Not quite sure what you’re trying to say in reference to this article, but I have a lot of sympathy with James Morris’s comments. We won’t get the best people going into teaching until we stop treating them like rubbish
There’s a probable fallacy there. The best people go for the best money. Teachers aren’t paid the best money. Therefore current teachers aren’t the best…….. pfffft! Teachers teach for other reasons than cash alone.
I still remember my 1970 TTC tutor saying, as did one of the Greek philosophers, “”What? Teach and get paid, too?”
There is a bottom line though. I haven’t taught at school for seven years now but in my time conditions and stupid make-work bureaucracy along with troubled students were more damaging to retention than salary alone.
He seems to be criticising his own staff, among others, JanM. It could just be my reading of it but I gained the assumption he was saying we need better teachers than the ones we’ve got.
I’d very surprised if anyone went into teaching with anything but good intentions. That some (many) appear not be living up to their potential is surely grounds to examine why rather than leap to judgement all the time.
I was teaching full time in the 80s when part of the neoliberal transition was to change people’s attitudes to teachers from one of respected professionals to virtually the servants of parents, beholden and answerable to them, and the gradual takeover in many cases of school trustees in the Tomorrows Schools model served to hasten that attitude. That has gradually eaten away at the pride of teachers in their profession, and an unwillingness of many to enter it at all. Lower income compared to other professional bodies has only been a part of it.
Jan M you are so right. I was teaching through that time too, and an experience I had when Tomorrow’s Schools came in was the most traumatic of my career. As Principal of a small school in the Waikato, the School Committee became the Board of Trustees. They were anything but ‘trustees’. They did not learn, despite many episodes of training, that they were governors and not managers. They saw themselves with power and control, and as a consequence I suffered under their version of the truth. As teachers we have been sidelined, underpaid and denigrated for too long. I am still teaching, but only a day or two a week in a semi retired way.
It isn’t too much to say that we are the future of our country. We are the ones who will nurture the leaders and followers of the future. Admittedly we only have them for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, but at primary school level at least, they look to us to guide their thinking, to inform their need for information and to give them a sense of culture and identity. This requires skill and understanding, among other things. In Norway teachers are highly trained and highly skilled. They, in turn, are highly respected and are left to do their best because the state and the people trust them to do the job they are tasked with. They are consequently well paid for their expertise.
Until that happens in NZ we are screwed. And I don’t think Hipkins is skilled enough to guide us through to that conclusion.
My observations while Teaching were; Teachers that didn’t try to be good Teachers were rare.
The ones that were not making the grade, were generally burnt out from stress caused by unrealistic expectations from above.
I’ve long though that sabbaticals, to refocus and reflect, and something similar to the police PERF scheme, for those who have had enough, should be available for Teachers.
I found the worst part was all the kids falling behind, and desperately needing help,that you hadn’t the time for, and couldn’t get any help for.
I’m not sure what your point is with the “good tradesman” analogy. If there isn’t enough money to attract and retain good teachers, there’s not a lot that a “good tradesman” is going to be able to do. Are education leaders just meant to magic up some teachers?
Stopping the ridiculing of teachers by the right-wing politicians of all parties that we’ve had for the last 30+ years will probably help get good teachers back.
The judgement in America on Monsanto’s Roundup should make all councils and schools cease its use immediately.
And supermarkets and garden stores should stop selling it today.
Let’s apply some pressure for them to put people before profits.
RNZ 10 March 2016 “Contractors told to wear masks when spraying.”. Sorry, on my phone so can’t provide link.
This tells of a minor shitstorm in the Garden City when it transpired that contractors spraying Roundup were told NOT to wear safety gear so as not to alarm the locals.
If memory serves, the Mayor was singularly unimpressed.
Meriel Watts has an international reputation for her work trying to raise awareness of the hazards of the ubiquitous herbicide….I’ll hazard few here have heard of her.
The agrochemical industry rules..take them on at your peril.
The best we can hope for is to demand that those responsible for enforcement of rules and regulations around spraying actually do their job.
Hah! In the case of the Waikato Regional Council…dream on.
And for anyone interested, RNZ News has an impressive archive of articles going back years on glyphosate and its history, concerns etc. This includes many other similar local NZ articles relating to the use of Round Up and similar here in NZ.
Yep shade works with most weeds if you can completely cover them with weed mat etc but that brings with it its own set of problems .What would be great would be a covering which would completely biodegrade in say three years …not sure its been invented yet though !!
Weston; plants that shade other plants were invented yonks ago 🙂
I’ve used wild chervil to completely shade out couch. Native trees shade out gorse and broom, given time. Shade. It’s a thing!
The great left-winger and egotist (they go together) William Cobbett (the real founder of Hansard’s in the UK’s 40 years dictatorship that followed the French Revolution) maintained you could dig out couch-grass . He put a team of men to dig up 7 acres. Next year, just as bad.
I use glyphosate all the time and would be reluctant to give it up. Always known the danger to smaller animals so I take seriously the WHO’s report. But, yet…
yep hard to take an effective weapon out of ones arsenal i agree sumsuch and unfortunate having to contribute to the coffers of giant corporations also especially corporations that are known to be the most evil on the planet !!I could cope with the weeds ok in my immediate environment but its weeds like the really horrible Climbing Asparagus that to my mind justify using poisons like glyphosate .Not to do so spells disaster for many areas of bush and coastal lands alike .Alas its already too late in my view .
Forest & Bird’s report ‘Cleaning Up: Fixing Compliance, Monitoring & Enforcement in the dairy sector’ audited all of the country’s effluent compliance monitoring performances for the 2016-17 year.
It found that councils across the country were inconsistent in how they monitored farms and were not fulfilling basic requirements, such as identifying all dairy farms within their region.
“In Forest & Bird’s view, these poorly performing councils do not take their dairy sector compliance, monitoring and enforcement obligations seriously, and will need some encouragement to improve their performance,” it said.
It found that three-quarters of New Zealand’s dairy farms were in eight regions that did not monitor 100 per cent of their farms. Last year, around 5000 farms were not monitored for dairy effluent compliance.
“This almost certainly means that many instances of serious non-compliance are likely to have gone undetected,” the report said.
yes and as for Waikato Regional Council – what a useless bunch – they gave wrong OIA info and then moan about how hard it is.
It found there were at least nine Waikato farms found to be seriously non-compliant in 2016-17 which had not been monitored for 10 years or more…
… However, Waikato Regional Council farming services manager Nicole Botherway said inspecting every Waikato dairy farm was not practical.
“It’s unrealistic to burden our ratepayers with the massive four-fold expense of extra staff and resources just because they live in a region with the most dairy farms in the country.”
Taranaki councils charge $300 to the farm owner for inspection, and then Fonterra charge another $300 per farm on what is essentially the same inspection.
So a double inspection too keep everyone happy.
Yes Fonterra inspect Dairy Sheds (Buliding standard, environmental and dairy hygiene).
They also inspect dairy farm records (supplemental feeds, nitrogen use, antibiotic and drug use, stock recording methods etc).
If you only knew. Fonterra have probably got the most robust inspection and compliance regime in the country. They stopped collecting milk on 70+ farms last year because the farmers hadn’t met their effluent and waterway fencing rules.
Fonterra make the councils and MPI look like amateurs.
“Fonterra make the councils and MPI look like amateurs.”
And of course MPI were totally on top of mycoplasma bovis – not. They are amateurs. Doesn’t make Fonterra infallible though – only takes one slip in a processing chain and there’s hell to pay.
No good reason why they should be stressed if they are compliant. That’s like turning off the burglar alarms in case the burglar gets distressed by them!
It was the noise of the helicopters that was causing stress… in both man and beast.
Being buzzed by a helicopter is no fun at all…even less fun when the helicopter is flying very low alongside and over a residential property spraying a hazardous substance.
In our case, the Waikato Regional Council refused to investigate or enforce the Standard. At the same time our home and property was being harassed and contaminated by a spraying helicopter…the WRC was using helicopters to conduct a pantomime monitoring of dairy effluent management.
We tried to find out if our rates were being used to pay for this monitoring to the same helicopter company that chemically trespassed our property. No go, as this was ‘commercially sensitive’ information.
“Corruption” is a word not lightly used….but it may be appropriate here.
“Even less fun when the helicopter is flying very low alongside and over a residential property spraying a hazardous substance”.
Off the topic a bit, don’t you think?
Illegal dairy effluent disposal and illegal use of agrichemicals. Both are the responsibility of the Regional Councils to monitor and enforce. In both areas of responsibility the WRC has a dismal record. It just so happens that the issue our family had with the aerial application of agrichemicals was very probably made worse by the WRC being compromised by contracting the same helicopter companies to do the effluent monitoring that they were legally obligated to ensre were applying agrichemicals in the required manner.
As other commenters have noted, Regional Councils are heavily populated by farming folk who seem obligated to protect their own.
It just so happens that the issue our family had with the aerial application of agrichemicals was very probably made worse by the WRC being compromised by contracting the same helicopter companies to do the effluent monitoring that they were legally obligated to ensre were applying agrichemicals in the required manner.
Which is why councils should do this stuff themselves rather than get private contractors.
And haul the national party into the dock to answer their charges of ‘turning a blind eye for the nine years allowing dirty dairying’ as they ficticiously made us into “A rockstar economy”
I read an interesting coment on fish games blind eye turning to the thousands and thousands of plastic shotgun waddings that must be shot into nz s water ways the other day .
Yeh who is with out sin and all that shit .
Not sure where your comment is sourced from, but here’s an actual news article from today citing an upcoming court case, ind in particular Fish and Game using drones to show evidence of consent breaches – using drones.
As i said just a comment i read online . But it would be fact if,your ever in a f and g meeting ask them what they are doing about the huge amount of plastic shotgun shooting would put into the environment.
If they clean up the worst farming practises I’m all for it but don’t think for one minute it is coming from anything more than self interest with fish and game .
These people release trout into rivers .trout decimate native species. (That bits just to illustrate that they are not eco warriors)
However, Waikato Regional Council farming services manager Nicole Botherway said inspecting every Waikato dairy farm was not practical.
Of course it’s practical – hire more people and get them well trained in the job.
Of course, that will tend to reduce unemployment and we may see wages rising which will inevitably have the capitalists that don’t like paying wages whinging as well as the farmers whinging from being found to have broken the law.
+100 yes compliance seems to be looking the other way a lot lately.
WDC also seem oblivious to what drainage plans are for by letting people do as they please. Then there’s the waterways issues all of their own making like effluent in whaingaroa harbour.
“The New Zealand Nursing Organisation (NZNO) have lodged a Kaupapa Inquiry Claim into pay disparity of Māori nurses which will be heard by the Waitangi Tribunal in October.
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerry Nuku says the crown has breached its obligations to Māori in the health system under the Treaty of Waitangi.”
It was probably just as well this meeting wasn’t one for the Councillors to say their piece- just listen- with the strength of feeling in the room last night I don’t think Chris Laidlaw would’ve stood a chance, but at least he had the guts to show and I really hope he was squirming. I personally love the idea of going on a fare strike.
I think it came across very clearly that their was accessibility issues for a large number of people. I think the main problem was that it was hard to get across the scale of the problem – it came across as individuals having problems unique to themselves but it really is on a much bigger scale than that.
Buses are not just overcrowded but people are packed in really tightly, sardine tightly, and the drivers are in a tough position – overload the buses (which they seriously are) or leave people at stops when they have already been waiting 30, 40 or 50 minutes. And the people who check the buses for safety are nowhere to be seen even though there are continuous complaints about safety and overloading.
My driver on Friday looked absolutely shattered as we had a full bus for about 2/3 of the route – and that was before peak time. Driving with a full bus, a long way, (e.g. people have to exit the back door to let other people off and then get back on again because there was no other way to make room) requires a really high level of vigilance over a long period of time – and that level of vigilance takes a toll day-in/day-out over a long working day. The bus driver was doing clumsy things that were starting to get a bit risky and it’s not too hard to see that low risk things turning to high risk things as the drivers get worn down even more.
Thanks for this information. As mentioned in my reply to Kay at 5.1.2.1 below, I would really appreciate any info you recall on what was said if anything at the meeting re the 29 services to/from island Bay via Owhiro Bay/Brooklyn and via Southgate/Newtown. TIA.
I don’t remember any one particularly mentioning that route but there was a sticker wall where people could put up specific complaints. There were going to be collated and given to the WRC but they might be available to everyone.
Thanks for your reply. I really appreciate it. I got the impression the meeting probably focused more on the eastern suburbs issues – eg having to change buses to get to the hospital etc, late/no show buses etc.
Each area seems to have their own specific problems, so we are putting together a collation of issues in our area and will be getting this to Metlink, Paul Eagle, WRC and WCC in the very near future. It may be that we should set up a local meeting to discuss our local issues. We are already in contact with Metlink in a co-operative, non-aggressive manner and so far, we seem to be making some headway/on the same wavelength with them at least on some issues, but time will tell.
I was there for most of it Rosemary. As a result of a discussion with a woman there about the decimation of buses at that hour back to my suburb I was offered a lift home so couldn’t turn down the offer! So I missed the latter bit with the bus driver and fare strike proposal but caught up with them on Morning Report.
Interesting to observe that every time a driver got up to speak they were loudly applauded. One noticeable thing throughout this farce is with very few exceptions, no one is blaming the drivers.
I’m looking forward to the meeting on the 23rd and hearing the GWRC spin on this. And audience reaction!
Thanks for that Kay. I was not able to get there yesterday as I found out about the meeting too late.
I would be really interested in any points raised at the meeting about the Island Bay services, primarily the No 29 services (via Owhiro Bay and Brooklyn OTOH and via Southgate and Newtown on the other hand), as I and others are very affected by the changes to these and we are in contact with Metlink etc on these issues.
@ VV Oops apologies, it’s Sunday the 26th. St Pats College, but I’ve seen both 2 and 3pm mentioned so got to confirm that.
During the open mike part certain bus routes were mentioned, being a Newtown meeting the majority of the comments seemed to refer to the Southern suburb routes. A fair bit got said about Houghton Bay, tbh the 29 probably was but I wasn’t concentrating that much, they’re not routes I ever use so it didn’t really register. My takeaway from it was a public expression of all the angry emails, phone calls, official complaints and posts/blogs/tweets that have been flying around for the past few weeks.
I’ve been out this avo so missed the interview- thanks for the link, will listen shortly 🙂
how do @veuto.
Route 29 is a shocker (From what I hear, alongside 23). My daughters friend now has 3 buses (i.e. 2 exchanges) to get where she wants to go whereas the old Houghton Bay served many people well.
By the way….I did reply to you the other day (I think re Ponter) OM 10th or 11th.
Once again, probably the best thing for GWRC to do would be to revert ot old route system, but that would be an admission of complete failure.
I tried to find out whether the Tramways Union, or ‘old hand’ drivers were consulted before, and while this new system was being designed – but to no avail.
The more I hear about this farce, the more I despair. And frankly the more surprised I am at Ponter. (Laidlaw you could make allowances for). It’s almost like a case study on how politicians and administration lose touch with reality.
Routes 29 and 23 are a total fuckup, route 18 is a complete fuckup, and route 20 ……..
Thanks OWT – and my apologies for not replying to your earlier reply to me re Daran Ponter. Things are a bit messy at the moment – I am sure that you know that ‘feast or fame’ situation where you have too much or too little on your plate and never a nice balance! C’est la vie.
Re reverting to the old system, I doubt that is possible due to legalities however.
It has actually crossed my mind as to whether Tranzit will last the distance financially. They must have spent a fortune on the new buses etc but I have heard on the grapevine that the costs associated with bringing in drivers from outside Wellington and covering their accommodation costs etc have been astronomical and unplanned …
My/our focus is on the other side of the South Coast to Houghton Bay – ie SW Island Bay, Owhiro Bay, Frobisher St area, Happy Valley. Our problems are slightly different to Houghton Bay etc so there could be some merit to keeping them separate – and as I said, Metlink has been quite cooperative to date particularly as one of the problems is something they want themselves so we are onside on that issue.
This is what you get when you start demanding people get censored. It’s always the left who have the most to fear from censorship because power is usually held in the hands of the monied powerful and they will always protect their own interests first
“From Alex Jones to alleged Russian trolls, major internet companies are increasingly policing content on their platforms. Max Blumenthal of the Grayzone Project says the partnership between Facebook and the Atlantic Council highlights “the merger of the national security state and Silicon Valley.”
Tinder to get temporary accommodation because they have no other options. Reports also suggest this practice isn’t limited to women.
Due to the hidden nature and often ill-defined boundaries of survival sex, it is difficult to regulate and therefore almost impossible to offer protection for women. This places them in highly precarious situations. Until the structural issues in our housing market are addressed, this is unlikely to change.
TOP is still alive.
From Gareth:
“…I’m pleased to say that discussions re the future of TOP are progressing well. As part of the groundwork for TOP to continue the Board has amended the party rules in order to better position the Party in its preparation for the 2020 election….”
Interesting appointment indeed. I just hope Lisa learns to ‘keep it zipped sweetie’ at times and lets her interviewees have a fair say. Must admit I was impressed by Simon Shepherd’s interview with Grant Robertson on The Nation this last weekend.
National Government while in power were most of the time wanting to sell NZ to the lowest bidder without a care.
Labour is right by encouraging NZ made industries to come back again.
We need for example to begin producing wolllen carpets again as we lost ournmillls to China and India during the gosmans own liberalist Ntional government selloff.
Woolen carpets do not cause global pollution as the plastic carpets we only make here now so when we throw the plastic carpets away guess where they go and how long it takes to break those plastic carpets down again?
250 years at least we are told it takes to break down the ‘nylon’ carpets and no-one has even considered this as the new threat to our environment, as all plastic and nylon must be stopped now before we are all screwed. Just look at what is inside plastic carpets that you all buy now because you dont have any large NZ carpet manufacturers now.
The Toxic Dangers of Carpeting:Are the Carpets in Your Home or Office a Health Hazard?
by SixWise.com
Walking across your soft, wall-to-wall carpet with bare feet may seem pleasant enough, and we won’t deny that it does feel cozy, but there are some unpleasant and downright dangerous things about carpeting that deserve attention.
In America, we love wall-to-wall carpeting–in fact, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute more than two-thirds of American floors have them–despite the fact that they contain toxic byproducts that are released into our homes and even inhaled and absorbed into our bodies.
Carpet Samples
It looks innocent enough, but carpets are made from synthetic fibers that have been treated with toxic chemicals that outgas into your home.
Carpets Emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Your Home
Almost all carpet is made from synthetic fibers and those fibers have been treated with synthetic chemicals that “outgas” into your home. Here’s a list of some carpet “ingredients”:
Petroleum byproducts and synthetics (polypropylene, nylon, acrylic)
Soil and stain repellents
Vinyl or latex
PVC
Urethane
Antistatic sprays
Artificial dyes
Antimicrobial treatments
After being exposed to these chemicals and breathing them in or absorbing them through the skin, some people may feel symptoms such as headache, dizziness or nausea right away.
But often times, no symptoms are felt. In the long-term, however, no one knows for certain what the effects of these chemicals may be. The EPA has said that no cause-and-effect relationship between carpet emissions and health problems has been proven. However, says Mark Gold from Holistic Healing, “Please pay attention to this warning: Sucking down toxic chemicals may seem okay now, but you may pay a very heavy price in the future.”
For instance, carpets may contain:
Known carcinogens such as p-Dichlorobenzene. These chemicals may also cause hallucinations, nerve damage and respiratory illness in humans.
4-PC, the chemical that gives carpets their distinctive “new carpet smell” and is associated with eye, nose and upper respiratory problems.
Mothproofing chemicals, which contain naphthalene.
Fire retardants with PBDEs, which may cause damage to thyroid, immune system and brain development functions in humans.
Good morning The AM Show even if 5% of people brought elictric car’s that’s thousand of cars on the road our oil
Import bill will come down. Last year the number was 2% reliability is not a problem if you buy new the battery.s last at least 8 years so no problem there sell it and buy a new one that’s what people do If they can afford it
The left leaning tangata want Aotearoa to be the best place on Papatuanukue to raise all Mokopunas not matter whom they are we are all humans.
Veronica The Celine Dion show starting
singer is a very good singer Amanda I think you will go to the concert Ka pai
Ka kite ano. P.S I’m chasing our Mokopunas around at the minute
The Free Speech distraction is not really a big issues people are just using the topic to distract us from The real issues and that is privacy rights if big brother can snop into everyone electronica data that gives. To much power to the 00.1%,to do nasty things to the common tangata. And from what I see it’s not like we can trust the 00.1% to do the correct things with that power.
One just has to look at how some multi national companies lie there, – – – – off to protect the profits over humanity health the link is Below Ka kite ano
Google records your location even when you tell it not to p.S most people have the Internet to voice there opinions and if you get ignored well your views on reality don’t fit with the tangata of 2018
Here we go when service are included in the exporters importers market data the USA has a surplus with the Papatuanukue of 1.4 trillion so what are some of these services mone exchange face book Google so us see the USA is the wealthiest country on Papatuanukue they have not got there from losing in world trade its convenient to leave service data out of the stats link below Ka kite ano https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/13/is-free-trade-always-the-answer
Ana to kai
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Most economists agree that a currently slowing economy could do with some stimulus – and they would also agree that there is no shortage of infrastructure projects which could be brought to productive fruition with help from that stimulus. In view of the current practice of sub-contracting economic policy decisions ...
I did an interview on the TVNZ Breakfast Show about the situation in Hong Kong. I tried to frame the issue as a collective action problem between two sides with very different end games. The video is here. Because of time constraints we could not discuss the fact that the ...
Image Credit: Wild Rose College A new study reporting the ranges of values for kidney and liver parameters in a healthy population is being actively misrepresented by anti-fluoride campaigners. The Fluoride Action Network’s (FAN) latest ...
Image Credit: Wild Rose College A new study reporting the ranges of values for kidney and liver parameters in a healthy population is being actively misrepresented by anti-fluoride campaigners. The Fluoride Action Network’s (FAN) latest ...
AN OPEN LETTER FOR SIGN ON BY ORGANISATIONS AND MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE WORLD, ALLIED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST INEQUALITY. This letter was released at the UN Political Forum on 9 July, where the Sustainable Development Goal on inequality was reviewed. The purpose of the letter is to call out the ...
We asked a young gay science student and critic of trans ideology and the trans activists’ assault on women’s and gay rights to outline his views on Redline. Thanks to him for his article. by Cian Ó Catháin Gender identity ideology (Gender ID) is ripping through western society at full ...
The Environment Committee is currently hearing submissions on the Zero Carbon Bill, and Stuff is reporting on the submissions. Today, they're covering yesterday they heard from "NZ" Steel:NZ Steel has told MPs it may be forced to close with the loss of thousands of jobs if changes aren't made to ...
Students are striking against climate change on September 27. And this time, they're asking everyone to join them:Students are taking to the streets, beaches and parks on 27 September, and we're inviting everyone to join us. That's right, this is an intergenerational issue, and you're all invited to put pressure ...
Peter McKenzie has a piece on Newsroom this morning about how local body politics is awash with property developer cash. 70% of all the donations in the 2016 Wellington mayoral election came from property developers. And its pretty obvious what they want in exchange:That’s particularly important in local government, according ...
Source: Unknown, twitter user Recently, I wrote a (relatively) short paper titled as above, to explore what self-determination could like in a practical sense. Maybe I’m a bit of an international trade truther or something, but I absolutely believe trade is at the heart of achieving peace and self-determination. Since ...
In the 1960s, after I had graduated with a first-class Oxford postgraduate law degree, I joined the British Foreign Office as the top entrant of my year. There, I worked for a couple of years on European affairs and was eventually posted to the Embassy in Brussels. After this exposure ...
Alone, Alone. All, All Alone: Will it be a good or a bad thing, when humanity’s bright blue spacecraft is stricken by the civilisation-destroying problem of Climate Change, that no Huston Control will be standing-by to rescue the crew?“WE HAVE A PROBLEM, HUSTON.” These were the words used by the ...
I heard a 45 minute interview with Monica Lewinsky talking to TED’s Chris Anderson on BBC Radio 4 over the weekend, and have listened to it another two times out walking. I recommend it. Highly. Man, I am so impressed with how this woman has integrated her life experiences and ...
Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff, The Coddling of the American Mind: how good intentions and bad ideas are setting up a generation for failure, London, Penguin, 2019, 352pp; reviewed by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff’s book The Coddling of the American Mind is a timely book, whose ...
When the Justice Committee reported back on the Administration of Justice (Reform of Contempt of Court) Bill, free speech advocates breathed a sigh of relief. As originally introduced, the Bill reitered the ancient offence of "scandalising the court" - basicly, a special sedition law protecting judges from criticism. The select ...
Eighteen months ago, the government promised to strengthen the Bill of Rights Act, by explicitly affirming the power of the courts to issue declarations of inconsistency and requiring Parliament to formally respond to them. Since then - crickets. Which raises the obvious question: are they actually going to do this, ...
Back in March, the Ministry of Justice conducted a public consultation exercise on whether to hold a review of the Official Information Act. 285 people submitted on it. Now, Stuff has trawled through those submissions, and the case for reform is strong:The Justice Ministry asked Kiwis what they thought was ...
National's prisoner voting ban has gone down as one of the worst laws in New Zealand history. Passed after a farcical debate (including this farcial speech from ACT MP Hilary Calvert), it has subsequently been found to be inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act by the High Court, Court ...
Divided Loyalties: Can the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, be relied upon? That’s what the boys and girls at Foggy Bottom and the Pentagon needed to be reassured about. Because, from the perspective of Washington, it’s looking more and more like Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Party comrades are getting ready ...
This handy Queer Theory Glossary is from thetranswidow.com In case you’ve had trouble keeping up with the spate of new queer theory terms, here’s a handy glossary for your reference. Queer – A straight person with an interesting haircut. Non-binary/genderqueer – A chubby young female, typically 16-28, who has ...
by Daphna Whitmore US social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt spoke on 1 August in Auckland to a crowd of around one thousand people. He is best known for his bookThe Coddling of the American Mind which examines the new climate of trigger warnings and acute sensitivity of Gen Z. ...
What an extraordinarily depressing experience it is to be compelled to watch, at 12,000 miles distance, the contortions and machinations of the British political class as they set about their determined attempt to overturn the decision taken by the British people that they wish to leave the European Union. The ...
The winter grazing issue is becoming a highly sensitised one that I hope will not become so politicised that it delays solutions and results in the suicides of some very stressed farmers.Winter grazing has hit the headlines after a determined campaign, including the release of a video of some very ...
by Don Franks Way back when British guitar virtuoso Joe Brown was a beginning session guy he got to back a visiting American artist. Young Joe was an able technician but had yet to learn some points of professionalism. Part way through “Five foot high and rising” Joe tired of ...
Since scientists started studying climate change, they have warned that it will reduce food production. And now, its happening:The climate crisis is damaging the ability of the land to sustain humanity, with cascading risks becoming increasingly severe as global temperatures rise, according to a landmark UN report compiled by some ...
The Abortion Legislation Bill just passed its first reading, 94-23. Its a far bigger margin than I expected, even allowing for the Winston factor, and it reflects the overwhelming support there is in this country for reform. but that support isn't a new thing - it has existed for literally ...
The Justice Committee has called for submissions on the Referendums Framework Bill. The Bill does what it says on the label - establishes a framework for referenda. Things you may want to address in your submission: Whether the bill should apply only at the 2020 election, or whether it should ...
The Thompson and Clark / MBIE spying scandal continues to result in fallout, this time in the form of a report on the implementation of MBIE's "Operation Exploration", its internal operation to enforce the infamous Anadarko Amendment which criminalised protests against the oil industry. MBIE's enforcement operation was tainted by ...
So, Winston Peters is defending his last-minute demand for a referendum on abortion by claiming he was "blindsided" by the bill. Really? The bill is a government bill. It has been working through the cabinet approval process since December last year. As part of that process, NZ First was consulted, ...
The Green Part has been accused of lack of transparency in two recent situations. The first was the claimed media lockdown during Green's annual conference and the second was Julie Ann Genter's refusal to release a letter she had sent to Phil Twyford.I do get frustrated when journalist's succumb to ...
The Green Part has been accused of lack of transparency in two recent situations. The first was the claimed media lockdown during Green's annual conference and the second was Julie Ann Genter's refusal to release a letter she had sent to Phil Twyford.I do get frustrated when journalist's succumb to ...
Last week, the ongoing democracy protests in Hong Kong saw a pro-Hong Kong student assaulted at the University of Auckland. The Chinese consulate in Auckland followed this up with a press release "express[ing] its appreciation to the students for their spontaneous patriotism" - effectively condoning the assault and inciting further ...
Only those who close their eyes and minds to the evidence can still be in any doubt that we are facing a climate change crisis. The evidence is conclusive that the world is not only getting inexorably hotter, but also that the rising temperatures are creating a number of other ...
Opportunities to dodge tax are shrinking with the completion of a new tax agreement with Switzerland, Revenue Minister Stuart Nash announced today. Mr Nash and the Swiss Ambassador David Vogelsanger have today signed documents to update the double tax agreement (DTA). The previous DTA was signed in 1980. “Double tax ...
Negotiations between Port Otago workers represented by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) and the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and management failed today and the unions have issued notice of an overtime ban from Saturday 7th September. ...
Queenstown Lakes District Council’s comments that it has applied for a consent to pollute waterways to avoid 'prosecutions by the Otago Regional Council' are unacceptable,’ Fish & Game New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Taylor says. ...
On March 15, the real world impact of online hate became abundantly, horrifically clear. As a shooter opened fire at two Christchurch mosques, the online image board 8chan anticipated, celebrated and amplified his killing spree. ...
Friday, 23 August: Government delegates from around the world, including New Zealand, are meeting in New York for the third of four meetings at the United Nations to agree a Global Oceans Treaty that could help to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030. Greenpeace ...
The excuses about a reportedly unwanted $57,000 payrise for Dunedin City Council CEO Sue Bidrose are laughable, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. ...
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance has launched the “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” committing to no more than 2% annual rate hikes over the next Council term, and has written to all Mayoral and Council candidates asking them to sign. The pledge will ...
This Saturday, Pakuranga Hunt Day at the Ellerslie Racecourse will see anti-horse racing protesters demonstrating at the corner of Ascot Avenue and Greenlane East. ...
Mayoral candidate John Tamihere will meet with Pacific Island leaders and community elders today at Puhunui Reserve in South Auckland to commit to a Pasefika Cultural Centre. ...
Cruel and invalid Forced Swim Tests carried out at Victoria University of Wellington, will be exposed at the University Open Day today, so prospective students can be warned about the flawed and unethical research being conducted at the institute. ...
The organiser of the annual YWCA Equal Pay Awards has expressed her disappointment with the latest Gender Pay Gap figure for New Zealand workers. The figure rose slightly from 9.2% in 2018 to 9.3% for the quarter ended 30 June 2019. ...
The Council of Licenced Firearm Owners (COLFO) is urging firearms owners to pass on information to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Attack on Christchurch Mosques now that the period for submissions has been extended to 27 September. ...
An application was filed in the Employment Relations Authority in Wellington today, seeking an injunction to prevent the Board of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation from removing the President from office. ...
The Government’s commitment to support literacy and numeracy training in the workplace is a strong signal from Government on recognising the importance of upskilling, reskilling and increasing productivity alongside their commitment to address the challenges ...
“The infrastructure sector sees a major role for the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission/Te Waihanga in lifting the nation’s sagging infrastructure performance,” says Paul Blair, incoming CEO of Infrastructure NZ. ...
The AA is calling on the Government to bring forward critical highway projects while time is spent properly developing the plans for a rapid transit system in Auckland. ...
Between 2015/16 and 2017/18, DHBs spent $280 million treating patients due to adverse drug reactions, reveals the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union in its latest briefing paper on health productivity . ...
The Pay Equity Coalition Auckland (PECA) is pleased the gender pay gap has decreased slightly. Statistics released today show the gap is now 11.9%, nearly 2 percent less than last year. ...
The Council of Licenced Firearm Owners (COLFO) is urging firearms owners to make sure they pass on any information they have to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Attack on Christchurch Mosques before submissions close tomorrow (Friday). ...
The big electricity companies consider solar energy “disruptive” and want pricing to suppress it. In contrast, advocates of local energy say that solar, energy efficiency, and other local energy solutions are the cheapest ways to reduce carbon emissions. ...
The Earthquake Commission and Shine Lawyers are delighted to announce that EQC has reached an agreement with the Gibling family, agreeing to cover the cost of repairs of remaining earthquake damage on their property. ...
Four months into the inquiry, the Royal Commission is gathering significant information and continues to receive valuable submissions from the public, from current and former State servants, experts and community groups. ...
While Fish & Game New Zealand is pleased to see Federated Farmers Environment Spokesperson Chris Allen say that 'we all want good, fresh water', he conveniently overlooks some key facts. ...
What: Wellington demo “Save the Amazon Forest/Salve a Amazônia!” When: Friday, 6 September 2019 from 12:30-13:30 Where: Embassy of Brazil in Wellingtona ...
Rt Hon Trevor Mallard, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, welcomes the visit of His Excellency Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, President of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal. ...
A cross political Mental Health and Addictions Wellbeing group will be launched on Wednesday 28 August hosted by Sir John Kirwan and Moe Milne (ONZM) who have both been at the forefront of our country’s often difficult conversations about mental ...
Confirmation that the government will be progressing an independent Parliamentary Budget Office is great news for democracy and transparency, Federated Farmers says. ...
At first glance, Simon Bridges’ strident opposition to the government’s proposal to establish an independent office to cost political parties’ election spending plans looks childish and petty. ...
Euthanasia-Free NZ is appalled that Parliament spent so little time debating Part 2 of the End of Life Choice Bill and voted to leave it full of holes. ...
Jordan Williams, a spokesman for the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance and its nationwide sister group the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Auckland Mayor Phil Goff for his comments today that John Tamihere would need the Government’s support to ...
A ‘one size fits all’, inflexible and punitive regulatory regime for water quality just gets backs - and costs - up and most importantly will not work, Federated Farmers says. ...
Mediation yesterday between secondary principals and the government has resulted in a deal that the principals' negotiating team is recommending to its members. ...
Clubs New Zealand welcomes the decision of Justice Minister Andrew Little to put forward a bill amending the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow all licensed premises to remain open for Rugby World Cup matches. ...
The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation has ordered a review looking at labelling of added sugars in food and drinks. An option under investigation is ‘a pictorial approach applied to sugary beverages / sugar-sweetened beverages’ ...
Labour market data released by Statistics New Zealand today indicates that a gender pay gap persists in New Zealand, despite improvement in some areas. ...
In the midst of the 6th Great Extinction Event the coalition, STOP Trashing Our Planet is urging voters to take full responsibility for the legacy we are leaving our children. ...
LGNZ will carefully consider the proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) to assess if it meets the Government’s aim of enabling urban development or simply adds more red tape to the planning process. ...
Statistics out today from the Government show that the gender wage imbalance, or gap, in the average wage is 11.9%, a strong 2 percentage point improvement from 13.9% last year. The gender pay imbalance in the median wage is 9.3%. ...
Newstalk ZB Drive host and Herald on Sunday columnist Heather du Plessis-Allan is taking on the challenge of keeping 2019 Auckland Mayoral contenders Phil Goff and John Tamihere in line and on point in tonight’s live NZ Herald Newstalk ZB debate. ...
After twenty years Napier residents have endured heavy sleep and health disruptive noise and air pollution from freight trucks gridlock operations to and from the Napier port and other regions. ...
The EMA says much is riding on the board and chief executive of the new National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) announced by Infrastructure Minister Hon Shane Jones today, with a difficult task ahead to deliver on its purpose. ...
The Public Service Association welcomes the introduction of workplace standards by the State Services Commission that make it clear public services should expect positive and safe workplaces. ...
The Financial Services Federation (FSF) - the voice of responsible lenders and leasing companies - and FinCap - working with consumers facing financial hardship - are signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this Thursday 22 August in Auckland. It will ...
Wellington, 20 August 2019 — Lawyers for Vulnerable New Zealanders (LVNZ) has lent its support to the amendments proposed by MP Chris Penk to better protect vulnerable people from being coerced to end their lives under the End of Life Choice Bill, currently ...
The Government’s decision to establish and independent Parliamentary Budget Office, outside of Treasury, is a taxpayer victory and will improve democracy, says the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union . Taxpayers' Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “It's ...
New Zealand teacher aides say their pay reflects an outdated idea of what they do. Elizabeth McLeod hears from four TAs, and one parent, about the classroom realities they face every dayCleaning up poo, defusing violent situations, copping physical and verbal abuse: these are the realities of a teacher aide’s ...
The lanky sidekick from Jono and Ben journeys around New Zealand trying to solve small town problems. Does he succeed?Guy Williams, hardly a shy, retiring type, has been screaming out for his own vehicle for years. A loud, lanky, fearless comic, he’s spent nearly a decade in MediaWorks purgatory, sat ...
Ballot Box.Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – The nature of New Zealand general election campaigns could be significantly changed with the proposed establishment of an “umpire” to adjudicate over political party manifesto policies. A suggestion has been put forward by the Government for the establishment of a parliamentary watchdog ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Ihumātao Delphine Herbert and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Tainui to buy Ihumātao land – sources Danielle ...
Extinction Rebellion takes a tour of downtown Wellington to point out the coal industry stalwarts and ask why they’re still there in the face of a climate emergency. “There are coal companies in Wellington??”That’s the incredulous response every single time we mention taking the public on a tour of the biggest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel A. Ankeny, Professor of History and Philosophy, and Deputy Dean Research (Faculty of Arts), University of Adelaide The South Australian government recently announced its intention to lift the long-standing statewide moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops, following a statutory six-week consultation ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vicki Sentas, Senior Lecturer, UNSW Law, UNSW Being strip searched by the police can be intrusive, humiliating and harmful. Typically, strip searches involve being required to strip naked in front of police officers, who often give the direction to “squat and cough”, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Remond, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Hi, I was just wondering if something’s wrong with me because I’m never happy and never want to do anything and I’m getting really lazy and I really hate school. Thanks – Anonymous ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Zaphir, Researcher for the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project; and Online Teacher at Education Queensland’s IMPACT Centre, The University of Queensland From as early as Grade 3 teachers start teaching children how to put across their own points of view. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW It’s four years since then Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned Australia had been heading to “a Greek-style economic future”. He was referring to what he said had been happening under the previous Labor government. When Labor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samia Khatun, Senior Lecturer, SOAS, University of London Some 1,000 kilometres inland from Sydney, over the Blue Mountains, past the trees that drink the tributaries of the Darling River, there stands a little, red mosque. It marks where the desert begins. The ...
Online gambling is growing fast in New Zealand, but critics say new government ideas for regulating websites focus on what's good for the industry, rather than protecting people from harm. ...
An "extreme pro-Beijing" writer has caused controversy in the Chinese community and awkwardness for the Labour Party by standing for political office in Auckland. ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Concern about slow progress for major transport projects, smoking researcher under pressure over funding, and hikoi marches from Ihumātao to Ardern’s office.NZTA is struggling to get spending out the door, so the money isn’t flowing through the economy, reports Thomas Coughlan ...
Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard will look at whether people making submissions on proposed law changes should be forced to disclose conflicts of interest. ...
Rugby and league legend Honey Hireme has put all her careers on hold - including her Warriors debut - to take care of her mum, who has terminal cancer. ...
In the ongoing battle to prevent 480 houses being built on ancestral land, a petition with more than 26,000 signatures was delivered to the Prime Minister’s Mt Albert office yesterday. Leonie Hayden was there.Lead by the inimitable Pania Newton, about 100 kaitiaki set off from Ihumātao near Māngere yesterday morning ...
Every scholarship exam and approximately every two external assessments are wrapped in their own single-use plastic bag. We’re asking the NZQA to cut it out, writes year-13 student Sophia HoneyEvery year after an exam, I see the same conversation happen. Friends turn to each other, talk about how difficult that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Even Scott Morrison, with his abundant self-belief, couldn’t have imagined that on Saturday’s first anniversary of his seizing the prime ministership, he’d be winging his way to France for a G7 meeting, where Australia has ...
A group of students, including some Youth MPs, have been banned from Parliament for a year, after singing a waiata in the public gallery in support of the Ihumātao hīkoi. ...
National MP Nick Smith has lodged a serious accusation against Parliament's Speaker calling him "biased" after once again being booted out of the debating chamber. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sunanda Creagh, Head of Digital Storytelling Last weekend, hundreds of thousands of people again took to the streets in Hong Kong to protest against the government – the 11th straight weekend of demonstrations that began in June over a proposed extradition bill. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne Australia’s primary federal renewable energy target – to have 33 terawatts of renewable energy by 2020 – has essentially been achieved. There is much uncertainty as to what is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lewis Mitchell, Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, University of Adelaide I swear by Hypatia, by Lovelace, by Turing, by Fisher (and/or Bayes), and by all the statisticians and data scientists, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Just when we thought Australia was getting serious about shifting priorities away from the Middle East to its own neighbourhood, the prime minister has announced another Middle East step up. Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Keogh, ARC DECRA Fellow, Queensland University of Technology In the last three months, the Australian Classification Board has “refused classification” for at least four video games – effectively banning them in Australia. The latest is zombie-survival shooter DayZ. Despite being previously ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle The Heart Foundation now recommends full-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt or reduced-fat options as part of its updated dietary advice released yesterday. This moves away from earlier advice that recommended only reduced-fat ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Paris Georgia co-founders Paris Mitchell Temple and Georgia Cherrie.This week’s podcast features a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer, who has died aged 73 of cancer, leaves a political and personal legacy as a man of courage, conviction and congeniality. The support that Fischer as National Party leader ...
One part telenovela, one part family drama, one part addictive love story. Sam Brooks reviews Jane the Virgin, the great show with an unfortunate name that should be your next Netflix binge.The following piece contains very mild spoilers for Jane the Virgin.While watching the last season of Jane the Virgin, ...
Before Zumba, before Just Dance, before it was cool again to move in public group settings, there was Jump Jam. Madeleine Chapman reflects.Jump Jam entered the lives of New Zealand kids in 2001, a year filled with historic cultural movements. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001; ...
Open Mike 13/08/2018 
A Long Time Ago, In A Parallel Universe Far, Far Away: The political journalist scratched his head in confusion. Only then did he notice the name of the building: ‘The Jacinda Ardern Presidential Library and Public Resource Centre’. Making his way inside to the information desk, he asked the librarian ...34 mins ago
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Nothing from me tody - I'm off to Christchurch to pretend to be other people for a weekend. Normal bloggage should resume on Tuesday. ...2 hours ago
Spark is bracing for a customer backlash as rugby fans all across the country struggle to get a picture on their wireless router. With the Rugby World Cup fast approaching, an elderly Taranaki couple are furious after being told that they still won’t be able to watch the tournament, even ...15 hours ago
Several explosions have been reported across Auckland, as well-meaning environmentalists have already begun purchasing too much petrol Starting from next week, customers will no longer need a car to purchase petrol directly from the pump, a development that two major fuel providers are billing as an opportunity to help fight ...16 hours ago
A new study claims to find that a mother’s exposure to fluoridated water during pregnancy may decrease the IQ of male children – but is it correct? (Photo: Getty Images) Anti-fluoride campaigners are promoting ... 18 hours ago
Television advertising has a huge impact on our lives. Even if we don’t recognise that, we know it has to be true, since otherwise why would advertisers spend so much on it? Its significance, however, is greater than simply the influence it has on what we purchase and consume. It ...2 days ago
by Jan Rivers More than 30 years ago a Commission of Inquiry was held in New Zealand to investigate, amongst other things, whether women with cervical cancer were aware that they had been part of a research project and whether they were properly informed of the treatment options ...3 days ago
Everyone Wants To Be Fuhrer: When fascist groups are discussed, the image conjured-up in the minds of most New Zealanders is one of pathetic misfits. This negative impression is reinforced by the latter’s idiotic embrace of the swastika. Even in the second decade of the twenty-first century, the baleful legacy ...3 days ago
In the previous two posts, I laid out the context and set the theoretical framework to answer a question: whether indigenous economies should take the LEAP. This final part outlines ways to conceive of practicing mana motuhake within the existing legal system by carving out special jurisdictions that enable Indigenous ...5 days ago
Fully Informed? Labour’s 2017 promises raised expectations that were little short of revolutionary. Unfortunately, they were never adequately shaken through the fiscal sieve. The hard economic work was not done – and it shows. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s critics have long complained that her grasp of the way the New ...5 days ago
You cannot expect to pound communities into the ground day after day, year after year, decade after decade and just expect them to take it lying down. There’s a point at which the place will explode. And we’re faced with some very big ructions on both sides of the Atlantic ...7 days ago
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Going Down? Once truth and propaganda become fused in the minds of one’s followers, debate and discussion become redundant. If one’s opponents are all outrageous liars, then engaging with them in any way is pointless. Rather than waste its time, a political party should, instead, target all its messages at ...1 week ago
We need to fundamentally reframe our systems settings to address the drivers causing and underpinning inequality; structural change in systems especially financial. The Equality Network Hui was held in Wellington on 27 June 2019. The hui covered important topics such as child poverty; a living wage; taxation; public health; mental ...1 week ago
The views-per-page for some of my recent postings:Depressing, isn't it? Provide thoughtful and wise commentary on the mainstream of British politics and no-one notices. Make a passing reference to Tommy DICKHEAD Robinson in a thread title and you get hundreds of views. Write something about anti-Semitism and you get another ...1 week ago
The government has announced plans to move the Treaty of Waitangi and other taonga to a new site. Great news! So where are they going? Right next to the old one:The new plan will see a new 22,000-square-metre archive built on the former site of Defence House - the former ...1 week ago
Back in June, StatsNZ went public about a project to track population data on an hourly level by using people's cellphones. It wasn't as bad as it initially looked - they were receiving no individual data, only counts by suburb - but there was still a huge consent problem, so ...1 week ago
I did an interview on the TVNZ Breakfast Show about the situation in Hong Kong. I tried to frame the issue as a collective action problem between two sides with very different end games. The video is here. Because of time constraints we could not discuss the fact that the ...1 week ago
Image Credit: Wild Rose College A new study reporting the ranges of values for kidney and liver parameters in a healthy population is being actively misrepresented by anti-fluoride campaigners. The Fluoride Action Network’s (FAN) latest ... 1 week ago
Alone, Alone. All, All Alone: Will it be a good or a bad thing, when humanity’s bright blue spacecraft is stricken by the civilisation-destroying problem of Climate Change, that no Huston Control will be standing-by to rescue the crew?“WE HAVE A PROBLEM, HUSTON.” These were the words used by the ...1 week ago
Divided Loyalties: Can the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, be relied upon? That’s what the boys and girls at Foggy Bottom and the Pentagon needed to be reassured about. Because, from the perspective of Washington, it’s looking more and more like Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Party comrades are getting ready ...2 weeks ago
This handy Queer Theory Glossary is from thetranswidow.com In case you’ve had trouble keeping up with the spate of new queer theory terms, here’s a handy glossary for your reference. Queer – A straight person with an interesting haircut. Non-binary/genderqueer – A chubby young female, typically 16-28, who has ...2 weeks ago
The winter grazing issue is becoming a highly sensitised one that I hope will not become so politicised that it delays solutions and results in the suicides of some very stressed farmers.Winter grazing has hit the headlines after a determined campaign, including the release of a video of some very ...2 weeks ago
The Green Part has been accused of lack of transparency in two recent situations. The first was the claimed media lockdown during Green's annual conference and the second was Julie Ann Genter's refusal to release a letter she had sent to Phil Twyford.I do get frustrated when journalist's succumb to ...2 weeks ago
Opportunities to dodge tax are shrinking with the completion of a new tax agreement with Switzerland, Revenue Minister Stuart Nash announced today. Mr Nash and the Swiss Ambassador David Vogelsanger have today signed documents to update the double tax agreement (DTA). The previous DTA was signed in 1980. “Double tax ...2 weeks ago
Negotiations between Port Otago workers represented by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) and the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and management failed today and the unions have issued notice of an overtime ban from Saturday 7th September. ...13 mins ago
Fees for company directors are not keeping pace with their rising workload, according to a new survey. ...1 hour ago
New Zealand teacher aides say their pay reflects an outdated idea of what they do. Elizabeth McLeod hears from four TAs, and one parent, about the classroom realities they face every dayCleaning up poo, defusing violent situations, copping physical and verbal abuse: these are the realities of a teacher aide’s ...2 hours ago
The Warehouse Group has upgraded its full year profit expectations again. ...2 hours ago
The lanky sidekick from Jono and Ben journeys around New Zealand trying to solve small town problems. Does he succeed?Guy Williams, hardly a shy, retiring type, has been screaming out for his own vehicle for years. A loud, lanky, fearless comic, he’s spent nearly a decade in MediaWorks purgatory, sat ...2 hours ago
New Zealand-owned Kiwibank says it is winning more customers, demonstrated by a strong increase in deposits and lending. ...2 hours ago
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
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[lprent: Removed at commenter request. ]
Not quite sure what you’re trying to say in reference to this article, but I have a lot of sympathy with James Morris’s comments. We won’t get the best people going into teaching until we stop treating them like rubbish
How do you know that the best people aren’t going into teaching?
There’s a probable fallacy there. The best people go for the best money. Teachers aren’t paid the best money. Therefore current teachers aren’t the best…….. pfffft! Teachers teach for other reasons than cash alone.
I still remember my 1970 TTC tutor saying, as did one of the Greek philosophers, “”What? Teach and get paid, too?”
There is a bottom line though. I haven’t taught at school for seven years now but in my time conditions and stupid make-work bureaucracy along with troubled students were more damaging to retention than salary alone.
He seems to be criticising his own staff, among others, JanM. It could just be my reading of it but I gained the assumption he was saying we need better teachers than the ones we’ve got.
I’d very surprised if anyone went into teaching with anything but good intentions. That some (many) appear not be living up to their potential is surely grounds to examine why rather than leap to judgement all the time.
I was teaching full time in the 80s when part of the neoliberal transition was to change people’s attitudes to teachers from one of respected professionals to virtually the servants of parents, beholden and answerable to them, and the gradual takeover in many cases of school trustees in the Tomorrows Schools model served to hasten that attitude. That has gradually eaten away at the pride of teachers in their profession, and an unwillingness of many to enter it at all. Lower income compared to other professional bodies has only been a part of it.
Jan M you are so right. I was teaching through that time too, and an experience I had when Tomorrow’s Schools came in was the most traumatic of my career. As Principal of a small school in the Waikato, the School Committee became the Board of Trustees. They were anything but ‘trustees’. They did not learn, despite many episodes of training, that they were governors and not managers. They saw themselves with power and control, and as a consequence I suffered under their version of the truth. As teachers we have been sidelined, underpaid and denigrated for too long. I am still teaching, but only a day or two a week in a semi retired way.
It isn’t too much to say that we are the future of our country. We are the ones who will nurture the leaders and followers of the future. Admittedly we only have them for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, but at primary school level at least, they look to us to guide their thinking, to inform their need for information and to give them a sense of culture and identity. This requires skill and understanding, among other things. In Norway teachers are highly trained and highly skilled. They, in turn, are highly respected and are left to do their best because the state and the people trust them to do the job they are tasked with. They are consequently well paid for their expertise.
Until that happens in NZ we are screwed. And I don’t think Hipkins is skilled enough to guide us through to that conclusion.
My observations while Teaching were; Teachers that didn’t try to be good Teachers were rare.
The ones that were not making the grade, were generally burnt out from stress caused by unrealistic expectations from above.
I’ve long though that sabbaticals, to refocus and reflect, and something similar to the police PERF scheme, for those who have had enough, should be available for Teachers.
I found the worst part was all the kids falling behind, and desperately needing help,that you hadn’t the time for, and couldn’t get any help for.
I’m not sure what your point is with the “good tradesman” analogy. If there isn’t enough money to attract and retain good teachers, there’s not a lot that a “good tradesman” is going to be able to do. Are education leaders just meant to magic up some teachers?
Having good teachers certainly helps.
Eradicating poverty will help more.
Stopping the ridiculing of teachers by the right-wing politicians of all parties that we’ve had for the last 30+ years will probably help get good teachers back.
The judgement in America on Monsanto’s Roundup should make all councils and schools cease its use immediately.
And supermarkets and garden stores should stop selling it today.
Let’s apply some pressure for them to put people before profits.
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/11/one-mans-suffering-exposed-monsantos-secrets-to-the-world
RNZ 10 March 2016 “Contractors told to wear masks when spraying.”. Sorry, on my phone so can’t provide link.
This tells of a minor shitstorm in the Garden City when it transpired that contractors spraying Roundup were told NOT to wear safety gear so as not to alarm the locals.
If memory serves, the Mayor was singularly unimpressed.
Meriel Watts has an international reputation for her work trying to raise awareness of the hazards of the ubiquitous herbicide….I’ll hazard few here have heard of her.
The agrochemical industry rules..take them on at your peril.
The best we can hope for is to demand that those responsible for enforcement of rules and regulations around spraying actually do their job.
Hah! In the case of the Waikato Regional Council…dream on.
https://amp.rnz.co.nz/article/243ae6e8-0324-4a81-834c-6cd341dc85d9
Belated thanks for providing the link Pingau. Temporarily able to use a laptop, hence can check “reply”.
It would be really handy to learn how to’link’ from my phone..I can send links via email… but not to here.
Thanks again.
Here you are Rosemary
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/298594/contractors-told-to-wear-masks-when-spraying
And for anyone interested, RNZ News has an impressive archive of articles going back years on glyphosate and its history, concerns etc. This includes many other similar local NZ articles relating to the use of Round Up and similar here in NZ.
Here is a link to their archive on this subject:
https://www.radionz.co.nz/search/results?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=glyphosate&commit=Search
Oops, I now realise the link that Pingau put up also covers the 10 March 2016 article. But the archive link is well worth looking at.
Come on Ed How the hell are we gonna control weeds like kikuyu an twitch to name a couple without roundup ??Im half serious
Steam!
Shade!
Yep shade works with most weeds if you can completely cover them with weed mat etc but that brings with it its own set of problems .What would be great would be a covering which would completely biodegrade in say three years …not sure its been invented yet though !!
Weston; plants that shade other plants were invented yonks ago 🙂
I’ve used wild chervil to completely shade out couch. Native trees shade out gorse and broom, given time. Shade. It’s a thing!
Newly emergent soft weeds i reckon would be gd to attack with steam kjt but wouldnt do much to the weeds i mentioned
The great left-winger and egotist (they go together) William Cobbett (the real founder of Hansard’s in the UK’s 40 years dictatorship that followed the French Revolution) maintained you could dig out couch-grass . He put a team of men to dig up 7 acres. Next year, just as bad.
I use glyphosate all the time and would be reluctant to give it up. Always known the danger to smaller animals so I take seriously the WHO’s report. But, yet…
yep hard to take an effective weapon out of ones arsenal i agree sumsuch and unfortunate having to contribute to the coffers of giant corporations also especially corporations that are known to be the most evil on the planet !!I could cope with the weeds ok in my immediate environment but its weeds like the really horrible Climbing Asparagus that to my mind justify using poisons like glyphosate .Not to do so spells disaster for many areas of bush and coastal lands alike .Alas its already too late in my view .
not good enough
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/106175169/waikato-council-slams-forest–bird-over-effluent-report–but-admits-it-made-the-error
yes and as for Waikato Regional Council – what a useless bunch – they gave wrong OIA info and then moan about how hard it is.
re cost of testing the farms for compliance.
I have some sympathy for the general rate payer,
So why don’t the councils charge a fee for the test.
Taranaki councils charge $300 to the farm owner for inspection, and then Fonterra charge another $300 per farm on what is essentially the same inspection.
So a double inspection too keep everyone happy.
Thankx Jimmy
Do Fonterra inspect and charge in other areas too?
Yes Fonterra inspect Dairy Sheds (Buliding standard, environmental and dairy hygiene).
They also inspect dairy farm records (supplemental feeds, nitrogen use, antibiotic and drug use, stock recording methods etc).
One does wonder just how accurate those records are.
If you only knew. Fonterra have probably got the most robust inspection and compliance regime in the country. They stopped collecting milk on 70+ farms last year because the farmers hadn’t met their effluent and waterway fencing rules.
Fonterra make the councils and MPI look like amateurs.
“Fonterra make the councils and MPI look like amateurs.”
And of course MPI were totally on top of mycoplasma bovis – not. They are amateurs. Doesn’t make Fonterra infallible though – only takes one slip in a processing chain and there’s hell to pay.
So they should; it’s their business!
Seems reasonable – user pays and all that.
Can’t argue with any of that.
However, Waikato Regional Council farming services manager Nicole Botherway said inspecting every Waikato dairy farm was not practical.
That’s hardly surprising as they stopped monitoring with helicopters.
Apparently, it was stressing out farmers.
https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/community/whats-happening/news/media-releases-archived/helicopters-grounded-for-now-but-monitoring-to-continue/
Good news though, the council has just voted to reintroduce aerial monitoring.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/105057893/Waikato-Regional-Council-vote-to-return-to-aerial-monitoring-of-dairy-farms
No good reason why they should be stressed if they are compliant. That’s like turning off the burglar alarms in case the burglar gets distressed by them!
It was the noise of the helicopters that was causing stress… in both man and beast.
Being buzzed by a helicopter is no fun at all…even less fun when the helicopter is flying very low alongside and over a residential property spraying a hazardous substance.
In our case, the Waikato Regional Council refused to investigate or enforce the Standard. At the same time our home and property was being harassed and contaminated by a spraying helicopter…the WRC was using helicopters to conduct a pantomime monitoring of dairy effluent management.
We tried to find out if our rates were being used to pay for this monitoring to the same helicopter company that chemically trespassed our property. No go, as this was ‘commercially sensitive’ information.
“Corruption” is a word not lightly used….but it may be appropriate here.
“Even less fun when the helicopter is flying very low alongside and over a residential property spraying a hazardous substance”.
Off the topic a bit, don’t you think?
You think?
Illegal dairy effluent disposal and illegal use of agrichemicals. Both are the responsibility of the Regional Councils to monitor and enforce. In both areas of responsibility the WRC has a dismal record. It just so happens that the issue our family had with the aerial application of agrichemicals was very probably made worse by the WRC being compromised by contracting the same helicopter companies to do the effluent monitoring that they were legally obligated to ensre were applying agrichemicals in the required manner.
As other commenters have noted, Regional Councils are heavily populated by farming folk who seem obligated to protect their own.
Which is why councils should do this stuff themselves rather than get private contractors.
I know, it was complete bollocks.
But when you’ve got a council stacked with farmers, they’re going to vote for their best interests.
This is where the government has to set policy and regulation.
And bring in decent jail terms for corruption.
There will be plenty of farmers in their 60’s who they will turn a blind eye on, to let them retire in peace over the next few years, takes time.
In other words they are letting their mates off the hook at high cost to the rest of us – no surprises there!
+111
They can retire in peace after they’ve done their jail term and had everything taken from them under the Proceeds of crime act.
Lefties calling for a big brother approach. !!!!
Mmmm – remember that next time you need a polceman!
Nope.
Just recognising that we need regulations and that those regulations need to be enforced.
bwaghorne;
And haul the national party into the dock to answer their charges of ‘turning a blind eye for the nine years allowing dirty dairying’ as they ficticiously made us into “A rockstar economy”
+100
Fish and Game used drones in the Hawkes Bay, with the footage used to useful effect. Well time regional councils did the same as a matter of course.
I read an interesting coment on fish games blind eye turning to the thousands and thousands of plastic shotgun waddings that must be shot into nz s water ways the other day .
Yeh who is with out sin and all that shit .
Not sure where your comment is sourced from, but here’s an actual news article from today citing an upcoming court case, ind in particular Fish and Game using drones to show evidence of consent breaches – using drones.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/363942/businessman-challenges-hawke-s-bay-council-on-damaging-feedlots
As i said just a comment i read online . But it would be fact if,your ever in a f and g meeting ask them what they are doing about the huge amount of plastic shotgun shooting would put into the environment.
If they clean up the worst farming practises I’m all for it but don’t think for one minute it is coming from anything more than self interest with fish and game .
These people release trout into rivers .trout decimate native species. (That bits just to illustrate that they are not eco warriors)
Of course it’s practical – hire more people and get them well trained in the job.
Of course, that will tend to reduce unemployment and we may see wages rising which will inevitably have the capitalists that don’t like paying wages whinging as well as the farmers whinging from being found to have broken the law.
+100 yes compliance seems to be looking the other way a lot lately.
WDC also seem oblivious to what drainage plans are for by letting people do as they please. Then there’s the waterways issues all of their own making like effluent in whaingaroa harbour.
” hire more people” – Thus increasing the rates… just saying’…
conundrum Robert?
At every turn, Pat. There are though, ways; South Port etc: invest wisely to lighten ratepayer’s (of which I am one) load 🙂
a thankless task
Well, we pat each other on the back…Pat.
sometimes twice
Someone’s gotta do it!
Life isn’t free despite what the RWNJs like to tell everybody.
Waikato Regional Council need to get out of the Office and sort out this problem, prosecute if necessary ?
Good news
“The New Zealand Nursing Organisation (NZNO) have lodged a Kaupapa Inquiry Claim into pay disparity of Māori nurses which will be heard by the Waitangi Tribunal in October.
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerry Nuku says the crown has breached its obligations to Māori in the health system under the Treaty of Waitangi.”
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/maori-nurses-claim-on-pay-disparity-gets-tribunal-hearing
Isn’t this a factor of more Maori being involved in community nursing rather than the DHB’s?
Good news, marty. Hope they are successful.
For once, politicians have managed to unite a community.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/363927/wellington-bus-passengers-may-refuse-to-pay-fares-in-protest-at-new-service
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/106209854/standing-room-only-at-fiery-meeting-as-wellingtonians-speak-out-on-capitals-buses
It was probably just as well this meeting wasn’t one for the Councillors to say their piece- just listen- with the strength of feeling in the room last night I don’t think Chris Laidlaw would’ve stood a chance, but at least he had the guts to show and I really hope he was squirming. I personally love the idea of going on a fare strike.
Was thinking of you Kay while listening to that on Natraf this morning… were you at the meeting?
I think the heroine of the night was the bus driver who spoke up and apologized.
I think it came across very clearly that their was accessibility issues for a large number of people. I think the main problem was that it was hard to get across the scale of the problem – it came across as individuals having problems unique to themselves but it really is on a much bigger scale than that.
Buses are not just overcrowded but people are packed in really tightly, sardine tightly, and the drivers are in a tough position – overload the buses (which they seriously are) or leave people at stops when they have already been waiting 30, 40 or 50 minutes. And the people who check the buses for safety are nowhere to be seen even though there are continuous complaints about safety and overloading.
My driver on Friday looked absolutely shattered as we had a full bus for about 2/3 of the route – and that was before peak time. Driving with a full bus, a long way, (e.g. people have to exit the back door to let other people off and then get back on again because there was no other way to make room) requires a really high level of vigilance over a long period of time – and that level of vigilance takes a toll day-in/day-out over a long working day. The bus driver was doing clumsy things that were starting to get a bit risky and it’s not too hard to see that low risk things turning to high risk things as the drivers get worn down even more.
Hi mpledger.
Thanks for this information. As mentioned in my reply to Kay at 5.1.2.1 below, I would really appreciate any info you recall on what was said if anything at the meeting re the 29 services to/from island Bay via Owhiro Bay/Brooklyn and via Southgate/Newtown. TIA.
I don’t remember any one particularly mentioning that route but there was a sticker wall where people could put up specific complaints. There were going to be collated and given to the WRC but they might be available to everyone.
Thanks for your reply. I really appreciate it. I got the impression the meeting probably focused more on the eastern suburbs issues – eg having to change buses to get to the hospital etc, late/no show buses etc.
Each area seems to have their own specific problems, so we are putting together a collation of issues in our area and will be getting this to Metlink, Paul Eagle, WRC and WCC in the very near future. It may be that we should set up a local meeting to discuss our local issues. We are already in contact with Metlink in a co-operative, non-aggressive manner and so far, we seem to be making some headway/on the same wavelength with them at least on some issues, but time will tell.
I was there for most of it Rosemary. As a result of a discussion with a woman there about the decimation of buses at that hour back to my suburb I was offered a lift home so couldn’t turn down the offer! So I missed the latter bit with the bus driver and fare strike proposal but caught up with them on Morning Report.
Interesting to observe that every time a driver got up to speak they were loudly applauded. One noticeable thing throughout this farce is with very few exceptions, no one is blaming the drivers.
I’m looking forward to the meeting on the 23rd and hearing the GWRC spin on this. And audience reaction!
Thanks for that Kay. I was not able to get there yesterday as I found out about the meeting too late.
I would be really interested in any points raised at the meeting about the Island Bay services, primarily the No 29 services (via Owhiro Bay and Brooklyn OTOH and via Southgate and Newtown on the other hand), as I and others are very affected by the changes to these and we are in contact with Metlink etc on these issues.
Kara Lipski was also interviewed by Jesse Mulligan this afternoon and mentioned Island Bay but in passing only. A good interview. If you missed it, here is the link – https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018657859/wellington-bus-passengers-revolt
If you – or mpledger – can help by letting me know anything you heard that would be really helpful.
PS – Is the next meeting on Aug 23 or 26?
@ VV Oops apologies, it’s Sunday the 26th. St Pats College, but I’ve seen both 2 and 3pm mentioned so got to confirm that.
During the open mike part certain bus routes were mentioned, being a Newtown meeting the majority of the comments seemed to refer to the Southern suburb routes. A fair bit got said about Houghton Bay, tbh the 29 probably was but I wasn’t concentrating that much, they’re not routes I ever use so it didn’t really register. My takeaway from it was a public expression of all the angry emails, phone calls, official complaints and posts/blogs/tweets that have been flying around for the past few weeks.
I’ve been out this avo so missed the interview- thanks for the link, will listen shortly 🙂
Cheers Kay. I appreciate that info.
how do @veuto.
Route 29 is a shocker (From what I hear, alongside 23). My daughters friend now has 3 buses (i.e. 2 exchanges) to get where she wants to go whereas the old Houghton Bay served many people well.
By the way….I did reply to you the other day (I think re Ponter) OM 10th or 11th.
Once again, probably the best thing for GWRC to do would be to revert ot old route system, but that would be an admission of complete failure.
I tried to find out whether the Tramways Union, or ‘old hand’ drivers were consulted before, and while this new system was being designed – but to no avail.
The more I hear about this farce, the more I despair. And frankly the more surprised I am at Ponter. (Laidlaw you could make allowances for). It’s almost like a case study on how politicians and administration lose touch with reality.
Routes 29 and 23 are a total fuckup, route 18 is a complete fuckup, and route 20 ……..
I think some OIAs are in order too
Thanks OWT – and my apologies for not replying to your earlier reply to me re Daran Ponter. Things are a bit messy at the moment – I am sure that you know that ‘feast or fame’ situation where you have too much or too little on your plate and never a nice balance! C’est la vie.
I actually heard Ponter on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan on RNZ about 16/17 July and thought he sounded reasonably sensible and clued up –
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/361929/wellington-bus-network-changes-cause-lengthy-delays-for-some
Link to the actual recording of the interview is at the bottom of the article.
In hindsight I think he was absolutely right when he was reported the next day as saying that a further six months’ was needed to get things sorted before the changes were implemented.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/362028/regional-council-says-revised-capital-bus-service-will-improve
Re reverting to the old system, I doubt that is possible due to legalities however.
It has actually crossed my mind as to whether Tranzit will last the distance financially. They must have spent a fortune on the new buses etc but I have heard on the grapevine that the costs associated with bringing in drivers from outside Wellington and covering their accommodation costs etc have been astronomical and unplanned …
My/our focus is on the other side of the South Coast to Houghton Bay – ie SW Island Bay, Owhiro Bay, Frobisher St area, Happy Valley. Our problems are slightly different to Houghton Bay etc so there could be some merit to keeping them separate – and as I said, Metlink has been quite cooperative to date particularly as one of the problems is something they want themselves so we are onside on that issue.
“the best people” seem to be awfully fond of their recording devices. Cohen. Omarosa. How many more of them are still doing it?
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/12/politics/omarosa-manigault-newman-john-kelly/index.html
Question for the day: if they really are out to get you, is it still paranoia?
About that white supremacist rally on their orange idol’s lawn …
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/protesters-outnumber-nazis-unite-the-right-ii-washington-dc_us_5b7042efe4b0bdd0620a179a
Maybe they’re starting to get a glimmering of what a bunch of pathetic losers they are.
8lol loving it
Pretty heartening to see the US white nationalists significantly outnumbered by the counterprotesters.
So far all peaceful.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/12/us/unite-the-right-charlottesville-anniversary/index.html
Might be staying peaceful coz it looks like there’s around 10 cops for every one of the precious white snowflakes.
This is what you get when you start demanding people get censored. It’s always the left who have the most to fear from censorship because power is usually held in the hands of the monied powerful and they will always protect their own interests first
“From Alex Jones to alleged Russian trolls, major internet companies are increasingly policing content on their platforms. Max Blumenthal of the Grayzone Project says the partnership between Facebook and the Atlantic Council highlights “the merger of the national security state and Silicon Valley.”
Homeless women just a piece of meat
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12105982
Tinder to get temporary accommodation because they have no other options. Reports also suggest this practice isn’t limited to women.
Due to the hidden nature and often ill-defined boundaries of survival sex, it is difficult to regulate and therefore almost impossible to offer protection for women. This places them in highly precarious situations. Until the structural issues in our housing market are addressed, this is unlikely to change.
TOP is still alive.
From Gareth:
“…I’m pleased to say that discussions re the future of TOP are progressing well. As part of the groundwork for TOP to continue the Board has amended the party rules in order to better position the Party in its preparation for the 2020 election….”
lol
does that mean the party funder has greater say over policy and strategy, or less?
Potential coalition partner for National and they have already done the groundwork at the last Election ?
Yemen
Still
Getting
Bombed
too soon?
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/saudi-bus-bombing-marks-a-new-low-in-yemen-20180810-p4zwsm.html
Lisa Owen to replace John Campbell on Checkpoint
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/363990/lisa-owen-to-replace-john-campbell-on-checkpoint
Interesting appointment indeed. I just hope Lisa learns to ‘keep it zipped sweetie’ at times and lets her interviewees have a fair say. Must admit I was impressed by Simon Shepherd’s interview with Grant Robertson on The Nation this last weekend.
National Government while in power were most of the time wanting to sell NZ to the lowest bidder without a care.
Labour is right by encouraging NZ made industries to come back again.
We need for example to begin producing wolllen carpets again as we lost ournmillls to China and India during the gosmans own liberalist Ntional government selloff.
Woolen carpets do not cause global pollution as the plastic carpets we only make here now so when we throw the plastic carpets away guess where they go and how long it takes to break those plastic carpets down again?
250 years at least we are told it takes to break down the ‘nylon’ carpets and no-one has even considered this as the new threat to our environment, as all plastic and nylon must be stopped now before we are all screwed. Just look at what is inside plastic carpets that you all buy now because you dont have any large NZ carpet manufacturers now.
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/03/22/the-toxic-dangers-of-carpetingare-the-carpets-in-your-home-or-office-a-health-hazard.htm
The Toxic Dangers of Carpeting:Are the Carpets in Your Home or Office a Health Hazard?
by SixWise.com
Walking across your soft, wall-to-wall carpet with bare feet may seem pleasant enough, and we won’t deny that it does feel cozy, but there are some unpleasant and downright dangerous things about carpeting that deserve attention.
In America, we love wall-to-wall carpeting–in fact, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute more than two-thirds of American floors have them–despite the fact that they contain toxic byproducts that are released into our homes and even inhaled and absorbed into our bodies.
Carpet Samples
It looks innocent enough, but carpets are made from synthetic fibers that have been treated with toxic chemicals that outgas into your home.
Carpets Emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Your Home
Almost all carpet is made from synthetic fibers and those fibers have been treated with synthetic chemicals that “outgas” into your home. Here’s a list of some carpet “ingredients”:
Petroleum byproducts and synthetics (polypropylene, nylon, acrylic)
Soil and stain repellents
Vinyl or latex
PVC
Urethane
Antistatic sprays
Artificial dyes
Antimicrobial treatments
After being exposed to these chemicals and breathing them in or absorbing them through the skin, some people may feel symptoms such as headache, dizziness or nausea right away.
But often times, no symptoms are felt. In the long-term, however, no one knows for certain what the effects of these chemicals may be. The EPA has said that no cause-and-effect relationship between carpet emissions and health problems has been proven. However, says Mark Gold from Holistic Healing, “Please pay attention to this warning: Sucking down toxic chemicals may seem okay now, but you may pay a very heavy price in the future.”
For instance, carpets may contain:
Known carcinogens such as p-Dichlorobenzene. These chemicals may also cause hallucinations, nerve damage and respiratory illness in humans.
4-PC, the chemical that gives carpets their distinctive “new carpet smell” and is associated with eye, nose and upper respiratory problems.
Mothproofing chemicals, which contain naphthalene.
Fire retardants with PBDEs, which may cause damage to thyroid, immune system and brain development functions in humans.
Good morning The AM Show even if 5% of people brought elictric car’s that’s thousand of cars on the road our oil
Import bill will come down. Last year the number was 2% reliability is not a problem if you buy new the battery.s last at least 8 years so no problem there sell it and buy a new one that’s what people do If they can afford it
The left leaning tangata want Aotearoa to be the best place on Papatuanukue to raise all Mokopunas not matter whom they are we are all humans.
Veronica The Celine Dion show starting
singer is a very good singer Amanda I think you will go to the concert Ka pai
Ka kite ano. P.S I’m chasing our Mokopunas around at the minute
The Free Speech distraction is not really a big issues people are just using the topic to distract us from The real issues and that is privacy rights if big brother can snop into everyone electronica data that gives. To much power to the 00.1%,to do nasty things to the common tangata. And from what I see it’s not like we can trust the 00.1% to do the correct things with that power.
One just has to look at how some multi national companies lie there, – – – – off to protect the profits over humanity health the link is Below Ka kite ano
Google records your location even when you tell it not to p.S most people have the Internet to voice there opinions and if you get ignored well your views on reality don’t fit with the tangata of 2018
Google records your location even when you tell it not to this is the link to the post above Ka kite ano
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/13/google-location-tracking-android-iphone-mobile
Here we go when service are included in the exporters importers market data the USA has a surplus with the Papatuanukue of 1.4 trillion so what are some of these services mone exchange face book Google so us see the USA is the wealthiest country on Papatuanukue they have not got there from losing in world trade its convenient to leave service data out of the stats link below Ka kite ano
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/aug/13/is-free-trade-always-the-answer
Ana to kai
Good evening Newshub beeb busy with my favourite charity some music link is Below