Open mike 10/05/2019
Written By:
- Date published:
7:00 am, May 10th, 2019 - 147 comments
Categories: open mike -
Tags:
Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
147 comments on “Open mike 10/05/2019 ”
- Comments are now closed
- Comments are now closed
Recent Comments
- Leaked cabinet papers won’t help ACT
It was somewhat amusing to see the Act Party completely misread the room this week when they leaked a Labour Party document concerning our oceans and fisheries. It outlined the Government's intention to discuss several marine policies at cabinet, the most controversial being the installation of 300 cameras on commercial ...1 hour ago - Writing the Rights: No Right Turn is Wrong
New Zealand’s extreme form of parliamentary sovereignty is something of an international oddity these days. Under the New Zealand system, an Act passed by Parliament (and hence signed by the Governor-General) is automatically law. And in the absence of a written constitution, Parliament can Do Anything. Literally. Our checks ...20 hours ago - Unemployment Insurance
Providing for the redundantly unemployed is admirable but difficult and expensive to implement.The 2021 Budget announced that the government was, at the urging of Business NZ and the Council of Trade Unions, committed to the development of a Social Unemployment Insurance scheme. It is likely to have two main components. ...21 hours ago - Losing The “Struggle-Session” Over Climate Change.
Blaming And Shaming: A "property owner" is humiliated before the masses during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution. Critical Race Theory may substitute "White Privilege" for "Class Privilege", but the inescapability of the offending group's responsibility for "oppression" is exactly the same. The self-abasement of School Strike For Climate Auckland for its ...1 day ago - Cleaning up the fishing industry
The government is finally cleaning up the fishing industry, with cameras on boats and an end to high-grading, with an easier penalties regime to enforce it. Good. Because as we've seen over the years, the fishing industry is pervasively criminal, routinely violating the law on discarding fish and reporting bycatch. ...1 day ago - PM’s critics should stick to the factsThere’s been a lot of grumbling lately amongst the right wing and certain mainstream media pundits who are looking to either score cheap political points or attract readers by attacking the Prime Minister.Of course some of the criticism is justified. After all no Government is perfect and there are always ...1 day ago
- Climate Change: Auckland fails IILast year, the Auckland Council passed a climate change plan, setting goals of halving emissions by 2030, and net-zero by 2050. So you'd expect their new transport plan to be consistent with that goal, right? Wrong: The 10-year transport plan for Auckland has emerged from consultation with small changes, ...1 day ago
- Anti-fluoridation group tells porkies about NZ fluoridation review
FFNZ spreads misinformation about the NZ fluoridation review – yet again New Zealand opponents of community water fluoridation (CWF) are at it again. Their only response to the recently upgraded fluoridation review is to call it “propaganda” and to completely misrepresent it. But it’s interesting to look at their misrepresentation ...1 day ago - Landmark decision in the sex and gender debate
On June 10, after two years of legal battles, Maya Forstater won a landmark legal ruling that looks set to change the direction of the sex and gender debates in the Britain, and provide legal protection for gender-critical people against discrimination and harassment. This ruling will be important in New Zealand. ...1 day ago - CSLDF and the Government Accountability Project Launch New Scientific Integrity Reporting Project
This is a guest post by the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund. Today, the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund and Government Accountability Project launched the Scientific Integrity Reporting Project: a confidential, anonymous way for scientists and others in science-adjacent roles to detail their experiences involving past and ongoing threats to scientific norms and scientific integrity. We ...2 days ago - Australia needs a Bill of Rights ActAustralia is one of the few western democracies not to have legal protection for fundamental human rights. The closest they come is recognising an implied right to freedom of political communication (but not other forms of freedom of expression) from the "representative government" clauses of their constitution. But some of ...2 days ago
- FalloutLast week I revealed how the Police had lied to the public over their "emissions-free fleet" strategy. Stuff's Henry Cooke has done the obvious followup of asking the Minister what she thinks about it, and it seems she is not happy: Police Minister Poto Williams says she is disappointed ...2 days ago
- Can we be born into the wrong body?by Don Franks Are some of us born into the wrong body? The possibility is sometimes offered as a clinching argument that some people need to, and are able to, change their sex. With one proviso, the answer has to be, yes, such a thing is possible. The only requirement ...2 days ago
- Moa’s Ark or flypaper of the Pacific – New Zealand’s place in the biology of the Pacific
It was the year 2002 and I was sitting in the shiny new office of our Biogeography Professor for my oral Diploma exam. It was going well, when I was asked to name an example of a Gondwanan distribution pattern, or in other words a species or group of species ...2 days ago - Auckland is the world’s ‘most liveable city’? Many Māori might disagreeElla Henry, Auckland University of Technology While I am always happy to celebrate any accolades my country and city might garner on the international stage, seeing Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau awarded the top ranking in a recent “most liveable cities” survey left me somewhat flummoxed. In particular, I would argue that ...2 days ago
- Patrick Gower – Hero of the week2 days ago
- Juliet Moses – Arsehole of the Week3 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #24, 2021A hot budget problem This week's standout article for highlighting is Satellite and Ocean Data Reveal Marked Increase in Earth's Heating Rate (open access). From the two very different perspectives of above the atmosphere and below it, a team of authors led by Norman Loeb (head of NASA's CERES program) and including Gregory Johnson (head ...3 days ago
- Let it dieThe fishing industry is complaining in the Herald about their "labour shortage" and lamenting the fact that Young People These Days for some reason don't want to work for six weeks at a time doing hard, dangerous work on a boat in the middle of nowhere, and never seeing their ...3 days ago
- More bigotry in HungaryLast year Hungary ended legal recognition of trans people and banned gay people from adopting children. Now, they've followed that up with a Russian-style "propaganda law", banning "promotion" of homosexuality in schools or on TV: Hungary’s parliament has passed a law banning gay people from featuring in school educational ...3 days ago
- Institutionally corruptOver thirty years ago private investigator Daniel Morgan was murdered in London. The UK police repeatedly fucked up the investigation so obviously and blatantly that the government was forced to call a public inquiry. Now, after years of obstruction, it has finally reported back, finding the police to be "institutionally ...3 days ago
- With seas rising, stalled research budgets must also riseThis is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gary Yohe and Eric Rignot From 1900 to 2000, the ocean along the U.S. East Coast rose at twice the annual rate of the pace in the previous 19 centuries, according to a recent study from Rutgers University. From Miami to New York to ...3 days ago
- Geoffrey Miller: Worst could be yet to come for New Zealanders’ perceptions of China
New Zealanders’ hostility towards China is growing rapidly – but the worst may be still ahead. International analyst Geoffrey Miller examines the latest survey results on how this country feels about China. The latest “Perceptions of Asia” survey from the Asia New Zealand Foundation, released today, shows a sharp rise ...3 days ago - Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Cash for access to politicians continuesShould anyone have trust in politicians, given the manner in which they solicit money from the wealthy? Probably not, since virtually every party in Parliament in recent times has been found to be involved in flaunting the law or accepting dodgy donations from the rich. News reports of questionable donations ...4 days ago
- Proceed to your nearest (virtual) exit: gaming technology is teaching us how people respond to emer...Ruggiero Lovreglio, Massey University Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) aren’t just for gaming anymore, they’re also proving to be useful tools for disaster safety research. In fact, they could save lives. Around the world, natural and human-made disasters such as earthquakes, bushfires and terrorist attacks threaten substantial ...4 days ago
- Inaction speaks louder than wordsOne of the good things the government has done is implement a proactive release policy, requiring most cabinet papers to be published within 30 working days of a decision being made. Its not a perfect policy (note "most", but also they get to redact them however they want, without oversight), ...4 days ago
- Graham Adams: The dangers of putting media on the government’s payrollAccusations by a journalist that the Prime Minister leads an unusually secretive government don’t tell the whole story about its desire to control information. Graham Adams takes a closer look at the guidelines for the new $55 million journalism fund. Despite widespread cynicism about the Government’s ability to fulfil its ...4 days ago
- David Seymour caught telling liesAct Party Leader David SeymourIt really bothers me when the NZ Herald reports the claims of certain right wing politicians as the truth without any fact checking. Not only do they encourage dishonest politicians to continue to lie, they also degrade the standard of reporting we get in New Zealand.Of ...4 days ago
- To Speak, Or Not To Speak? That Is The Question.Speaking Rights: The spectacle of the nation’s prime minister being denied the right to speak to her fellow citizens, personally, on New Zealand’s national day would generate massive antagonism among Pakeha of both sexes. A refusal to be guided by the customs of Ngāpuhi, on the other hand, would be ...4 days ago
- We discovered what’s killing the world’s rarest penguin – and it could help us make a vaccineVartul Sangal, Northumbria University, Newcastle Yellow-eyed penguins are the most endangered penguin species in the world, with just 4,000 left in the wild. Found only in New Zealand and its outlying islands, these birds can grow up to 79cm tall and weigh 8.5kg, which is similar to a one-year-old ...4 days ago
- The COVID-19 lab leak theory highlights a glaring lack of global biosecurity regulationAlexander Gillespie, University of Waikato The revived debate over whether COVID-19 could be the result of an accidental release from the Wuhan Institute of Virology may never be adequately resolved. Either way, we risk not seeing the wood for the trees. While the World Health Organization (WHO) reported in ...4 days ago
- Opponents of fluoridation all at sea with new legislationImage credit: Why Ideology and Science Don’t Mix Opponents of community water fluoridation (CWF) should be supporting the proposed fluoridation legislation instead of organising opposition to it. Think about it. If Fluoride Free NZ (FFNZ) was honest in its claim that they are ...4 days ago
- Silent calamity: The health impacts of wildfire smoke
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson Articles on U.S. wildfires don’t often show a photo of someone gasping in a hospital bed or felled by a heart attack. Yet an increasing body of evidence suggests that the biggest societal impacts of increasing wildland fire are happening ...4 days ago- Smokefree 2025
The Government’s proposed approach for achieving SmokeFree 2025 is a bit over-the-top. The proposals would restrict tobacco sales to a smaller number of to-be-licenced R18 outlets, which could then be subject to a sinking lid; impose an annual one-year increase in the purchase age for tobacco until full prohibition were ...4 days ago- Update on Long-COVID
Prof John D. Potter* This blog post updates an earlier post on Long-COVID and reports that estimates of prevalence are still wide at about 15 to 65% of those initially infected with the pandemic virus, SARS-CoV-2. As things stand now across the world, we do not yet have systems in ...4 days ago- A long-overdue apology
The New Zealand government is going to formally apologise for the "dawn raids" which targeted Pacific peoples in the 1970's. Good. Terrorising people on the basis of their race was wrong and something which should be a lasting shame to New Zealand. But there's another wrong they need to apologise ...5 days ago- Climate Change: The return of feebate
The government has resurrected its feebate policy to lower transport emissions, taxing dirty vehicles to subsidise clean ones. Good. We've known for a long time that passive measures such as fuel economy ratings and up-front labelling of lifetime costs weren't enough, and neither was the ETS (which adds just a ...5 days ago- National wants to convert farms into pine forests
It really hasn’t been a good time on the opposition benches lately. Not only have we had the various National Party scandals to ensure a decline in their public support, they’ve also entirely misread the room when it comes to the Climate Change Commission’s final report and the Government’s Clean ...5 days ago- Government for sale again
When the National Party ran a "Cabinet Club", selling personal access to Cabinet Ministers in exchange for large donations, I called it Government for Sale. Now the Labour party is doing the same thing: The Labour Party is selling tickets to a “business conference" featuring the prime minister and ...5 days ago- Nobody Owns The Christchurch Tragedy.
Mass Outpourings Of Love And Solidarity: In excess of 20,000 Wellingtonians gathered at the basin Reserve in mid-March 2019 to reaffirm Prime Minister Ardern's "They are Us" response to the Christchurch Mosque Shootings. The opponents of the "They Are Us" movie project would rather the world was not reminded of ...5 days ago- 2021 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #24
Listing of articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 7, 2021 through Sat, June 12, 2021 This week it was somewhat tricky to identify suitable articles for sharing which is why the list ended up shorter than it usually is. Articles Linked to ...6 days ago- Hoping For Divine Intervention.
By Any Chance, Are These Two Related? Climate Change Commission Chair, Rod Carr, and Michelangelo's Jehovah. Is that the message hidden in the CCC's report? That only divine intervention can save the planet from the effects of anthropogenic global warming?ROD CARR reminds me of God. Seriously, that beard. From a ...6 days ago- Re-Writing The Rules of the Game: Where Chile is Leading, Can Aotearoa-New Zealand Follow?
People Power: Ending neoliberalism requires massive and militant action on the ground. Between 2019 and 2020, the young and the poor made Chile ungovernable. Engaging in running battles with the Police and facing-down the army’s bullets, they rendered the political class and its mainstream media mouthpieces increasingly irrelevant to what ...6 days ago- National is falling apart
You’ve really got to wonder what possessed MP Simon Bridges to blatantly lie about gang violence he claimed to have witnessed yesterday.Perhaps he was just a bit desperate for some attention being that the headlines haven’t be very flattering for the National Party lately.His belief that misleading the public and ...6 days ago- How Are We Progressing with the War on Poverty?
Child Poverty Levels Are only Slowly Coming Down, What Next?Having settled on its macroeconomic settings, the Government then has to decide what to do with its revenue. In the 2021 Budget; it was largely committed to rolling forward existing spending, together with meeting some necessary commitments like dealing with covid ...1 week ago- They Are Us film should be made
Rose Byrne to play Jacinda Ardern in controversial movie ‘They Are Us’Framing is always an important aspect of media reports, especially when it comes to politics. In fact the way a story is framed can often determine whether a topic gains popular support or receives widespread public outrage.That’s been the ...1 week ago- The police lied to Parliament
Earlier today I blogged about the Ombudsman's final opinion on an OIA request for the police's "emissions-free fleet" strategy, in which the Ombudsman found that there never was such a strategy, and that the police repeatedly lied in an effort to hide that fact. But it turns out that I'm ...1 week ago- Spanish and Ukranian translations of The Debunking Handbook 2020
Since its publication last October, The Debunking Handbook 2020 has already been translated into 11 languages. Some of the translations have been created by volunteers who also help with Skeptical Science translations while others have been provided by outside or mixed teams. The Spanish translation was created by ...1 week ago- Tolkien and Anime: A Helm Hammerhand Adaptation
Now this is something I truly was not expecting. Warner Brothers is producing an Anime Movie of the story of Helm Hammerhand, titled The War of the Rohirrim:https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lord-of-the-rings-anime-movie-in-the-works-from-new-line-warner-animation-group-1234965985/ My first instinct was to check the date. No, not 1st April. This is for real: a Tolkien story – one ...1 week ago- There was never an “emissions-free fleet” strategy
Last month, I did a post about my efforts to excavate the Police's "emissions-free fleet" strategy, and how my OIA request had been extended "for consultations", whizzed past its extended deadline, then refused as it would "soon be publicly available". My complaint to the Ombudsman gained an attempted explanation from ...1 week ago- Friday essay: a rare bird — how Europeans got the black swan so wrong
David Haworth, Monash University The black swan is an Australian icon. The official emblem of Western Australia, depicted in the state flag and coat-of-arms, it decorates several public buildings. The bird is also the namesake for Perth’s Swan River, where the British established the Swan River Colony in 1829. ...1 week ago- As more climate migrants cross borders seeking refuge, laws will need to adapt
Katharine M. Donato, Georgetown University; Amanda Carrico, University of Colorado Boulder; and Jonathan M. Gilligan, Vanderbilt University Climate change is upending people’s lives around the world, but when droughts, floods or sea level rise force them to leave their countries, people often find closed borders and little assistance. Part ...1 week ago- Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s relationship with Saudi Arabia faces increasing scrutiny
While New Zealand’s problematic but lucrative relationship with China gets lots of attention, there’s another important and similar relationship with Saudi Arabia that gets less attention. International analyst Geoffrey Miller explains why Riyadh is too important for Wellington to ignore. New Zealand’s new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Barney Riley, ...1 week ago- Research now backs routinely offering pregnant women the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
Michelle Wise, University of Auckland New Zealand and Australia will now routinely offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to women at any stage of pregnancy, following an update of vaccination advice. This comes as research suggests the risk of severe outcomes from infection is significantly higher for pregnant women compared to ...1 week ago- The Irish lough that offers a window into the deep sea
James Bell, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Rob McAllen, University College Cork, and Valerio Micaroni, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Deeper than most scuba divers can safely work and above where most underwater robots are designed to descend lie some of the most ...1 week ago- The economics of killing Huntly
RNZ reports that Genesis Energy's use of coal has spiked over the past few years, as they use to burn it rather than pay for gas: New Zealand has significantly increased its use of coal in recent years, despite its status as the worst, most polluting fossil fuel on ...1 week ago- Media Link: “A View from Afar” on NZ security strategy and the end of neoliberalism in South Ame...
I have not had much time to blog in recent weeks but continue the weekly series of podcasts with Selwyn Manning. This week we discussed efforts to develop a comprehensive national security strategy for New Zealand that goes beyond Defense White Papers and annual reports from various security agencies, then ...1 week ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Reforming the Official Information Act is a democratic test for...
In promising to be New Zealand’s most open and transparent government ever, Labour has one key challenge: reform the Official Information Act. This vital piece of machinery for democracy is in terrible disrepair, and the Government has promised to rewrite it for the modern age, but so far are stalling ...1 week ago- Hard Questions – Hard Answers.
1 week ago- Ian Powell: Lessons for NZ from Cuba, the Covid-19 vaccine powerhouse?
What can New Zealand learn from Cuba about fighting Covid-19? Plenty, especially in terms of producing vaccines, according to Health commentator Ian Powell. As the Medical Director for the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Dr Bryan Betty is an important leadership voice for general practitioners. He is also ...1 week ago- Daniel Greene and the Mechanics of Writing Sex Scenes
YouTube fantasy commentator Daniel Greene has weighed in with a discussion of poorly written genre sex scenes: Now, the examples Greene cites are indeed poorly written… but they are not the sort of thing I see in published fantasy literature. Greene’s examples actually smack of fan-fiction, whereas ...1 week ago- Another sign of MBIE’s captivity
When the government asks the public to conserve electricity, its usually because we're on the edge of a supply crisis, and its necessary to ensure our own lights will stay on. And when it does that, people generally buy into it, because they can see the reason. But last month, ...1 week ago- A republic is demographicly irresistable
Via New Zealand Republic: younger kiwis support a republic (where "younger" is basicly "people under 50"): There's a bit more on NewsHub here. This is basicly like the support graph for Scottish independence, which seems to have become demographicly irresistable. Sadly, Jacinda Ardern - who implicitly claims to be ...1 week ago- Good riddance to the Tasman Mill
Last night Norske Skog announced it will close the Tasman Mill at the end of the month, with the loss of 160 jobs. Good. This mill is a major source of emissions, and in 2019 we subsidised it to the tune of 238342 tons - meaning it was about 0.3% ...1 week ago- Speaker: Adventures In Gender Identity
It started during a recent visit to a gynaecologist. Don’t worry, I’m fine. I felt an intense discomfort as I picked up my prescription and I knew immediately that this was gender dysphoria. I’d experienced it many times before but my understanding of it in the past was so narrow and ...1 week ago- Why Indigenous knowledge should be an essential part of how we govern the world’s oceans
Meg Parsons, University of Auckland and Lara Taylor, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Our moana (ocean) is in a state of unprecedented ecological crisis. Multiple, cumulative impacts include pollution, sedimentation, overfishing, drilling and climate change. All affect the health of both marine life and coastal communities. To reverse the ...1 week ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #23, 2021
LIfe cycle analysis of "Dirk" Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a method used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product through its life cycle encompassing extraction and processing of the raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, use, recycling, and final disposal. From: Journal of Environmental Management, 2010. -- Science Direct Continuing with getting ...1 week ago- Climate Change: Scammed
Reading the Climate Change Commission's final advice, the obvious question is why their budgets are so much higher than those proposed in their draft (by about half a year's emissions over 14 years)? Simple: we're being baseline-scammed. The draft report set its budget based on 2018 emissions: But the ...1 week ago- Musings on J.K. Rowling and That Issue
Oh dear. Today I will tentatively offer some thoughts on that issue that has been rumbling along for some time. J.K. Rowling’s truly… interesting… obsession with transgenderism. I realise that I am coming rather late to the subject, but honestly Rowling’s tendency for outbursts means that the issue will ...1 week ago- A mini-Official Secrets Act for the Reserve Bank
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill. Part of the bill is a new confidentiality clause, restricting publication or disclosure of information obtained using the bank's information-gathering powers. The first-reading version was actually good, with explicit recognition of the OIA. So ...1 week ago- Genomic solutions for a plant taonga: a high-quality rewarewa genome
Illustration credit: “Seven Sisters, Knightia excelsa” Jennifer Duval-Smith By Plant & Food Research High Quality Genomes project co-leader David Chagné The completion of the native rewarewa (Knightia excelsa) tree genome sequence is demonstrating New Zealand is now taking charge of producing genomes on its native species. These are species that ...1 week ago- Climate Change: Committing to failure again
The Climate Change Commission released its final advice to the government today, and the media is full of reports about how "ambitious" it is. Bullshit. Because when you look at the budgets - the only thing in the entire document that actually matters and has legal weight - they tell ...1 week ago- Bryce Edwards: Political Roundup – Jacinda Ardern’s opaque government by PR
One of the most important, and scathing, critiques of Jacinda Ardern’s Government was published this week by senior political journalist Andrea Vance. She reveals how the current administration has become adept and determined at keeping information secret and the public in the dark about crucial issues. You can read her ...1 week ago- Member’s Day
Today is a Member's Day, the first since the Budget. Unfortunately it looks like most of the time will be taken up with boring committee stages. First up is Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki's District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill, followed by Louise Upston's Rights for Victims of Insane ...1 week ago- A Failure of Tone: The National Party’s Week of Woe.
Tone Deaf? From a party-political point of view (and what other point of view should a National Party MP be taking?) Paul Goldsmith’s comments regarding the “benefits” of colonisation merely played into the fast-solidifying narrative of National being a stale white bread party that can’t get out of its own way ...1 week ago - Silent calamity: The health impacts of wildfire smoke
- Working in partnership with our primary sector
A few great days at Fieldays are done and dusted! We had a huge team of Labour MPs at Mystery Creek this year – and we were there because partnering with farmers, growers, and our rural communities matters to us. ...21 hours ago - Chlöe Swarbrick puts Bill aimed at minimising alcohol harm in Members’ ballot
Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick has put the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) Amendment Bill into the Members’ ballot. ...1 day ago - Investing in our rural communitiesFarmers and growers have been the economic backbone for New Zealand throughout COVID-19, and our primary sector will be at the heart of our recovery. This week, as Fieldays gets underway, we’ve outlined the next steps in our work with farmers to secure our recovery. ...1 day ago
- Green MPs back calls for work to stop immediately in Pūtiki Bay following unnecessary police presen...Green MPs Dr Elizabeth Kerekere and Chlöe Swarbrick strongly support the calls by Ngāti Paoa for Auckland Council to immediately step in to stop works happening in Pūtiki Bay/Kennedy Point today. ...2 days ago
- Acting boldly to address the housing crisis so we all thriveTēnā koe Minister Woods, ...3 days ago
- Addressing period poverty in schoolsToday, we’re taking the next step in our work to support children and young people in poverty, starting to roll out free period products in more than 1,600 schools and kura across New Zealand. ...4 days ago
- Dawn Raids apology welcomed, needs to be backed up with amnestyThe Green Party’s Te Mātāwaka Māori and Pasifika Caucus welcomes an announcement today by the Prime Minister to apologise for the Dawn Raids. ...5 days ago
- Making cleaner cars accessible to more KiwisToday, we’re taking action in line with the advice of the Climate Change Commission to reduce our carbon footprint, so future generations have a fair go. Our Clean Car package, announced this morning, delivers on our promise to cut transport emissions. It will make it easier to make the switch ...6 days ago
- Green Party set to deliver open letter to Immigration Minister with 17k signaturesThe Green Party will deliver its open letter asking the Minister for Immigration to fix the broken immigration system next week. ...7 days ago
- Dr Elizabeth Kerekere receives her COVID-19 vaccinationToday, Green Party MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere received her COVID-19 vaccination from Tamaiti Whāngai COVID-19 vaccination centre, which had its official opening yesterday. ...1 week ago
- Our action on climate changeIn 2019, we established the Climate Change Commission to provide independent advice on climate change action and to hold this Government and future Governments to account. Today, the Commission's final advice was released. It sets out the total amount of global warming pollution Aotearoa must cut by 2035 to be ...1 week ago
- Our action on climate changeIn 2019, we established the Climate Change Commission to provide independent advice on climate change action and to hold this Government and future Governments to account. Today, the Commission's final advice was released. It sets out the total amount of global warming pollution Aotearoa must cut by 2035 to be ...1 week ago
- It’s time to get behind our nursesThe Green Party supports the 30,000 nurses striking today for better pay and safer working conditions. ...1 week ago
- Celebrating our oceansAotearoa New Zealand is surrounded by Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific Ocean. The ocean is central to our identities and to our ecosystems. The Big Blue both isolates us from other countries and connects us to our Pacific neighbours. We have the seventh largest maritime area in the world, ranging from ...2 weeks ago
- Caring for the land, caring for peopleHere in New Zealand, we have a remarkable natural environment, with unique ecosystems and native species. It’s taken millions of years for Aotearoa to develop this precious environment – and it’s up to us to protect it! In collaboration with communities across the country, we’re doing just that. ...2 weeks ago
- Caring for the land, caring for peopleHere in New Zealand, we have a remarkable natural environment, with unique ecosystems and native species. It’s taken millions of years for Aotearoa to develop this precious environment – and it’s up to us to protect it! In collaboration with communities across the country, we’re doing just that. ...2 weeks ago
- How much do you know about Aotearoa’s unique environment?Test your knowledge this World Environment Day! Think you’re a nature super-fan? Can’t tell a kauri from a kāmahi? To celebrate World Environment Day this week, we’ve put together a quiz to test how much you know about Te Taiao. Flex your nature muscles or learn something new about the ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman receives her COVID-19 vaccinationToday Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman, who is immunocompromised, received her first COVID-19 vaccination at the Auckland CBD vaccination centre. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens welcome Auckland walking and cycling bridge, call for more climate focusThe Green Party is welcoming the Government’s renewed commitment to safe walking and cycling across the Waitematā Harbour, but warning that new highway investment puts our response to the climate change emergency at risk. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for Facebook to be held accountable for role in spreading disinformationThe Green Party is calling on the Government to hold Facebook accountable for its role in enabling behaviour which threatens democracy, by strongly regulating data privacy and the spread of dangerous disinformation. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for more protection of native whitebait species at risk of extinctionThe Green Party is pleased to see new whitebaiting measures, announced today, to establish a more consistent management regime across the country, but we must go further, faster, to protect our native taonga. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens’ Māori Caucus Te Mātāwaka call for Matariki Ahunga Nui to be expanded in school curricul...The Green Party are calling for an expansion of the current school curriculum on Matariki, so that a deeper understanding of how it relates to managing and harvesting food is explored. This push comes at the start of the Matariki season, the final year before it is set to become ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party launches petition for publicly-owned public transportThe Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to remove legislative barriers to public ownership of our public transport depots, vehicles and services. ...3 weeks ago
- Face to face meeting delivers significant progress on NZ-UK FTA
New Zealand and the UK have committed to accelerating their free trade agreement negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement in principle this August, Trade Minister Damien O’Connor announced. “We’ve held constructive and productive discussions towards the conclusion of a high-quality and comprehensive FTA that will support sustainable and inclusive trade, and ...7 hours ago - Government taking action to protect albatrossNew population figures for the critically endangered Antipodean albatross showing a 5 percent decline per year highlights the importance of reducing all threats to these very special birds, Acting Minister of Conservation Dr Ayesha Verrall says. The latest population modelling, carried out by Dragonfly Data Science, shows the Antipodean albatross ...22 hours ago
- Adoption laws under reviewNew Zealand’s 66-year-old adoption laws are being reviewed, with public engagement beginning today. Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said the Government is seeking views on options for change to our adoption laws and system. “The Adoption Act has remained largely the same since 1955. We need our adoption laws to reflect ...1 day ago
- Wider roll-out of cameras on boats to support sustainability and protect marine lifeUp to 300 inshore commercial fishing vessels will be fitted with on-board cameras by 2024 as part of the Government’s commitment to protect the natural marine environment for future generations. Minister for Oceans and Fisheries David Parker today announced the funding is now in place for the wider roll out ...2 days ago
- Plan for vaccine rollout for general population announcedNew Zealanders over 60 will be offered a vaccination from July 28 and those over 55 from August 11, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The rollout of the vaccine to the general population will be done in age groups as is the approach commonly used overseas, with those over ...2 days ago
- New Zealand introduces Belarus travel bansNew Zealand has imposed travel bans on selected individuals associated with the Lukashenko regime, following ongoing concerns about election fraud and human rights abuses after the 2020 Belarus elections, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced. The ban covers more than fifty individuals, including the President and key members of ...2 days ago
- NZ economy grows driven by households, construction and business investmentThe Government’s efforts to secure the recovery have been reflected in the robust rebound of GDP figures released today which show the economy remains resilient despite the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grant Robertson said. GDP increased 1.6 percent in the first three months of 2021. The Treasury had ...2 days ago
- Milestone 250th tower continues to improve rural connectivityThe Government has welcomed the completion of the 250th 4G mobile tower, as part of its push for better rural connectivity. Waikato’s Wiltsdown, which is roughly 80 kilometres south of Hamilton, is home to the new tower, deployed by the Rural Connectivity Group to enable improved service to 70 homes ...2 days ago
- Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria to lift on TuesdayFollowing a further public health assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in greater Melbourne, New Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria has been extended to 11.59pm on Tuesday 22 June, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. It has been determined that the risk to public health in New Zealand continues ...2 days ago
- Prime Minister mourns passing of Dr Sir Ian HassallPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern is mourning the passing of Dr Sir Ian Hassall, New Zealand’s first Children’s Commissioner and lifelong champion for children and children’s health. As a paediatrician Sir Ian contributed to a major world-first cot death study that has been directly credited with reducing cot deaths in New ...3 days ago
- APEC structural reform meeting a successAPEC ministers have agreed working together will be crucial to ensure economies recover from the impact of COVID-19. Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs David Clark, chaired the virtual APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting today which revolved around the overarching theme of promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth ...3 days ago
- Digital hub to boost investment in forestryA new website has been launched at Fieldays to support the forestry sector find the information it needs to plant, grow and manage trees, and to encourage investment across the wider industry. Forestry Minister Stuart Nash says the new Canopy website is tailored for farmers, iwi and other forestry interests, ...3 days ago
- Government continues support for rangatahi to get into employment, education and trainingOver 230 rangatahi are set to benefit from further funding through four new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced today. “We’re continuing to secure our economic recovery from COVID by investing in opportunities for rangatahi to get into meaningful employment, education or training ...3 days ago
- NCEA subjects up for consultationThe education sector, students, their parents, whānau and communities are invited to share their thoughts on a list of proposed NCEA subjects released today, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. This is a significant part of the Government’s NCEA Change Programme that commenced in 2020 and will be largely implemented by ...3 days ago
- Major investment in plantain forage programme aims to improve freshwater qualityThe Government is backing a major programme investigating plantain’s potential to help farmers protect waterways and improve freshwater quality, Acting Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri announced at Fieldays today. The Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF) fund is contributing $8.98 million to the $22.23 million seven-year programme, which aims to deliver ...3 days ago
- America’s Cup decisionThe Minister responsible for the America’s Cup has confirmed the joint Crown-Auckland Council offer to host the next regatta has been declined by the Board of Team New Zealand. “The exclusive period of negotiation between the Crown, Auckland Council, and Team New Zealand ends tomorrow, 17 June,” said Stuart Nash. ...3 days ago
- Food and fibres sector making significant strides towards New Zealand’s economic recoveryThe Government is backing the food and fibres sector to lead New Zealand's economic recovery from COVID-19 with targeted investments as part of its Fit for a Better World roadmap, Forestry Minister Stuart Nash said. “To drive New Zealand’s recovery, we launched the Fit for a Better World – Accelerating ...3 days ago
- Speech to He Whenua Taurikura – New Zealand’s annual hui on countering terrorism and violent...Check against delivery Can I begin by acknowledging the 51 shuhada, their families and the Muslim community. It is because of the atrocious violent act that was done to them which has led ultimately to this, the start of a dialogue and a conversation about how we as a nation ...4 days ago
- Cost of Government Southern Response proactive package releasedThe Government has announced the proactive package for some Southern Response policyholders could cost $313 million if all those eligible apply. In December, the Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission, David Clark announced a proactive package for SRES claimants who settled their claims before October 2014. It trailed the judgment ...4 days ago
- New support to reduce emissions from public building and construction projectsGovernment agencies are getting new support to reduce carbon emissions generated by construction of new buildings, with the release of practical guidance to shape decisions on public projects. The Ministers for Building and Construction and for Economic Development say a new Procurement Guide will help government agencies, private sector suppliers, ...4 days ago
- He Whenua Taurikura: New Zealand’s first Hui on Countering Terrorism and Violent ExtremismThe Prime Minister has opened New Zealand’s first hui on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism, which is being held in Christchurch over the next two days. The hui delivers on one of the recommendations from the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain ...4 days ago
- Speech to inaugural Countering Terrorism HuiE aku nui, e aku rahi, Te whaka-kanohi mai o rātou mā, Ru-ruku-tia i runga i te ngākau whakapono, Ru-ruku-tia i runga i te ngākau aroha, Waitaha, Ngāti Mamoe, Ngai Tahu, nāu rā te reo pohiri. Tena tātou katoa. Ki te kotahi te kakaho ka whati, ki te kapuia, e ...4 days ago
- Campaign shines a light on elder abuseA new campaign is shining a spotlight on elder abuse, and urging people to protect older New Zealanders. Launched on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Office for Seniors’ campaign encourages friends, whānau and neighbours to look for the signs of abuse, which is often hidden in plain sight. “Research suggests ...4 days ago
- Farewelling sports administrator and philanthropist Sir Eion EdgarSport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson today expressed his sorrow at the passing of Sir Eion Edgar – a leading sports administrator and celebrated philanthropist who has made a significant impact both within and beyond the sport sector. “Sir Eion’s energy, drive and generosity has been truly immense. He leaves ...5 days ago
- Government to apologise for Dawn RaidsThe Government will make a formal apology for the wrongs committed during the Dawn Raids of the 1970’s. Between 1974 and 1976, a series of rigorous immigration enforcement policies were carried out that resulted in targeted raids on the homes of Pacific families. The raids to find, convict and deport overstayers ...5 days ago
- Humanitarian support for Bangladesh and MyanmarForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced that New Zealand is providing NZ $8.25 million in humanitarian assistance to support refugees and their host populations in Bangladesh and to support humanitarian need of internally displaced and conflict affected people in Myanmar. “Nearly four years after 900,000 Rohingya crossed the border ...5 days ago
- Poroporoaki: Dame Georgina Kamiria KirbyE Te Kōkō Tangiwai, Te Tuhi Mareikura, Te Kākākura Pokai kua riro i a matou. He toka tū moana ākinga ā tai, ākinga ā hau, ākinga ā ngaru tūātea. Haere atu rā ki te mūrau a te tini, ki te wenerau a te mano. E tae koe ki ngā rire ...5 days ago
- Feedback sought on future of housing and urban developmentNew Zealanders are encouraged to have their say on a long-term vision for housing and urban development to guide future work, the Housing Minister Megan Woods has announced. Consultation starts today on a Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (GPS-HUD), which will support the long-term direction of Aotearoa ...5 days ago
- Clean car package to drive down emissionsNew rebates for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles start July 1 with up to $8,625 for new vehicles and $3,450 for used. Electric vehicle chargers now available every 75km along most state highways to give Kiwis confidence. Low Emission Transport Fund will have nearly four times the funding by 2023 ...6 days ago
- Progress towards simpler process for changing sex on birth certificatesThe Government is taking the next step to support transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders, by progressing the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill, Minister of Internal Affairs, Jan Tinetti announced today. “This Government understands that self-identification is a significant issue for transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders, and ...6 days ago
- Crown speeds up engagement with takutai moana applicantsThe Crown is taking a new approach to takutai moana applications to give all applicants an opportunity to engage with the Crown and better support the Māori-Crown relationship, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little says. Following discussions with applicant groups, the Crown has reviewed the existing takutai moana application ...1 week ago
- Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court opensThe Minister of Justice, Kris Faafoi, and the Minister for Courts, Aupito William Sio, have welcomed the opening of a new Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court in Hamilton. The AODT Court (Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua) addresses situations where substance abuse and offending are intertwined. “New Zealanders have told ...1 week ago
- EU and UK FTAs top of list for first ministerial trip since COVID-19Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor today announced details of his planned visit to the United Kingdom and European Union next week, where he will hold trade and agriculture discussions to further New Zealand’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The visit will add political weight to ongoing negotiations with both the EU ...1 week ago
- Arihia Bennett to chair Royal Commission Ministerial Advisory GroupTe Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennett MNZM has been appointed chair of the newly appointed Ministerial Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques. “Twenty-eight people from diverse backgrounds across Aotearoa have been selected for the ...1 week ago
- Speech to the New Zealand Medical Association General Practitioners' Conference, RotoruaKi ngā pou maha o te whare hauora o Aotearoa, kei te mihiTo the pillars of our health system I acknowledge/thank you Ki te ope hapai hauora o roto o tēnei rūma, kei te mihi To our health force here in the room today, I acknowledge/thank you He taura tangata, ...1 week ago
- Karangahape Road upgrades are streets aheadThe upgrades to Karangahape Road makes the iconic street more pedestrian and cycle-friendly, attractive and environmentally sustainable, Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said at the formal celebration of the completion of the Karangahape Road Enhancements project. The project included widening footpaths supporting a better outdoor dining ...1 week ago
- Speech to APEC business eventE ngā tumu herenga waka, ākina ā ngaru, ākina ā tai ka whakatere ngā waka ki te whakapapa pounamu, otirā, ki Tamaki o ngā waka Tena koutou katoa… To the great leaders assembled, who guided your waka through turbulent times, challenging waters and you continue to navigate your respective waka ...1 week ago
- Pause on Quarantine Free Travel with Victoria extendedFollowing an assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in greater Melbourne, New Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria will continue for a further seven days, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. There are now 93 cases associated with the outbreak in greater Melbourne, spread over four clusters. Contact tracing efforts ...1 week ago
- Supplier Diversity Aotearoa Summit: Navigate 2021*** Check with delivery *** A mihi to all who have contributed to making today a success – starting with you! As you have explored and navigated government procurement today you will hopefully have reflected on the journey of our people so far – and how you can make a ...1 week ago
- Pukemiro School to closePukemiro Primary School near Huntly will close following years of declining roll numbers, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “I’ve consulted with the School Commissioner, and this decision acknowledges the fact that the few remaining students from last term are now settled at other nearby schools. “I want to thank ...1 week ago
- The Rort That Is The America’s Cup
Tax and rate payers of Aotearoa have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars over the last two decades on a Cup and a sport that only a small minority of New Zealanders participate in. As accepted by way of interviews and responses, Grant ...2 hours ago - The omens look good for exporters wanting a better deal from FTA with the UK – but not so good for...
Trade Minister Damien O’Connor kicked off our day with the cheering news that New Zealand and the UK have committed to accelerating their free trade agreement negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement in principle this August. This compensated for the news that the first day’s play on the scheduled ...2 hours ago - How Andrei Sakharov went from Soviet hero to dissident — and forced the world to pay attention to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Horvath, Senior lecturer, La Trobe University US President Ronald Reagan meeting with Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov in the Oval Office in 1988. White House Photographic Collection/Wikimedia Commons This piece is part of a new series in collaboration with the ABC’s Saturday ...4 hours ago - New Zealand and UK aim to conclude trade talks in August
New Zealand and the UK have committed to accelerating their free trade agreement negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement in principle this August, Trade Minister Damien O'Connor says. ...8 hours ago - In pictures: Jacinda, Judith and our national show
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a gaggle of ministers and Labour MPs, National leader Judith Collins and the largest fleet of utility vehicles ever assembled descend on the national agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek. So does the fog. They came in their utes and 4WDs in such numbers that by lunchtime ...8 hours ago - Short story: The camp, by Elspeth Sandys
"He couldn’t stop. No one hit a woman. No one": a campground story by Wellington writer Elspeth Sandys When Colin arrived at the holiday camp he had his story ready. Colin Lawson, widower, retired, seeking peace and quiet. Former manager of a small Invercargill Tyre Company. Wife died a year ...9 hours ago - Amnesty Calls For More On World Refugee DayCaring organisations around Aotearoa New Zealand will be holding fundraisers and community hui this weekend to mark World Refugee Day 2021. As COVID-19 pushed pause on essential global refugee programmes, Amnesty International is calling for a re-prioritisation ...9 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 19 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...9 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Saturday 19 June
...9 hours ago - Basketball helps Suzie Bates' White Ferns comeback
LISTEN: Outstanding White Fern cricketer Suzie Bates has returned to her old passion, basketball, during her rehab from surgery, and has found another way to make a difference. Suzie Bates is on track to return to the White Ferns after shoulder surgery, but she may not return to the bowling crease ...9 hours ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Saturday 19 June
...9 hours ago - High Court overturns Stuart Nash’s decision on tarakihi fishing limits
The ruling is being hailed as a win for sustainability that could set a precedent for how the government sets limits on commercial fishing The High Court has found that the former minister of fisheries, Stuart Nash, incorrectly set the catch limit on tarakihi by taking into account industry proposals over ...9 hours ago - Anthonie Tonnon and the railway to Mars
Musician, romantic, civic activist – Anthonie Tonnon talks to Michelle Langstone about growing up in small town New Zealand, his uncommon inspirations and new album Leave Love Out of This.Portraits by Edith AmituanaiI meet Anthonie Tonnon at Motat, which is admittedly not the most original of places to meet a train ...14 hours ago - A force so powerful we may have learned to talk to be able to do itGossip Week: Gossip fosters important social bonds, and some experts believe humans developed language so we could gossip about one another. Danyl Mclauchlan explores the role gossip plays in our lives.All week, The Spinoff is taking a look at the role of gossip in Aotearoa’s past, present and future – ...15 hours ago
- The shape of Wellington’s future is about to be decidedA draft plan that increases by 50% the amount of inner Wellington shielded from new dense housing is set to face a tough week in council, writes Justin Giovannetti.There’s a contradiction at the heart of Wellington’s proposed plan to house tens of thousands of new arrivals over the coming decades, ...15 hours ago
- ‘The glamour is gone’: NZ’s greatest gossip on celebrities then and nowGossip Week: Sam Brooks meets legendary New Zealand gossip writer David Hartnell MNZM to talk celebrity friends, men in makeup, and the importance of reinvention. All week, The Spinoff is taking a look at the role of gossip in Aotearoa’s past, present and future – read more Gossip Week content here.“The two ...15 hours ago
- RSF condemns Hong Kong police storming of Apple Daily – 5 arrestedHundreds of police officers search the Apple Daily group’s headquarters after five senior staff were arrested under the National Security Law, accused of “collusion with foreign forces”. Video: Al Jazeera Pacific Media Watch newsdesk Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned yesterday’s police raid on Hong Kong media outlet Apple Daily’s ...18 hours ago
- Vanuatu Supreme Court confirms 19 government MPs lose seatsRNZ Pacific Vanuatu Supreme Court judge Justice Oliver Saksak has upheld a decision by the former Speaker of Parliament to expel 19 government MPs from Parliament. The court ruling could trigger the collapse of Vanuatu’s government but a subsequent appeal is likely to grant a stay of execution for the ...18 hours ago
- Fiji reports another 115 covid cases – new hospital death investigatedBy Vijay Narayan in Suva Fiji health authorities have announced 115 new covid-19 cases for the 24 hour period ending at 8am today. Health Secretary Dr James Fong said 12 cases were from new clusters – 8 of them from Max Value Supermarket, Lami, and 4 from Public Rental Board. ...18 hours ago
- Auckland’s ‘most liveable’ city loses some gloss with Pacific criticismAsia Pacific Report newsdesk Days after being condemned by the largest Pacific Island capital — Port Moresby, the Economist’s Global Liveability Index has been criticised in Auckland by one of New Zealand’s most respected “green” columnists. The criticisms come from different ends of the spectrum — Port Moresby was third ...18 hours ago
- Samoan court declares Sagaga 2 seat void – 26-24 balance for FASTBy Soli Wilson in Apia A Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) associate minister has had his seat of Sagaga 2 in the Samoa general election declared void by the Supreme Court following a legal challenge, triggering a byelection. This means previously elected Member of Parliament Seiuli Ueligitone Seiuli, a member ...18 hours ago
- Warnings to anti-vaxxers slowing rollout in Solomons and PNGBy Johnny Blades, Anti-vax misinformation is throwing a spanner in the works for covid-19 vaccination programmes in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, with the prime ministers of both countries firing warnings at those spreading it. PNG Prime Minister James Marape issued a blunt statement this week, ...18 hours ago
- Fishing vessel cameras aim to curb catch dumpingFishing boats will now have to bring their entire catch back to port - as part of moves to ensure skippers report other wildlife that is accidentally caught. ...21 hours ago
- Concerned about the latest AstraZeneca news? These 3 graphics help you make sense of the riskSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, La Trobe University Yesterday’s announcement the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine would now only be recommended for the over 60s has highlighted the many ways we think about risk. The decision reflects a greater understanding of the real, but extremely ...22 hours ago
- The limits of advocacy: arts sector told to stop worrying and be happySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin O’Connor, Professor of Cultural Economy, University of South Australia Most people with an interest in art and culture in Australia believe it is in deep crisis, and you’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t think the crisis predated the ...23 hours ago
- Three weeks without electricity? That’s the reality facing thousands of Victorians, and it will ha...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Richardson, Researcher and Teacher, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University James Ross/AAP Last week’s storm system wreaked havoc across Victoria. Some 220,000 households and businesses lost power, and residents in the hills on Melbourne’s fringe were warned yesterday it ...23 hours ago
- ‘A slow and painful journey’: why did it take over 20 years to approve the new Alzheimer’s dru...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ralph N. Martins, Professor and Chair in Ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock A new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease was last week given accelerated approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The drug is called ...23 hours ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on Scott Morrison’s return to Australia and a change in vaccine adviceSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Michelle Grattan discusses the week in politics with University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher. This week the pair discuss the outcomes of Scott Morrison’s attendance at the G7 summit in Cornwall, including a face-to-face ...23 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: Millennium taffeta, by Laura VincentA new poem from poet and food writer Laura Vincent.Millennium taffeta all today’s ills point directlyto the paucity of purple taffeta shot through with bluesewn into bandeau and a-lineit moved with a conspicuous rustlewhat wouldn’t we have done for that fabricwhich launched a thousand reputations did you live through the unsparing dominance ...23 hours ago
- ANZASW Congratulates Hilary Weaver For Appointment As IFSW Indigenous Commissioner...24 hours ago
- Stolen wages: Northern Territory class action will hold the Commonwealth to accountSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney Alan Lambert, CC BY-SA This article contains names and images of people who have passed. On August 23 1966, Vincent Lingiari and his fellow Aboriginal stock workers walked off the Wave ...24 hours ago
- Health Ministry Push Flows Over To Improved Drinking-water, Boost In Compliance – ReportA push by the Ministry of Health to increase awareness among drinking-water suppliers of their responsibilities has led to tighter auditing and a boost in overall compliance, with standards up by 2.4% compared to last year. There was also a slight ...24 hours ago
- The latest ‘spasm’ of violence in Gaza is unlikely to be the lastSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Walker, Vice-chancellor’s fellow, La Trobe University The Israel-Palestine conflict has experienced its first violent spasm in the term of a new Israeli government. However, hostilities have since been contained, for the time being. Provocative demonstrations this week in Arab East Jerusalem ...24 hours ago
- Doc Edge: Seven documentaries to watch in this year’s festivalThis year’s Doc Edge film festival features 83 documentaries from New Zealand and around the world. And until July 11, most of them are available to watch online. Here are seven worth checking out.High Tide Don’t Hide Youth-led climate protests have brought hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders onto the streets ...1 day ago
- Union Hosts Free Matariki Hui OnlineEducation union NZEI Te Riu Roa is set to host five online wāhanga this weekend ahead of Matariki - a follow up from its successful 2020 Matariki series on Matariki and tamariki. Saturday's programme features a range of incredible speakers - Stacey ...1 day ago
- Belarus pays penalty for ignoring concerns about its electoral and human rights record – NZ bans ...New Zealand has imposed travel bans on 50 individuals associated with the Lukashenko regime in Belarus elections. Among those in the naughty books are the President and key members of his Administration, the Electoral Commission, the police and other security forces. This will show ‘em we mean business, if they ...1 day ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending 18 JuneThe 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 The Neil Gaiman Reader: Selected Fiction by Neil Gaiman (Headline Publishing, $60)The ultimate feast, with nearly 50 ...1 day ago
- Stealth speed bumps leave South Aucklanders fumingThe nationwide Innovating Streets programme promised to make streets safer, but as a group of Māngere East residents are discovering, if the work is only partially complete, their local roads can get even more dangerous.Recent weeks have seen mounds of asphalt rise on Māngere roads like swells in calm water. ...1 day ago
- ‘Fix-it’ Notice Needed On Critical Health System UnderstaffingThe Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Toi Mata Hauora says an urgent ‘fix-it’ notice needs to be issued to address an understaffing crisis across the health system. According to Radio New Zealand, Worksafe has issued Wellington Free Ambulance with ...1 day ago
- ‘We have filed a case under your name’: beware of tax scams — they’ll be everywhere this EOF...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Haskell-Dowland, Associate Dean (Computing and Security), Edith Cowan University Shutterstock The end of the financial year is near. So all of us — especially those scrambling at the last minute to get their receipts in order — should keep ...1 day ago
- Celebrities reveal the best gossip they’ve heard about themselvesGossip Week: In this special episode of FIRST, we asked our celebrities to share their favourite pieces of completely unfounded gossip about themselves.All week, The Spinoff is taking a look at the role of gossip in Aotearoa’s past, present and future – read more Gossip Week content here.Newshub’s political editor ...1 day ago
- Keith Rankin Analysis – Policies for Reducing the Environmental Costs of Urban TransportAnalysis by Keith Rankin. Environmental costs are a big deal, which need to be properly factored into our economic decision-making. Last week the Government announced a rebate scheme for electric and hybrid vehicles. Keith Rankin. These days we emphasise the very important greenhouse costs arising from the burning of fossil ...1 day ago
- What Is The New Zealand Government Trying To Bury In Pike River Mine?Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 17 June 2021, original url: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/06/17/pike-j17.html The New Zealand Labour Party government’s plan to abandon the underground investigation into the 2010 Pike River coal mine disaster has sparked significant opposition. Nearly ...1 day ago
- Finally, Transparency At Sea – Cameras On BoatsForest & Bird is celebrating the Government’s announcement to put cameras on over 300 commercial fishing boats. “It’s been a long time coming, and has taken a ground swell of public pressure but we’ve finally achieved what will be ...1 day ago
- Exclusive: We found out what nature is gossiping aboutGossip Week: The Spinoff’s gossip coverage so far this week has been dominated by people. It’s time to stop being so self-centred and see what’s abuzz in our native forests. All week, The Spinoff is taking a look at the role of gossip in Aotearoa’s past, present and future – read ...1 day ago
- Look who’s singing the farm sector’s praises – none other than the Minister whose environmenta...
Labour ministers are beating the farming drum (as never before). On stage at the Fieldays at Mystery Creek, one of the first out of the block (given the absence of Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor negotiating free trade in London with the UK) was Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker. He ...1 day ago - Covid-19: PM Jacinda Ardern pleased with vaccination programme as she prepares to get immunisedDespite about only 7.7 percent of the population being fully vaccinated against Covid-19, Jacinda Ardern is pleased with progress of the immunisation programme. ...1 day ago
- This week's best-sellers
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias FICTION 1 Bug Week by Airini Beautrais (Victoria University Press, $30) Number one for the fifth consecutive week - a miracle for a collection of short stories. 2 Auē ...1 day ago - 50 Years On, Polynesian Panthers Share Their Story In Their Own Words“Long before risking our freedom as Polynesian Panthers, we were simply Polynesian. It was time to be heard. It was time to mobilise. It was time to fight back.” <img src="https://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/2106/770cea8fd63818f34f24.jpeg" ...1 day ago
- Ministry Wrong To See Future In GE CigarettesThere is concern that The Ministry of Health has been hoodwinked into promoting Genetic Engineering of tobacco as a credible option towards a Smoke Free Aotearoa. Submissions on the Smoke Free 2025 consultation document have closed, and it is positive ...1 day ago
- Approaching zero: super-chilled mirrors edge towards the borders of gravity and quantum physicsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Ernest McClelland, Distinguised Professor and Director Centre for Gravitational Astrophysics, Australian National University Caltech / MIT / LIGO Lab, Author provided The LIGO gravitational wave observatory in the United States is so sensitive to vibrations it can detect the ...1 day ago
- The Labor Party has long struggled over a position on Israel and Palestine. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dennis Altman, Professorial Fellow in Human Security, La Trobe University After the brutal conflict in Gaza flared yet again in the past month, and the end of Benyamin Netanyahu’s 12 years as prime minister of Israel, attention is again focused on the ...1 day ago
- New Zealand has one of the lowest numbers of refugees per capita in the world — there is room for ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jay Marlowe, Associate Professor, Co-Director Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies, University of Auckland Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern marks World Refugee Day 2020 at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre in Auckland. GettyImages When COVID-19 forced New Zealand to shut its borders, it ...1 day ago
- What if I can’t get in for my second Pfizer dose and the gap is longer than 3 weeks?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Bartlett, Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle Jessica Hill/AP/AAP Bookings for the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine have been halted in Victoria this week, amid shortages of the vaccine. Some Victorians who’ve had ...1 day ago
- Victoria’s wild storms show how easily disasters can threaten our water supplySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Wright, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, Western Sydney University The wild storms that recently raged across eastern Victoria caused major property and environmental damage, and loss of lives. They’ve also triggered serious water contamination incidents. Yarra Valley Water issued an ...1 day ago
- Why universities must act on the rise of a new kind of bullying: incivilitySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lynn Bosetti, Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of British Columbia Shutterstock Incivility is on the rise in university culture. If you are an academic you’ve likely seen or experienced instances of bullying, incivility or mobbing in department ...1 day ago
- Australia needs construction waste recycling plants — but locals first need to be won overSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Salman Shooshtarian, Research Fellow, RMIT University Shutterstock Strong community opposition to a proposed waste facility in regional New South Wales made headlines earlier this year. The A$3.9 million facility would occupy 2.7 hectares of Gunnedah’s industrial estate. It’s intended to ...1 day ago
- Vital Signs: Why has growth slowed globally? It has something to do with technologySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Even before COVID-19 hit, Australia was experiencing slow growth in GDP per capita and real wages. There has been a distinctly lower rate of both economic and real wages growth since the financial crisis of 2008-09. ...1 day ago
- Friday essay: how our new archaeological research investigates Dark Emu’s idea of Aboriginal ‘ag...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Westaway, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Archaeology, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland An aerial view of an Aboriginal stone arrangement in the Channel Country of Central Australia. Such arrangements may be associated with initiation ceremonies and exchange of ...1 day ago
- How New Zealand plugged the leak on insider tradingGossip Week: Insider trading and the sharing of sensitive financial information is a big no-no in New Zealand. However, there was a time when it was all part of the game.All week, The Spinoff is taking a look at the role of gossip in Aotearoa’s past, present and future – ...1 day ago
- Live updates, June 18: Worksafe concerned over paramedic fatigueWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for June 18, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz7.45am: Worksafe concerned over paramedic fatigueWorksafe is concerned about worker fatigue among Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics, and has issued instructions to fix it, reports Eva Corlett for Radio ...1 day ago
- The Bulletin: Interest rate hike tipped after GDP figuresGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Interest rate hike tipped after GDP figures, major changes to rules for commercial fisheries, and Covid vaccine rollout timeline released.They’re probably not the sort of numbers you’d pop champagne over, but the NZ economy has avoided falling into a recession. The NZ ...1 day ago
- Cook Islands businesses see uptick but labour shortages remain
Pacific island nation looks to NZ school holidays, and is in talks with Australia to expand its travel bubble, writes Adam Jacobson. Many Cook Islands businesses are experiencing a boom a month since the travel bubble with New Zealand opened, but major labour shortages are presenting a serious challenge to ...1 day ago - Auckland Council Leads With Human Rights Standards For Goods And Service ProvidersUyghur Solidarity Aotearoa New Zealand are proud of Auckland City councillors for their unanimous vote yesterday at Auckland Council’s Finance & Performance Committee in amending the Group Procurement Policy, to ensure it requires all goods ...1 day ago
- The March Of Migrants II – June 26Close to one thousand people marched through centre of Auckland on 5 June 2021, in the first March of Migrants organised by The Federation of Migrants - FAM. Issues faced by migrants due to the broken immigration system remain unresolved. Therefore, ...1 day ago
- Anna Rawhiti-Connell: From victim to villain in NZ's housing crisis
That Anna Rawhiti-Connell is able to make the rash decision to buy a house in the suburb of Beach Haven - somewhere she'd never been - makes her wonder if she's now a villain of the housing crisis I was a bit drunk when I decided to move to the Auckland ...1 day ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 18 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...1 day ago - Climate change is all of our business
Biodiverse ecosystems are, quite literally, lifesaving. Here's why we cannot separate ourselves, nor our financial markets, from this fragile equation. It’s no secret we’re living in an increasingly unstable climate. Apart from the disastrous effects climate change is wreaking on biodiversity and humanity at large, the crisis is changing our ...1 day ago - Olympic Bonds: Rebecca Petch and her power coach
Rebecca Petch, who's taken over from Sarah Walker as our BMX Olympic medal hope, has made a huge jump ahead in power thanks to her strength and conditioning coach, Shaun Paterson, as Sarah Cowley Ross discovers in our Olympic Bonds series. It’s the first five pedal strokes that make the difference. And that’s something ...1 day ago - Falling harvests threaten to nip NZ wine's worldwide growth in the bud
After a $1.9bn bumper export year, falling harvests nip our wine's growth in the bud. ...1 day ago - Changing South: Blackball, the West Coast town that refused to die
From coal and cannabis to a writers’ festival and a forest track – Blackball is the town that refused to die A writers’ residency, a literary festival, a museum of working class history, a legendary pub and now a 55-kilometre walking and biking track through dramatic West Coast scenery - Blackball, ...1 day ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Friday 18 June
...1 day ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 18 June
...1 day ago - Falling harvests nip NZ wine's worldwide growth in the bud
After a $1.9bn bumper export year, falling harvests nip our wine's growth in the bud. ...1 day ago - How to lose friends but influence history
Nicholas Agar explains how to understand some of the crazy things world leaders have said about the pandemic High on the list of callous statements about the pandemic was the one recently attributed to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that he would rather see bodies piled “high in their thousands” ...1 day ago
America in denial: Gabor Maté on the psychology of Russiagate
Ever wondered why some of your good friends and comrades seems to lose all rational thought and any capacity for critical thinking since Trump was elected?
If so then watch this maybe not all your questions will be answered, but at least maybe some will be.
Starts out by mischaracterizing Mueller's report – Mueller was quite careful not to 'deliver a verdict', leaving a number of issues to be resolved by Congress. His findings certainly did not exculpate Russia – they merely failed to establish conclusively that the abundant Russian meddling was state backed.
If your critical thinking is giving Putin a free pass, it probably isn't critical at all.
I don't think anyone is arguing that the Russians didn't do a little meddling, but it is also common knowledge now that that was very insignificant, we all know that this is what many major governments seem to do..it is also common knowledge that the USA is by far and away the worst offender…so whats your point?
"giving Putin a free pass" seriously? man you Russia conspiratory people just keep on moving the goal posts don't you…it's over, finished, finito, no collusion, no Russian bogeymen, we are only left with a Democratic party unable to deal with the fact that it’s ideology has been rejected, and they lost the most winnable election in living memory.
A bunch more successful prosecutions from Russian electoral interference than Watergate.
Trump isn't out of the woods legally yet either, but, as with Al Capone, it's the taxes that get you in the end.
Democrats are doing just fine electorally, and on track to do even better. They are dong better in fact than most of the centre-left parties in the world except ours.
The only ones in the US Democratic Party who are disappointed are the hard left, but disappointment is inherent to their very nature.
@Ad, It says a lot about you that would consider just wanting fair wages, health care, and getting educated without a mountain of debt to be 'hard left'.
The Democrats are doing fine, really, and what centrist Dem do you think they have who will beat Trump?..and please don't say Biden, cos then I really will know that you are living in fantasy land.
You can define 'hard left' on your own time.
You can also tell us who you want win the Democratic nomination and why.
Firstly you obviously implied who the ‘hard left’ are in the Democratic party so don’t play all cute on it now, there are not really that many options.
Secondly I asked first so how about you answer first then I will be glad to give you my opinion.
You are the one proposing America's Democrats in denial from your first post. So go ahead and defend that position yourself.
You don't like Biden despite him being the clear favorite. I will form an opinion on who I prefer based on how they perform in the primaries. A lot of my opinion will ride on whether the Democratic candidate can actually beat Trump. There are not many of those.
@Ad, " A lot of my opinion will ride on whether the Democratic candidate can actually beat Trump. There are not many of those."
Well at least we can agree on something, which suits me fine because I would suggest that none of the centrist 'establishment' candidates the Dems are hoping will be their saviour will have a chance of beating Trump, which only leaves Progressives, and really only one of them can hope to pull off the win, and I think we all know who that is…
Of course that would mean that the Democratic party machine would need to fall in behind that candidate, and that is not a given at this point…it hardly needs to be said, that their are many establishment Dems who would rather lose to Trump than win with a real Progressive.
Fools like Ad would have dismissed Norm Kirk and Bill Rowling as "hard left."
Yeah I know, but it is slightly amusing to me to get these 'liberals' to actually say it out loud, usually they just don't respond though.
Norm Kirk achieved very little and lasted two years.
Bill Rowling simply lost.
Both were darlings of the hard left.
For the record I prefer Helen Clark to Jacinda Ardern, Bill Rowling, Norm Kirk, or Nordmeyer. Because Clark has a track record of delivery over the long term, which has lasted very well.
Yep her free trade deals really did wonders for small business and manufacturing in New Zealand…but hey, at least everyone ended up with flatscreen tv's and houses full of shit plastic toys for their kids, and crap clothes made by kids in slave conditions that none of us are meant to give a shit about, yes siree that is a real Labour leader right there.
Of course it dosn't surprise me at all that you would find her brutal free market ideology so very appealing.
You are mischaracterizing the report. The verdict was no collusion was found, even though it was written as if collusion was everywhere.
Tulsi Gabbard's views … in her own words..
https://theintercept.com/2019/05/09/watch-interview-with-democratic-congresswoman-and-2020-presidential-candidate-tulsi-gabbard/
i don’t believe she is polling even in the margin of error so a pointless follow Looks like Biden has got this by default as the rest of the pack try to out left loon each other
@Bewildered ‘Biden has got this by default as the rest of the pack try to out left loon each other'…oh you mean loony as in demanding fair pay, access to health care to all, curtailing US bloody interventions and bullying around the world, and by extension cutting the obscene amounts spent on useless weapons and warfare, stopping corporations and the super wealthy buying political favour….you mean those loons who would try and aim high instead of grovelling for the crumbs that you seem happy to eat (or for other people to eat) off the floor, you mean those loons?
BTW, if you really think Biden has got it in the bag, then you are going to be seriously disappointed…never happen, he represents everything most US citizens are sick and disgusted by, that bump in the polls he has now got is the highest he will ever get, only downward for him now going forward, just like that other corporatist Dem, the hated H.Clinton who started high and then tanked all the way in.
BTW Tulsi Gabbard has just been endorsed by Joe Rogan, probably one of the most popular figures on You Tube and
Ron Paul, so it will be interesting to see what that does to her numbers.
The Democratic nomination really is a competition. So far even the mayor of a small Indiana town is relegating her to the dust.
Gabbard has lost already, and is of zero consequence to US politics at all.
Thanks francesca, that is a very good interview, quite timely too after yesterdays little back and forth with some other Standard commenters, that degenerated quite quickly into ad hominem slurs I thought, while (as usual and of course) never once actually addressing the original core topic.
Entrapment
At the risk of upsetting the August Brainful Greywarshark Troll, I am suggesting to normal people that the Entrapment Technique in Parliament is itself a very risky thing.
National to a man and a woman, have taken to the idea that any Minister of the Crown can be entrapped easily, and his "crime" can be forwarded to Granny Herald, and Lisa Owen, instantly. Gotcha!
It uses a "LIE to Catch a non LIAR".
So The Right Honourable, Professor, Doctor, Nick Smith brought into Parliament a Lady who sadly had lost a child in a Motor Accident. Dr Smith and the Lady were of the opinion that it was not the driver of the vehicle that killed her son, but the drugs the driver had taken.
The Police had not known that the Driver who killed the Lady's son was on the road.
Apparently, the people of Nelson expect every driver who steps into any vehicle to be immediately Breath and Drug tested. All the way there, and all the way back.
Now, Dr Smith knows Nelson is very special. I am not privvy to what Smith knows. The Lady Dr Smith brought into Parliament was speaking out without being asked. During which time The Minister of Police was asked if he recalled saying that the Government would look into Drug Driving. The Minister said he could not recall saying that.
Then Dr Smith implied that Minister of Police was not speaking the Truth. However, The same Minister tried to assist a national member of Parliament to manage Submitting a Bill about Drug Driving, and spent some time with him. If that is not Truth – what is ?
But the national member told the Minister of Police to sod off.
How come Dr Smith knew about what bits of paper The Police Minister had forgotten, and what he didn't have? Does Dr Smith have night time access to the Government's Chambers ?
Dr Smith and the Lady wrang their Knuckles out. The Speaker thought it was very distasteful – which it was. The Dr kept raving that the Government had done nothing about Drug Driving.
The stangeness of this whole incident that led to Dr Smith's punishment is: That the Stupid Member for Nelson has had 29 years in Parliament to stop Drug Driving in Aoteroa and has not lifted a finger ! He has made a fool of himself and of the bereaved Lady and of Nelson
But neither Lisa Owen – or the sick Aurty Herald will know about that !
Today on our own publicly owned media – we had to be shamed again by the Australians about our "lack luster efforts to tackle climate change, when UK has already enshrined in their law that climate change is a crisis – said Peter Garrett (of midnight oil fame) on TV one while interviewed by John Campbell breakfast show..
NZ is slipping beneath the sea.
peter garret? the frontman to the world touring midnight oil. I bet he didn't travel by train or sail boat.
But he's a celebrity so I guess we should be ashamed by his condemnation
https://thenib.com/mister-gotcha
Right, so in your bizarre magical kingdom, anyone who has ever travelled via commercial airliner can never, ever say anything about climate change… ever.
Good to know.
classic overreach in your argument.
Celebrities like bono and peter garret made a bucket burning carbon now moralise. It’s pathetic
Yeah, they did. But I'm fairly sure we can do something about climate change without reverting back to tall ships and wagon trains.
I Agree. It’s just a bit rich when Bono, Clooney et al thinks it’s just for others to do as they say and not as they do.
Fair point there Tuppence Shrewsbury,
They used to say “Lead by example”
Grrr….frustrated at long last I am by the Herald paywall….https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12229332
Ho hum. It is winter (despite record high temperatures, but who's cares?) so if I buy an actual paper paper….at least it'll do to light the fire.
The headline shrieks…
Radical, promising, and totally unaffordable: Government's $24m disability experiment !!! and goes on to say that…
In a radical experiment, disabled people are choosing who cares for them and how they want to live. But as Government has found out, the ambitious programme is totally unaffordable.
Non ACC disabled people being bulk funded for their assessed supports so they can choose their own carers (within boundaries) and timetable their own supports is nothing new, so I guess what they're on about is this..https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/news-items/transformed-disability-support-system-begin-midcentral
…off to buy a paper.
Yes, be interested to see who is feeding journos that angle. The pilots are probably verifying how much of the cost has previously been borne by the family and others around each person, is all.
WEAG mentions in passing the need to update the scant research about the extra costs of being disabled in NZ to go with the extensive work they drew on about the overall population.
If only we could pay by the story..
….pay by the story..
I was about to send them an email to ask just that…
The article (having risked life and petrol bowser squeezing my Bus into a tiny gap at the petrol station to buy the damn herald) says little other than folks have actually moved to Mid Central to take advantage of the System Transformation/Enabling Good Lives scheme that is being trialed there after the two previous trials in Canterbury and Waikato.
Our friends from the New Zealand Disability Support Network are not happy….the article describes NZDSN as 'advocates', but does not make it clear that they are advocates for those who receive funding from the government for providing disability support services. A pity, because that would have given an otherwise flimsy story some teeth. Every single dollar that the eligible disabled person has choice and control over how it is spent is potentially another dollar that fails to go through the NZDSN's members' bank accounts. Many of whom pay no tax on that income because they are registered charities…
I'm pretty sure the 24million over two years (not even a flag referendum) is operating costs for the trial rather than increases in cost of providing supports.
Later I'll dig out the EGL/EIF evaluation.
Saw a copy. Article reflects lack of knowledge about disability support funding in general. And yes, conflating providers with advocates. Grrr.
Main problem for the family they hang the story from is their local assessment agency capping support eligibility at only 20 hours per week for a youg man whose family say requires 24×7 support – not how provision is contracted after that.
24 mill? That's like a metre of road in auckland isn't it?
Depends how tall the disabled people are that we pave it with.
White supremacism at Auckland museum?
http://eyecontactsite.com/2019/05/auckland-museums-lost-civilisation
Thoughtful read – I rate Scott very highly indeed and nearly always agree with him.
Ditto. He writes beautifully and excels at demolishing conventional pieties.
He concludes that pre-colonial Melanesian and Papuan society sustained a political utopia that has somehow been erased by the Auckland Museum. That's impressive museological work from 7 curators.
He could at least cite some evidence, any evidence at all. He's just looking for a source of righteousness ………. it just isn't there.
Congratulations JA on becoming Australia's most trusted politician.
😀
Last time she was in England, someone wrote to the BBC asking them to ask her … would she stay and be their PM.
The note was read out by the BBC interviewer.
Fairly low bar…
Interesting on Rachel Stewart.
https://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-perscution-of-rachel-stewart.html
and TDB
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/05/07/twitter-watch-the-lynching-of-rachel-stewart/ The last para:
It seems to me that just focussing on climate change eliminates people and their vulnerabilities and needs completely from empathetic consideration for the human race. If Bradbury is finding fault with identity politics' narrow concerns, the answer is to widen concern to everyone who is struggling to keep their heads up in the rush of change monetising everything and replacing humanity with technology. Keep thinking about people with kindness linked to what is practical, to what is needed by each group in society, and attention will shift to the young, and their future which will require a turn of alarge degree in people's moral compass.
I can manage to think with kindness about people who are taking a fundamentally irrational stance on the meaning of the words 'woman' and 'man,' but can not find any kindness in me for the ones trying to get people sacked for failing to share the delusion. Those guys can go fuck themselves.
That sounds fair and a more practical suggestion than that of the people you state.
what's the word…
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48205523
schadenfreude?
Two possible conclusions:
1. God doesn't exist, therefore religion-based anti-vaxx beliefs are superfluous.
2. God does exist, but just passed a fairly damning verdict on his follower's anti-vaxx beliefs.
There is a remote third possibility, my personal favourite
That all the other kids who were vaccinated gave the non-vaccinated kid the chicken pox. Which is a catch 22 for all anti-vaxxers
Or, the kid got chickenpox.
Grizzly, grumpy, itchy, spotty kids. Nothing that lashings of TLC, calamine lotion, soda bic baths and mummy milos won't fix.
My youngest is in her mid twenties and somehow she and her bros survived the pox…just as well as there was no vaccine then. If I recall correctly they shared the mumps as well. Good times.
And if you read the article rather than just the headlines you'd know that the fellow and his family knew there was a chance of him getting the pox and are ok with it.
They're also ok with infecting other people.
Wikipedia says chicken pox killed 6,400 people in 2015. So not everyone survives with "mummy milos". 🙄
I also had a colleague a couple of years ago who had shingles attacks. Not something to wave off like you did, apparently.
They're also ok with infecting other people.
But, but the other people have all been Good and have had the vaccine and are safe from Plague Boy's pox.
Serious questions McFlock.
1.Do you see it as a failing of Medical Science that not all infectious diseases can be vaccinated against yet?
2. What do you think god/nature/evolution intended when she/she/it designed the human immune system?
You really are a malicious pro-diseaser, aren't you. I'm actually disgusted.
Plague Boy could be infecting other people that for whatever sound medical reasons cannot be safely vaccinated. Those unfortunates are reliant on vaccination rates in the general population being high enough to get herd immunity for their protection. Plague Boy is deliberately choosing to put those people at totally unnecessary risk. If any of those who cannot be vaccinated gets infected by Plague Boy, I hope they sue Plague Boy's ass off.
Stop the name calling Andre, and the faux disgust…your comment is full of holes as a result of your inadequate levels of understanding on the subject…
1. The varacella vaccine does not prevent transmission of CP at either one or two doses
2. herd immunity is an unproven maths formula as it relates to manufactured vaccine immunity..
3. Your entire comment fails due to points 1,2
As for the ‘medical reasons’… name them and provide details of the demographics at the school…and ill expose that myth as well…
Stop the name calling.
There's a whole big list of medical reasons why a few unfortunate people shouldn't get the chickenpox vaccine. Plague Boy could be spreading his disease to anyone he comes into contact with in the general population, not just at his school. Including mums with their infants too young to be vaccinated.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/hcp-contraindications.htm
Chickenpox is transmitted by persons suffering an active infection. The vaccine is from 85% (single dose) to 98% (double dose) effective in preventing active infection. If the vaccine prevents someone from getting an active infection, it's prevented them from spreading the disease.
https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/transmission.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/hcp-effective-duration.htm
That herd immunity is an actual thing is demonstrated by the way measles outbreaks are extremely rare in populations that are highly vaccinated against measles (double dose 97% effective), but mumps outbreaks still happen even in highly vaccinated populations (88% effective double dose).
Leaving aside your failure to provide demographics at the school illustrating numbers of children with the big list of medical reasons…
Germs are everywhere eh…everywhere…microbes, bacterium, viruses…
But sure…forget all about those…and forget about the so called efficacy rates you linked to…
None of the FDA approved CDC scheduled vaccines were tested against an inert placebo control group using the actual gold standard…
One was…but the results were merged with the toxic control groups thus covering up the fraud by committing research fraud…
In case you can't follow that bouncing ball from the starting point of the fraud…
Double doses triple doses etc…all an open admission of vaccine failures…
Fraudulent methodologies and protocols devised by corrupted industry and endorsed by captured regulatory agencies…
When all else has failed. Mandate through force.
Vaccine Industry . Vaccine Science.
Some don't support vaccination, and for the life of me I don't understand why. It's an ever-improving medical therapy much older than any of us. Vaccinations against diseases that are rarely fatal may be an apparent waste of time and money, but that opinion won’t deter me from getting my annual flu jab next Monday.
The smallpox vaccination program was a success.
https://ourworldindata.org/smallpox
I do admire efforts to develop and deploy vaccines against other diseases. Maybe you can have too much of a good thing, but we’re not there yet.
Some don't support vaccination, and for the life of me I don't understand why.
Millions, and rapidly growing numbers, including medical professionals don't support all vaccines…and with a burgeoning medical science archive of evidence why they should not…
Higher numbers than that again do not support forced vaccinations…
If you don't understand why, then you are not at all well read or informed on the subject…wiki-p link tells me that you are not..
But your comments in general are some of the better reading on this site…in my opinion…
It's an ever-improving medical therapy much older than any of us
Not least by removing all liability from the manufacturers in 1986.
Closely followed by the DHHS breaking federal law by failing to ensure that biannual vaccine safety and improvement reports were filed. Sixteen times that federal law was broken by the regulators themselves…
I've posted ample (searchable) material over recent months highlighting some of the core issues with vaccine science and the vaccine industry as a whole…
Believing ‘we’ can out-smart nature is pure folly..and it is showing in the increasing illness and disease rates globally…
My statement was factual (did you read it carefully?) – vaccination therapies have been used for hundreds of years. Medical therapies have extended human life spans, but no-one is that old.
Researchers are currently working towards developing new or more effective vaccines against the zika virus, against specific cancers, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and any number of other ‘diseases’. Surely an effective vaccine against M. tuberculosis would be useful addition to the ensemble of medical therapies.
I acknowledge that immune systems are (hyper)variable (that's an in joke), and not fully understood. But our partial understanding has enabled highly effective public health initiatives – I for one would not want to see those gains lost.
For example, vaccination programmes led to the global eradication of smallpox in 1977, so no-one is vaccinated against smallpox these days (Wyeth stopped making the vaccine in the early 1980s). I imagine that smallpox would thrive in our present-day high-density cities – what benefits do you imagine might accrue from reintroducing this disease?
Settle Andre…you're going to blow your foo foo valve!
Goodness gracious me…chickenpox is not the plague. It has a death rate of one in 60000 cases. With good care, one in sixty thousand children who get chickenpox will recover completely.
Not being vaccinated against a disease that until very recently had no vaccine is not a crime.
How is there anything malicious in what I wrote?
Nah, don't answer that, you'll just use it as an excuse to level more vitriol.
A death rate of one in 60000 from something that's completely preventable is absolutely unacceptable. But you seem to think it's something to joke about, even embrace. That is malicious.
Now, I happen to think that adults should have sufficient right to bodily autonomy that they should be able to refuse vaccination if they so wish. And I'll take a Darwinian view of any subsequent suffering or death they suffer. But they should also be held fully accountable for the consequences of their decision. Just like people are held accountable for other idiot negligence they indulge in that causes harm to others.
But when it comes to kids, I don't view kids as their parents' property to do with as they please. Parents have an obligation to make decisions for the best interests of the child, not to impose whatever personal idiocies they may have on the child. A child that becomes ill with a vaccine-preventable disease and wasn't vaccinated but could have been has just suffered horrific child abuse, and the parents should be held accountable for that.
Stop spewing logical fallacies, Andre…
I've previously addressed every falsehood you write on this subject…
You're still repeating mysogenistic and bigoted falsehoods..
And you need to stop.
Except people with contraindications don't have the option of getting vaccinated, even if all vaccines were 100% permanently effective.
Anyway, answers:
1: No, that's a goal to work towards.
2: The immune system probably wasn't designed and is merely the evolved product of our ancestors' survival and reproduction over aeons. But if it was designed, then the same designer made ebola and is a complete bastard, so I care not for their intentions.
Final question McFlock….what then will our immune system do when it does not have to initiate an immune response naturally because vaccination has taken over that role?
If it doesn't have to "initiate an immune response naturally" (I assume that means reacting to viruses etc it encounters in the course of our daily lives), then it's not encountering those germy-jims, is it.
If "naturally" means that its first encounter with the bug is from an interaction in our normal daily life, and it hits a live, fully armed and operational
battlestationgerm, then we get sick, and hope that between our immune system and medicine it doesn't really fuck us up.But if we get vaccinated for everything, then at highest efficacy we don't notice a "natural" immune response, because our immune systems have an effective counter to that particular germ. We'd never get a cold, or the flu, or ebola. Heck, no infectious diseases ever, if we vaccinated against all viruses and bacteria. No gangrene, no tetanus, no staph.
Causes of death would almost entirely be injury and debilitation.
Rosemary, another question is…
How many artificial activations can an individual immune system tolerate…before it breaks…
Clues and evidence are in the rapidly expanding statistics of illness, allergies and auto immune diseases in young human beings…
Modern medicine doesn’t have the answers…and the vaccine industry doesn’t want the answers to be found…
Be explicit: are you claiming that vaccines cause people to have allergies and related conditions (e.g. asthma)?
Explicit.
I'm explicitly stating there are rapidly increasing numbers of young human beings in the developed nations, who are becoming ill, diseased and mentally damaged by a number of environmental factors, which undeniably includes vaccines…
Manufacturers, trial data, vaccine program deployment data and legal decisions explicitly state that vaccine cause illness, disease and death…
The VAERS data sets explicitly show the same.
lol
So you're shying away from claiming that the rising yadda yadda is due vaccines to any substantive level.
You're just saying "this increases", "this occasionally causes that" (an arguable position, depending on how broad "this" is), and following it up with… nothing explicit.
You've already conceded once to me today, McFlock…you're a very long way behind, overall..
When you've read and understood the subjects and materiala I've pointed you to…and to a sufficient level…perhaps we could have this conversation again…
If the manufacturers, trial data, vaccine program data, legal rulings data and vaers data are not explicit enough for you…
Then you're being intentially disingenuous…which of course you are…
A difference between yourself and some of the bigots and misogynists who comment on this subject…in my opinion…
Is that you're likely to be clued up enough to get a grasp of some of the gaping flaws in vaccine industry science…
Or perhaps not.
Have a good weekend.
If vaccines were responsible to any decent fraction of the rise in allergies etc, basically not just the drug companies and FDA but every single regulatory agency, collective health purchaser (insurance company, MoH, general practise corporation) and medical surveillance body (down to all individual researchers) would have to be in on the cover-up, around the entire globe. Frequently to their own detriment.
Is that your claim?
Do you not understand how top down centralised structures function , McFlock ?
Especially an entire industry with zero…zero liability…that's zero, McFlock…
Zero liability with decades of malpractice, fraudulant, corrupted activities…tens of billions in settlements…and regulatory agencies that are racked with conflicts and were captured decades ago…
The CDC is the vaccine industry …so is the FDA….congress is brought by the vaccine industry lobbyists…and DOJ defends vaccine manufacturers against the same people their products damage, injure and kill…
Individual researchers…yeah sure…those whose very career is paid for by vaccine manufacturers…who perform research inside of strictly controlled, narrow confines paid for by the manufactures…
Whose research is reviewed by captured peers and published in pharma medical journals… which were outed years ago by their former editors saying the data is mostly <em>untrustworthy …</em>
Where researchers who break ranks are crucified by the pharma advertising dependent and compliant media..
Where independent researchers are denied access to trial data…
So yes…there are undeniably cover-ups going on… including at the present time…numerous court cases around the world .. even their own employees are taking manufacturers to court…for fraudulant trial methodologies and outright statistical fraud…among others…
It is all there..unless you don't want to see it…
I'm explicitly stating there are rapidly increasing numbers of young human beings in the developed nations, who are becoming ill, diseased and mentally damaged by a number of environmental factors, which undeniably includes vaccines…
"Environmental factors" undeniably includes everything that exists in your environment. It "includes" vaccines to the extent that it "includes" approximately infinity other things.
Thank goodness we have experts like you operating on a higher level than the rest of humanity. Save us from this global conspiracy of millions of people! /sarc
Sarcasm is low grade wit..it's late though.. so I get it…
And I've explained some of my perspective as to how top down industry can easily corner entire markets including research data…which is precisely what is happening…
Like I said…I reckon you actually grasp just enough that even the self confessed dickhead that you are…can see it..
Bit shocking…yeah I get that too…but denying it doesn't stop it… or alter the documented truth of whats going on…a simple concept…
Millions upon millions around the world…some not even at your level…getting it…and growing by the day..
Unstoppable.
dude, it's not shocking, it's farcical.
You can say "top down" all you want, but the fact is that if vaccines were responsible for what you claim, there is no way to keep it under wraps. As each vaccine is introduced in each country and region, you'd have to disguise (somehow) the resulting step-change in immune conditions as it occurs. You'd have to control every researcher directly, not just ones involved with vaccine development but case studies and cohort studies run by physicians who want to identify causes of the uptick in the cases they get. "Top down" control requires instructions and memos – there would be literally millions of copies of these floating around, but all gept secret because… conspiracy.
There have been some vaccines and other treatments that had inflated efficacy or disguised adverse reactions. But a global conspiracy to coverup a major problem with the concept of vaccination itself? That's a fucking big call to make on the basis of "higher level" thinking and a few individual cases almost exclusively from the yanks.
You're ignoring the size and dominance of the pharma/vaccine industry…
And you're ignoring the zero liability…
It's far simpler than you believe..and of course there is conspiracy…but you reckon you're smarter than falling for missing it…eh..
Except it's happening in front of your closed eyes…
Simpler than that…just a good corporate take over of regulatory agencies and a repeat of tabacco science once 100% liability was removed…
Leading to removal of incentive to improve safety or quality…
Leading to increased incentive to perform poorer quality research and trials…while producing more and more vaccines…
Then get your colleagues at the FDA to approve the new low grade products.. and your colleagues at the CDC to schedule them and buy billions of dollars worth annually..and the DOJ to fight the damages on your behalf…
All taxpayer funded of course…
So to your point..it's not global…it is the opposite..it's all local…don't be fooled…and then exported around the world…rinse and repeat…
Because…central authority…which you're a long time advocate of…
Despite admitting there has been serious problems…still ongoing and worsening…
Delusional… is what that is…
So all the cohort studies in NZ are covering up massively reduced levels of immune disorders in their unvaxed people because of big pharma?
Everyone working for those studies are defending big pharma by falsifying results?
The adverse events reporting systems that show adverse events for medications do not show the same level of events for vaccines because big pharma would rather vaccinate than sell opioids or NSAIDs?
Think about it. I’m off to bed.
You would need to provide examples of studies to which you refer…
That said, the studies (assuming you mean vaccine related) are 100% of the time initiated with faulty entry point criteria…
Which results in 100% faulty and fraudulent exit point criteria and statistics…
Why…because every FDA approved and licenced vaccine was approved using highly unscientific methodologies…
Of the current CDC schedule , therefore those vaccines on the NZ schedule…every single type/brand post licensure trial data is flawed…because the of the pre-licensure trials fraud…
No need to falsify…the data was already false to begin with…
I've explained it with examples previously…more than once…
VAERS data is underreported by a factor of 10 – 100 possibly more so…regardless of the type…pharma drugs or vaccines…the data is deeply misleading…
I've evidenced that also…
As for pharma…any globally dominant industry…will seek to cover all bases to ensure the greatest levels of profit and stakeholder returns…
Whatever it has to sell within the product catalogue…will be sold…no matter what…
Fully endorsed by the regulators and health authorities…
I mean not just vaccine trials and studies, but longitutinal cohort trials such as the Dunedin Study. These pick a starting cohort, gather information about them, and follow participants for decades. Between them, hundreds of thousands of kids have been followed from birth, vaccination status logged along with every other social and medical criteria imaginable. Hundreds of publications from each study, cross-comparing different factors and utcomes in participants' lives. Every single one of those studies would need to have been compromised by "big pharma", too, just to avoid the alleged contribution of vaccination to allergies. And yet many of those studies get zero funding from pharma and are careers in themselves for the researchers, so how does big pharma compromise them?
Even if all vaccine adverse event reporting systems around the world underreported adverse events by 90% (and how does US big pharma compromise Russia's or China's medical reporting systems?), that would still leave a difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated kids in the general population. So every single allergy researcher who observes that difference needs to be compromised by big pharma to shut them up.
I really don't think you understand just how large your alleged conspiracy would have to be, spanning multiple disciplines across the entire globe, regardless of self-interest or geopolitical enmity. All with barely any "leaks", if any. For 70 years or more. No deathbed confessions, whistleblowers dumping to wikileaks, memos sent to journalists by accident, civil servants failing to redact OIA requests, nothing.
All just for vaccines, but not for any of the other drugs big pharma is distributing. When they couldn't even disguise oxy's harm for a decade.
I’m only talking vaccines…
Link to the Dunedin Study ..I've no idea what it is youre referring to…so I can review it..
Either way makes no difference as all and any studies are subject to the same controls and limitations placed on them by authorities…
Just quickly to the rest of your comment because you and I have covered the same ground before.
I’m not talking about Russia or China…
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated human beings are everywhere…
Expected, unexpected, specific, non specific, reactivation, protein sensitization…etc
Leaks are global, whistleblowers become walking targets, confessions including alive people, high up insiders. Zimmerman et al
FOIA everywhere Ive been linking to the details repeatedly here..but folks dont;like Kennedy / Bigtree et al…
Pharma drugs are subject to far more stringent regulation…and companies can be sued for damage…same companies cant be sued for biologicals damage…vaccines NVICP…
Harm is global and not hidden. Its coming out and can't be stopped…hence censorship and force are being used…
You’re showing a respectful interest…thats cool…
Ill be posting more…just not in this convo…
But that's the point: you're not talking about other treatments, and you're not talking about Russia and China.
Why would vaccines be the only treatment big pharma decide to cover up any adverse events from on a global scale? Surely something addictive would be a better product for them to implement a decades long coverup over?
Why don't Russian and Chinese authorities say shit like "we would vaccinate, but it's too dangerous, you guys are crazy"?
I'm not talking about just the Dunedin study – Any long term cohort study could pick up the discrepancy, if it existed.
You'r arguing that researchers not directly tied to the pharmaceutical industry are covering up a demonstrable association between vaccination and immune disorders in NZ, USA, Britain, Africa, Asia…
I get the theory that a vaccine researcher might be cherry-picked or influenced to not make their career or employer obsolete, but so many unconnected researchers? Come on.
<i>Link to the Dunedin Study ..I've no idea what it is youre referring to…</i>
Seriously? You study this stuff and you're unfamiliar with the best-known longitudinal study in the country?
You chaps do know you're debating with Phil Ure ?
His only notable skill is in the use of ellipsis, with some secondary merit in outlandish conclusions drawn from a general misunderstanding of just about everything, certainly his only knowledge of things scientific and medical is dubious sites on the interwebs and I fear he learnt nothing from the good teachers at Rosmini all those years ago.
Immune systems don't wear out and they don't break. Like other biological systems, continually use them and they get stronger.
For quite a few years, my social circle included a lot of wildlife researchers and aid workers. They were continually getting jabs for whatever was a risk wherever they were going next. They also suffered the least from flu and colds and whatever other lurgies were going around at the time. Didn't stop a few of them coming down with real nasties they couldn't get vaccinated against, tho. Malaria was kinda common.
The problems with allergies and asthma and auto-immune diseases that are becoming more common are more plausibly linked to our modern obsession with cleanliness. That our immune systems don't get enough external challenges to keep them busy, and they turn on us instead. Read up about the "hygiene hypothesis".
The human immune system did not evolve by injecting chemicals directly into the human body…
Short circuiting and bypassing the precicely evolved systems which you believe can be strengthened through a bypass of medical and chemical injections…
No. They can't. They become weekend and the system becomes damaged..
Which is why your home country has the highest number of vaccinations in any schedule… and the sickest cohort populations in the OECD…
You don't respect anecdotes..so stop repeatedly using them yourself…
The final part of your comment is a likely contributer…I do agree with that..
‘No. They can’t. They become weekend and the system becomes damaged..’
More errant nonsense from philu.
That would be your most useless contribution to recent discussions…
A really pathetic and defeated comment…
You seem to have trouble recalling the fact I've told you who I'm not…
And you need to stop doing that…and probably see a professional about your reading and recall issues…
Are you a drinker?
Weekends on this site get noticeably more abusive and incoherent from a number of regulars…drink will be playing a key role in that…
One Two
I would rather have a polio vaccine & a "weakend immune system", than suffer polio itself. I knew a lady that years ago caught polio with a young friend in pre-vaccine times. The young boy died from the polio & she eventually recovered but had years of bouts of excrutiating pain. You seem to paint a picture of natural immunity as a wonder of nature to behold, but it is a lack of understanding of the history of diseases that your ignorance shows.
'That would be your most useless contribution to recent discussions…'
Not reading your own leavings then……..eh ?
Are you a drinker?
Yes indeed….just had a lovely cup of tea…..jolly lovely…..eh
"The human immune system did not evolve by injecting chemicals directly into the human body…" All natural biological molecules (simple or complex) are chemicals.
Replace "injecting" with 'introducing' and you're describing selection pressures which did indeed ‘guide’ the evolution of the human immune system.
For example, the innate immune system (non-specific, no 'memory') has evolved to detect certain chemical structures (PAMPs, pathogen-associated molecular patterns) and initiate responses to kill/destroy those pathogens.
The adaptive immune system mediates a stronger, specific immune response – individual pathogens are "remembered" courtesy of (chemical) antigens unique to the pathogen. Vaccines must contain antigens (chemicals) that are either derived from or mimic natural antigens (chemicals/molecules – often proteins) of the target pathogen – how else could a vaccine prime the immune system to recognise that pathogen?
Free hit if you like, One Two – I'll not reply as we would probably end up talking at cross-purposes.
No thanks. Thats not what I'm about…
Given the comment about replacing injecting with introducing, it seems you're already at cross purposes… and potentially seeking to play word games with what is a clear differential regarding human evolutionary timeframes and modern medicines vaccine era…
As for your comment about all natural biological molecules are chemicals…yes quite…except vaccines are an industrialized factory manufactured chemical process including distribution and storage logistics…
Little of nothing to compare against the [how ever many] millenia of human evolutionary development…or introduction…
Vaccines are primarily about injecting laboratory and factory modified, contaminated compounds (many of which are unidentifiable) into human beings therefore bypassing the entirety of human immune and biological evolution…skin..mouth…nose..et al…
Have a good weekend…
I believe I will have a good weekend – thank you.
No, the role of pathogen-derived vaccine antigens is to activate/prime the human immune system against that specific pathogen – vaccines absolutely do not bypass the immune system. They do, however, largely bypass/avoid the symptoms of the disease.
If vaccine antigens “bypassed” the immune system, then they would be completely ineffective, whereas we know that vaccines can be highly effective, to the point of eradicating a deadly disease such as smallpox.
To be frank, with the incidence of antibiotic resistance on the rise, our immune systems are going to need all the help they can get.
Why are you ignoring the vaccine primary delivery mechanism of intramuscular needle injection?
Injection bypasses the innate structure of the immune systems lines of defence…or do you not understand the construct of the immune system…seems that you don’t…
Vaccine theory suggests a priming effect…
However… measuring a temporary increase in anti-body production does not confer immunity…and it never will when compared to life long full cell immunity from contracting a version wild virus…
Wild versions of virus which are mutating and becoming problematic in cohorts not previously observed..
Similar to antibiotics…vaccine overuse is leading to more failure and waning…while causing other illness and disease…
In short…we've screwed with nature…and we will be screwed back multi fold…as can be seen around the developed world…
Sick and disease ridden kids everywhere you go…
Undeniable…and vaccines are a contributing factor.
I’m no expert, but I have a fair grasp of the theory of how immune systems function at the molecular level; do you? I mean, you get how pathogen molecules interact with proteins and cells of the immune system, not just the macroscopic stuff, right?
You would rather innoculate yourself with a microscopic pathogen, than be vaccinated (protected) against that pathogen by injecting pathogen-derived antigens. Your choice – not mine. If you don't think vaccination is worth whatever risk you perceive, then don't get vaccinated. I'll continue to advocate for the vaccination of me and mine, regardless.
On balance, innoculation entails more risk than vaccination, so I'll stick with vaccination. Best of luck innoculating yourself with this year's influenza strains.
Now your lack of understanding is really showing up…masked by the inoculate vs vaccinate angle…that's ok..I'm with you…
Not only are you apparantly missing fundamentals of the constituent parts of the whole human immune system…but you're missing vaccine ingredient functions as well…
You understand thats not what causes the reaction …surely?
As for your final paragraph…as I've explained many times to others…risk is impossible to assess…the fraudulant pre licensure trials methodology ensure it…
And citing the flu vaccine…one of the most toxic…lowest efficacy rated vaccines of all…
I assume you were signalling your decision to have it?
We're on the same page with choice…I'm just armed with more and seemingly a better level of information when I make one…
Good luck with your choices…
"I assume you were signalling your decision to have it?"
I more than signalled it in my comment at 7:56 pm, but that's OK.
For the record, I did my post-doc in the Biochemistry Department at Cambridge University. No immunology expert (and I've never worked in a commercial lab, or received research funding from any corporate), but I am familiar with pathogens, antigens, antibodies, immune cell types, etc. I'm most comfortable with the innate immune response, and defensins in particular.
I admire the passion and energy of your anti-vax advocacy. There's no way I can match it – but (like you), I know what I know. Unlike you, perhaps, I know that I could be wrong.
P.S. I have commented previously on this site about the use of aluminium-based adjuvants in vaccine formulations (with references), and am aware that vaccines contain components other than the primary antigens. Those components are there for good reasons, and yes, some of them do come with risks. Pharmaceutical companies are aware of these risk and, believe it or not, many scientists and technicians are working to minimise those risks.
Now give me my vaccination!
And despite your claimed background you exhibit, repeated and multiple misunderstandings..
As you said earlier… you can call it cross purposes…it's ok..
Molecular level is a component of the whole…you've been ignoring the external layers and entry point defenses..
I'd say it must be deliberate given the exchanges you were not going to continue on with…eh…but kept coming back…
Use of the derogatory smear , anti-vax belies your claimed background and signals a total misread of my comments…
Use of the term puts you inline with the other misogynistic bigots on this site. And like them…you should not use that terminology…
It is insulting, abusive and contrived.
But you're ok Drowsy…no need to self promote..leaves you open to critique when you get it wrong…which you have done…
Can’t disappear it now though. It’s on the record.
Apologies for using "anti-vax"; sincerely did not think this would offend you.
My admiration for the passion and energy of your advocacy (will not attempt to put a label on your 'cause') is genuine – it's your choice to believe that, or not.
Was a bit miffed at the “claimed background” jibe, but no offense taken.
Shutting down the computer now!
I'm not offended…but it is an offensive and belittling term which is deliberately divisive and misleading in many ways…
As I said…your comments are good reading here..I'll keep reading them if you keep posting..not just this subject..
Appreciate the engagement..
Enjoy the weekend…
The CP vaccine is causing an increase in shingles
Chickenpox vaccination does increase shingles cases, but mainly in young adults
The shingles vaccine is a huge growth business for GSK
Fair call, although it is based on the same “unproven maths formula” you complain about regarding herd immunity, lol.
But read the actual published article more closely. It might surprise you.
complain.
No. Thats you spinning having conceded to my comment…ungracefully…but you did concede…
Good for you.
Pointing put that vaccine induced herd immunity has no basis outside of mathematical theory is, factual.
Facts are not complaints.
Not only is the maths theory…just that… it was plageurized theory from nature..
I've previously read every article I link to, which is why I don't need to scramble search…
It is why I'm far ahead of you guys on the subject..and why I don't need wiki-p..
Wiki-p is for those who don't understand the issues and need to scramble search…
It is a low grade resource…
You didn't actually link to the published article, just a report on the article. Fact. Vaccination rate dips, measles comes back. Fact.
As for how far ahead you are… was Louis Plageur the first person to "plageurize" theories from nature? And do nature submit articles on its theory to Nature, or does it self-publish?
But they weren't ok with the education people in Kentucky objecting to him potentially infecting other people with his "it's ok coz god provides" fuckwittery. so they sued. and lost. thank god.
Which is where the anti-vax argument really falls down. Everyone apparently should respect anti-vax's wishes to not be immunised but woe betide society if it's wishes are to have nothing to do with you because your wishes lead to death and suffering.
Forgive me Tuppence Shrewsbury if I am of an age where a kid having chickenpox is quite normal.
Yes, it is inconveniencing and more that a little uncomfortable but it is/was, until very recently, a normal childhood illness.
A death rate of one in sixty thousand….according to Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenpox ….is not really significant.
For the record…I am not anti vaccinations, I am pro informed consent and pro education and I also believe that vaccines will not prevent all the ills of the world.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was equal condemnation of parents who fail to provide warm dry housing for their children and fail to provide fresh and healthy food for their children?
In the New Zealand context we have third world rates of rheumatic heart disease and ever rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
But if we condemned the parents of those children we'd have to ask awkward questions about how on earth we've gone from being just about first in the world for producing healthy kids to where we are now.
And it has nothing to do with poor parenting.
But, however…just continue to deride parents who hesitate to vaccinate their children because they have genuine and well founded concerns… because that's easy.
genuine does not equal well-founded
Sigh. And this is why a conversation about vaccine hesitancy belongs on a political blog.
I am not going to link again to studies and media articles about instances where state funded vaccinations have caused actual harm and death of mostly children and the said state has either minimised these events or actually hidden them. Or continued using the faulty batch of vaccine until the drug company decides to withdraw it. Or the state uses the vaccine despite it's well known risks because it's cheaper. And then switches to damage control when kids die.
But some of us remember the kids who were harmed, and some of us have spoken with their mothers…who until the day they die will never forgive themselves for allowing their child to have that vaccine. And before you say it…no, not autism. And before you say 'prove it was the vaccine', do your own research into the early MMR and pertussis vaccines.
Politicians…a bit like our insurance companies who order clients to never admit fault or liability.
Vaccination is as much a part of citizenship as paying taxes and following the road code.
Ad…elaborate on that one…
At face value the reasoning appears flawed…
Share your thoughts?
A recent comment from marty mars on the commemoration of Captain Cook got me thinking – link below. (lprent Thanks for search function – so good.)
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04-05-2019/#comment-1613313 Note: It’s #14.
marty mars is being ironic I think, when he says let's get the history right – because much of the concern is about whether Cook’s uniform is portrayed correctly!
Me thinking about history:
I am getting sick of expensive architecture to commemorate the past ie $16 million on WW1 and now Captain Cook – $20 million being suggested. https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/388808/20m-captain-cook-commemoration-ignores-maori-pain-critics
My certainty is that the money should be spent on developing (along with Maori input) a curriculum that teaches our history, a working understanding of our civil and civic matters, what has made us what we are today – all the striving for better conditions and understanding, much of it forgotten along with the people who put such matters to the fore in their lives, forsaking idle gossip and personal enjoyment and even time with families.
Instead they put their time, talents and skills to organise, go to meetings, keep pushing for something to be done by a responsible and civilised nation to rectify some wrong or poor practice.
I want people to remember the NZ dream, and what we achieved – honour it, continue it! Let's use this Captain Cook anniversary to kit up our minds and our determination to carry on our achievements. Or are the leaders and powerful of our country of a mind to shut down NZ, is it finished now, and these expensive commemorations are to say goodbye to that time – dreamthat has run its course, now defunct and all we can do is accept and wave it goodbye.
It's time for kia kaha and being as strong as Maori who have fought to retain the good things from their culture and a life for themselves despite the depredations of capitalist colonialism which bring some good, and then take out extensive payment for those advantages till the receivers are beggared. Historian James Belich showed us our tottering steps to greatness:
Just as the people in power did not recognise the situation as to the Maori strength and achievement in front of them, and proceeded with fatuous sentimentality to dismiss the vibrancy of the Maori people as they wished to expropriate their resources, so today's powerful have agendas that warp their vision about NZ and its reality.
Let's learn about what we are and where we are and how we are going into the future. Turn that commemoration money into memory cells that we use to go forward and build a resilient country, a coping country, one that is self-sufficient and exports goods and good ideas that we have proved to be of value. Not the good ideas of neo lib that Roger Douglas and his ilk took to the world.
No I wasn't being ironic. I agree with Tina
What do you think then of my idea of starting a thorough-going curriculum of cultural and historical education for school children , as important as maths and science for secondary school kids. It would come into the sphere of having a broad education, not narrow concentrating on science as means for getting business growth.
It would draw on information that Maori have, bring people-centred matters to the fore, look at conflicting cultural ideas, talk about problem solving and attempting to find acceptable solutions that wold help in working through cultural differences.
We are so used to the huge complaints about the "failure" of Kiwibuild.
It is a bit strange that the Media is echoing the complaints but it seems unwarranted to me. So it takes longer to get underway. Come back in 10 years with a figure be it 5,000 or 50,000 or 100,000 houses. So what? The current Government is pushing hard to get housing built. The last Government did zilch yet escapes censure. Politics. Bah!
The preachiness and condemnation by the Opposition about everything Labour is so deeply hypocritical. You know that all the people who vote National will be absorbing it like blotting paper showing their deeply dysfunctional mentality, that they are incapable of establishing their real position in the world without using a GPS, and their sad dependence on the Great Man theory ie some Shining Leader who will always arise to assist them, and further their interests.
They look for a government that will aid them so they can avoid paying anything but a modicum of tax which leaves them in a satisfying net positive position, receiving more from the state than they have invested. Good business they consider, similar to Trump Trump did-not-pay-income-taxes-for-eight-years-according-to-new-report Trump is their present Shining Leader in the absence of some charismatic capital accretor here in NZ
Police are initiating a useful service for NZrs with non-urgent matters that will connect nationwide. You still call 111 for immediate need and urgency.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1905/S00144/police-announces-non-emergency-number-its-105.htm
We can believe that it is under way now and has been since 10.05 am today 10th of May.
Word play from Radionz end of week comedy 11.45 am.
Scene – being hit in the ankle by Lime Scooter.
Result: Apologetic – Apoplectic.
Phil Twyford does not come out of this report looking very good at all
https://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018694354
You are a clever chap Gosman. Please provide context for me. What was the target for the previous 9 years of the National Government?
What was the target and how many were built?
If the answer is many thousands then I bow to their cleverness. If the answer is nil then the hypocrisy is mind boggling but predictable.
Where is the hypocrisy? No National minister staked their career on a policy to build 100,000 houses over 10 years.
No. They just claimed there was a crisis in 2008, and did nothing about it for 9 years.
Can't be blamed for not achieving enough if you never even try!
Agreed. Their inaction was inexcusable.
So phil might not meet targets he at least made and attempted to hit. Still better than inexcusable inaction.
Nice that Phil made an attempt. Perhaps he can get the Best Effort award. The trouble is he didn't state he was just going to try. He stated he was going to deliver or he would resign.
Well, if you say he said it, it must be true. Goneburger by August.
Still got 8 years to get there.
He'd be better off if he looked after Transport, or Housing, not both.
Both Ministries and both agencies would appreciate the specific devotion, rather than the persistent over-promise-under-deliver within both of them.
The hypocrisy Gosman is that Nats did nothing for 9 years and they/you demand action of Labour after 18 months. I heard you shouting at those kids.
You yelled, “You bloody little shits stop your f……..g swearing or I’ll tan your arses, you little bastards!”
Can we do this here, too.
What is the point of Marama Davidson being in Parliament?
https://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.com/2019/05/why-is-marama-davidson-in-parliament.html
Very good. That was said last week. So what has she done this week to progress that "push"?
Had a look at the Greens website and her Twitter account and there was nothing touted.
Your position as far left activist (further left than Marama Davidson apparently!) doesn't fit with your position in favour of spending hundreds of millions on a four lane highway between Otaki and Levin.
Would the real Chairman please stand up?
Labour deferred it, thus spending on it now will cost less than spending on it further down the road
Moreover, think of the bigger picture – i.e. housing. Housing in Levin is far cheaper than housing in Wellington, thus people need the better access making the cheaper home via the shorten travel time a more viable reality.
You're a walking contradiction from the Pete George school.
But as you can see, there is no contradiction in that left stance.
There's more than just a whiff of Pete George about The Chairman.
There's a train
One each way Monday to Friday only. Far from being sufficient.
Well, it seems I've spoken out more about welfare reform (in the public domain) in the last week than Marama has. And it's not my job.
Not your job maybe, but you're an eager volunteer at every opportunity to criticise Labour or the Greens.
Never encourage them, no. Just criticise.
Especially this May, the first month of a Green year.
Pot referendum, carbon Bill.
As I've explained, I don't create the opportunity/let downs and there is good reason to hold them to account.
At least Marama owned (on the Hui) only 3 recommendations being taken on wasn't a good start. But she needs to better detail what she is doing about pushing for more.
Jacinda Ardern has written an opinion piece for Magic Talk.
Jacinda Ardern: Delivering on our priorities for 18 months.
https://www.magic.co.nz/home/news/2019/05/jacinda-ardern–delivering-on-our-priorities-for-18-months.html
I give credit to Ardern as pm and leader of my former beloved labour party for March 15 because that was exactly wanted from a leader I live a few hundreds of meters away from the mosque in linwood and she was a beacon of light but let's be real socially the only thing jacinda has delivered is a baby and free hugs.
On mental health, welfare and housing this govt quite frankly cold hearted and slightly less vicious than national.
Why couldn't this govt raise disability and get rid of the solo mother sanction this year? Why do we have to wait 5-10 years for disabled people to get treated with some humanity.they don't need hugs they need cash to be able to get out and about.
When the pm quoted key the other night and said "work is the only way out of poverty" it made me sick labour and national always act like everyone on welfare is unemployed but some like my brother can't work… Ever … I guess he should just die because neither the labour nor national party's value his existence.
Winters here and we've had quite enough of hugs and empathy thanks t, but we need immediate action there's more homeless people , More begging more suicide in my area than ever before and I'm sorry we don't have ten years to wait for incrementalism.
So much for let's do this. If Savage or Kirk were around today I doubt they'd vote for any of the party's in parliament.
At this stage jacinda appears to be another Trudeau. Internationally celebrated but became less and less popular domestically for not keeping his promises and now is headed for certain defeat. For all our sakes I hope I'm wrong.
Start addressing poverty or piss off back to opposition.
This^^^
I have a couple of suggestions for her priorities, being that I'm very helpful and all
heres one: https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2019/04/child_poverty_measures_released.html
'Child poverty under National dropped on seven of the nine measures, stayed static for one, and increased for one.
Child poverty in Labour’s first year increased on seven of the nine measures and dropped on only two of them.'
She also might want to look at that or maybe this: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/112565769/kiwibuild-government-no-longer-guaranteeing-100000-homes
'Housing Minister Phil Twyford will no longer guarantee that KiwiBuild will be made up of 100,000 affordable homes, but won't say whether that target has been scrapped either.
The Government's flagship housing policy is being "recalibrated" after an admission this year that it was unlikely to meet its first target of 1000 affordable homes built by July 1 2019. Just 80 have been built so far.'
I'd bring something up about planting some trees but that seems to have fallen by the wayside…
Stupidity, thy name is Maddow.