It rained heavily the night before this clip was taken. The stream was still running high & it was quite deep at the Eel Spot when Elvira turned up for a feed. It's fun when it's this deep because she stands up on her tail.
It sounds like, from what I just heard Ardern say to Kim Hill on RNZ, the Covid positive Auckland woman who wrongly visited Northland FAKED her exemption document, If that’s true, then the question of why checks weren’t made before the exemption letter was issued doesn’t arise.
I didn’t catch all the discussion, but Kim Hill is challenging Ardern a lot more than Corin Dann or Suzy Fergusson do.
Will listen to the full audio clip when it’s available later.
Hill is harder on everyone – which is generally a good thing. Like the others though, she does occasionally and unwittingly reveal how little (or zero) experience she has of trying to actually implement anything technically or procedurally complex, or even anything less complex on a very large scale. If you have the notion in your head of an unattainable perfection, then every discussion soon degenerates into petty arguments about 'competence'. Original sin is a harsh and unpleasant doctrine, but it is a salutary corrective for excessively high expectations.
That's good, since she's asking on behalf of the rest of us. If she was in the loop she'd be basically siding with the smug mandarins who resist change on principle.
Yep. Though a better line of questioning when something hasn't worked, is to ask those responsible what options they see for improving it – rather than outraged shock and horror that it has happened at all.
Not everyone. I'd really like business people to be asked about the pandemic planning that was done 10 years (roughly) ago and about what action they took to prepare for such an eventuality.
Chamber of Commerce heads would be a good start. My gut feeling is, is that they just ignored the possibility. I'd really, really like to know if there was even one business or CEO that took it seriously.
"“We are about to go through the most profound shift in the climate debate in 20 years,” Gilding wrote in an essay he published on his website on August 24. “The result will be the end of the gas industry’s hope of being a transition fuel, a brutal market disruption to the agriculture and livestock industries and the arrival of the climate emergency into public consciousness. This will all be driven by the acceptance of methane as the critical response to the climate emergency.”
"This reality is fast-shifting the climate debate, Gilding wrote. “The brutal market, political and economic logic suggests the brunt of the impact will be felt by two sectors. It will be the final nail in the coffin for fossil fuels, including gas. Already in terminal decline, the industry will now need to be largely gone – at least in its twilight years – within a decade. Secondly, livestock within agriculture will face transformation and/or disruption through a perfect storm of public and consumer pressure, policy action and new technologies. Beef and dairy in particular will have to radically transform, or shrink to a small fraction of their current size. This is all predictable.””
"Three years ago, Fonterra established a Sustainability Advisory Panel. One of its founding, and current, members is Paul Gilding, an Australian. He was a former executive director of Greenpeace International and is a long-time fellow at the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership."
If you burn the gas and not allow spill,as the Helen Clark Gov did for instant (Taranaki)as an for exsample It's only then as bad as CO2,as for your animals theirs always been large amount of ruminating creatures on earth after the ice ages give an take.
just a thought.
Note for proprietor,Spell check is a common courtesy on the F..ken internet.
I think it was Murupara over the past weekend or Friday? when JUJU wanted to talk to her about 'things' and she wasn't there to berate…oops sorry talk to.
New World and Pak'nSave are to remove most of NZ fishing company Sealord's range from their freezers as the supermarkets flex their muscles in the face of the Commerce Commission.
Jobs at Sealord's Nelson plant are understood to be on the line, after Foodstuffs North Island's decision to "delete" most of the New Zealand fishing company's frozen products.
Foodstuffs wouldn't comment last night on the decision; head of corporate affairs Antoinette Laird said her comms teams did not work weekends unless there was a business-critical issue.
But Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich said the decision would shrink Sealord's 80 percent local market share to less than 20 percent, turning it into a market minnow and making more space in the supermarket freezers for less sustainable products like Alaskan pollock instead.
The range of foodstuffs being removed is based entirely on profit margin – not consumer demand, affordability, sustainability or anything else and will take effect from Nov 15.
Yeah, I copied out the important bits on this issue, but should have bracketed that it's paywalled.
It's Sealord (half iwi-owned) that is affected by this decision (one of many decisions on stocking for profit that Foodstuffs have made). The decision comes ahead the Commerce Commission investigations into supermarket pressure on pricing that includes pressure on suppliers.
Not much the government can do. Price-controlled cheese slices? Food-inflation-adjusted food stamps? Suppliers of 12-pack of jam-filled donuts awarded Supplementary Minimum Prices?
The Food and Grocery council thinks this behaviour from Foodstuffs needs rectifying – from the same article [paywalled]
Our industry has never experienced such an extreme margin grab. It's quite extraordinary at the time they are in the Commerce Commission spotlight. They're snubbing their nose at the commission and government’s process."
While in this instance it appears Sealord's product is being ditched for overseas suppliers [from Newsroom again]
Foodstuffs also owns its own New Zealand fishing company. Two years ago, the supermarket chain purchased Leigh Fisheries and the Lee Fish brand.
The government could do something about vertical integration.
1. Introduce a mandatory code of conduct that has legislative backing, must contain fair conduct obligations, and sets out penalties for non-compliance
2. Appoint a Supermarket Commissioner
3. Allow collective bargaining on behalf of suppliers toredress the imbalance of power between suppliers and supermarkets
4. Require supermarkets to supply other retailers with groceries at competitive wholesale prices
Prevent supermarkets placing restrictive covenants on land use that prevent competitors starting up
And:
The option to break up the supermarkets must remain on the table. If there’s no change in the market within two to three years, the next step would be to look at breaking up the big chains – including requiring that supermarkets sell off some stores.
They also note:
The commission is recommending a mandatory code to govern dealings between suppliers and supermarkets, and redress the imbalance in power between suppliers and the big chains.
Similar codes are already in place in Australia and the UK.
To be effective, a code here would need to have legal backing and include penalties for bad behaviour.
Consumer's draft submission to the Commerce Commission's investigation into the retail grocery sector also calls for:
…restrictions on the use of private label brands, preventing their use in a way that is likely to harm suppliers, this could include prohibiting supermarkets from:
• discriminating in favour of their own-brand products in ranging and space allocation decisions
• infringing suppliers’ intellectual property through the use of own brands
The Commerce Commission draft report into the retail grocery sector recognises that the 2 major supermarkets are effectively a duopoly with too much power over suppliers and prices. It states that [from the press release]:
“many suppliers have few alternatives but to supply the major retailers. This allows [the major retailers] to exercise their buyer power to push excess risks, costs and uncertainty onto suppliers. Suppliers report agreeing to these terms because they fear that otherwise their products may not be stocked. This conduct can reduce suppliers’ ability and incentives to invest and innovate, ultimately leading to less choice, lower quality, and potentially higher priced goods for consumers.”
Options to strengthen suppliers’ bargaining power with retailers include introducing a mandatory industry Code of Conduct and allowing suppliers to bargain collectively.
The commission’s final report is due on 23 November 2021 – but by then, many Sealord's employees may already be out of their jobs, with Foodstuffs intending to remove of most of Sealord’s frozen products from New World and Pak'nSave by November 15. The timing of this action by Foodstuffs avoids any consequences that arise from the Commerce Commision's final report. Pretty swish.
If the Commerce Commission really want to have a crack at it they will need the support of a Minister who is ready to go toe to toe with not only the supermarket powers but also their already-aggregated suppliers in the likes of Dole, Fonterra, Zespri, BayWa T&G, CocaColaAmatil, and the rest. Don't be fooled into a romantic David and Goliath frame.
Also the Commerce Commission would find it hard to argue in the High Court that there are extra reasons to go for cartel behaviour when they've allowed it for decades.
And the results are too often unintended. After locals got near-controlling stakes in Z Energy following the Shell spinoff, it's now in the hands of Australia's Ampol. Anyone remember any price movement after the last government "review"? Neither restructure nor review gave us better service or prices.
The haute-bourgeoise at Huckleberry, Nosh and MooreWilson – which is where Crown Law and MPs and PCO staff shop – will feel little need to be moved. Across Cabinet I don't see a Minister with the commercial chops to support the Commerce Commission, even if they wanted to really have a run at it.
What remedies are available? These are our NZ businesses not supporting local producers and products? Bringing 'competitive price points" with no sustainability and extra food miles. WOW.!! Countdown, Australian owned stock 24 items from Sealord NZ, and from 14 Nov our NZ supermarkets won’t? Not good at all.
Surely on the sustainability and foodmiles this swap should be blocked?
I appear to have two entries .. not sure how that happened.
Believing nothing will happen is a bit different from “Not much the government can do”.
“Don't be fooled into a romantic David and Goliath frame.”
I’m absolutely not. I do believe people should be informed about the machinations of price and profit of what they consume. As does the Commerce Commission in their report. It’s not lost on me that this is a ‘yeah right’ moment given they gave permission that led to the development of this duopoly. I also believe it’s time for them to fix this earlier mistake. Whether rectify it, is another matter – I agree.
“After locals got near-controlling stakes in Z Energy following the Shell spinoff, it's now in the hands of Australia's Ampol”
Not quite in Ampol’s hands yet – and it will be very interesting how the Commerce Commission rules on this. – they may see this sale as the competition the existing grocery retailers need (I don’t see it the same way btw). Fuel & fuel retailers have been merging in other countries we like to compare ourselves with for sometime now and Ampol could do something huge here.
But at this stage I’m not quite sure which food suppliers Z would be pressuring right now? And pressuring suppliers was the gist of my concerns in the comment I made this morning.
“… aggregated suppliers in the likes of Dole, Fonterra, Zespri, BayWa T&G, CocaColaAmatil, and the rest”
A different issue I think, but yes, if a Minister is willing to look at grocery & food retailers, they should be of the mindset to taking major suppliers to task if their practices are based on exploitation and price gouging.
I imagine if the Commerce Commission was brave enough to legislate to improve food & grocery suppliers’ negotiating position (and foolish enough to approve the sale of Z), then the new (large? – they have the land that hasn’t been banked) Ampol/Z food retail outlets would be subject to the new laws and regulations.
Disclaimer: I don’t drive to a supermarket so have no personal wish to see fuel sales increasing in supermarket parking lots. Instead, I have a nice walk to my local grocery store – Moore Wilson.
I just wish Foodstuffs had banned Talleys products back when their dirty tactics both on and off the water were revealed. Though of course Foodsuffs only worry about money, not morals.
What remedies are available? These are our NZ businesses not supporting local producers and products? Bringing 'competitive price points" with no sustainability and extra food miles. WOW.!! Countdown, Australian owned stock 24 items from Sealord NZ.
I don't think; freaking out in a major way, is common jargon amongst epidemiologist, though maybe it's become so in the past year? Baker still pushing for South Island borders (coincidentally lives in Te Waipounamu?):
University of Auckland epidemiologist Prof Rod Jackson said there was no chance of Auckland being allowed loosened restrictions today.
"I'm freaking out in a major way," he said of the possible spread of Covid-19 into Northland.
"Those people hardest to reach by the vaccine are going to be easiest for the virus to reach."
My thoughts are with the nurses and other staff at the front face of our ramshackle public health system. They're going to do all they can and more, despite the working conditions and ongoing pay disputes (strike action on hold for the duration). But some will eventually breakdown and not be able to carry on as hospitals become swamped by preventable deaths.
From that perspective, having the staff serving the million Aotearoans in the southwest in reserve may be invaluable. If you think of it in terms of trench warfare, that is more sustainable if you can rotate the shell-shocked into the back lines for light duty while fresh troops take their place. Te Waipounamu staff may not volunteer to head northwards to help DHBs that seem to treat them with contempt, but they might to relieve coworkers who need respite from the impending horrors.
I have been fairly reliably informed that since the election of Daniels to presidency of the NZNO (after her abrupt departure in 2020), that nurses in general no longer regard the union; that supposedly represents their interests, as much the enemy as; the DHBs that supposedly provide a professional environment in which to practice their vocation. More than that I am not willing to say; except that; (it is my impression that) Andrew Little has burned through any good will that may be remaining in the nursing profession with his two faced bullshit back in August.
Though it is always instructive to have context (from April 2020):
To NZNO members.
Yesterday, we, Anne, Katrina and Sela, resigned from the board of directors Toputanga Taphuhi Kaitiaki O Aotearoa New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO). We felt left with no other option as the values we campaigned on, Transparency, Unity, and Action, and our personal and professional values were constantly compromised. To remain would be condoning behaviour we know does not meet the members standards.
We believe NZNO and the board should be a safe place to be. However right from the start, we were required to sign a confidentiality agreement before our first meeting. We understand now that this was a relatively new requirement for the board.
Unfortunately, unresolved issues, not of our making, and the continuation of these issues, hampered our ability to focus on the members. With the recent resignation of both the President and the Vice President we urge all members to ask questions and demand answers. This is, after all, our union.
We will continue to work for nurses and nursing in different ways, as colleagues, delegates and activists.
Anne, Katrina and Sela.”
Additional information: This group comprised the three top polling candidates in the last NZNO election.
Radio New Zealand spoke to University of Auckland professor of epidemiology Rod Jackson. They were expecting him to praise the recent decision made by the Singaporean government to open itself up again to the outside world.
He disappointed them.
Jackson explained to Kim Hill how Singapore forgot to include people who got immunity by the actual disease in Europe.
Interestingly, the introductory part of the conversation has not been included in this excerpt. In this section the events in Singapore were praised by Radio New Zealand. Maybe this section will be available later.
The two photos above are brilliant contrasts of how people react to two very different women.
On my IPad I cannot press the Reply button to comment immediately under the post. I have to come down to the last post. Any techie experts know why? Thanks.
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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 ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
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. ...
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 ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
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 ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. 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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
It rained heavily the night before this clip was taken. The stream was still running high & it was quite deep at the Eel Spot when Elvira turned up for a feed. It's fun when it's this deep because she stands up on her tail.
https://i.imgur.com/zWyKzTo.gif
She seems to understand that being gently stroked on the side with the feed stick 3 times is how I say goodbye & tell her feed time's over.
It sounds like, from what I just heard Ardern say to Kim Hill on RNZ, the Covid positive Auckland woman who wrongly visited Northland FAKED her exemption document, If that’s true, then the question of why checks weren’t made before the exemption letter was issued doesn’t arise.
I didn’t catch all the discussion, but Kim Hill is challenging Ardern a lot more than Corin Dann or Suzy Fergusson do.
Will listen to the full audio clip when it’s available later.
They should get 'agencies' thoroughly checking all applications before they're approved. Face to face of course at each step of the way.
The media would love that. People would be lining up to be the story de jour, "It took a week to get my exemption."
I don't think there's a lot of understanding about how rapidly an application system like that would bog down.
Hill is harder on everyone – which is generally a good thing. Like the others though, she does occasionally and unwittingly reveal how little (or zero) experience she has of trying to actually implement anything technically or procedurally complex, or even anything less complex on a very large scale. If you have the notion in your head of an unattainable perfection, then every discussion soon degenerates into petty arguments about 'competence'. Original sin is a harsh and unpleasant doctrine, but it is a salutary corrective for excessively high expectations.
That's good, since she's asking on behalf of the rest of us. If she was in the loop she'd be basically siding with the smug mandarins who resist change on principle.
Yep. Though a better line of questioning when something hasn't worked, is to ask those responsible what options they see for improving it – rather than outraged shock and horror that it has happened at all.
Not everyone. I'd really like business people to be asked about the pandemic planning that was done 10 years (roughly) ago and about what action they took to prepare for such an eventuality.
Chamber of Commerce heads would be a good start. My gut feeling is, is that they just ignored the possibility. I'd really, really like to know if there was even one business or CEO that took it seriously.
Rod Oram: The harsh climate truth about methane
"“We are about to go through the most profound shift in the climate debate in 20 years,” Gilding wrote in an essay he published on his website on August 24. “The result will be the end of the gas industry’s hope of being a transition fuel, a brutal market disruption to the agriculture and livestock industries and the arrival of the climate emergency into public consciousness. This will all be driven by the acceptance of methane as the critical response to the climate emergency.”
"This reality is fast-shifting the climate debate, Gilding wrote. “The brutal market, political and economic logic suggests the brunt of the impact will be felt by two sectors. It will be the final nail in the coffin for fossil fuels, including gas. Already in terminal decline, the industry will now need to be largely gone – at least in its twilight years – within a decade. Secondly, livestock within agriculture will face transformation and/or disruption through a perfect storm of public and consumer pressure, policy action and new technologies. Beef and dairy in particular will have to radically transform, or shrink to a small fraction of their current size. This is all predictable.””
"Three years ago, Fonterra established a Sustainability Advisory Panel. One of its founding, and current, members is Paul Gilding, an Australian. He was a former executive director of Greenpeace International and is a long-time fellow at the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership."
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/the-harsh-climate-truth-on-methane
Rod Oram's article is as bracing as ever.
If you burn the gas and not allow spill,as the Helen Clark Gov did for instant (Taranaki)as an for exsample It's only then as bad as CO2,as for your animals theirs always been large amount of ruminating creatures on earth after the ice ages give an take.
just a thought.
Note for proprietor,Spell check is a common courtesy on the F..ken internet.
Love it.
What is so revealing: Collins obviously ignored those women and they are responding by way of their expressions.
Those women are not fooled.
@ Jo90 (4) … spot the difference.
Those three women’s faces say it all!
Collins is in what Looks like a episode of wentworth.
Where was the Judith Collins photo taken?
I think it was Murupara over the past weekend or Friday? when JUJU wanted to talk to her about 'things' and she wasn't there to berate…oops sorry talk to.
At the Tait coms Christchurch factory during last year's election campaign.
Thanks. That is a pearl.
Foodstuffs needs reining in.
According to a report in Newsroom
The range of foodstuffs being removed is based entirely on profit margin – not consumer demand, affordability, sustainability or anything else and will take effect from Nov 15.
Unfortunately this is paywalled. But no surprise that Talleys are in the mix.
Yeah, I copied out the important bits on this issue, but should have bracketed that it's paywalled.
It's Sealord (half iwi-owned) that is affected by this decision (one of many decisions on stocking for profit that Foodstuffs have made). The decision comes ahead the Commerce Commission investigations into supermarket pressure on pricing that includes pressure on suppliers.
Talleys is not involved in this afaik
Not much the government can do. Price-controlled cheese slices? Food-inflation-adjusted food stamps? Suppliers of 12-pack of jam-filled donuts awarded Supplementary Minimum Prices?
That's a bit defeatist don't you think Ad?
The Food and Grocery council thinks this behaviour from Foodstuffs needs rectifying – from the same article [paywalled]
While in this instance it appears Sealord's product is being ditched for overseas suppliers [from Newsroom again]
The government could do something about vertical integration.
Consumer NZ believes the government can do something at the wholesale level. For starters:
1. Introduce a mandatory code of conduct that has legislative backing, must contain fair conduct obligations, and sets out penalties for non-compliance
2. Appoint a Supermarket Commissioner
3. Allow collective bargaining on behalf of suppliers to redress the imbalance of power between suppliers and supermarkets
4. Require supermarkets to supply other retailers with groceries at competitive wholesale prices
And:
They also note:
Consumer's draft submission to the Commerce Commission's investigation into the retail grocery sector also calls for:
The Commerce Commission draft report into the retail grocery sector recognises that the 2 major supermarkets are effectively a duopoly with too much power over suppliers and prices. It states that [from the press release]:
The commission’s final report is due on 23 November 2021 – but by then, many Sealord's employees may already be out of their jobs, with Foodstuffs intending to remove of most of Sealord’s frozen products from New World and Pak'nSave by November 15. The timing of this action by Foodstuffs avoids any consequences that arise from the Commerce Commision's final report. Pretty swish.
If the Commerce Commission really want to have a crack at it they will need the support of a Minister who is ready to go toe to toe with not only the supermarket powers but also their already-aggregated suppliers in the likes of Dole, Fonterra, Zespri, BayWa T&G, CocaColaAmatil, and the rest. Don't be fooled into a romantic David and Goliath frame.
Also the Commerce Commission would find it hard to argue in the High Court that there are extra reasons to go for cartel behaviour when they've allowed it for decades.
And the results are too often unintended. After locals got near-controlling stakes in Z Energy following the Shell spinoff, it's now in the hands of Australia's Ampol. Anyone remember any price movement after the last government "review"? Neither restructure nor review gave us better service or prices.
The haute-bourgeoise at Huckleberry, Nosh and MooreWilson – which is where Crown Law and MPs and PCO staff shop – will feel little need to be moved. Across Cabinet I don't see a Minister with the commercial chops to support the Commerce Commission, even if they wanted to really have a run at it.
So yes I believe nothing at all will happen.
What remedies are available? These are our NZ businesses not supporting local producers and products? Bringing 'competitive price points" with no sustainability and extra food miles. WOW.!! Countdown, Australian owned stock 24 items from Sealord NZ, and from 14 Nov our NZ supermarkets won’t? Not good at all.
Surely on the sustainability and foodmiles this swap should be blocked?
I appear to have two entries .. not sure how that happened.
“So yes I believe nothing at all will happen.”
Believing nothing will happen is a bit different from “Not much the government can do”.
“Don't be fooled into a romantic David and Goliath frame.”
I’m absolutely not. I do believe people should be informed about the machinations of price and profit of what they consume. As does the Commerce Commission in their report. It’s not lost on me that this is a ‘yeah right’ moment given they gave permission that led to the development of this duopoly. I also believe it’s time for them to fix this earlier mistake. Whether rectify it, is another matter – I agree.
“After locals got near-controlling stakes in Z Energy following the Shell spinoff, it's now in the hands of Australia's Ampol”
Not quite in Ampol’s hands yet – and it will be very interesting how the Commerce Commission rules on this. – they may see this sale as the competition the existing grocery retailers need (I don’t see it the same way btw). Fuel & fuel retailers have been merging in other countries we like to compare ourselves with for sometime now and Ampol could do something huge here.
But at this stage I’m not quite sure which food suppliers Z would be pressuring right now? And pressuring suppliers was the gist of my concerns in the comment I made this morning.
“… aggregated suppliers in the likes of Dole, Fonterra, Zespri, BayWa T&G, CocaColaAmatil, and the rest”
A different issue I think, but yes, if a Minister is willing to look at grocery & food retailers, they should be of the mindset to taking major suppliers to task if their practices are based on exploitation and price gouging.
I imagine if the Commerce Commission was brave enough to legislate to improve food & grocery suppliers’ negotiating position (and foolish enough to approve the sale of Z), then the new (large? – they have the land that hasn’t been banked) Ampol/Z food retail outlets would be subject to the new laws and regulations.
Disclaimer: I don’t drive to a supermarket so have no personal wish to see fuel sales increasing in supermarket parking lots. Instead, I have a nice walk to my local grocery store – Moore Wilson.
*Fuel & food retailers
Good suggestions.
I just wish Foodstuffs had banned Talleys products back when their dirty tactics both on and off the water were revealed. Though of course Foodsuffs only worry about money, not morals.
"Though of course Foodsuffs only worry about money, not morals"
This is what seems to be behind the decision. But in this instance Talleys is not the target of the Foodstuffs decision. It's Sealord.
According to Clarke foodstuffs in NZ have done ok compared to their overseas competition. Hope they did not take any help!!
What remedies are available? These are our NZ businesses not supporting local producers and products? Bringing 'competitive price points" with no sustainability and extra food miles. WOW.!! Countdown, Australian owned stock 24 items from Sealord NZ.
I don't think; freaking out in a major way, is common jargon amongst epidemiologist, though maybe it's become so in the past year? Baker still pushing for South Island borders (coincidentally lives in Te Waipounamu?):
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/call-stricter-border-controls
My thoughts are with the nurses and other staff at the front face of our ramshackle public health system. They're going to do all they can and more, despite the working conditions and ongoing pay disputes (strike action on hold for the duration). But some will eventually breakdown and not be able to carry on as hospitals become swamped by preventable deaths.
From that perspective, having the staff serving the million Aotearoans in the southwest in reserve may be invaluable. If you think of it in terms of trench warfare, that is more sustainable if you can rotate the shell-shocked into the back lines for light duty while fresh troops take their place. Te Waipounamu staff may not volunteer to head northwards to help DHBs that seem to treat them with contempt, but they might to relieve coworkers who need respite from the impending horrors.
I have been fairly reliably informed the offer from DHBs will be ratified by the nurses.
I have been fairly reliably informed that since the election of Daniels to presidency of the NZNO (after her abrupt departure in 2020), that nurses in general no longer regard the union; that supposedly represents their interests, as much the enemy as; the DHBs that supposedly provide a professional environment in which to practice their vocation. More than that I am not willing to say; except that; (it is my impression that) Andrew Little has burned through any good will that may be remaining in the nursing profession with his two faced bullshit back in August.
Though it is always instructive to have context (from April 2020):
https://unionnursegrant.org/2020/04/29/resignation-of-nzno-board-members-anne-daniels-katrina-hopkinson-and-sela-ikavuka/
That resignation letter raises more questions than it answers.
I have been critical of NZNO since before the last strike action 2018, when they seemed a LOT closer to DHBs than their membership.
The union has been very quiet during the pandemic, or if they have been making noises, I haven't heard them.
I thought a lot more of Little and was bitterly disappointed with his duplicitous utterances a couple of months ago.
Radio New Zealand spoke to University of Auckland professor of epidemiology Rod Jackson. They were expecting him to praise the recent decision made by the Singaporean government to open itself up again to the outside world.
He disappointed them.
Jackson explained to Kim Hill how Singapore forgot to include people who got immunity by the actual disease in Europe.
Interestingly, the introductory part of the conversation has not been included in this excerpt. In this section the events in Singapore were praised by Radio New Zealand. Maybe this section will be available later.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018815844
And they invited him back to discuss Singapore. How often does that happen?
Clearly he upset their narrative.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018815852
The two photos above are brilliant contrasts of how people react to two very different women.
On my IPad I cannot press the Reply button to comment immediately under the post. I have to come down to the last post. Any techie experts know why? Thanks.
Not a techie, but you could try changing from mobile to desktop (bottom of the page) or vice versa.
I have a 'good' neo solution for the MIQ crisis
Allow the spots to be auctioned. Going to the highest bidder.
Each successful bid also attracts 1 other spot for free.
cool, so you can make your money back by scalping the spare place…
Well you'd be a fool not to!!
(To be clear I’m just joining the fun, I’m far to unmotivated by cash unfortunately to try these things)
it's ok. Neoliberals would never offer two for the price of one when demand for the product is already far outstripping supply 🙂
One for the price of TWO!
Ya don't say.
/
https://twitter.com/hendysh/status/1447376151383445507
(2/13)
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1447376151383445507.html