so that may have caused a few more weeks delay. It is painful all the time, and the Xray radiologist said she could see why it was so painful. The Dr. tells me to watch weight bearing, (I now use a walker and a wheelchair for more than 20 metres as it is so painful). So apparently the hold up has to be the system. So waiting……..
Thanks for the replies.
I wish you the best of luck in getting the op soon.
I never got quite as bad as to need a wheelchair but anything over 50 metres or not being on the flat hurt like hell.
The consolation is that the pain in the joint goes immediately you have the op. You still have to get over it and rebuild the muscle but it won’t hurt the way it used to.
It is like most ailments these days I think. Everyone seems to need hip or knee replacements, or cataract operations. I suspect it is simply because our bodies were intended for the Biblical three score and ten but we are all living a lot longer.
Patrick Cockburn reports on the little known atrocities in Afrin on the Kurds by the Turkish army and its associates.
It is a story worth reading.
He concludes the report.
“I have been struck since 2011 by the unbalanced way in which the Syrian war has been reported by the media. Vast attention was given to the sufferings inflicted on the people of East Aleppo in 2016 under attack by Syrian government and Russian air strikes, but very little notice was taken of the almost complete destruction of Isis-held Raqqa, with massive civilian casualties, at the hands of the US-led coalition.
I used to attribute such uneven coverage of the war to the greater skill and resources of the Syrian opposition in recording and publicising atrocities committed by the Syrian government and its allies. Isis had no interest in the fate of civilians under its control. But in Afrin there is no shortage of film of the suffering of civilians, but it simply is not widely broadcast or printed. In many respects, the role of the international media in the Syrian war has been as partial and misleading as the warring parties inside the country or their foreign sponsors without.”
The “Free Syrian Army” was (or so we were told) defectors and rebels who weren’t Jihadists. Western governments claimed that meant they were worthy of funding and support.
Now they are openly fighting alongside ISIS (as reported by liberal western media), other head-choppers and the Turkish army against non-government forces.
How does that western government dance of explanation and justification go I wonder?
I don’t expect to see or hear anything on that front.
As Cockburn points out, the peoples of Afrin are more or less invisible. Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge any kind of ceasefire is simply “not a thing”. And East Ghouta is Aleppo re-dux in terms of western propaganda. I wonder who the new Bana will be? 👿
‘While MSM Screams About Eastern Ghouta, US Bombs Kill Over 100 Syrian Civilians’
‘During the month of February, US-led coalition air strikes killed at least 100 Syrian civilians, many of them children, in Deir Ezzor province, and the mainstream media has completely ignored the story. ’
Ever wondered why the fascists at Charlottsville wore T shirts with Assad’s image? Or why the neo-nazi white supremacist who drove his car into anti-fascist protesters posted pro-Assad propaganda on his facebook page the day before he murdered, Heather Heyer and injured 35 others?
When the neo-Nazi who smashed his Dodge Charger into a crowd of anti-Nazi demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia – killing a woman and injuring many others – was found to have posted a Facebook photo supportive of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, more than a few lay observers were left scratching their heads.
Adding to the confusion were videos from the scene showing fellow white supremacists in Charlottesville voicing sympathies for Assad (‘Assad’s the man, brother! Assad’s the man!’); one even wearing a t-shirt depicting a helicopter next to the words, ‘Bashar’s Barrel Delivery Co.’.
That the fascist mob should be enamoured of President Trump seemed comprehensible enough. But why should they be keen on a non-Aryan, non-Christian – indeed, Arab and Muslim, no less – leader with ties to such notorious Islamist entities as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Republic of Iran?
‘Syria’s Assad has become an unexpected icon of the far right in America’, declared a Washington Post headline, in a nod at the general puzzlement. This was a fine article but an unfortunate title, for it was only ‘unexpected’ for those unaware of Damascus’ open courtship of the global far-right stretching back many years now (the headline was later amended to remove the word ‘unexpected’). As this author put it in a Twitter thread:
After I tweeted the above, a number of people wrote back to ask if I might venture an explanation for what they evidently found a perplexing alliance. Why do fascists like the Assad regime? The simplest answer is that the Assad regime is a fascist regime. The brownshirts know a brother-in-arms when they see one.
Utterly hostile to democracy of any but the most flagrantly fraudulent kind, the Syrian regime plasters its führer’s face on every public square and building and murders civilians with poison gas. One of the very few political parties tolerated alongside the ruling Baathists is the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (name remind you of anything?), founded in the 1930s by a professor of German, which brandishes a swastika-inspired flag and boasts of killing ‘the Jews of the interior’ and ‘the racist Jewish enemy’, its terminology for the Syrian rebels its militia fights. In its prisons, the regime tortures opponents using methods borrowed directly from the Third Reich, such as the so-called ‘German chair’ (indeed it was said to have been the aforementioned Herr Brunner who personally passed on this expertise). One of the dungeons not far from the presidential palace, Saydnaya, where Amnesty International says dozens are exterminated every week, now even has its own crematorium on-site for added Auschwitz effect.
Does anyone remember the baby-faced billionaire of a pharmaceutical company who raised the price of a vital medicine from $13.50 to $750 a tablet? He also said he probably should have charged even more:
All those who participated in ICOs that weren’t what was claimed will join him shortly. That may include celebrities who endorsed the fake ICOs (aiding and abetting securities fraud).
Given the number of people that involves the may need a new jail.
ECO MAORIs Kiwi Bank ac 389019048573100 Please help me to sort the nz police out
I decided against trying to use PayPal to receive donations .I decided to copy
Thestandards safe way of appealing and receiving donations I set up a Kiwi Bank AC
So he tangata the people of Aoteraoroa New Zealand who support ECO MAORI can use internet banking to make donations and know that there bank accounts are safe after they have made a donation . ECO MAORI will use the donations to SUE the nz police for all the breaches to mine and my Whano Privacy Rights & Human Rights a lot of people can see this has been happening to ECO MAORI when I win my case I will set up a
Charitable Trust and I will pay the money that I used and any extra donations into this Trust account and appeal to anyone else in Aoteraoroa who need help with finance to SUE the nz police for there in justices I will copy bank statements on this site to let he tangata the people know that ECO MAORI has Honest Honorable and transparent intentions to use your hard earned Putea Money. .
Kia Kaha Ka kite ano
The New Zealand justice systems have a bad culture of covering up there colleges bad behavior of sexual harassment and what the covering up of this behavior does .
The bad behavior becomes the norm it is acceptable to do bad things treat our ladys like a piece meat a object I certainly would not like to think anyone could treat my Mokos like that and they get away with it because it the norm.
This bad behavior within the professions of justice business management is the reason OUR ladies are not represented equally in Management theres good news
Andrew Little is going to sorte it out Ka pai ka kite ano here the link.
Te Labour Party is treating and giving the 3 member’s of the tpp 11 that have retained the right to sue New Zealand like I use to when I was young and NAIVE .
I use to have a illusion that everyone thought like me they were honest I could trust everyone they won’t lie and steal from me . Now that Im a silver back and with help from my wife I know that some people will do all of above to get more putea money.
They are leaving our mokos future to fiat that theses 3 countrys won’t end up with a person like trump running them .Or in the future these country’s running out of there resources and looking at Aotearoa New Zealand and stripping our mokos of there resources if they are blocked from doing what they want they sue come on wake up New Zealand we can not trust over countrys with our mokos future thats a fact surely we are intelligent enough to work that REALITY OUT Ana to kai ka kite ano
This is human influenced Warming of our Climate on Papatuanuku warming caused by all the carbon being spewed into Papatuanuku environment .
This is reality that some people are trying to hide from te tangata the people heres another link. Ka kite ano
Lisa Owen trump has just taken a dump on his nation and most of other nations on Papatuanuku just to try and cling to the power of the American President with his steal & aluminium tariffs
enough said ka kite ano
I got SKY connected now I can tautoko Maori TV only problem is you people make me hungry for kai moana .Kawekorero show kia kaha ka kite ano P.S I strongly agree with what Ella Henry views on Maoris reality in Aoteraroa at the minute
Kawekorero the situation we find 1/4 of OUR Mokopunas in is a direct result of suppression of a minority indigenous culture thats a fact cast your eyes around the rest of Papatuanuku and you will find the proof its in our books as well I just don’t get it why everyone is throwing there arms up in the air and saying we don’t know whats wrong the problem is right in front of OUR noses . Opra Winfrey is a great Lady whom is a excellent role modle for all the Mokopuna on Papatuanuku she knows what challange ECO MAORI wants her to take on . kia kaha ka kite ano
Actually this happens with the suppression of any culture
News Hub on 3 it was a excerlint day in Vags today I finally tidy up the paint job on my truck Eco knows the sandflys will use anything to attack my Mana at least they are giving me some space now but they are still throwing actors under the bus they are to scared to get to close to ECO MAORI Ana to kai .
Sir David Attenborough is a assume person who advocates for the well being of all Papatuanukus creatures Ka pai ka kite ano
News Hub Yes I enjoyed my time at sea it was easly one of the best times of my youth all the beautiful sites scenery and creatures I even went to the Chatham Islands digging for shark teeth the part I had a hard time with was being away from my family for 2 to 3 months Im envious of the America cup sailors .Ka kite ano
The putea price of climate change nothing about the wild life that is going to suffer good artical News room at least you good people are not scared or bribed to not mention climate change or global Warming
here the link.kia kaha ka kite ano .
‘A national disgrace’: fury over £100m aid deal between UK and Saudi Arabia
“The fact that we have the head of state of a government that has been operating such a blockade – Saudi Arabia – recently invited to Buckingham Palace and Downing Street while the military … is orchestrating what will potentially become the worst famine in the last 50 years, I think speaks volumes.”
Noting a “growing sense of impunity surrounding crimes against children”, Watkins added: “The fact that you can rape, murder, kidnap, bomb schools, bomb clinics with no consequence, speaks I think to the heart of the deeper challenge.”
“Downing Street defended Bin Salman’s visit, saying trade deals worth £65bn had been agreed.”
(I guess the take home here, is that money from trade deals is more important that human rights such as raping and starving children, and a trip to Buckingham palace is now decided by money to be made, rather than reputation.)
Britain is regressing, becoming more shoddy year by year, showing itself different to its professed nobility of standards and beliefs.
Arab money has been big investing in London for yonks. Apparently the Russians have big investment there also, just to spread their risks I suppose. International finance is a big part of Brit GDP. The USA flew out leading people from Arab countries very soon after the plane attack on the Towers. Some relationships transcend the professed country relationships that the folks on the street see, and exist despite any transgressions in the home country of the connections.
A commenter, Jonathan Jones, makes a disparaging comment on Britain in February 2017 thinking of how a fall in British visits to their museums visits can be interpreted. Visitors to Britain’s main museums were down in 2014-15 from 49 million to 47.6 and participation by the under 18’s is down by 6.9%.
The decline in school trips is surely a direct result of increasing economic and other pressures on schools under the coalition and, now, Conservative governments. You can see how financial constraints and radical curriculum reforms might make that museum trip something all too tempting to slash.
These figures reveal how Britain is failing its young people, and losing the passion for self-improvement that our free public museums used to nurture. A nation that loses interest in museums has not just lost its head. It has lost hope….
Is Brexit Britain losing brain power? Has The Great British Bake Off addled our minds even before our mental borders are permanently closed to European influence? Would a generation of screen-addicted teenagers rather play video games?
No – it is not because minds are shrinking. It is because the same economic pressures that have uprooted politics around the world are destroying the aspirations we express when we go to galleries. There is nothing more aspirational than visiting a museum or art gallery. It is an expression of hope and self-esteem. Just as lying in bed all day binge-watching TV and eating crisps is probably a mark of melancholy. Going out to an exhibition or taking your kids to the Natural History Museum is surely a symbol of belief in your family and the future. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2017/feb/02/drop-uk-museum-attendance
Britain wants to be great and do this alone. But if the world co-ordination breaks down and its every country for itself piracy will grow and become a really serious problem, instead of just a problem as now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/white_slaves_01.shtml
(I only had heard of slaves taken from Africa, not Britain and Ireland.)
I think Britain will drop more ethically outside the EU and without constraints will suddenly soar up on an inflated balloon from the real world as the USA did when communism was overcome in Russia.
UK defies EU over Indonesian palm oil trade, leaked papers show
UK is pushing for a deal that would boost imports linked to deforestation despite EU moves to ban unsustainable palm oil, diplomatic papers reveal
The May Govt is appalling and has no moral compass whatsoever. They are turning a blind eye to all manner of humanitarian and ecological abuses in a desperate effort to shore up the declining trade that is resulting from their stupidity over BREXIT.
28-hour week gains momentum in German unions’ push for flexible rights
Key union’s achievement of new work-time model spearheads shift in how to face challenges of 21st century workplace
While the TPP11 will drive our wages down by us having to compete in our own country with competitive countries we have now signed up to who use child labour!!!
Well done “dopey David Parker”
Why were you given the job of Environment Minister???
The mind boggles as to what harm you will bring to the Environment next!!!!!
Hi there cleangreen. The previous Labour government had already sign a FTA with a country with human rights and child labour issues. Thanks dopey helen clark.
As far as environment minister, job will be gone once TPP11 comes into it’s own. corporates are going to ride rough-shod over ecologically sensitive tracts to get that last little bit of gold/fossil fuel/coal.
I voted Labour to oust national and have ended up with Labour wearing blue.(bugger)
Greens need more voice and support as does Forest And Bird.
Maybe a vote for Green instead of Labour is a vote for a more Green Labour government of the future, who is more careful with trade deals!!!
Those unhappy with Labour can still switch to Green and then with the coalition hopefully stop National while controlling the neoliberals who have taken over Labour.
Of course people like Parker who are virtually unelectable in an electorate seat are put high up to get them into Labour , otherwise if the public had their way, he would be out there earning an ‘honest’ ha ha living being a lawyer or for agri-biotechnology industry, if he can still remember how.
Trump tweets that steel and aluminium tariffs will not affect Australia. This is the result of adult diplomacy. Petulance about refugees (which if successful will only result in drownings at sea) is the opposite of this which is why we have not seen similar overtures for NZ.
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
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 ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
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My wait time to get hip Xrays was seven weeks.
Now I am in the third week of waiting for the specialist to look at my Xrays and say where I am on the scale and the likely wait for an appointment.
After this wait, I might be lucky and receive a date stamp assuring me of an operation within 4 months.
Being 76 and due for an unpaid mammogram, I rang a private provider. A robotic voice asked me my name and address, and then asked me to confirm my phone number and place in the queue by pressing the hash key. Is this our future?
We contact a department an get put in a queue for a future contact?
Is this the new normal?
Hope everything proceeds more briskly & results are good
Good Luck Patricia.
Has been the new normal for some time patricia bremner . Especially with the so called super ministries. IRD has been like that for an age.
If I was being cynical, I’d suggest it’s so community agencies like age concern, citizens advice bureau , and community law can’t help people directly. If I was being cynical.
Best of luck with the medical professions, these days you need a bucket load of luck, just to survive the bureaucracy in the health system.
What DHB are you dealing with?
A friend of mine, in Capital and Coast went through the whole thing, from referral by his GP to having the Op in less than 3 months last year, starting in June.
My own experience from 2014 was about 4 months from referral to Op in the same DHB area. That was for both hips so it might have been a different set of priorities.
I know the DHBs vary but yours seems ridiculously long just to get through the Specialist examination.
When you do get it the main thing seems to be to complain about how painful it is. That seems to be the main criteria for how urgent it is.
Am I being unduly cynical if I suggest that things seem to have got worse, not better since the change of Government?
Hello Alwyn, Rotorua Lakes. They did have a fire in records late last year, so that may have caused a few more weeks delay. It is painful all the time, and the Xray radiologist said she could see why it was so painful. The Dr. tells me to watch weight bearing, (I now use a walker and a wheelchair for more than 20 metres as it is so painful). So apparently the hold up has to be the system. So waiting……..
Thanks for the replies.
I wish you the best of luck in getting the op soon.
I never got quite as bad as to need a wheelchair but anything over 50 metres or not being on the flat hurt like hell.
The consolation is that the pain in the joint goes immediately you have the op. You still have to get over it and rebuild the muscle but it won’t hurt the way it used to.
It is like most ailments these days I think. Everyone seems to need hip or knee replacements, or cataract operations. I suspect it is simply because our bodies were intended for the Biblical three score and ten but we are all living a lot longer.
Thanks Alwyn.
Patrick Cockburn reports on the little known atrocities in Afrin on the Kurds by the Turkish army and its associates.
It is a story worth reading.
He concludes the report.
“I have been struck since 2011 by the unbalanced way in which the Syrian war has been reported by the media. Vast attention was given to the sufferings inflicted on the people of East Aleppo in 2016 under attack by Syrian government and Russian air strikes, but very little notice was taken of the almost complete destruction of Isis-held Raqqa, with massive civilian casualties, at the hands of the US-led coalition.
I used to attribute such uneven coverage of the war to the greater skill and resources of the Syrian opposition in recording and publicising atrocities committed by the Syrian government and its allies. Isis had no interest in the fate of civilians under its control. But in Afrin there is no shortage of film of the suffering of civilians, but it simply is not widely broadcast or printed. In many respects, the role of the international media in the Syrian war has been as partial and misleading as the warring parties inside the country or their foreign sponsors without.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syria-afrin-crisis-turkish-forces-civilians-deaths-eastern-ghouta-assad-a8247206.html
The “Free Syrian Army” was (or so we were told) defectors and rebels who weren’t Jihadists. Western governments claimed that meant they were worthy of funding and support.
Now they are openly fighting alongside ISIS (as reported by liberal western media), other head-choppers and the Turkish army against non-government forces.
How does that western government dance of explanation and justification go I wonder?
I don’t expect to see or hear anything on that front.
As Cockburn points out, the peoples of Afrin are more or less invisible. Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge any kind of ceasefire is simply “not a thing”. And East Ghouta is Aleppo re-dux in terms of western propaganda. I wonder who the new Bana will be? 👿
“Tweeter and King” – My favorite line in this piece. A conservative (traditional) voice on Syria. 19.30 minutes long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzPL6eGZktQ&ab_channel=TheRealNews
As we discover more and more about the fraudulent white helmets.
They sound more like actors than rescue workers.
Film set needed.
The hypocrisy is jaw dropping
‘While MSM Screams About Eastern Ghouta, US Bombs Kill Over 100 Syrian Civilians’
‘During the month of February, US-led coalition air strikes killed at least 100 Syrian civilians, many of them children, in Deir Ezzor province, and the mainstream media has completely ignored the story. ’
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48917.htm
Ever wondered why the fascists at Charlottsville wore T shirts with Assad’s image? Or why the neo-nazi white supremacist who drove his car into anti-fascist protesters posted pro-Assad propaganda on his facebook page the day before he murdered, Heather Heyer and injured 35 others?
Well wonder no more:
https://web.archive.org/web/20180309225139/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/03/09/multipolar-spin-how-fascists-operationalize-left-wing-resentment
You are known by your friends
Does anyone remember the baby-faced billionaire of a pharmaceutical company who raised the price of a vital medicine from $13.50 to $750 a tablet? He also said he probably should have charged even more:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-08/martin-shkreli-s-journey-from-pharma-exec-to-inmate-87850-053
Well, he’s going to jail for a good stretch for securities fraud.
Such is the power of our capitalist system.
All those who participated in ICOs that weren’t what was claimed will join him shortly. That may include celebrities who endorsed the fake ICOs (aiding and abetting securities fraud).
Given the number of people that involves the may need a new jail.
Good to see “white collar” criminals convicted. Often well paid defence teams protect them.
I try to be a good person and not be guided by notions of vengeance or a desire to see someone, anyone, hurting.
But my dark side just spent ten minutes trying to find video of Martin Shkreli blubbing as he was being sentenced.
https://mashable.com/2018/03/09/martin-shkreli-cries-sentencing/
Good Riddance!
ECO MAORIs Kiwi Bank ac 389019048573100 Please help me to sort the nz police out
I decided against trying to use PayPal to receive donations .I decided to copy
Thestandards safe way of appealing and receiving donations I set up a Kiwi Bank AC
So he tangata the people of Aoteraoroa New Zealand who support ECO MAORI can use internet banking to make donations and know that there bank accounts are safe after they have made a donation . ECO MAORI will use the donations to SUE the nz police for all the breaches to mine and my Whano Privacy Rights & Human Rights a lot of people can see this has been happening to ECO MAORI when I win my case I will set up a
Charitable Trust and I will pay the money that I used and any extra donations into this Trust account and appeal to anyone else in Aoteraoroa who need help with finance to SUE the nz police for there in justices I will copy bank statements on this site to let he tangata the people know that ECO MAORI has Honest Honorable and transparent intentions to use your hard earned Putea Money. .
Kia Kaha Ka kite ano
The New Zealand justice systems have a bad culture of covering up there colleges bad behavior of sexual harassment and what the covering up of this behavior does .
The bad behavior becomes the norm it is acceptable to do bad things treat our ladys like a piece meat a object I certainly would not like to think anyone could treat my Mokos like that and they get away with it because it the norm.
This bad behavior within the professions of justice business management is the reason OUR ladies are not represented equally in Management theres good news
Andrew Little is going to sorte it out Ka pai ka kite ano here the link.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12009785
Te Labour Party is treating and giving the 3 member’s of the tpp 11 that have retained the right to sue New Zealand like I use to when I was young and NAIVE .
I use to have a illusion that everyone thought like me they were honest I could trust everyone they won’t lie and steal from me . Now that Im a silver back and with help from my wife I know that some people will do all of above to get more putea money.
They are leaving our mokos future to fiat that theses 3 countrys won’t end up with a person like trump running them .Or in the future these country’s running out of there resources and looking at Aotearoa New Zealand and stripping our mokos of there resources if they are blocked from doing what they want they sue come on wake up New Zealand we can not trust over countrys with our mokos future thats a fact surely we are intelligent enough to work that REALITY OUT Ana to kai ka kite ano
https://www.smh.com.au/business/careers/new-trade-agreement-could-expose-taxpayers-to-financial-risk-20180302-p4z2kw.html
This is human influenced Warming of our Climate on Papatuanuku warming caused by all the carbon being spewed into Papatuanuku environment .
This is reality that some people are trying to hide from te tangata the people heres another link. Ka kite ano
http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/disaster-declaration-ingham-prepared-as-town-is-ripped-in-two-by-floodwaters/news-story/2c1a0bec3cd26ffbd3eb3a472ac1c1a3
2 very good candidates for the Green Party Co Leadership on the Nation I am keep my opinion to my self on this one
ka pai
Lisa Owen trump has just taken a dump on his nation and most of other nations on Papatuanuku just to try and cling to the power of the American President with his steal & aluminium tariffs
enough said ka kite ano
I got SKY connected now I can tautoko Maori TV only problem is you people make me hungry for kai moana .Kawekorero show kia kaha ka kite ano P.S I strongly agree with what Ella Henry views on Maoris reality in Aoteraroa at the minute
Kawekorero the situation we find 1/4 of OUR Mokopunas in is a direct result of suppression of a minority indigenous culture thats a fact cast your eyes around the rest of Papatuanuku and you will find the proof its in our books as well I just don’t get it why everyone is throwing there arms up in the air and saying we don’t know whats wrong the problem is right in front of OUR noses . Opra Winfrey is a great Lady whom is a excellent role modle for all the Mokopuna on Papatuanuku she knows what challange ECO MAORI wants her to take on . kia kaha ka kite ano
Actually this happens with the suppression of any culture
I have been busy washing my truck good on Simon Bridges for being intreviewed on Maori TV P.S my reo need heaps of work ka kite ano
News Hub on 3 it was a excerlint day in Vags today I finally tidy up the paint job on my truck Eco knows the sandflys will use anything to attack my Mana at least they are giving me some space now but they are still throwing actors under the bus they are to scared to get to close to ECO MAORI Ana to kai .
Sir David Attenborough is a assume person who advocates for the well being of all Papatuanukus creatures Ka pai ka kite ano
News Hub Yes I enjoyed my time at sea it was easly one of the best times of my youth all the beautiful sites scenery and creatures I even went to the Chatham Islands digging for shark teeth the part I had a hard time with was being away from my family for 2 to 3 months Im envious of the America cup sailors .Ka kite ano
The putea price of climate change nothing about the wild life that is going to suffer good artical News room at least you good people are not scared or bribed to not mention climate change or global Warming
here the link.kia kaha ka kite ano .
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/03/08/95301/think-climate-change-cost-142-billion-try-36-billion
‘A national disgrace’: fury over £100m aid deal between UK and Saudi Arabia
“The fact that we have the head of state of a government that has been operating such a blockade – Saudi Arabia – recently invited to Buckingham Palace and Downing Street while the military … is orchestrating what will potentially become the worst famine in the last 50 years, I think speaks volumes.”
Noting a “growing sense of impunity surrounding crimes against children”, Watkins added: “The fact that you can rape, murder, kidnap, bomb schools, bomb clinics with no consequence, speaks I think to the heart of the deeper challenge.”
“Downing Street defended Bin Salman’s visit, saying trade deals worth £65bn had been agreed.”
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/mar/09/national-disgrace-fury-over-100m-aid-deal-between-uk-and-saudi-arabia
(I guess the take home here, is that money from trade deals is more important that human rights such as raping and starving children, and a trip to Buckingham palace is now decided by money to be made, rather than reputation.)
Hasn’t changed then.
Yes, they would probably even welcome Putin.
Rich people have been the same since time immemorial. Wealth and power counts far more than morality, humanity or even life for these people.
They’re a bit annoyed with Putin at the moment: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43344725
Madge could welcome him in a delightful ensemble of clashing tartans and her carpet slippers. Not unlike a John Key reception
Britain is regressing, becoming more shoddy year by year, showing itself different to its professed nobility of standards and beliefs.
Arab money has been big investing in London for yonks. Apparently the Russians have big investment there also, just to spread their risks I suppose. International finance is a big part of Brit GDP. The USA flew out leading people from Arab countries very soon after the plane attack on the Towers. Some relationships transcend the professed country relationships that the folks on the street see, and exist despite any transgressions in the home country of the connections.
A commenter, Jonathan Jones, makes a disparaging comment on Britain in February 2017 thinking of how a fall in British visits to their museums visits can be interpreted. Visitors to Britain’s main museums were down in 2014-15 from 49 million to 47.6 and participation by the under 18’s is down by 6.9%.
The decline in school trips is surely a direct result of increasing economic and other pressures on schools under the coalition and, now, Conservative governments. You can see how financial constraints and radical curriculum reforms might make that museum trip something all too tempting to slash.
These figures reveal how Britain is failing its young people, and losing the passion for self-improvement that our free public museums used to nurture. A nation that loses interest in museums has not just lost its head. It has lost hope….
Is Brexit Britain losing brain power? Has The Great British Bake Off addled our minds even before our mental borders are permanently closed to European influence? Would a generation of screen-addicted teenagers rather play video games?
No – it is not because minds are shrinking. It is because the same economic pressures that have uprooted politics around the world are destroying the aspirations we express when we go to galleries. There is nothing more aspirational than visiting a museum or art gallery. It is an expression of hope and self-esteem. Just as lying in bed all day binge-watching TV and eating crisps is probably a mark of melancholy. Going out to an exhibition or taking your kids to the Natural History Museum is surely a symbol of belief in your family and the future.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2017/feb/02/drop-uk-museum-attendance
Britain wants to be great and do this alone. But if the world co-ordination breaks down and its every country for itself piracy will grow and become a really serious problem, instead of just a problem as now.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/white_slaves_01.shtml
(I only had heard of slaves taken from Africa, not Britain and Ireland.)
I think Britain will drop more ethically outside the EU and without constraints will suddenly soar up on an inflated balloon from the real world as the USA did when communism was overcome in Russia.
A little eye candy.
A little jingle for modern Britain.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd0aFj9iBJ8
This is how its likely to end as they try working together in perfect synchronisation, uneven and uncertain results.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDvIo_LRIZ4&t=5s
UK defies EU over Indonesian palm oil trade, leaked papers show
UK is pushing for a deal that would boost imports linked to deforestation despite EU moves to ban unsustainable palm oil, diplomatic papers reveal
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/09/uk-defies-eu-over-indonesian-palm-oil-trade-leaked-papers-show
Disgusting.
The May Govt is appalling and has no moral compass whatsoever. They are turning a blind eye to all manner of humanitarian and ecological abuses in a desperate effort to shore up the declining trade that is resulting from their stupidity over BREXIT.
Oh but doesn’t she dress well (going forward)
28-hour week gains momentum in German unions’ push for flexible rights
Key union’s achievement of new work-time model spearheads shift in how to face challenges of 21st century workplace
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/09/28-hour-week-gains-momentum-in-german-unions-push-for-flexible-rights
Yes savenz;
While the TPP11 will drive our wages down by us having to compete in our own country with competitive countries we have now signed up to who use child labour!!!
Well done “dopey David Parker”
Why were you given the job of Environment Minister???
The mind boggles as to what harm you will bring to the Environment next!!!!!
Hi there cleangreen. The previous Labour government had already sign a FTA with a country with human rights and child labour issues. Thanks dopey helen clark.
As far as environment minister, job will be gone once TPP11 comes into it’s own. corporates are going to ride rough-shod over ecologically sensitive tracts to get that last little bit of gold/fossil fuel/coal.
I voted Labour to oust national and have ended up with Labour wearing blue.(bugger)
Greens need more voice and support as does Forest And Bird.
Maybe a vote for Green instead of Labour is a vote for a more Green Labour government of the future, who is more careful with trade deals!!!
Those unhappy with Labour can still switch to Green and then with the coalition hopefully stop National while controlling the neoliberals who have taken over Labour.
Of course people like Parker who are virtually unelectable in an electorate seat are put high up to get them into Labour , otherwise if the public had their way, he would be out there earning an ‘honest’ ha ha living being a lawyer or for agri-biotechnology industry, if he can still remember how.
As I’m trying to bring a good news union story a day here. Here is an old one worth repeating.
AFLW, well done the players union in negotiating up the women’s wages by a whooping 23%.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/aflw-players-to-share-an-extra-500000-next-season-20171102-gzdoh3.html
That’s a goodun
Trump tweets that steel and aluminium tariffs will not affect Australia. This is the result of adult diplomacy. Petulance about refugees (which if successful will only result in drownings at sea) is the opposite of this which is why we have not seen similar overtures for NZ.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/donald-trump-tweets-he-will-not-impose-tariffs-on-the-great-nation-of-australia-20180310-p4z3qp.html
Sup with the Devil and all that…
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-may-gain-concessions-on-steel-but-there-s-much-more-at-stake-20180309-p4z3my.html