I don't allow climate change denial under my posts. I've moved your comment to Open Mike so others can pull it apart if they want to without derailing my post.
It would help if you said what trees you are talking about (i.e. where). Then we can address the climate conditions of that area in an evidence based way. We also will know that you're not making shit up or generalising madly.
Denial is a rational response in the face of overwhelming bad news. Why anyone would bother trying to pick that^ apart at this stage is beyond me. Clutching at straws.
Hope your cognitive dissonance clears up in time for you to be a useful member of todays climate threatened society.
the only value I see in picking it apart is that it shows readers the flaws in the arguments and helps them to be able to spot the bullshit still coming out of corporate denial machines. Maybe also helps people sitting on the fence.
But yeah, tend to agree it's not the best use of time, and this is why I don't allow it under my posts.
"Denial is a rational response in the face of overwhelming bad news."
It can be, but in the case of climate change denial the overwhelming majority derives from deliberate action by people with a financial interest in continuing to burn fossil fuels.
A short bit of google shows where these assertions came from – they are on established climate-change-denial websites (I won't link).
Looking at the source material I could find (relating to Iceland) – seems these stumps are there because of a cycle of glacier retreat / growth (involving 0.5C temperature change or so) that occurred since the last ice age. Nothing unusual about that, and certainly says nothing about current warming predicament, where we seem to be heading to 2+ C increases.
"How can that be if now is the warmest in the last 100,000 years……."
The earth is rapidly warming now, and it takes time for glaciers to retreat and forests to grow. So it is completely possible for the climate to currently be warmer than during the Holocene climatic optimum, which lasted thousands of years and was when those trees that ended up under glaciers grew.
Yep – it's quite possible for these trees to have been growing during a period that was cooler than today. As you say US, it takes a bit of time for our anthropogenically-forced high temps to cause glacier retreat. And if we wait around for a few decades they will retreat further and maybe will reveal some 100,000 year old tree stumps higher up the glacier – which would make CD's argument somewhat hollow.
"It's not good for them to think they can buy us. And it's not good for us to be the whore of the South Pacific. Time to give them their money back, revoke their residency and tell them politely but firmly that if they want to come in they can queue up like everyone else."
I would ask for 20 million and have a cap of 50 per year for the entry category. I would then use the money to build state homes. There might actually be a balance of rich person helping struggling person.
The Stuff comments are a bit disappointing. Nobody on either side of the debate there has mentioned the political power that accrues to people with significant wealth – through donations to political parties and networks of influence. And as such people are generally very conservative on economic policy despite being socially 'liberal', a large influx of them will make it harder for us to elect governments actually willing to make the decisions needed on CC, inequality, taxes, housing etc. The short-term sugar hit of their money is simply not worth their long-term pernicious ideological influence.
Yeah particularly that American conservative influence.
Years ago there was some good commentary on how things like the explosion of craft magazines were led by fundamentalist christians in the US publishing them to encourage women back into the home.
Some years later there were a couple of articles about a group of about 40 conservative US businessmen who felt they could shape New Zealand into the image of the country they wanted the US to be and who had started moving here cause you know the US was turning to hell. I've looked but can't find the article. It was around the same time as Sensible Sentencing trust changed their funding model from donations to ??.
Then there was the election year when it turned out several (5?) ACT candidates had to quickly get permanent residency/citizenship in order to stand (3 elections ago I think).
hey, some of my best friends are or have been whores.
None of them were avaricious sociopaths who powered their rocket trips to the edge of space with govt-subsidised staff who don't even get toilet breaks.
I spent the weekend with a mate who is near retirement age and is an Ambo. He spoke of 'resenting te reo being shoved down his throat'. Use of Aotearoa came up for being disliked too.
It ended up suggesting that he was a relic from a long past age and while his opinions were relevant, it was to fewer and fewer people.
Excellent report and its time the nay-sayers pulled their heads in and started to get with the programme. First off: GET VACCINATED. Follow all the requirement requests to keep NZ as safe as is possible. There are plenty of rocks ahead, and without the full cooperation of everybody we're going to end up in the same boat as New South Wales and elsewhere.
Stop reading screwed-up bile posted online and start listening to our top medical scientists who up there among the best in the world.
Anything less than that amounts to treason in my book and should be treated as such.
in terms of climate and ecology crises, we're better off with the borders closed and adapting around that. In terms of conservation, local economies, building resiliency, likewise.
Rushing the vaccination rollout to prematurely reopen the borders seems daft by comparison.
Helen Clark apparently said she doesn't expect resumption of international travel the way it was before covid to happen within her lifetime.
Then there's this, from your link,
"But then I think the second point that people should be aware of is there's still huge uncertainty at the moment and and there is still a significant risk that we may see a new variant that's even more transmissible than Delta that really puts these plans on hold and forces us to rethink what we do at the border."
We'd be better off debating the nuances. The idea that we will open borders BAU once we have everyone vaccinated isn't a given. So many unknowns, and this actually serves us. We should be planning our lives around uncertainty and building emotional security in other ways, because that's the climate change world we are in now.
It seems like a sensible report. Conceptually it pushes elimination back from being almost all about about cast-iron borders, to a diffuse combination of some border restrictions, vaccination and public health action in the community. And it was actually always blindingly obvious that this was the way forward.
But it won't be lauded by our local commentariat (ZB, Herald, business, Bishop etc.) as "a plan" or "a roadmap" in the way they did for Scomo's five blathering bullet points a few weeks back. That's because it doesn't say what they want to hear.
All in all the report is reasonable and sensible. Particularly around the staged opening of the border.
But it's a bit vague on what might be involved in "some localised elevation of alert levels".
Personally, after all of us that want vaccination have got it, I would find it quite unpalatable to have repeats of levels 3 and 4 with their restrictions on travel between regions, and requirements to keep withing bubbles.
For all the histrionics going around about forced vaccinations being a violation of the Bill of Rights (nobody is proposing forced vaccination), the travel restrictions and bubble requirements in level 3 and level 4 are actual violations of the Bill of Rights. Specifically, 16 Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, 17 Freedom of Association, and 18 Freedom of Movement.
Clearly over-riding these rights using section 70 of the Health Act was and is the right thing to do for as long as there are people among us that haven't yet had reasonable opportunity to get vaccination.
But the fact that the vaccine is safe, free, and very effective, means that once everyone that wants vaccination has received it, there won't be a public health emergency anymore that justifies use of section 70 across the entire population. At worst there might be a stupidity emergency among the unvaccinated, that justifies targeted applications of section 70.
edit: The actual document from the advisory group to the government is well worth reading in the original form.
!!This post isn't intended as treason!! Our people are good, but a little bit behind the really rapid changes in data.
Timestamp 31:13 through 35:40
Two experts + the one interpreting it ate stating we can't reach heard immunity with vaccines. Of course if you already think this is "screwed up bile" you probs won’t watch. Eventually it will be accepted our vaccine strategy needs to shift to early identification and effective treatment which I expect to occur before the end of the year (about the time it takes for information to filter through).
Two experts + the one interpreting it ate stating we can't reach heard immunity with vaccines.
lol, from the youtube link (I'll put the interesting bit in italics):
This video is intended for EDUCATIONAL and ENTERTAINMENT purposes ONLY and is NOT to be construed as LEGAL, FINANCIAL or MEDICAL ADVICE. Repeat: THIS IS NOT LEGAL, FINANCIAL or MEDICAL ADVICE. We are not legal, financial or medical experts. In case we lose our YouTube channel, be prepared to subscribe to us in other ways
As for not reaching herd immunity with vaccines, let's assume that you're correct. Just for the sake of it. Doesn't that just make vaccination just as important as it is now, just for a much longer term? E.g. influenza or tetanus, rather than smallpox?
You might need to explain why herd immunity being out of reach makes vaccination that much more important. Prob'ly best to do it s l o w l y with short simple words.
The health system needs to be prepared to manage Covid short and long term.
Individual responsibility for being vaccinated is probably all that can be done. Hopefully in the next 6 months there will be more reliable data on who ends up in hospital, the vaccinated or the unvaccinated.
Dr Sandhya Ramanathan started filming Covid-19 home-help videos last year. The aim was to inform her family members back in India, but the videos soon went viral.
“I felt extremely responsible, I always have. Even if I didn’t have family over there, I would have produced these videos,” she told 1 NEWS.
In the videos, Sandhya gives advice on prevention, how to keep your family safe and breathing exercises to try if you catch the virus.
The Ministry of Health did not offer any public advice whatsoever on how best to manage mild Covid at home last year (before the roll out of the vaccine) and the calm and reasoned advice given by this true doctor has been of enormous value and comfort for literally millions throughout the world.
Good to know when Delta finally makes it to these shores you'll now be able to to use your 'home medical management plan for mild covid', and won't need to come on again daily, complaining how the government isn't giving you enough free ppe
talk of borders reopening is very premature . was talking to my mechanic yesterday, owns a two person garage in small horowhenua town, and a conservative. said his business is flatout, as are the other garages in town. he made the comment that with five million in our waka, we have enough internal money and demand that we really dont need to import more people.I know that the roads are certainly very busy and there is no shortage of kiwis out and about ,spending and enjoying our country.
Not sure to whom you are responding there, but as a Labour member I like:
really high wages – great careers – exceptional public services and social security – and a high performing successful economy that shares wealth and innovation alike.
You can start to get that with long term really really low unemployment.
Try being a renter and then competing with an influx of people.
As a side issue a friend told me today that they think landlords who do not need to charge the market rental rates do so to pay off their mortgage quicker on the rental property.
In 1902, Churchill called China a "barbaric nation" and advocated for the "partition of China". He wrote:
I think we shall have to take the Chinese in hand and regulate them. I believe that as civilized nations become more powerful they will get more ruthless, and the time will come when the world will impatiently bear the existence of great barbaric nations who may at any time arm themselves and menace civilized nations. I believe in the ultimate partition of China – I mean ultimate. I hope we shall not have to do it in our day. The Aryan stock is bound to triumph.
In May 1954, Violet Bonham-Carter asked Churchill's opinion about a Labour Party visit to China. Winston Churchill replied:
I hate people with slit eyes and pigtails. I don't like the look of them or the smell of them – but I suppose it does no great harm to have a look at them.
We have Covid and its restrictions we have Climate Change requiring us to pull our strings in. Good time to start doing that right – Start learning to live within our environmental means … Start consolidating or down sizing . Start working with the people already here in NZ.
Leader of the opposition, Arnold Rimmer, is demanding Coronavirus be allowed into New Zealand in early 2022, revives "plan B":
ACT leader David Seymour wants border restrictions to begin easing at the start of next year, even if rates of vaccination aren't high enough.
"If we can't have risk proportional safe reopening, with antigen testing, rapid testing, with good contact tracing and isolation – if all of that requires vaccination and if vaccination doesn't work then we're isolated forever, so clearly we have to have a plan B from vaccination being the endgame. And if we're not prepared to do it at the start of next year, then when are we prepared to do it?"
Just imagine if this clown had been anywhere near power when the pandemic struck. We'd have bodies in the streets.
I agree with him. NZ can't remain closed forever. By the end of this year, everyone that wants to be vaccinated should be vaccinated (hopefully that's at least 80% but I tend to think it may end up being less). This will give us as close to herd immunity that we will ever get. Yes vaccinated people will get the virus, but since they are vaccinated the symptoms should be far less. Those that choose not to be vaccinated will be the most at risk but that is up to them.
At the moment, it's only authorised for 16 and over. Medsafe have recommended it be authorised for 12 and over as it is in the US, but our government haven't yet made a decision.
Pfizer apparently expect to submit data for extending the authorisation to 5 – 11 year olds, expected in September, and a little bit later in the year for over 2.
If we add those age groups into our vax schedule, that will likely extend the rollout into early next year, so likely March or April or so before it can fairly be said that everyone that wants vaccination has had a reasonable opportunity to get fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated meaning 2 weeks after the second dose.
edit: There’s also data suggesting better long term immunity results from extending the gap from first to second jab out to eight weeks. If that’s adopted, it will also push the date out a bit further.
Thanks Andre, all those points are helpful for thinking about when every NZer who chooses to get vaccinated will be protected against Covid.
I'll be pleasantly surprised if vaccine coverage plateaus above 80% of NZers being protected against serious illness and/or death due to Covid-19 infection. Hope it doesn't take more NZ deaths to persuade at least some of the hesitant to get the protection that vaccination provides. The risk is real – just look across the ditch – 35 more tragic Covid-attributed deaths in Australia over the last 30 days.
March/April is also good because it gives the MoH another month or so to do more promotion and access. People will be distracted in December and January, end of year is a shit time to trial border opening of the goal is to prevent community transmission.
Here's the real news: there is growing evidence that — for whatever reason (higher viral loads, something different about how the virus is handled by less mature immune systems, or something else), children infected by the Delta variant may develop a more severe form of the disease compared to illness caused by other forms of the virus.
Go onto the cdc tracker linked in the first tweet, and look at the region by region data by age group. Virtual chocolate fish for anyone who correctly guesses which regions have had that sudden recent spike of covid in kids, and which ones haven't.
Despite an uptick in COVID-19 cases across the country as the highly contagious delta variant continues to spread, some states have reduced the frequency of their coronavirus data updates or stopped reporting deaths and cases entirely over the last month.
According to research from USAFacts, eight states have changed their COVID-19 data reporting as of Aug. 3.
Except for those that can't get vaccinated, children, babies, those with immuno issues, so fuck them? It's really not that black and white. We can open up, eventually, but with quarantine etc.
Immunocompromised can safely get the Pfizer vaccine. It's just unlikely to do them much good, because, well, immunocompromised means their immune systems aren't working well or not at all. So yeah, they will still mostly be dependent on the rest of us getting vaccinated for community immunity.
The only real contraindication I'm aware of is for those at risk of allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the vaccine. Dunno if the plan is to get in small quantities of one of the other vaccines for them, but I certainly hope something like that is underway.
There's also a note that young males should be especially alert to symptoms of myocarditis after vaccination. The evidence seems to be that in the very rare cases that do get myocarditis they recover quickly with no lasting effects, but it's still better to get properly diagnosed and treated.
It's reasonably likely that children down to the age of two will have the vaccine authorised for them by the end of the year.
I understand NZ only has 300 ICU beds and most of them are allocated for non Covid cases. There is always the risk of health rationing were Covid to take hold.
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David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility. Those were the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Allen, Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Newcastle Snapshot freddy/ShutterstockPlans to revive an old coal-fired power station using bioenergy are being considered in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Similar plans for the station ...
Responding to the long-awaited release of judges’ special allowances, including free air travel and hotels for spouses, generous sabbaticals, and access to limousines, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Alex Murphy said: “In what world does your employer ...
Analysis - The United States has unveiled plans to boost the weapons trade with Australia and the UK, on the same day that Winston Peters is expected to sketch NZ's position on AUKUS. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University Since Australia’s First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum in October 2023, diverse commentaries have sought to explain why it failed. But what does an analysis of media ...
Lawyers representing two iwi as well as the Māori Women’s Welfare League on Wednesday asked the Court of Appeal to overturn last week’s High Court decision on the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision to summons Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Tribunal is currently investigating the Government’s decision to repeal section 7AA of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield – demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Government’s blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Victoria Rodriguez/Unsplash How do sugar rushes work? – W.H, age nine, from Canberra What a terrific question W.H! Let’s explore this, starting with some of the basics. What is sugar? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne MART PRODUCTION/Pexels Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University The telecommunications industry faces a major shakeup following the release of the post-incident report on last November’s 12-hour Optus outage. Telecommunications companies will have to share more information with customers during future ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Eden Denyer, bookseller at Unity Books Auckland.Weirdest question/request you’ve had on the shop floorA mother came in looking for anything we might have on Alaskan bison as that was her little boy’s ...
NZCTU Economist Craig Renney said new data released by Statistics New Zealand shows the need for Government to act now, with unemployment rising from 3.4% to 4.3%. ...
The outpouring of anger over Maiki Sherman’s hyperbolic presentation of this week’s ‘nightmare’ poll is itself an overreaction, argues Stewart Sowman-Lund. Politicians love nothing more than to pretend they don’t care about polls. This week, deputy prime minister Winston Peters said he didn’t give a “rat’s derriere” about a TVNZ ...
Asia Pacific Report Ngāti Kahungunu in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay region has become the first indigenous Māori iwi (tribe) to sign a resolution calling for a “ceasefire in Palestine”, reports Te Ao Māori News. Reporter Te Aniwaniwa Paterson talked to Te Otāne Huata, who has been organising peace rallies ...
By Dale Luma in Port Moresby “We want grants and not concessional loans,” is the crisp message from Papua New Guinea businesses directly affected by the Black Wednesday looting four months ago. The businesses, which lost millions after the January 10 rioting and looting, say they need grants as part ...
Happy May Day. Join a union. Q: What’s worse than a staff break room where the only place to sit and have a cup of tea is on a teetering stack of old pornography magazines? A: Your boss replacing the magazine stacks with chairs that are “heartily encrusted with ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Former opposition leader Matthew Wale has been announced as the second prime ministerial candidate ahead of the election in Solomon Islands tomorrow. He will face off against former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele, who was announced by the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation ...
We get but one birthday a year – why not make it last as long as possible by scheduling as many meals with friends and family as you can? This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate at ...
A Koi Tū discussion paper released today proposes sweeping changes to New Zealand’s media industry. The principal’s key author, Gavin Ellis, explains how journalists have a key role to play in making others value their role in society. This is an abridged version of a piece first published on knightlyviews.com ...
The Government’s spending cuts are again targeting support for Māori with proposed reform of the agency charged with advising on Māori wellbeing and development. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Douglas, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation., UNSW Sydney The history of budget jet airlines in Australia is a long road littered with broken dreams. New entrants have consistently struggled to get a foothold. Low-cost carrier Bonza has just become the industry’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosalind Dixon, Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW Sydney Australia is finally having a sustained conversation about violence against women and what we can do about it. It is more than time. Australian women and girls continue to experience ...
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 stockfour/Shutterstock Preliminary bulk billing data released this week shows a 2.1% rise in bulk billing up to March. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Schulz, Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide Australia is once again grappling with how we can stop gendered violence in our country. Protests over the weekend show there is enormous community anger over the number of women who are dying and National ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University AnastasiaDudka/Shutterstock What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work? That’s how it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury The Conversation It seems to be a time of old favourites. This month our experts have recommended two new seasons – the second season of Alone Australia (although ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland A bright Eta Aquariid meteor photobombed this photo of comet C/2020 F8 (SWAN) in May 2020.Jonti Horner Meteors – commonly known as shooting stars – can be seen on any night of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Current concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in Earth’s atmosphere are unprecedented in human history. But CO₂ levels today, and those that might occur in coming decades, did occur millions of years ago. ...
Winston Peters has been keen to dismiss speculation on our involvement in Aukus but will give a speech tonight on the direction of our foreign policy, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Usmar, Lecturer in Critical Media Literacies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images With the coalition government’s ban of student mobile phones in New Zealand schools coming into effect this week, reaction has ranged from the sceptical (kids will just get ...
Hospitals around the country are not allowed to make a single hiring decision without the approval of Te Whatu Ora's head office, including for cleaners and administration staff. ...
A new report on protecting journalism and democracy in New Zealand recommends a levy be charged on global platforms like Facebook and Google to fund media firms undertaking public interest reporting. It also calls for the reinstatement of a powerful Broadcasting Commission to distribute public funding for journalism and other ...
On International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi and the wider union movement are celebrating the proud history of the labour movement during a tough time for working people. ...
From bills to beards, a walk through the former Green co-leader’s time in politics. After close to a decade in politics, James Shaw is preparing to bid farewell to parliament. Tonight will see the former minister deliver his valedictory address, certain to be a speech filled with Shaw’s trademark wit ...
Two months ago, MPs unanimously voted to give themselves a week off in Efeso Collins’ honour. On Tuesday, most were too busy to give even an hour of their time. The day Fa’anānā Efeso Collins died, parliament felt different. In a building that operates at a breakneck pace, everyone stopped ...
India’s election involves hundreds of millions of people and is a months-long affair. Here’s how voting works and what’s at stake.The biggest-ever election in world history started on April 19, with more than 10% of the world’s population eligible to vote. Elections in India, the world’s most populous country ...
Comment: Journalists are very good at telling other people’s stories, but they fall well short when writing about their own profession. Perhaps that is why it is so undervalued. Every successive poll on the public’s attitude toward journalism is more alarming than the last. In the last month we have ...
Opinion: A young Māori woman and her Pacific partner arrive at their local hospital by ambulance. She has gone into labour at just under 24 weeks, but the couple haven’t recognised the symptoms – and don’t know the risks of premature birth for their baby. By the time they arrive, ...
Behind closed doors, NZ First will be arguing fiercely against any watering down of the ministerial decision-making powers in the Bill The post Bishop backtracks after fast-track backlash appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Emotional scenes played out in the Invercargill courthouse on the first two days of the coronial inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones, in which the boy’s mother was accused of disposing of her son’s body. The second season of Newsroom’s award-nominated podcast The Boy in the Water ...
Opinion: The impression from the carpark is very inviting. The area is well fenced but barred so there is easy visibility of loved ones. Inside, the spaces are welcoming and clean and staff are friendly and clearly comfortable. I am greeted by ‘Kim’. She has worked here for three years, ...
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I have seen reports that the latest IPCC report says that the last decade is the warmest in the last 100,000 year , to 125,000 years.
As the glaciers melt in this unprecedented warming, they leave behind interesting debris, most notably the stumps of old trees.
Carbon dating pegs them with ages ranging from 3000 to 8000 years old, depending on the particular glacier, scattered over the globe
How can that be if now is the warmest in the last 100,000 years…….
For a forest to have grown there it must have been warmer, cause last time I checked, forests don't grow under glaciers
Guess you would have to call those tree stumps inconvenient facts…..
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I don't allow climate change denial under my posts. I've moved your comment to Open Mike so others can pull it apart if they want to without derailing my post.
It would help if you said what trees you are talking about (i.e. where). Then we can address the climate conditions of that area in an evidence based way. We also will know that you're not making shit up or generalising madly.
Denial is a rational response in the face of overwhelming bad news. Why anyone would bother trying to pick that^ apart at this stage is beyond me. Clutching at straws.
Hope your cognitive dissonance clears up in time for you to be a useful member of todays climate threatened society.
the only value I see in picking it apart is that it shows readers the flaws in the arguments and helps them to be able to spot the bullshit still coming out of corporate denial machines. Maybe also helps people sitting on the fence.
But yeah, tend to agree it's not the best use of time, and this is why I don't allow it under my posts.
"Denial is a rational response in the face of overwhelming bad news."
It can be, but in the case of climate change denial the overwhelming majority derives from deliberate action by people with a financial interest in continuing to burn fossil fuels.
Provide a link to your source of information, then we can look at it. If you "have seen reports", you should be able to say exactly where they were.
A short bit of google shows where these assertions came from – they are on established climate-change-denial websites (I won't link).
Looking at the source material I could find (relating to Iceland) – seems these stumps are there because of a cycle of glacier retreat / growth (involving 0.5C temperature change or so) that occurred since the last ice age. Nothing unusual about that, and certainly says nothing about current warming predicament, where we seem to be heading to 2+ C increases.
…Looking at CD's comment
"How can that be if now is the warmest in the last 100,000 years……."
The earth is rapidly warming now, and it takes time for glaciers to retreat and forests to grow. So it is completely possible for the climate to currently be warmer than during the Holocene climatic optimum, which lasted thousands of years and was when those trees that ended up under glaciers grew.
"Inconvenient facts"- I don't think so.
Yep – it's quite possible for these trees to have been growing during a period that was cooler than today. As you say US, it takes a bit of time for our anthropogenically-forced high temps to cause glacier retreat. And if we wait around for a few decades they will retreat further and maybe will reveal some 100,000 year old tree stumps higher up the glacier – which would make CD's argument somewhat hollow.
"It's not good for them to think they can buy us. And it's not good for us to be the whore of the South Pacific. Time to give them their money back, revoke their residency and tell them politely but firmly that if they want to come in they can queue up like everyone else."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/126023257/dont-pander-to-those-who-put-themselves-in-prison
All the indications are we are indeed a 10 million dollar whore.
I would ask for 20 million and have a cap of 50 per year for the entry category. I would then use the money to build state homes. There might actually be a balance of rich person helping struggling person.
The Stuff comments are a bit disappointing. Nobody on either side of the debate there has mentioned the political power that accrues to people with significant wealth – through donations to political parties and networks of influence. And as such people are generally very conservative on economic policy despite being socially 'liberal', a large influx of them will make it harder for us to elect governments actually willing to make the decisions needed on CC, inequality, taxes, housing etc. The short-term sugar hit of their money is simply not worth their long-term pernicious ideological influence.
Political influence could partly be sorted out by having all party donations declared, the donor named and loopholes closed.
Though, oddly enough, the major parties don't seem too fussed about that.
Nailed it AB. We don't need any more rich entitled opinionated antisocial… I'll stop there, but there's plenty more adjectives where that came from.
Yeah particularly that American conservative influence.
Years ago there was some good commentary on how things like the explosion of craft magazines were led by fundamentalist christians in the US publishing them to encourage women back into the home.
Some years later there were a couple of articles about a group of about 40 conservative US businessmen who felt they could shape New Zealand into the image of the country they wanted the US to be and who had started moving here cause you know the US was turning to hell. I've looked but can't find the article. It was around the same time as Sensible Sentencing trust changed their funding model from donations to ??.
Then there was the election year when it turned out several (5?) ACT candidates had to quickly get permanent residency/citizenship in order to stand (3 elections ago I think).
Ahhh making New Zealand in their own image….
hey, some of my best friends are or have been whores.
None of them were avaricious sociopaths who powered their rocket trips to the edge of space with govt-subsidised staff who don't even get toilet breaks.
Some of your best friends….was one of them the NZ Gov?
I went to Otago, so there might be a couple of govt folks who think I'm a bit of a dick.
Mercury Energy (10/08/2021): Not fair, it's not our fault!
Mercury Energy (11/08/2021): Here's a million in compensation to prove it's not our fault!
Making amends is a deterent to prevent a reoccurence.
I applaud making of amends. It will just come off our shares though. Corporations only want to be seen to be responsible. PR, not humanity.
I didn't think about the shares dividend.
There would be stuff people do not know about their energy provider, just the best rate to be on, basic charges.
Sounds to me like it was Transpower that was at fault not Genesis, Mercury or any of the others.
Heat goes on Transpower after Wel Networks reveals grid operator made huge error | Stuff.co.nz
I have been impressed with TJ Perenara as a player and lately with his off the field efforts.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/300379943/tj-perenara-seeks-answers-after-insulting-comments-by-hurricanes-board-member
I spent the weekend with a mate who is near retirement age and is an Ambo. He spoke of 'resenting te reo being shoved down his throat'. Use of Aotearoa came up for being disliked too.
It ended up suggesting that he was a relic from a long past age and while his opinions were relevant, it was to fewer and fewer people.
This Bowker rooster falls into the same category.
Then there is this from Newshub with an example of how not to win friends and influence people
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2021/08/hurricanes-star-tj-perenara-blasts-team-s-part-owner-troy-bowker-for-m-ori-loving-agenda-comments.html
I wonder how you fire a part owner. This ancient relic is not doing much good for the brand as well as offending large numbers of people.
His ignorance seems to be boundless……I really cannot get over his ignorance in taking on Sir Ian Taylor who has never struck me as 'some radical'.
So often that ignorance is found in those who are affluent.
a boof head type statement from Bowker. 25 years haven't made much difference in that respect it seems.
It may have already been discussed on this site:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/448932/full-vaccine-rollout-required-to-start-opening-border-report-says
Excellent report and its time the nay-sayers pulled their heads in and started to get with the programme. First off: GET VACCINATED. Follow all the requirement requests to keep NZ as safe as is possible. There are plenty of rocks ahead, and without the full cooperation of everybody we're going to end up in the same boat as New South Wales and elsewhere.
Stop reading screwed-up bile posted online and start listening to our top medical scientists who up there among the best in the world.
Anything less than that amounts to treason in my book and should be treated as such.
in terms of climate and ecology crises, we're better off with the borders closed and adapting around that. In terms of conservation, local economies, building resiliency, likewise.
Rushing the vaccination rollout to prematurely reopen the borders seems daft by comparison.
Helen Clark apparently said she doesn't expect resumption of international travel the way it was before covid to happen within her lifetime.
Then there's this, from your link,
We'd be better off debating the nuances. The idea that we will open borders BAU once we have everyone vaccinated isn't a given. So many unknowns, and this actually serves us. We should be planning our lives around uncertainty and building emotional security in other ways, because that's the climate change world we are in now.
It seems like a sensible report. Conceptually it pushes elimination back from being almost all about about cast-iron borders, to a diffuse combination of some border restrictions, vaccination and public health action in the community. And it was actually always blindingly obvious that this was the way forward.
But it won't be lauded by our local commentariat (ZB, Herald, business, Bishop etc.) as "a plan" or "a roadmap" in the way they did for Scomo's five blathering bullet points a few weeks back. That's because it doesn't say what they want to hear.
Anything less than that amounts to treason in my book and should be treated as such.
Are you polishing off your needles a la tricoteuse?
All in all the report is reasonable and sensible. Particularly around the staged opening of the border.
But it's a bit vague on what might be involved in "some localised elevation of alert levels".
Personally, after all of us that want vaccination have got it, I would find it quite unpalatable to have repeats of levels 3 and 4 with their restrictions on travel between regions, and requirements to keep withing bubbles.
For all the histrionics going around about forced vaccinations being a violation of the Bill of Rights (nobody is proposing forced vaccination), the travel restrictions and bubble requirements in level 3 and level 4 are actual violations of the Bill of Rights. Specifically, 16 Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, 17 Freedom of Association, and 18 Freedom of Movement.
Clearly over-riding these rights using section 70 of the Health Act was and is the right thing to do for as long as there are people among us that haven't yet had reasonable opportunity to get vaccination.
But the fact that the vaccine is safe, free, and very effective, means that once everyone that wants vaccination has received it, there won't be a public health emergency anymore that justifies use of section 70 across the entire population. At worst there might be a stupidity emergency among the unvaccinated, that justifies targeted applications of section 70.
edit: The actual document from the advisory group to the government is well worth reading in the original form.
https://www.scribd.com/document/519645361/Embargoed-Skegg-Advice#fullscreen&from_embed
Grateful Andre. I will read the document as soon as I can.
Thanks for all the info. you provide us on a daily basis. I've come to rely on it for my own edification.
!!This post isn't intended as treason!! Our people are good, but a little bit behind the really rapid changes in data.
Timestamp 31:13 through 35:40
Two experts + the one interpreting it ate stating we can't reach heard immunity with vaccines. Of course if you already think this is "screwed up bile" you probs won’t watch. Eventually it will be accepted our vaccine strategy needs to shift to early identification and effective treatment which I expect to occur before the end of the year (about the time it takes for information to filter through).
lol, from the youtube link (I'll put the interesting bit in italics):
As for not reaching herd immunity with vaccines, let's assume that you're correct. Just for the sake of it. Doesn't that just make vaccination just as important as it is now, just for a much longer term? E.g. influenza or tetanus, rather than smallpox?
You might need to explain why herd immunity being out of reach makes vaccination that much more important. Prob'ly best to do it s l o w l y with short simple words.
The health system needs to be prepared to manage Covid short and long term.
Individual responsibility for being vaccinated is probably all that can be done. Hopefully in the next 6 months there will be more reliable data on who ends up in hospital, the vaccinated or the unvaccinated.
The "reliable" data is already available Treetop. It's the unvaccinated who largely fill the intensive care units.
That is how I also see it now and down the track.
It wasn't all criticism and mockery at the Royal NZ College of GP's conference in Wellington last week.
Awards were given to Kiwi doctors who had gone the extra mile to provide care to their communities over the past year, and I was very pleased to see Dr. Sandhya Ramanathan was appropriately recognised.
Dr Sandhya Ramanathan started filming Covid-19 home-help videos last year. The aim was to inform her family members back in India, but the videos soon went viral.
“I felt extremely responsible, I always have. Even if I didn’t have family over there, I would have produced these videos,” she told 1 NEWS.
In the videos, Sandhya gives advice on prevention, how to keep your family safe and breathing exercises to try if you catch the virus.
The Ministry of Health did not offer any public advice whatsoever on how best to manage mild Covid at home last year (before the roll out of the vaccine) and the calm and reasoned advice given by this true doctor has been of enormous value and comfort for literally millions throughout the world.
Namaste, Dr Sandhya, and thank you.
Good to know when Delta finally makes it to these shores you'll now be able to to use your 'home medical management plan for mild covid', and won't need to come on again daily, complaining how the government isn't giving you enough free ppe
Please don’t. Express your personal opinion but not directed at other commenters in a nasty way.
Sure
thank-you 🙏
talk of borders reopening is very premature . was talking to my mechanic yesterday, owns a two person garage in small horowhenua town, and a conservative. said his business is flatout, as are the other garages in town. he made the comment that with five million in our waka, we have enough internal money and demand that we really dont need to import more people.I know that the roads are certainly very busy and there is no shortage of kiwis out and about ,spending and enjoying our country.
Who does NZ really need here?
You are clearly not in a company needing workers.
Even applicants per job advertisement have dropped sharply.
Thought you all liked the vagaries of supply and demand.
Not sure to whom you are responding there, but as a Labour member I like:
really high wages – great careers – exceptional public services and social security – and a high performing successful economy that shares wealth and innovation alike.
You can start to get that with long term really really low unemployment.
But you want more foreign workers, they gaurentee lower wages.
Who does?
Your comment at 7.1.1 made it sound like you do .
Try being a renter and then competing with an influx of people.
As a side issue a friend told me today that they think landlords who do not need to charge the market rental rates do so to pay off their mortgage quicker on the rental property.
Paying off your mortgage quickly is indeed a good thing. Fully agree.
Is the word, "disgusted" overused by right wing populist politicians? And the word, "actually" for that matter.
Computer says yes:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/do-they-want-stalin-up-there-judith-collins-lashes-out-at-greens-for-ditching-churchill/TH2ARIOS3I7T2Y3OUWEX6ZXRN4/
It is hard to recall a day when Judith Collins has not said, "disgusted, actually", actually.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_views_of_Winston_Churchill
We have Covid and its restrictions we have Climate Change requiring us to pull our strings in. Good time to start doing that right – Start learning to live within our environmental means … Start consolidating or down sizing . Start working with the people already here in NZ.
Leader of the opposition, Arnold Rimmer, is demanding Coronavirus be allowed into New Zealand in early 2022, revives "plan B":
Just imagine if this clown had been anywhere near power when the pandemic struck. We'd have bodies in the streets.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/448957/act-leader-wants-border-restrictions-eased-at-start-of-2022
I agree with him. NZ can't remain closed forever. By the end of this year, everyone that wants to be vaccinated should be vaccinated (hopefully that's at least 80% but I tend to think it may end up being less). This will give us as close to herd immunity that we will ever get. Yes vaccinated people will get the virus, but since they are vaccinated the symptoms should be far less. Those that choose not to be vaccinated will be the most at risk but that is up to them.
At the moment, it's only authorised for 16 and over. Medsafe have recommended it be authorised for 12 and over as it is in the US, but our government haven't yet made a decision.
Pfizer apparently expect to submit data for extending the authorisation to 5 – 11 year olds, expected in September, and a little bit later in the year for over 2.
If we add those age groups into our vax schedule, that will likely extend the rollout into early next year, so likely March or April or so before it can fairly be said that everyone that wants vaccination has had a reasonable opportunity to get fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated meaning 2 weeks after the second dose.
edit: There’s also data suggesting better long term immunity results from extending the gap from first to second jab out to eight weeks. If that’s adopted, it will also push the date out a bit further.
Thanks Andre, all those points are helpful for thinking about when every NZer who chooses to get vaccinated will be protected against Covid.
I'll be pleasantly surprised if vaccine coverage plateaus above 80% of NZers being protected against serious illness and/or death due to Covid-19 infection. Hope it doesn't take more NZ deaths to persuade at least some of the hesitant to get the protection that vaccination provides. The risk is real – just look across the ditch – 35 more tragic Covid-attributed deaths in Australia over the last 30 days.
Again I raise a glass to everyone involved in the covid response, including a second glass for everyone in MIQ.
Outstanding work at keeping us safe, and under greater pressure now than ever.
March/April is also good because it gives the MoH another month or so to do more promotion and access. People will be distracted in December and January, end of year is a shit time to trial border opening of the goal is to prevent community transmission.
Meanwhile, US pediatric hospitalisations are at an all time high.
https://twitter.com/juliaraifman/status/1424077820838436870
https://twitter.com/JohnBerman/status/1425063214132437011
Here's the real news: there is growing evidence that — for whatever reason (higher viral loads, something different about how the virus is handled by less mature immune systems, or something else), children infected by the Delta variant may develop a more severe form of the disease compared to illness caused by other forms of the virus.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/02/opinions/worrisome-thing-about-delta-variant-sepkowitz/index.html
Go onto the cdc tracker linked in the first tweet, and look at the region by region data by age group. Virtual chocolate fish for anyone who correctly guesses which regions have had that sudden recent spike of covid in kids, and which ones haven't.
Surprise surprise..
https://twitter.com/VanityFair/status/1424875475546120193
https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1425155135370502147
https://twitter.com/Cleavon_MD
For joe90 and aj
Latest tool in the fight – can't see me now.
https://twitter.com/TedGenoways/status/1424566606588436485
Despite an uptick in COVID-19 cases across the country as the highly contagious delta variant continues to spread, some states have reduced the frequency of their coronavirus data updates or stopped reporting deaths and cases entirely over the last month.
According to research from USAFacts, eight states have changed their COVID-19 data reporting as of Aug. 3.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2021-08-05/states-slow-covid-19-data-reporting-as-delta-variant-spreads
Like Thatcher stopping measurement of unemployment or the Nats refusing to measure poverty.
We kind of can, Jimmy.
In theory, yes. But I suspect the vaccinated majority of us would find the idea quite unpalatable.
I wouldn't bet on it.
Except for those that can't get vaccinated, children, babies, those with immuno issues, so fuck them? It's really not that black and white. We can open up, eventually, but with quarantine etc.
Immunocompromised can safely get the Pfizer vaccine. It's just unlikely to do them much good, because, well, immunocompromised means their immune systems aren't working well or not at all. So yeah, they will still mostly be dependent on the rest of us getting vaccinated for community immunity.
The only real contraindication I'm aware of is for those at risk of allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the vaccine. Dunno if the plan is to get in small quantities of one of the other vaccines for them, but I certainly hope something like that is underway.
There's also a note that young males should be especially alert to symptoms of myocarditis after vaccination. The evidence seems to be that in the very rare cases that do get myocarditis they recover quickly with no lasting effects, but it's still better to get properly diagnosed and treated.
It's reasonably likely that children down to the age of two will have the vaccine authorised for them by the end of the year.
I understand NZ only has 300 ICU beds and most of them are allocated for non Covid cases. There is always the risk of health rationing were Covid to take hold.