I really do think Jacinda needs to get rid of Mallard. He's become the albatross around her neck. Judith is of course using this as an opportunity to get at Jacinda and will continue to. Mallard is probably due to retire soon anyway, but this really doesn't reflect well on Jacinda.
How the heck can Stuff let this pass as opinion? It might be Ben Thomas' opinion, but it's worse than Kelvin Davis' speech after the last election, and that was appalling.
Watching TV3 News last night, there was the piece on a further $8m required to go further in to Pike River mine. Also the piece on people laying down in front of Parliament protesting that drugs required to keep them alive are not funded.
IMO, if the govt. has a spare $8m, I would rather it went towards funding the drugs required for the living.
I would rather the money went to saving the lives of people that are still living. If we had unlimited supply of money then I guess they could do both.
Claim is that the fan must be recovered. Original plan was there would sufficient forensic evidence in the area where the mandate stopped. Review will reveal who is correct?
Nothing was guaranteed, but the deeper they go the evidence they might find. Switchboards and fans. Self-rescue equipment. Gas monitors. Were they signed off as in spec but not? Were they missing? Eg.g isn't the fan just beyond the current obstacle?
As a thought experiment: a group of cancer patients are given a new drug. They’re told that the new pill is quite safe. Next day, 29 patients are found dead.
What do you do? You move on and pretend there’s nothing to see here, that nothing will bring back the dead, and the money is more useful for ‘the living’? Should the Crown inquest into the death of six epilepsy patients be scrapped because that money can be spent better elsewhere, e.g. for housing homeless people?
People need answers to help them find closure. People need answers to ensure and be assured that systems and processes of accountability are in place and functioning to uphold these principles. People need answers to be able to avoid/prevent similar mistakes being made in future. These things take time, can be quite costly, and are painful for some.
Welcome to politics; it is everywhere and always present.
Unfortunately we do not have a never ending supply of money and it must be allocated as the government sees fit. IMO if $8m will keep a number of people alive, it is a better use of those funds than finding remains of dead people. I believe around $52m has already been spent.
There's the systemic benefit of finding out what went wrong, but there's also the possible safety improvement if someone who did something dangerous (e.g. tampered with a gas detector, or authorised unsafe equipment) might still be working in the industry, as yet undiscovered.
And of course your comment assumes that the $8mill will go to keeping people alive rather than paying down govt debt.
Ok, you didn’t add anything new to your opinion, you just repeated it. As for those anti-cancer drugs; they’re not miracle drugs or cures. Some patients do suffer severe and almost life-threatening side effects in some cases and there’s absolutely no guarantee that they will work or even work well in all patients. These are much more ethical dilemmas than issues about money although the latter does play a role, of course. For example, PHARMAC makes recommendations based on cost-utility analysis using QALYs; they don’t decide on Pike River and could not apply the same analysis, for obvious reasons. It takes political and public debate to decide on cost-benefit analysis, where benefit is much broader and wider ranging than utility per se; not everything can and should be counted (!) in terms of life & death because we are humans and live in a human society.
I really wonder about the world we live in nowadays. What’s happened to responding to people like the shoe fetishist as a weirdo and having a giggle? Not the staff at no 1 shoe warehouse or any woman whose shoes he photographed.
but there doesn’t seem to be any evidence that the guy took pics of the kids shoes and there was always another teacher in the class. But now a trauma team is sent in and the principal feels bad cause he didn’t protect the kids…………I am sorry if anyone feels traumatised and I don’t mean to invalidate their feelings. But I wonder if it’s not more helpful in this instance saying “weirdo” and getting on with life.
interested to hear others views. Btw I had, unknown to me, a close association with someone who had a shoe fetish, just to let you know. It was weird, but I didn’t need to make it make it my problem
the guy postes his fetish, including pictures of the girls whose shoes he ejaculated all over on fetish boards.
So maybe this is just a bit more then a 'eewww' and a giggle.
In the fist article it appears that one of his victims a 15 year old co-worker had her name and face plastered all over some fetish site. So the question remains, did he do the same while working as a teacher?
According to Newshub, the employee had been posting numerous photos, with one titled 'Workmate's Converse in work locker'.
One of his alleged victims was aged just 15.
In January 2021 he allegedly photographed himself performing a sex act in the colleague's shoes, according to Newshub.
Some of his posts also contained images of his alleged victims, including faces, either in the store or in the breakroom, it is claimed.
A number of posts detailed female customers' looks, ages, and a description of their shoes………………………………….
Newshub claim in March a post on the man's fetish profile discussed how he followed a "fit" woman home and returned to her house the next day before sniffing and spitting in her shoes………………..
She eventually managed to identify the workplace and the 15-year-old co-worker from a photo taken of her locker which included a document with her full name.…………………….
so maybe really there is a reason why they are following it up. Personally i would not want to be the fifteen year old.
Thanks Sabine. Mine is a good example of a knee jerk reaction based on my own experience when I didn’t have all the information. Do you are correct.
I do feel for the principal who is taking too much responsibility here. These sexual deviants, for want of a better phrase exist and will do anything to gain access to women and children. Here’s hoping his offending was limited and didn’t include the kids from the school.
btw my own experience was helped by the lack of the internet.
yes, the lack of internet in our time maybe was a saving grace for many abuse victims.
I can't fault the principal for wondering if he missed signs and what they were. In any case this guy is now in prison and hopefully will be given more then a home d sentence.
I don’t know that there are always signs. In my case the guy was the very last person you would expect. And don’t think his actions were criminal. Also worked with a guy, who we later found out sexually abused his step daughter. Although I didn’t respect him as a colleague never ever occurred to me he was a paedophile. Ever. Two “nice” progressive guys.
Even the link you did provide had some points of concern, Anker (boldface added for emphasis):
a man accused of performing sexual acts with other people’s shoes for fetish websites was on placement as a student teacher…
He’s also believed to have messaged women using fake profiles on social media asking for pictures of their shoes.
The pictures were then posted online, along with pictures of the women, without their knowledge…
It was possible students at the school had been contacted by Wylie, or one of his aliases, on social media asking for pictures of shoes…
According to court documents, Wylie faces two charges of behaving in an offensive manner in Number One Shoes on April 4 and April 15 this year. He also faces a charge of theft of a customer’s insole
That's a fairly clear picture of premeditation and deliberate deception there, without even getting into the; stalking, and unsought bodily fluid deposits, that Sabine references. Though; "photographed himself performing a sex act in the colleague's shoes", could have been boldface too.
The DSM-V distinguishes between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders, which seems an important distinction. I don't think that everyone with a; shoe, or foot, fetish is necessarily a weirdo – there is certainly room for more variety in human behavioural expression. However, when it comes to inflicting your paraphilia on others without their consent, then it becomes abuse, if not assault. It is more the violation of others, than the kink itself, that is the problem
However, the role of internet (especially in its darker recesses) fora in providing spaces to; normalize, and even incentivize, abuse of others is becoming difficult to ignore. Yet that runs smack up into the freedom of expression argument, which isn't likely to be settled anytime soon. And, with virtual network identity and cross-border differences in regulation, that'd be a nightmare to even study (to gauge the extent of the non-consensual image problems), let alone prevent.
I have been depressing myself this past month following the; Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Imagining what that would have been like in the Internet age really makes me lose hope for our society.
The likelihood of a; trans woman, or other Assigned Male At Birth, individual being in the same changing room for you to glimpse their "willy" is fairly remote, gsays. AFAB trans-men who have had bottom surgery on the other hand might be more inclined to such exhibitionism?
The general rule with being trans in changing rooms, or toilets, is to; avoid making eye contact, or speaking to others (if there are no unisex – generally disabled – rooms available). Never going anywhere in public alone is also an important precaution against the frequent verbal and physical abuse we encounter. Waiting for a wall-adjacent space so that you can hide what unavoidable body exposure can't be concealed with towels or other garments is recommended.
I remember seeing somewhere that the most common answer for trans-people to the question; "What would you do first if all the transphobes in the world magically vanished for a day?", was; "go swimming". While looking for the source, I stumbled upon this, and got distracted:
Physical activity, in particular swimming and aquatic activity, has positive mental and physical health benefits; swimming and aquatic activity participation have the potential to address health inequalities. However, {citation} show that transphobic language and the acceptance of transphobic “banter” pervade physical activity and sport environments. As highlighted above through previous research, many transgender and non-binary people experience sport and physical activity as discriminatory, prejudiced and abusive…
The theme of not swimming for a long period of time was shared by many of the research participants and mentioned in the one-to-one interviews:
Up until the first session [Trans Swim] I hadn't submerged in water, obviously I'd had baths, but like at the beach and swimming pools, for at least ten, twelve years I hadn't been swimming. (Joe, 22nd June 2018)
I didn't swim all these years. Probably nine years. (Sam, 10th May 2019).
The main reasons for ceasing to take part in swimming activities were contingent on being transgender or non-binary and linked with not feeling safe, and not feeling comfortable to display the body.
gsays as I said earlier it was a knee jerk reaction on my behalf to the article, ie I didn't think it through, likely to do with my own experience.
And yeah I get that this person has caused harm to some people. I think I said in my comment that I don't want to invalidate peoples experience. I guess what I was thinking and I didn't put it well is I hope they don't make people into victims over this or catastrophize it, which sounds like what your mum with a head of steam is trying to do gsays.
Very much prefer not to see anyone's willy in a change room. I would not like that, nor do I want it. Nor would I like anyone with a willy looking at me when I change.
I feel this way about male v female Drs. Although if I have to see a male Dr, I grin and bear it (so to speak).
Gsays it sounds like you might be a medical professional and as such see peoples bodies regularly as part of your work., which may mean you are less bothered by this.
I did appreciate Forget now writing about their experience (sorry not 100% sure if you are trans male or trans female) experience of changing rooms. What do you think is the solution Forget now?
I am NonBinary, or just; Queer; Anker, so that makes navigating changing rooms and toilets; more difficult, rather than less so. But if I go to the pool, it's usually with kids anyway, so we can use the family changing rooms. Though, if I go by myself that's not such an option, unless that area is fairly empty so I don't have to wait. You sure don't want to be a single trans person seen to be hanging around a kiddy area! So I don't go by myself.
My preferred solution would be; more unisex toilets and such. Though that doesn't help much with trans-men & -women, who feel that their identity is bound up in their binary gender. Like, if you are visiting someone's house, do you ask where the woman's toilet is? No, even if there are more than one – they are for everybody! Though I guess; en suites are only for the people staying in that room. To me, the whole toilet debate seems mostly a result of public building designers wanting to cheap-out on the facilities. However, those metal-trough urinals are simply disgusting and I would prefer never to be in the same room with one again.
If you don't want to see someone's; Willy, or Reena, the simple solution is not to perv at their groin.
I agreed with your preferred solution. I think change rooms can be pretty fraught places for a lot of people. It’s not a matter of not perving at men’s Willies. But it would be a very heightened awareness that their is someone in a female changing room with one. Women are unused to this, and many are likely to feel deeply self conscious should that happen. For me it’s not about being transphobic (although I never allow myself to say I am not racist, transphobic or sexist). What I try and do is check my responses and be open to my own unconscious prejudice.
I say I don’t think I am transphobic over the toilet issue, because I would be happy to have a trans man use female toilets. It may be in part to do with an attempted rape by a mask man in a changing room that makes me very sensitive and aware of who is in any public change room. Especially if I perceive that would be capable of overpowering me.. Aside from that, I am a woman over a certain age. I also think many women who have been sexually abused are triggered by male genitalia or the awareness that it is around. The solution of “don’t perve”, really doesn’t feel good to me. I would be doing everything I could not to “perve” but that in and of itself doesn’t feel at all comfortable.
Oops, that should have been; trans-men & trans-women (2nd paragraph), it didn't have red underlining so I missed that typo. The evolving terminology is a bit fraught and contested, but a trans-man (usually, depending on who is speaking) means someone Assigned Female At Birth (or more rarely; Intersex) who has transitioned to male gender expression.
Simplifying; trans-man = Sex; female, Gender; man. Trans-woman = Sex; male, Gender; woman (though that's skipping a lot). Which is complicated by the fact that; hormone supplements (& blockers), and surgery, mean that trans-men often have; flat chests, beards, and sometimes willies. While trans-women often have; breasts, little body hair, and sometimes reenas (though these are more cosmetic rather than functional for breeding purposes).
But yeah, I get what you mean about being aware of other's bodies without consciously perving. Though there is a body odour (even when freshly showered) change with hormone changes too, which seems to be connected with how clockable someone is. Also, trans willies tend to be somewhat stunted and useless – though I won't go into details there. The problem is; a lot of people's ideas about trans-people seem to come from porn, and those youthful sexual athletes are likely taking performance enhancers.
Anyway, everyone has their unconscious prejudices. I can't stand drag-queens myself – though I don't deny that they are people with particular needs. Really, I don't think the; "trans-men are men, trans-women are women" slogan is likely to be fully socially accepted in my lifetime (though it is cute to see the young ones proclaim it so earnestly). I'd be happy with a general recognition that:
Hey forget now and Gsays, I am really pleased this hasn’t developed into a flaming row too! Very glad.
I appreciated your openness Forget Now and when people are open about how things are for them, it takes it away from debating points.. from your openness forget now, I was able to have some idea what it was like for trans gender people using public toilets. Felt so protective of that space, I didn’t pause to really consider it.
it’s good to share common ground. I would prefer to refer to trans people as trans people too.
Many years ago I lived in the UK and other than someone taking me to a show with drag queens in it, I hadn’t had much exposure at all to trans people. Then this tv personality, Claire Raynor, did a tv documentary about a person who had gender dysphasia and wanted to transition. It was an amazing doco and really was very empathetic towards the trans person. I’ve remembered it 30 years later.
I guess it is more the; lip-synching performances, than the drag-queens themselves I dislike. Learn to sing or play an instrument! Especially now when autotune/ pitch-shifters are readily available if you feel your voice is too deep a bass for the song (or soprano for drag-kings).
It's really more of a; musician, than an eNBy, prejudice. Plus I keep getting people expecting me to be into that Ru Paul gameshow, and I've not been able to make it through a single episode (apparently the earlier seasons were better, and more DIY).
Last night I came across an interview withRobert Pope Chicago University who analysed the people who participated in Washington insurrection and have been processed by the courts.
Of the 420+ so far:
96% White
86% Male
2/3 were 34yo or older with a cluster in the 40-50yo.
They had families and jobs
45% were business managers, CEO, doctors. Lawyers etc.
7% were unemployed.
90% were not members of gangs/militias
The all important Driver of the rioters was their overwhelming belief in the “Replacement Theory.”
This is where White people fear that the emerging rights of the minorities will push out the whites.
Half of the participants came from the Blue (Democrat) areas and were Trump supporters. The indicator was from areas where there was a decline in White population.
The more rural the area the less likely that they would be to participate.
They were all GOP supporters.
The University carried out a Gold Standard Survey of the General Population.
4% of the USA population believe that the Election was stolen and that they would support a violent response.
The survey focussed on the Replacement Theory.
PS I hope my notes are accurate. One might wonder if Replacement Theory is behind the National Party currently raising fears of minority gaining rights? Maybe.
45% were business managers, CEO, doctors. Lawyers etc.
All I can deduce from that is that many US doctors, lawyers and CEOs in the US have poor deduction abilities, are not well educated and lacking integrity. For Americans who are supposedly professionals to actively participate in violent insurrection against the state is mind boggling.
these are now the professionals that have to compete with non white, non male people who are equally well educated, often younger, and often more driven then they themselves are. It is very easy to be a highly paid mediocre white man in certain places. And then you lose your job to someone who is brown, female or 'other', and they outperform you at every instance. White privilege, its a heck of a drug.
Fanmac getting his name right would help Robert Pape his research showed most of the 377 charged so far came from towns and cities where migrants of different ethnicities were becoming the majority .White insecurity fearing of having non white people in charge .
Thanks for the correction to Robert Pape's name Tricledrown. The number given by him last night was 420 so far. And yes the different ethnicities becoming the majority is the point.
Perhaps the fight back from coloured people objecting to unwarranted arrests means that coloured people gaining "rights" in the eyes of whites, cause the fear, even if those "rights" should mean "equal rights" rather than greater "rights."
I just made notes from the You Tube item that I stumbled on. My skills did not stretch to how to link it to here, but I will backtrack so next time…. Thanks Incognito.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas told senators on Wednesday that the greatest domestic threat facing the United States came from what they both called “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists.”
“Specifically those who advocate for the superiority of the white race,” Mr. Garland told the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The cabinet secretaries’ comments reflected a dramatic shift in tone from the Trump administration, which deliberately downplayed the threat from white supremacists and similar groups, in part to elevate the profile of what former President Donald J. Trump described as violent threats from radical left-wing groups.
Last year, a former head of the Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence branch filed a whistle-blower complaint in which he accused the department of blocking a report about the threat of violent extremism and described white supremacists as having been “exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent targeted attacks in recent years.”
…
Merrick Garland added that “if there has to be a hard hierarchy of things that we prioritize,” the Jan. 6 attack would be at the top because it most threatened democracy. “I have not seen a more dangerous threat to democracy than the invasion of the Capitol,” Garland said, calling it “an attempt to interfere with the fundamental element of our democracy, a peaceful transfer of power.” Alejandro Mayorkas added that “the department is taking a new approach to addressing domestic violent extremism, both internally and externally.”
the offender was attempting to use a mixture of real and fake $50 notes at Briscoes, Hornby, when the employee refused to accept the cash.
But when the store assistant did not return the fake cash to the offender as requested, he pulled her hair and produced a knife…Briscoes refused to comment on the incident yesterday and police were unable to provide information…
The employee, who has been working at the Hornby store for a number of years, called police and made a statement at the scene… police were able to take note of the number plate of the offender’s car in the Briscoes car park.
So, while not just returning the counterfeit bills was obviously not the best idea, the response was way overboard. Brandishing a weapon at someone is assault, but especially so with the hair grappling! I think it was 6x the 2019 levels of violence/ abuse against Countdown staff reported with in one of the Dunedin stabbing articles (don't have link at moment)? So this seems to already have become a common thing in NZ.
Yep. Meth is a nasty chemical that twists the mind and can turn good people into psychopaths. If meth use is on the rise these type of incidences will likely rise too.
If we reduce addiction we can reduce the harm from/to addicts. So what are the factors that would bring meth use (and addiction in general) down?
Addiction is a response to human suffering. Healing trauma helps addiction. Connection helps addiction.
A holistic job. Punitive measures for addicts only exacerbate the issue by breaking families up and subjecting users to violent criminals – more trauma – more addiction – more shameful behaviour – more trauma – more addiction…
We have to work out how to, as a society, jump off the damn carousel.
Humans are the major contributors to human suffering. Many of them we reward and applaud. Statues to bastards dot the land. Shrines to shitheads. The issues rose from within. From gross inhumanities to the endless barrage of corporate shit telling us we are not enough… We've lost sight of community for celebrity, of succour for success.
When we treat social animals in anti-social ways we create social disorders.
Create community for the lost to actually return to.
You are right about the lack of community contributing to mental ill-health. Lacking a sense of belonging- family, community, church or sports groups etc underpins lots of dis-ease.
Combine that disconnect with the general fuck-wittedness trajectory of society these events are going to become more common place.
While it is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff approach, micro dosing with LSD is gaining favourability. However if one is in crisis, the time to be disciplined with psychedelics has passed.
Sounds like a good argument for cannabis. If all our alcohol drinkers were required to include cannabis in the golden list of drugs (with suitable limits), we would be on a great path. I hope that toilet paper is never banned, NZs are so unprogressive that they would have to be begged, to vote for its resurrection again.
This is pretty saddening, though at least the text service is reaching its target demographic. It is hard to talk when your voice is raspy from crying, so I'd be glad of the text option if I was in that situation (and had no urgent tasks to keep me distracted from the pointlessness of continued existence). I think it was Camus (Myth of Sisyphus?) who said that; suicide is the only important philosophical question:
Children as young as 11 are contacting Lifeline feeling suicidal as the helpline records its busiest month.
In April, more than 30,000 text messages were sent and received by the crisis helpline.
That surpasses the previous record set in March this year of 27,000 texts. It is also more than the 25,000 texts sent and received during {the 2020 COVID lockdown}.
The majority of texts being received are from young people between the ages of 11 and 20.
If by the "jacinda government" he means the full majority the Labour currently enjoys he could be quite right actually. I for one hope that the next election brings forward some good showing by the third parties to force Labour into a coalition. The one to look for is Act which currently seems to have the most to win, the Maori Party is interesting, The Green should be in the 10%, and then there are the conservatives and others.
Germany is currently undergoing some interesting changes. For the first time this country will have the chance at a coalition between the CDU/CSU and The Greens.
This is a really good read on the changing times, the kids that won against the german government re climate change, and best of all some good graphics of the possible coalition agreements that could be looked at.
And the realos in the Green Party could be making Government this year as a full partner.
To be sure. Not very impressed with the Shaw version of the Greens myself, but they're a better act than the opposition parties. It would be nice to see a few strong voices or intellects emerge even from ACT or the Gnats – but there's no sign of such hidden depths to date. They see Trumpian politics as something to aspire to, even as even America is recognizing they were a step too far.
Davidson is co-leader of the GP, so it is not solely the; Shaw version of the Greens, SM. Especially since he has been there for a while now, so by next election I would guess that Tuiono will have taken his place (March is a bit young, and skin of his teeth list elected on specials). Though it is possible for Shaw to resign from parliament this term and be replaced without a by-election (being a list MP), I don't think his Ministerial appointments would necessarily go with him (been a while since I have read the LP/ GP agreement).
Shaw seems to front for the issues I'm less keen on – Davidson seems ok. Seems to be a dearth of male talent atm – but Swarbrick might step up at some point. Surprised we haven't seen more of Genter. The Greens largely have the intellectual and policy chops the other opposition parties lack – interesting to see what use they make of them.
That is not the point i was trying to make. Have you had a look at the forecasted options for the next german government? What you will see there is that ALL options are discussed, the good, the bad, the ugly, if you so want.
The Co Leader of the German Green Party and the Conservatives both will try to run a good government, the point is that you need to work together.
And maybe once the people of NZ understand it they might actually demand it from their parties.
Or else you are constantly in a stalemate where every other government tries to undo what the last government has created. Maybe we should think about that, as it is as sure as day light that national at some stage will form a coalition again with someone, the other alternative that if Labour wants to rule, it might must consider a somewhat 'unpalatable' coalition partner.
1 April this year marked a somewhat historic moment with the increase of the minimum wage to $20 p/h. In the 2000's there was a push to "make low wages history". Now in 2021 we can claim that has been achieved, low wages are now history with the minimum benchmark of $20. That isn't a high wage rate, but neither is it low. Also in recent years the minimum wage has made rapid advances in catching up with the living wage, the difference is no where huge like it was in the mid 2010's. Low wages, at least in terms of how it was defined of $ per hour, are history.
That does not account for under employment of course which can still render a persons weekly income low by virtue of hours worked and availability of work.
yes and that's not about low wages per se Pat, that's about a very big price bubble, the ratio of income to house prices. To misquote John keys infamous "I would love to see wages drop" quote, I would love to see house prices drop.
Thats the point….you will not improve living standards through wage increases IF the major living cost is ignored….especially when a general wage increase is a signal to increase rents/house prices.
The solution is to restore affordable housing costs.
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Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
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. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
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I really do think Jacinda needs to get rid of Mallard. He's become the albatross around her neck. Judith is of course using this as an opportunity to get at Jacinda and will continue to. Mallard is probably due to retire soon anyway, but this really doesn't reflect well on Jacinda.
'Outrageous;' 'embarrassment': Judith Collins and Jacinda Ardern trade letters over Trevor Mallard saga – NZ Herald
Yup, Mallard's the problem.
/
https://thestandard.org.nz/classy/
How the heck can Stuff let this pass as opinion? It might be Ben Thomas' opinion, but it's worse than Kelvin Davis' speech after the last election, and that was appalling.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/125107559/if-the-jacinda-show-wants-another-season-it-cant-afford-any-more-stumbles
The murderous euphoria of the Israeli far right who're getting everything they want and the hopelessness of Palestinians who get nothing. Two states.
https://twitter.com/edokonrad/status/1392188874743451648
Watching TV3 News last night, there was the piece on a further $8m required to go further in to Pike River mine. Also the piece on people laying down in front of Parliament protesting that drugs required to keep them alive are not funded.
IMO, if the govt. has a spare $8m, I would rather it went towards funding the drugs required for the living.
And let the white collar criminals off the hook, again?
Do the job properly this time.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/382913/pike-river-mine-early-police-work-described-as-diabolical
I would rather the money went to saving the lives of people that are still living. If we had unlimited supply of money then I guess they could do both.
well there is the money spend on the americas cup, on amazon, and such …..
we seem to have money to waste, it seem the problem really is the 'spending'.
But yeah, heck, lets play the ones against the others, while the third party laughs all the way to the bank.
I wonder how much surplus this labour government is gonna leave the next national government for tax cuts. 🙂
Think of the future victims of the pike river management mobsters jimmy.
Claim is that the fan must be recovered. Original plan was there would sufficient forensic evidence in the area where the mandate stopped. Review will reveal who is correct?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/125111240/8m-plan-to-go-further-into-pike-river-mine-to-be-reviewed
I think you might be over-egging the expectations for the original plan.
Nothing was guaranteed, but the deeper they go the evidence they might find. Switchboards and fans. Self-rescue equipment. Gas monitors. Were they signed off as in spec but not? Were they missing? Eg.g isn't the fan just beyond the current obstacle?
https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/2105/Pike_River_Familes_Main_Fan_Site_Recovery_Plan__May_2021.pdf
Thanks, that's really interesting.
As a thought experiment: a group of cancer patients are given a new drug. They’re told that the new pill is quite safe. Next day, 29 patients are found dead.
What do you do? You move on and pretend there’s nothing to see here, that nothing will bring back the dead, and the money is more useful for ‘the living’? Should the Crown inquest into the death of six epilepsy patients be scrapped because that money can be spent better elsewhere, e.g. for housing homeless people?
People need answers to help them find closure. People need answers to ensure and be assured that systems and processes of accountability are in place and functioning to uphold these principles. People need answers to be able to avoid/prevent similar mistakes being made in future. These things take time, can be quite costly, and are painful for some.
Welcome to politics; it is everywhere and always present.
Unfortunately we do not have a never ending supply of money and it must be allocated as the government sees fit. IMO if $8m will keep a number of people alive, it is a better use of those funds than finding remains of dead people. I believe around $52m has already been spent.
There's the systemic benefit of finding out what went wrong, but there's also the possible safety improvement if someone who did something dangerous (e.g. tampered with a gas detector, or authorised unsafe equipment) might still be working in the industry, as yet undiscovered.
And of course your comment assumes that the $8mill will go to keeping people alive rather than paying down govt debt.
Ok, you didn’t add anything new to your opinion, you just repeated it. As for those anti-cancer drugs; they’re not miracle drugs or cures. Some patients do suffer severe and almost life-threatening side effects in some cases and there’s absolutely no guarantee that they will work or even work well in all patients. These are much more ethical dilemmas than issues about money although the latter does play a role, of course. For example, PHARMAC makes recommendations based on cost-utility analysis using QALYs; they don’t decide on Pike River and could not apply the same analysis, for obvious reasons. It takes political and public debate to decide on cost-benefit analysis, where benefit is much broader and wider ranging than utility per se; not everything can and should be counted (!) in terms of life & death because we are humans and live in a human society.
I really wonder about the world we live in nowadays. What’s happened to responding to people like the shoe fetishist as a weirdo and having a giggle? Not the staff at no 1 shoe warehouse or any woman whose shoes he photographed.
but there doesn’t seem to be any evidence that the guy took pics of the kids shoes and there was always another teacher in the class. But now a trauma team is sent in and the principal feels bad cause he didn’t protect the kids…………I am sorry if anyone feels traumatised and I don’t mean to invalidate their feelings. But I wonder if it’s not more helpful in this instance saying “weirdo” and getting on with life.
interested to hear others views. Btw I had, unknown to me, a close association with someone who had a shoe fetish, just to let you know. It was weird, but I didn’t need to make it make it my problem
the guy postes his fetish, including pictures of the girls whose shoes he ejaculated all over on fetish boards.
So maybe this is just a bit more then a 'eewww' and a giggle.
In the fist article it appears that one of his victims a 15 year old co-worker had her name and face plastered all over some fetish site. So the question remains, did he do the same while working as a teacher?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/number-one-shoe-employee-arrested-after-alleged-sexual-acts-with-co-workers-shoes-for-fetish-site/DWLDZEEQW6BXKMVUJQKZH2NDZY/
so maybe really there is a reason why they are following it up. Personally i would not want to be the fifteen year old.
Thanks Sabine. Mine is a good example of a knee jerk reaction based on my own experience when I didn’t have all the information. Do you are correct.
I do feel for the principal who is taking too much responsibility here. These sexual deviants, for want of a better phrase exist and will do anything to gain access to women and children. Here’s hoping his offending was limited and didn’t include the kids from the school.
btw my own experience was helped by the lack of the internet.
[typo fixed in e-mail address]
yes, the lack of internet in our time maybe was a saving grace for many abuse victims.
I can't fault the principal for wondering if he missed signs and what they were. In any case this guy is now in prison and hopefully will be given more then a home d sentence.
I don’t know that there are always signs. In my case the guy was the very last person you would expect. And don’t think his actions were criminal. Also worked with a guy, who we later found out sexually abused his step daughter. Although I didn’t respect him as a colleague never ever occurred to me he was a paedophile. Ever. Two “nice” progressive guys.
Even the link you did provide had some points of concern, Anker (boldface added for emphasis):
That's a fairly clear picture of premeditation and deliberate deception there, without even getting into the; stalking, and unsought bodily fluid deposits, that Sabine references. Though; "photographed himself performing a sex act in the colleague's shoes", could have been boldface too.
The DSM-V distinguishes between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders, which seems an important distinction. I don't think that everyone with a; shoe, or foot, fetish is necessarily a weirdo – there is certainly room for more variety in human behavioural expression. However, when it comes to inflicting your paraphilia on others without their consent, then it becomes abuse, if not assault. It is more the violation of others, than the kink itself, that is the problem
However, the role of internet (especially in its darker recesses) fora in providing spaces to; normalize, and even incentivize, abuse of others is becoming difficult to ignore. Yet that runs smack up into the freedom of expression argument, which isn't likely to be settled anytime soon. And, with virtual network identity and cross-border differences in regulation, that'd be a nightmare to even study (to gauge the extent of the non-consensual image problems), let alone prevent.
I have been depressing myself this past month following the; Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Imagining what that would have been like in the Internet age really makes me lose hope for our society.
Strange you should see it that way.
I agree with you, but I also feel the same about the impact if someone were to glimpse a trans person's willy in a changing room.
Too many folk ready to bring their own discomfort on behalf of others, and making them 'victims' where that isn't the case.
I do know of someone who was photographed, they are 'meh' but Mum is really trying to build a head of outrage steam.
The likelihood of a; trans woman, or other Assigned Male At Birth, individual being in the same changing room for you to glimpse their "willy" is fairly remote, gsays. AFAB trans-men who have had bottom surgery on the other hand might be more inclined to such exhibitionism?
The general rule with being trans in changing rooms, or toilets, is to; avoid making eye contact, or speaking to others (if there are no unisex – generally disabled – rooms available). Never going anywhere in public alone is also an important precaution against the frequent verbal and physical abuse we encounter. Waiting for a wall-adjacent space so that you can hide what unavoidable body exposure can't be concealed with towels or other garments is recommended.
I remember seeing somewhere that the most common answer for trans-people to the question; "What would you do first if all the transphobes in the world magically vanished for a day?", was; "go swimming". While looking for the source, I stumbled upon this, and got distracted:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2020.00064/full
gsays as I said earlier it was a knee jerk reaction on my behalf to the article, ie I didn't think it through, likely to do with my own experience.
And yeah I get that this person has caused harm to some people. I think I said in my comment that I don't want to invalidate peoples experience. I guess what I was thinking and I didn't put it well is I hope they don't make people into victims over this or catastrophize it, which sounds like what your mum with a head of steam is trying to do gsays.
Very much prefer not to see anyone's willy in a change room. I would not like that, nor do I want it. Nor would I like anyone with a willy looking at me when I change.
I feel this way about male v female Drs. Although if I have to see a male Dr, I grin and bear it (so to speak).
Gsays it sounds like you might be a medical professional and as such see peoples bodies regularly as part of your work., which may mean you are less bothered by this.
I did appreciate Forget now writing about their experience (sorry not 100% sure if you are trans male or trans female) experience of changing rooms. What do you think is the solution Forget now?
I am NonBinary, or just; Queer; Anker, so that makes navigating changing rooms and toilets; more difficult, rather than less so. But if I go to the pool, it's usually with kids anyway, so we can use the family changing rooms. Though, if I go by myself that's not such an option, unless that area is fairly empty so I don't have to wait. You sure don't want to be a single trans person seen to be hanging around a kiddy area! So I don't go by myself.
My preferred solution would be; more unisex toilets and such. Though that doesn't help much with trans-men & -women, who feel that their identity is bound up in their binary gender. Like, if you are visiting someone's house, do you ask where the woman's toilet is? No, even if there are more than one – they are for everybody! Though I guess; en suites are only for the people staying in that room. To me, the whole toilet debate seems mostly a result of public building designers wanting to cheap-out on the facilities. However, those metal-trough urinals are simply disgusting and I would prefer never to be in the same room with one again.
If you don't want to see someone's; Willy, or Reena, the simple solution is not to perv at their groin.
Thanks Forget Now.
I agreed with your preferred solution. I think change rooms can be pretty fraught places for a lot of people. It’s not a matter of not perving at men’s Willies. But it would be a very heightened awareness that their is someone in a female changing room with one. Women are unused to this, and many are likely to feel deeply self conscious should that happen. For me it’s not about being transphobic (although I never allow myself to say I am not racist, transphobic or sexist). What I try and do is check my responses and be open to my own unconscious prejudice.
I say I don’t think I am transphobic over the toilet issue, because I would be happy to have a trans man use female toilets. It may be in part to do with an attempted rape by a mask man in a changing room that makes me very sensitive and aware of who is in any public change room. Especially if I perceive that would be capable of overpowering me.. Aside from that, I am a woman over a certain age. I also think many women who have been sexually abused are triggered by male genitalia or the awareness that it is around. The solution of “don’t perve”, really doesn’t feel good to me. I would be doing everything I could not to “perve” but that in and of itself doesn’t feel at all comfortable.
[same typo fixed in e-mail address]
Thanks for your candidacy Anker and Forget Now. It is not an easy thing you disclose.
It's not the first time that I've disclosed this on TS, gsays. Though it may be the first it didn't turn into a flaming row. Yet.
Oops, that should have been; trans-men & trans-women (2nd paragraph), it didn't have red underlining so I missed that typo. The evolving terminology is a bit fraught and contested, but a trans-man (usually, depending on who is speaking) means someone Assigned Female At Birth (or more rarely; Intersex) who has transitioned to male gender expression.
Simplifying; trans-man = Sex; female, Gender; man. Trans-woman = Sex; male, Gender; woman (though that's skipping a lot). Which is complicated by the fact that; hormone supplements (& blockers), and surgery, mean that trans-men often have; flat chests, beards, and sometimes willies. While trans-women often have; breasts, little body hair, and sometimes reenas (though these are more cosmetic rather than functional for breeding purposes).
But yeah, I get what you mean about being aware of other's bodies without consciously perving. Though there is a body odour (even when freshly showered) change with hormone changes too, which seems to be connected with how clockable someone is. Also, trans willies tend to be somewhat stunted and useless – though I won't go into details there. The problem is; a lot of people's ideas about trans-people seem to come from porn, and those youthful sexual athletes are likely taking performance enhancers.
Anyway, everyone has their unconscious prejudices. I can't stand drag-queens myself – though I don't deny that they are people with particular needs. Really, I don't think the; "trans-men are men, trans-women are women" slogan is likely to be fully socially accepted in my lifetime (though it is cute to see the young ones proclaim it so earnestly). I'd be happy with a general recognition that:
Trans-people are people.
I guess it is more the; lip-synching performances, than the drag-queens themselves I dislike. Learn to sing or play an instrument! Especially now when autotune/ pitch-shifters are readily available if you feel your voice is too deep a bass for the song (or soprano for drag-kings).
It's really more of a; musician, than an eNBy, prejudice. Plus I keep getting people expecting me to be into that Ru Paul gameshow, and I've not been able to make it through a single episode (apparently the earlier seasons were better, and more DIY).
Replacement Theory
Last night I came across an interview withRobert Pope Chicago University who analysed the people who participated in Washington insurrection and have been processed by the courts.
Of the 420+ so far:
96% White
86% Male
2/3 were 34yo or older with a cluster in the 40-50yo.
They had families and jobs
45% were business managers, CEO, doctors. Lawyers etc.
7% were unemployed.
90% were not members of gangs/militias
The all important Driver of the rioters was their overwhelming belief in the “Replacement Theory.”
This is where White people fear that the emerging rights of the minorities will push out the whites.
Half of the participants came from the Blue (Democrat) areas and were Trump supporters. The indicator was from areas where there was a decline in White population.
The more rural the area the less likely that they would be to participate.
They were all GOP supporters.
The University carried out a Gold Standard Survey of the General Population.
4% of the USA population believe that the Election was stolen and that they would support a violent response.
The survey focussed on the Replacement Theory.
PS I hope my notes are accurate. One might wonder if Replacement Theory is behind the National Party currently raising fears of minority gaining rights? Maybe.
45% were business managers, CEO, doctors. Lawyers etc.
All I can deduce from that is that many US doctors, lawyers and CEOs in the US have poor deduction abilities, are not well educated and lacking integrity. For Americans who are supposedly professionals to actively participate in violent insurrection against the state is mind boggling.
or
these are now the professionals that have to compete with non white, non male people who are equally well educated, often younger, and often more driven then they themselves are. It is very easy to be a highly paid mediocre white man in certain places. And then you lose your job to someone who is brown, female or 'other', and they outperform you at every instance. White privilege, its a heck of a drug.
I'm guessing way more 'business mangers' than doctors.
There's a mod note for you here. Please acknowledge you've read and understood.
https://thestandard.org.nz/about-trevor-mallard/#comment-1791417
I have read and understood your note.
Fanmac getting his name right would help Robert Pape his research showed most of the 377 charged so far came from towns and cities where migrants of different ethnicities were becoming the majority .White insecurity fearing of having non white people in charge .
Fanmac Robert Pape's research also showed that most were motivated by white supremacist conspiracy theories promoted by the likes of Qanon .
Thanks for the correction to Robert Pape's name Tricledrown. The number given by him last night was 420 so far. And yes the different ethnicities becoming the majority is the point.
Perhaps the fight back from coloured people objecting to unwarranted arrests means that coloured people gaining "rights" in the eyes of whites, cause the fear, even if those "rights" should mean "equal rights" rather than greater "rights."
It would be so helpful if you’d provide a link, next time.
Here it is, for everybody’s convenience: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/studies-show-capitol-rioters-were-majority-white-men/ [transcript available within link]
I just made notes from the You Tube item that I stumbled on. My skills did not stretch to how to link it to here, but I will backtrack so next time…. Thanks Incognito.
Oh! That easy! Thanks.
Further to the issue of the Capitol Riot Just today the NY Times reports
Food price index out today. Interesting to see that one.
Scare quote and no details https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300306540/six-people-charged-over-labour-party-donations
Well, the SFO can't be accused of political partiality.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/sfo-charges-six-people-in-labour-party-donations-case/O7VHPWAS3XIKFM65NUUXOIOONI/
I hope this is not going to become a common thing in NZ. Check out people already have to deal with grumpy customers.
Shopper pulls knife on Christchurch store attendant over fake cash – NZ Herald
Yeah, I just read that myself in the ODT Jimmy:
So, while not just returning the counterfeit bills was obviously not the best idea, the response was way overboard. Brandishing a weapon at someone is assault, but especially so with the hair grappling! I think it was 6x the 2019 levels of violence/ abuse against Countdown staff reported with in one of the Dunedin stabbing articles (don't have link at moment)? So this seems to already have become a common thing in NZ.
All too common I'm afraid.
Our local ED a couple of nights ago had a client pull a knife and made a big song and dance but was threatening himself (his own arms and throat).
He was post Meth bender and was seeking the drugs he would normally have.
Police arrived quicky, upon searching his bag there were nunchucks and a loaded firearm in his car…
Yep. Meth is a nasty chemical that twists the mind and can turn good people into psychopaths. If meth use is on the rise these type of incidences will likely rise too.
If we reduce addiction we can reduce the harm from/to addicts. So what are the factors that would bring meth use (and addiction in general) down?
Addiction is a response to human suffering. Healing trauma helps addiction. Connection helps addiction.
A holistic job. Punitive measures for addicts only exacerbate the issue by breaking families up and subjecting users to violent criminals – more trauma – more addiction – more shameful behaviour – more trauma – more addiction…
We have to work out how to, as a society, jump off the damn carousel.
Humans are the major contributors to human suffering. Many of them we reward and applaud. Statues to bastards dot the land. Shrines to shitheads. The issues rose from within. From gross inhumanities to the endless barrage of corporate shit telling us we are not enough… We've lost sight of community for celebrity, of succour for success.
When we treat social animals in anti-social ways we create social disorders.
Create community for the lost to actually return to.
You are right about the lack of community contributing to mental ill-health. Lacking a sense of belonging- family, community, church or sports groups etc underpins lots of dis-ease.
Combine that disconnect with the general fuck-wittedness trajectory of society these events are going to become more common place.
While it is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff approach, micro dosing with LSD is gaining favourability. However if one is in crisis, the time to be disciplined with psychedelics has passed.
Sounds like a good argument for cannabis. If all our alcohol drinkers were required to include cannabis in the golden list of drugs (with suitable limits), we would be on a great path. I hope that toilet paper is never banned, NZs are so unprogressive that they would have to be begged, to vote for its resurrection again.
This is pretty saddening, though at least the text service is reaching its target demographic. It is hard to talk when your voice is raspy from crying, so I'd be glad of the text option if I was in that situation (and had no urgent tasks to keep me distracted from the pointlessness of continued existence). I think it was Camus (Myth of Sisyphus?) who said that; suicide is the only important philosophical question:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/125121959/lifeline-records-busiest-month-with-children-as-young-as-11-feeling-suicidal
Grrrrr! Property investors!
"Five residential addresses have been restrained"
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gangs-and-guns-police-raid-seizes-firearms-2m-in-assets/UOFVN2EWTU3HRJ4RPG3LOGBOTY/
Even a somewhat pro-Gnat spinner is obliged to rebut the trolls on Stuff here:
Ben Thomas reply In reply to thehbomb
Nice narrative devoid of facts of course. National being re elected FAIL
If by the "jacinda government" he means the full majority the Labour currently enjoys he could be quite right actually. I for one hope that the next election brings forward some good showing by the third parties to force Labour into a coalition. The one to look for is Act which currently seems to have the most to win, the Maori Party is interesting, The Green should be in the 10%, and then there are the conservatives and others.
Germany is currently undergoing some interesting changes. For the first time this country will have the chance at a coalition between the CDU/CSU and The Greens.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/green-candidate-and-kingmaker-annalena-baerbock-holds-the-keys-to-germany-s-next-election-a-69889a74-d1bf-4179-a595-853b26113ca3
This is a really good read on the changing times, the kids that won against the german government re climate change, and best of all some good graphics of the possible coalition agreements that could be looked at.
And the realos in the Green Party could be making Government this year as a full partner.
We truly live in interesting times.
We truly live in interesting times.
To be sure. Not very impressed with the Shaw version of the Greens myself, but they're a better act than the opposition parties. It would be nice to see a few strong voices or intellects emerge even from ACT or the Gnats – but there's no sign of such hidden depths to date. They see Trumpian politics as something to aspire to, even as even America is recognizing they were a step too far.
Davidson is co-leader of the GP, so it is not solely the; Shaw version of the Greens, SM. Especially since he has been there for a while now, so by next election I would guess that Tuiono will have taken his place (March is a bit young, and skin of his teeth list elected on specials). Though it is possible for Shaw to resign from parliament this term and be replaced without a by-election (being a list MP), I don't think his Ministerial appointments would necessarily go with him (been a while since I have read the LP/ GP agreement).
Shaw seems to front for the issues I'm less keen on – Davidson seems ok. Seems to be a dearth of male talent atm – but Swarbrick might step up at some point. Surprised we haven't seen more of Genter. The Greens largely have the intellectual and policy chops the other opposition parties lack – interesting to see what use they make of them.
That is not the point i was trying to make. Have you had a look at the forecasted options for the next german government? What you will see there is that ALL options are discussed, the good, the bad, the ugly, if you so want.
The Co Leader of the German Green Party and the Conservatives both will try to run a good government, the point is that you need to work together.
And maybe once the people of NZ understand it they might actually demand it from their parties.
Or else you are constantly in a stalemate where every other government tries to undo what the last government has created. Maybe we should think about that, as it is as sure as day light that national at some stage will form a coalition again with someone, the other alternative that if Labour wants to rule, it might must consider a somewhat 'unpalatable' coalition partner.
Quite right – sadly NZ has to make do with a bowlderized and infantile caricature of democracy, with a slew of low-end media clowns propping them up.
We don't seem to have many philosophizers in NZ. Maybe that really is what is needed.
The post-Marxist folk, the pomos and so on, have largely wiped them out locally in favour of special pleading.
There is certainly something of Nietzsche's last men about a place where the best government has to offer is a gentle decline in quality of life.
Oddly, Baerbock has turned up in my feeds a couple of times of late – seems to be a person of character.
Yes, she has great potential to go all the way.
We don't seem to have many philosophizers in NZ. Maybe that really is what is needed. 🙂
You should really read Newsroom more often, as it is teeming with NZ philosophers.
1 April this year marked a somewhat historic moment with the increase of the minimum wage to $20 p/h. In the 2000's there was a push to "make low wages history". Now in 2021 we can claim that has been achieved, low wages are now history with the minimum benchmark of $20. That isn't a high wage rate, but neither is it low. Also in recent years the minimum wage has made rapid advances in catching up with the living wage, the difference is no where huge like it was in the mid 2010's. Low wages, at least in terms of how it was defined of $ per hour, are history.
That does not account for under employment of course which can still render a persons weekly income low by virtue of hours worked and availability of work.
Great observation george.
Number of hours worked at minimum wage needed to purchase median house in New Zealand
year 2000…..hours needed 23,178
year 2021…hours needed 40,500
yes and that's not about low wages per se Pat, that's about a very big price bubble, the ratio of income to house prices. To misquote John keys infamous "I would love to see wages drop" quote, I would love to see house prices drop.
Thats the point….you will not improve living standards through wage increases IF the major living cost is ignored….especially when a general wage increase is a signal to increase rents/house prices.
The solution is to restore affordable housing costs.
Sadly, I think as a country not quite there yet to understand this dilemma.