”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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I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
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In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
2024, 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?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated. While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
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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.