Cabinet said on Wednesday investigations will continue into both the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro project and a “portfolio” approach to electricity generation including geothermal and biomass for meeting New Zealand’s future energy needs.
Minister of Energy and Resources Megan Woods says Cabinet has agreed the strategic and economic details of both should be scrutinised before a decision is made mid-next year on which option to pursue.
A North Island pumped-hydro project and investment in green hydrogen as “dry year” solutions have been dropped.
The further work could soak up $69 million of the project’s total $100 million feasibility budget. Over $20 million has been spent investigating the Onslow option already, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment says. Construction of the scheme or the alternative projects could begin in 2027 or 2028.
Kicking the can down the road into the next electoral cycle has become Labour's favourite political tactic. For a positive take on this you could say they're being honest in admitting inability to cope – you'd be kidding yourself, though, since they haven't admitted any such inadequacy!
Spending millions investigating schemes is sensible to discern details, feasibility, implications, etc. Too bad the process always takes forever to complete.
This measure of popular opinion translates into voter collective opinion. Unfair to Chris & Chris, who have worked so hard to be as bland as possible? Doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. Our leadership vacuum will persist regardless. Democracy rules.
“If I were to be charitable, I would simply say that Clark and her fellow travellers need to understand that the PRC of 2008, when the FTA was negotiated, no longer exists. Gone is the relative openness and transparency of the CCP regime led by Hu Jintao and in its wake has risen the repressive and expansionist regime led by Xi Jinping. Clark and others may wax nostalgic for a past where the PRC would adopt liberal internationalist principles when it comes to foreign affairs and join the community of nations as a democratising Great Power, but that sadly has not happened. Instead, Xi has consolidated his grip on power, increased authoritarian powers against civil society, moved to culturally extinguish restive minorities like the Uyghurs, and de facto annexed Hong Kong while sabre-rattling against Taiwan and usurping the maritime territory of its littoral neighbours around the South China Sea. All while expanding its military capabilities (including its nuclear arsenal) and conducting global political influence (United Front) and espionage campaigns that include large-scale as well as focused cyber intrusions, intimidation of diaspora populations and industrial-size patent and copyright theft. That in turn has reconfigured the threat environment in which NZ is situated. The recently released package of NZ security documents pointedly make reference to these facts, among other things.”
Do you believe the Government is living up to its commitment made in this international declaration?
For example, the cost of carbon is built into the price of goods. Therefore, are people's incomes taken into account when they are billed for their power use? When purchasing petrol or food, are low income earners given a discount?
How is the Government meeting its obligation to a just transition, ensuring no one is left behind?
Low income power consumers who are forced into using pre-paid electricity….they pay the highest rates of all..
As they have no other options…they can be royally screwed..and they are .
Isn't the market a wonderful thing..?
And funny story…I actually thought this would be one of the first gross inequities/exploitations of the powerless..that a transforming labour majority govt would rush to fix..
Going off their reported stance re the BlackRock deal, the Greens also don't seem to care about the increasing cost of power.
The Green Party says the government's collaboration with BlackRock is an important step along the country's journey towards 100 percent renewable electricity generation.
“Climate action and support for energy poor households should be a core design feature of our electricity market,” says Green Party’s energy and resources spokesperson, Julie Anne Genter.
“Access to clean, affordable energy is an essential component of dignified life, yet successive governments have designed an electricity market that puts shareholder profit ahead of public interest.
“As today’s report shows, these design flaws have led to massive under investment in generating capacity and low carbon technologies.
“National’s partial privatisation of the electricity market in 2014, in particular, has held back climate action, promoted fossil fuels, and left households much worse off.
“Burning fossil fuels and keeping bills higher than necessary has become a strategy for profiteering that Mr. Luxon seems eager to promote.
“The fundamental failures of past governments cannot be addressed through incremental improvements while leaving the underlying design of the system intact.
“The Green Party is clear that the imperative to invest in a climate-friendly future is too important to outsource.
“Massive electricity profits should be reinvested into renewables, action to reduce household bills, and local clean energy projects, such as shared or community energy.
“An excess profit tax can help address the immediate challenges we face, while work is done to redesign the electricity market to build the better, cleaner and more equal future our children deserve.
“In a strong position to shape the direction of the next government, the Green Party will accelerate a just transition to a clean energy future where people and communities are better off than they are today,” says Julie Anne Genter.
That statement from Genter is all good. But their support for the BlackRock deal goes against that stance.
For example, she says successive governments have designed an electricity market that puts shareholder profit ahead of public interest. Which is largely what the BlackRock deal is going to further do.
Their support of BlackRock deal is conditional on the yet-to-be-announced details and stresses that any action that moves us towards 100% renewables is a good thing:
Its co-leader James Shaw said that the country had a massive challenge ahead in electrifying transport and heavy industry.
In terms of New Zealand, BlackRock has announced "a country specific fund designed to enable a whole country to decarbonise in a very short period of time", he said.
That did not address the whole challenge, but it was a step along the journey, Shaw said.
"As long as we're providing alternatives for people to put their money into I think what you'll see is less investment in the fossil fuel industry and more investment in renewables."
Shaw said while BlackRock had a few questions to answer regarding where it was investing, he believed the fund would lead to less investment in fossil fuel and more in renewables.
Their support of BlackRock deal is conditional on the yet-to-be-announced details
Is it? I was under the impression that Labour had basically take a position of trusting BR to do the right thing. I was disappointed in Shaw's statement tbh, even allowing for the constraints of the L/G government agreement.
No one has seen the specifics of the deal so we are all responding to the announcement conditionally. I am certain that if there are significant concerns when more is known, the criticism will be forthright. The important part is the belief in the announcements purpose of 100% renewables, objectively a good thing given the urgency of the climate crisis, but the proof will be in the pudding.
Woods on RNZ the day of the accouncement (sorry, don't remember which show) was asked about issues like ethical investment, and it really did come across like Labour haven't built those safeguards in.
Stressing that any action that moves us towards 100% renewables is a good thing is the problem with this current Green lot.
Too focused on the Green issue while not really caring about the cost to low income earners and the other negatives that come with taking a market approach.
The market approach is something largely expected from National, ACT, or Labour. But seeing the Greens being happy about a market approach is very disappointing.
The Greens really do cop it from every angle don't they. Criticised for not being an environmental party and too focused of social equity while also being criticised for being too focused on green issues and not caring about low income earners.
'Being happy about a market approach' is a misrepresentation of Shaw's statement. Just remind me which parties are advocating for fairer taxation and an income guarantee?
For example, the cost of carbon is built into the price of goods. Therefore, are people's incomes taken into account when they are billed for their power use? When purchasing petrol or food, are low income earners given a discount?
Odd framing. The government doesn't own the power companies, nor petrol stations, nor food outlets.
Odd framing. The government doesn't own the power companies, nor petrol stations, nor food outlets.
The Government imposes the carbon cost on them, which they then pass on to us. Making no allowance to ensure it is passed on in a just, fair or equitable way.
There is nothing in Just Transition that says everyone should be subsidised by the government as society forces businesses to pay for their pollution. If you think there is, you have failed fundamentally to understand what JT is.
Maybe put up an actual example of what you are talking about.
A party that rules out a fairer taxation system is unlikely to be overly concerned about people being left behind is it?
You have not linked to which party this is but I'm picking Labour….to which I reply
Really? There is more than one way of skinning a cat as that horrible expression goes. The Greens wealth tax was just an election policy, a policy like the dental policy, populist, possibly with suspect costings ( I felt this about the wealth tax and the release of the Treasury work confirmed it……the figures from the Greens did not need to include the family home nor start at $2m to make a difference – Treasury was recommending $5m.
Labour had been working on its own wealth tax, which in my view would have been much fairer and realistic. However the fallout from wealth tax discussions, I'm guessing in the groups that Labour was tapping into, has meant that wealth tax has been put aside.
I have yet to see any of those who lauded the Greens tax look at and comment on the work that Labour was doing. It seemed to be much fairer, tackle the wealthy, leave out the family home from the calcs…. etc
Treasury estimates reckoned the wealth tax would have hit about 25,000 people – the top 0.5 per cent of New Zealanders. Their total wealth reckoned to be $300b, or 26 per cent of the total wealth held by New Zealanders.
……Economic costs and other risks The wealth tax will incentivise taxpayers to change their behaviour in order to minimise their wealth tax liability. Some of these behavioural changes (which include migrating away from New Zealand and changes to saving and investment decisions) will impose costs on the wider economy.
The wealth tax will also impose a significant compliance cost burden on taxpayers (relative to the compliance burden of most other taxes) and will come with some significant integrity risks.
Assessment
While the wealth tax is likely to meet your revenue and distributional objectives, this will come with economic and integrity costs. While there is uncertainty over the costs of the tax, these could be large. Some of these economic costs are inherent to any tax increase, but some are due to the nature of the wealth tax…….
So there are other ways of increasing the tax take that do not involve a wealth tax eg stamp duty, death duty, financial transactions tax, higher tax take on higher incomes.
It is noteworthy that the The Guardian Essential poll, does mention tax but in the context of take home pay ie bracket creep and adjustment of brackets.
'Here is a list of things the Labour-led New Zealand government could try to deal with the rising cost of living.'
one was 'cut income taxes'
62% felt it was something that the Govt should do and that it would make difference.
This seems to be a report well worth reading and dispels some myths and confirms others ie there is concern about energy prices and perhaps it is something a Govt could look at. I have been advocating this since the year dot.
'Here is a list of things the Labour-led New Zealand government could try to deal with the rising cost of living.'
one was 'cut income taxes'
62% felt it was something that the Govt should do and that it would make difference.
Strangely enough:
“The Green Party’s plan to ask the wealthiest 0.7 to pay their fair share through a wealth tax would pay for an Income Guarantee that would benefit over 3.7 million people. Under our plan, 95 percent of New Zealanders would receive a tax cut and have more money in their back pockets to cover life’s essentials.
The 'work' Labour were doing has being put aside though. All roads seem to lead to Labour ruling out tax changes doesn't it? It's all well and good to prefer a change that isn't coming, especially if you're not currently struggling financially. The Greens are offering 95% of people an income tax cut, something you point out 62% of people would favour.
Really? There is more than one way of skinning a cat as that horrible expression goes. The Greens wealth tax was just an election policy, a policy like the dental policy, populist, possibly with suspect costings ( I felt this about the wealth tax and the release of the Treasury work confirmed it……the figures from the Greens did not need to include the family home nor start at $2m to make a difference – Treasury was recommending $5m.
Link to where Treasury have commented on the GP policy package, or retract please.
I have linked to the Treasury papers on the wealth tax several times.I think you have misread what i was saying.
I had doubts about the Greens wealth tax particularly about the level of $2m and the fact that it caught the family home. I felt instinctively that the level was too low, for city dwellers and those who had opted to save for thier retirement and that the policy to include the family home was also unfair.
When the Treasury papers came out they illustrated that a level of $5m in assets and not including the family home would generate significant amounts. To me this reinforced what i was saying. I have not said the Treasury analysed the Greens policy.
[please link to the Treasury report now so that people can see what you are talking about – weka]
I think you need to be more careful in how you say things. You have stated that the Greens tax policy has suspect costings, "the release of the Treasury work confirmed it".
If that's not what you meant, you appear to be conflating two separate pieces of work (GP policy, Treasury work on tax), and somehow saying that the Treasury work has bearing on the GP policy, despite them being separate work.
From reading your comments in the past, the Treasury work wasn't about funding a GMI, free dental etc, so it's really a nonsense to be comparing the two things in this way. All you are saying is that you like the Treasury work better, which is fine, but it's not about eliminating poverty.
thanks. A cursory look tells me this was prepared by Treasury for the government (Labour), for the purposes of,
This report provides officials’ policy advice on the effectiveness of a net wealth tax (a “wealth tax”) in achieving your revenue and distributional objectives, as well as the likely economic costs and other risks associated with the tax.
In other words, this is about Labour objectives, it's nothing to do with the Greens' objectives.
Granted I see that see that I should punctuated more clearly and will do this more carefully in future.
I am not conflating.
I am on record, like a cracked record actually, not liking the Greens wealth tax.
I am also on record at disagreeing with the need to set the level at $2m and at including the family home.
I am also on record disagreeing with including retirement savings.
I am also of the view and stated this more than once, that funding itnitiatives to eliminate poverty should be up front and centre of work on the Vote: budget of those departments that are responsble for this and not hidden away in this wealth tax.
The dental policy suffers the same flaws in my view plus others that Belladonna has mentioned.
The extension of the free allowance for dental work 'should be up from and centre of work on the Vote: budget of those departments that are responsble for this and not hidden away in this wealth tax.'
Because I have mentioned that the Treasury in its work on a wealth tax did not see the need to include the family home not set the level at $2m does not mean I am conflating anything.
I think you need to be more careful in how you say things. You have stated that the Greens tax policy has suspect costings, "the release of the Treasury work confirmed it". (from Weka)
I have not stated this at all, all along I have stated my view about the costings.
If that's not what you meant, you appear to be conflating two separate pieces of work (GP policy, Treasury work on tax), and somehow saying that the Treasury work has bearing on the GP policy, despite them being separate work. (from Weka)
Treasury work has bearing on the GP policy, despite them being separate work.
I have not said this at all. I have said my view is I trust the costings from Treasury more than the Greens costings…
I have disagreed with the wealth tax and, by extension, the using of of it as a funding mechanism for specific initiatives. Election policies followed by Departmental budgets through the yearly budget rounds are the places for initiatives like eliminating poverty and extending dental care.
I have also mentioned several times the fact that from my experience in the PS The Treasury does not like the concept of tied taxes. The wealth tax and its pre-ordained use is what they call a tied tax. It diminishes the amount of money that a govt has to allocate to pursue its policies.
In other words, this is about Labour objectives, it's nothing to do with the Greens' objectives.
I am so totally bewildered now.
I have never ever said The Treasury report was a report by Treasury on the Greens policy.
The Treasury paper was a summary of the work that the Treasury had been doing that Hipkins cancelled. He did this after widespread chatter (huge chatter I mentioned it myself) about wealth taxes, and the Greens one was the only one that was about so where did this chatter come from?
I was sad he did away with the work as, in my view, the Treasury figures seemed to have a robustness that I liked. I liked how they excluded the family home and they also seemed to signal that they were working on how to extract the family home on a money making farm business so it did not attract the wealth tax. They were also doing work on a retirement policy issue and that is the defined benefit plan and how it would be covered.
I repeat it was not my intention to conflate the Greens policy with the Treasury report.
I don't believe I did.
The Greens wealth tax came out before the wealth tax details that The Treasury was working on came out.
The Treasury papers came out after Hipkins had said he was not going ahead. It is my understanding the specific papers were released at that time either by OIA or because there was now no longer any need to keep the policy work in the orbit of 'free & frank' between Ministers/Treasury. There were some write-ups about high net worth individuals that had come out in the last year but these were by IRD.
My only intention was to compare the inputs/outputs both used. Comparing does not mean conflating.
At varsity we had endless 'compare and contrast' requirements, this kind of methodology flows through into any policy work looking at two or more alternatives. Forced comparisons are the stuff of strategic business planning exercises as well. The alternatives do not have to be like for like.
I did compare the two and I noted that Treasury in its work on a wealth tax had a $5m start and did not include the family home whereas The Greens policy did.
I have never said that the Greens should have been aware of the Govt's work on the wealth tax so how would anyone be beholden to the other. This is not part of my argument at all? The timings alone would have prevented that let alone the fact that The Greens not being able to access advice from The Treasury. Thye are two different papers discussing a possible wealth tax.
No forget the conflating it was just a straighforward comparison. Had both taxes been election policy I am sure there would be more people than just me saying 'Huh. They both want a tax but why does the Greens one come down so low in assets?'
Actually it would be a good question to get an answer to, as well as why the family home was included?
My opinion is that the work The Treasury was doing for the Govt on a wealth tax had a far better chance of being enacted, before the ‘horses were scared’. It seems fairer in that the family home was excluded and some forms of retirement planning as well…..both had been part of moves/encouragement by Govts in power and it seemed churlish to me to include them as wealth.
Treasury may have recognised this or it may have come about in discussions. You can see that there was further work on family homes on farms and some forms of retirement planning.
The end result of the Wealth tax is/was unimportant. Labour's was to fund the $10,000 tax free zone. I have always said that this is my opinion. So it was the set-up of the tax and not its end result that was my concern.
The wealth tax – which has since been ruled out by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins – would have meant about 46,000 individuals with net worth of more than $5 million had to pay 1.5% tax on that wealth.
'In New Zealand electricity is generated by 4 major electricity generating companies. Genesis Energy, Mercury and Meridian Energy operate under a mixed ownership model in which the government holds a majority stake, while Contact is a private sector company.'
so? I'm all for nationalising electricity in NZ. Or even more government intervention into the market. Anyone that wants a Just Transition should vote Green or TPM.
It's an interesting philosophical position, which hinges on fundamentals like efficiency, equity, competence, systems design, incentive-structures.
The historical reason the left abandoned socialism back in the 1970s is highly relevant – the more so due to never having been explained by leftists!!
I recall the gist from the Rogernomes around statist constipation, stultifying bureaucracy, employing endless losers off the street, etc. So they wheeled in market forces and we got all sorts of other types of shit instead.
The moral of the history is that centralised control systems only work well when they are well-designed, with effective incentives to motivate performance and work ethos, and competently managed. Do we trust either National or Labour to get this into their heads and produce the thing satisfactorily? Not a snowball's chance in hell. Most critical issue is accountability.
So whereas I agree that nationalising electricity makes sense in principle, folks would need to see that it gives them equity of outcome & is designed well enough to make Aotearoa resilient nationwide. Regional/local governance would have to be catered for seamlessly in that design, transparent enough to give most folks confidence in the system.
Well the model allows the government to get one power company to go into debt to transfer assets to another power company to then pay that value into the government coffers.
It clearly isn't a hands off model. It is just a right wing rort.
The Government will receive a $521 million special dividend from Meridian Energy thanks to Genesis Energy borrowing money from its bankers to help pay for Meridian's Tekapo assets.
State-owned Genesis borrowed $546 million from its senior bankers and is in the process of raising $275 million from investors to pay state-owned Meridian $821 million for the Tekapo A and B hydro stations.
Meridian will pay the Government a special dividend of $521 million at the completion of the sale on June 1.
That suggests the real value of the Tekapo stations is $300 million but the Government clicked the ticket along the way for $521 million by setting the price for the Tekapo assets and forcing Genesis to pay that price.
Indeed if we can promise to spend $40+billion on tunnels for cars, and another $20+billion on Auckland isthmus light rail, with that kind of money they could buy out all the Mercury+Meridian+Genesis+Contact Energy and have enough left over to buy most of us an electric car as well.
But good news they launched an Energy Transition plan yesterday. Great.
Excellent project to deal with the slash problem while also using ancient methods to improve that land:
According to Mashaba, the project involved taking some of the abundance of slash scattered across the region, and burning it in a sealed environment, which turned it into bio-char.
"It's controlled burning that's done in an enclosed container, and this keeps all the gases that could be going up, going back into the drum and burning, and then eventually they become part of the carbon, and form the charcoal that remains in the drum."
The charcoal could then be activated with something like animal urine, which made it a nutrient-rich fertiliser for soil.
"With the heavy flooding there's been a loss of nutrients [from] the soil, with that clear felling [of forestry plots] there's also been a lot of erosion of the soil itself, so what you then apply back as activated biochar will allow the land to heal."
Back to Victorian era times for fertiliser! In those days the main waste products from households were wood ash from domestic fires and human waste. Everything else was recycled or sold.
The contents of the pit toilets in your back yard, or the waste gunnels in streets were raked out, mixed with the household ash and carted off to be spread on fields.
Biochar is a fantastic use of the slash clogging waterways and a great way to reduce fossil fuel sourced fertiliser use. It's an example of the more circular systems we need to return to, like nitrogen-fixing cover crops.
Quite right. Seems to have special properties that scale up fertility for growers. I discovered it when I interviewed a local who'd been into it for a few years, about a decade back on GreenPlanetFM – he told the audience about how it had been used since ancient times in the Amazon.
I recall a stat along the lines of 1 teaspoon of charcoal has the same surface are as a rugby field.
Biochar (crushed charcoal soaked in a liquid fert eg comfrey, chook pooh or seaweed 'tea') isn't a miracle nutrient more a potentiator of what already exists in the soil. Easiest made in a steel container (think conical skip bin, no lid) filled with wood burning on the top. The fire acts as a 'flame cap' preventing oxygen from getting to the wood below, allowing pyrolisis to occur.
I like the Iwasaki kiln for a non moveable machine and there is the bonus of harvesting wood vinegar (pyroligneous acid), Here is a good once over of biochar, making charcoal and wood vinegar and other products. 15 minutes
It is commercially available but my arms are too short and my pockets are too deep for that. Simple DIY is to get a clean coffee, Milo, or paint tin, punch several holes inthe lid. Fill the tin with dry sticks (willow twigs makes a great artist medium). and put the lid on. Put it on a fire/in a log burner and wait and watch. The wood gases will start leaving the tin and ignite. When this has abated, remove tin, open container and quench the charcoal with water. Then crush charcoal and put in bucket and pee on it. Leave for a week.
Far from expert, but enthusiastic amateur. TBH the biochar was a branch (boom boom) I experimented with as a byproduct of making charcoal for my drum smoker and to make fireworks black powder with. 75/15/10.
Absolutely but this project is about dealing with the aftermath of the cyclones on the East Coast:
When Thabiso Mashaba arrived in the northern Tai Rāwhiti town of Uawa in early March, cyclones Hale and Gabrielle had blown through in quick succession, leaving the region strewn with slash and silt.
As an Edmund Hillary Fellow, he was interested in helping the Tolaga Bay residents find their own solutions to local problems – as well as making sure they could be compensated for their work.
This is astonishing, well done everyone involved. #rewilding #regeneration
For those us that don’t know Wellington, can someone please explain the landscape? I assume by suburb they don’t mean kiwi running through people’s backyards.
Karori is separated from Makara by highish hills, that have the Skyline walkway running along near the ridge. Hopefully that link will show you Google maps, switch to satellite view to get a good idea of the lay of the land. Karori on the east side is suburban down mainly in the valley, Makara is on the west side & is rural.
The kiwi were released well to the southwest & several have moved through Makara village to near the walkway, hence the present concern about dogs being off leash.
No, They were released well southwest of there. The Capital Kiwi facebook page had a post on 12 May saying
"The first 25 (of 50) kiwi were welcomed with an emotional pōwhiri at Pipitea Marae at dawn on Tuesday. The kiwi were then ferried west and released on to Terawhiti hills behind Mākara – they will have put their in-built raincoats to good use this week."
Terawhiti Station is on the southwest tip of the North Island. It's still farmed but certainly marginal, parts are regenerating. There's manuka, gorse, tauhinu, certainly not bush such as mature forest. The project's website has photos that will give an idea of what's there. The project includes the land extending north to Porirua but the release so far has only been in the area near Makara.
We are so fortunate in Wellington having Zealandia. It has made such a difference to the spread of birds across Wellington and has given groups like the ones who relased the Kiwi confidence. Wellington also has readymade bird 'islands' with the Town belt. (Dunedin has similar) Up the Kapiti coast the presence of Kapiti Island (a protected area) and the Nga Manu bird Sanctuary has meant we see lots of birds there too.
During the only week I ever had in Los Angeles I saw it just after it opened at the dome cinerama on Hollywood Boulevard, 1978. Stand-out for me was their buddy Neil Diamond doing Dry Your Eyes…
A fave song of mine when it was a bit of a sleeper on hit radio. Me & student flatmates turned it up whenever it came on, in our flat just above the Telair shop in the heart of K Rd. Transition from fast rock into that country blend was gathering pace…
No footage from me today, I suspect police smuggled him in and out a side door.
…
The defendant's demeanor today was calm and relaxed, unlike last time. If I was to guess, I'd say he's been told that the court process is just something he has to go through and that eventually he'll be discharged without conviction.
…
It seemed to me the judge merely rubbed-stamped whatever the defendant's barrister Emma Priest suggested. The police prosecutor did not speak AT ALL throughout the hearing.
The elderly lady started that fracas by trying to push over a counter protestor. Then she began to lay in to who [I presume]was the defendant. He responded in kind and knocked her off balance. Didn't leave her prostrate on the ground as the exaggerated versions at the time would have us believe.
Moral of the story. don’t be foolish and lay in to ta much younger and fitter person. They are going to win. Leave it to their peers to do the pushing and shoving.
The woman protestor started pulling up the line that was separating the protestors from LWS. When the elderly woman realised this she went over and pushed the protestor to the side to stop her. So far, so normal in a situation like that.
By then the protest crowd had started to invade the LWS area. The defendant sees what the elderly woman has done and tackles. When they're both standing upright again, she approaches him and he starts punching her.
But thanks for minimising MVAW and victim blaming. He didn't respond 'in kind'. She pushed the woman protestor aside with no harm, he criminally assaulted her. There is no excuse for what he did. None.
This is the result of being hyped up on adrenaline, testosterone disinhibition & moral certitude. It's also abject cowardice. What do you suppose the likes of this brave SJW would've done to PP if he'd got his hands on her. Had a nice chat?
No doubt there will be some who'll try to excuse this by saying "but she supports PP so she's a Nazi & it's okay to punch Nazis". Is it okay to cause broken bones, brain damage or death, because when a young man punches an elderly person in the head, it's likely outcome.
Men punch far harder than women, even an angry toddler-man like this one. Older brains are more susceptible to concussion. Women's posterior cervical spinal musculature is less powerful than men's & we suffer whip lash injury more as a result – I know this from experience.
An older woman is likely to be osteoporotic which greatly increases risk of fracture of facial bones or more dangerously, cervical vertebrae.
I'm minimising nothing! Just adding a little balance to an overhyped reaction coming from one side in particular. While not a nice scene by any means, the level of violence involved has been hyped up out of proportion to the actual facts of the case.
The judge, who is in possession of all those facts and who has no doubt studied the video in minute detail, would appear to agree. The assailant is to be punished for what he did and rightly so. But he is not going to be hung, drawn and quartered which would appear to be the desire of some in this case.
So, it was obviously a surprise to the woman to turn and find people pulling up some of the barriers that they were also advised to stay within.
The protestors were violent, intimidatory and abusive. The video evidence not only shows the incident, but the confidence and arrogance of those who were determined to stop the event.
You really should investigate why you are so determined to make apologies for this type of violent behaviour. I find it unfathomable.
Along with hyperbole such as this: “But he is not going to be hung, drawn and quartered which would appear to be the desire of some in this case.”
Can you post to the comments where this has been stated?
"A young LGBTQ rights activist who was filmed punching a 71-year-old woman in the head during the heated Posie Parker counter-protest in Auckland this year has pleaded guilty to assault.
The 21-year-old Gisborne resident, who continues to have interim name suppression, appeared in Auckland District Court today.
Judge Debra Bell granted defence lawyer Emma Priest’s request to not yet enter a conviction until sentencing. A date for that hearing has not yet been scheduled.
The victim, who did not attend today’s hearing, told the Herald she was pleased to hear about the guilty plea.
“I am feeling very good today,” said the grandmother of six, who suffered a concussion and facial bruising as a result of the attack. “I’m glad he has pleaded guilty. That made me feel a lot better.”"
"…The charge against the then-20-year-old LGBTQ rights activist came after footage circulated widely on Twitter showing a heated meeting of the two groups that day. In the video, he can be seen striking the woman in the face.
Court documents obtained by the Herald today note that the defendant and the victim did not know each other before the raucous gathering.
“About 11am an unknown person began pulling out pegs placed in the ground to separate the two groups,” police noted in the summary of facts for the case. “The group protesting against the speaker Posie Parker pushed over a metal fence and began approaching the group supporting her.
“The victim put her hands out to stop the group and made contact with a female from the opposing group, the same one that had been removing the pegs.”
The defendant approached the victim after noticing the physical contact, court documents state.
“The victim turned towards the defendant who responded by punching the victim three times in the head area,” police noted.
“In explanation, the defendant stated he believed the victim had assaulted a fellow protester and that the victim was going to assault him next.”"
I don't think the judge is weighing up whether the offence occurred and its gravity. The judge is clearly weighing up the sentencing as the young person, rumour has it, is at Auckland Uni and a punishment that might trigger passport or visa concerns or job prospects has to be seen and assessed as to whether it will be disproportionate.
That, if you like it or not, is how it works here.
Unfair as these concerns only seem to lay heavily when the offenders are white. middle class etc. Put it this way I'm not sure I have noticed as many pleas using this type of excuse from offenders from the likes of South Auckland.
Personally I think this type of 'excuse' should not be allowed. I think the full weight of the law should be felt for all offenders. Perhaps there could be a sentence quashing or review after 5 or 8 years, available to all, that sets out the work that has been done to ensure they don't offend again has been done and to wipe the offence from the need to mention it for travel etc.
"I don't think the judge is weighing up whether the offence occurred and its gravity."
He's not weighing up whether the offence occurred because it did occur. Its all there in the video. But of course he's weighing up the gravity of the offence. What would be the point of a justice system without differing levels of crime and violence being the primary consideration.
If there is circumstantial evidence to be considered as well… I'm happy to accept the judge's decision. Judges are in a far better position than you or I – or anyone else – to pass judgement on such matters.
As you say, that, if you like it or not, is how it works here. There is a system. Evolved over time.
It could change of course, evolve over time to something else. How about a system that looks only at the activity itself, the quite specific behaviour, nothing behind it or about the people involved? The, "you stole a loaf of bread off your hand" approach.
Judges' judgement only being used in outlining what wrongdoing happened.
I see cases where understanding, compassion and regard for the future of a guilty person are called for. And others where a 'gallows only' approach are demanded.
I am certain there are those who favour the former approach who at other times want the latter and think nil tolerance at all should be available. Ever.
"In Trafalgar Square, a man called for violence against women. Specifically, it seems, intellectually curious women, those unruly harridans who refuse to bow down to certain beliefs. Punch them ‘in the fucking face’, he bellowed into a mic. The heaving mob around him cheered. An electric current of hate seemed to flow through their ranks. Some punched the air, others laughed, taking delight in their leader’s invitation to hit ‘bad’ women.
The speaker was Sarah Jane Baker. He is a man who identifies as a woman. He is an ex-con too – he spent 30 years in jail for kidnap, torture and attempted murder. And yet here he was taking to the stage at Trans Pride – a gathering passionately backed by London mayor Sadiq Khan – where he made the case for slapping women who don’t support trans rights. He said he had intended to be ‘really fluffy’ at this event, but he changed his mind."
Fortunately, after a lot of protest against inaction on the part of the authorities, the speaker was arrested and recalled to the prison from where he was out on license.
I have long thought that because mangrove areas do not fit any trite definition of beauty of some people they do not deserve to be protected no matter how important mangroves are to ecosystems and no matter the work they do.
The poll took responses from 1000 eligible New Zealand voters, 800 by phone and 200 by online panel, with results weighted for gender, age and location, with a 3.1% margin of error…
So long as Winston and Shane Jones keep their marbles in check and don't start saying stupid shit they could well get their 5% on Election Day, actually some good policy and people within the NZF Organisation. A lot of policy put through by the 2017 Labour/NZF Coalition was actually NZF Policies.
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
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Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
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Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
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Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
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Further to the situation I posted to DR last night, there's more obfuscation on the energy resilience front from the govt: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/giant-pumped-hydro-scheme-up-in-the-air
Kicking the can down the road into the next electoral cycle has become Labour's favourite political tactic. For a positive take on this you could say they're being honest in admitting inability to cope – you'd be kidding yourself, though, since they haven't admitted any such inadequacy!
Spending millions investigating schemes is sensible to discern details, feasibility, implications, etc. Too bad the process always takes forever to complete.
Kiwis unimpressed by our mainstream left/right political leaders now poll at 73%:
This measure of popular opinion translates into voter collective opinion. Unfair to Chris & Chris, who have worked so hard to be as bland as possible? Doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. Our leadership vacuum will persist regardless. Democracy rules.
Nevermind the 'popularity' of the leaders….worry about the shell game being played with policies.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/giant-pumped-hydro-scheme-up-in-the-air
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/auckland-top-stories/300944088/pm-chris-hipkins-reveals-bold-plan-to-have-second-auckland-harbour-crossing-with-road-tunnels-light-rail
Luxon and Hipkins could wake up leading the opposite party and really no one would blink.
This week Hipkins outlined huge roading projects and a fat deal with Blackrock.
This week Luxon went for no cellphones in classrooms which is now basic in Labor Australia
Currently the only difference is hair.
Ad, what do you think of schools becoming landlords? Apparently Epsom Girls? is.
We all love a good foreign policy scrap. Pablo not mincing words regarding Helen Clark’s latest comments.
https://www.kiwipolitico.com/2023/08/benign-strategic-nostalgia/
“If I were to be charitable, I would simply say that Clark and her fellow travellers need to understand that the PRC of 2008, when the FTA was negotiated, no longer exists. Gone is the relative openness and transparency of the CCP regime led by Hu Jintao and in its wake has risen the repressive and expansionist regime led by Xi Jinping. Clark and others may wax nostalgic for a past where the PRC would adopt liberal internationalist principles when it comes to foreign affairs and join the community of nations as a democratising Great Power, but that sadly has not happened. Instead, Xi has consolidated his grip on power, increased authoritarian powers against civil society, moved to culturally extinguish restive minorities like the Uyghurs, and de facto annexed Hong Kong while sabre-rattling against Taiwan and usurping the maritime territory of its littoral neighbours around the South China Sea. All while expanding its military capabilities (including its nuclear arsenal) and conducting global political influence (United Front) and espionage campaigns that include large-scale as well as focused cyber intrusions, intimidation of diaspora populations and industrial-size patent and copyright theft. That in turn has reconfigured the threat environment in which NZ is situated. The recently released package of NZ security documents pointedly make reference to these facts, among other things.”
In 2021 the Government announced its commitment to The International Just Transition Declaration.
Acknowledging the transition to a low carbon future needs to be a fair and equitable leaving no community, family or person behind.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-commits-just-transition
Do you believe the Government is living up to its commitment made in this international declaration?
For example, the cost of carbon is built into the price of goods. Therefore, are people's incomes taken into account when they are billed for their power use? When purchasing petrol or food, are low income earners given a discount?
How is the Government meeting its obligation to a just transition, ensuring no one is left behind?
Low income power consumers who are forced into using pre-paid electricity….they pay the highest rates of all..
As they have no other options…they can be royally screwed..and they are .
Isn't the market a wonderful thing..?
And funny story…I actually thought this would be one of the first gross inequities/exploitations of the powerless..that a transforming labour majority govt would rush to fix..
Silly me..!…eh..?
Going off their reported stance re the BlackRock deal, the Greens also don't seem to care about the increasing cost of power.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/495424/climate-policy-expert-cautiously-optimistic-over-blackrock-deal
https://www.greens.org.nz/fix_electricity_market_to_help_both_climate_and_cost_of_living
go easy on the long copypasta please.
That statement from Genter is all good. But their support for the BlackRock deal goes against that stance.
For example, she says successive governments have designed an electricity market that puts shareholder profit ahead of public interest. Which is largely what the BlackRock deal is going to further do.
Their support of BlackRock deal is conditional on the yet-to-be-announced details and stresses that any action that moves us towards 100% renewables is a good thing:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/495424/climate-policy-expert-cautiously-optimistic-over-blackrock-deal
A party vote for the Greens would increase their ability to pressure Labour to do better.
Is it? I was under the impression that Labour had basically take a position of trusting BR to do the right thing. I was disappointed in Shaw's statement tbh, even allowing for the constraints of the L/G government agreement.
No one has seen the specifics of the deal so we are all responding to the announcement conditionally. I am certain that if there are significant concerns when more is known, the criticism will be forthright. The important part is the belief in the announcements purpose of 100% renewables, objectively a good thing given the urgency of the climate crisis, but the proof will be in the pudding.
Woods on RNZ the day of the accouncement (sorry, don't remember which show) was asked about issues like ethical investment, and it really did come across like Labour haven't built those safeguards in.
Stressing that any action that moves us towards 100% renewables is a good thing is the problem with this current Green lot.
Too focused on the Green issue while not really caring about the cost to low income earners and the other negatives that come with taking a market approach.
The market approach is something largely expected from National, ACT, or Labour. But seeing the Greens being happy about a market approach is very disappointing.
The Greens really do cop it from every angle don't they. Criticised for not being an environmental party and too focused of social equity while also being criticised for being too focused on green issues and not caring about low income earners.
'Being happy about a market approach' is a misrepresentation of Shaw's statement. Just remind me which parties are advocating for fairer taxation and an income guarantee?
a wilful misrepresentation. I'm mindful that TC has a long history of using TS to slag off the government without much substance.
Whatever my disappointment about Shaw's response, it's an idiocy to frame his or the GP position as 'happy with a market approach'.
Or have you got it arse-backwards?
Of course they care about rising costs; the higher costs that will come if we DON'T change now.
Odd framing. The government doesn't own the power companies, nor petrol stations, nor food outlets.
Here's the Just Transition Declaration
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20230313132211/https://ukcop26.org/supporting-the-conditions-for-a-just-transition-internationally/
It has six points, might be good to use the actual framework in the Declaration,
The Government imposes the carbon cost on them, which they then pass on to us. Making no allowance to ensure it is passed on in a just, fair or equitable way.
There is nothing in Just Transition that says everyone should be subsidised by the government as society forces businesses to pay for their pollution. If you think there is, you have failed fundamentally to understand what JT is.
Maybe put up an actual example of what you are talking about.
How is the Government going to ensure a just transition without subsidising low income earners, ensuring no one is left behind?
A party that rules out a fairer taxation system is unlikely to be overly concerned about people being left behind is it?
You have not linked to which party this is but I'm picking Labour….to which I reply
Really? There is more than one way of skinning a cat as that horrible expression goes. The Greens wealth tax was just an election policy, a policy like the dental policy, populist, possibly with suspect costings ( I felt this about the wealth tax and the release of the Treasury work confirmed it……the figures from the Greens did not need to include the family home nor start at $2m to make a difference – Treasury was recommending $5m.
Labour had been working on its own wealth tax, which in my view would have been much fairer and realistic. However the fallout from wealth tax discussions, I'm guessing in the groups that Labour was tapping into, has meant that wealth tax has been put aside.
I have yet to see any of those who lauded the Greens tax look at and comment on the work that Labour was doing. It seemed to be much fairer, tackle the wealthy, leave out the family home from the calcs…. etc
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-chris-hipkins-confirms-he-killed-wealth-tax-capital-gains-tax-in-budget/LZNZMSBEBNEQFHUSJKP4637TIA/
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-07/b23-tax-4796987.pdf
Noting:
So there are other ways of increasing the tax take that do not involve a wealth tax eg stamp duty, death duty, financial transactions tax, higher tax take on higher incomes.
It is noteworthy that the The Guardian Essential poll, does mention tax but in the context of take home pay ie bracket creep and adjustment of brackets.
'Here is a list of things the Labour-led New Zealand government could try to deal with the rising cost of living.'
one was 'cut income taxes'
62% felt it was something that the Govt should do and that it would make difference.
This seems to be a report well worth reading and dispels some myths and confirms others ie there is concern about energy prices and perhaps it is something a Govt could look at. I have been advocating this since the year dot.
Strangely enough:
https://www.greens.org.nz/change_the_tax_system_to_support_struggling_households
Zoooooooom.
The respondents talked about tax brackets etc not a wealth tax. That was my point.
Not all roads lead to The Greens wealth tax.
Where are you whizzing off to?
The 'work' Labour were doing has being put aside though. All roads seem to lead to Labour ruling out tax changes doesn't it? It's all well and good to prefer a change that isn't coming, especially if you're not currently struggling financially. The Greens are offering 95% of people an income tax cut, something you point out 62% of people would favour.
Link to where Treasury have commented on the GP policy package, or retract please.
I have linked to the Treasury papers on the wealth tax several times.I think you have misread what i was saying.
I had doubts about the Greens wealth tax particularly about the level of $2m and the fact that it caught the family home. I felt instinctively that the level was too low, for city dwellers and those who had opted to save for thier retirement and that the policy to include the family home was also unfair.
When the Treasury papers came out they illustrated that a level of $5m in assets and not including the family home would generate significant amounts. To me this reinforced what i was saying. I have not said the Treasury analysed the Greens policy.
[please link to the Treasury report now so that people can see what you are talking about – weka]
mod note.
I think you need to be more careful in how you say things. You have stated that the Greens tax policy has suspect costings, "the release of the Treasury work confirmed it".
If that's not what you meant, you appear to be conflating two separate pieces of work (GP policy, Treasury work on tax), and somehow saying that the Treasury work has bearing on the GP policy, despite them being separate work.
From reading your comments in the past, the Treasury work wasn't about funding a GMI, free dental etc, so it's really a nonsense to be comparing the two things in this way. All you are saying is that you like the Treasury work better, which is fine, but it's not about eliminating poverty.
As above
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-07/b23-tax-4796987.pdf
and another
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/wp/wp-23-01
thanks. A cursory look tells me this was prepared by Treasury for the government (Labour), for the purposes of,
In other words, this is about Labour objectives, it's nothing to do with the Greens' objectives.
Granted I see that see that I should punctuated more clearly and will do this more carefully in future.
I am not conflating.
I am on record, like a cracked record actually, not liking the Greens wealth tax.
I am also on record at disagreeing with the need to set the level at $2m and at including the family home.
I am also on record disagreeing with including retirement savings.
I am also of the view and stated this more than once, that funding itnitiatives to eliminate poverty should be up front and centre of work on the Vote: budget of those departments that are responsble for this and not hidden away in this wealth tax.
The dental policy suffers the same flaws in my view plus others that Belladonna has mentioned.
The extension of the free allowance for dental work 'should be up from and centre of work on the Vote: budget of those departments that are responsble for this and not hidden away in this wealth tax.'
Because I have mentioned that the Treasury in its work on a wealth tax did not see the need to include the family home not set the level at $2m does not mean I am conflating anything.
I have not stated this at all, all along I have stated my view about the costings.
Treasury work has bearing on the GP policy, despite them being separate work.
I have not said this at all. I have said my view is I trust the costings from Treasury more than the Greens costings…
I have disagreed with the wealth tax and, by extension, the using of of it as a funding mechanism for specific initiatives. Election policies followed by Departmental budgets through the yearly budget rounds are the places for initiatives like eliminating poverty and extending dental care.
I have also mentioned several times the fact that from my experience in the PS The Treasury does not like the concept of tied taxes. The wealth tax and its pre-ordained use is what they call a tied tax. It diminishes the amount of money that a govt has to allocate to pursue its policies.
I am so totally bewildered now.
I have never ever said The Treasury report was a report by Treasury on the Greens policy.
The Treasury paper was a summary of the work that the Treasury had been doing that Hipkins cancelled. He did this after widespread chatter (huge chatter I mentioned it myself) about wealth taxes, and the Greens one was the only one that was about so where did this chatter come from?
I was sad he did away with the work as, in my view, the Treasury figures seemed to have a robustness that I liked. I liked how they excluded the family home and they also seemed to signal that they were working on how to extract the family home on a money making farm business so it did not attract the wealth tax. They were also doing work on a retirement policy issue and that is the defined benefit plan and how it would be covered.
It has always been my views……
You said,
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-10-08-2023/#comment-1963686
This is where you are conflating two different things,
If you did not mean to say that the GP policy didn’t need to have a threshold of $2m because Treasury recommended $5m, then please clarify now.
I repeat it was not my intention to conflate the Greens policy with the Treasury report.
I don't believe I did.
The Greens wealth tax came out before the wealth tax details that The Treasury was working on came out.
The Treasury papers came out after Hipkins had said he was not going ahead. It is my understanding the specific papers were released at that time either by OIA or because there was now no longer any need to keep the policy work in the orbit of 'free & frank' between Ministers/Treasury. There were some write-ups about high net worth individuals that had come out in the last year but these were by IRD.
My only intention was to compare the inputs/outputs both used. Comparing does not mean conflating.
At varsity we had endless 'compare and contrast' requirements, this kind of methodology flows through into any policy work looking at two or more alternatives. Forced comparisons are the stuff of strategic business planning exercises as well. The alternatives do not have to be like for like.
I did compare the two and I noted that Treasury in its work on a wealth tax had a $5m start and did not include the family home whereas The Greens policy did.
I have never said that the Greens should have been aware of the Govt's work on the wealth tax so how would anyone be beholden to the other. This is not part of my argument at all? The timings alone would have prevented that let alone the fact that The Greens not being able to access advice from The Treasury. Thye are two different papers discussing a possible wealth tax.
No forget the conflating it was just a straighforward comparison. Had both taxes been election policy I am sure there would be more people than just me saying 'Huh. They both want a tax but why does the Greens one come down so low in assets?'
Actually it would be a good question to get an answer to, as well as why the family home was included?
My opinion is that the work The Treasury was doing for the Govt on a wealth tax had a far better chance of being enacted, before the ‘horses were scared’. It seems fairer in that the family home was excluded and some forms of retirement planning as well…..both had been part of moves/encouragement by Govts in power and it seemed churlish to me to include them as wealth.
Treasury may have recognised this or it may have come about in discussions. You can see that there was further work on family homes on farms and some forms of retirement planning.
The end result of the Wealth tax is/was unimportant. Labour's was to fund the $10,000 tax free zone. I have always said that this is my opinion. So it was the set-up of the tax and not its end result that was my concern.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/300927549/wealth-tax-would-create-compliance-headaches-little-gain
You didn't specify low income people. Like I said, give us some specific examples so we know what you are talking about.
'In New Zealand electricity is generated by 4 major electricity generating companies. Genesis Energy, Mercury and Meridian Energy operate under a mixed ownership model in which the government holds a majority stake, while Contact is a private sector company.'
Electricity industry | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (mbie.govt.nz)
so? I'm all for nationalising electricity in NZ. Or even more government intervention into the market. Anyone that wants a Just Transition should vote Green or TPM.
It's an interesting philosophical position, which hinges on fundamentals like efficiency, equity, competence, systems design, incentive-structures.
The historical reason the left abandoned socialism back in the 1970s is highly relevant – the more so due to never having been explained by leftists!!
I recall the gist from the Rogernomes around statist constipation, stultifying bureaucracy, employing endless losers off the street, etc. So they wheeled in market forces and we got all sorts of other types of shit instead.
The moral of the history is that centralised control systems only work well when they are well-designed, with effective incentives to motivate performance and work ethos, and competently managed. Do we trust either National or Labour to get this into their heads and produce the thing satisfactorily? Not a snowball's chance in hell. Most critical issue is accountability.
So whereas I agree that nationalising electricity makes sense in principle, folks would need to see that it gives them equity of outcome & is designed well enough to make Aotearoa resilient nationwide. Regional/local governance would have to be catered for seamlessly in that design, transparent enough to give most folks confidence in the system.
So….' The government doesn't own the power companies'-you're wrong.
snort. Remind me how that particular business model enables the government to keep electricity prices low?
Well the model allows the government to get one power company to go into debt to transfer assets to another power company to then pay that value into the government coffers.
It clearly isn't a hands off model. It is just a right wing rort.
The Government will receive a $521 million special dividend from Meridian Energy thanks to Genesis Energy borrowing money from its bankers to help pay for Meridian's Tekapo assets.
State-owned Genesis borrowed $546 million from its senior bankers and is in the process of raising $275 million from investors to pay state-owned Meridian $821 million for the Tekapo A and B hydro stations.
Meridian will pay the Government a special dividend of $521 million at the completion of the sale on June 1.
That suggests the real value of the Tekapo stations is $300 million but the Government clicked the ticket along the way for $521 million by setting the price for the Tekapo assets and forcing Genesis to pay that price.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/tekapo-assets-gift-govt-521m/NOVUNCADGFG5BLUFMNB53WCIRU/
fucking neoliberalism. I hope The Chairman takes note and votes accordingly.
Indeed if we can promise to spend $40+billion on tunnels for cars, and another $20+billion on Auckland isthmus light rail, with that kind of money they could buy out all the Mercury+Meridian+Genesis+Contact Energy and have enough left over to buy most of us an electric car as well.
But good news they launched an Energy Transition plan yesterday. Great.
Jim Cramer is a low life, and a suck up to corporate leaders. So many scum like this in NZ.
Excellent project to deal with the slash problem while also using ancient methods to improve that land:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/495503/from-slash-to-cash-finding-innovative-ways-to-fertilise-and-heal-east-coast-land
Back to Victorian era times for fertiliser! In those days the main waste products from households were wood ash from domestic fires and human waste. Everything else was recycled or sold.
The contents of the pit toilets in your back yard, or the waste gunnels in streets were raked out, mixed with the household ash and carted off to be spread on fields.
Biochar is a fantastic use of the slash clogging waterways and a great way to reduce fossil fuel sourced fertiliser use. It's an example of the more circular systems we need to return to, like nitrogen-fixing cover crops.
Quite right. Seems to have special properties that scale up fertility for growers. I discovered it when I interviewed a local who'd been into it for a few years, about a decade back on GreenPlanetFM – he told the audience about how it had been used since ancient times in the Amazon.
The properties that helps in soil is it's massive surface area in relation to its volume.
It allows a strong mycorrhizal network to form thereby increasing the potency of the wood wide web.
I could go on and on but don't wanna risk being a charcoal bore..
Too late according to some that are close to me.
Interesting point about the fine structure. I wonder if it scales down to the molecular level. If so, would explain fungal symbiosis (as catalyst).
Is it a commercial product yet or do users still need to diy? You're clearly expert & may even be the guy I interviewed.
I recall a stat along the lines of 1 teaspoon of charcoal has the same surface are as a rugby field.
Biochar (crushed charcoal soaked in a liquid fert eg comfrey, chook pooh or seaweed 'tea') isn't a miracle nutrient more a potentiator of what already exists in the soil. Easiest made in a steel container (think conical skip bin, no lid) filled with wood burning on the top. The fire acts as a 'flame cap' preventing oxygen from getting to the wood below, allowing pyrolisis to occur.
I like the Iwasaki kiln for a non moveable machine and there is the bonus of harvesting wood vinegar (pyroligneous acid), Here is a good once over of biochar, making charcoal and wood vinegar and other products. 15 minutes
It is commercially available but my arms are too short and my pockets are too deep for that. Simple DIY is to get a clean coffee, Milo, or paint tin, punch several holes inthe lid. Fill the tin with dry sticks (willow twigs makes a great artist medium). and put the lid on. Put it on a fire/in a log burner and wait and watch. The wood gases will start leaving the tin and ignite. When this has abated, remove tin, open container and quench the charcoal with water. Then crush charcoal and put in bucket and pee on it. Leave for a week.
I wondered when you would comment. I am fascinated by your work and expositions on charcoal biomass and don't think you are a 'charcoal bore'.
I would say that on TS you are our charcoal expert. And we cannot be wrong!
How very kind.
Far from expert, but enthusiastic amateur. TBH the biochar was a branch (boom boom) I experimented with as a byproduct of making charcoal for my drum smoker and to make fireworks black powder with. 75/15/10.
I'd prefer it if our forestry model didn't produce slash in the first place.
Short rotation monoculture ends up in ruinous bulk slash
I'd like to see high end mixed species forests with a permanent canopy and longer rotations,as exemplified by Tanes Tree trust
Absolutely but this project is about dealing with the aftermath of the cyclones on the East Coast:
Very true
I was responding to someone's comment that it could become part of the circular economy.
Its a very good short term solution to the damage from reckless forestry, wouldnt want to see it built in
On my charcoal journey I've learnt that a Collier was originally one who made charcoal.
The rise of coal mining saw that title move to those that worked in the pits.
Now with the decline of the mines and the resurgence of charcoal they have claimed the name back.
Nice to see that getting some MSM coverage.
Wellingtonians?
This is astonishing, well done everyone involved. #rewilding #regeneration
For those us that don’t know Wellington, can someone please explain the landscape? I assume by suburb they don’t mean kiwi running through people’s backyards.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/495507/after-150-year-absence-the-cry-of-the-kiwi-reaches-karori-in-wellington
Not yet in backyards I think.
Karori is separated from Makara by highish hills, that have the Skyline walkway running along near the ridge. Hopefully that link will show you Google maps, switch to satellite view to get a good idea of the lay of the land. Karori on the east side is suburban down mainly in the valley, Makara is on the west side & is rural.
The kiwi were released well to the southwest & several have moved through Makara village to near the walkway, hence the present concern about dogs being off leash.
So the kiwi were released in the Mākara Mountain Bike Park area (on that map)? Is that native bush?
No, They were released well southwest of there. The Capital Kiwi facebook page had a post on 12 May saying
"The first 25 (of 50) kiwi were welcomed with an emotional pōwhiri at Pipitea Marae at dawn on Tuesday. The kiwi were then ferried west and released on to Terawhiti hills behind Mākara – they will have put their in-built raincoats to good use this week."
Terawhiti Station is on the southwest tip of the North Island. It's still farmed but certainly marginal, parts are regenerating. There's manuka, gorse, tauhinu, certainly not bush such as mature forest. The project's website has photos that will give an idea of what's there. The project includes the land extending north to Porirua but the release so far has only been in the area near Makara.
We are so fortunate in Wellington having Zealandia. It has made such a difference to the spread of birds across Wellington and has given groups like the ones who relased the Kiwi confidence. Wellington also has readymade bird 'islands' with the Town belt. (Dunedin has similar) Up the Kapiti coast the presence of Kapiti Island (a protected area) and the Nga Manu bird Sanctuary has meant we see lots of birds there too.
.
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/robbie-robertson-dead-the-band-1235692172/
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead
I just need some place where I can lay my head
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
He just grinned and shook my hand, "no" was all he said
The Weight – Robbie Robertson
Bugger, lovely guitar player.
Only Garth Hudson remaining out of those gifted bandmates.
The voice.
Broken Arrow –
Somewhere Down The Crazy River –
My big-favourite-in-car-by-yourself-full volume of hisis Somewhere Down That Crazy River.
Amazing percussion, lyrical solitude, spacious sound engineering.
1987 was certainly a moment for me so I will make sure I put it on full tilt on the way home tonight.
Great voice and great Band. "The Last Waltz" is one of my favourite films and I had the tape for years.
During the only week I ever had in Los Angeles I saw it just after it opened at the dome cinerama on Hollywood Boulevard, 1978. Stand-out for me was their buddy Neil Diamond doing Dry Your Eyes…
Me too.
A fave song of mine when it was a bit of a sleeper on hit radio. Me & student flatmates turned it up whenever it came on, in our flat just above the Telair shop in the heart of K Rd. Transition from fast rock into that country blend was gathering pace…
The Band wasn't it?
Man who punched elderly woman in the head three times at the Let Women Speak event in Auckland earlier in the year was in court yesterday.
Report from someone who attended,
https://twitter.com/SimonRAnderson1/status/1689411680810500096
Video of defendent punching her,
https://youtu.be/Dos0FlaWIxM
Those "most marginalised and oppressed people on the planet" sure have a lot of rich and powerful friends.
That's fucking disgusting
The elderly lady started that fracas by trying to push over a counter protestor. Then she began to lay in to who [I presume]was the defendant. He responded in kind and knocked her off balance. Didn't leave her prostrate on the ground as the exaggerated versions at the time would have us believe.
Moral of the story. don’t be foolish and lay in to ta much younger and fitter person. They are going to win. Leave it to their peers to do the pushing and shoving.
Personally I don’t condone either side.
You might want another look , the assailant came in from the side, the old lady pushed another person first but just coming in swinging is not on,
The woman protestor started pulling up the line that was separating the protestors from LWS. When the elderly woman realised this she went over and pushed the protestor to the side to stop her. So far, so normal in a situation like that.
By then the protest crowd had started to invade the LWS area. The defendant sees what the elderly woman has done and tackles. When they're both standing upright again, she approaches him and he starts punching her.
But thanks for minimising MVAW and victim blaming. He didn't respond 'in kind'. She pushed the woman protestor aside with no harm, he criminally assaulted her. There is no excuse for what he did. None.
Commentary from Lynn Williams in March,
https://twitter.com/LynnW192/status/1640062514905092096
What's MVAW when the cows come home?
I'm minimising nothing! Just adding a little balance to an overhyped reaction coming from one side in particular. While not a nice scene by any means, the level of violence involved has been hyped up out of proportion to the actual facts of the case.
The judge, who is in possession of all those facts and who has no doubt studied the video in minute detail, would appear to agree. The assailant is to be punished for what he did and rightly so. But he is not going to be hung, drawn and quartered which would appear to be the desire of some in this case.
Read again weka's response to your justification.
BTW, the woman was not a protestor. She was attending an event, where women were going to speak.
The police advised event organisers to ensure that all attendees faced the band rotunda:
https://rcrrealtalk.podbean.com/e/linda-sutton-on-the-posie-parker-let-women-speak-event-her-assault-the-police-investigation-8-aug-2023/
So, it was obviously a surprise to the woman to turn and find people pulling up some of the barriers that they were also advised to stay within.
The protestors were violent, intimidatory and abusive. The video evidence not only shows the incident, but the confidence and arrogance of those who were determined to stop the event.
You really should investigate why you are so determined to make apologies for this type of violent behaviour. I find it unfathomable.
Along with hyperbole such as this:
“But he is not going to be hung, drawn and quartered which would appear to be the desire of some in this case.”
Can you post to the comments where this has been stated?
Newstalk have published an update in the last hour or so:
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/crime/posie-parker-protest-activist-pleads-guilty-to-punching-elderly-woman-at-heated-auckland-trans-rights-protest/
I don't think the judge is weighing up whether the offence occurred and its gravity. The judge is clearly weighing up the sentencing as the young person, rumour has it, is at Auckland Uni and a punishment that might trigger passport or visa concerns or job prospects has to be seen and assessed as to whether it will be disproportionate.
That, if you like it or not, is how it works here.
Unfair as these concerns only seem to lay heavily when the offenders are white. middle class etc. Put it this way I'm not sure I have noticed as many pleas using this type of excuse from offenders from the likes of South Auckland.
Personally I think this type of 'excuse' should not be allowed. I think the full weight of the law should be felt for all offenders. Perhaps there could be a sentence quashing or review after 5 or 8 years, available to all, that sets out the work that has been done to ensure they don't offend again has been done and to wipe the offence from the need to mention it for travel etc.
"I don't think the judge is weighing up whether the offence occurred and its gravity."
He's not weighing up whether the offence occurred because it did occur. Its all there in the video. But of course he's weighing up the gravity of the offence. What would be the point of a justice system without differing levels of crime and violence being the primary consideration.
If there is circumstantial evidence to be considered as well… I'm happy to accept the judge's decision. Judges are in a far better position than you or I – or anyone else – to pass judgement on such matters.
As you say, that, if you like it or not, is how it works here. There is a system. Evolved over time.
It could change of course, evolve over time to something else. How about a system that looks only at the activity itself, the quite specific behaviour, nothing behind it or about the people involved? The, "you stole a loaf of bread off your hand" approach.
Judges' judgement only being used in outlining what wrongdoing happened.
I see cases where understanding, compassion and regard for the future of a guilty person are called for. And others where a 'gallows only' approach are demanded.
I am certain there are those who favour the former approach who at other times want the latter and think nil tolerance at all should be available. Ever.
There is lots of context here.
"In Trafalgar Square, a man called for violence against women. Specifically, it seems, intellectually curious women, those unruly harridans who refuse to bow down to certain beliefs. Punch them ‘in the fucking face’, he bellowed into a mic. The heaving mob around him cheered. An electric current of hate seemed to flow through their ranks. Some punched the air, others laughed, taking delight in their leader’s invitation to hit ‘bad’ women.
The speaker was Sarah Jane Baker. He is a man who identifies as a woman. He is an ex-con too – he spent 30 years in jail for kidnap, torture and attempted murder. And yet here he was taking to the stage at Trans Pride – a gathering passionately backed by London mayor Sadiq Khan – where he made the case for slapping women who don’t support trans rights. He said he had intended to be ‘really fluffy’ at this event, but he changed his mind."
Fortunately, after a lot of protest against inaction on the part of the authorities, the speaker was arrested and recalled to the prison from where he was out on license.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-did-trans-pride-allow-itself-to-become-a-front-for-misogyny/?fbclid=IwAR26PIPaNHh2NeLJi4nVtaUX9_QJwzUdFb6pxw2ytl7_iRI2tEuU7oAd4ok
Shades of Putiki; a mature mangrove forest has been cut down for another marina:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/495454/mature-mangrove-forest-cut-down-for-new-20-million-okara-marina
https://www.earthday.org/the-importance-of-mangrove-forests/
I agree Arkie, reprehensible.
I have long thought that because mangrove areas do not fit any trite definition of beauty of some people they do not deserve to be protected no matter how important mangroves are to ecosystems and no matter the work they do.
Winston back at 5.8% in the Tax Payers Union Curia Poll. Making progress come Election Day.
So their public has done a noteworthy 3% shift from Labour to Greens. Margin of Nats over Labour up to nearly 8% now. TMP same as the Guardian poll.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495523/taxpayers-union-poll-suggests-seven-seats-for-nz-first-in-opposition
Greens 12 versus ACT 13 is a good trend.
So long as Winston and Shane Jones keep their marbles in check and don't start saying stupid shit they could well get their 5% on Election Day, actually some good policy and people within the NZF Organisation. A lot of policy put through by the 2017 Labour/NZF Coalition was actually NZF Policies.