“…The Republican kingmaker – with his own Youtube channel and obsession with radical Islam – shot in to the spotlight this week on the shoulder of Rick Santorum.
Yes Chris, a great story well told. But not sure how it helps. I bet many of the writers and many posters here on the Standard can tell of similar courageous climbs. And what you do has much more importance than what your parents did. I am intrigued at the way that children lay claim to their wealth, and their possessions but it is really by the sweat of their mother or father’s efforts.
In which Whaleoil indulges in some public family therapy relating his admiration for the hardships his father had to overcome, to eventually be rich and powerful.
Interesting for a couple of reasons. W/O says he is answering his many critics who have apparently said his father was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He must be confused. I doubt he could produce even one criticism of him that expresses this. But I’m sure his critics often suggest that W/O himself was born into considerable privilege.
My own grandparents on both sides (and probably most people’s) had similar stories of women abandoned and imoverished with large families to support, and considerable suffering and hardship. Difference is, their experiences led them to political convictions that no-one should have to suffer similarly unnecessarily, and they actively supported political movements that brought about social welfare provision for people in similar circumstances. Whaleoils’s father seems to have taken the opposite tough-hearted political approach.
But Matthew you overlook three rather important aspects:
1. POAL is the ideal place to land cargo, right in the middle of the biggest urban centre of the country. You could land it all in Tauranga and truck it up but you would then have nearly 900,000 significant truck movements a year presuming they transported one container each. That is 2,500 a day. Sure they happen already but that many trips from Tauranga to Auckland a day will clog up the southern motorway.
2. POAL provides considerable wider economic benefits for the city. Sure you can turn a blind eye to the greater economic good but why would you. Shouldn’t a public entity actually try and work for the greater good? Is you want to see an attempted quantification of these have a look here.
3. Valuing the port area at the same price of nearby land is nonsensical. You can’t build multi high-rise buildings on the wharves. They have a somewhat limited use and would require extensive strengthening if any sort of construction was anticipated.
I think the difference is in the employment possibilities. At a time of relatively high employment a young person could walk down the road and get that full time job in the butchery or whatever. And be paid at Union rates. Now, if they are lucky, they will get 15 to 20 hours a week at the minimum wage at the supermarket. Can’t keep a family on that! Can’t even keep themselves on that.
A question for lefties. Do you support the right for people to leave an inheritance to their descendants when they die. (Whether small or big) Also do you think that it should be taxed?
For me who is a moderate RWNJ I think that if a person has managed to save some wealth through hard work, sweat and tears that they should be able to pass it on to whom ever they will.
But I know some lefties think it is evil or should be taxed.
I think its good so then the following generation do not have to ‘start again’ but can use the inherited capital to help them in their way through life.
We all want our children to inherit what we have accumulated. The difference is that some of us realise that those who have inherited assets etc accumulate faster by dint of the initial advantage. In the normal scheme of things you can pretty much rely on the fat cat psychology that comes with privelege to stuff it all up in a few generations.
You might be better to ask the question in a different way: perhaps should we tax more in life and have no death duties, or vice versa? Or perhaps when does accumulated wealth become anti social and anti economic (in my mind the same thing), and how can we discourage it?
As an aside: my businesses pay fair tax, we dont try and avoid. Neither do I. When talking to the accountants I realise what a rarity this is.
I’m ever increasingly less inclined to view that it should not be taxed.
As the right wing premise is that you should be able to accumulate wealth to support yourself and your family independently and not be reliant on the state and therefore the state should leave it alone then the sad reality is, is that many of the wealthy simply do not follow that principle.
The reality I see is that many well off people arrange their affairs to access state assistance that they do not actually need to access.
I know millionaires who have community services cards, they wish the state to pay for their retirement, they wish the state to pay for their residential care.
In my lifetime this access has clearly increased by the well off at the same time as they have reduced the level of tax they pay, removed aspects such as income testing of NZS, tucked more and more money away in trusts so it doesn’t get counted as personal income and assets.
At the same time businessmen have reduced wages so that those who are working struggle – it’s sad my kids have worse pay and conditions than I had when I started work. They’ve taken more profit and my kids pay the price.
Wealth is not regarded as evil by the left but the hypocrisy of many of the wealthy who lambast the poor for accessing assistance when they have no jobs, while all the time seeking and obtaining state assistance.
And of course it’s not all hard work, and sweat and tears – much of it is luck and circumstance, some of it is family support, some of it is not having an accident or illness or injury or not being born with a disability, or not being ripped off by an unscrupulous finance company……
Lets take the simple example of residential care.
If I’ve worked hard and saved my money, are these savings
1. To help me get through my non-working years in a degree of comfort and to provide for my care when I am unable to care for myself
2. To pass on to my children while the state pays for my care
Surely the priority should be to take care of oneself first.
Tax it over a certain level. Back in the 1980s in NZ it used to be $450,000. Make it a million now and have a sliding scale. But there is truly something wrong with the concentration of so much wealth in the hands of so few and a death tax will help prevent this.
BTW I’m never heard anyone from the left say leaving an inheritance is evil.
Taxed yes – evil no. Conflating the two in the way you do suggests you are trolling to get some sort of reaction.
So I’d be interested in your thoughts back as to whether the first priority of that wealth should be to provide for your own care.
Secondly should that wealth be then used to provide for your children’s costs while they are alive – is there any reason it should be left until you actually die to provide for your descendants?
Lets take Social Security as an example:
The purpose of this Act is—
(a) to enable the provision of financial and other support as appropriate—
(i) to help people to support themselves and their dependants while not in paid employment; and
(ii) to help people to find or retain paid employment; and
(iii) to help people for whom work may not currently be appropriate because of sickness, injury, disability, or caring responsibilities, to support themselves and their dependants:
(b) to enable in certain circumstances the provision of financial support to people to help alleviate hardship:
(c) to ensure that the financial support referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) is provided to people taking into account—
(i) that where appropriate they should use the resources available to them before seeking financial support under this Act; and
(ii) any financial support that they are eligible for or already receive, otherwise than under this Act, from publicly funded sources
How much should one of the resources available to the children of the wealthy who may find themselves out of work or unwell be the use of this accumulated wealth without having to wait until the parent dies.
Should trusts have to be accessed first where you are a beneficiary of the trust. Should there be a register of beneficiaries so that this can be monitored and enforced?
(I also think there should be a register of beneficiaries of trusts so that beneficiaries also know they are. A friend I know just dealt with a case where a father left the income of his assets to his disabled son with the money going to his siblings upon his (the son’s) death. The problem was his siblings were the trustees and so weren’t distributing any income so they got it all when he died. The disabled son was living in poverty completely unaware that he could have had an additional income stream of about $20,000 per annum.)
Does the right wing mantra I started with nothing and only got there because of all my personal effort and anyone else can do the same if they want too – they are just lazy bastards if they can’t) mean that all estates should go 100% to the state? This might ensure the mantra is given full effect?
Well obviously yes it should be used for your care in your old age – I guess means testing is only fair though if I get in that situation it would be nice if I could see out my last days living with family rather than some impersonal rest home.
As to providing for your children prior to death – I guess it depends on their age and attitude to life. If they are of age and have the right work ethic then I wouldn’t have a problem helping them get started however I have seen a situation that I know of (around 5 years ago) where a wealthy widow had 3 kids who sucked her for $$ left right and centre. None of them had work and felt like they never had to as mama was always there with her chequebook. (She was a hard worker herself – just didn’t have the strength to stand up to her kids)
Up until recently there were also issues with gift duty liabilities which created a practical limit to giving – however that is no longer the case.
I believe that the more people in society that can fend for themselves the more productive and independent that society will be.
I also realise that there are some people often through no fault of their own who do need a helping hand (I have a friend who has suffered from cerebal palsy since he was 14 for example)
I also know that a fair number of people in society will take advantage of handouts that they are not really entitled to and will chose the easy option over chosing to wean them selves off state dependency.
The biggest challenge with state welfare ( & I think you need the wisdom of Solomon to do this) is is figure out a system so that those who need help get it and those who are trying to cheat the system and the lazy get told to take a hike.
Also how do you encourage young people to not look to the easy option as a lifestyle choice.
If I was the Minister of Education I would change the focus of secondary education to include the following compulsory subjects.
Budgeting skills, driver licence training, work ethics skills, studies relating to choices & consequences, house keeping skills, basic skills relating to loans & banking, and job hunting skills. Throw into the mix goal keeping and career planning as well.
From what I have seen over the last 21 years of being in the work force as a worker and an employer is that kids are coming out of school ill prepared for life as a working adult.
Once upon a time you could rely on parents to teach these basic skills but not anymore in some cases sadly.
I’m not against genuine beneficaries just those who chose the lifestyle rather than work.
I also know that a fair number of people in society will take advantage of handouts that they are not really entitled to and will chose the easy option over choosing to wean them selves off state dependency.
This is only a small number. The problem when people look at the stats they forget about churn through the benefit system. It’s easy to say there are x number on benefit for 10 years but when you take the number of people who have been on benefit in that 10 years it is miniscule.
As however we all “know someone” then it’s easy to extrapolate that emotionally to lots of people. Then when you consider that many of those people are in rural areas or have significant disability or are raising children then you need to think about what removing such assistance would do – as opposed to say removing the right of underage partners to be included in NZS many of whom are more than capable of working and will often be on for 10 years or more.
In reality the vast majority of people go in and out of work and the benefit system as required.
The biggest challenge with state welfare ( & I think you need the wisdom of Solomon to do this) is is figure out a system so that those who need help get it and those who are trying to cheat the system and the lazy get told to take a hike.
Nope the biggest challenge is finding productive employment for people. When there are jobs people will work. We are in a recession and people didn’t become unemployed because they wanted to – they became unemployed because their jobs went, were cut down to part time, their firms went bust, export orders were cancelled, bad weather affected crops, work was casualised, etc etc
What the benefit system also has to find is a balance between ensuring that people are willing to access help when they need it and not being too intrusive in peoples lives to the extent that genuine people in need don’t apply. There’s no doubt in the 80’s when I was an advocate that many women stayed in abusive relationships because somehow the ordeal they had to go through at Social Welfare to apply was just another step in abuse – they used to have staff who would come into your homes, make an excuse to go to the toilet so they could look in your bathroom to see if there were two toothbrushes for instance, male boots at the door and so on.
Again it seems to me we are heading down the road of being intrusive on the poor but allowing the wealthy to hide their financial circumstances (e.g. the gifting situation you refer to which will also make it harder for women to access their matrimonial property rights upon separation).
And when you think about where you want the staff at WINZ to spend their time (particularly if you believe the jobs are out there) consider how much you want to resource them rounding up the miscreants versus helping people find the jobs that are there. Consider that each hour they spend interviewing someone who has been on benefit for 654 years is an hour they cannot spend helping someone else find a job.
Where do we as taxpayers at this point in time want those staff to spend their effort?
Equally you can’t focus on the benefit system without focusing on employers – if they would take a bit less profit and were prepared to invest in youth then maybe we’d have less of an issue. Ryman for instance could employ more people in their residential homes and pay them more without any undue suffering of profit.
I believe that the more people in society that can fend for themselves the more productive and independent that society will be
Then you’d be wrong. Not everybody can do everything for themselves and so we live in a community. We are interdependent and that interdependence means that we look out for each other and make sure that everybody in the community has enough to live reasonably. When we try any other way we end up with poverty, crime and corruption – just as we have now.
The biggest challenge with state welfare ( & I think you need the wisdom of Solomon to do this) is is figure out a system so that those who need help get it and those who are trying to cheat the system and the lazy get told to take a hike.
The problem is that the system has been designed by those who should have been told to take a hike – the capitalists. Quite simply, the system has been designed so that, if you’re in the right position, you can legally cheat and steal.
Also how do you encourage young people to not look to the easy option as a lifestyle choice.
By default, people want to do things and be challenged. The problem comes when they work hard and get nowhere but see other people getting ahead due to their work. As I learned when I first did Amway: You can’t get rich by working but only through having others work for you.
Which is the basis of capitalism – skimming off the wealth created by others.
If I was the Minister of Education I would change the focus of secondary education to include the following compulsory subjects.
The system is the problem and yet you want to entrench it forever?
I’m not against genuine beneficaries just those who chose the lifestyle rather than work.
Everybody wants to work, the problem is that some want to be rich and in their efforts to become rich they invent reasons for some not to receive anything and others not to receive their due. One of those reasons is that some people aren’t working due to circumstances outside of their control but within the control of the people who want to be rich. Everybody should be able to work and the reason why they can’t is because having unemployment helps keep wages down allowing those few to become richer.
“I believe that the more people in society that can fend for themselves the more productive and independent that society will be.”
I would have thought that someone who believed that would not want to leave much money/wealth to their children.
People I’ve known who have been well provided for during their upbringing and then have either received or are in expectation of receiving a sizeable inheritance tend to be less inclined to make the most productive use of their capacities or potential.
That makes sense since there will have been no ‘incentive’ to work actively towards being independent and providing for themselves.
I can’t remember which ones, but I seem to recall that several very wealthy people have made deliberate decisions not to pass on the ‘family’ wealth to their children, for just these sorts of reasons.
Good column from John Armstrong today, examining the noticeable change in Key’s demeanour and apparently confirming that the rumours that he hasn’t got long to go in the job may have some substance.
But who would replace him? Despite the surfeit of MP’s, the Tory talent pool is pretty shallow. None of his best ministers (Joyce, Brownlee) are personable enough to take NZ with them and the worst, but higher profile ones, (Bennett, Tolley) are too divisive to win an election.
So they may be forced to go for a malleable idiot who can also smile and wave and talk non stop bollocks. Simon Bridges? Nathan Guy?
Actually, it looks to me like Armstrong first acknowledges people’s around tghe traps think Key has lost interest and won’t last the term. Then Armstrong gets into apologetics as to why that view is wrong, and Key just has a lot of diffficult things to deal with.
But the commetns so far are less than enamoured with Key’s performance.
And as for Armstrong’s comment that Key isn’t as addicted to power as Clark…? Actually, I’d say with Key it’s all about power and status, and little about what good he will do for most Kiwis.
I was left wondering if Armstrong had infact past his use by date, the article was was full of contradictory statements..
Key loves the limelight, or is that loves himself – But is now realising that the job is much “harder” than he invisaged, most likely because he was maneuvered into the position using the resistentless paths which saw him elevated effortlessly into the leadership role. Now the gloss has worn off, the smile turned upside down, Key is, like all meglomaniacs, losing patience with it all, as its making him look bad. Simple as that!
Just had a thought. Voters feel disengaged with politics and politicians and often don’t vote. Connect that to “consultations” about issues and you get a strong feeling that minds of this Government’s lawmakers are already made up and the “consultation” is just a mockery. For example I believe that the current hui/English Asset sales amounts to an hour talk by English and an hour for opinions of Iwi and then gone with Mr English’s follow up interviews saying exactly the same as before the “consultation.”
Select Committees? Same. Talk then carry out previous decision. (Reminds me of a boss who used to write up the minutes before the meeting, read the minutes to the assembled people then close the meeting.)
ahhh, ok, ignore. Wasn’t quite what I was asking, I just thought it was exceptionally nasty & incredible to be published in the Herald, I understand this kinda thing comes out of his mouth while on the radio but to see it printed just gave me a shake.
Yeah I know what you mean, you’d think writing it down would give him cause to think about it – that’s kinda why I took it as trolling.
32 comments on the article now, 28 (I think) of them glowing praise, mostly variations on “you’re saying what all kiwis really think” and “finally the rich white man gets a voice in this country, about bloody time”.
edit: best comment on the article:
JH (428)
03:29 PM Saturday, 11 Feb 2012
Thanks for your insight. Very thought provoking. The main thought that comes to mind is your an idiot.
Yes idlegus, felt so angry when I read it I considered writing a letter to the Herald suggesting he be tested for dementia. Then I decided a) he wasn’t worth it, and b) it was an insult to those who suffer from dementia.
I had to read it now, as normally would not bother with Holmes who is the empitomy of whilte middle class, shit doesn’t stink, self righteous hack, my ex wife had a maori name so I cant be called racist, when I blatantly am. who is clearly getting more viscious with age instead of mellowing!
“I know that later that evening, the news will show us irrational Maori ghastliness with spitting, smugness, self-righteousness and the usual neurotic Maori politics, in which some bizarre new wrong we’ve never thought about will be lying on the table”
Yes Paul thats right, the media like to frame the narrative in such a way that makes white people tsk tsk at the savages, all the while it means that the real issues (not the ones you mention), but those which the protestors were there because of, such as land sales, asset sales, and the general attack on “lower end ” kiwis, you seem so keen to put the boot into..
Terrible article, but now seems this is what he is writing….last weeks attack on the warfies showed what he is about!
Māori can be blamed for all of society’s problems. Māori parents are especially at fault. They should follow the example of exemplary parents like myself. The children of perfect, white parents like ME never develop $1000-a-day P habits.
Thanks for that QoT. I think this paragraph sums it up:
I am a washed up, former TV presenter who was fired almost ten years ago but tries to cling to my D-grade celebrity status by writing a column for an even lower-brow news website. I use long strings of adjectives to reach my word count.
The debate concerning the partial privatisation of our state owned assets is starting to heat up, with propaganda and a lack of objective opinion being all too apparent in the MSM…
*sigh* – the article, and Shearer’s comments as reported, seem to be pandering to the old myths peddled by the right and the MSM about Labour – fiscally and economically untrustworthy and too much into irresponsible spending, need to get beneficiaries to be more responsible, pandering to unions and identity politics.
… so nothing really new about Shearer it seems… still pandering to the neoliberal myths and values. Nothing here to attract me from The Greens or possibly Mana.
Yeah, another ‘Labour must become National-lite in order to win’ article.
If we want a party where union is a dirty word and the party is made up of rich, old white men with a few token ‘diversity’ positions, we know where to find one.
Labour connected with people once, by offering them practical ideas that helped improve their everyday lives. That’s all they need to do. If they can sell Kiwis a vision where they can own their own home, provide for their families and save for their future, then they will win.
Labour connected with people once, by offering them practical ideas that helped improve their everyday lives.
Dunno about that ‘Blue’. It was workers who formed the Labour Party and used it as a vehicle to promote and express their interests. So there was absolutely no issue around Labour ‘connecting with people’. The question would seem to ‘when was it that the Labour Party became a ‘law unto itself’ and began preaching back to workers their (supposed) best interests. ‘Cause that’s when they had already lost touch. And the interum between then (whenever that was, but it was certainly pre 84) and now, has been Labour simply riding a wave of nostalgia and ‘what if’s’.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Labour Party was to disappear over the medium term.
I was wondering if anybody has further information on voter fraud? I recall a comment a while ago on The Standard concerning the matter that outlined a number of instances of personation in the last election, however the Electoral Commission has responded to my OIA saying:
There is currently no information available regarding fraud at the 2011 General Election as there are no confirmed cases of fraud at this point. The Electoral Commission is still considering whether there are any potential instances of personation that will need to be referred to Police for further investigation. For this reason, your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Official Information Act. You may wish to inquire with Police regarding this information in the New Year.
Not one case of voter fraud? Seems a bit too good to be true.
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
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. ...
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 ...
“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 ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
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 ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 26 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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 ...
http://whoar.co.nz/2012/foster-friess-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-sugar-daddy-atop-the-horse/
“…The Republican kingmaker – with his own Youtube channel and obsession with radical Islam – shot in to the spotlight this week on the shoulder of Rick Santorum.
But who really is he?..”
[email look alike deleted].
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2012/02/whales-budgeting-tips-for-the-poor-ctd-2/
Whether you like him or loathe him its always interesting when someone opens up like this
Not quite as amusing as this though chris73 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eDaSvRO9xA
I prefer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpU4mOCLdkw
Yes Chris, a great story well told. But not sure how it helps. I bet many of the writers and many posters here on the Standard can tell of similar courageous climbs. And what you do has much more importance than what your parents did. I am intrigued at the way that children lay claim to their wealth, and their possessions but it is really by the sweat of their mother or father’s efforts.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-5-stupidest-habits-you-develop-growing-up-poor/
Some of the reasons why it actually costs more to live when you are poor.
In which Whaleoil indulges in some public family therapy relating his admiration for the hardships his father had to overcome, to eventually be rich and powerful.
Interesting for a couple of reasons. W/O says he is answering his many critics who have apparently said his father was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He must be confused. I doubt he could produce even one criticism of him that expresses this. But I’m sure his critics often suggest that W/O himself was born into considerable privilege.
My own grandparents on both sides (and probably most people’s) had similar stories of women abandoned and imoverished with large families to support, and considerable suffering and hardship. Difference is, their experiences led them to political convictions that no-one should have to suffer similarly unnecessarily, and they actively supported political movements that brought about social welfare provision for people in similar circumstances. Whaleoils’s father seems to have taken the opposite tough-hearted political approach.
For those who were interested in the port debate this week, NBR has now moved my column to this side of the paysall. See http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/wr-opening-salvo-auckland’s-container-port-must-go-108818
But Matthew you overlook three rather important aspects:
1. POAL is the ideal place to land cargo, right in the middle of the biggest urban centre of the country. You could land it all in Tauranga and truck it up but you would then have nearly 900,000 significant truck movements a year presuming they transported one container each. That is 2,500 a day. Sure they happen already but that many trips from Tauranga to Auckland a day will clog up the southern motorway.
2. POAL provides considerable wider economic benefits for the city. Sure you can turn a blind eye to the greater economic good but why would you. Shouldn’t a public entity actually try and work for the greater good? Is you want to see an attempted quantification of these have a look here.
3. Valuing the port area at the same price of nearby land is nonsensical. You can’t build multi high-rise buildings on the wharves. They have a somewhat limited use and would require extensive strengthening if any sort of construction was anticipated.
micky, Matthew isn’t interested in “the greater good”. Only what’s in it for him and his mates.
I think the difference is in the employment possibilities. At a time of relatively high employment a young person could walk down the road and get that full time job in the butchery or whatever. And be paid at Union rates. Now, if they are lucky, they will get 15 to 20 hours a week at the minimum wage at the supermarket. Can’t keep a family on that! Can’t even keep themselves on that.
A question for lefties. Do you support the right for people to leave an inheritance to their descendants when they die. (Whether small or big) Also do you think that it should be taxed?
For me who is a moderate RWNJ I think that if a person has managed to save some wealth through hard work, sweat and tears that they should be able to pass it on to whom ever they will.
But I know some lefties think it is evil or should be taxed.
I think its good so then the following generation do not have to ‘start again’ but can use the inherited capital to help them in their way through life.
We all want our children to inherit what we have accumulated. The difference is that some of us realise that those who have inherited assets etc accumulate faster by dint of the initial advantage. In the normal scheme of things you can pretty much rely on the fat cat psychology that comes with privelege to stuff it all up in a few generations.
You might be better to ask the question in a different way: perhaps should we tax more in life and have no death duties, or vice versa? Or perhaps when does accumulated wealth become anti social and anti economic (in my mind the same thing), and how can we discourage it?
As an aside: my businesses pay fair tax, we dont try and avoid. Neither do I. When talking to the accountants I realise what a rarity this is.
I’m ever increasingly less inclined to view that it should not be taxed.
As the right wing premise is that you should be able to accumulate wealth to support yourself and your family independently and not be reliant on the state and therefore the state should leave it alone then the sad reality is, is that many of the wealthy simply do not follow that principle.
The reality I see is that many well off people arrange their affairs to access state assistance that they do not actually need to access.
I know millionaires who have community services cards, they wish the state to pay for their retirement, they wish the state to pay for their residential care.
In my lifetime this access has clearly increased by the well off at the same time as they have reduced the level of tax they pay, removed aspects such as income testing of NZS, tucked more and more money away in trusts so it doesn’t get counted as personal income and assets.
At the same time businessmen have reduced wages so that those who are working struggle – it’s sad my kids have worse pay and conditions than I had when I started work. They’ve taken more profit and my kids pay the price.
Wealth is not regarded as evil by the left but the hypocrisy of many of the wealthy who lambast the poor for accessing assistance when they have no jobs, while all the time seeking and obtaining state assistance.
And of course it’s not all hard work, and sweat and tears – much of it is luck and circumstance, some of it is family support, some of it is not having an accident or illness or injury or not being born with a disability, or not being ripped off by an unscrupulous finance company……
Lets take the simple example of residential care.
If I’ve worked hard and saved my money, are these savings
1. To help me get through my non-working years in a degree of comfort and to provide for my care when I am unable to care for myself
2. To pass on to my children while the state pays for my care
Surely the priority should be to take care of oneself first.
Tax it over a certain level. Back in the 1980s in NZ it used to be $450,000. Make it a million now and have a sliding scale. But there is truly something wrong with the concentration of so much wealth in the hands of so few and a death tax will help prevent this.
BTW I’m never heard anyone from the left say leaving an inheritance is evil.
Taxed yes – evil no. Conflating the two in the way you do suggests you are trolling to get some sort of reaction.
Nah I was actually interested to hear what you guys had to say – its not really a subject that comes up all that often.
So I’d be interested in your thoughts back as to whether the first priority of that wealth should be to provide for your own care.
Secondly should that wealth be then used to provide for your children’s costs while they are alive – is there any reason it should be left until you actually die to provide for your descendants?
Lets take Social Security as an example:
Well obviously yes it should be used for your care in your old age – I guess means testing is only fair though if I get in that situation it would be nice if I could see out my last days living with family rather than some impersonal rest home.
As to providing for your children prior to death – I guess it depends on their age and attitude to life. If they are of age and have the right work ethic then I wouldn’t have a problem helping them get started however I have seen a situation that I know of (around 5 years ago) where a wealthy widow had 3 kids who sucked her for $$ left right and centre. None of them had work and felt like they never had to as mama was always there with her chequebook. (She was a hard worker herself – just didn’t have the strength to stand up to her kids)
Up until recently there were also issues with gift duty liabilities which created a practical limit to giving – however that is no longer the case.
I believe that the more people in society that can fend for themselves the more productive and independent that society will be.
I also realise that there are some people often through no fault of their own who do need a helping hand (I have a friend who has suffered from cerebal palsy since he was 14 for example)
I also know that a fair number of people in society will take advantage of handouts that they are not really entitled to and will chose the easy option over chosing to wean them selves off state dependency.
The biggest challenge with state welfare ( & I think you need the wisdom of Solomon to do this) is is figure out a system so that those who need help get it and those who are trying to cheat the system and the lazy get told to take a hike.
Also how do you encourage young people to not look to the easy option as a lifestyle choice.
If I was the Minister of Education I would change the focus of secondary education to include the following compulsory subjects.
Budgeting skills, driver licence training, work ethics skills, studies relating to choices & consequences, house keeping skills, basic skills relating to loans & banking, and job hunting skills. Throw into the mix goal keeping and career planning as well.
From what I have seen over the last 21 years of being in the work force as a worker and an employer is that kids are coming out of school ill prepared for life as a working adult.
Once upon a time you could rely on parents to teach these basic skills but not anymore in some cases sadly.
I’m not against genuine beneficaries just those who chose the lifestyle rather than work.
Heres where I think you are wrong:
This is only a small number. The problem when people look at the stats they forget about churn through the benefit system. It’s easy to say there are x number on benefit for 10 years but when you take the number of people who have been on benefit in that 10 years it is miniscule.
As however we all “know someone” then it’s easy to extrapolate that emotionally to lots of people. Then when you consider that many of those people are in rural areas or have significant disability or are raising children then you need to think about what removing such assistance would do – as opposed to say removing the right of underage partners to be included in NZS many of whom are more than capable of working and will often be on for 10 years or more.
In reality the vast majority of people go in and out of work and the benefit system as required.
Nope the biggest challenge is finding productive employment for people. When there are jobs people will work. We are in a recession and people didn’t become unemployed because they wanted to – they became unemployed because their jobs went, were cut down to part time, their firms went bust, export orders were cancelled, bad weather affected crops, work was casualised, etc etc
What the benefit system also has to find is a balance between ensuring that people are willing to access help when they need it and not being too intrusive in peoples lives to the extent that genuine people in need don’t apply. There’s no doubt in the 80’s when I was an advocate that many women stayed in abusive relationships because somehow the ordeal they had to go through at Social Welfare to apply was just another step in abuse – they used to have staff who would come into your homes, make an excuse to go to the toilet so they could look in your bathroom to see if there were two toothbrushes for instance, male boots at the door and so on.
Again it seems to me we are heading down the road of being intrusive on the poor but allowing the wealthy to hide their financial circumstances (e.g. the gifting situation you refer to which will also make it harder for women to access their matrimonial property rights upon separation).
And when you think about where you want the staff at WINZ to spend their time (particularly if you believe the jobs are out there) consider how much you want to resource them rounding up the miscreants versus helping people find the jobs that are there. Consider that each hour they spend interviewing someone who has been on benefit for 654 years is an hour they cannot spend helping someone else find a job.
Where do we as taxpayers at this point in time want those staff to spend their effort?
Equally you can’t focus on the benefit system without focusing on employers – if they would take a bit less profit and were prepared to invest in youth then maybe we’d have less of an issue. Ryman for instance could employ more people in their residential homes and pay them more without any undue suffering of profit.
Then you’d be wrong. Not everybody can do everything for themselves and so we live in a community. We are interdependent and that interdependence means that we look out for each other and make sure that everybody in the community has enough to live reasonably. When we try any other way we end up with poverty, crime and corruption – just as we have now.
The problem is that the system has been designed by those who should have been told to take a hike – the capitalists. Quite simply, the system has been designed so that, if you’re in the right position, you can legally cheat and steal.
By default, people want to do things and be challenged. The problem comes when they work hard and get nowhere but see other people getting ahead due to their work. As I learned when I first did Amway:
You can’t get rich by working but only through having others work for you.
Which is the basis of capitalism – skimming off the wealth created by others.
The system is the problem and yet you want to entrench it forever?
Everybody wants to work, the problem is that some want to be rich and in their efforts to become rich they invent reasons for some not to receive anything and others not to receive their due. One of those reasons is that some people aren’t working due to circumstances outside of their control but within the control of the people who want to be rich. Everybody should be able to work and the reason why they can’t is because having unemployment helps keep wages down allowing those few to become richer.
“I believe that the more people in society that can fend for themselves the more productive and independent that society will be.”
I would have thought that someone who believed that would not want to leave much money/wealth to their children.
People I’ve known who have been well provided for during their upbringing and then have either received or are in expectation of receiving a sizeable inheritance tend to be less inclined to make the most productive use of their capacities or potential.
That makes sense since there will have been no ‘incentive’ to work actively towards being independent and providing for themselves.
I can’t remember which ones, but I seem to recall that several very wealthy people have made deliberate decisions not to pass on the ‘family’ wealth to their children, for just these sorts of reasons.
I should have added a ‘smiley’ after the second to last paragraph, as I was enjoying myself employing a standard, right-wing homily.
My house + contents Insurance has risen by $195 since last year. Yuck!
Good column from John Armstrong today, examining the noticeable change in Key’s demeanour and apparently confirming that the rumours that he hasn’t got long to go in the job may have some substance.
But who would replace him? Despite the surfeit of MP’s, the Tory talent pool is pretty shallow. None of his best ministers (Joyce, Brownlee) are personable enough to take NZ with them and the worst, but higher profile ones, (Bennett, Tolley) are too divisive to win an election.
So they may be forced to go for a malleable idiot who can also smile and wave and talk non stop bollocks. Simon Bridges? Nathan Guy?
Actually, it looks to me like Armstrong first acknowledges people’s around tghe traps think Key has lost interest and won’t last the term. Then Armstrong gets into apologetics as to why that view is wrong, and Key just has a lot of diffficult things to deal with.
But the commetns so far are less than enamoured with Key’s performance.
And as for Armstrong’s comment that Key isn’t as addicted to power as Clark…? Actually, I’d say with Key it’s all about power and status, and little about what good he will do for most Kiwis.
I was left wondering if Armstrong had infact past his use by date, the article was was full of contradictory statements..
Key loves the limelight, or is that loves himself – But is now realising that the job is much “harder” than he invisaged, most likely because he was maneuvered into the position using the resistentless paths which saw him elevated effortlessly into the leadership role. Now the gloss has worn off, the smile turned upside down, Key is, like all meglomaniacs, losing patience with it all, as its making him look bad. Simple as that!
Simone Bridges – 100% Tory Stooge in waiting!
Hekia Parata. Not just a female PM, but an acceptable first Maori PM of NZ. That will be the pitch.
BTW Key lost interest after the Royal Wedding and photo op with Obama, i.e. after his scrapbook was full.
Just had a thought. Voters feel disengaged with politics and politicians and often don’t vote. Connect that to “consultations” about issues and you get a strong feeling that minds of this Government’s lawmakers are already made up and the “consultation” is just a mockery. For example I believe that the current hui/English Asset sales amounts to an hour talk by English and an hour for opinions of Iwi and then gone with Mr English’s follow up interviews saying exactly the same as before the “consultation.”
Select Committees? Same. Talk then carry out previous decision. (Reminds me of a boss who used to write up the minutes before the meeting, read the minutes to the assembled people then close the meeting.)
Aye the timeframe is that short that the only possible interpretation is that they are going through the motions and have made their minds up already.
To add insult to injury to choose to announce the “consultation” a week out from Waitangi day was only ever going to cause dissent to occur.
A nasty rant from Paul Holmes, I’m wondering if it flies pretty close to ‘Hate Speech’ ? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10784735 I’m also curious that there hasn’t been any comments on this all day.
Given up reading Holmes a long time ago.
I guess Holmes wants a reaction. Best just to ignore such drivel.
No comments because no-one cares what Paul thinks.
Troll-bait fail.
ahhh, ok, ignore. Wasn’t quite what I was asking, I just thought it was exceptionally nasty & incredible to be published in the Herald, I understand this kinda thing comes out of his mouth while on the radio but to see it printed just gave me a shake.
Yeah I know what you mean, you’d think writing it down would give him cause to think about it – that’s kinda why I took it as trolling.
32 comments on the article now, 28 (I think) of them glowing praise, mostly variations on “you’re saying what all kiwis really think” and “finally the rich white man gets a voice in this country, about bloody time”.
edit: best comment on the article:
Good one JH.
+1.
I always hate the “Its what 99% of kiwis think”. Makes me feel very angry. But yes I agree, Paul Holmes is largely irrelevent.
Yes idlegus, felt so angry when I read it I considered writing a letter to the Herald suggesting he be tested for dementia. Then I decided a) he wasn’t worth it, and b) it was an insult to those who suffer from dementia.
I had to read it now, as normally would not bother with Holmes who is the empitomy of whilte middle class, shit doesn’t stink, self righteous hack, my ex wife had a maori name so I cant be called racist, when I blatantly am. who is clearly getting more viscious with age instead of mellowing!
“I know that later that evening, the news will show us irrational Maori ghastliness with spitting, smugness, self-righteousness and the usual neurotic Maori politics, in which some bizarre new wrong we’ve never thought about will be lying on the table”
Yes Paul thats right, the media like to frame the narrative in such a way that makes white people tsk tsk at the savages, all the while it means that the real issues (not the ones you mention), but those which the protestors were there because of, such as land sales, asset sales, and the general attack on “lower end ” kiwis, you seem so keen to put the boot into..
Terrible article, but now seems this is what he is writing….last weeks attack on the warfies showed what he is about!
I feel dirty writing about it!
An excellent response here:
Māori can be blamed for all of society’s problems. Māori parents are especially at fault. They should follow the example of exemplary parents like myself. The children of perfect, white parents like ME never develop $1000-a-day P habits.
Thanks for that QoT. I think this paragraph sums it up:
A chance to give Stuff some feedback:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/from-the-newsroom/6398952/Help-us-give-Stuff-a-makeover
Are they paying? If they’re not then don’t do it as you’re being ripped off.
I do note that capitalist businesses like to use commun1sm to benefit themselves.
John Roughan – Asshole of the Week
The debate concerning the partial privatisation of our state owned assets is starting to heat up, with propaganda and a lack of objective opinion being all too apparent in the MSM…
The Listener asks: The new Labour leader says his party is ready for a change, but does that include confronting the union muscle within the party?
http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/david-shearer-interview/
*sigh* – the article, and Shearer’s comments as reported, seem to be pandering to the old myths peddled by the right and the MSM about Labour – fiscally and economically untrustworthy and too much into irresponsible spending, need to get beneficiaries to be more responsible, pandering to unions and identity politics.
… so nothing really new about Shearer it seems… still pandering to the neoliberal myths and values. Nothing here to attract me from The Greens or possibly Mana.
Yeah, another ‘Labour must become National-lite in order to win’ article.
If we want a party where union is a dirty word and the party is made up of rich, old white men with a few token ‘diversity’ positions, we know where to find one.
Labour connected with people once, by offering them practical ideas that helped improve their everyday lives. That’s all they need to do. If they can sell Kiwis a vision where they can own their own home, provide for their families and save for their future, then they will win.
Dunno about that ‘Blue’. It was workers who formed the Labour Party and used it as a vehicle to promote and express their interests. So there was absolutely no issue around Labour ‘connecting with people’. The question would seem to ‘when was it that the Labour Party became a ‘law unto itself’ and began preaching back to workers their (supposed) best interests. ‘Cause that’s when they had already lost touch. And the interum between then (whenever that was, but it was certainly pre 84) and now, has been Labour simply riding a wave of nostalgia and ‘what if’s’.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Labour Party was to disappear over the medium term.
Not really about Shearer was it but mostly a vehicle for Ruth Laugesen to express her opinion. Whoever she is.
I was wondering if anybody has further information on voter fraud? I recall a comment a while ago on The Standard concerning the matter that outlined a number of instances of personation in the last election, however the Electoral Commission has responded to my OIA saying:
Not one case of voter fraud? Seems a bit too good to be true.