”Masic et al. found evidence of calcite-filled cracks in other samples of Roman concrete, supporting their hypothesis. They also created concrete samples in the lab with a hot mixing process, using ancient and modern recipes, then deliberately cracked the samples and ran water through them. They found that the cracks in the samples made with hot-mixed quicklime healed completely within two weeks, while the cracks never healed in the samples without quicklime.”
During the WWII preparation for D-Day the Mulberry Harbours where being prepared and it was found that the huge concrete cassions were too heavy to tow off the land into the sea and they had to be made in the sea. They were initially made from conventional concrete but it would not set in salt water. Churchill remembered reading of Roman concrete setting in salt water from his reading of Latin texts during his classical education and he instructed his scientific advisors to find out how that concrete worked.
The rest is history – The benefits of a Classical education ……
The oil giant Exxon privately “predicted global warming correctly and skilfully” only to then spend decades publicly rubbishing such science in order to protect its core business, new research has found.
A trove of internal documents and research papers has previously established that Exxon knew of the dangers of global heating from at least the 1970s, with other oil industry bodies knowing of the risk even earlier, from around the 1950s. They forcefully and successfully mobilized against the science to stymie any action to reduce fossil fuel use.
A new study, however, has made clear that Exxon’s scientists were uncannily accurate in their projections from the 1970s onwards, predicting an upward curve of global temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions that is close to matching what actually occurred as the world heated up at a pace not seen in millions of years.
I wonder if the tolerance for such bullshit will diminish once we have a tipping point % of the population reliant on electric transport rather than oil transport.
And maybe that is one of the reasons people are not worried, after all right, they can just buy a electric car and pretend they did their bid. Greenwashing at its finest.
Instead if really we wanted to bring a tipping point in understanding we would invest heavily into public transport -free of charge for everyone, and private non polluting transports i.e. bikes. And build future housing projects with public transport in mind rather then just go for infill housing in communities that have no public transport to speak of and thus everyone will use their car to get about.
I had a short stint working for Shell in the early 90s. Everyone in upper management was frothing at the mouth at the idea of the permafrost melting as you could drill baby drill. Their eyes shone with exitement talking about Russia and their resources that they would love to lay their hands on. Oh well………
In saying that, acid rain, ozone hole etc all these things have been with us for a while now and yet we still insist in having huge cars, huge tvs, huge houses, huge amounts of food etc etc etc.
I think those sorts of people in management champion magic thinking under the guise of an unshakeable belief in technological progress. That is, if CO2 and methane etc become a problem, we'll simply invent some form of technology to make the problem go away, and they want to make sure they are in the box seat for the profits to be made from that.
Magical thinking around climate change is rife, because the problem is so enormous and it poses so many fundamental questions about how our world is currently orgainsed.
Actually i think it is simpler then that. They know but hope to be in the income group that is considered important and rich enough to survive whilst the large part of the unwashed masses will simply die of hunger, pestilence or washed away in the floods.
Never underestimate how greed can influence your thinking.
Genuine question to people who may know these people better than I – what is the attraction of Russian fascism to so many aging once-were-lefties? You know, Mike Smith here and a couple of recent and frankly unhinged pieces from the likes of Malcolm Evans on the TDB, or Ken Perrott (granted he has always been a bit of a nutter). They've all become complete Putin tankies. The war in the Ukraine seems to have become a very strange rabbit hole for these people.
It is a very odd confection of paranoia, stupidity and reflexive anti-capitalist dogmatism – for example, while we can all agree the US military industrial complex is a bad thing and the invasion of Iraq was an illegal invasion and a war crime, how does it follow that arming the Ukraine is therefore bad, and that the illegal and unprovoked invasion of the Ukraine allows for a whattaboutism that somehow makes two wrongs a right? And don't even get me started on the insane belief these people seem to have that an emerging democracy like the Ukraine is run by Nazis, or the odd intellectual gymnastics that argues the Russians are the victims?
Is it just old age? Does old age do that to you? Oh God, I am getting old, am I doomed?
I've been very puzzled by it myself. Not all of them are old – AOC and the progressive left in USA seem to be falling into the error of supporting invasion, dictatorship, torture and authoritarianism. I've been disappointed by this behaviour in various people whose views on other matters I've often supported (Corbyn, AOC, Chomsky etc).
I am probably going too far, true. I don't think they actively believe in the dreadful things Russia are doing – but have done things that end up supporting Russia's appalling actions.
The most egregious was the letter in October, calling for negotiations with Russia (while Russia was committing war crimes left right and centre, all over Ukraine), and negotiations between the USA and Russia over Ukraine's fate (just stomp all over the victim). This was utterly tone deaf, harmed Ukraine and was amplified to the max by all the Russian propaganda channels. They tried to walk the letter back, claiming it was some sort of mistake – but the apology was pathetic relative to the harm caused – harm caused to the brutalised victim of terror and aggression.
I suspect many people don't understand what's happening here, so let me explain. In the UK (and other places) there has been a big push to provide toilets for the small but increasing number of trans and NB people.
Often what happens is that the women's toilets are converted into the NB/gender neutral/everyone except men toilet, and the men's toilet is left for men. This despite the fact that women's toilets are used more and under supplied compared to men's.
One of the reasons for that is that it's cheaper to just convert the women's toilet than build a new gender neurtal one, and they don't want to convert the men's toilet because it has the urinals.
Men's needs take precedent over women's. Women's needs are invisible, the need to privacy and safety from males for a whole range of reasons (dignity, dealing with menstruation and miscarriage, sexual assault prevention, male violence trauma survivors, and so on).
One of the rationales for providing trans/NB toilets has rightly been that trans/NB people need access to toilets so they don't have to hold on or be limited in how they take part in society. So why is it that women aren't granted the same respect? (that's not a rhetorical question, it's because of sexism and misogyny).
We will turn the women's toilet into a mixed sex toilet, and women who need/want a single sex toilet can walk to the other side of the building, dripping menstrual blood if necessary.
I'll also point out that male wheelchair users are being forced to use what is essentially the women's loos. That's fucked up as well.
And no, building floor to ceiling cubicles each with their own hand basin and room to change is not a particularly good situation outside of small cafes and other places where only one or two toilets is needed. We have single sex toilets for very good reasons. If society needs gender neutral toilets, that's a third space.
and I'll hazard a guess that the women's WC notice was an after thought. They did the conversion without thinking about women, and then women complained.
I do notice that some men only toilets do now have baby changing tables and nappy disposal receptacles in them. I guess some dads who take young children to town complained/made it known this facility was required.
Am guessing that the powers that be thought placing the otherly gendered persons in the mens toilets would be too dangerous with likely nastiness and forgot (or conveniently ignored) the danger transferred to women.
I don't let men I don't know come and use the toilet in my home as it suits them, I doubt you do either. No-one does.
I don't know anyone that has a toilet at home that men, women, girls, boys all use at the same time, except where those people already have intimate relationships. Women in particular would not let casual male visitors be using a bathroom/toilet with their girl children at the same time unless there was a strong relationship of trust already. What planet are you on?
If you can't understand the differences for women needing single sex spaces, between public toilets and the toilet in their own home, then you're an idiot whose ideas on this topic should be roundly ignored.
TWAW eh! That is a mantra, a slogan, a catechism, an expression of belief. You are welcome to believe it, but as it has zero proof of reality and zero testability, you cannot require others to so believe.
Yes, everyone should be safe – and men can be very harsh on others they see as non- conforming. They have demonstrated that on Gay men for decades, in toilets, and prisons etc. The problem is male violence. That does not mean that women should become the shields for non-conforming men.
There are not enough womens toilets in general.Women need them often with more urgency than men I"m referring to women in the anatomical and reproductive sense.
I shouldn't have to say this, but childbirth can play havoc with the bladder and sphincter muscle.Anyone who's been pregnant knows the increased frequency of urination .Any woman who's felt blood dripping down their legs in the street wants to get to a toilet fast, and while they're attending to themselves they don't want to hear a man pissing all over the seat in the next booth .
And they do that pretty bloody often
If I'm in town, among strangers ,I want to be able to go to a womens toilet and have the peace of mind to know I'm only going to encounter other women .
Transwomen don't cut it for me in that sense.Because I know that at their core they are men, and if anyone wants to hurt me, 99% of the time , it will be a man .I can't help it that I instinctively know , in some deep core of me , who is a man and who is a woman
And lets face it, most transwomen retain their penises, because the nightmarish alternative of a fake vagina has dire health consequences.
How many of we women have been assaulted by a man , raped by a man, threatened by a man .A pretty dreadful percentage It stays with you , and they don't always look like monsters.Some of those images Weka has shown of the terrible violence and threats uttered by transwomen activists is just downright horrific
I am now approaching the "elderly"bracket (actually I'm 70, but I've got a bit of go in me yet).I may just end up "holding on" rather than experience the visceral fear of sharing space with a strange man while attempting to have a private piss.
More toilets for women and gender neutral toilets for those that want them
Oh god, you're going to attempt to linguistically reprogram me?
in the same way that lesbians must be reprogrammed to accept male penises?
Woman … an adult female human being
All the contorted tortuous post modern verbiage in the world doesn't alter the reality that a woman is an adult female human being , and a transwoman is a man who for whatever reason feels more real presenting as a woman
Most people still use the word woman when referring to biologically female humans. For obvious reasons.
Men don't get to tell women what language we use about ourselves. But it's so interesting that you would try and get women here to accept TWAW while at the same time telling women how to conceptualise ourselves. When exactly did progressive men decide that trans people get self definition but women get defined by men?
Men don't get to tell women what language we use about ourselves.
Yeah you keep playing that card. When you say things that have actual (as opposed to theoretical) harmful consequences for whole groups of people, all humans will respond.
You're missing the point Sacha. You can respond. I'm calling you out as a hypocrite who says that trans people are allowed rights and self definition but women aren't. And doing that as a man with progressive politics.
When you say things that have actual (as opposed to theoretical) harmful consequences for whole groups of people, all humans will respond.
See, hypocrisy. In your world, it's ok to talk about harm to trans people, but it's not ok for women to talk about harm to women.
You literally argue against women being able to use our own language at the same time as telling us that we should use the designated language for trans people, presumably on the basis that trans people get their own language.
It's nuts. That's not the problem though, the problem is you won't make the actual argument for your position. My informed opinion about that is it's because you don't have an argument that stands up in a place like TS where robust debate is expected.
They don't want to hear a man pissing all over the seat in the next booth .
Does this really happen? I mean enough to call it a behavioural consistent requiring every public toilet to have a fourth space. Otherwise it seems like you are making up some dreaded fantasy.
Transwomen are women. They also expect safe spaces from men, for the same reasons.
TWATW. And duh, of course they need safe spaces. The question is why you want to sacrifice women's rights and safety to provide that instead of providing for both groups.
I advocated for third spaces for toilets, you came in with an inane, sound bite, TRA talking point about toilets at home being gender neutral, as if we haven't been hearing this lack of reasoning response for years. You don't address the points I raised, and default to TW are vulnerable too as if we don't already know that.
I'm going to save a lot of time and just point out that is classic gender ideology debating, it has no substance and rarely addresses the issues being raised. It relies on mantras like TWAW, but can't put up any arguments for why women should give up their single sex spaces.
Self ID means any man who says they are woman is to be accepted as a woman at any time, including violent men when want to access women's spaces. Again, if you believe that some men won't take advantage of that new found access, you're an idiot and your ideas on this topic should be ignored.
Interesting to compare you calling me an "idiot" with your previous official reaction to me saying things like I hope you and others find peace. All I have done today is make uncontroversial statements supported by 99.9% of the world's population.
[citation needed for “All I have done today is make uncontroversial statements supported by 99.9% of the world's population.”. You’re in premod until you do. If you want to be here and part of this debate, then up your game and make the actual arguments at the standard expected here – weka]
I will not be providing evidence for established knowledge any more than for the earth not being flat. Get over yourself.
[it’s neither reasonable nor viable to allow commenters here to have this degree of contempt for moderation. The Policy says,
We are intolerant of people starting or continuing flamewars where there is little discussion or debate. This includes making assertions that you are unable to substantiate with some proof (and that doesn’t mean endless links to unsubstantial authorities) or even argue when requested to do so.
Based on moderations in the past few months, I see no reason to think you will change nor that there is any point in giving you more chances. I’m also not willing to spend any more moderation time on this. 1 year ban as we are currently clearing out problems until after the election period – weka]
The evidence base to show that not even close to 99% of the world's population hold your beliefs about gender identity. For instance, polling shows that most Brits don't support your statements.
My reading of Sacha's point is that 99.9% of the population unprompted do not think about it too much. When asked a specific and narrow gender wars question they do have a response. Particularly in Britain which is by nature conservative and also highly populated by rolling gambling and polling institutions.
Sacha has often run the line that GCFs are a small minority and most people think like him. He had his chance to explain and present evidence /shrug
the YouGov polls show he is wrong, even taking your interpretation. Look at the 2022 YouGov link, they address the issue of how much attention people give to trans issues.
The only exposure I have to trans issues, as you call it, is on forums like this. In the real world it it does not come up for most people at all.
A lot of the scenarios are what ifs. A trans woman standing up pissing into the bowl in the next cubicle, and when they're done only rape is on their mind.
What evidence these things happen even remotely regularly?
what on earth are you on about? Who has said that the only thing on a TW’s mind in women’s toilets is rape. You just made that shit up and then you ask me if it happens regularly? It’s all in your head mate. If you want to have the conversation then have the conversation in ways that make sense. This means you need to get your head around the arguments instead of making things up. Just like in all the other arguments we have here about war or Labour or Nact or whatever. If you don’t understand then ask.
Interesting to compare you calling me an "idiot" with your previous official reaction to me saying things like I hope you and others find peace.
I thought about your comments about finding peace at the time. It was hard to know how to take that tbh. You are a genuine person, but it was juxtaposed with politics intent on removing my rights as a woman.
I don't understand your comparison here. I haven't made an official reaction to you wishing me peace, in fact I didn't respond to that part of your comment at all.
There is no basis in any reality. Every drop of your blood tells the truth about your sex. There is nothing about a man who demands to be called a woman that is not male in every pore and very action.
You might notice that gender ideology demands the repetition of the mantra that TWAW – but the only people who are allowed to call themselves women are those men. Women are no longer allowed to name themselves – we have become "pregnant people" or "people with uteri", or "cervix havers".
There is nothing about a man who demands to be called a woman that is not male in every pore and very action.
Just as there is nothing about a woman who demands to be called a man that is not female in every pore and (e)very action?
All (demanding) trans people must then be delusional (at least), although some have seen the error of their choices/requirements/demands, and more may yet be persuaded to make conformist 'sense of self' choices.
Best to leave persuading/educating to those with the necessary skills and experience. I tried once and it backfired – irrepairably. Never again.
Transwomen are men who – for whatever reason – require other people to consider them as women. This does not make them women. It also does not stop them from being men.
The mantra you spout is a particularly useful one for avoiding the consideration of impacts on women and girls. Its adoption leads to legislative and policy changes that ignore the fact that the one uniting factor that all transwomen have – is that they are men.
So, the consequence that we see in NZ is that any provision for women in terms of single-sex spaces, services, awards or support systems are now no longer single-sex. No consideration, no debate, no acknowledgement of the breaking of existing safeguarding assessments and boundaries.
A deliberate linguistic sleight-of-hand, which provided men access to women's spaces based on men's perceptions.
As more become aware of what has occurred, your mantra – which encompasses a circular definition – will be derided as the nonsense it is.
Transwomen are men. So, why are you not holding a safe space for them in men's single-sex spaces?
PS. Please provide GPS co-ordinates for your universally accessible home toilet. Not a choice I would make, but there's a list being compiled of such generous offerings. I'm sure Auckland Council would appreciate the private provision of such public facilities.
"They also expect safe spaces from men, for the same reasons."
No. The needs of women and men are different. The needs of women and men who want to be considered women are different. The motivations of entering a women's single-sex provision, are also different depending upon sex. Your lack of even a basic knowledge of this issue, continues to surprise.
The "urinary leash" was a deliberate strategy by mostly middle class men to keep women out of the pubic realm. They didn't care about working class women, they could piss in alleyways, and upper class women moved in different circles. Middle class men did not want "their" women out and about too far from home without them – and they did not want them competing with them in the workplace. Women had to fight for public conveniences for women. One of the early ones in London in 1901 was destructed at the prototype stage by a crowd of angry men who drove carriages etc into it. The first public women's toilet in Manchester was in the basement of the John Rylands library which opened in 1900. Men were still resisting toilets for women well into the 1970's where workplaces used the lack of changing/toilet facilities as an excuse not to employ women.
Yes, you can do good facilities that are safe for all users, but it is not cheap on a larger scale. One place I go regularly has 5 toilets in 3 spaces. Two of the spaces each has a toilet and a hand basin in a separate cubicle. The other space has 3 toilets – each in a separate cubicle, and one shared handbasin. Each are clearly labeled as to what is there so that users have a choice.
These days – the demand for "gender neutral" facilities is very much part of the denial of basic biology by the gender idealogues. It is also part of the men's rights movement push to remove all accommodations and safeguards for women. It is often done – as in the above example, by simply changing the sign on the door of the women's toilet – this shows clearly what is the target here.
When thinking of whether it is safe to have men able to walk in to any of the spaces established by and for women – the places where they are vulnerable or undressed, – don't think of the safest man you know – think of the worst man you know.
I still recall my Nana and Mum deciding on their shopping itinerary based on the shops/places which had good women's toilets.
Obvs – that wasn't the only places they went (not much chance at the butcher, or greengrocer), but they would structure the trip so that there would be opportunities to visit the loo at strategic points along the way.
and good women's toilets were really good. Rest rooms, you could sit down and have time out, there was often a lounge space separate from the toilets themselves. They were quiet and peaceful and comfortable. A great loss.
Yep. Smith and Caughey's ones were legendary. We rarely bought anything major there (being on the decidedly lower end of the middle class) – but always visited the restrooms.
Yep, and women just have to roll over and suck it up because they are so kind and compassionate.Womens toilets are becoming overcrowded with all the different genders they have to accommodate
No, just one-eyed. You need to be capable of seeing that both sides have interests to protect. Each is fighting over a chunk of territory to which each believes it has "ownership" rights. I'm inclined to take the side of Russia, because I think Russia, for long term defensive reasons, cannot afford to allow the Black Sea to become a Western lake; and therefor needs to hang on to Crimea and, preferably, to ensure land access to it. Ukraine seems, as a matter of government policy, determined to recover that territory ( which seems to imply invading it since Russia is unlikely to give it up).
Ukraine, on the other hand, believes that the territorial integrity of Ukraine requires the retention (now recovery) of Donetsk, Crimea, etc.
Before “Reliable Sources,” Kalb built an esteemed career as a journalist, working for the New York Times, CBS News and NBC News with a particular interest in international affairs.
After traveling with Henry Kissinger on diplomatic missions alongside his brother, journalist Marvin Kalb, the Kalb brothers wrote the 1974 biography “Kissinger, A Biography.”
Kalb was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in 1984 for the U.S. State Department under Ronald Reagan’s administration. Kalb later quit when Bob Woodward revealed a secret plan from the White House that aimed to plant false information in the U.S. media in order to weaken Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, saying he knew nothing of it.
“In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies” – Winston Churchill.
Attention: Benedict Ferguson, President of the Public Service Association – Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
Dear Benedict,
Thank you for your opinion piece* in Stuff and asking the rhetorical question what National and Luxon will do to public services in NZ. Unfortunately, you omitted the elephant in the room because National is of course a Trojan stalking horse for letting loose ACT policies on public services like a bull in a China shop – we all know how much National and its leaders love bull markets and China. ACT’s stance on public services is unequivocally negative as they have an inborn aversion to spending taxpayers’ money on this. Thus, the answer to your rhetorical question is anything but rhetorical and we know exactly how it is going to play out if ACT coattails into Government.
and richard prebble gets a whole page in todays wairarapa times age complaining about government redtape. well he would really squeal if farmers did what they liked and our export produce got turned away from our customers for having too many contaminants
simeob brown is in the dompost with a third of page two complaining about the busses in wellington. what the heck has that got to do with him pray tell?
My guess is that in the years to come we will see a shift from fewer happy to more unhappy farmers because of changing weather patterns. And that’s just (the) farmers.
Sepuloni acknowledged the Government was aware the refinery’s closure would “create some challenges in the CO2 market” but said it identified a number of opportunities to strengthen the domestic CO2 market” prior to the refinery’s closure.
“The sector has already begun implementing these opportunities which include increasing production at Kapuni, increasing imports, improving the efficiency of customers’ CO2 use, and investigating the feasibility of an additional domestic CO2 production facility.”
The current shortage of carbon dioxide did not change the economics behind the refinery’s decision to close, she said.
“This was a commercial decision made by its owners in response to falling refinery margins.”
Indeed, industry dropped the ball on this. When do NZ businesses start to think about resilience instead of the usual short-sighted fumbling that they label astute management and business experience? NZ is and will remain a small remote economy compounded by environmental risks.
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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 ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
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 ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
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There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
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. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
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Maybe all those whining about potholes should pass this on to their local councils.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/01/ancient-roman-concrete-could-self-heal-thanks-to-hot-mixing-with-quicklime/?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=392591ed02-briefing-dy-20230112&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-392591ed02-47041915
”Masic et al. found evidence of calcite-filled cracks in other samples of Roman concrete, supporting their hypothesis. They also created concrete samples in the lab with a hot mixing process, using ancient and modern recipes, then deliberately cracked the samples and ran water through them. They found that the cracks in the samples made with hot-mixed quicklime healed completely within two weeks, while the cracks never healed in the samples without quicklime.”
During the WWII preparation for D-Day the Mulberry Harbours where being prepared and it was found that the huge concrete cassions were too heavy to tow off the land into the sea and they had to be made in the sea. They were initially made from conventional concrete but it would not set in salt water. Churchill remembered reading of Roman concrete setting in salt water from his reading of Latin texts during his classical education and he instructed his scientific advisors to find out how that concrete worked.
The rest is history – The benefits of a Classical education ……
Evil. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jan/12/exxon-climate-change-global-warming-research
Pathological organism.
Can the "body" of humanity recognise and treat such a pathological organism (before it kills it)?
I wonder if the tolerance for such bullshit will diminish once we have a tipping point % of the population reliant on electric transport rather than oil transport.
Damage already done.
obviously. Plenty more damage to be done still if it's not stopped.
And maybe that is one of the reasons people are not worried, after all right, they can just buy a electric car and pretend they did their bid. Greenwashing at its finest.
Instead if really we wanted to bring a tipping point in understanding we would invest heavily into public transport -free of charge for everyone, and private non polluting transports i.e. bikes. And build future housing projects with public transport in mind rather then just go for infill housing in communities that have no public transport to speak of and thus everyone will use their car to get about.
this is why I said electric transport rather than electric cars.
Makes sense. thanks for clarifying.
I had a short stint working for Shell in the early 90s. Everyone in upper management was frothing at the mouth at the idea of the permafrost melting as you could drill baby drill. Their eyes shone with exitement talking about Russia and their resources that they would love to lay their hands on. Oh well………
In saying that, acid rain, ozone hole etc all these things have been with us for a while now and yet we still insist in having huge cars, huge tvs, huge houses, huge amounts of food etc etc etc.
Go figure.
I think those sorts of people in management champion magic thinking under the guise of an unshakeable belief in technological progress. That is, if CO2 and methane etc become a problem, we'll simply invent some form of technology to make the problem go away, and they want to make sure they are in the box seat for the profits to be made from that.
Magical thinking around climate change is rife, because the problem is so enormous and it poses so many fundamental questions about how our world is currently orgainsed.
Actually i think it is simpler then that. They know but hope to be in the income group that is considered important and rich enough to survive whilst the large part of the unwashed masses will simply die of hunger, pestilence or washed away in the floods.
Never underestimate how greed can influence your thinking.
The old everyone who thinks about living in the middle ages imagines they are a noble syndrome….
Genuine question to people who may know these people better than I – what is the attraction of Russian fascism to so many aging once-were-lefties? You know, Mike Smith here and a couple of recent and frankly unhinged pieces from the likes of Malcolm Evans on the TDB, or Ken Perrott (granted he has always been a bit of a nutter). They've all become complete Putin tankies. The war in the Ukraine seems to have become a very strange rabbit hole for these people.
It is a very odd confection of paranoia, stupidity and reflexive anti-capitalist dogmatism – for example, while we can all agree the US military industrial complex is a bad thing and the invasion of Iraq was an illegal invasion and a war crime, how does it follow that arming the Ukraine is therefore bad, and that the illegal and unprovoked invasion of the Ukraine allows for a whattaboutism that somehow makes two wrongs a right? And don't even get me started on the insane belief these people seem to have that an emerging democracy like the Ukraine is run by Nazis, or the odd intellectual gymnastics that argues the Russians are the victims?
Is it just old age? Does old age do that to you? Oh God, I am getting old, am I doomed?
I've been very puzzled by it myself. Not all of them are old – AOC and the progressive left in USA seem to be falling into the error of supporting invasion, dictatorship, torture and authoritarianism. I've been disappointed by this behaviour in various people whose views on other matters I've often supported (Corbyn, AOC, Chomsky etc).
Care to share examples of that?
I am probably going too far, true. I don't think they actively believe in the dreadful things Russia are doing – but have done things that end up supporting Russia's appalling actions.
The most egregious was the letter in October, calling for negotiations with Russia (while Russia was committing war crimes left right and centre, all over Ukraine), and negotiations between the USA and Russia over Ukraine's fate (just stomp all over the victim). This was utterly tone deaf, harmed Ukraine and was amplified to the max by all the Russian propaganda channels. They tried to walk the letter back, claiming it was some sort of mistake – but the apology was pathetic relative to the harm caused – harm caused to the brutalised victim of terror and aggression.
More recently, AOC opposed a bill that would fund further military and other aid from the USA to Ukraine (she says for reasons around unrelated funding in the bill) – and I can't find any mention by her of regretting any harm to Ukraine from this.
I generally support the squad, but they haven't been great on the Ukraine injustice.
'Is it just old age? Does old age do that to you? Oh God, I am getting old, am I doomed?'
Yes just like the rest of us.
https://twitter.com/susiehawkes/status/1613414436475109377
(it’s the British Library).
I suspect many people don't understand what's happening here, so let me explain. In the UK (and other places) there has been a big push to provide toilets for the small but increasing number of trans and NB people.
Often what happens is that the women's toilets are converted into the NB/gender neutral/everyone except men toilet, and the men's toilet is left for men. This despite the fact that women's toilets are used more and under supplied compared to men's.
One of the reasons for that is that it's cheaper to just convert the women's toilet than build a new gender neurtal one, and they don't want to convert the men's toilet because it has the urinals.
Men's needs take precedent over women's. Women's needs are invisible, the need to privacy and safety from males for a whole range of reasons (dignity, dealing with menstruation and miscarriage, sexual assault prevention, male violence trauma survivors, and so on).
One of the rationales for providing trans/NB toilets has rightly been that trans/NB people need access to toilets so they don't have to hold on or be limited in how they take part in society. So why is it that women aren't granted the same respect? (that's not a rhetorical question, it's because of sexism and misogyny).
We will turn the women's toilet into a mixed sex toilet, and women who need/want a single sex toilet can walk to the other side of the building, dripping menstrual blood if necessary.
I'll also point out that male wheelchair users are being forced to use what is essentially the women's loos. That's fucked up as well.
And no, building floor to ceiling cubicles each with their own hand basin and room to change is not a particularly good situation outside of small cafes and other places where only one or two toilets is needed. We have single sex toilets for very good reasons. If society needs gender neutral toilets, that's a third space.
and I'll hazard a guess that the women's WC notice was an after thought. They did the conversion without thinking about women, and then women complained.
I do notice that some men only toilets do now have baby changing tables and nappy disposal receptacles in them. I guess some dads who take young children to town complained/made it known this facility was required.
Am guessing that the powers that be thought placing the otherly gendered persons in the mens toilets would be too dangerous with likely nastiness and forgot (or conveniently ignored) the danger transferred to women.
this looks like the original post
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4378456-British-Library-womens-toilets
Or every home.
I don't let men I don't know come and use the toilet in my home as it suits them, I doubt you do either. No-one does.
I don't know anyone that has a toilet at home that men, women, girls, boys all use at the same time, except where those people already have intimate relationships. Women in particular would not let casual male visitors be using a bathroom/toilet with their girl children at the same time unless there was a strong relationship of trust already. What planet are you on?
If you can't understand the differences for women needing single sex spaces, between public toilets and the toilet in their own home, then you're an idiot whose ideas on this topic should be roundly ignored.
Transwomen are women. They also expect safe spaces from men, for the same reasons.
TWAW eh! That is a mantra, a slogan, a catechism, an expression of belief. You are welcome to believe it, but as it has zero proof of reality and zero testability, you cannot require others to so believe.
Yes, everyone should be safe – and men can be very harsh on others they see as non- conforming. They have demonstrated that on Gay men for decades, in toilets, and prisons etc. The problem is male violence. That does not mean that women should become the shields for non-conforming men.
Absolutely right on !
The problem is male violence.
The problem is violence by men.
Site would not let me quote. Let's try that again.
The problem is violence by men.
And men who demand we call them women have the same pattern of violent behavior as other males.
There are not enough womens toilets in general.Women need them often with more urgency than men I"m referring to women in the anatomical and reproductive sense.
I shouldn't have to say this, but childbirth can play havoc with the bladder and sphincter muscle.Anyone who's been pregnant knows the increased frequency of urination .Any woman who's felt blood dripping down their legs in the street wants to get to a toilet fast, and while they're attending to themselves they don't want to hear a man pissing all over the seat in the next booth .
And they do that pretty bloody often
If I'm in town, among strangers ,I want to be able to go to a womens toilet and have the peace of mind to know I'm only going to encounter other women .
Transwomen don't cut it for me in that sense.Because I know that at their core they are men, and if anyone wants to hurt me, 99% of the time , it will be a man .I can't help it that I instinctively know , in some deep core of me , who is a man and who is a woman
And lets face it, most transwomen retain their penises, because the nightmarish alternative of a fake vagina has dire health consequences.
How many of we women have been assaulted by a man , raped by a man, threatened by a man .A pretty dreadful percentage It stays with you , and they don't always look like monsters.Some of those images Weka has shown of the terrible violence and threats uttered by transwomen activists is just downright horrific
I am now approaching the "elderly"bracket (actually I'm 70, but I've got a bit of go in me yet).I may just end up "holding on" rather than experience the visceral fear of sharing space with a strange man while attempting to have a private piss.
More toilets for women and gender neutral toilets for those that want them
Females then.
Oh god, you're going to attempt to linguistically reprogram me?
in the same way that lesbians must be reprogrammed to accept male penises?
Woman … an adult female human being
All the contorted tortuous post modern verbiage in the world doesn't alter the reality that a woman is an adult female human being , and a transwoman is a man who for whatever reason feels more real presenting as a woman
One of us is trying to change established language to suit an agenda, and it isn't me.
it is you. Even for those that accept TWAW, some words have more than one meaning, and woman still means adult human female.
But politically, you, a man, are actively trying to remove the word we have that is commonly used to describe adult human females. That's an agenda.
Most people still use the word woman when referring to biologically female humans. For obvious reasons.
Men don't get to tell women what language we use about ourselves. But it's so interesting that you would try and get women here to accept TWAW while at the same time telling women how to conceptualise ourselves. When exactly did progressive men decide that trans people get self definition but women get defined by men?
Yeah you keep playing that card. When you say things that have actual (as opposed to theoretical) harmful consequences for whole groups of people, all humans will respond.
You're missing the point Sacha. You can respond. I'm calling you out as a hypocrite who says that trans people are allowed rights and self definition but women aren't. And doing that as a man with progressive politics.
See, hypocrisy. In your world, it's ok to talk about harm to trans people, but it's not ok for women to talk about harm to women.
You literally argue against women being able to use our own language at the same time as telling us that we should use the designated language for trans people, presumably on the basis that trans people get their own language.
It's nuts. That's not the problem though, the problem is you won't make the actual argument for your position. My informed opinion about that is it's because you don't have an argument that stands up in a place like TS where robust debate is expected.
Does this really happen? I mean enough to call it a behavioural consistent requiring every public toilet to have a fourth space. Otherwise it seems like you are making up some dreaded fantasy.
You missed the point. Go back and reread the whole paragraph and see if you get it.
TWATW. And duh, of course they need safe spaces. The question is why you want to sacrifice women's rights and safety to provide that instead of providing for both groups.
I advocated for third spaces for toilets, you came in with an inane, sound bite, TRA talking point about toilets at home being gender neutral, as if we haven't been hearing this lack of reasoning response for years. You don't address the points I raised, and default to TW are vulnerable too as if we don't already know that.
I'm going to save a lot of time and just point out that is classic gender ideology debating, it has no substance and rarely addresses the issues being raised. It relies on mantras like TWAW, but can't put up any arguments for why women should give up their single sex spaces.
Self ID means any man who says they are woman is to be accepted as a woman at any time, including violent men when want to access women's spaces. Again, if you believe that some men won't take advantage of that new found access, you're an idiot and your ideas on this topic should be ignored.
Interesting to compare you calling me an "idiot" with your previous official reaction to me saying things like I hope you and others find peace. All I have done today is make uncontroversial statements supported by 99.9% of the world's population.
[citation needed for “All I have done today is make uncontroversial statements supported by 99.9% of the world's population.”. You’re in premod until you do. If you want to be here and part of this debate, then up your game and make the actual arguments at the standard expected here – weka]
I will not be providing evidence for established knowledge any more than for the earth not being flat. Get over yourself.
[it’s neither reasonable nor viable to allow commenters here to have this degree of contempt for moderation. The Policy says,
Based on moderations in the past few months, I see no reason to think you will change nor that there is any point in giving you more chances. I’m also not willing to spend any more moderation time on this. 1 year ban as we are currently clearing out problems until after the election period – weka]
The evidence base to show that not even close to 99% of the world's population hold your beliefs about gender identity. For instance, polling shows that most Brits don't support your statements.
UK YouGov polls from 2020 and 2022,
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2020/07/16/where-does-british-public-stand-transgender-rights
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/articles-reports/2022/07/20/where-does-british-public-stand-transgender-rights
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/philosophy/trackers/support-for-separate-toilets-for-men-and-women-and-gender-neutral-toilets-in-public-spaces
More polls here https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/explore/topic/Transgender
My reading of Sacha's point is that 99.9% of the population unprompted do not think about it too much. When asked a specific and narrow gender wars question they do have a response. Particularly in Britain which is by nature conservative and also highly populated by rolling gambling and polling institutions.
Sacha has often run the line that GCFs are a small minority and most people think like him. He had his chance to explain and present evidence /shrug
the YouGov polls show he is wrong, even taking your interpretation. Look at the 2022 YouGov link, they address the issue of how much attention people give to trans issues.
The only exposure I have to trans issues, as you call it, is on forums like this. In the real world it it does not come up for most people at all.
A lot of the scenarios are what ifs. A trans woman standing up pissing into the bowl in the next cubicle, and when they're done only rape is on their mind.
What evidence these things happen even remotely regularly?
what on earth are you on about? Who has said that the only thing on a TW’s mind in women’s toilets is rape. You just made that shit up and then you ask me if it happens regularly? It’s all in your head mate. If you want to have the conversation then have the conversation in ways that make sense. This means you need to get your head around the arguments instead of making things up. Just like in all the other arguments we have here about war or Labour or Nact or whatever. If you don’t understand then ask.
In the last three years I have had conversations with exactly two people IRL about the gender/sex wars. Thanks to No Debate.
I thought about your comments about finding peace at the time. It was hard to know how to take that tbh. You are a genuine person, but it was juxtaposed with politics intent on removing my rights as a woman.
I don't understand your comparison here. I haven't made an official reaction to you wishing me peace, in fact I didn't respond to that part of your comment at all.
"Transwomen are women. "
What is the basis in truth for that claim? Is it purely the subjective claims of transpeople, or is there some basis in objective reality?
There is no basis in any reality. Every drop of your blood tells the truth about your sex. There is nothing about a man who demands to be called a woman that is not male in every pore and very action.
You might notice that gender ideology demands the repetition of the mantra that TWAW – but the only people who are allowed to call themselves women are those men. Women are no longer allowed to name themselves – we have become "pregnant people" or "people with uteri", or "cervix havers".
Just as there is nothing about a woman who demands to be called a man that is not female in every pore and (e)very action?
All (demanding) trans people must then be delusional (at least), although some have seen the error of their choices/requirements/demands, and more may yet be persuaded to make conformist 'sense of self' choices.
Best to leave persuading/educating to those with the necessary skills and experience. I tried once and it backfired – irrepairably. Never again.
The TWAW claim seems to be both a denial of reality, and a denial of what it is to be a woman. How did we get to this?
"Transwomen are women".
Transwomen are men who – for whatever reason – require other people to consider them as women. This does not make them women. It also does not stop them from being men.
The mantra you spout is a particularly useful one for avoiding the consideration of impacts on women and girls. Its adoption leads to legislative and policy changes that ignore the fact that the one uniting factor that all transwomen have – is that they are men.
So, the consequence that we see in NZ is that any provision for women in terms of single-sex spaces, services, awards or support systems are now no longer single-sex. No consideration, no debate, no acknowledgement of the breaking of existing safeguarding assessments and boundaries.
A deliberate linguistic sleight-of-hand, which provided men access to women's spaces based on men's perceptions.
As more become aware of what has occurred, your mantra – which encompasses a circular definition – will be derided as the nonsense it is.
Transwomen are men. So, why are you not holding a safe space for them in men's single-sex spaces?
PS. Please provide GPS co-ordinates for your universally accessible home toilet. Not a choice I would make, but there's a list being compiled of such generous offerings. I'm sure Auckland Council would appreciate the private provision of such public facilities.
"They also expect safe spaces from men, for the same reasons."
No. The needs of women and men are different. The needs of women and men who want to be considered women are different. The motivations of entering a women's single-sex provision, are also different depending upon sex. Your lack of even a basic knowledge of this issue, continues to surprise.
The "urinary leash" was a deliberate strategy by mostly middle class men to keep women out of the pubic realm. They didn't care about working class women, they could piss in alleyways, and upper class women moved in different circles. Middle class men did not want "their" women out and about too far from home without them – and they did not want them competing with them in the workplace. Women had to fight for public conveniences for women. One of the early ones in London in 1901 was destructed at the prototype stage by a crowd of angry men who drove carriages etc into it. The first public women's toilet in Manchester was in the basement of the John Rylands library which opened in 1900. Men were still resisting toilets for women well into the 1970's where workplaces used the lack of changing/toilet facilities as an excuse not to employ women.
Yes, you can do good facilities that are safe for all users, but it is not cheap on a larger scale. One place I go regularly has 5 toilets in 3 spaces. Two of the spaces each has a toilet and a hand basin in a separate cubicle. The other space has 3 toilets – each in a separate cubicle, and one shared handbasin. Each are clearly labeled as to what is there so that users have a choice.
These days – the demand for "gender neutral" facilities is very much part of the denial of basic biology by the gender idealogues. It is also part of the men's rights movement push to remove all accommodations and safeguards for women. It is often done – as in the above example, by simply changing the sign on the door of the women's toilet – this shows clearly what is the target here.
When thinking of whether it is safe to have men able to walk in to any of the spaces established by and for women – the places where they are vulnerable or undressed, – don't think of the safest man you know – think of the worst man you know.
I suspect most men have never thought about who women's toilets came into being.
I still recall my Nana and Mum deciding on their shopping itinerary based on the shops/places which had good women's toilets.
Obvs – that wasn't the only places they went (not much chance at the butcher, or greengrocer), but they would structure the trip so that there would be opportunities to visit the loo at strategic points along the way.
and good women's toilets were really good. Rest rooms, you could sit down and have time out, there was often a lounge space separate from the toilets themselves. They were quiet and peaceful and comfortable. A great loss.
Yep. Smith and Caughey's ones were legendary. We rarely bought anything major there (being on the decidedly lower end of the middle class) – but always visited the restrooms.
and then there will be penis havers and others, and penis havers can also be others.
Yep, and women just have to roll over and suck it up because they are so kind and compassionate.Womens toilets are becoming overcrowded with all the different genders they have to accommodate
cimea
am I doomed?
No, just one-eyed. You need to be capable of seeing that both sides have interests to protect. Each is fighting over a chunk of territory to which each believes it has "ownership" rights. I'm inclined to take the side of Russia, because I think Russia, for long term defensive reasons, cannot afford to allow the Black Sea to become a Western lake; and therefor needs to hang on to Crimea and, preferably, to ensure land access to it. Ukraine seems, as a matter of government policy, determined to recover that territory ( which seems to imply invading it since Russia is unlikely to give it up).
Ukraine, on the other hand, believes that the territorial integrity of Ukraine requires the retention (now recovery) of Donetsk, Crimea, etc.
Sorry this comment is a reply to Sanctuary at (3). I must have forgotten to press the reply button.
A journalist with integrity, and a reminder that nothing changes.
Bernard Kalb, Founding ‘Reliable Sources’ Host and Journalist, Dies at 100
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bernard-kalb-founding-reliable-sources-004307235.html
“In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies” – Winston Churchill.
Attention: Benedict Ferguson, President of the Public Service Association – Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
Dear Benedict,
Thank you for your opinion piece* in Stuff and asking the rhetorical question what National and Luxon will do to public services in NZ. Unfortunately, you omitted the elephant in the room because National is of course a Trojan stalking horse for letting loose ACT policies on public services like a bull in a China shop – we all know how much National and its leaders love bull markets and China. ACT’s stance on public services is unequivocally negative as they have an inborn aversion to spending taxpayers’ money on this. Thus, the answer to your rhetorical question is anything but rhetorical and we know exactly how it is going to play out if ACT coattails into Government.
Keep up the good work!
Incognito
* https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130771276/we-need-to-know-what-the-plan-for-the-public-service-is-beyond-the-election
and richard prebble gets a whole page in todays wairarapa times age complaining about government redtape. well he would really squeal if farmers did what they liked and our export produce got turned away from our customers for having too many contaminants
simeob brown is in the dompost with a third of page two complaining about the busses in wellington. what the heck has that got to do with him pray tell?
Ya gotta wonder….
I'm sure it's pretty legal!!
lol, Nice : )
Already starting to feel depressed this year? Don’t worry, it is not the polls, yet.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/300783636/auckland-on-track-to-have-darkest-january-since-1989
The Coromandel has in 11 days this year received 800mm of rain. Equivalent to 5 months of rainfall from Jan to May on average.
Yes, tragic stuff.
Some farmers are ecstatic, apparently.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/300783447/its-raining-its-pouring-and-liquid-gold-is-falling-monsoon-weather-a-boon-for-farmers
Other farmers are deeply unhappy.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/482336/farmers-are-almost-at-their-wits-end-cyclone-recovery-likely-to-be-slow
Government is offering some financial assistance.
https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/govt-support-for-flood-affected-farmers-and-growers
My guess is that in the years to come we will see a shift from fewer happy to more unhappy farmers because of changing weather patterns. And that’s just (the) farmers.
Auckland with only 26 hours of bright sunshine recorded so far this month.
Far south, Invercargill, a little over 100hrs in same period
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130964948/government-says-carbon-dioxide-supplies-being-rationed-and-prioritised
Indeed, industry dropped the ball on this. When do NZ businesses start to think about resilience instead of the usual short-sighted fumbling that they label astute management and business experience? NZ is and will remain a small remote economy compounded by environmental risks.