I believe the Labour Government have seriously misread the public mood with the decision to build a seperate cycle and walking bridge over rhe Waitemata.
GUEST BLOG: Bryan Bruce – My problem with the Auckland bike bridge
By The Daily Blog, June 9, 2021
Am I in favour of being able to cycle and walk across the bridge ?
Yes.
Would that be possible without building a new cycle and walk bridge?
I think the answer might also very well be Yes.
Of course you’d have to encourage more people to use public transport .
How would you do that?
Make bus travel free….
The cycling community and the fare free communty need to get their heads together.
If we are really serious about getting people to take up cycling for recreation and commuting, If we don't want to alienate the traveling public. Then we must integrate cyclling with public transport.
A bike lane will displace 21 thousand cars.
38% of people who cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge every working day do so on the bus.
The French city of Dunkirk introduced fare free public transport and saw public transport use grow by 70%
A similar 70% increase in public transport use across the Auckland Harbour bridge would free up the space needed for the bikeway.
Free Buses in Dunkirk a Success
FOCUS TRANSPORT, Monday, 16 September 2019
The decision to make public transport free in the French town of Dunkirk (Nord) has been hailed a success after a rise in passenger use, and “new dynamism” in the city centre….
Figures show bus use during the week rose by 70%, and by 140% during the weekends.
The free network has now been expanded, and more roads have bus-only lanes to encourage smoother transit. The town has also brought in 14 new buses, of which three are electric…..
If we are really serious about getting people to take up cycling for recreation and commuting. If we don't want to alienate the traveling public..Then we must fully integrate cycling with public transport.
Central to this must be fare free services to get people out of their cars, freeing up lanes for bikeways
But also bike friendly buses with a stowage feature for when the weather turns bad, or the distance is too far, (or too dangerous), to bike for the full length of the journey.
Imagine cycling to work, doing a full days work. At the end of the day finding that the weather had changed having to face cycling home through the wet and cold, you instead board a bus and stow your bike in the luggage compartment for a safe dry hassle free ride home.
i think i have been arguing for super cheap to free public transport for a few years now.
But as i was told repeatedly THIS CAN NOT BE DONE!, insert any reasons you can cook up real fast. Never mind that if public transport is still cheaper then public transport no one will use the fwiw as an ex user of public transport in Wellington and Auckland, piss poor quality, rude drivers who don't know much about their routes including Bus stops, late busses, dirty busses, and unsafe, unlit bus stops / train stops at night.
And besides its the poor that are using this services, so it needn't be better, cause if you make it too good, too many people would use it (yes that too was offered as an explanation as to why public transport in NZ is just the best sign of poor local / regional / state wide governance).
They rather pay for a bridge for their upper class peers then provide meaningful public transport service for all.
if only we had a government that had a single majority and could (even under urgency after all Climate Change!!) there for change the legal framework to make public transport more affordable to the people.
People have told you repeatedly that providing enough buses and drivers to make fares free during peak periods requires buying way more of them than are needed for the rest of the day. International research has shown that investing that extra foregone money into more frequent services gets more people using buses and trains.
Do some basic research or resist the urge to flap your gums on the daily.
Absolutely no point wasting effort on providing you with more information when you have so little competence at making sense of it. Do the work yourself.
Absolutely no point wasting effort on providing you with more information…
But Sacha it is not a matter of you providing me with more information Sacha, despite what you claim, you haven't provided us with any information at all. Just assertions.
You have not provided one single fact, or proof.
What am I to think of your argument if you can't do that?
With zero rational argument you are saying that I should 'stop flapping my gums'.
If you don't like what I have to say, tell us why.
If you have some rational argument to make, make it.
If you have some facts to provide, provide them.
Until you can do that, you have absolutely no moral point to to make telling me I should not be making comments on this issue.
It is not enough to tell me to stop flapping my gums thinking you have said something clever or convincing. Just making insults with nothing to back them up.
….You make a point, only for the sea lion to storm in asking for proof of what you said. Your expertise and knowledge are denied. It’s your job to go out of your way to convince them, even though they’re the one who questioned you in the first place.
— Jessica Lindsay, Metro UK, 5 July 2018
I made a point about fare free public transport, You stormed in with an unsubstantiated claim that free public transport doesn't work. I challenged you to provide some proof of your allegation, I was and still am genuinely interested in reading the proofs for this. Instead of anwering my request for this information, you accused me of something I had never heard of.
I have some questions.
Today in the news;
Act leader David Seymour faces challenge as he names 'white privilege' Whangārei school
15 Jun, 2021 03:00 AM
The name of the Whangārei school that Act leader David Seymour claims made a child speak of their "white privilege" has emerged – and it's absolute news to the principal.
The claim has filled talkback radio and served as a platform for Seymour to decry what he says is a race-based approach by the Labour Government.
Seymour has told the Northern Advocate the school where the incident took place was not a primary school – as originally reported and as he has tweeted – but was Whangarei Girls' High School.
"I'd love him to be able to put the facts to that," said Girls' High Principal Anne Cooper. "Iv'e certainly had no complaints about it"
She has heard nothing that sounds at all similar to Seymour's claim a child "was asked to what they had done to acknowledge their white privilege that day".
…."Kids talk and we encourage kids to talk. Parents are very good at coming forward. I'd certainly like to know if it is the case."
Pat Newman Hora Hora Primary school principal and president of Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association, said the initial allegation that it was a primary school had fellow principals looking at each other and finding no answers…..
….Seymour tweeted the story, saying: "Primary school kids are being forced to stand up in class and say what they'd done to acknowledge their white privilege." In subsequent interviews, the "primary school" was repeated to Seymour, which he did not correct….
Hi Sacha,
The cartoon you supplied to explain sealioning, depicts a European couple in Victorian dress being towered over by a dark indistinct hulking figure, (the sea lion). The sealion obviously is a metaphor for something else, something that this white Victorian couple fear or dislike.
No chance a sealion ever turned up in a 19th Century white couple's house or vehicle. (But a black person might have.)
Substitute the sentence I don't like sealions for, I don't like Black people, or I don't like Jews, or I don't like Asians
And then the sealion's question is valid and justified.
Why don't you like blacks? or Jews? or Asians?.
What has a black person ever done to you?
Let's fill in the missing blanks.
The European woman says "I don't mind most marine mammals. But SEALIONS?I could do without sealions. (read black people)
Her male companion says, "Don't say that out loud"
Voicing his fear that racist sentiments expressed in public, risks being challenged.
P.S. The indistinct and nightmarish hulking depiction of a a sealion in the cartoon looks more like a female walrus. (sealions are more streamlined).
Cycling is free per journey already. So you don't have any useful point…..
I would politely demure.
With a price tag of $785 million, the public sticker shock at the cost for a stand alone cycleway over the Waitemata Harbour presents a very real problem for the cycling community and the government to sell this project to the public.
The political blowback may be severe.
You are simply making a mistake confusing capex and opex.
You were explaining that all public transport on buses should be free. They are currently subsidised over 50% per trip.
Whereas per trip cycling has no need for subsidy.
But if you want to go down the road of CAPEX subsidy, the per passenger subsidy for everyone taking a bus or train is several hundred every ticket because you add in both the CAPEX of building all these motorways and busways, but also their hundreds of millions of maintenance per trip per year.
Again, you don't have a point when you are wanting to force everyone who wants to not use a car to go by bus, rather than giving them a cycling option if they choose it.
" Although free public transport at a first glance may seem attractive both from economic, social and environmental perspectives, the message learnt from a number of schemes is that free public transport offers poor goal achievement in all these respects, and at a high cost. The main effect is a huge growth in patronage, up to 13-fold increase is reported, of which the larger brunt is shifted from walk/cycle, or induced. The effects on car traffic levels are marginal and typically they are offset already after a few years’ traffic growth."
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
In my view, cycling absolutely has a place in alleviating Auckland's transport problems. However in many ways it has been set up to fail by the inept AT. As pointed out in this article, AT, in their obsession with forcing people out of cars, are turning the cycleway projects into “safety-and-streetscape-upgrade-and-stormwater-fix-and-traffic-calming-and-pedestrian-improvements-and-retaining-parking-and-cycling…" projects. And outcomes like this ("Auckland Transport has plans costing between $23 million and $35 million to fix a controversial cycleway through Grey Lynn and Westmere that hardly anyone uses.") just turn the public against cycling and cyclists, when the culprit is AT, not cycling or cyclists.
Have you seen what AT did to Grey Lynn? To Mt Albert? In fact pretty much any precinct they touch? Simon Wilson wrote this article four years ago now – if anything they've got worse.
We dont have a direct democracy as was used by the citizens of Athens.
We have a representative democracy.
Its like ‘Free Speech’ which is limited to what the government can stifle. Doesnt apply to private places ( venue hire !) or private platforms like Facebook or Twitter ( as Trump found out)
…..You toying with ideas is like Donald Trump playing with the two red buttons on his desk, one was for the Diet Coke Button the other one was for frying the world.
Just as I have been saying; sooner or later the Nurses will have to go for the nuclear option, That is, if they want to achieve their demands.
The NZNO have promised more strikes to come. If that doesn't work. If the government continues to ignore the nurses demands to put more money into the public health system. Then the nurses have two choices. Choose the diet coke, or go to the nuclear option.
The cycle protesters and the XL pipeline protesters have shown the way.
Within days of the cycling protesters' occupation of the Harbour Bridge, the government coughed up $785 million for a bike bridge across the Waitemata.
I have 'toyed' with the idea that the nurses should follow the cycle protesters example and occupy one lane of the Auckland Harbour Bridge until the governemt agrees to direct negotiations with the nurses.
What ideas the nurses come up with, is up to them.
Obviously strikes aren't working. So the next step is the nuclear option, either that, or give up their demands.
As the Nurses have made extremely clear, if they give up their demands, we will all suffer.
Striking nurse on staff shortages: 'It’s a matter of robbing Peter to pay Paul'
Cate Broughton 05:00, Jun 09 2021
“I think it’s important for the public to know what the situation is in public hospitals, how stressed the nurses are, what risk the public could be at."
[Karen Batchelor senior nurse at Burwood Hospital spinal unit]
"… I’ve seen colleagues in tears, looking up to see what allocation they have the next day.”
[Karen Batchelor senior nurse at Burwood Hospital spinal unit]
Talking to a senior nurse after the strike. The mention of more strikes came up.
The observation was made that next time, it needs to be a 24 or 48 hour strike. The DHBs can cover one 8 hour period with management and office staff no sweat. Covering 4-7 shifts is a whole different story.
Isnt $80,000 pa enough ?
The last pay round was it, 2 -3 years ago took about a year. That was quite generous as it involved a catch up from previous years .
So no catch up this time, so the reason is ….. or is it another $10k to make the ‘exhaustion’ go away.
……or is it another $10k to make the ‘exhaustion’ go away.
Understaffing is the issue most raised by nurses when asked why they are on strike.
The logic is that increasing the level of remuneration will attract more nurses and alleviate under-staffing. So yes $10 K may make the exhaustion go away.
Union struggles are complex, what may look like greedy workers to some, is often a consequence of the narrow legal constraints put on unions. Under the ERA all strikes for political demands are illegal. That makes raising political demands like increasing staff levels, problematic for unions to raise in a dispute, except in an oblique manner.
"While today represents a conclusion of bargaining it also marks the start of a long term programme to rebuild our public health system and the status of the nursing profession. "
Conservatives are always slow on the uptake. They should never be put in positions of leadership because they are by nature useless at moving forward into new territory. Conservative are only useful as the ballast in the hold of the ship, to stop it turning over in heavy weather – no other use.
I grew up for quite a few years in Waiheke island during the early 1970's…it has given me a life long suspicion of hippies….a pretty dodgy crew from what I observed.
Nick Smith having thousands of long term ACC claimaints thrown off weekly compo onto to nightmare of the benefit system seems to be forgotten amid all the rainbow washing,
The week ending June 6 New Zealand had 189,660 doses of vaccine available for distribution, down from 288,000 the previous week and 327,240 the week before that.
A senior clinician, speaking anonymously, told the ODT that vaccine supplies were low across New Zealand.
If the Prime Minister's words are to be believed, New Zealand will run out of Covid vaccines early next week.
On Tuesday, Jacinda Ardern and her Covid-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins, announced 1 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine would be delivered to New Zealand in July.
"These consignments," she said, "will double the total number of Pfizer doses we've received this year, taking the total to more than 1.9 million — enough to fully vaccinate almost one million Kiwis."
She warned that the majority of the new doses would be delivered in the second half of the month.
Ardern also announced that her Government was now administering 20,000 doses every day. The same day, the Ministry of Health reported that more than 775,000 doses have already been administered. With more than 5000 doses having been wasted, the Prime Minister's announcement suggested the Ministry had only 120,000 doses left in stock.
That would only be enough to take us through to the end of Monday. There would not even be enough for the 220,000 people waiting for their second dose.
This is no conspiracy. It's just maths based on the Prime Minister's words from the Beehive's "podium of truth".
The Beehive now suggests the Prime Minister didn't tell the full story. It says there's no chance we'll run out on Monday because there are supplies coming into New Zealand that she and Hipkins didn't mention on Tuesday, including 100,000 doses diverted from the Covax programme, that is meant to help the world's 92 poorest countries get vaccines.
That'll get us through another five more days. Latest data from the Ministry of Health suggests 190,000 doses now in stock.
But even if the Government manages to administer 1.9 million doses by the end of July, it will have vaccinated no more than 950,000 people. That's just 18 per cent of the total population or 23 per cent of the population aged 16 and above.
It doesn't even include the estimated 2.2 million people in priority groups 1, 2 and 3, which include border and MIQ workers and those they live with; high-risk frontline workers and people living in high-risk places; and people at risk of getting very sick from Covid-19, such as those who are aged 65 or over, obese, diabetic or pregnant, or with a heart condition. What hope for the rest of us?
Perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised, given reports that more than 25,000 people in the highest priority group — border workers and those they live with — have not yet had a single jab. And more than 1000 border workers still aren't even getting tested as required.
oh well, lets just hope we continue to be lucky, because many of use will not be getting any jabs any time soon.
From 5 June 2021 all work in MIQ facilities will be undertaken by fully vaccinated workers.
MIQ has about 4,500 people working in facilities from around 300 different employers. A handful of workers (less than 0.25%) have not yet had their second vaccination for good reasons, and we are actively following those up with employers. They won’t be working in MIQ facilities in the meantime.
My presumption is that the missing MIQ staff are because the net has been spread very wide in the definition of MIQ. Truck drivers who never get out of their truck and visit a wharf maybe only once or twice a month with all transactions done on an IPad, delivery drivers or couriers dropping off at the distribution site some way from the actual isolation facilities again with very little human contact. If you include the families of these people yes you do get big numbers but I'm certain there are not four and a half thousand staff in the actual hotels.
"People in some areas have reported not being able to get a vaccine because some sites have run out of doses, or are running low.This isn’t surprising, because every district health board outside of Auckland has gone above its target number of vaccinations. In three areas – Bay of Plenty, Whanganui and Nelson-Marlborough – they’ve done more than 50 per cent extra."
Which was my earlier point ….not recycled from reading a newspaper…that they are meant to be used up as soon as.
or as some wag on twitter put it, the tories have gone from complaining that the vax rollout is an abject failure because of low uptake to now complaining it's an abject failure because in several DHBs it's going quicker than planned.
I was just about to post that link Ghostwhowalksnz….
Also I am fortunate to be in Nelson-Marlborough where we have both had two jabs (early 60's, small rural community where 50% of our population has already been vaccinated). Our local medical centre has not wasted a single dose and another clinic is running again tomorrow.
The vaccine supply isnt like a savings bank to be stored up for emergency use. The supply is low because they are being USED.
|I had to laugh when I saw Hootons latest opinion column on this …unlike you I dont have a subscription- looks like hes getting his info from Bishop who is running the spin cycles of vaccine rollouts. I suppose for Hooton hes dumped Muller and now hitched his wagon to Bishop as the next great white hope
Maybe Sabine, your cottage industry on anti government concern trolling , often 1/3 of open mike all comments PER DAY , could check out a part time position with Exceltium ?
Maybe ghostwhowalksnz, you should get your head around the fact that criticism of the current government and having a commitment to holding them to account does not equate in any way to support for the Opposition.
Of course , but Sabine has made it a cottage industry with recycled Hooton claims as well. Its a fanatsy to think Sabine is holding anyone to account by reading & recycling the news of each day. It sort of buries what little nuggets can be mined. Yourself would be a good model with some areas where you have a particular interest and it makes worthwhile reading.
Like I said, I counted the other day and it was around 1/3 of all comments.
I hope Hooton is paying you to 'mirror his concerns' , is it a therapeutic relationship and he feels much better in getting it of his chest …. oh thats right HE gets paid for his column and you get nothing from achieveing nothing for the day.
I was a bit tough there…but let me create a word picture , after the election with 10 ACT Mps , they take on Policy Advisors galore , but some find they dont have much to do , so one, fresh out of university, uses the idea of concern trolling labour government , by reading the papers and putting it verbatim on social media… my crystal ball is getting cloudy, so no more details
Rosemary McD Maybe we should make higher demands on the Opposition to hold the government to account where it matters, as this is what they are paid by citizens to do. By us doing it for them, it removes their impetus to actually do some work and stop being gadflies or perhaps blowflies clustering around the latest tasty gossip spill.
Maybe we should make higher demands on the Opposition to hold the government to account where it matters, as this is what they are paid by citizens to do.
A laudable aspiration to be sure GWS, but we are talking about National and/or Act. To expect either one of these to do anything other than indulging in petty, sniping, political point scoring is simply not reasonable.
Can NZers concerned/anxious/fearful that our Govt doesn't have enough doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to meet demand engage in some constructive criticism?
There’re some noisy 'babies' crying about a lack of 'milk', but where are the adults making constructive comments about how to increase 'milk' supply, bearing in mind there's a global shortage, and more desperation/death elsewhere.
Has the NZ Govt looked at the feasibility of purchasing other COVID-19 vaccines – we did have pre-purchase agreements in place for other vaccines. Sure, these might be (slightly) less effective, and/or carry a (very slightly) greater risk of adverse side effects, but still – worth a look? Maybe NZ would have been further along its 'vaccine roll-out path' if the Govt hadn't hitched our whole wagon to one of the most effective (and safe) vaccines. But then, damned if they did, and damned if they didn't.
Should our Govt have foreseen this pandemic and funded the development of a large-scale vaccine production facility in NZ? Maybe they should still do that once we can draw a post-COVID breath – but would it be cost-effective?
I really don't understand the purpose of this continual 'bleating' about vaccine shortages and vaccination delays – the NZ Govt and public service, for all the resources at their disposal, don't have magic wands.
Maybe leave it to the free market to supply a 'solution' – never mind that 'vaccine' you're getting might just be a (hopefully sterile) saline solution.
The Attorney-General’s department admitted in its submission that “the risk of counterfeit vaccines, such as fake Pfizer vaccines, is potentially exacerbated by concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine”.
“Changes during the rollout could be vulnerable to fraud as fraudsters take advantage of urgent time-frames,” the department said.
“Fake vaccines are like liquid gold,” said Raul Sapien, president of the National Council of Private Security, CNSP in Spanish, an association of private security companies that follows this problem closely.
Why anyone with even one working critical thinking brain cell still working within their cranium allows themselves to gets caught up this new anti-China frenzy, when it is so blatantly obvious it all so much bullshit I don't know… I mean seriously are people really that naïve that they actually think this is driven by any concern for the welfare of the Uighurs?
UK Hypes China ‘Threat’ While Selling Country Billions in Military-Related Equipment
"The U.K. government has authorized the sale of £2.6-billion worth of military and civilian equipment with potential military use to China in the past three years, government figures show.
Well, yea. One of the best ways to curtail genocidal practices and a lot of human rights abuses, is to halt the manufacturing and dealing of weapons, in short, any country who indulges or supports these practices is a major player in human rights abuse.
Oh for some distant future where weapons and money are from the distant past!
This Swedish entity seems likely to be reliable and objective in its report on weapons manufacture and sales and shows Australia seeking to increase its involvement. (Swedish Peace Research Institute)
Dec/20 https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2020/global-arms-industry-sales-top-25-companies-85-cent-big-players-active-global-south The report also looks at the international presence of the 15 largest arms companies in 2019. These companies are present in a total of 49 countries, through majority-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and research facilities. With a global presence spanning 24 countries each, Thales and Airbus are the two most internationalized companies—followed closely by Boeing (21 countries), Leonardo (21 countries) and Lockheed Martin (19 countries).
The United Kingdom, Australia, the USA, Canada and Germany host the largest numbers of these foreign entities. Outside the arms industry hubs of North America and Western Europe, the largest numbers of entities of foreign companies are hosted by Australia (38), Saudi Arabia (24), India (13), Singapore (11), the UAE (11) and Brazil (10).
Alexandra Marksteiner of the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme said: ‘There are many reasons why arms companies might want to establish themselves overseas, including better access to growing markets, collaborative weapon programmes, or policies in the host countries tying arms purchases to technology transfers.’
Of the 49 countries hosting foreign entities of the top 15 arms companies, 17 are in low- and middle-income countries. ‘Countries in the Global South seeking to jump-start their arms production programmes have welcomed foreign arms companies as a means to benefit from technology transfers,’ said Diego Lopes da Silva, Researcher at SIPRI.
Outside the arms industry hubs of North America and Western Europe, the largest numbers of entities of foreign companies are hosted by Australia (38), Saudi Arabia (24), Countries…welcomed foreign arms companies as a means to benefit from technology transfers
This could apply to NZ with the rockets program.
Interesting thought about evolution. When so many young men are regularly sacrificed on the altar of keeping 'these b…s under control' and also grabbing hold of their resurces which they unreasonably refuse to trade with us. There is a loss of their genes and their potential contribution to the country and the world. There was a saying in UK about losing 'the brightest and the best' of the young men in two world wars. What does that do to evolution? And what slant has it on increasing the influence of psychopathic people who remain behind the damage, directing operations and causing carnage? Is Israel completely brainwashed by the nasty thugs conducting assymetrical war against puny or low numbers of Palestinian weapons and stone throwing?
A flutter of eyelashes possibly. The UK and USA are a chancy lot, they would pack their weaponry in boxes with pictures of birthday cakes and toys, and notices 'Hold till Christmas' and send them to Israel; knowing that the Jewish peeps don't have Christmas – it would be a code. Very cunning and underhand they are.
A few thoughts and helpful links for those on the land who might not have seen these particular ones. And for the townies who know we rely on the farmers for much, but ned to update about the latest movers and shakers.
Provisioning services →Feed (pasture quantity, quality; tree foliage)→Wood →Shade and shelter to animals
Regulating services →Filtering of nutrients and contaminants→Flood mitigation→Recycling of wastes and detoxification→Carbon storage in soil and trees→Regulation of N2O and CH4 emissions→Biological control of pests and diseases.
Provisioning and regulating services (or benefits) have an economic value. Overall, erosion decreases these values, whereas soil conservation increases them
.
Poplar and willow have proved to be valuable species for erosion control and other use. But need maintenance so they don't grow too tall. And good for animals especially during droughts.
2013 One of the reasons that poplar and willow foliage can provide better feed value than poor or dried-up pasture is because they contain valuable compounds called condensed tannins and phenolic glycosides, such as aspirin, according to research by Associate Professor Peter Kemp of Massey University.
Willows and poplars for drought feed – NZ Farm Forestry https://www.nzffa.org.nz › resource-centre › august-2013
.
I wonder if pollarding the pasture trees would be good; grow till there are nice round branches for lopping, giving control and income stream all together.
Pollarding is carried out on younger trees, which regrow faster than older trees and are less susceptible to disease. The height is always left at at least six feet above ground level, so that animals don't eat the new growth. Some plants, for example, hazel, paulownia, hornbeam and beech, are more suited to coppicing.10/03/2021
And I recommend watching Mulloon Institute work in Australia – a farmer-led organisation that has brought a recalcitrant government alongside. https://themullooninstitute.org/newsletters
John Cleese being interviewed by someone who argues with his negative opinion about the UK media – a Europe wide survey has respondents putting the UK at the bottom No. 33 – least trusted – for four years. Interesting how self-satisfied and bullish apparently the UK operatives in the media are. This is at 3m it might get better in the rest to 10m.
There seems to be a little hiatus in commentators' enthusiasm for discussion. Perhaps all things have been said for the present situation.
You might like to listen to this discussion about Orwell v Aldous Huxley – don't know what they are to consider but listening to opinions from two 'elite' guys is interesting and all will be revealed in time.
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Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected in the East Choiseul constituency. It is the opening move in the political chess match to form the country’s next government. Returning officer Christopher Makoni made the declaration late last night after ...
Headline: The moment of friction. – 36th Parallel Assessments In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
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I believe the Labour Government have seriously misread the public mood with the decision to build a seperate cycle and walking bridge over rhe Waitemata.
The cycling community and the fare free communty need to get their heads together.
If we are really serious about getting people to take up cycling for recreation and commuting, If we don't want to alienate the traveling public. Then we must integrate cyclling with public transport.
A bike lane will displace 21 thousand cars.
38% of people who cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge every working day do so on the bus.
The French city of Dunkirk introduced fare free public transport and saw public transport use grow by 70%
A similar 70% increase in public transport use across the Auckland Harbour bridge would free up the space needed for the bikeway.
If we are really serious about getting people to take up cycling for recreation and commuting. If we don't want to alienate the traveling public..Then we must fully integrate cycling with public transport.
Central to this must be fare free services to get people out of their cars, freeing up lanes for bikeways
But also bike friendly buses with a stowage feature for when the weather turns bad, or the distance is too far, (or too dangerous), to bike for the full length of the journey.
Imagine cycling to work, doing a full days work. At the end of the day finding that the weather had changed having to face cycling home through the wet and cold, you instead board a bus and stow your bike in the luggage compartment for a safe dry hassle free ride home.
i think i have been arguing for super cheap to free public transport for a few years now.
But as i was told repeatedly THIS CAN NOT BE DONE!, insert any reasons you can cook up real fast. Never mind that if public transport is still cheaper then public transport no one will use the fwiw as an ex user of public transport in Wellington and Auckland, piss poor quality, rude drivers who don't know much about their routes including Bus stops, late busses, dirty busses, and unsafe, unlit bus stops / train stops at night.
And besides its the poor that are using this services, so it needn't be better, cause if you make it too good, too many people would use it (yes that too was offered as an explanation as to why public transport in NZ is just the best sign of poor local / regional / state wide governance).
They rather pay for a bridge for their upper class peers then provide meaningful public transport service for all.
Not legal under the current bus funding law.
if only we had a government that had a single majority and could (even under urgency after all Climate Change!!) there for change the legal framework to make public transport more affordable to the people.
If only we had such a government.
It's not even in the new Climate Commission recommendations.
I can't see full free public transport extending below the 65-year limit that already exists within the Gold Cards.
I think you're out of luck, unless the Greens somehow persuade Labour to change the law.
People have told you repeatedly that providing enough buses and drivers to make fares free during peak periods requires buying way more of them than are needed for the rest of the day. International research has shown that investing that extra foregone money into more frequent services gets more people using buses and trains.
Do some basic research or resist the urge to flap your gums on the daily.
Hi Sacha, Some links or notated quotes to back up your assertions would be good.
You may notice Sacha that I use links to actual case studies, and take out selected quotes with actual figures and facts.
How about it Sacha?
Surely it couldn't be too much to ask for you to do the same.
Let us all see some of this 'basic research' only you seem to be privy to.
And not just a dump of some enormous word file attachment, and tell us that it is in there somewhere.
A few succinct quotes with some actual real world facts, would be best.
Since you seem to be claiming you have done this ‘basic research’ it should be easy for you.
Until you can do that, I will be flapping my fact filled gums as much as I like, in spite of your weak attempts to get me to self censor.
Absolutely no point wasting effort on providing you with more information when you have so little competence at making sense of it. Do the work yourself.
What about the rest of us who are as to why free buses can't be done?
Sacha
11 June 2021 at 9:42 pm
Absolutely no point wasting effort on providing you with more information…
But Sacha it is not a matter of you providing me with more information Sacha, despite what you claim, you haven't provided us with any information at all. Just assertions.
You have not provided one single fact, or proof.
What am I to think of your argument if you can't do that?
With zero rational argument you are saying that I should 'stop flapping my gums'.
If you don't like what I have to say, tell us why.
If you have some rational argument to make, make it.
If you have some facts to provide, provide them.
Until you can do that, you have absolutely no moral point to to make telling me I should not be making comments on this issue.
It is not enough to tell me to stop flapping my gums thinking you have said something clever or convincing. Just making insults with nothing to back them up.
https://twitter.com/username_Dizzy/status/1401946559948939268
I had never heard of this term.
So I googled it, (as you do).
I made a point about fare free public transport, You stormed in with an unsubstantiated claim that free public transport doesn't work. I challenged you to provide some proof of your allegation, I was and still am genuinely interested in reading the proofs for this. Instead of anwering my request for this information, you accused me of something I had never heard of.
I have some questions.
Today in the news;
My question for you Sacha is this;
Are Anne Cooper and the other Te Tai Tokeau school principals 'sealioning' David Seymour by challenging him to provide proof of his allegations?
And if not, why not?
What is Sealioning?
"Would you mind showing me evidence of any negative thing any sealion has ever done to you?"
The Sealion
Is Daryl Davis a Sealion?
“how could you hate me when you don’t even know me?”
Daryl Davis
https://www.rt.com/viral/371340-meet-black-man-kkk/
Hi Sacha,
The cartoon you supplied to explain sealioning, depicts a European couple in Victorian dress being towered over by a dark indistinct hulking figure, (the sea lion). The sealion obviously is a metaphor for something else, something that this white Victorian couple fear or dislike.
No chance a sealion ever turned up in a 19th Century white couple's house or vehicle. (But a black person might have.)
Substitute the sentence I don't like sealions for, I don't like Black people, or I don't like Jews, or I don't like Asians
And then the sealion's question is valid and justified.
Why don't you like blacks? or Jews? or Asians?.
What has a black person ever done to you?
Let's fill in the missing blanks.
The European woman says "I don't mind most marine mammals. But SEALIONS? I could do without sealions. (read black people)
Her male companion says, "Don't say that out loud"
Voicing his fear that racist sentiments expressed in public, risks being challenged.
P.S. The indistinct and nightmarish hulking depiction of a a sealion in the cartoon looks more like a female walrus. (sealions are more streamlined).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=Tjhb5gkw4No&feature=emb_logo
That is Irony 😀
We shall resume in an hour
When I say repeatedly, I also mean previously. Find your own fish meal.
Cycling is free per journey already. So you don't have any useful point.
It's just unsafe in too many parts of the network.
I would politely demure.
With a price tag of $785 million, the public sticker shock at the cost for a stand alone cycleway over the Waitemata Harbour presents a very real problem for the cycling community and the government to sell this project to the public.
The political blowback may be severe.
You are simply making a mistake confusing capex and opex.
You were explaining that all public transport on buses should be free. They are currently subsidised over 50% per trip.
Whereas per trip cycling has no need for subsidy.
But if you want to go down the road of CAPEX subsidy, the per passenger subsidy for everyone taking a bus or train is several hundred every ticket because you add in both the CAPEX of building all these motorways and busways, but also their hundreds of millions of maintenance per trip per year.
Again, you don't have a point when you are wanting to force everyone who wants to not use a car to go by bus, rather than giving them a cycling option if they choose it.
Cos only buses use roads right?
Take away the fare and buses are free??????????????
Love this.
" Although free public transport at a first glance may seem attractive both from economic, social and environmental perspectives, the message learnt from a number of schemes is that free public transport offers poor goal achievement in all these respects, and at a high cost. The main effect is a huge growth in patronage, up to 13-fold increase is reported, of which the larger brunt is shifted from walk/cycle, or induced. The effects on car traffic levels are marginal and typically they are offset already after a few years’ traffic growth."
Linky-thinky please!
'
Oops! I forgot to put the link in.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2021/06/09/guest-blog-bryan-bruce-my-problem-with-the-auckland-bike-bridge/<
GUEST BLOG: Bryan Bruce – My problem with the Auckland bike bridge
By The Daily Blog June 9, 2021
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
That blog is an uninformed waste of time.
In my view, cycling absolutely has a place in alleviating Auckland's transport problems. However in many ways it has been set up to fail by the inept AT. As pointed out in this article, AT, in their obsession with forcing people out of cars, are turning the cycleway projects into “safety-and-streetscape-upgrade-and-stormwater-fix-and-traffic-calming-and-pedestrian-improvements-and-retaining-parking-and-cycling…" projects. And outcomes like this ("Auckland Transport has plans costing between $23 million and $35 million to fix a controversial cycleway through Grey Lynn and Westmere that hardly anyone uses.") just turn the public against cycling and cyclists, when the culprit is AT, not cycling or cyclists.
Have you used the new Tamaki Drive cycleway that was opened last year?
Or the one down Quay Street opened early this year?
Are you aware of the big one opening at the end of this year?
Or the huge ones being built right now through Orakei?
I don't feel the need to defend AT, but they are delivering cycleways.
Have you seen what AT did to Grey Lynn? To Mt Albert? In fact pretty much any precinct they touch? Simon Wilson wrote this article four years ago now – if anything they've got worse.
'
This is what democracy looks like
This is what democracy looks like.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/443667/cyclists-close-lanes-on-auckland-harbour-bridge
We dont have a direct democracy as was used by the citizens of Athens.
We have a representative democracy.
Its like ‘Free Speech’ which is limited to what the government can stifle. Doesnt apply to private places ( venue hire !) or private platforms like Facebook or Twitter ( as Trump found out)
We have a bit of both, of course, but we need more and better.
‘
“We dont have a direct democracy as was used by the citizens of Athens. We have a representative democracy.” ghostwhowalksnz
“We have a bit of both, of course, but we need more and better.” Incognito
We certainly do, need more and better democracy. Absolutely
We also need to fight very hard to defend what democracy we have.
The best way to ‘fight for it’ is to use it as best as we can and then use it even better.
This is indeed what democracy looks like.
Hi Incognito, you are right, the cycle protesters, (and the XL pipeline protesters), have shown the way.
Just as you say; This is what democracy looks like.
Discussing the nuclear option for nurses:
Incognito, thanks for the compliment.*
Just as I have been saying; sooner or later the Nurses will have to go for the nuclear option, That is, if they want to achieve their demands.
The NZNO have promised more strikes to come. If that doesn't work. If the government continues to ignore the nurses demands to put more money into the public health system. Then the nurses have two choices. Choose the diet coke, or go to the nuclear option.
The cycle protesters and the XL pipeline protesters have shown the way.
Within days of the cycling protesters' occupation of the Harbour Bridge, the government coughed up $785 million for a bike bridge across the Waitemata.
I have 'toyed' with the idea that the nurses should follow the cycle protesters example and occupy one lane of the Auckland Harbour Bridge until the governemt agrees to direct negotiations with the nurses.
What ideas the nurses come up with, is up to them.
Obviously strikes aren't working. So the next step is the nuclear option, either that, or give up their demands.
As the Nurses have made extremely clear, if they give up their demands, we will all suffer.
*(it's not often I get compared to the leader of the free world, even a bad one).
Talking to a senior nurse after the strike. The mention of more strikes came up.
The observation was made that next time, it needs to be a 24 or 48 hour strike. The DHBs can cover one 8 hour period with management and office staff no sweat. Covering 4-7 shifts is a whole different story.
Isnt $80,000 pa enough ?
The last pay round was it, 2 -3 years ago took about a year. That was quite generous as it involved a catch up from previous years .
So no catch up this time, so the reason is ….. or is it another $10k to make the ‘exhaustion’ go away.
Understaffing is the issue most raised by nurses when asked why they are on strike.
The logic is that increasing the level of remuneration will attract more nurses and alleviate under-staffing. So yes $10 K may make the exhaustion go away.
Union struggles are complex, what may look like greedy workers to some, is often a consequence of the narrow legal constraints put on unions. Under the ERA all strikes for political demands are illegal. That makes raising political demands like increasing staff levels, problematic for unions to raise in a dispute, except in an oblique manner.
"So no catch up this time, so the reason is ….."
Prime Minister Ardern 2018:
"While today represents a conclusion of bargaining it also marks the start of a long term programme to rebuild our public health system and the status of the nursing profession. "
healthCARE .
Its not a salary race for the highly paid members.
The offers for the healthcare assistants and EN were up to 11% higher
next year the junior doctors will be back …. 'exhausted' again, we need much more money to stop the exhaustion.
Conservatives are always slow on the uptake. They should never be put in positions of leadership because they are by nature useless at moving forward into new territory. Conservative are only useful as the ballast in the hold of the ship, to stop it turning over in heavy weather – no other use.
This is all perfectly exemplified by Nick Smith and his belated apology to the gay community over same-sex marriage opposition. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/125396043/retiring-mp-nick-smith-apologises-for-voting-against-samesex-marriage
This also highlights that other great truth "always follow the hippies". Where the "hippies" are is where society will be in the near-future.
Conservatives should wake up to their place in the world. We would all be much better off.
always always
A very frightening prospect.
https://gen.medium.com/nazi-hippies-when-the-new-age-and-far-right-overlap-d1a6ddcd7be4
There are hippies and there are ‘hippies’. Hippies are not Nazis by any stretch of the mind …
You’re diverting vto’s comment to your own narrative, again.
Charles Manson was a hippy
Ever read that book Helter Skelter?
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/charles-mansons-chilling-explanation-swastika-18839001
No, he was not. He was a sick cult leader.
Sadly there are not 'hippies' in government.
and has any of these hippies taken a stance on their "NO" vote?
these are the ones from the Labour Party that voted no too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_New_Zealand
The not-so-hippy Kiwis also need representation in Parliament: https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-10-06-2021/#comment-1797574.
I grew up for quite a few years in Waiheke island during the early 1970's…it has given me a life long suspicion of hippies….a pretty dodgy crew from what I observed.
Charles Manson, Bert Potter, both counter culture hippies. Pretty dodgy alright.
Don’t forget Hitler another new age vegetarian who loved animals. He was pretty dodgy too.
I mean these lot were at the extreme end of the spectrum. But it’s not true that hippies can’t be fascists.
What about that new age shaman who invaded The Capitol building?
Didn’t see too much peace and love there.
Love is hate, life is death, peace is war. Post-modern wisdom in Jenny-style.
Nick Smith having thousands of long term ACC claimaints thrown off weekly compo onto to nightmare of the benefit system seems to be forgotten amid all the rainbow washing,
so how many vaccines are left in the country, and could Hooton be correct in his math?
Maybe dear Spokesperson for the Government (or what ever he is) maybe it ain't July that will be bumpy, maybe your bumpy ride starts next week?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-stocks-running-low-across-new-zealand/KJULNJBK4ZRIAEFIMMT5CBH7ZQ/
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/covid-19-coronavirus-matthew-hooton-vaccine-supply-about-to-run-out-according-to-government-data/SYV3QVBGOYWQ7NSVIU5XIK7QRM/
oh well, lets just hope we continue to be lucky, because many of use will not be getting any jabs any time soon.
https://www.miq.govt.nz/about/media-centre/common-topics-for-media-questions/staff-vaccination/
Hooton can’t help himself; you’ll need to fact-check everything he says.
My presumption is that the missing MIQ staff are because the net has been spread very wide in the definition of MIQ. Truck drivers who never get out of their truck and visit a wharf maybe only once or twice a month with all transactions done on an IPad, delivery drivers or couriers dropping off at the distribution site some way from the actual isolation facilities again with very little human contact. If you include the families of these people yes you do get big numbers but I'm certain there are not four and a half thousand staff in the actual hotels.
All these facilities operate 24/7 shift work. Could easily add up to 4500 including facility staff, health staff, security staff.
It must be those blimmin spin doctors working for MIQ. I bet they got their shitty shots.
Yes , theres more
https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2021/the-whole-truth-covid-19-vaccine/#/1201336979/no-we-haven-t-run-out-of-vaccine
"People in some areas have reported not being able to get a vaccine because some sites have run out of doses, or are running low.This isn’t surprising, because every district health board outside of Auckland has gone above its target number of vaccinations. In three areas – Bay of Plenty, Whanganui and Nelson-Marlborough – they’ve done more than 50 per cent extra."
Which was my earlier point ….not recycled from reading a newspaper…that they are meant to be used up as soon as.
or as some wag on twitter put it, the tories have gone from complaining that the vax rollout is an abject failure because of low uptake to now complaining it's an abject failure because in several DHBs it's going quicker than planned.
I was just about to post that link Ghostwhowalksnz….
Also I am fortunate to be in Nelson-Marlborough where we have both had two jabs (early 60's, small rural community where 50% of our population has already been vaccinated). Our local medical centre has not wasted a single dose and another clinic is running again tomorrow.
The vaccine supply isnt like a savings bank to be stored up for emergency use. The supply is low because they are being USED.
|I had to laugh when I saw Hootons latest opinion column on this …unlike you I dont have a subscription- looks like hes getting his info from Bishop who is running the spin cycles of vaccine rollouts. I suppose for Hooton hes dumped Muller and now hitched his wagon to Bishop as the next great white hope
Maybe Sabine, your cottage industry on anti government concern trolling , often 1/3 of open mike all comments PER DAY , could check out a part time position with Exceltium ?
Maybe ghostwhowalksnz, you should get your head around the fact that criticism of the current government and having a commitment to holding them to account does not equate in any way to support for the Opposition.
Of course , but Sabine has made it a cottage industry with recycled Hooton claims as well. Its a fanatsy to think Sabine is holding anyone to account by reading & recycling the news of each day. It sort of buries what little nuggets can be mined. Yourself would be a good model with some areas where you have a particular interest and it makes worthwhile reading.
Like I said, I counted the other day and it was around 1/3 of all comments.
hahahahahahahahahahaha oh boy, you are a sweet one, arent' you?
I hope Hooton is paying you to 'mirror his concerns' , is it a therapeutic relationship and he feels much better in getting it of his chest …. oh thats right HE gets paid for his column and you get nothing from achieveing nothing for the day.
I was a bit tough there…but let me create a word picture , after the election with 10 ACT Mps , they take on Policy Advisors galore , but some find they dont have much to do , so one, fresh out of university, uses the idea of concern trolling labour government , by reading the papers and putting it verbatim on social media… my crystal ball is getting cloudy, so no more details
Rosemary McD Maybe we should make higher demands on the Opposition to hold the government to account where it matters, as this is what they are paid by citizens to do. By us doing it for them, it removes their impetus to actually do some work and stop being gadflies or perhaps blowflies clustering around the latest tasty gossip spill.
Maybe we should make higher demands on the Opposition to hold the government to account where it matters, as this is what they are paid by citizens to do.
A laudable aspiration to be sure GWS, but we are talking about National and/or Act. To expect either one of these to do anything other than indulging in petty, sniping, political point scoring is simply not reasonable.
Can NZers concerned/anxious/fearful that our Govt doesn't have enough doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to meet demand engage in some constructive criticism?
There’re some noisy 'babies' crying about a lack of 'milk', but where are the adults making constructive comments about how to increase 'milk' supply, bearing in mind there's a global shortage, and more desperation/death elsewhere.
Has the NZ Govt looked at the feasibility of purchasing other COVID-19 vaccines – we did have pre-purchase agreements in place for other vaccines. Sure, these might be (slightly) less effective, and/or carry a (very slightly) greater risk of adverse side effects, but still – worth a look? Maybe NZ would have been further along its 'vaccine roll-out path' if the Govt hadn't hitched our whole wagon to one of the most effective (and safe) vaccines. But then, damned if they did, and damned if they didn't.
Should our Govt have foreseen this pandemic and funded the development of a large-scale vaccine production facility in NZ? Maybe they should still do that once we can draw a post-COVID breath – but would it be cost-effective?
I really don't understand the purpose of this continual 'bleating' about vaccine shortages and vaccination delays – the NZ Govt and public service, for all the resources at their disposal, don't have magic wands.
Maybe leave it to the free market to supply a 'solution' – never mind that 'vaccine' you're getting might just be a (hopefully sterile) saline solution.
Like "liquid gold" people!
https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines
Hoots is full of shit. That's not holding the government to account.
Why anyone with even one working critical thinking brain cell still working within their cranium allows themselves to gets caught up this new anti-China frenzy, when it is so blatantly obvious it all so much bullshit I don't know… I mean seriously are people really that naïve that they actually think this is driven by any concern for the welfare of the Uighurs?
UK Hypes China ‘Threat’ While Selling Country Billions in Military-Related Equipment
"The U.K. government has authorized the sale of £2.6-billion worth of military and civilian equipment with potential military use to China in the past three years, government figures show.
Last year saw a tripling in exports to China of “dual use” items defined as “civilian goods with a military purpose.” Some £1.6-billion worth were authorised in 2020, compared to £526-million in 2019."
https://consortiumnews.com/2021/06/09/uk-hypes-china-threat-while-selling-country-billions-in-military-related-equipment/
Well, yea. One of the best ways to curtail genocidal practices and a lot of human rights abuses, is to halt the manufacturing and dealing of weapons, in short, any country who indulges or supports these practices is a major player in human rights abuse.
Oh for some distant future where weapons and money are from the distant past!
This Swedish entity seems likely to be reliable and objective in its report on weapons manufacture and sales and shows Australia seeking to increase its involvement. (Swedish Peace Research Institute)
Dec/20 https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2020/global-arms-industry-sales-top-25-companies-85-cent-big-players-active-global-south
The report also looks at the international presence of the 15 largest arms companies in 2019. These companies are present in a total of 49 countries, through majority-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and research facilities.
With a global presence spanning 24 countries each, Thales and Airbus are the two most internationalized companies—followed closely by Boeing (21 countries), Leonardo (21 countries) and Lockheed Martin (19 countries).
The United Kingdom, Australia, the USA, Canada and Germany host the largest numbers of these foreign entities. Outside the arms industry hubs of North America and Western Europe, the largest numbers of entities of foreign companies are hosted by Australia (38), Saudi Arabia (24), India (13), Singapore (11), the UAE (11) and Brazil (10).
Alexandra Marksteiner of the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme said: ‘There are many reasons why arms companies might want to establish themselves overseas, including better access to growing markets, collaborative weapon programmes, or policies in the host countries tying arms purchases to technology transfers.’
Of the 49 countries hosting foreign entities of the top 15 arms companies, 17 are in low- and middle-income countries. ‘Countries in the Global South seeking to jump-start their arms production programmes have welcomed foreign arms companies as a means to benefit from technology transfers,’ said Diego Lopes da Silva, Researcher at SIPRI.
Outside the arms industry hubs of North America and Western Europe, the largest numbers of entities of foreign companies are hosted by Australia (38), Saudi Arabia (24),
Countries…welcomed foreign arms companies as a means to benefit from technology transfers
This could apply to NZ with the rockets program.
And the UK? Where does it stand?
Oct/20 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/06/uk-remains-second-biggest-arms-exporter-with-11bn-of-orders
UK exports also exceeded those of Russia and France for the second year in a row, according to official figures released by the Department for International Trade (DIT), placing Britain number two in the global rankings behind the US.
Now Biden and Johnson are publicly embracing really-good relations between the two countries it is probably 'bombs away' maties.
Yes, and it's all disgusting and contributing to further human rights abuse and depletion of resources.
Evolution needs to fast forward to end this primitive era.
Interesting thought about evolution. When so many young men are regularly sacrificed on the altar of keeping 'these b…s under control' and also grabbing hold of their resurces which they unreasonably refuse to trade with us. There is a loss of their genes and their potential contribution to the country and the world. There was a saying in UK about losing 'the brightest and the best' of the young men in two world wars. What does that do to evolution? And what slant has it on increasing the influence of psychopathic people who remain behind the damage, directing operations and causing carnage? Is Israel completely brainwashed by the nasty thugs conducting assymetrical war against puny or low numbers of Palestinian weapons and stone throwing?
What are the odds on Biden mentioning this to Blobby Jobby? Might be worth a flutter.
A flutter of eyelashes possibly. The UK and USA are a chancy lot, they would pack their weaponry in boxes with pictures of birthday cakes and toys, and notices 'Hold till Christmas' and send them to Israel; knowing that the Jewish peeps don't have Christmas – it would be a code. Very cunning and underhand they are.
A few thoughts and helpful links for those on the land who might not have seen these particular ones. And for the townies who know we rely on the farmers for much, but ned to update about the latest movers and shakers.
2013 https://beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/trees-farm
Trees on pasture land used for grazing. Seems a good idea. Plant and Food Research says:
BENEFITS OF SERVICES FROM WIDE-SPACED TREES
Provisioning services →Feed (pasture quantity, quality; tree foliage)→Wood →Shade and shelter to animals
Regulating services →Filtering of nutrients and contaminants→Flood mitigation→Recycling of wastes and detoxification→Carbon storage in soil and trees→Regulation of N2O and CH4 emissions→Biological control of pests and diseases.
Provisioning and regulating services (or benefits) have an economic value. Overall, erosion decreases these values, whereas soil conservation increases them
.
Poplar and willow have proved to be valuable species for erosion control and other use. But need maintenance so they don't grow too tall. And good for animals especially during droughts.
2013 One of the reasons that poplar and willow foliage can provide better feed value than poor or dried-up pasture is because they contain valuable compounds called condensed tannins and phenolic glycosides, such as aspirin, according to research by Associate Professor Peter Kemp of Massey University.
Willows and poplars for drought feed – NZ Farm Forestry
https://www.nzffa.org.nz › resource-centre › august-2013
.
I wonder if pollarding the pasture trees would be good; grow till there are nice round branches for lopping, giving control and income stream all together.
Pollarding is carried out on younger trees, which regrow faster than older trees and are less susceptible to disease. The height is always left at at least six feet above ground level, so that animals don't eat the new growth. Some plants, for example, hazel, paulownia, hornbeam and beech, are more suited to coppicing.10/03/2021
Pollarding Vs Coppicing | Howe2 Trees | North West Tree …https://howe2trees.co.uk/pollarding-vs-coppicing
Other links:
https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2018/06/six-key-principles-for-a-successful-silvopasture/
https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/workspace/pdfs/nsa-sheep-and-trees-for-website.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/27/turning-farming-upside-down-mob-grazing-on-a-cumbrian-hill-farm
And I recommend watching Mulloon Institute work in Australia – a farmer-led organisation that has brought a recalcitrant government alongside. https://themullooninstitute.org/newsletters
Then there is deferred grazing, which is a sort of lying-fallow system and done as recomended provides cost-saving feed at vital times of the year.
https://www.agresearch.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Deferred-Grazing-Handbook-e-version-Dec-2020.pdf
John Cleese being interviewed by someone who argues with his negative opinion about the UK media – a Europe wide survey has respondents putting the UK at the bottom No. 33 – least trusted – for four years. Interesting how self-satisfied and bullish apparently the UK operatives in the media are. This is at 3m it might get better in the rest to 10m.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULfqhCNHQPA
There seems to be a little hiatus in commentators' enthusiasm for discussion. Perhaps all things have been said for the present situation.
You might like to listen to this discussion about Orwell v Aldous Huxley – don't know what they are to consider but listening to opinions from two 'elite' guys is interesting and all will be revealed in time.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31CcclqEiZw&t=357s