All the protests in the world won't stop this war. Russia will fight to end, and the US will fight to the last Ukranian. It would make more sense to protest against the supply of weapons to the Ukrainians, in the hope of bringing about an early Ukrainian surrender.
It's going to be interesting when Russia achieves its goals and starts negotiating a ceasefire, won't be too far away.. Peace will not be permitted by the USA.
…..protest against the supply of weapons to the Ukrainians, in the hope of bringing about an early Ukrainian surrender.
Hi Mikesh,
Do you think stopping the flow of Russian and Chinese armaments to the Vietnamese would have stopped the US invader in Vietnam?
Stopping the flow of weapons to Ukraine won't stop this war, it will only provide a clear field of fire to one side. The Russian aggressor.
Richard Nixon campaigned for the US Presidency on the same stop the war platform as yours.
However Nixon's idea for stopping the war, (same as your idea), was through forcing a surrender. On taking office Nixon, to force the surrender he wanted (and end the war), Nixon began the most intensive bombing campaign of the war.
Ukraine will not surrender, they cannot afford to.
Already the Putin regime is recruiting the forces responsible for overseeing the genocide in Syria for the occupation of Ukraine. Ukraine knows the experience of the Syrian people, is what awaits them under Russian occupation. You only have to witness what Russia's ally the Assad regime behaves or how Russia itself behaved in Syria and Chechnya, to know what awaits the people of Ukraine under Russian occupation.
Even the total subjugation of Ukraine by Russia wouldn't stop this war. This war won't stop until Russia has achieved its full war aims. Which are the denazification of Ukraine, (ie Russia's code word for regime change in Ukraine).
And the seizure of the whole of the Northern Black Sea Coast of Ukraine as a corridor to the invasion and occupation of Moldova. And for Russian Federation naval supremacy and domination of the Black Sea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in March that he will approve up to 16,000 fighters from the Middle East to deploy in Ukraine’s Donbas region to support Russian-backed rebel groups.
If you’ve noticed an increase of female violent crime, it’s not women doing this but trans identified males (trans women, or men pretending to be women). Some MSM will include in their report that the offender is male, some like this one don’t.
“Our Fugitive Apprehension Team, other Detectives and assets are actively looking for this homicide suspect who we believe is armed and dangerous,” said Oakland Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “Please contact 911 if you see her or know of her whereabouts.”
Ms Taverner has been described as being a white female with purple hair, is 5-ft-2 inches tall, and of a thing build weighing about 115lbs.
Taverner is trans. This reporting is dangerous, especially for women. Humans intuitively recognise male from female most of the time. If Taverner dresses typically male they will look male. If they dress typically female then people afraid of or confused by gender ideology rules may find it harder to act appropriately because the rules that TW must be seen and treated as literal women at all times interrupts our instinctive responses atriums safety and safeguarding.
People need to know what actual sex the dangerous offender is in their area.
I see zero reason for this degree of inaccuracy in reporting a situation like this.
I think this is not great for trans women either who just want to get on with their lives. The ideological push is going to backlash and that’s unfair on TW and women alike.
"I see zero reason for this degree of inaccuracy in reporting a situation like this."
I see zero reason for this degree of inaccuracy in reporting.
As you mentioned, many transwomen don't support this either, and understand the impact it has on women. Unfortunately, anyone speaking against inclusive reporting guidelines are ignored.
The cowardly and captured NZ Herald referred to Toko Shane (Ashley) Winter as a woman and showered him with female pronouns all through his trial, conviction and sentencing for the sadistic torture and murder of a young woman. Winter is serving his sentence in Paremoremo where he belongs. His appeal against his conviction and sentencing has just been denied. To add insult to injury, The Herald left the name of his victim off the list of femicides in their recent article.
A paedophile has been jailed for 10 years after using social media to groom children.
Rachel Fenton, who police said was known as Richard Fenton when arrested and charged, pleaded guilty to 21 child sexual abuse offences and a drug offence and was sent to a male prison.
The Guardian understands Fenton was living as a man when arrested in November 2020 and was later charged under that name.
But during the sentencing hearing on Monday, Manchester Minshull Street crown court heard Fenton had changed their name and was in the process of transitioning to become a woman.
Regard our cute replica placentas! Flaunting our blood tie without needing to admit it? And why do you mutter about Georgia O'Keefe, who's that? Anyway, how very dare you question our ineffable bravery – who do you think you are, our mothers?
So… there has been a successful example dealing with the safety of incarcerated transwomen (and other vulnerable males) that has been going since 2014, which doesn't require the women's prison estate to accommodate.
Who'd have thought such a solution was possible?
(Apart from those that suggested it, that is.)
At the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail, a separate wing exists for gay, bisexual, and transgender inmates. Since its creation, the unit has gained a reputation as one of the safer, community-oriented units.
But getting in isn't easy. A series of questions, past incarcerations, arrest records, and resources are utilized to determine whether an inmate can be classified for this special unit. If one doesn't pass, it's back to the general population.
The unit, known as the K6G, is home to approximately 360 GBT inmates. It was established in 1985 after the ACLU filed a lawsuit urging for the protection and prevention of assault against LGBT inmates.
Moral panic over kids doing ram-raids mounts – meanwhile adults engaged in stealing much more money just as brazenly via wage subsidy fraud goes almost unnoticed.
These are adults, so we can't blame their parents; they will be upstanding members of the community so we cannot point at material deprivation and childhood abuse. Their criminality seems to be entirely their own.
But nobody is saying "where are the police?" or demanding that we "get tough on business". Why am I not seeing the shouty headlines about the disgraceful state of business ethics?
Or maybe I am confused and this is just entirely normal and expected – and the way things have always worked. In which case, these ram-raiding kids are just expressing our real core 'values' and should be praised for such an exquisite understanding of them.
2 wrongs do not make one right. How would you feel if you invested 20 years of your life working 7 days 12 hr weeks and some snotty kid destroy's it all for a thrill? That's all good? No, not at all. Solution: Why not get the army involved with stay in camps for 6 to 8 months? Discipline, contributing and getting to be part of a bigger society has to be thought. To just neglect this is like believing that a wild wolf will be one day your cuddly buddy.
And just for the record, I am certainly – with exclamation mark – for the prosecution of those who stole a good porting of 16 billion dollars from the NZ Public. If only … same softly softly now courage, no ethics, no honesty approach. Go figure.
Agree with everything you say – and that's not in conflict with my original comment. I was pointing out the inconsistent ideological and media treatment of two different types of criminality – based on the social class and ethnicity of those committing the offences.
Media is just going for sound bites. They are not trustworthy, I equate them to the same profession as car sales people. Anybody thinking they are, is very much mistaken. I don't even watch the news anymore. The language pattern used is sometimes cringeworthy, peppered with political correctness and so highly manipulative. Perhaps we can exclude some sport and the weather forecast, maybe 🙂
I have family members in the Defence Force, that have had experience at being the trainers for LSVs (Limited Service Volunteers). The inclusion of young people redirected from the Justice System, or the benefits system impacts on those who are looking for an idea of what army life is like, and doesn't often produced the desired results of change from strict discipline and routines.
I agree that both issues can and should be addressed.
I think army discipline can work for some, but for many, it doesn't address the wider issues. They need specific programmes that address any addictions, trauma, environment and understanding of opportunities available and lost due to behaviour.
But there is a marked difference between just doing something and doing something effective. Unfortunately we often aim for the former without taking time for consideration.
I think you need a specialised unit for youth involving people from all types of disciplines. Therapists, skills training, and people finding opportunities or jobs for when they leave. Unfortunately, unless there is some way to give them a way out of their current life when they exit they programme, they will often go back to their habitual ways when they return. Jim Moriarty was involved in a programme years ago, and I attended one of the graduation events, as a relative was involved with sending students there from a high school. It was a six-week residential, and those completing the programme were energised, engaged individuals. I recall the talk afterwards being about how Jim Moriarty tried really hard to have a forward path for them all, because it became so much harder for his students when they returned home. I can't recall the name of the programme, sorry. (Just had a look, and it seems that he was able to get funding for a permanent programme – which was closed down in 2011 after allegations of sexual abuse, and failures of safeguarding. It's a problem with no simple solutions. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/110729832/news-drama-school-failed-to-keep-troubled-kids-safe-js-).
I'm just against utilising existing programmes set up for young people actually interesting in joining the Defence Force as a pseudo punishment for them. The trainer/supervisor said the inclusion of such people created an off putting environment for those that did want to be there. They also had to deal with outsiders being called in by the young offenders, deliveries of drugs, assault and concealed weapons. They preferred working with people who wanted to be in the army, not act as de-facto prison or rehabilitation officers. They are not trained to do this either.
That sounds like a good program, a wrap around set up so to speak. It is almost impossible to redirect young people if they go back where the started from creating the very reason they are there in the first place.
Perhaps a kind of boarding school might be the answer. It would also take care of nutritional aspects too? Maybe?
I attended a graduation late 1990's early 2000's when he was still trying to get funding, course by course. IIRC, he deliberately tried to employ graduates whenever he could in order to give them gainful employment away from their home environment.
One very powerful part of the presentation, was when participants stood up to read letters of personal histories. For various easily comprehended reasons, the history of one was read by another. I remember vividly the delivery of one history read by a tall, imposing young man. It told of the gambling addiction of the father, who used to hold poker games at his house attended by a regular crew. Starting from the age of five, this young girl was added to the stakes when her father ran out of money. This sexual abuse by strangers continued for years.
These programmes need the expertise and employment of very competent safeguarding and health and safety officers. And they need to be given authority to challenge and conduct investigations by the book. I think that's an improvement that could be made to ensure that programmes that are succeeding in one major outcome, are not let down by failure of basic, necessary housekeeping structures.
Short memories and the ubiquitous success of social media look like making Ferdinand Marcos the 2nd new President of the Phillipines.
Campaigned on tackling poverty and corruption!Democracy
From CBS…'
Manila — Millions of voters headed to the polls in the Philippines Monday, propelling the namesake and son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos to an early lead in his bid to bring his family back to the top of the country's political hierarchy. Amnesty International estimates that during the elder Marcos' two-decade reign — about half of which the nation spent under Marial Law — some 70,000 people were jailed, 34,000 tortured, and more than 3,000 killed.
"What the Marcoses have done is basically propagate an alternative history of the Martial Law period as a period of peace, progress, and prosperity," Sheila Coronel, a veteran Philippine journalist and professor at the Columbia School of Journalism, told CBS News. '
It's more to do with population demographics & the way old mate Marcos used SM.
The Philippines has a very young population 18- 39yrs makes around 40-45% of the total population (from memory) & are very social media savvy compared to the cohort of older voters in the Philippines.
Marcos delivered his election pitch around SM by recasting the legacy of the Marcos Family in particular his Dad to these younger voters. As the younger voters never lived under the Macros Regime & nor understand what the family did to the country.
As a result, he's been able to manipulate this cohort of younger voters to vote for him. As he only needs around 30-35% of the Young vote & the same with the older voters to win.
Arkie, this is very noble as a concept. But you do realise that NZ supermarkets are all Franchised? This means that the parent company demands every higher "fees" to satisfy their shareholders and this keeps the profit line always at the same % year in year out for the person running the business. There is, in other words a ceiling to how much these proprietor can earn. Of cause no one will talk about that.
If anyone needs to be held to task than it is the body corporate and also the distribution chain for local produce and meat. I mean we are paying overseas pricing but we don't get overseas wages. Do we?
My feeling is that this is the reason the government and commerce commission has not acted. The ones to offend are too large to handle.
Incorrect. Countdowns’ are wholly owned by Woolworths NZ.
While the other brands have majority franchised stores there also remain some non-franchised supermarkets under those brands.
The duopoly uses its buyer power to drive prices down at the farmgate and thereby ensure excessive profits, that as the Commerce Commission noted exceed $1 million a day.
Action is required and if signing a petition can help provide the impetus then it’s an easy win.
Thats what is reported….'New Zealand supermarkets are comprised of three main chains, Countdown (~150 stores), New World Market (~140 stores), and Pak'nSave (~60 stores), along with several small chains. The five largest supermarketsin New Zealand are run by two companies, Foodstuffs, and Woolworths NZ.
I find it hard to believe…that's an ave of around $1million profit per store=$19,000 odd per week.(350 stores)
Respect to who. The Red Army soldiers who invaded Poland during Stalin's and his Austrian mate's effort to divvy up the country? Or the Red Army soldiers who liberated Poland so it could spend 42 years as Soviet satellite state?
Or during & after the Warsaw Uprising was quite telling at how the Soviets conducted themselves. Then Post war with the returning Polish expats who serve with the British/ Commonwealth Forces who were treated like a 5th Columnists by the Soviets and the Polish Communist Party.
On 17 September 1939, the Red Army broke the 1932 Soviet–Polish Non-Aggression Pact and invaded Poland. The Red Army returned on January 17 1945 to occupy Poland.
This is how Central Eastern Europe remembers 1945.
I just like to make the point that all wars are proxy fights for those in power and with money. None of the wars are for "democracy" or "decency" or "morality" or "for a better future" etc…. We are not learning seemingly, still haven't figured it out.
The only back the Russia Federation has been breaking, is the back of the Syrian opposition, on behalf of Assad fascism, and the Russian Federation’s own geo-political imperial interests.
Save The Date: Auckland Anti-War March. June 5th, 2022. 12pm.
In any weather, join this march from Aotea Sq to Auckland Domain.
March for peace and self-determination for the Ukrainian people, against war and authoritarian regimes!
Organised by the Auckland Ukrainian community.
The march is to start with any weather at Aotea Sq. 12:00 noon, and go to the War Memorial Museum at Auckland Domain, with 40 – 45 minutes final meeting by the Museum
Pataua4life, even if that supremely unreliable source is 100% correct, it does not diminish the gargantuan sacrifice of Soviet peoples in WW2 (including Ukrainians).
Seems the master race who are the 'collective West' have found new Untermenschen.
WM – I don't disagree that the Eastern Europe bore the brunt of the Nazi aggression and the Russian in particular did the most to push back the invaders which makes it all the more ironic that now the Russian are behaving like the Nazi invaders.
Even more ironic when Hitler invaded Russia to defeat the Bolshevik's. Now Putin uses the exact same excuse Hitler did using the exact same language.
Putin is a Nazi in a suit not a uniform. that is the only difference. I guess given Putin background we should call him Himmler.
it is time for the would be policy wonks and other intaleksalls to get their collective arses into gear and start reading their weekly giveaways and provincial tabloids which contain daily opinion pieces and editorials by right wing operatives like clare trevatt, mathew hooten and cake hoaxby. their utterances are a virtual torrent and need countering cogently and forcefully. get to work and flog them for free.
In Syria the Assad regime is under attack from various outside forces, Hezbolla, ISIS probably, and of course Uncle Sam has his grubby mitts in there as well. Russia has been fighting wars in Chechnyna at various times for centuries. The problem with Chechnya is that it represents a main gateway to Russia, and one which the Ottomans would have had to pass through if they were to invade Russia. In Putin's time Chechnya was infiltrated by ISIS terrorists, – Chechnyans are Muslims – a circumstance which Putin understandably felt he had to react to.
I don't think the Russians would want to take over Moldova, though the latter should probably maintain a neutral stance.
As for Nixon. He manged to get himself forced out of office, I seem to recall.
The Spanish Civil War was to Nazi Germany, what the Syrian revolution is to Russia.
The German Nazi invasion was to Poland , what the Russian Federation invasion is to Ukraine.
The first was ignored by the world, the Second became the ground zero for world war.
You said so yourself Mikesh. Russia will not stop this war.
Russia will not stop this war unless they are stopped by one of two things, either by a broad front international anti-war peace movement, spanning both sides, or by something much worse.
On seeing Mark Mitchell a couple of times recently, I was disappointed he didn't get to be Leader of the Opposition. Previously he'd come across as a bit like a rock on the foreshore but without the personality of it. The latest sightings have confirmed that.
He might be a most charming, quick-witted and effervescent character. If so I congratulate him on his skills of disguise.
Little point gaining the whole of the Kharkiv oblast when you are about to lose the whole of the Donbass. Ukraine better watch its' over-extended front line.
It's pretty weird when the AA, Chamber of Commerce, Greater Auckland, the Helen Clark Foundation and plenty of others all supporting a tax every time you take the car into town (at peak times).
And that will come in right after the half price public transport goes back to fullprice?
Poor worker of akl who pays for his full commuter costs, sucks to be you in public transport and private transport as you will be fleeced.
Who will not pay for this?
The dudes/and non males of the AA, Chamber of Commerce, Helen Clarke Foundation, Greater Auckland, Ministers and such will all just use their tax payer funded vehicles, with the tax payer funded gasoline/electricity and the tax payer funded congestion charge. Or the big businesses that cause a lot of that pollution who will simply write of this 'congestion charge' on their tax bill as an expense, no worry sir, no not at all the Tax Payer provided and payeth.
Non of them will pay just even one cent of this charge and thus they have no issue with it.
But sure it sounds like something is being done. lol Done again to the working poor.
9 days to find out what will happen to the Public Transport 50% discount. My suspicion is that it will be permanent. It is hugely popular in Auckland.
Also surprising that the $8000 subsidy for electric cars is one fo the most popular policies this government has generated. Electric car sales are now over 20% of all vehicle sales, and sales of utes has plummeted now that the ute tax is in.
The report from the Helen Clark Foundation shows that those coming into the CBD every day are mostly from wealthy suburbs. Less well off are in the southern and western areas, going from job to job and far less within the CBD.
I also suspect you will something in the Budget on the company vehicle and whether it's still attracting any tax benefit at all.
You know what, if i were a rich person who could spend 30.000 + on a car outright, i too would have the 8000 courtesy of the tax payer, i means like, take a family of five (a rich family of course) and that subsidy will get you a brand new car for free!!! What is not to like, maybe we should ask Mike Hoskin and his wife and the kids. I wonder if they all drive a brand new electric car 🙂
Or like the dude that got his car and then sold it on Trade Me for a tidy profit of 8000. Mind, that is just kiwi ingenuity and a right entrepreneural spirit.
So yeah, if you are rich, and NZ has rich people, that is a little give a way that is nice to have.
As for the utes, that is just people now not buying a car, maybe they are too poor for the non existing electrice utes? So they might be saving up for that vehicle when it comes available, i am sure at that stage no 'incentives' will be made available.
The Helen Clark foundation, can you link to that? I used to live in the 'richer' subburbs, simply because the extra in rent was cheaper then the time wasted in the car and the cost of the maintenance. And i have always considered my time to have a cost/price.
And i do hope that that report from the Helen Clarke Foundation is from times before the pandemic when people actually still had to travel to the CBD and surrounding areas.
Not sure how much value a report about travels into town from the outer suburbs make sense when mostly everyone is working from home, has spend several month in lockdown over a 2 year period and had strict 5 km radius rule , and people generally move less then they used too thanks to Covid. That report would be not very realistic unless of course that is the intended outcome to pretend that this will be something 'rich' people will pay cause rich people travel more to the CBD. LOL. If working remote is going to be an ongoing thing in the future – and the occasional lockdown, then the CBD are going to be dead and deserted, and then you will need to find a different way to milk the worker in order to get that 'congestion charge' of the workers.
But this charge will only be paid for by the working public who will have to travel by car to the CBD as they are the only ones that pay the full cost of everything without any chances of write offs. Those that have public transport available will use that if they can afford it. And that is the big question, and fwiw, they could have announced the half price forever with the announcement of the congestion charge. But they did not. I wonder why?
And let me just remind you that National/Act will follow this labour government, do you really believe that any removal of business write offs etc in regards to transport/cost of transport will stand? I might have a bridge in Northland on sale for you, its double laned and has a kauri on either side too.
Congestion charges work in cities like London, where the public transport systems are well established, accessible, affordable and efficient. So the congestion charges mostly fall on those who choose to drive in London, and have the money to afford the car and the parking.
This is not the case in Auckland. The public transport system is neither accessible, affordable or efficient for those in the outer regions. For students travelling into Auckland to study it is abysmal. They have a choice of three-four hours commute into town, at quite a high cost OR trying to find accommodation in town while studying. Adding to the student loan.
The electric car subsidy might have been 'popular' but was a discount for those who could already afford an electric car but couldn't be bothered getting one. A more equitable policy would have been to offer free registration for those with electric vehicles (particularly rewarding the early adopters), which would have been a small recognition, but a just one.
The fuel tax for Aucklanders also affected the wage earners who had to travel distances more. They were more likely to be those who lived where they could afford, and commuted by car because that was the cheapest and most timely (or only option). Those who voted it in most likely travelled short distances, in cars or by transport paid by their employers. Our representatives only representative a particular demographic.
Yup agree getting beyond Stage 4 is no place to live in Auckland without a car. Except North Shore. They have the best PT of anyone in t he country.
You won't have to sorry about congestion charges being a reality until at least 2025 which is when CRL completes. Or if National get in it will be never.
Everyone is subsidised up the wazoo in Auckland on transport – every time you buy a ticket, use a road, ride a bike or buy an electric car. Very little point arguing about what is more or less 'equitable' after 70 years of road investment dominance.
"Everyone is subsidised up the wazoo in Auckland on transport – every time you buy a ticket, use a road, ride a bike or buy an electric car. Very little point arguing about what is more or less 'equitable' after 70 years of road investment dominance."
Transport – for those who are struggling – is only part of the hits that they have currently. It is compounded by housing costs, rising utilities and food costs, rising petrol costs, etc.
To say that everyone is "subsidised" by the priorities of governments to spend money in certain ways is missing the point. Taxes are collected to deliver services. You can refer to them as government delivered services, or subsidised services, but they are the same.
What is apparent is that successive governments, and councils have had little care to make a priority of looking after the most financially vulnerable in any of these necessary areas. Even when they do look at issues like housing costs, and transport, they still ignore the impact on those with lower incomes – and fewer choices.
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Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
COMMENTARY:By Ronny Kareni Since the atrocious footage of the suffering of an indigenous Papuan man reverberates in the heart of Puncak by the brute force of Indonesia’s army in early February, shocking tactics deployed by those in power to silence critics has been unfolding. Nowhere is this more evident ...
Analysis - Nicola Willis is holding firm on tax cuts despite the economic outlook being worse than forecast and critics urging her to wait, writes Peter Wilson for The Week In Politics. ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
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Stop the War, an international on-line organising event on May, 12 leading up to the June 25 International Day of Action
6 AM UTC (6 pm NZ time, I think. Hope I have got that right).
All the protests in the world won't stop this war. Russia will fight to end, and the US will fight to the last Ukranian. It would make more sense to protest against the supply of weapons to the Ukrainians, in the hope of bringing about an early Ukrainian surrender.
It's going to be interesting when Russia achieves its goals and starts negotiating a ceasefire, won't be too far away.. Peace will not be permitted by the USA.
Hi Mikesh,
Do you think stopping the flow of Russian and Chinese armaments to the Vietnamese would have stopped the US invader in Vietnam?
Stopping the flow of weapons to Ukraine won't stop this war, it will only provide a clear field of fire to one side. The Russian aggressor.
Richard Nixon campaigned for the US Presidency on the same stop the war platform as yours.
However Nixon's idea for stopping the war, (same as your idea), was through forcing a surrender. On taking office Nixon, to force the surrender he wanted (and end the war), Nixon began the most intensive bombing campaign of the war.
Ukraine will not surrender, they cannot afford to.
Already the Putin regime is recruiting the forces responsible for overseeing the genocide in Syria for the occupation of Ukraine. Ukraine knows the experience of the Syrian people, is what awaits them under Russian occupation. You only have to witness what Russia's ally the Assad regime behaves or how Russia itself behaved in Syria and Chechnya, to know what awaits the people of Ukraine under Russian occupation.
The Tadamon massacre
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2022/apr/27/a-hidden-war-footage-sheds-light-on-horrors-of-war-in-syria-video-explainer
Even the total subjugation of Ukraine by Russia wouldn't stop this war. This war won't stop until Russia has achieved its full war aims. Which are the denazification of Ukraine, (ie Russia's code word for regime change in Ukraine).
And the seizure of the whole of the Northern Black Sea Coast of Ukraine as a corridor to the invasion and occupation of Moldova. And for Russian Federation naval supremacy and domination of the Black Sea.
From glitter bombs to cockroaches, what a wonderful way to deal with scammers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsLJZyih3Ac
If you’ve noticed an increase of female violent crime, it’s not women doing this but trans identified males (trans women, or men pretending to be women). Some MSM will include in their report that the offender is male, some like this one don’t.
https://twitter.com/independent/status/1523696544930750466
Taverner is trans. This reporting is dangerous, especially for women. Humans intuitively recognise male from female most of the time. If Taverner dresses typically male they will look male. If they dress typically female then people afraid of or confused by gender ideology rules may find it harder to act appropriately because the rules that TW must be seen and treated as literal women at all times interrupts our instinctive responses atriums safety and safeguarding.
People need to know what actual sex the dangerous offender is in their area.
I see zero reason for this degree of inaccuracy in reporting a situation like this.
I think this is not great for trans women either who just want to get on with their lives. The ideological push is going to backlash and that’s unfair on TW and women alike.
"I see zero reason for this degree of inaccuracy in reporting a situation like this."
I see zero reason for this degree of inaccuracy in reporting.
As you mentioned, many transwomen don't support this either, and understand the impact it has on women. Unfortunately, anyone speaking against inclusive reporting guidelines are ignored.
The cowardly and captured NZ Herald referred to Toko Shane (Ashley) Winter as a woman and showered him with female pronouns all through his trial, conviction and sentencing for the sadistic torture and murder of a young woman. Winter is serving his sentence in Paremoremo where he belongs. His appeal against his conviction and sentencing has just been denied. To add insult to injury, The Herald left the name of his victim off the list of femicides in their recent article.
I recall that. It's surreal to read that obvious avoidance of referring to biological sex.
It seems the Guardian has taken the small opportunity to be brave for this report:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/10/paedophile-jailed-trying-groom-children-social-media?CMP=share_btn_tw
What could have prompted Richard to initiate transition? Could it be the possibility of lighter sentencing and if convicted, being housed in the women's estate?
Women are not even non-males and birthing bodies now. We’re an it.
https://twitter.com/bettysea_/status/1522364378997215234
the woman gestating and delivering a baby to this man is his sister.
She’s not a mother, she’s a machine.
Regard our cute replica placentas! Flaunting our blood tie without needing to admit it? And why do you mutter about Georgia O'Keefe, who's that? Anyway, how very dare you question our ineffable bravery – who do you think you are, our mothers?
Next step Burka?
Are we missing an opportunity for a pithy chant here?
"It's Rights Are Women's Rights!".
I'll alert the press.
In fact, the "it" he casually refers to turns out to be his sister.
Not likely to be a commercial arrangement, but one with its own considerations, not helped by referring to his sister as an 'it'.
Have to change the chant, though.
Have only my 70s and 80s music tastes to draw on for creative thought:
"Sisters Are Doing It For Them Bros" or
"We Are Family, I've Got All My Itsers With Me".
Showing my age, and hopefully also, my mild disdain.
So… there has been a successful example dealing with the safety of incarcerated transwomen (and other vulnerable males) that has been going since 2014, which doesn't require the women's prison estate to accommodate.
Who'd have thought such a solution was possible?
(Apart from those that suggested it, that is.)
Video included in the link:
https://www.kcet.org/shows/socal-connected/clip/life-behind-bars-for-gbt-inmates-at-the-k6g
Moral panic over kids doing ram-raids mounts – meanwhile adults engaged in stealing much more money just as brazenly via wage subsidy fraud goes almost unnoticed.
These are adults, so we can't blame their parents; they will be upstanding members of the community so we cannot point at material deprivation and childhood abuse. Their criminality seems to be entirely their own.
But nobody is saying "where are the police?" or demanding that we "get tough on business". Why am I not seeing the shouty headlines about the disgraceful state of business ethics?
Or maybe I am confused and this is just entirely normal and expected – and the way things have always worked. In which case, these ram-raiding kids are just expressing our real core 'values' and should be praised for such an exquisite understanding of them.
2 wrongs do not make one right. How would you feel if you invested 20 years of your life working 7 days 12 hr weeks and some snotty kid destroy's it all for a thrill? That's all good? No, not at all. Solution: Why not get the army involved with stay in camps for 6 to 8 months? Discipline, contributing and getting to be part of a bigger society has to be thought. To just neglect this is like believing that a wild wolf will be one day your cuddly buddy.
And just for the record, I am certainly – with exclamation mark – for the prosecution of those who stole a good porting of 16 billion dollars from the NZ Public. If only … same softly softly now courage, no ethics, no honesty approach. Go figure.
Agree with everything you say – and that's not in conflict with my original comment. I was pointing out the inconsistent ideological and media treatment of two different types of criminality – based on the social class and ethnicity of those committing the offences.
Media is just going for sound bites. They are not trustworthy, I equate them to the same profession as car sales people. Anybody thinking they are, is very much mistaken. I don't even watch the news anymore. The language pattern used is sometimes cringeworthy, peppered with political correctness and so highly manipulative. Perhaps we can exclude some sport and the weather forecast, maybe 🙂
I have family members in the Defence Force, that have had experience at being the trainers for LSVs (Limited Service Volunteers). The inclusion of young people redirected from the Justice System, or the benefits system impacts on those who are looking for an idea of what army life is like, and doesn't often produced the desired results of change from strict discipline and routines.
I agree that both issues can and should be addressed.
I think army discipline can work for some, but for many, it doesn't address the wider issues. They need specific programmes that address any addictions, trauma, environment and understanding of opportunities available and lost due to behaviour.
Does this mean for the parents or kids – just being sarcastic mind you.
We need somewhere to start and address this. Doing nothing is not an option.
Agree.
But there is a marked difference between just doing something and doing something effective. Unfortunately we often aim for the former without taking time for consideration.
What would you suggest?
I think you need a specialised unit for youth involving people from all types of disciplines. Therapists, skills training, and people finding opportunities or jobs for when they leave. Unfortunately, unless there is some way to give them a way out of their current life when they exit they programme, they will often go back to their habitual ways when they return. Jim Moriarty was involved in a programme years ago, and I attended one of the graduation events, as a relative was involved with sending students there from a high school. It was a six-week residential, and those completing the programme were energised, engaged individuals. I recall the talk afterwards being about how Jim Moriarty tried really hard to have a forward path for them all, because it became so much harder for his students when they returned home. I can't recall the name of the programme, sorry. (Just had a look, and it seems that he was able to get funding for a permanent programme – which was closed down in 2011 after allegations of sexual abuse, and failures of safeguarding. It's a problem with no simple solutions. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/110729832/news-drama-school-failed-to-keep-troubled-kids-safe-js-).
I'm just against utilising existing programmes set up for young people actually interesting in joining the Defence Force as a pseudo punishment for them. The trainer/supervisor said the inclusion of such people created an off putting environment for those that did want to be there. They also had to deal with outsiders being called in by the young offenders, deliveries of drugs, assault and concealed weapons. They preferred working with people who wanted to be in the army, not act as de-facto prison or rehabilitation officers. They are not trained to do this either.
That sounds like a good program, a wrap around set up so to speak. It is almost impossible to redirect young people if they go back where the started from creating the very reason they are there in the first place.
Perhaps a kind of boarding school might be the answer. It would also take care of nutritional aspects too? Maybe?
I attended a graduation late 1990's early 2000's when he was still trying to get funding, course by course. IIRC, he deliberately tried to employ graduates whenever he could in order to give them gainful employment away from their home environment.
One very powerful part of the presentation, was when participants stood up to read letters of personal histories. For various easily comprehended reasons, the history of one was read by another. I remember vividly the delivery of one history read by a tall, imposing young man. It told of the gambling addiction of the father, who used to hold poker games at his house attended by a regular crew. Starting from the age of five, this young girl was added to the stakes when her father ran out of money. This sexual abuse by strangers continued for years.
These programmes need the expertise and employment of very competent safeguarding and health and safety officers. And they need to be given authority to challenge and conduct investigations by the book. I think that's an improvement that could be made to ensure that programmes that are succeeding in one major outcome, are not let down by failure of basic, necessary housekeeping structures.
Short memories and the ubiquitous success of social media look like making Ferdinand Marcos the 2nd new President of the Phillipines.
Campaigned on tackling poverty and corruption!Democracy
From CBS…'
Manila — Millions of voters headed to the polls in the Philippines Monday, propelling the namesake and son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos to an early lead in his bid to bring his family back to the top of the country's political hierarchy. Amnesty International estimates that during the elder Marcos' two-decade reign — about half of which the nation spent under Marial Law — some 70,000 people were jailed, 34,000 tortured, and more than 3,000 killed.
"What the Marcoses have done is basically propagate an alternative history of the Martial Law period as a period of peace, progress, and prosperity," Sheila Coronel, a veteran Philippine journalist and professor at the Columbia School of Journalism, told CBS News. '
It's more to do with population demographics & the way old mate Marcos used SM.
The Philippines has a very young population 18- 39yrs makes around 40-45% of the total population (from memory) & are very social media savvy compared to the cohort of older voters in the Philippines.
Marcos delivered his election pitch around SM by recasting the legacy of the Marcos Family in particular his Dad to these younger voters. As the younger voters never lived under the Macros Regime & nor understand what the family did to the country.
As a result, he's been able to manipulate this cohort of younger voters to vote for him. As he only needs around 30-35% of the Young vote & the same with the older voters to win.
Chinese police are using modern psy ops tech on dissidents – but of course none of this is done in the West to discredit anyone …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCA38FojQTI
Please sign Consumer NZs petition for Govt intervention in the supermarket duopoly:
https://campaigns.consumer.org.nz/supermarkets#sign-the-petition
Arkie, this is very noble as a concept. But you do realise that NZ supermarkets are all Franchised? This means that the parent company demands every higher "fees" to satisfy their shareholders and this keeps the profit line always at the same % year in year out for the person running the business. There is, in other words a ceiling to how much these proprietor can earn. Of cause no one will talk about that.
If anyone needs to be held to task than it is the body corporate and also the distribution chain for local produce and meat. I mean we are paying overseas pricing but we don't get overseas wages. Do we?
My feeling is that this is the reason the government and commerce commission has not acted. The ones to offend are too large to handle.
NZ supermarkets are all Franchised?
Incorrect. Countdowns’ are wholly owned by Woolworths NZ.
While the other brands have majority franchised stores there also remain some non-franchised supermarkets under those brands.
The duopoly uses its buyer power to drive prices down at the farmgate and thereby ensure excessive profits, that as the Commerce Commission noted exceed $1 million a day.
Action is required and if signing a petition can help provide the impetus then it’s an easy win.
Only $1million a day for supermarkets?Sounds way too little.
Look at the banks profits,getting exported….unbelievable.
I saw on the news? that it was excess profit of 1m per day.
($1m per day is abt 20c per person per day)
Thats what is reported….'New Zealand supermarkets are comprised of three main chains, Countdown (~150 stores), New World Market (~140 stores), and Pak'nSave (~60 stores), along with several small chains. The five largest supermarkets in New Zealand are run by two companies, Foodstuffs, and Woolworths NZ.
I find it hard to believe…that's an ave of around $1million profit per store=$19,000 odd per week.(350 stores)
Respect to who. The Red Army soldiers who invaded Poland during Stalin's and his Austrian mate's effort to divvy up the country? Or the Red Army soldiers who liberated Poland so it could spend 42 years as Soviet satellite state?
https://twitter.com/AP/status/1523650262350667777
deleted
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland
When did Austria divvy something up? Austria used to be a monarchy before WWI and was divvy'd up after the war ended. What do you mean?
https://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/austria-hungary/
[please put quotes in quotation marks or other form that makes it clear what is a quote]
Stalin's mate Hitler was an Austrian, The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was their deal to roll over Eastern Europe and divvy up the spoils.
Eternally grateful you were never my History lecturer, joe90.
A low blow at the people who broke the back of Nazism. Truly unworthy comments.
Learn some history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Poland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_repressions_of_Polish_citizens_(1939%E2%80%931946)
Or during & after the Warsaw Uprising was quite telling at how the Soviets conducted themselves. Then Post war with the returning Polish expats who serve with the British/ Commonwealth Forces who were treated like a 5th Columnists by the Soviets and the Polish Communist Party.
On 17 September 1939, the Red Army broke the 1932 Soviet–Polish Non-Aggression Pact and invaded Poland. The Red Army returned on January 17 1945 to occupy Poland.
This is how Central Eastern Europe remembers 1945.
I just like to make the point that all wars are proxy fights for those in power and with money. None of the wars are for "democracy" or "decency" or "morality" or "for a better future" etc…. We are not learning seemingly, still haven't figured it out.
Yes 100%
The Russian Federation is not the Soviet Union.
The only back the Russia Federation has been breaking, is the back of the Syrian opposition, on behalf of Assad fascism, and the Russian Federation’s own geo-political imperial interests.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ncaWI-QTtE
The march is to start with any weather at Aotea Sq. 12:00 noon, and go to the War Memorial Museum at Auckland Domain, with 40 – 45 minutes final meeting by the Museum
Pataua4life, even if that supremely unreliable source is 100% correct, it does not diminish the gargantuan sacrifice of Soviet peoples in WW2 (including Ukrainians).
Seems the master race who are the 'collective West' have found new Untermenschen.
WM – I don't disagree that the Eastern Europe bore the brunt of the Nazi aggression and the Russian in particular did the most to push back the invaders which makes it all the more ironic that now the Russian are behaving like the Nazi invaders.
Even more ironic when Hitler invaded Russia to defeat the Bolshevik's. Now Putin uses the exact same excuse Hitler did using the exact same language.
Putin is a Nazi in a suit not a uniform. that is the only difference. I guess given Putin background we should call him Himmler.
' Now Putin uses the exact same excuse Hitler did using the exact same language.'
What am I missing here…your statement does NOT make ..sense.
it is time for the would be policy wonks and other intaleksalls to get their collective arses into gear and start reading their weekly giveaways and provincial tabloids which contain daily opinion pieces and editorials by right wing operatives like clare trevatt, mathew hooten and cake hoaxby. their utterances are a virtual torrent and need countering cogently and forcefully. get to work and flog them for free.
In Syria the Assad regime is under attack from various outside forces, Hezbolla, ISIS probably, and of course Uncle Sam has his grubby mitts in there as well. Russia has been fighting wars in Chechnyna at various times for centuries. The problem with Chechnya is that it represents a main gateway to Russia, and one which the Ottomans would have had to pass through if they were to invade Russia. In Putin's time Chechnya was infiltrated by ISIS terrorists, – Chechnyans are Muslims – a circumstance which Putin understandably felt he had to react to.
I don't think the Russians would want to take over Moldova, though the latter should probably maintain a neutral stance.
As for Nixon. He manged to get himself forced out of office, I seem to recall.
The Spanish Civil War was to Nazi Germany, what the Syrian revolution is to Russia.
The German Nazi invasion was to Poland , what the Russian Federation invasion is to Ukraine.
The first was ignored by the world, the Second became the ground zero for world war.
You said so yourself Mikesh. Russia will not stop this war.
Russia will not stop this war unless they are stopped by one of two things, either by a broad front international anti-war peace movement, spanning both sides, or by something much worse.
All the protests in the world will stop this war. They must, before this war becomes a global conflagration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgmKygmkqSA
On seeing Mark Mitchell a couple of times recently, I was disappointed he didn't get to be Leader of the Opposition. Previously he'd come across as a bit like a rock on the foreshore but without the personality of it. The latest sightings have confirmed that.
He might be a most charming, quick-witted and effervescent character. If so I congratulate him on his skills of disguise.
Oh yes. Mitchell to a 'T'
Four more settlements to east of Kharkiv have been wrested from Russian control and liberated today.
That should piss off the Ukraine can't win and should surrender now crowd.
https://liveuamap.com/
Little point gaining the whole of the Kharkiv oblast when you are about to lose the whole of the Donbass. Ukraine better watch its' over-extended front line.
Russia is very close to it's stated goals. This will be painted as defeat of course.
If I were Russia I would call it now.
It's pretty weird when the AA, Chamber of Commerce, Greater Auckland, the Helen Clark Foundation and plenty of others all supporting a tax every time you take the car into town (at peak times).
Move Forward With Congestion Charging But Put Fairness In The Driver’s Seat, Says Helen Clark Foundation & WSP NZ | Scoop News
This is a move to make better use of the motorway at peak, push people onto public transport, and raise a bit of revenue as well.
Presumably the Minister of Transport who lives in central Auckland will pick this up into the required legislation.
And that will come in right after the half price public transport goes back to fullprice?
Poor worker of akl who pays for his full commuter costs, sucks to be you in public transport and private transport as you will be fleeced.
Who will not pay for this?
The dudes/and non males of the AA, Chamber of Commerce, Helen Clarke Foundation, Greater Auckland, Ministers and such will all just use their tax payer funded vehicles, with the tax payer funded gasoline/electricity and the tax payer funded congestion charge. Or the big businesses that cause a lot of that pollution who will simply write of this 'congestion charge' on their tax bill as an expense, no worry sir, no not at all the Tax Payer provided and payeth.
Non of them will pay just even one cent of this charge and thus they have no issue with it.
But sure it sounds like something is being done. lol Done again to the working poor.
9 days to find out what will happen to the Public Transport 50% discount. My suspicion is that it will be permanent. It is hugely popular in Auckland.
Also surprising that the $8000 subsidy for electric cars is one fo the most popular policies this government has generated. Electric car sales are now over 20% of all vehicle sales, and sales of utes has plummeted now that the ute tax is in.
The report from the Helen Clark Foundation shows that those coming into the CBD every day are mostly from wealthy suburbs. Less well off are in the southern and western areas, going from job to job and far less within the CBD.
I also suspect you will something in the Budget on the company vehicle and whether it's still attracting any tax benefit at all.
You know what, if i were a rich person who could spend 30.000 + on a car outright, i too would have the 8000 courtesy of the tax payer, i means like, take a family of five (a rich family of course) and that subsidy will get you a brand new car for free!!! What is not to like, maybe we should ask Mike Hoskin and his wife and the kids. I wonder if they all drive a brand new electric car 🙂
Or like the dude that got his car and then sold it on Trade Me for a tidy profit of 8000. Mind, that is just kiwi ingenuity and a right entrepreneural spirit.
So yeah, if you are rich, and NZ has rich people, that is a little give a way that is nice to have.
As for the utes, that is just people now not buying a car, maybe they are too poor for the non existing electrice utes? So they might be saving up for that vehicle when it comes available, i am sure at that stage no 'incentives' will be made available.
The Helen Clark foundation, can you link to that? I used to live in the 'richer' subburbs, simply because the extra in rent was cheaper then the time wasted in the car and the cost of the maintenance. And i have always considered my time to have a cost/price.
And i do hope that that report from the Helen Clarke Foundation is from times before the pandemic when people actually still had to travel to the CBD and surrounding areas.
Not sure how much value a report about travels into town from the outer suburbs make sense when mostly everyone is working from home, has spend several month in lockdown over a 2 year period and had strict 5 km radius rule , and people generally move less then they used too thanks to Covid. That report would be not very realistic unless of course that is the intended outcome to pretend that this will be something 'rich' people will pay cause rich people travel more to the CBD. LOL. If working remote is going to be an ongoing thing in the future – and the occasional lockdown, then the CBD are going to be dead and deserted, and then you will need to find a different way to milk the worker in order to get that 'congestion charge' of the workers.
But this charge will only be paid for by the working public who will have to travel by car to the CBD as they are the only ones that pay the full cost of everything without any chances of write offs. Those that have public transport available will use that if they can afford it. And that is the big question, and fwiw, they could have announced the half price forever with the announcement of the congestion charge. But they did not. I wonder why?
And let me just remind you that National/Act will follow this labour government, do you really believe that any removal of business write offs etc in regards to transport/cost of transport will stand? I might have a bridge in Northland on sale for you, its double laned and has a kauri on either side too.
Congestion charges work in cities like London, where the public transport systems are well established, accessible, affordable and efficient. So the congestion charges mostly fall on those who choose to drive in London, and have the money to afford the car and the parking.
This is not the case in Auckland. The public transport system is neither accessible, affordable or efficient for those in the outer regions. For students travelling into Auckland to study it is abysmal. They have a choice of three-four hours commute into town, at quite a high cost OR trying to find accommodation in town while studying. Adding to the student loan.
The electric car subsidy might have been 'popular' but was a discount for those who could already afford an electric car but couldn't be bothered getting one. A more equitable policy would have been to offer free registration for those with electric vehicles (particularly rewarding the early adopters), which would have been a small recognition, but a just one.
The fuel tax for Aucklanders also affected the wage earners who had to travel distances more. They were more likely to be those who lived where they could afford, and commuted by car because that was the cheapest and most timely (or only option). Those who voted it in most likely travelled short distances, in cars or by transport paid by their employers. Our representatives only representative a particular demographic.
Yup agree getting beyond Stage 4 is no place to live in Auckland without a car. Except North Shore. They have the best PT of anyone in t he country.
You won't have to sorry about congestion charges being a reality until at least 2025 which is when CRL completes. Or if National get in it will be never.
Everyone is subsidised up the wazoo in Auckland on transport – every time you buy a ticket, use a road, ride a bike or buy an electric car. Very little point arguing about what is more or less 'equitable' after 70 years of road investment dominance.
"Everyone is subsidised up the wazoo in Auckland on transport – every time you buy a ticket, use a road, ride a bike or buy an electric car. Very little point arguing about what is more or less 'equitable' after 70 years of road investment dominance."
Transport – for those who are struggling – is only part of the hits that they have currently. It is compounded by housing costs, rising utilities and food costs, rising petrol costs, etc.
To say that everyone is "subsidised" by the priorities of governments to spend money in certain ways is missing the point. Taxes are collected to deliver services. You can refer to them as government delivered services, or subsidised services, but they are the same.
What is apparent is that successive governments, and councils have had little care to make a priority of looking after the most financially vulnerable in any of these necessary areas. Even when they do look at issues like housing costs, and transport, they still ignore the impact on those with lower incomes – and fewer choices.
https://youtu.be/DpE5cBgl11U
Something to think about?