Andrea Vance speculates on the new left/right balance persisting until the election:
With ACT firmly married to National, and the Greens wed to Labour, NZ First and Te Pāti Māori are now in play. Both sit on two per cent in the poll… The poll indicates a sea change. And a rising tide of Māori voters could decide the future government.
A common thread in Peters most recent press releases is co-governance (the arrangement for negotiated decision-making between iwi and other Māori organisations and central government). He argues Labour has no mandate for the policies… Suspicion about a separatist government Māori agenda has been growing since the emergence of the He Puapua report, and galvanised by opposition to plans to overhaul how the country’s three waters services are managed.
Could Peters use this as leverage to perform another Houdini act? Given Labour's timidity in framing co-governance to the media & public, I suspect their answer would be yes. And I reckon they'd be right. Vance points out he just needs some such "wedge issue" and it is indeed a godalmighty wedge.
Expect Luxon's advisors to spot this. They'll be dead keen to stop Winston pulling 3% more out of the Nat support base, so we'll see Luxon adopting the Peters line.
However the crucial action will probably occur within the Maori vote. At 16% of the populace – say half that is voting age – yet the MP pulls only 2% currently. I'd therefore guess Labour's Maori cabal got 6% last election.
Where that 6% go will therefore decide the next election. Labour's timidity on co-governance is therefore the hinge. If they cave, and abandon support for the Maori cabal agenda, Willie & co will start to wonder if there's any point staying with Labour.
If their disgust with Labour pakeha betrayal got sufficiently strong, they'll look at jumping ship. To the MP probably – unless Winston is smart enough to have already sussed the scenario & shifted into behind the scenes negotiating. If they jump prior to the election, it's bye-bye Labour…
However, the MP vote (if it eventuates) is going to be almost entirely pulled from Labour (the GP don't poll significantly well in the Maori seats – and National has no numbers to lose, here).
That's numbers on paper – some of the Labour MPs have a very tight tribal lock on their seats – I wouldn't expect Mahuta or Tirikatene to be voted out – they're effectively endorsed by the iwi leadership.
There would have to be an enormous swing against Labour (something like the seabed and foreshore issue) for Labour to lose those 2 seats.
MP have made it fairly clear that they have nothing in common with National – so Labour is the only game in town for coalition.
In addition, if the MP start to poll around 5%+ – or start to look as though they'll pull in 5 or so seats from Labour, and it's looking like a Labour/Green/MP government – I'd expect to see some of the soft centrist Labour vote, start to shift to National – as they're spooked by what looks like a radical agenda.
They'd shift to a centrist party (which is what Winston portrayed NZ First as) – but they're unlikely to trust Winston again (though never, say never, with that wily fox) – and, without him, there is currently no centrist party. So, if they're spooked, it's National or nothing.
It looks to me that it is the pakeha population who feels hoodwinked and will vote accordingly. No one begrudges Maori their culture and status, but perusing an agenda no one has voted for via a back door and lying about it (yes lying) coupled with the not so flash stewardship of the economy will have consequences. The former also destroys any trust in the Maori Party if they show to be part of this tactical manoeuvre. I know these are strong words in a society that is more and more muzzled, but I pledge free speech. On the issue of inflation, which is the consequence of more than one event but created by external as well as internal factors, it will see the majority falling into income brackets that essentially set them back 10 years. This measured against pricing for food, fuel, electricity, rates, rents etc. will have a huge bearing on the next vote. When the PM sees this as a "plip" in the road to push the party agenda through, then the phrase "let them eat cake" is not far from the mind. Everybody living here has a right to be able to survive and thrive without losing their basic human rights because they disagree with the powers to be. Those tribal games, those divide and conquer games have to end. There is a need for a sound and measured approach, coherent solutions economically, environmentally and in societal context clearly spelled out and put on the table. Still waiting for a party to show its hand and a vision for all NZlanders without constantly going back to school yard bully behaviour.
If nothing changes, the young professionals will leave the country for greener pastures in great numbers. The writing is already on the wall.
''If nothing changes, the young professionals will leave the country for greener pastures in great numbers. The writing is already on the wall.''
Agree. That is a given. The numbers leaving may be the new 1pm news briefing once Covid numbers are no longer reported.
I recently stopped outside a closed cafe. The sign in the window said they may be able to reopen if the following positions are filled:
2) Chefs
2) Baristas
3) service staff.
Where have the previous employees gone? My guess is they are taking a paid break courtesy of the government before heading overseas. And if that's true, the situation with professionals must be worse given the big money on offer just across the ditch.
Look, employers can have whatever staff they want if they're prepared to do a bit of honest hard work.
They can't just expect opportunities to fall into their lap, they have to get out there and create them. Really sell themselves as an employer. Put themselves out there.
I wonder if they've tried networking functions? Word of mouth advertising can do wonders.
Maybe they could try finding savings elsewhere in their business, which they can then put towards really getting the staff they want?
If they put their head down and work hard and keep a good attitude, rewards will come.
Nobody want to hear it, but if they'd made better personal choices in the past, they wouldn't be in this position now. Rather than whinging or demanding that government fix their problem for them, how about some personal responsibility?
I was once on an interview panel 20 years ago, so I've done the hard yards, too. The problem with this generation of employers is that they just expect everything to be handed to them.
Blade – Yep, because it is a badge of honor to milk the system. How many times I have seen and experienced this is not even funny anymore. It really is difficult to be confronted with such attitude but this is true everywhere. A emigrant might go to a different country but their attitude travels with them.
However, at the same time there are many of the younger folks that feel shafted when they paid for their education and all the can land is a minimum pay job. There is a disconnect between the promise made to these graduates, i.e. if you get this degree or that, it is an opportunity and pays really well etc., vs what the market actually need and demands and will provide. So they are getting impatient and frustrated and look further afield for getting ahead. This is, and lets not forget this, a created instant gratification society. Be kind sometimes works, sometimes it will just create a bigger issue.
Nikolai Patrushev is currently the secretary of Russia’s Security Council.
Patrushev graduated from the Leningrad Shipbuilding Institute with a diploma in engineering, a certification he shares with Russia’s current chiefs of the state security and intelligence services: Alexander Bortnikov, director of the FSB, and Sergey Naryshkin, director of the SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service. Was it a great loss to Soviet engineering that they all became KGB officers? Their motivation is not difficult to explain — becoming a KGB officer was a ticket to a privileged lifestyle in the Soviet system.
Oleg Kalugin, a naturalized U.S. citizen and former KGB general-turned-critic, was once well acquainted with Patrushev. “I knew him really well for a long time. He was my assistant in Leningrad,” Kalugin said in a 2012 interview with Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon. “He was different from other KGB officers in that he never blindly followed the orders of his superiors.” According to Kalugin, Patrushev approached his work with a kind of “humanitarian concern” for everybody involved. He was not a rigid enforcer of Communist rules.
In his memoir “Spymaster: My Thirty-Two Years in Intelligence and Espionage Against the West,” Kalugin included a story involving Patrushev. When one of the Communist Party bosses in Leningrad accused a certain individual of “anti-Soviet agitation” and demanded that the KGB put him under surveillance, Kalugin recounted how he advised Patrushev: “Why don’t you invite [this individual] to your office, talk to him, and point out his errors and inconsistencies? Tell him to be careful. That way we can close the case without an arrest.” Patrushev complied, unafraid of bending KGB standard operating procedures. Kalugin was pleased that his advice was followed and that the individual avoided potentially devastating consequences for speaking his mind.
That Patrushev was not a dogmatic Communist may come down to his strong religious beliefs. Much later, when he became the director of the FSB, he was instrumental in supporting the renovation and reconsecration of Sophia, the Wisdom of God Orthodox Church, which is next to the FSB Lubyanka headquarters. It is said that before embarking on special missions, many FSB officers would stop in this church to say their prayers. Patrushev also proudly supported the construction of the statue of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker near one of Russia’s northernmost border posts on the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Arkhangelsk region.
The west has long used St. Nicholas the Santa, of course. But all we ever get from him is yet more capitalist crap. So here's an opportunity to use lateral thinking in the foreign policy of Aotearoa. We can advise the Russians that we'll do a switch to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker if they can provide a sufficiently impressive list of wonders that he worked.
The world needs wonderworkers (climate change etc) so we can alert the Russian regime to the potential for using their St Nick as an avatar for combining positive thinking with magic to shift mass consciousness. Since it seems obvious that they haven't spotted the potential for global influence already, I mean. They need our help.
Really! Can’t see it, same old same old one eyed drivel of little substance. No mention how the Ukraine situation could have been avoided had the deaf ears of the UN addressed the concerns voiced many times by Russia regarding NATO’s expansionism and the dire plight of the Donbas peoples being constantly bombarded by factions of the Ukrainian army since 2014 with huge civilian casualties. So the one eyed view of Mr Freedman counts for FA
You do know that this is not really set as context in the news media. This war uses phrases to manipulate on an emotional level and the rhetoric of the President of Ukraine has changed from "help us defend ourselves" to " Mr Zelensky said Western nations – and nearby Europe in particular – must go further and "act without delay"." Act in what way? All the sanctions are in place, Russia is cut off and Europe is to become the battle field for who exactly?
The whole of Europe has signed agreements after the WW2 that would prevent such scenario. If they would intervene in a military way, WW3 is on. Do people understand how dangerous the situation is?
It certainly would have been a proper 'war zone' if foolish Labour Ministers that didn't know the law had brought the Army in like they and many on the left were calling for.
A children's slide some new grass and two minor fires, compared to a legislated loss of liberty supposed to gain a civic trade that hasn't prevented 300,000+ current infections and 100+ deaths.
The Police Officer overstated the situation obviously but it was probably the most dramatic, confused and potentially violent situation they had ever encountered – they obviously didn't experience the 81 tour protests or the Queen Street riot (too young)
The Police Officer overstated the situation obviously
Erh, your hat isn't your keyboard, best not to talk through it unless you were there? That officer's description matched what I saw on the live streams only too starkly. We have no right to dismiss someone's direct experience if we haven't shared it or been through something similar.
Would you dream of saying Ukranian refugees are overstating their situation?
In the Ukraine it's a war zone – blown up hospitals, shelled apartment buildings, blown up bridges, dead bodies ,smoking ruined Tanks and Infantry Fighting Vehicles, murdered civilians and raped women that is a fucking war zone not that pissant riot in Wellington.
No I wouldn't say Ukrainian refugees are overstating their situation at all. They are in a war zone.
To inflate what happened in Wellington by claiming or supporting claims it was a war zone is pretty bloody obscene when we are seeing firsthand what a real war zone is.
Rare moment today when police found themselves pinned to the 'peace and love' chalk wall without riot shields. We now know six officers needed hospital treatment after today 1/3 pic.twitter.com/hbZBXAjIA7
And when that didn't work protestors literally pulled bricks from the pavement and coordinated throwing them at the police line. It's unbelievable there weren't more injuries. pic.twitter.com/CdJLapv2G7
I agree Matiri. When you compare his words to what we actually saw happening in real time, I don't think he overstated the case at all. It was an horrific scene and astonishing no-one was killed. I saw one cop with a shield being trampled underfoot by a bunch of thugs. I didn't think he was going to come out of it alive. Maybe he was the cop who wrote this story.
thousands dead in the Ukraine get a sense of proportion
Bricks are not artillery shells metal poles are not cruise missiles a piece of 2 by 4 is not an Infantry Fighting Vehicle to suggest that Wellington and the Ukraine are/were both war zones is damned offensive.
I never used the expression “war-zone” nor suggested any such comparison so why aim your brickbats at me. Its only you who is making the comparison about two totally different and unrelated events.
Agreed – I apologise I lost it a bit after JO's effort at 4.2.1 the linked article said the officer said it was a 'war zone' which I found enraging. I misdirected my ire to you and I am sorry for doing that.
ACT outflanks Labour on the left, advocating practical socialism:
Act leader David Seymour said they would fund this from Emissions Trading Scheme revenue. That is what companies pay in order to emit carbon into the atmosphere. Seymour said it is about $1 billion a year, and instead of going into what he calls the government's climate slush fund, it could be distributed to everyone.
"Act says, at a time like this, we should return carbon tax revenue to those struggling with high prices" Seymour said in a statement.
What a pity National didn't have the foresight to suggest this. Putting a policy like that in tandem with tax cuts would have been a big vote catcher in my opinion.
I doubt Labour would implement such a policy, given it targets everyone, even white folk finding it hard to keep the Audi running.
The Right is going to need something to counter the trinkets Robbo Hood will proffer to voters over the next two budgets. In fact, if Labours fortunes keep trending down, Robbo may become more important to Labour’s chances of survival than Jacinda.
It remains to be seen whether the PM rediscovers her mojo. Your prediction came true rather promptly, eh? I'd made similar prognostications in prior months so wasn't totally surprised.
Re Grant, expect a careful balancing act with the numbers matched with spending priorities I guess. A semblance of caring for the poor sufficient to fool enough voters, to mask the lack of substance thereof.
The main thing about the poll was floating voters underwhelmed by Labour's dropping of the ball. Labour are the kind of shallow thinkers who reckon pandemic fixation is a valid excuse for non-delivery. Too many opinion leaders in the community know better. Therefore the PM must get back into the saddle. The wrong conclusion to draw from the poll is floating voters rewarding National for performance. Ain't none of that happening.
Banal at the time. Will he ever live that down? However he's a thoughtful chappie & usually worth a read. I own several of his books & have even read them.
I'm impressed that he's with the ever-growing body of opinion that predicts Putin to become a loser. A cautionary note: nobody with a track record of military expertise seems to have entered the public arena with the same opinion yet.
When I was watching the first Gulf War on CNN (we had it piped into our monitors in the TVNZ newsroom despite it being unavailable here on broadcast tv) I always appreciated the expert opinions of the top military analysts they interviewed as operation Desert Storm proceeded. None of that happening now – dunno why.
That makes sense to me. Hope he is right with his prognostications.
No 7.
Putin will not survive the defeat of his army. He gets support because he is perceived to be a strongman; what does he have to offer once he demonstrates incompetence and is stripped of his coercive power?
As the writer points out later and I paraphrase: the days of the "strongman" leaders around the world will be numbered.
The middle of a war is probably not the best time to purge the upper ranks of your intelligence services. But hey, he's an ex KGB guy so I guess he knows a fair bit about purges..
A Russian spy chief and his deputy have been placed under house arrest by Vladmir Putin as the president blames his security services for the resistance met in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has been claimed.
According to a leading expert on the Russian security services, Sergey Beseda, head of the FSB’s foreign intelligence branch, was arrested along with his deputy, Anatoly Bolyukh.
Andrei Soldatov, who is co-founder and editor of Agentura- a watchdog of the Russian secret services’ activities – revealed that sources inside the FSB have confirmed the detention of both men.
The arrests were further corroborated by Vladimir Osechkin, an exiled Russian human rights activist who also added that the FSB officers had carried out searches at over 20 addresses in Moscow of colleagues suspected to be speaking with journalists.
"Since he became President, Putin has cast himself as the true defender of Christians throughout the world, the leader of the Third Rome. His relentless bombing of ISIS, for example, was cast as the defence of the historic homeland of Christianity. And he will typically use faith as a way to knock the West, like he did in this speech in 2013:
“We see many of the Euro-Atlantic countries are actually rejecting their roots, including the Christian values that constitute the basis of Western civilisation. They are denying moral principles and all traditional identities: national, cultural, religious and even sexual. They are implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan.”
Putin regards his spiritual destiny as the rebuilding of Christendom, based in Moscow. "
Putin's perception that the west are "implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan" seems a tad extreme and would likely fail the test of evidence.
It would have been better for him to quote orthodox christian doctrine on these two points, eh? To prove there is a substantial difference, I mean.
Satan, also known as the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an entity in the Abrahamic religions that seduces humans into sin or falsehood.
In Judaism, Satan is seen as an agent subservient to Yahweh, typically regarded as a metaphor for the yetzer hara, or "evil inclination." In Christianity and Islam, he is usually seen as a fallen angel or jinn who has rebelled against God, who nevertheless allows him temporary power over the fallen world and a host of demons.
Why did god allocate this entity a place of high status in his righteous scheme? You'd have to ask a theologian. Don't ask more than one, since none of them agree with each other on the fundamentals & you'll only get confused!
My guess is that god created this entity for his own purposes (which remain mysterious) but I have to admit I borrowed this rationale from some ancient theologian. Then you get this:
first appears in the Hebrew Bible as a heavenly prosecutor, subordinate to Yahweh (God), who prosecutes the nation of Judah in the heavenly court
So the baddie operated on god's behalf in administering divine justice. And his target was a nation of baddies (the jews). Confused yet?
So Putin's theological critique amounts to the west equating god with god's justice administrator. This is indeed a grievous error. I can see why it bothered him.
Just found this in a book of quotes. "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That keyis Russian national interest." From Winston Churchill, October 1939. Would seem to be relevant right now !
Well, if Putin fails and the longed for American dream of regime change occurs in Russia, I hope that it is the 2nd most popular party (by far) that gets the nod from the Russian voters, that party of course is the Communist Party. That regime change probably is not the one NATO or any of the western nations want though, lol and boohoo.
"Thinking about both sexes when designing research experiments will soon be the default for grant applications. And here’s how your research could benefit.
Women represent about 50.6% of the UK population and there are sex differences in the prevalence and severity of most diseases and conditions, as well as responses to drugs and therapies.
Therefore, there are many reasons why studying male and female animals is important in pre-clinical research.
Making both sexes the default
The Medical Research Council (MRC) will soon require that sex be considered as part of the experimental plans of grant applications that involve:
animals
human or animal-derived cells or tissues.
Both sexes should be used as a default unless a robust justification is given. MRC will fund these studies if they are robustly designed, regardless of any increase in costs.
To be clear, I refer here to ‘sex’ which is defined by a set of biological attributes, as opposed to gender, which is a societal construct. Animals do not have a gender.
Sex differences can impact metabolism of drugs and hormones, and non-specific effects of drugs and their side-effects. In addition, every cell has a sex and male and female cells have different characteristics and responses to experimental conditions."
Will be interesting to see if UKRI respond, and what the story is.
The puppet selected and installed by an occupying force isn't the mayor, he's a collaborator.
The Zaporozhye regional administration says a new mayor has been installed in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, which is under Russian military control, after the elected mayor was detained on Friday
Mayor Ivan Federov, who is an ethnic Russian, had encouraged recent demonstrations in Melitopol against Russia.
Disappearances are stock in trade for fascist regimes. So asking where the Mayor of Melitopol has been taken is no small question. If they can disappear a Mayor, they can do it to anyone. Protesters, political activists, journalists are all under threat of being disappeared.
Where is the Mayor of Melitopol being held?
Has he been allowed to use a phone?
What are the charges against him?
What has be been accused of?
Where's the evidence?
Is he alive?
Thousands protest in Melitopol after Russian forces reportedly abduct mayor with a hood over his head
…..Large crowds gathered in the southern port of Melitopol on Saturday to protest the alleged abduction of the city’s mayor, Ivan Fedorov, by Russian troops, an act that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as “a crime against democracy.”
….Russia has accused Fedorov of “terrorist activities,” according to the Associated Press. The prosecutor’s office of the Luhansk People’s Republic, a Moscow-backed rebel region in eastern Ukraine, has claimed without presenting evidence that Fedorov was financing the nationalist militia Right Sector to “commit terrorist crimes against Donbas civilians.”
…..The mayor’s alleged abduction prompted roughly 2,000 people on Saturday to protest outside the city hall building occupied by Russian forces, Zelensky said. Bundled-up against the cold, protesters in Melitopol chanted for Fedorov’s release.
“Bring back the mayor! Bring back the mayor!” they chanted. “Freedom to the mayor! Freedom to the mayor!”
…..As residents took to the streets of Melitopol last weekend to wave the blue and gold colors of Ukraine, Fedorov encouraged the demonstrations, even amid the Russian occupation.
“Together we will overcome anything!” he wrote in a Facebook post that has since been made private.
….Even as Russian forces aimed to shut down Saturday’s protest, Zelensky reiterated to reporters that he was “grateful to every Melitopol resident for this resistance” by demonstrating in response to the alleged abduction of Fedorov. He also suggested to Putin that the war is unpopular among Russians.
“Do you hear it, Moscow?” he asked. “If 2,000 people are protesting against the occupation in Melitopol, how many people should be in Moscow against the war?”
Many commentators have compared this war to Germany's invasion of Poland. I compare it to the American invasion of Vietnam.
It can be argued that the war in Vietnam was won and lost in America.
The Vietnam war was notable as being the first ever televised war.
All the Vietnamese had to do was keep fighting. The longer the war went on the more the objections and protests in America grew.
In Ukraine's asymmetric war gainst Russia, Ukraine has advantages the Vietnamese didn't, they speak the same language, they are nearby not thousands of miles away. And last of all they have the internet, live streaming all the crimes of the aggressor nation.
Putin has tried to impose and electronic Iron Curtain to stop Russians seeing the live stream of Russian war crimes in the Ukraine The original Iron Curtain lasted 4 decades, the new electronic lasted four days before it was breached.
The longer the Ukraine resists the more the resistance to war will grow in Russia.
The end result is inevitable. A humiliating defeat for Russia.
One big difference between the Vietnam war and the Ukraine war. will be that when Russia is defeated by Ukraine, there will be Nuremberg style court hearings to of Russians identified as having committed war crimes. Including the disappearances and murder of civilian leaders political activists and journalists.
“The fact of the abduction of the Mayor of Melitopol, along with hundreds of other facts of war crimes by Russian occupiers on the Ukrainian soil, are being carefully documented by law enforcement agencies. The perpetrators of this and other crimes will be brought to the strictest responsibility,” the ministry said in a Facebook post.
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The foibles of the Aussie electoral system are pretty well-known. The Lucky Country doesn’t have proportional representation. Voting for everyone over 18 is compulsory, but within a preferential system. This means that in the relatively few key seats that decide the final result, it can be the voters’ second, third ...
Julia Steinberger is an ecological economist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. She first posted this piece at Medium.com, and it was reposted on Yale Climate Connections with her permission. Today I went to give a climate talk at my old high school in Geneva – and was given a ...
A/Prof Ben Gray* Gray B. Government funding of interpreters in Primary Care is needed to ensure quality care. Public Health Expert Blog.17 May 2022. The pandemic has highlighted many problems in the NZ health system. This blog will address the question of availability of interpreters for people with limited English ...
I have suggested previously that sometimes Tolkien’s writer-instincts get the better of him. Sometimes he departs from his own cherished metaphysics, in favour of the demands of story – and I dare say, that is a good thing. Laws and Customs of the Eldar might be an interesting insight ...
One of the key planks of yesterday's Emissions Reduction Plan is a $650 million fund to help decarbonise industry by subsidising replacement of dirty technologies with clean ones. But National leader Chris Luxon derides this as "corporate welfare". Which probably sounds great to the business ideologues in the Koru club. ...
Poisonous! From a very early age New Zealanders are warned to give small black spiders with a red blotch on their abdomens a wide berth. The Katipo, we are told, is venomous: and while its bite may not kill you, it can make you very unwell. That said, isn’t the ...
“The truth prevails, but it’s a chore.” – Jan Masaryk: The intensification of ideological pressures is bearable for only so-long before ordinary men and women reassert the virtues of tolerance and common sense.ON 10 MARCH 1948, Jan Masaryk, the Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, was found dead below his bathroom window. ...
Clearly, the attempt to take the politics out of climate change has itself been a political decision, and one meant to remove much of the heat from the global warming issue before next year’s election. What we got from yesterday’s $2.9 billion Emissions Reduction Plan was a largely aspirational multi-party ...
Michelle Uriarau (Mana Wāhine Kōrero) talks to Dane Giraud of the Free Speech Union LISTEN HERE Michelle Uriarau is a founding member of Mana Wāhine Kōrero – an advocacy group of and for Māori women who took strong positions against the ‘Self ID’ and ‘Conversion Practises Bills’. One of the ...
If we needed any confirmation, we have it in spades in today’s edition of the Herald; our supposedly leading daily newspaper is determined to do what it can to decide the outcome of the next election – to act, that is, not as a newspaper but as the mouthpiece for ...
Sean Plunkett, founding editor of the new media outlet, The Platform, was interviewed on RNZ's highly regarded flagship programme "Mediawatch".Mr Plunkett has made much about "cancel culture" and "de-platforming". On his website promoting The Platform, he outlines his mission statement thusly:The Platform is for everyone; we’re not into cancelling or ...
“That’s a C- for History, Kelvin!”While it is certainly understandable that Māori-Crown Relations Minister Kelvin Davis was not anxious to castigate every Pakeha member of the House of Representatives for the crimes committed against his people by their ancestors; crimes from which his Labour colleagues continue to draw enormous benefits; the ...
The Government promised a major reform of New Zealand’s immigration system, but when it was announced this week, many asked “is that it?” Over the last two years Covid has turned the immigration tap off, and the Government argued this produced the perfect opportunity to reassess decades of “unbalanced immigration”. ...
While the new fiscal rules may not be contentious, what they mean for macroeconomic management is not explained.In a pre-budget speech on 3 May 2022, the Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson, made some policy announcements which will frame both this budget and future ones. (The Treasury advice underpinning them is ...
Under MMP, Parliament was meant to look like New Zealand. And, in a lot of ways, it does now, with better representation for Māori, tangata moana, women, and the rainbow community replacing the old dictatorship of dead white males. But there's one area where "our" parliament remains completely unrepresentative: housing: ...
Justice Denied: At the heart of the “Pro-Life” cause was something much darker than conservative religious dogma, or even the oppressive designs of “The Patriarchy”. The enduring motivation – which dares not declare itself openly – is the paranoid conviction of male white supremacists that if “their” women are given ...
In case of emergency break glass— but glass can cut Fire extinguishers, safety belts, first aid kits, insurance policies, geoengineering: we never enjoy using them. But given our demonstrated, deep empirical record of proclivity for creating hazards and risk we'd obviously be foolish not to include emergency responses in our inventory. ...
After a brief hiatus, the “A View from Afar” podcast is back on air with Selwyn Manning leading the Q&A with me. This week is a grab bag of topics: Russian V-Day celebrations, Asian and European elections, and the impact of the PRC-Solomon Islands on the regional strategic balance. Plus ...
Last year, Vanuatu passed a "cyber-libel" law. And predictably, its first targets are those trying to hold the government to account: A police crackdown in Vanuatu that has seen people arrested for allegedly posting comments on social media speculating politicians were responsible for the country’s current Covid outbreak has ...
Could it be a case of not appreciating what you’ve got until it’s gone? The National Party lost Simon Bridges last week, which has reinforced the notion that the party still has some serious deficits of talent and diversity. The major factor in Bridges’ decision to leave was his failed ...
Who’s Missing From This Picture? The re-birth of the co-governance concept cannot be attributed to the institutions of Pakeha rule, at least, not in the sense that the massive constitutional revisions it entails have been presented to and endorsed by the House of Representatives, and then ratified by the citizens of New ...
Fiji signed onto China’s Belt and Road initiative in 2018, along with a separate agreement on economic co-operation and aid. Yet it took the recent security deal between China and the Solomon Islands to get the belated attention of the US and its helpmates in Canberra and Wellington, and the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Lexi Smith and Bud Ward “CRA” It’s one of those acronyms even many-a-veteran environmental policy geek may not recognize. Amidst the scores and scores of acronyms in the field – CERCLA, IPCC, SARA, LUST, NPDES, NDCs, FIFRA, NEPA and scores more – ...
In a nice bit of news in a World Gone Mad, I can report that Of Tin and Tintagel, my 5,800-word story about tin (and political scheming), is now out as part of the Spring 2022 edition of New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). As noted previously, this one owes a ...
Dr Jennifer Summers, Professor Michael Baker, Professor Nick Wilson* Summers J, Baker M, Wilson N. Covid-19 Case-Fatality Risk & Infection-Fatality Risk: important measures to help guide the pandemic response. Public Health Expert Blog. 11 May 2022. In this blog we explore two useful mortality indicators: Case-Fatality Risk (CFR) and Infection-Fatality ...
In the depths of winter, most people from southern New Zealand head to warmer climes for a much-needed dose of Vitamin D. Yet during the height of the last Ice Age, one species of moa did just the opposite. I’m reminded of Bill Bailey’s En Route to Normal tour that visited ...
In the lead-up to the Budget, the Government has been on an offensive to promote the efficiency and quality of its $74 billion Covid Response and Recovery Fund -especially the Wage Subsidy Scheme component. This comes after criticisms and concerns from across the political spectrum over poor-quality spending, and suggestions ...
Elizabeth Elliot Noe, Lincoln University, New Zealand; Andrew D. Barnes, University of Waikato; Bruce Clarkson, University of Waikato, and John Innes, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare ResearchUrbanisation, and the destruction of habitat it entails, is a major threat to native bird populations. But as our new research shows, restored ...
Unfinished: Always, gnawing away at this government’s confidence and empathy, is the dictum that seriously challenging the economic and social status-quo is the surest route to electoral death. Labour’s colouring-in book, and National’s, have to look the same. All that matters is which party is better at staying inside the lines.DOES ...
Radical As: Māori healers recall a time when “words had power”. The words that give substance to ideas, no matter how radical, still do. If our representatives rediscover the courage to speak them out loud.THERE ARE RULES for radicalism. Or, at least, there are rules for the presentation of radical ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters A brutal, record-intensity heat wave that has engulfed much of India and Pakistan since March eased somewhat this week, but is poised to roar back in the coming week with inferno-like temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius (122°F). The ...
The good people at the Reading Tolkien podcast have put out a new piece, which spends some time comparing the underlying moral positions of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien: (The relevant discussion starts about twenty-seven minutes in. It’s a long podcast). In the interests of fairness, ...
Crime is becoming a key debate between Labour and National. This week they are both keen to show that they are tough on law and order. It’s an issue that National has a traditional advantage on, and is one that they’re currently getting good traction from. In response, Labour is ...
So far, the excited media response to the spike in “ram-raid” incidents is being countered by evidence that in reality, youth crime is steeply in decline, and has been so for much of the past decade. Who knew? Perhaps that’s the real issue here. Why on earth wasn’t the latest ...
In the past 10 years or so – and that’s how quickly it has happened – all our comfortable convictions about the unassailability of free speech have been turned on their heads. Suddenly we find ourselves fighting again for rights we assumed were settled. Click here to watch the video ...
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Mr Speaker, It has taken four-and-a-half years to even start to turn the legacy of inaction and neglect from the last time they were in Government together. And we have a long journey in front of us! ...
Today Greens Te Mātāwaka Chair and Health Spokesperson, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, said “The Greens have long campaigned for an independent Māori Health Authority and pathways for Takatāpui and Rainbow healthcare. “We welcome the substantial funding going into the new health system, Pae Ora, particularly for the Māori Health Authority, Iwi-Partnership ...
Budget 2022 shows progress on conservation commitments in the Green Party’s cooperation agreement Green Party achievements in the last Government continue to drive investment in nature protection Urgent action needed on nature-based solutions to climate change Future budget decisions must reflect the role nature plays in helping reduce emissions ...
Landmark week for climate action concludes with climate budget Largest ever investment in climate action one of many Green Party wins throughout Budget 2022 Budget 2022 delivers progress on every part of the cooperation agreement with Labour Budget 2022 is a climate budget that caps a landmark week ...
Green Party welcomes extension to half price fares Permanent half price fares for Community Services Card holders includes many students, which helps implement a Green Party policy Work to reduce public transport fares for Community Services Card holders started by Greens in the last Government Budget 2022 should be ...
New cost of living payment closely aligned to Green Party policy to expand the Winter Energy Payment Extension and improvement of Warmer Kiwi Homes builds on Green Party progress in Government Community energy fund welcomed The Green Party welcomes the investment in Budget 2022 to expand Warmer Kiwi ...
Budget 2022 support to reduce homelessness delivers on the Green Party’s cooperation agreement Bespoke support for rangatahi with higher, more complex needs The Green Party welcomes the additional investment in Budget 2022 for kaupapa Māori support services, homelessness outreach services, the expansion of transitional housing, and a new ...
Green Party reaffirms call for liveable incomes and wealth tax Calls on Government to cancel debt owed to MSD for hardship assistance such as benefit advances, and for over-payments The Green Party welcomes the support for people on low incomes Budget 2022 but says more must be done ...
Our Government has just released this year’s Budget, which sets out the next steps in our plan to build a high wage, low carbon economy that gives economic security in good times and in bad. It’s full of initiatives that speed up our economic recovery and ease cost pressures for ...
A stronger democracy is on the horizon, as Golriz Ghahraman’s Electoral (Strengthening Democracy) Amendment Bill was pulled from the biscuit tin today. ...
Tomorrow, the Government will release this year’s Budget, setting out the next steps in our plan to build a high wage, low carbon economy that gives economic security in good times and in bad. While the full details will be kept under wraps until Thursday afternoon, we’ve announced a few ...
As a Government, we made it clear to New Zealanders that we’d take meaningful action on climate change, and that’s exactly what we’ve done. Earlier today, we released our next steps with our Emissions Reduction Plan – which will meet the Climate Commission’s independent science-based emissions reduction targets, and new ...
Emissions Reduction Plan prepares New Zealand for the future, ensuring country is on track to meet first emissions budget, securing jobs, and unlocking new investment ...
The Greens are calling for the Government to reconsider the immigration reset so that it better reflects our relationship with our Pacific neighbours. ...
Hamilton City Council and Whanganui District Council have both joined a growing list of Local Authorities to pass a motion in support of Green Party Drug Reform Spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick’s Members’ bill to minimise alcohol harm. ...
Today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a major package of reforms to address the immediate skill shortages in New Zealand and speed up our economic growth. These include an early reopening to the world, a major milestone for international education, and a simplification of immigration settings to ensure New Zealand ...
Proposed immigration changes by the Government fail to guarantee pathways to residency to workers in the types of jobs deemed essential throughout the pandemic, by prioritising high income earners - instead of focusing on the wellbeing of workers and enabling migrants to put down roots. ...
Ehara taku toa i te toa takatahi, engari taku toa he toa takimano – my strength is not mine alone but the strength of many (working together to ensure safe, caring respectful responses). We are striving for change. We want all people in Aotearoa New Zealand thriving; their wellbeing enhanced ...
The Green Party is throwing its support behind the 10,000 allied health workers taking work-to-rule industrial action today because of unfair pay and working conditions. ...
Since the day we came into Government, we’ve worked hard to lift wages and reduce cost pressures facing New Zealanders. But we know the rising cost of living, driven by worldwide inflation and the war in Ukraine, is making things particularly tough right now. That’s why we’ve stepped up our ...
As part of New Zealand’s ongoing response to the war in Ukraine, New Zealand is providing further support and personnel to assist Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “We have been clear throughout Russia’s assault on Ukraine, that such a ...
Prime Minister to lead trade mission to the United States this week to support export growth and the return of tourists post COVID-19. Business delegation to promote trade and tourism opportunities in New Zealand’s third largest export and visitor market Deliver Harvard University commencement address Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has congratulated Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party on winning the Australian Federal election, and has acknowledged outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison. "I spoke to Anthony Albanese early this morning as he was preparing to address his supporters. It was a warm conversation and I’m ...
Tiwhatiwha te pō, tiwhatiwha te ao. Tiwhatiwha te pō, tiwhatiwha te ao. Matariki Tapuapua, He roimata ua, he roimata tangata. He roimata e wairurutu nei, e wairurutu nei. Te Māreikura mārohirohi o Ihoa o ngā Mano, takoto Te ringa mākohakoha o Rongo, takoto. Te mātauranga o Tūāhuriri o Ngai Tahu ...
Three core networks within the tourism sector are receiving new investment to gear up for the return of international tourists and business travellers, as the country fully reconnects to the world. “Our wider tourism sector is on the way to recovery. As visitor numbers scale up, our established tourism networks ...
The Minister of Customs has welcomed legislation being passed which will prevent millions of dollars in potential tax evasion on water-pipe tobacco products. The Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products) Amendment Act 2022 changes the way excise and excise-equivalent duty is calculated on these tobacco products. Water-pipe tobacco is also known ...
The Government is contributing $100,000 to a Mayoral Relief Fund to help the Levin community following this morning’s tornado, Minister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan says. “My thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by severe weather events in Levin and across the country. “I know the tornado has ...
The Quintet of Attorneys General have issued the following statement of support for the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and investigations and prosecutions for crimes committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine: “The Attorneys General of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand join in ...
Morena tatou katoa. Kua tae mai i runga i te kaupapa o te rā. Thank you all for being here today. Yesterday my colleague, the Minister of Finance Grant Robertson, delivered the Wellbeing Budget 2022 – for a secure future for New Zealand. I’m the Minister of Health, and this was ...
Urgent Budget night legislation to stop major supermarkets blocking competitors from accessing land for new stores has been introduced today, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Dr David Clark said. The Commerce (Grocery Sector Covenants) Amendment Bill amends the Commerce Act 1986, banning restrictive covenants on land, and exclusive covenants ...
It is a pleasure to speak to this Budget. The 5th we have had the privilege of delivering, and in no less extraordinary circumstances. Mr Speaker, the business and cycle of Government is, in some ways, no different to life itself. Navigating difficult times, while also making necessary progress. Dealing ...
Budget 2022 provides funding to implement the new resource management system, building on progress made since the reform was announced just over a year ago. The inadequate funding for the implementation of the Resource Management Act in 1992 almost guaranteed its failure. There was a lack of national direction about ...
The Government is substantially increasing the amount of funding for public media to ensure New Zealanders can continue to access quality local content and trusted news. “Our decision to create a new independent and future-focused public media entity is about achieving this objective, and we will support it with a ...
$662.5 million to maintain existing defence capabilities NZDF lower-paid staff will receive a salary increase to help meet cost-of living pressures. Budget 2022 sees significant resources made available for the Defence Force to maintain existing defence capabilities as it looks to the future delivery of these new investments. “Since ...
More than $185 million to help build a resilient cultural sector as it continues to adapt to the challenges coming out of COVID-19. Support cultural sector agencies to continue to offer their important services to New Zealanders. Strengthen support for Māori arts, culture and heritage. The Government is investing in a ...
It is my great pleasure to present New Zealand’s fourth Wellbeing Budget. In each of this Government’s three previous Wellbeing Budgets we have not only considered the performance of our economy and finances, but also the wellbeing of our people, the health of our environment and the strength of our communities. In Budget ...
It is my great pleasure to present New Zealand’s fourth Wellbeing Budget. In each of this Government’s three previous Wellbeing Budgets we have not only considered the performance of our economy and finances, but also the wellbeing of our people, the health of our environment and the strength of our communities. In Budget ...
Four new permanent Coroners to be appointed Seven Coronial Registrar roles and four Clinical Advisor roles are planned to ease workload pressures Budget 2022 delivers a package of investment to improve the coronial system and reduce delays for grieving families and whānau. “Operating funding of $28.5 million over four ...
Establishment of Ministry for Disabled People Progressing the rollout of the Enabling Good Lives approach to Disability Support Services to provide self-determination for disabled people Extra funding for disability support services “Budget 2022 demonstrates the Government’s commitment to deliver change for the disability community with the establishment of a ...
Fairer Equity Funding system to replace school deciles The largest step yet towards Pay Parity in early learning Local support for schools to improve teaching and learning A unified funding system to underpin the Reform of Vocational Education Boost for schools and early learning centres to help with cost ...
$118.4 million for advisory services to support farmers, foresters, growers and whenua Māori owners to accelerate sustainable land use changes and lift productivity $40 million to help transformation in the forestry, wood processing, food and beverage and fisheries sectors $31.6 million to help maintain and lift animal welfare practices across Aotearoa New Zealand A total food and ...
House price caps for First Home Grants increased in many parts of the country House price caps for First Home Loans removed entirely Kāinga Whenua Loan cap will also be increased from $200,000 to $500,000 The Affordable Housing Fund to initially provide support for not-for-profit rental providers Significant additional ...
Child Support rules to be reformed lifting an estimated 6,000 to 14,000 children out of poverty Support for immediate and essential dental care lifted from $300 to $1,000 per year Increased income levels for hardship assistance to extend eligibility Budget 2022 takes further action to reduce child poverty and ...
More support for RNA research through to pilot manufacturing RNA technology platform to be created to facilitate engagement between research and industry partners Researchers and businesses working in the rapidly developing field of RNA technology will benefit from a new research and development platform, funded in Budget 2022. “RNA ...
A new Business Growth Fund to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow Fully funding the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund to unleash regional economic development opportunities Tourism Innovation Programme to promote sustainable recovery Eight Industry Transformation Plans progressed to work with industries, workers and iwi to transition ...
Budget 2022 further strengthens the economic foundations and wellbeing outcomes for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, as the recovery from COVID-19 continues. “The priorities we set for Budget 2022 will support the continued delivery of our commitments for Pacific peoples through the Pacific Wellbeing Strategy, a 2020 manifesto commitment for Pacific ...
Boost for Māori economic and employment initiatives. More funding for Māori health and wellbeing initiatives Further support towards growing language, culture and identity initiatives to deliver on our commitment to Te Reo Māori in Education Funding for natural environment and climate change initiatives to help farmers, growers and whenua ...
New hospital funding for Whangārei, Nelson and Hillmorton 280 more classrooms over 40 schools, and money for new kura $349 million for more rolling stock and rail network investment The completion of feasibility studies for a Northland dry dock and a new port in the Manukau Harbour Increased infrastructure ...
$168 million to the Māori Health Authority for direct commissioning of services $20.1 million to support Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards $30 million to support Māori primary and community care providers $39 million for Māori health workforce development Budget 2022 invests in resetting our health system and gives economic security in ...
Biggest-ever increase to Pharmac’s medicines budget Provision for 61 new emergency vehicles including 48 ambulances, along with 248 more paramedics and other frontline staff New emergency helicopter and crew, and replacement of some older choppers $100 million investment in specialist mental health and addiction services 195,000 primary and intermediate aged ...
Landmark reform: new multi-year budgets for better planning and more consistent health services Record ongoing annual funding boost for Health NZ to meet cost pressures and start with a clean slate as it replaces fragmented DHB system ($1.8 billion year one, as well as additional $1.3 billion in year ...
Fuel Excise Duty and Road User Charges cut to be extended for two months Half price public transport extended for a further two months New temporary cost of living payment for people earning up to $70,000 who are not eligible to receive the Winter Energy Payment Estimated 2.1 million New ...
A return to surplus in 2024/2025 Unemployment rate projected to remain at record lows Net debt forecast to peak at 19.9 percent of GDP in 2024, lower than Australia, US, UK and Canada Economic growth to hit 4.2 percent in 2023 and average 2.1 percent over the forecast period A ...
Cost of living payment to cushion impact of inflation for 2.1 million Kiwis Record health investment including biggest ever increase to Pharmac’s medicines budget First allocations from Climate Emergency Response Fund contribute to achieving the goals in the first Emissions Reduction Plan Government actions deliver one of the strongest ...
Budget 2022 will help build a high wage, low emissions economy that provides greater economic security, while providing support to households affected by cost of living pressures. Our economy has come through the COVID-19 shock better than almost anywhere else in the world, but other challenges, both long-term and more ...
Health Minister Andrew Little will represent New Zealand at the first in-person World Health Assembly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Sunday 22 – Wednesday 25 May (New Zealand time). “COVID-19 has affected people all around the world, and health continues to ...
New Zealand is committing to trade only in legally harvested timber with the Forests (Legal Harvest Assurance) Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament today. Under the Bill, timber harvested in New Zealand and overseas, and used in products made here or imported, will have to be verified as being legally harvested. ...
The Government has welcomed the release today of StatsNZ data showing the rate at which New Zealanders died from all causes during the COVID-19 pandemic has been lower than expected. The new StatsNZ figures provide a measure of the overall rate of deaths in New Zealand during the pandemic compared ...
Legislation that will help prevent serious criminal offending at sea, including trafficking of humans, drugs, wildlife and arms, has passed its third reading in Parliament today, Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta announced. “Today is a milestone in allowing us to respond to the increasingly dynamic and complex maritime security environment facing ...
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor is set to travel to Thailand this week to represent New Zealand at the annual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting in Bangkok. “I’m very much looking forward to meeting my trade counterparts at APEC 2022 and building on the achievements we ...
OP-ED by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). ...
Australia has a new political leader at the helm after nine years governed by conservatives but what does the change of hands mean for New Zealand? ...
RNZ Pacific A female candidate in the Papua New Guinea elections believes it is more important than ever that the country has women MPs in Parliament. Dulciana Somare-Brash is the daughter of the late Sir Michael Somare and she unsuccessfully stood in the East Sepik regional seat in 2017, finishing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Gilbert’s potoroo, a marsupial that may be extinct in 20 years.Shutterstock It feels a bit strange to publish a paper that we want proved wrong – we have identified the ...
PNG Post-Courier “Powes! Powes! Powes!” The city of Port Moresby was ringing with chants of support for its governor for the past 15 years — Powes Parkop. Hundreds of men, women and children from the settlements to the suburbs flocked at the weekend in support of the three-term politician who ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Beasy, Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of Tasmania You’d be forgiven for not having heard about the long-awaited new Australian Curriculum, which was released with little fanfare in the midst of the election campaign. But this update to the national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nancy Baxter, Professor and Head of Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne In a poll conducted by the Guardian in August of 2021 about the number of deaths Australians would be willing to accept as restrictions eased, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock As the polls closed on Saturday night, most election commentary focused on the dispiriting campaign where both major parties avoided any substantial division on policy issues and instead focused on ...
The Environment Committee Komiti Taiao invites public submissions on Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions budgets and the emissions reduction plan, Te Hau mārohi ki anamata Towards a productive, sustainable and inclusive economy—Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
The announcement in Budget 2022 to build 300 affordable homes for Pasefika families in Porirua will be transformational, says the Central Pacific Collective (CPC). The homes will be built over 10 years through “Our Whare Our Fale” – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jarryd Bartle, Sessional Lecturer, RMIT University Shutterstock One of the surprising results from the federal election was a record vote for Legalise Cannabis Australia, a minor party previously known as the Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) party. The party ...
Stuff business writer John Anthony was still focused on businessman Simon Henry’s widely reported remarks about My Food Bag co-founder Nadia Lim, a day after the company posted its latest annual results. His report on Saturday began with news that – according to its chief executive – My Food Bag’s ...
The Bus and Coach Association welcomes the recent budget announcement by the Labour Government to invest $61 million over the next four years towards ensuring a sustainable, skilled workforce of bus drivers nationwide. “This is great news” says CEO Ben ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Strating, Director, La Trobe Asia and Associate Professor, La Trobe University, La Trobe University During the election campaign, Anthony Albanese singled out Indonesia as a key regional partner. The new prime minister made a point of declaring he intended his first ...
New Zealand’s export industries are looking to a new era in the wake of life returning to something like normal in international markets. The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, will head a mission to the US to promote trade and tourism opportunities in our third largest export and visitor market, saying this ...
Budget 2022’s multi-million dollar spend on “service recognition” awards exemplifies the growing fiscal indulgence of the public sector, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . The Budget’s Summary of Initiatives reveals the Department of Prime Minister ...
Thank you for your invitation to close this semester for your class. There was a time when foreign policy was nonpolitical and when politicians held the view, that offshore, we would face the world as one people. Sadly, that is not the case today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sally Casswell, Professor of public health policy, Massey University Getty Images The World Health Organization’s newly released report on regulating cross-border alcohol marketing raises the alarm for countries like Australia and New Zealand, given their light touch towards alcohol advertising. ...
The country’s international relationships have loomed large in Beehive announcements since Friday. One press statement – from the PM – congratulated Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party on winning the Australian Federal election. Jacinda Ardern said: “Australia is our most important partner, our only official ally and single economic ...
RNZ News A New Caledonian anti-independence candidate has withdrawn from the race for a seat in the French National Assembly just hours before nominations closed. Vaea Frogier pulled out, citing concern about the splits in the anti-independence camp. Seventeen candidates in New Caledonia are standing in next month’s election, with ...
Right to Life requests that Christopher Luxon becomes the truly pro-life leader that National and our nation desperately needs, by seeking the repeal of the Abortion Legislation Act 2019 and legislating for the recognition of the humanity of unborn ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shaun Carney, Vice-Chancellor’s professorial fellow, Monash University Elections are a test – the ultimate test, really – of those who serve as parliamentarians and those who aspire to serve. Scott Morrison asserted quite absurdly early in the 2022 campaign that the election ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University AAP/James Ross It is pretty human to crave the approval of peers and to hope for more of the same, even if unconsciously. But for political parties selling themselves as unifying ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Lukas Coch/AAP Extreme weather events are the new normal. The use of nuclear weapons by Vladimir Putin’s Russian military is now an unthinkable possibility. And ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catharine Coleborne, Dean of Arts/Head of School Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle Higher education did not figure prominently in the election campaign. The biggest issues facing the sector, in particular the arts, humanities and social sciences, could never ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Saul Eslake, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, University of Tasmania Shutterstock Labor has inherited an economy with a pretty full “head of steam”. Domestic demand is growing strongly, fuelled by households flush with cash (and enriched by big increases in ...
The election of left-leaning Labor across the ditch may mean a change for several pressing issues in New Zealand's relationship with its closest neighbour. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Phillimore, Executive Director, John Curtin Institute of Public Policy, Curtin University Western Australia’s promise to be the kingmaker on federal election night has finally been delivered. During the count, the rest of the country saw a slow but steady accumulation ...
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Andrea Vance speculates on the new left/right balance persisting until the election:
Could Peters use this as leverage to perform another Houdini act? Given Labour's timidity in framing co-governance to the media & public, I suspect their answer would be yes. And I reckon they'd be right. Vance points out he just needs some such "wedge issue" and it is indeed a godalmighty wedge.
Expect Luxon's advisors to spot this. They'll be dead keen to stop Winston pulling 3% more out of the Nat support base, so we'll see Luxon adopting the Peters line.
However the crucial action will probably occur within the Maori vote. At 16% of the populace – say half that is voting age – yet the MP pulls only 2% currently. I'd therefore guess Labour's Maori cabal got 6% last election.
Where that 6% go will therefore decide the next election. Labour's timidity on co-governance is therefore the hinge. If they cave, and abandon support for the Maori cabal agenda, Willie & co will start to wonder if there's any point staying with Labour.
If their disgust with Labour pakeha betrayal got sufficiently strong, they'll look at jumping ship. To the MP probably – unless Winston is smart enough to have already sussed the scenario & shifted into behind the scenes negotiating. If they jump prior to the election, it's bye-bye Labour…
If Andrea Vance thinks there's the slightest chance that Maori Labour would go near NZ First she's either being ingenuous or not very smart
I cannot see NZ First returning to parliament. I can see the Maori Party gaining more MPs.
Inflation and the cost of housing is going to be hardest on those with the lowest incomes. Long wait times for medical services will also sway voters.
Strategic voting will probably determine who the next government is.
However, the MP vote (if it eventuates) is going to be almost entirely pulled from Labour (the GP don't poll significantly well in the Maori seats – and National has no numbers to lose, here).
That's numbers on paper – some of the Labour MPs have a very tight tribal lock on their seats – I wouldn't expect Mahuta or Tirikatene to be voted out – they're effectively endorsed by the iwi leadership.
There would have to be an enormous swing against Labour (something like the seabed and foreshore issue) for Labour to lose those 2 seats.
MP have made it fairly clear that they have nothing in common with National – so Labour is the only game in town for coalition.
In addition, if the MP start to poll around 5%+ – or start to look as though they'll pull in 5 or so seats from Labour, and it's looking like a Labour/Green/MP government – I'd expect to see some of the soft centrist Labour vote, start to shift to National – as they're spooked by what looks like a radical agenda.
They'd shift to a centrist party (which is what Winston portrayed NZ First as) – but they're unlikely to trust Winston again (though never, say never, with that wily fox) – and, without him, there is currently no centrist party. So, if they're spooked, it's National or nothing.
It looks to me that it is the pakeha population who feels hoodwinked and will vote accordingly. No one begrudges Maori their culture and status, but perusing an agenda no one has voted for via a back door and lying about it (yes lying) coupled with the not so flash stewardship of the economy will have consequences. The former also destroys any trust in the Maori Party if they show to be part of this tactical manoeuvre. I know these are strong words in a society that is more and more muzzled, but I pledge free speech. On the issue of inflation, which is the consequence of more than one event but created by external as well as internal factors, it will see the majority falling into income brackets that essentially set them back 10 years. This measured against pricing for food, fuel, electricity, rates, rents etc. will have a huge bearing on the next vote. When the PM sees this as a "plip" in the road to push the party agenda through, then the phrase "let them eat cake" is not far from the mind. Everybody living here has a right to be able to survive and thrive without losing their basic human rights because they disagree with the powers to be. Those tribal games, those divide and conquer games have to end. There is a need for a sound and measured approach, coherent solutions economically, environmentally and in societal context clearly spelled out and put on the table. Still waiting for a party to show its hand and a vision for all NZlanders without constantly going back to school yard bully behaviour.
If nothing changes, the young professionals will leave the country for greener pastures in great numbers. The writing is already on the wall.
''If nothing changes, the young professionals will leave the country for greener pastures in great numbers. The writing is already on the wall.''
Agree. That is a given. The numbers leaving may be the new 1pm news briefing once Covid numbers are no longer reported.
I recently stopped outside a closed cafe. The sign in the window said they may be able to reopen if the following positions are filled:
2) Chefs
2) Baristas
3) service staff.
Where have the previous employees gone? My guess is they are taking a paid break courtesy of the government before heading overseas. And if that's true, the situation with professionals must be worse given the big money on offer just across the ditch.
Look, employers can have whatever staff they want if they're prepared to do a bit of honest hard work.
They can't just expect opportunities to fall into their lap, they have to get out there and create them. Really sell themselves as an employer. Put themselves out there.
I wonder if they've tried networking functions? Word of mouth advertising can do wonders.
Maybe they could try finding savings elsewhere in their business, which they can then put towards really getting the staff they want?
If they put their head down and work hard and keep a good attitude, rewards will come.
Nobody want to hear it, but if they'd made better personal choices in the past, they wouldn't be in this position now. Rather than whinging or demanding that government fix their problem for them, how about some personal responsibility?
I was once on an interview panel 20 years ago, so I've done the hard yards, too. The problem with this generation of employers is that they just expect everything to be handed to them.
Blade – Yep, because it is a badge of honor to milk the system. How many times I have seen and experienced this is not even funny anymore. It really is difficult to be confronted with such attitude but this is true everywhere. A emigrant might go to a different country but their attitude travels with them.
However, at the same time there are many of the younger folks that feel shafted when they paid for their education and all the can land is a minimum pay job. There is a disconnect between the promise made to these graduates, i.e. if you get this degree or that, it is an opportunity and pays really well etc., vs what the market actually need and demands and will provide. So they are getting impatient and frustrated and look further afield for getting ahead. This is, and lets not forget this, a created instant gratification society. Be kind sometimes works, sometimes it will just create a bigger issue.
Has some other party proposed a co-governance model?
Here's a revealing profile of Putin's #2: https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/the-second-most-powerful-man-in-russia/
Nikolai Patrushev is currently the secretary of Russia’s Security Council.
The west has long used St. Nicholas the Santa, of course. But all we ever get from him is yet more capitalist crap. So here's an opportunity to use lateral thinking in the foreign policy of Aotearoa. We can advise the Russians that we'll do a switch to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker if they can provide a sufficiently impressive list of wonders that he worked.
The world needs wonderworkers (climate change etc) so we can alert the Russian regime to the potential for using their St Nick as an avatar for combining positive thinking with magic to shift mass consciousness. Since it seems obvious that they haven't spotted the potential for global influence already, I mean. They need our help.
This guy is definitely worth reading regarding the war in Ukraine.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Freedman
https://samf.substack.com/p/giving-peace-a-chance?s=r
https://samf.substack.com/p/space-and-time?s=r
Really! Can’t see it, same old same old one eyed drivel of little substance. No mention how the Ukraine situation could have been avoided had the deaf ears of the UN addressed the concerns voiced many times by Russia regarding NATO’s expansionism and the dire plight of the Donbas peoples being constantly bombarded by factions of the Ukrainian army since 2014 with huge civilian casualties. So the one eyed view of Mr Freedman counts for FA
Someone’s drunk Putin’s kool aid!
Such an infantile comment and attitude.. Only like one flavour of propaganda 'kool aid' do you, Stephen D?
Actually, I don’t believe everything I read, no matter who or what the source. When possible, triangulate.
Well, you don't extend that consideration to BydOnz, do you? Even though he condemns one-eyed drivel…
I know right?
The UN could have stopped
Intifada, Venezuela, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Ukraine and uranium, Yemen and covidium
Russia and Somalia, Taiwan and diptheria
Climate change and Syria, Israel and malaria
Poverty and selfishness, oil and gas and nastiness
Those things the UN smooths with honey
With unlimited power and money
Great list Ad. Seems there is an interconnecting thread.
You do know that this is not really set as context in the news media. This war uses phrases to manipulate on an emotional level and the rhetoric of the President of Ukraine has changed from "help us defend ourselves" to " Mr Zelensky said Western nations – and nearby Europe in particular – must go further and "act without delay"." Act in what way? All the sanctions are in place, Russia is cut off and Europe is to become the battle field for who exactly?
The whole of Europe has signed agreements after the WW2 that would prevent such scenario. If they would intervene in a military way, WW3 is on. Do people understand how dangerous the situation is?
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/28/europe/ukraine-russia-zelensky-biden-intl/index.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60527346
A cop's eye view on what it was like in the midst of the final day of that protest:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-wellington-protest-frontline-police-officer-says-it-was-a-war-zone/7HAS7DRUGJYGEMXCRAH6BCMYNE/
It certainly would have been a proper 'war zone' if foolish Labour Ministers that didn't know the law had brought the Army in like they and many on the left were calling for.
A children's slide some new grass and two minor fires, compared to a legislated loss of liberty supposed to gain a civic trade that hasn't prevented 300,000+ current infections and 100+ deaths.
A fair democratic price paid so far.
look around the world and hazard a guess at the deaths the govt response has prevented.
It seems that where public health is at stake, the perfect is the enemy of the rational as well as the good.
The Police Officer overstated the situation obviously but it was probably the most dramatic, confused and potentially violent situation they had ever encountered – they obviously didn't experience the 81 tour protests or the Queen Street riot (too young)
The Police Officer overstated the situation obviously
Erh, your hat isn't your keyboard, best not to talk through it unless you were there? That officer's description matched what I saw on the live streams only too starkly. We have no right to dismiss someone's direct experience if we haven't shared it or been through something similar.
Would you dream of saying Ukranian refugees are overstating their situation?
"War Zone" in Wellington lol
In the Ukraine it's a war zone – blown up hospitals, shelled apartment buildings, blown up bridges, dead bodies ,smoking ruined Tanks and Infantry Fighting Vehicles, murdered civilians and raped women that is a fucking war zone not that pissant riot in Wellington.
No I wouldn't say Ukrainian refugees are overstating their situation at all. They are in a war zone.
To inflate what happened in Wellington by claiming or supporting claims it was a war zone is pretty bloody obscene when we are seeing firsthand what a real war zone is.
Yup, overstated.
//
A detective used to working on murder cases would know murderous intent if he saw it!! A sobering read.
I agree Matiri. When you compare his words to what we actually saw happening in real time, I don't think he overstated the case at all. It was an horrific scene and astonishing no-one was killed. I saw one cop with a shield being trampled underfoot by a bunch of thugs. I didn't think he was going to come out of it alive. Maybe he was the cop who wrote this story.
Hmm a war zone in Wellington and no one died –
thousands dead in the Ukraine get a sense of proportion
Bricks are not artillery shells metal poles are not cruise missiles a piece of 2 by 4 is not an Infantry Fighting Vehicle to suggest that Wellington and the Ukraine are/were both war zones is damned offensive.
I never used the expression “war-zone” nor suggested any such comparison so why aim your brickbats at me. Its only you who is making the comparison about two totally different and unrelated events.
Agreed – I apologise I lost it a bit after JO's effort at 4.2.1 the linked article said the officer said it was a 'war zone' which I found enraging. I misdirected my ire to you and I am sorry for doing that.
Sorted. No probs.
ACT outflanks Labour on the left, advocating practical socialism:
ACT outflanks Labour on populism and propaganda. What’s new?
What a pity National didn't have the foresight to suggest this. Putting a policy like that in tandem with tax cuts would have been a big vote catcher in my opinion.
I doubt Labour would implement such a policy, given it targets everyone, even white folk finding it hard to keep the Audi running.
The Right is going to need something to counter the trinkets Robbo Hood will proffer to voters over the next two budgets. In fact, if Labours fortunes keep trending down, Robbo may become more important to Labour’s chances of survival than Jacinda.
It remains to be seen whether the PM rediscovers her mojo. Your prediction came true rather promptly, eh? I'd made similar prognostications in prior months so wasn't totally surprised.
Re Grant, expect a careful balancing act with the numbers matched with spending priorities I guess. A semblance of caring for the poor sufficient to fool enough voters, to mask the lack of substance thereof.
The main thing about the poll was floating voters underwhelmed by Labour's dropping of the ball. Labour are the kind of shallow thinkers who reckon pandemic fixation is a valid excuse for non-delivery. Too many opinion leaders in the community know better. Therefore the PM must get back into the saddle. The wrong conclusion to draw from the poll is floating voters rewarding National for performance. Ain't none of that happening.
We’re waiting for the end of history, Francis.
/
https://www.americanpurpose.com/articles/preparing-for-defeat/
the end of history
Banal at the time. Will he ever live that down? However he's a thoughtful chappie & usually worth a read. I own several of his books & have even read them.
I'm impressed that he's with the ever-growing body of opinion that predicts Putin to become a loser. A cautionary note: nobody with a track record of military expertise seems to have entered the public arena with the same opinion yet.
When I was watching the first Gulf War on CNN (we had it piped into our monitors in the TVNZ newsroom despite it being unavailable here on broadcast tv) I always appreciated the expert opinions of the top military analysts they interviewed as operation Desert Storm proceeded. None of that happening now – dunno why.
That makes sense to me. Hope he is right with his prognostications.
No 7.
As the writer points out later and I paraphrase: the days of the "strongman" leaders around the world will be numbered.
The middle of a war is probably not the best time to purge the upper ranks of your intelligence services. But hey, he's an ex KGB guy so I guess he knows a fair bit about purges..
A Russian spy chief and his deputy have been placed under house arrest by Vladmir Putin as the president blames his security services for the resistance met in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has been claimed.
According to a leading expert on the Russian security services, Sergey Beseda, head of the FSB’s foreign intelligence branch, was arrested along with his deputy, Anatoly Bolyukh.
Andrei Soldatov, who is co-founder and editor of Agentura- a watchdog of the Russian secret services’ activities – revealed that sources inside the FSB have confirmed the detention of both men.
The arrests were further corroborated by Vladimir Osechkin, an exiled Russian human rights activist who also added that the FSB officers had carried out searches at over 20 addresses in Moscow of colleagues suspected to be speaking with journalists.
https://archive.ph/UOueg
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-spy-chiefs-putin-security-b2034350.html
No mention of Putin's religious mission.
"Since he became President, Putin has cast himself as the true defender of Christians throughout the world, the leader of the Third Rome. His relentless bombing of ISIS, for example, was cast as the defence of the historic homeland of Christianity. And he will typically use faith as a way to knock the West, like he did in this speech in 2013:
“We see many of the Euro-Atlantic countries are actually rejecting their roots, including the Christian values that constitute the basis of Western civilisation. They are denying moral principles and all traditional identities: national, cultural, religious and even sexual. They are implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan.”
Putin regards his spiritual destiny as the rebuilding of Christendom, based in Moscow. "
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/religionglobalsociety/2022/02/putins-spiritual-destiny/
Putin's perception that the west are "implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan" seems a tad extreme and would likely fail the test of evidence.
It would have been better for him to quote orthodox christian doctrine on these two points, eh? To prove there is a substantial difference, I mean.
Why did god allocate this entity a place of high status in his righteous scheme? You'd have to ask a theologian. Don't ask more than one, since none of them agree with each other on the fundamentals & you'll only get confused!
My guess is that god created this entity for his own purposes (which remain mysterious) but I have to admit I borrowed this rationale from some ancient theologian. Then you get this:
So the baddie operated on god's behalf in administering divine justice. And his target was a nation of baddies (the jews). Confused yet?
So Putin's theological critique amounts to the west equating god with god's justice administrator. This is indeed a grievous error. I can see why it bothered him.
Just found this in a book of quotes. "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That keyis Russian national interest." From Winston Churchill, October 1939. Would seem to be relevant right now !
Well, if Putin fails and the longed for American dream of regime change occurs in Russia, I hope that it is the 2nd most popular party (by far) that gets the nod from the Russian voters, that party of course is the Communist Party. That regime change probably is not the one NATO or any of the western nations want though, lol and boohoo.
Join them Comrade.
You got nothin' to lose but your dreams.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published an article on March 9th 2022, titled:
Consider both sexes in experimental design – by Mandy MacLean MBE, FRSE, FMedSci, FBPhS, Professor of Pulmonary Pharmacology.
https://www.ukri.org/blog/consider-both-sexes-in-experimental-design/
Don't bother clicking. It's already down, and UKRI have been asked why.
For the intellectually curious, a copy was archived on the web archive site:
https://web.archive.org/web/20220309195220/https://www.ukri.org/blog/consider-both-sexes-in-experimental-design/
Will be interesting to see if UKRI respond, and what the story is.
The puppet selected and installed by an occupying force isn't the mayor, he's a collaborator.
The Zaporozhye regional administration says a new mayor has been installed in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, which is under Russian military control, after the elected mayor was detained on Friday
https://edition.cnn.com/webview/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-03-12-22/h_d7ddf51a92bd3d4c8e15397ac8b1dfe8
Free the Mayor
Where is the Mayor of Melitopol?
Mayor Ivan Federov, who is an ethnic Russian, had encouraged recent demonstrations in Melitopol against Russia.
Disappearances are stock in trade for fascist regimes. So asking where the Mayor of Melitopol has been taken is no small question. If they can disappear a Mayor, they can do it to anyone. Protesters, political activists, journalists are all under threat of being disappeared.
Where is the Mayor of Melitopol being held?
Has he been allowed to use a phone?
What are the charges against him?
What has be been accused of?
Where's the evidence?
Is he alive?
Zelenksy is on the right track. The War in Ukraine will be won/lost in Russia.
We can help. The Russian legation in Wellington need to have their diplomatic immunity revoked until the Mayor of Melitopol is released.
And next the Ewoks join the fight.
Won or lost? Bold call!
There is a precedent.
Many commentators have compared this war to Germany's invasion of Poland. I compare it to the American invasion of Vietnam.
It can be argued that the war in Vietnam was won and lost in America.
The Vietnam war was notable as being the first ever televised war.
All the Vietnamese had to do was keep fighting. The longer the war went on the more the objections and protests in America grew.
In Ukraine's asymmetric war gainst Russia, Ukraine has advantages the Vietnamese didn't, they speak the same language, they are nearby not thousands of miles away. And last of all they have the internet, live streaming all the crimes of the aggressor nation.
Putin has tried to impose and electronic Iron Curtain to stop Russians seeing the live stream of Russian war crimes in the Ukraine The original Iron Curtain lasted 4 decades, the new electronic lasted four days before it was breached.
The longer the Ukraine resists the more the resistance to war will grow in Russia.
The end result is inevitable. A humiliating defeat for Russia.
One big difference between the Vietnam war and the Ukraine war. will be that when Russia is defeated by Ukraine, there will be Nuremberg style court hearings to of Russians identified as having committed war crimes. Including the disappearances and murder of civilian leaders political activists and journalists.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/13/world/europe/brent-renaud-irpin.html
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/new-mayor-installed-in-ukraine-s-melitopol-after-elected-mayor-s-abduction-101647129356871.html
“The fact of the abduction of the Mayor of Melitopol, along with hundreds of other facts of war crimes by Russian occupiers on the Ukrainian soil, are being carefully documented by law enforcement agencies. The perpetrators of this and other crimes will be brought to the strictest responsibility,” the ministry said in a Facebook post.
What's your Ukraine donation group of choice, people?
Odds on for dairy solids per kilo at NZ$11.
Less milk, Ukraine conflict driving dairy prices up (ruralnewsgroup.co.nz)
A perverse boom, but a boom nonetheless.
We as a country will need high returns for our commodities to pay for imported commodities.
Tracey Martin told One News that she has a $100 bet going with Ron Mark that NZF will not make it back into parliament at the next election. 🤑