Middle class welfare! The new target group for National. Having belted beneficiaries, de-unionised workers, they're now after the middle class.
They're wrong on two counts. First, the Tesla meme is an exaggerated reaction to a policy that moves NZ car owners towards fuel efficiency and renewable energy.
Second, the middle class are the "mum and dad investors", those "ordinary hard-working kiwis" and middle of the road voters. National mocks them at their peril.
"the luvies who want to drive a Tesla to lunch" indeed!
All they'll have left are the one per centers and their 10% wannabes to compete with ACT for.
Or are we seeing a new rural conservative party arising out of the ashes of National as the middle class hate meme and the 'luvies to lunch' seems to indicate a rural bias there.
Which brands do hybrids? I know Toyota are working on a hybrid ute but it may not be available for a while and as you say, Ford Ranger don't do one. Do Mazda or Mitsubishi do them?
Looking through the main car sites, there doesn't seem to be any hybrid alternatives at the moment for utes, so I guess diesel Ford Rangers, Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Tritons will all remain in the top 10 selling vehicles for a while yet.
All well and good Ad if you live in USA…………..and even then production starting middle of 2022!
"Right now it seems that this Lightning will only be available in America, with left-hand drive production kicking off in the middle of 2022. We're reached out to Ford New Zealand for comment, but we won't be holding our breath for the electric truck. "
They are very practical vehicles for throwing timber in the back along with a wheel barrow and a ladder. Try doing that with a Nissan leaf. So often is a need. Currently in NZ there seems to be no alternative and probably the Hybrid Toyota Hilux will most likely be the first available non diesel option in NZ but probably wont be until 2022 at earliest.
Yes, there are a few that * need * a double-cab ute – or at least, a double-cab ute is the most practical vehicle for them.
I suspect they're a small minority of double-cab ute purchasers. Certainly of the double-cab ute owners I know, the majority of them are quite open that a station wagon or van would be much more practical, with a trailer for the very rare big loads, but the tax benefits and image of the ute swung it for them. Oh, plus towing the boat, although they don't mention that bit to the IRD.
After all, all these various groups of people managed just fine in the times not very far back when double-cab utes weren't the domineering feature of our roads.
Pop down to any country golf course and see how many tradies, rural estate agents and farmers have used their "work essentials" to get them to golf. And the farmers are probably using pink diesel to power them as well …
Now I've never owned a new ute and never will I guess, but there are valid reasons to turn you utes over every 3 years or so due to thier resale value falling off a cliff after that
Pat – yes RUC, but the diesel that fills the tanks of the farm ute is not from the local bowser. It is delivered in bulk to the farm for the tractors and some of it finds its way into the ute's tanks.
The whole reason for ruc's is because it's the simple way for road tax to be gathered when huge amounts of diesel is not for rd usage . I'm picking more than a few farmers pay alot of ruc while not actually on the nzta road network.
Funny how many of the ones in the supermarket carparks or on a school run have neither trade tools or advertising. I guess they're all undercover tradies.
BTW, since 2019 the rav4 has had a hybrid option, so low emission. the farmers and tradies can all buy them.
I wonder if toyota do the black trim and tints for extra, like some of the other road tanks? Gotta look butch, but as soon as it's about emissions then "omagerd I haz no cash" lol
You letting your bias show , I just firmly believe that social good taxs need to be avoidable to be fair . And ite are hands down the best option for us out here .
Got my ute 2nd hand ,got mint tints btw bit of a midlife c thing😀
The number of people who will "need" to buy a new 4wd in the (maybe) months between when the fees start and when more varieties of low/no-emission (therefore rebated) 4wd come on the market will be very small indeed.
I suggest it will be much smaller than the listed number of 4wds sold in 2020, which was Jimmy's response to my "who needs to urgently buy a 4WD?" I doubt anywhere near that number were in a sudden, urgent need to have a new 4wd that day.
Thing that interests me more is how the 2nd hand market will be affected. Theory 1 is that prices will increase as utes/4WDs become less available. Theory 2 is that prices will drop as there will be an excess on the market due to Aucklanders buying EVs rather than SUVs. We're all guessing atm.
I'm less optimistic about the EV 4WD market than you. I want to hope I am wrong, but the whole thing is shifting deck chairs on the Titanic, so I should probably shut up.
Well here you go McFlock. Seems like Jacinda has been given incorrect info. regarding the availability of electric / hybrid utes. Farmers and some tradies if they need a ute are not going to have any electric option for over two years. And if you think the Ford Lightning will be available in two years time right hand drive, I have a bridge to sell you.
"Toyota has since confirmed it has no plans to bring any electric utes into New Zealand within the next two years."
If you require machinery for your business, like a farm, isn't that a tax-deductible expense?
Same for tradies, I thought that's the reason many tradies have to top-of-the-range utes with sports-package etc. Surely that's the only version suitable for the job they have to do.
I think it's essential long-term to reduce the number of gas-guzzlers coming into the country now. Those cars – the majority of those are not used on farms (Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger have the highest sales in NZ) – will be on the road for the next 15 to 20 years. Same with busses: Wellington Council should have been forced to replace the trolley buses with fully electrical ones. Instead we got more polluting (incl. noise as a form of pollution) ones, that will be around for a long, long time.
what size ranch do you have that needs a 500 k range? our farm vehicles (utes and four wheelers) hardly ever do more that 80-100 k a day, and thats going between five different farmblocks and moving stock twice a day(currently doing that and grazing drycows). electric would suit us perfectly.as for towing power, electrics have unbeatable torque figures ,so towing is fine.
A gisborne coast farmer going to the sale in Napier would chew some ks in a day I expect. Pulling a 3 tonne trailer loaded up would take some grunt dontya think.
Interesting point BW and I'm afraid I don't see farmers as the enemy. A lot of farming communities have been gutted by big biz buying up and forest planting or running industrial cow size cow farms.
Yes there appear to be hybrid utes coming (but the toyota mentioned below may well not qualify because the other toyota hybrids are not actually plug in). Work vehicles are also tax deductible which lessens the impact – or purchasing off the second hand market.
What do you think would be the best transitional policy until electric and hybrids are more readily available in that sector.
Just let them claim back the tax until such time there are atleast 2 or 3 models available that can do the job.
Shit if I was in the position to I'd buy an electric tomorrow, I cant wait till our 4 wheelers are electric , one gets sick of the constant noise of the motor.
Not quite the quad you're bouncing around on right now, but close. Won't be long before some chinese company decides to do a standard traditional quad in electric, if they haven't already. Then it's just a matter of someone importing it.
Fantastic result overnight, our men's cricket team convincingly beating England to win a rare test series and return to the number one spot in rankings.
6 first choice players were rested or injured and they still won in a canter. Great bowling, solid batting and disciplined feilding from our side was met with tardy fielding, sub-standard wicket keeping and poor batting.
We take confidence and momentum into the Test Final vs India on Friday.
They have been wary for a while,the BCCI pulled all the strings they could to get the final in Southampton, the home of world cricket ( yeah right ) and the most spin friendly pitch in England. Let’s put Ajax’s and Ish in the lineup and bowl the manipulators out of contention. Now that would be irony.
It's not just the announcement of the riding and walking bridge over the Waitemata Harbour, the directive to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to investigate opening a lane on the bridge for people on bikes, walking, scootering, or the various announcements that this Government will now not be sinking resources into specific road building projects that will bake in carbon emissions and poor health for the community for decades to come.
Indeed, rather than looking at isolated local proposals, look at the overall picture that is emerging, which is pretty good from my PoV.
I don't imagine that this is particularly easy for Wood. It has taken a long time for anyone in power to really get moving on this journey, which is a pretty good metric that challenging the status quo is hard when you want to collaborate and make it stick.
It's not just about wanting it to happen, you need to keep your values front and centre, have the right amount of power at the right time, good relationships, as well as being confident in the evidence in the face of a very loud opposition to change.
And on this issue it is only going to get louder as experts like Dr Kirsty Wild show us. I suspect it has been as much about convincing those who want to keep the status quo in his own party as anything – transport mode shift is not simply a party political issue, it's about values, identity and emotions.
Well said. It really puzzles me that quite a few commenters here run the neo-liberal ruler over proposals like hardcore economists of the NZI and focus relentlessly on cold hard dollars, business plans, and ROIs. No values in sight but plenty of negative emotions on display.
The linked article by Dr Kirsty Wild is very good too and the word “bikelash” is a perfect description of the anti-cycling bridge hysteria we have witnessed lately, here on TS and elsewhere.
Two very good reads and highly recommended, as they filled a few gaps in my understanding, which is still vast and huge.
Yes – this bikelash thing seems very peculiar. Here in Aus I can see and use plenty of cycling oriented infrastructure and I'm not seeing any particular reaction to it. Maybe there are some merits to being a pack of feral racist rednecks after all. /sarc
Yes Redlogix, they (Aus) came at it from a health and fitness angle, and added exercise parks along the routes. Great example in Hervey Bay from the Urangan Pier to the Esplanade. Another advantage is five times our population to help bear costs.
A good leverage to get government to act to help 'ghost' houses to be used, inhabited, managed competently and lawfully, and insured. There is one empty in Nelson where the children cannot agree on parents' estate terms and the house sits empty for years.
Something went wrong when I put up this and then made change. I got my previous comment back. This is what was meant to go under yours Patricia.
I read of a small town in Austria with nice scenery and needing some business. They established some lovely walks, in a loop which became popular and brought business. They had stops on the walk with seats at a view, and an attraction at each stop, also exercises to do – part of a health plan, where if you stayed two weeks say and did part of the walks, and ate to a special diet, you went away feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.
That would be better than having madmen, women and children, throw themselves onto bikes and streak about the place, or ride side by side blocking access, or hare up hill and down dale in races or doing bike tricks. Inevitably there will be more accidents from being on two wheels than two legs.
Well a bikelash is hardly surprising. Don't get me wrong I am not interested in building more grand road projects (the Key holiday highway being a good example) . Putting more money into public transport yes.
But
massive funding for a preferred leisure/health activity for a few people – not interested
massive funding for a harbour crossing that benefits a very limited geographic area – not interested
massive funding for a transport means used by very few people even if the current usage trebles- not interested.
massive funding for projects that a good number of the community are physically unable to access – not interested
This funding is being taken from a community that is constantly being told there is not money for hospitals, leaking schools, feeding kids, housing etc.It smacks far too much of entitlement by a very small group not a green solution for the many. Even down to the ‘why do we have to look at any cost benefits analysis” lines being run.
All of those are used by few travellers, most physically unable to access them, all involve huge volumes of capital both private and public, all achieve minimal returns if measured by kind of trips taken on average, all are subsidised up to their eyeballs.
When you scroll down to the Auckland modeshare maps by data meshblock, you can see that the areas with the most investment over the last two decades are the areas where public transport use is over 60%, and those areas are:
And for that amount of subsidy per trip, and all of that capital, Auckland is barely holding steady against the car as a preferred means of getting to work. The 2018 Census Journey to Work stats show:
Private vehicle use in Auckland is slightly above that nationally but it has some down more, dropping from 72% to 70% in 2018.
Buses have increased share by 1.1% to 7.1%, trains have gone from 1.7% to 3%. That means a combined bus and train increase of 2.4%. Combined with ferries, PT is sitting at 10.7% share of journeys to work.
Working from home has also gone up but only by 0.9% so not as much as it has nationally.
Like Nationally, the overall share of walking and cycling has decreased but only just and it looks to be a reflection of other modes growing more strongly.
If we are do defeat carbon saturation against the worst of our carbon debts, we are going to keep throwing $$billions of public subsidy against all kinds of non-car modes for decades. That will take all available modes, forming new networks, using lots of capital.
The arguments you are using are the same ones I’ve heard used for decades, against any mode that competes against the car.
If bikes are so great why did people ever shift to cars? And last time I looked most of NZ still lived outside Auckland – but hey we should be so grateful that we want to pay for the bridge that is used by a small group of people from a very confined geographic area. We’d be better off shifting businesses to smaller towns.
Rather than this mode shifting just up the public transport and maybe have bus lanes only on some of the mojor routes. No cars and no expensive outlay for an unproven mode shift.
Cars are certainly a superior form of transport to the truck, horse, train, bicycle, scooter, and to walking, if you live in a city in which:
– Central government completely reversed investment in rail and trams, and towards motorways and cars, since 1949 when Labour were voted out, totalling hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars
– all the tramlines were been stripped out 60 years ago
– all the planning over 70 years had huge industrial areas separated by tens of kilometers from residential areas
– passenger rail was stripped down so bad that they were close to just scrapping it in the 1990s
– bus transport was privatised and essentially left for dead since the late 1980s
– RUC was unable to be used on rail for multiple decades
– cities were spread out and high rises were discouraged until the 1970s
– road design favoured the car for nearly a century
– cities were dominated by National-aligned majorities and mayors
– where National-led governments since 1949 (ie over 50% of Parliamentary dominance) actively undermined public transport .. until the second term of the Key government.
And as a result we have the most car-dominated urban environment in the OECD, one of the most car-saturated, most carbon-polluting, and in public health we have the third most obese city in the world.
I've said before, the horse people resisted the car… forcing cars to have a person walking in front yelling "Car coming" so they would not scare the horses.
Now we need bells on the bikes.. especially in shared spaces. Pedestrians will need to be aware how quiet EVs are, when sharing spaces.
It worries me that Sydney has about 4x the Auckland population, has a better climate for riding more year round, and is a flat bridge, and yet the cycle traffic per day is around 2,000 people. It's hard to imagine even 1,000 people using this in Auckland especially on a day like today.
By cutting down refining in NZ, and relying on that done in other countries and having to be shipped here, people may have to cycle if transport systems are curtailed by fuel problems. Business will be given some leniency presumably. But we are getting more dependent on imports to keep the country going.
With imported refined fuel there can be possible consequences if it isn't good quality (there has been fuel here – diesel? -that had some substance polluting it.) We are importing mostly unrefined fuel now, but we control our refining systems.
We should be continuing with the refinery to ensure an intelligent cross-over to other fuels, and encouraging diminishing individual trip numbers with public transport – could be small local tuk-tuks and encouraging taxi circles with neighbourhoods using group trips to bus hubs, or where there are few buses available.
Transport companies could be encouraged to reform their business style to use rail where it provides good value for both entities. We have to plan for the South Island where high seas will threaten the present main line, and roads can be blocked by slips and ruined bridges. Co-ordination and forethought, not precipitate business action would be wise.
"The agreement includes provision for third party access to unutilised capacity on its Refinery to Auckland Pipeline (RAP). Refining NZ remains focused on concluding negotiations with its only other current refinery customer Mobil," the company said..
"Refining NZ processes a range of crude oils imported from offshore markets to produce premium and regular petrol, diesel, aviation and kerosene, and fuel oils for our oil company customers (BP, Mobil and Z Energy). The Marsden Point oil refinery supplies around 70% of New Zealand fuel demand, delivering fuel to Auckland through the Refinery to Auckland Pipeline (RAP), to Northland from the Marsden Point site and to other parts of New Zealand through coastal shipping vessels," the company says…
Refining NZ is pushing ahead with plans to stop refining operations at New Zealand's only oil refinery at Marsden Point, Northland.
Depending on various approvals the company is looking at switching to an import-only model by the middle of next year.
"On current estimates, a final decision in Q3 2021 would enable a conversion to occur by mid-2022." …
James said the company had been working hard on the detailed planning about "exactly how we might run an import terminal operation", and what other opportunities there might be for the site.
"Marsden Point has huge potential being a large industrial consented site, with deep water port access, large electricity and gas connections and a highly skilled workforce. We want to explore what the best opportunities are for the site, for our region, and for New Zealand."
Leaders at the G7 summit in England have been told to demonstrate the “global will” to tackle climate change by David Attenborough.
The television naturalist said the scientific response to the Covid-19 pandemic had demonstrated what was possible when there was a “clear and urgent” goal.
But the fight against climate change was as much a “political and communications” challenge as a scientific one, he said in a video address.
And the G7 is also expected to commit to increasing their contributions to international climate finance, to help developing countries deal with the impact of climate change and to support sustainable growth.
But environmentalists have warned that previous climate finance targets have already been missed, and that aspirations to conserve 30% of our land and sea lack any form of plan as to how the areas will actually be protected.
Ahead of his address to world leaders, Sir David had said: "The natural world today is greatly diminished. That is undeniable."
"Our climate is warming fast. That is beyond doubt. Our societies and nations are unequal and that is sadly is plain to see."
…
On Saturday night, the leaders enjoyed a beach BBQ in Carbis Bay and witnessed a flypast by the Red Arrows.
Critics questioned the display by nine aerobatic jet aircraft amid the summit’s focus on climate change.
Maybe a 'spend & consume' strategy will limit global warming to 1.5˚C – time will tell.
I'm wandering around in short sleeves and the woolly hats sitting on the bike ( a stones throw from ruapehu), it's hard not to think 1.5° is already in the rearview mirror.
Not so good for NZ winters. We benefit from the cold in all sorts of ways – keeping the bugs down for one. And some trees and plants need freezing as part of their growth cycle.
Thanks Grey – good in NZ winters for some cold-sensitive people who enjoy the outdoors, even the odd winter dip, and don't have much fruit'n'veg in their diets.
Wearing sensible clothes in winter here would help. Schoolkids don't like wearing raincoats, girls abandon long sleeves in favour of shoestring straps the minute some sun peeps through. Miniskirts come and go, hardly covering any leg, just leggings are worn instead of under trousers, jeans are worn though they are just cold cotton and wouldn't stop a snowman freezing. Getting away from computers or studying small oblongs, weird habit, would mean a short walk which is what I will have to do this winter.
Have you worked in an op shop, and seen the stuff there that is passed over because 'not everyone is wearing it'?
Alternatively some op shops CHARGES are Too High. They need to find a way, about a month after every new season changeover, and people dash in to get the best stuff, to have families that are known to be needy come in on a closed morning say, and get all the family something warm and a few extras for just a few dollars; good to pay something then they don't feel like absolute beggars.
But people often don't buy useful stuff in reasonable condition. I think even amongst the hard-up there is a dress code that governs the choices.
Yes that bug thing makes my skin crawl! Mainly at the thought of the combination of us and CC killing the world. And yet so many people go blithely on.
…Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright
And darkened lands of the earth,…
Faces along the bar
Cling to their average day:
The lights must never go out,
The music must always play,…
This is an example of how womens lib didn't finish its task of improving conditions for women, gaining proper respect and understanding for their vital role in guiding their children and being in a mutual nurturing partnership with their partner, attaining reasonable and secure standard of living, and realising a full life in the community.
For men, there was a 4.4 percent drop in those in less secure jobs, and only a slight 0.2 percent decrease in those in permanent work….
Contract work Pffftttt.
But she'd like something more secure – a permanent part-time job.
"I'd prefer that over doing the contracting work, purely because you just don't know how much money's coming in every week and when it's going to stop, because at any stage they can actually turn around and say we've got no more work for you."
But permanent jobs that she can fit around her kids are hard to come by.
"There's probably quite a few mums that feel the same way. We all want to work and we've got the skills to work. It just means that we have to find employers that are keen to actually take us on."
Here is a very excellent interview with author Jenny Chan, talking about her book on contemporary industrial Chinese workers and the dire conditions in the mega factories they work in while making so much of what we all consume….strangely enough this issue is never really brought up any more, even throughout this current anti-China moment…very strange.
Hi Adrian. I have visited factories in a number of locations in China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and into the Pacific (although obviously not since early 2020). I have visited factories in China that would do any country proud in terms of workers conditions, but I have also visited many that were stuck in a time warp of shocking conditions, both in the factories themselves and in worker hostels/accommodation. I have walked out of more than one in utter disgust.
What kind of administration gets its Justice Department to secretly investigate one of its own top lawyers while said top lawyer is still serving with zero hint of any kind of impropriety or disloyalty?
Is it just me, or does it really look like the only criteria Repugs use for selecting their presidents is whether their choice can be bad enough to make previous Repugs look better in hindsight? I mean geez, trying to dig dirt on McGahn is waay lower than even anything Nixon tried.
A good leverage to get government to act to help 'ghost' houses to be used, inhabited, managed competently and lawfully, and insured. There is one empty in Nelson where the children cannot agree on parents' estate terms and the house sits empty for years.
Geoff Williams of Rotorua's council is enviably adept at flannel with his outward looking internally appointed 7 outcome focused deputy ceos blahblahblah.
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On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
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https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300331693/government-offers-8625-discount-on-evs-reviving-policy-killed-by-nz-first
I ask you to put aside your enmity for farmers and consider how unfair it is to tax farmers for buying Utes when there is no viable other option.
We carry dogs ,chemicals,chainsaws and alsorts of other things you really dont want in the back seat.
And who the hell would be seen in the Tesla ute!!
This policy is not designed for the productive economy. It’s middle class welfare for the luvies who want to drive a subsidised 80k Tesla to lunch.
Middle class welfare! The new target group for National. Having belted beneficiaries, de-unionised workers, they're now after the middle class.
They're wrong on two counts. First, the Tesla meme is an exaggerated reaction to a policy that moves NZ car owners towards fuel efficiency and renewable energy.
Second, the middle class are the "mum and dad investors", those "ordinary hard-working kiwis" and middle of the road voters. National mocks them at their peril.
"the luvies who want to drive a Tesla to lunch" indeed!
All they'll have left are the one per centers and their 10% wannabes to compete with ACT for.
Or are we seeing a new rural conservative party arising out of the ashes of National as the middle class hate meme and the 'luvies to lunch' seems to indicate a rural bias there.
There is a rebate is also available for hybrid vehicles. There are hybrid utes available. You don't all have to have a ranger.
Which brands do hybrids? I know Toyota are working on a hybrid ute but it may not be available for a while and as you say, Ford Ranger don't do one. Do Mazda or Mitsubishi do them?
I know that the hybrid toyota hi lux is just about here, if not already here.
From August last year.
The 4×4 hybrid technology is well developed – just the addition of a different body, and enough people demanding them.
Looking through the main car sites, there doesn't seem to be any hybrid alternatives at the moment for utes, so I guess diesel Ford Rangers, Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Tritons will all remain in the top 10 selling vehicles for a while yet.
Might change quicker than you expect. Supply and demand, mate.
With an $8k sweetener on offer, maybe some non-traditional names might see their opportunity to get their foothold in NZ. Like Great Wall, or LDV.
Both you and Jacinda seemed to believe the EV Hi Lux just about here. I tend to believe Toyota.
Toyota NZ CEO Neera Lala was lying in when he said we hope to have Hilux hybrid enter the market before the end of next year?
Well he certainly isn't saying it now!
How far away are electric utes? | Stuff.co.nz
Ford does the Ford 150, already launched and produced now.
They are already swamped with orders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxe352yOYyk&t=5s
All well and good Ad if you live in USA…………..and even then production starting middle of 2022!
"Right now it seems that this Lightning will only be available in America, with left-hand drive production kicking off in the middle of 2022. We're reached out to Ford New Zealand for comment, but we won't be holding our breath for the electric truck. "
https://www.driven.co.nz/news/ford-s-all-electric-f-150-lightning-combines-practicality-and-impressive-performance/
So the gap between vehicles already in the country and that being available in mid-2022 is… how long?
Who needs to urgently buy a 4wd?
I think you're dreaming if you think that will be available in NZ in 2022.
Who needs one now? Seems like a lot of builders, electricians, plumbers?, Farmers and other trades people. Look at top vehicle sales in NZ for 2020.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/revealed-new-zealand-s-10-most-popular-cars-of-2020
"Need" is something different than "purchased for image or tax rort reasons".
They are very practical vehicles for throwing timber in the back along with a wheel barrow and a ladder. Try doing that with a Nissan leaf. So often is a need. Currently in NZ there seems to be no alternative and probably the Hybrid Toyota Hilux will most likely be the first available non diesel option in NZ but probably wont be until 2022 at earliest.
Well, the fees won't begin until 2022, so that's convenient timing, innit.
Yes, there are a few that * need * a double-cab ute – or at least, a double-cab ute is the most practical vehicle for them.
I suspect they're a small minority of double-cab ute purchasers. Certainly of the double-cab ute owners I know, the majority of them are quite open that a station wagon or van would be much more practical, with a trailer for the very rare big loads, but the tax benefits and image of the ute swung it for them. Oh, plus towing the boat, although they don't mention that bit to the IRD.
After all, all these various groups of people managed just fine in the times not very far back when double-cab utes weren't the domineering feature of our roads.
Pop down to any country golf course and see how many tradies, rural estate agents and farmers have used their "work essentials" to get them to golf. And the farmers are probably using pink diesel to power them as well …
@logie…pink diesel isnt a thing in NZ…we have RUC instead
Now I've never owned a new ute and never will I guess, but there are valid reasons to turn you utes over every 3 years or so due to thier resale value falling off a cliff after that
Pat – yes RUC, but the diesel that fills the tanks of the farm ute is not from the local bowser. It is delivered in bulk to the farm for the tractors and some of it finds its way into the ute's tanks.
The whole reason for ruc's is because it's the simple way for road tax to be gathered when huge amounts of diesel is not for rd usage . I'm picking more than a few farmers pay alot of ruc while not actually on the nzta road network.
@logie…very possibly so but that makes no difference to the RUC incurred.
Funny how many of the ones in the supermarket carparks or on a school run have neither trade tools or advertising. I guess they're all undercover tradies.
BTW, since 2019 the rav4 has had a hybrid option, so low emission. the farmers and tradies can all buy them.
I wonder if toyota do the black trim and tints for extra, like some of the other road tanks? Gotta look butch, but as soon as it's about emissions then "omagerd I haz no cash" lol
You letting your bias show , I just firmly believe that social good taxs need to be avoidable to be fair . And ite are hands down the best option for us out here .
Got my ute 2nd hand ,got mint tints btw bit of a midlife c thing😀
that lots of townies own utes and 4WDS isn't a good reason not to support country people owning them.
https://twitter.com/LewSOS/status/1404270199419801600
there's politics too,
https://twitter.com/LewSOS/status/1404274193466728454
The number of people who will "need" to buy a new 4wd in the (maybe) months between when the fees start and when more varieties of low/no-emission (therefore rebated) 4wd come on the market will be very small indeed.
I suggest it will be much smaller than the listed number of 4wds sold in 2020, which was Jimmy's response to my "who needs to urgently buy a 4WD?" I doubt anywhere near that number were in a sudden, urgent need to have a new 4wd that day.
Thing that interests me more is how the 2nd hand market will be affected. Theory 1 is that prices will increase as utes/4WDs become less available. Theory 2 is that prices will drop as there will be an excess on the market due to Aucklanders buying EVs rather than SUVs. We're all guessing atm.
I'm less optimistic about the EV 4WD market than you. I want to hope I am wrong, but the whole thing is shifting deck chairs on the Titanic, so I should probably shut up.
Well here you go McFlock. Seems like Jacinda has been given incorrect info. regarding the availability of electric / hybrid utes. Farmers and some tradies if they need a ute are not going to have any electric option for over two years. And if you think the Ford Lightning will be available in two years time right hand drive, I have a bridge to sell you.
"Toyota has since confirmed it has no plans to bring any electric utes into New Zealand within the next two years."
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/06/clean-car-package-toyota-new-zealand-shuts-down-jacinda-ardern-s-claim-company-is-talking-about-bringing-in-ev-utes.html
Seems like you're conflating electric and hybrid, which your link doesn't do:
If you require machinery for your business, like a farm, isn't that a tax-deductible expense?
Same for tradies, I thought that's the reason many tradies have to top-of-the-range utes with sports-package etc. Surely that's the only version suitable for the job they have to do.
I think it's essential long-term to reduce the number of gas-guzzlers coming into the country now. Those cars – the majority of those are not used on farms (Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger have the highest sales in NZ) – will be on the road for the next 15 to 20 years. Same with busses: Wellington Council should have been forced to replace the trolley buses with fully electrical ones. Instead we got more polluting (incl. noise as a form of pollution) ones, that will be around for a long, long time.
By all means tax townies lux's, and the more intelligent tradies I know use Van's, they are a far better fit for their type of cargo.
But until there is a selection of ev Utes with 500 is of distance and towing power , remove it from rural utes.
what size ranch do you have that needs a 500 k range? our farm vehicles (utes and four wheelers) hardly ever do more that 80-100 k a day, and thats going between five different farmblocks and moving stock twice a day(currently doing that and grazing drycows). electric would suit us perfectly.as for towing power, electrics have unbeatable torque figures ,so towing is fine.
A gisborne coast farmer going to the sale in Napier would chew some ks in a day I expect. Pulling a 3 tonne trailer loaded up would take some grunt dontya think.
Interesting point BW and I'm afraid I don't see farmers as the enemy. A lot of farming communities have been gutted by big biz buying up and forest planting or running industrial cow size cow farms.
Yes there appear to be hybrid utes coming (but the toyota mentioned below may well not qualify because the other toyota hybrids are not actually plug in). Work vehicles are also tax deductible which lessens the impact – or purchasing off the second hand market.
What do you think would be the best transitional policy until electric and hybrids are more readily available in that sector.
Just let them claim back the tax until such time there are atleast 2 or 3 models available that can do the job.
Shit if I was in the position to I'd buy an electric tomorrow, I cant wait till our 4 wheelers are electric , one gets sick of the constant noise of the motor.
Not sure when the policy comes in but we may see a peak in petrol buying before then?
People are thick it seems a no brainer to by ev if you can , just the service fees alone must be a huge saving.
Not quite the quad you're bouncing around on right now, but close. Won't be long before some chinese company decides to do a standard traditional quad in electric, if they haven't already. Then it's just a matter of someone importing it.
https://electrek.co/2021/02/06/awesomely-weird-alibaba-ev-of-the-week-40-mph-electric-dune-buggy/
Don't worry, we all know there'll be an except-for-farmers clause.
Fantastic result overnight, our men's cricket team convincingly beating England to win a rare test series and return to the number one spot in rankings.
6 first choice players were rested or injured and they still won in a canter. Great bowling, solid batting and disciplined feilding from our side was met with tardy fielding, sub-standard wicket keeping and poor batting.
We take confidence and momentum into the Test Final vs India on Friday.
Who misses out on selection will be interesting.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/jun/13/england-left-trailing-on-and-off-pitch-by-clear-thinking-new-zealand
Yes I reckon India may be more than a little wary of little old NZ.
They have been wary for a while,the BCCI pulled all the strings they could to get the final in Southampton, the home of world cricket ( yeah right ) and the most spin friendly pitch in England. Let’s put Ajax’s and Ish in the lineup and bowl the manipulators out of contention. Now that would be irony.
Well I guess this highlights the danger of both smoking and huffing.
A possible NZ entry for the Darwin awards.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/125398527/coroner-issues-huffing-warning-following-death-of-teen-in-deodorant-fireball
A great article on the Minister of transport and the transformation that is happening right now.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/politics/jess-berentson-shaw-michael-wood-a-new-leader-in-a-time-of-change
Indeed, rather than looking at isolated local proposals, look at the overall picture that is emerging, which is pretty good from my PoV.
Well said. It really puzzles me that quite a few commenters here run the neo-liberal ruler over proposals like hardcore economists of the NZI and focus relentlessly on cold hard dollars, business plans, and ROIs. No values in sight but plenty of negative emotions on display.
The linked article by Dr Kirsty Wild is very good too and the word “bikelash” is a perfect description of the anti-cycling bridge hysteria we have witnessed lately, here on TS and elsewhere.
Two very good reads and highly recommended, as they filled a few gaps in my understanding, which is still vast and huge.
Yes – this bikelash thing seems very peculiar. Here in Aus I can see and use plenty of cycling oriented infrastructure and I'm not seeing any particular reaction to it. Maybe there are some merits to being a pack of feral racist rednecks after all. /sarc
Yes Redlogix, they (Aus) came at it from a health and fitness angle, and added exercise parks along the routes. Great example in Hervey Bay from the Urangan Pier to the Esplanade. Another advantage is five times our population to help bear costs.
A good leverage to get government to act to help 'ghost' houses to be used, inhabited, managed competently and lawfully, and insured. There is one empty in Nelson where the children cannot agree on parents' estate terms and the house sits empty for years.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/444698/newtown-house-fire-burnt-property-s-manager-says-complaints-made-for-years
Something went wrong when I put up this and then made change. I got my previous comment back. This is what was meant to go under yours Patricia.
I read of a small town in Austria with nice scenery and needing some business. They established some lovely walks, in a loop which became popular and brought business. They had stops on the walk with seats at a view, and an attraction at each stop, also exercises to do – part of a health plan, where if you stayed two weeks say and did part of the walks, and ate to a special diet, you went away feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.
That would be better than having madmen, women and children, throw themselves onto bikes and streak about the place, or ride side by side blocking access, or hare up hill and down dale in races or doing bike tricks. Inevitably there will be more accidents from being on two wheels than two legs.
Greywarshark, yes, now at 80 that I could do that. Lol Biking trails less my thing.
Well a bikelash is hardly surprising. Don't get me wrong I am not interested in building more grand road projects (the Key holiday highway being a good example) . Putting more money into public transport yes.
But
massive funding for a preferred leisure/health activity for a few people – not interested
massive funding for a harbour crossing that benefits a very limited geographic area – not interested
massive funding for a transport means used by very few people even if the current usage trebles- not interested.
massive funding for projects that a good number of the community are physically unable to access – not interested
This funding is being taken from a community that is constantly being told there is not money for hospitals, leaking schools, feeding kids, housing etc.It smacks far too much of entitlement by a very small group not a green solution for the many. Even down to the ‘why do we have to look at any cost benefits analysis” lines being run.
On that criteria you provide, Auckland would have:
https://at.govt.nz/media/1966910/simpler-fares-zone-map-web-sept-2016.pdf
All of those are used by few travellers, most physically unable to access them, all involve huge volumes of capital both private and public, all achieve minimal returns if measured by kind of trips taken on average, all are subsidised up to their eyeballs.
When you scroll down to the Auckland modeshare maps by data meshblock, you can see that the areas with the most investment over the last two decades are the areas where public transport use is over 60%, and those areas are:
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2020/03/17/2018-census-travel-to-work-results/
And for that amount of subsidy per trip, and all of that capital, Auckland is barely holding steady against the car as a preferred means of getting to work. The 2018 Census Journey to Work stats show:
If we are do defeat carbon saturation against the worst of our carbon debts, we are going to keep throwing $$billions of public subsidy against all kinds of non-car modes for decades. That will take all available modes, forming new networks, using lots of capital.
The arguments you are using are the same ones I’ve heard used for decades, against any mode that competes against the car.
If bikes are so great why did people ever shift to cars? And last time I looked most of NZ still lived outside Auckland – but hey we should be so grateful that we want to pay for the bridge that is used by a small group of people from a very confined geographic area. We’d be better off shifting businesses to smaller towns.
Rather than this mode shifting just up the public transport and maybe have bus lanes only on some of the mojor routes. No cars and no expensive outlay for an unproven mode shift.
Cars are certainly a superior form of transport to the truck, horse, train, bicycle, scooter, and to walking, if you live in a city in which:
– Central government completely reversed investment in rail and trams, and towards motorways and cars, since 1949 when Labour were voted out, totalling hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars
– all the tramlines were been stripped out 60 years ago
– all the planning over 70 years had huge industrial areas separated by tens of kilometers from residential areas
– passenger rail was stripped down so bad that they were close to just scrapping it in the 1990s
– bus transport was privatised and essentially left for dead since the late 1980s
– RUC was unable to be used on rail for multiple decades
– cities were spread out and high rises were discouraged until the 1970s
– road design favoured the car for nearly a century
– cities were dominated by National-aligned majorities and mayors
– where National-led governments since 1949 (ie over 50% of Parliamentary dominance) actively undermined public transport .. until the second term of the Key government.
And as a result we have the most car-dominated urban environment in the OECD, one of the most car-saturated, most carbon-polluting, and in public health we have the third most obese city in the world.
I've said before, the horse people resisted the car… forcing cars to have a person walking in front yelling "Car coming" so they would not scare the horses.
Now we need bells on the bikes.. especially in shared spaces. Pedestrians will need to be aware how quiet EVs are, when sharing spaces.
+1
It worries me that Sydney has about 4x the Auckland population, has a better climate for riding more year round, and is a flat bridge, and yet the cycle traffic per day is around 2,000 people. It's hard to imagine even 1,000 people using this in Auckland especially on a day like today.
You mean to say Sydney Harbour Bridge actually has a bike lane, why didn't we think of that?
By cutting down refining in NZ, and relying on that done in other countries and having to be shipped here, people may have to cycle if transport systems are curtailed by fuel problems. Business will be given some leniency presumably. But we are getting more dependent on imports to keep the country going.
With imported refined fuel there can be possible consequences if it isn't good quality (there has been fuel here – diesel? -that had some substance polluting it.) We are importing mostly unrefined fuel now, but we control our refining systems.
We should be continuing with the refinery to ensure an intelligent cross-over to other fuels, and encouraging diminishing individual trip numbers with public transport – could be small local tuk-tuks and encouraging taxi circles with neighbourhoods using group trips to bus hubs, or where there are few buses available.
Transport companies could be encouraged to reform their business style to use rail where it provides good value for both entities. We have to plan for the South Island where high seas will threaten the present main line, and roads can be blocked by slips and ruined bridges. Co-ordination and forethought, not precipitate business action would be wise.
Some Marsden Point facts:
…[Refining NZ] The company said its agreement with Z Energy is for an initial term of 10 years.
"The agreement includes provision for third party access to unutilised capacity on its Refinery to Auckland Pipeline (RAP). Refining NZ remains focused on concluding negotiations with its only other current refinery customer Mobil," the company said..
Sydney is actually a really scary place to ride around off the few purpose built cycle paths.
Maybe a 'spend & consume' strategy will limit global warming to 1.5˚C – time will tell.
I'm wandering around in short sleeves and the woolly hats sitting on the bike ( a stones throw from ruapehu), it's hard not to think 1.5° is already in the rearview mirror.
Apparently not; yet!
Good for NZ winters; not so good for Aussie summers.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-02/queensland-braces-for-more-hot-weather-with-record-temperatures/12914932
Not so good for NZ winters. We benefit from the cold in all sorts of ways – keeping the bugs down for one. And some trees and plants need freezing as part of their growth cycle.
Thanks Grey – good in NZ winters for some cold-sensitive people who enjoy the outdoors, even the odd winter dip, and don't have much fruit'n'veg in their diets.
And in Aussie the summer heatwaves could keep the bugs down – who knows.
Wearing sensible clothes in winter here would help. Schoolkids don't like wearing raincoats, girls abandon long sleeves in favour of shoestring straps the minute some sun peeps through. Miniskirts come and go, hardly covering any leg, just leggings are worn instead of under trousers, jeans are worn though they are just cold cotton and wouldn't stop a snowman freezing. Getting away from computers or studying small oblongs, weird habit, would mean a short walk which is what I will have to do this winter.
Then there are the kids whose families can't afford good wet weather gear.
Have you worked in an op shop, and seen the stuff there that is passed over because 'not everyone is wearing it'?
Alternatively some op shops CHARGES are Too High. They need to find a way, about a month after every new season changeover, and people dash in to get the best stuff, to have families that are known to be needy come in on a closed morning say, and get all the family something warm and a few extras for just a few dollars; good to pay something then they don't feel like absolute beggars.
But people often don't buy useful stuff in reasonable condition. I think even amongst the hard-up there is a dress code that governs the choices.
Dunno about any of that. Just that some families report not being able to buy wet weather gear for kids because of financial restrictions.
Yes that bug thing makes my skin crawl! Mainly at the thought of the combination of us and CC killing the world. And yet so many people go blithely on.
The penguin's fomenting.
https://fyi.org.nz/request/15777-communications-with-staff#incoming-59161
Is Pengy entitled to info about communications in a non office of the PM capacity?
This is an example of how womens lib didn't finish its task of improving conditions for women, gaining proper respect and understanding for their vital role in guiding their children and being in a mutual nurturing partnership with their partner, attaining reasonable and secure standard of living, and realising a full life in the community.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/444662/more-women-working-in-precarious-jobs
Official figures show that in the March quarter, the number of women in casual, fixed-term or temporary roles was up 4.4 percent on a year earlier. There was a 2.2 percent drop in women in permanent roles.
For men, there was a 4.4 percent drop in those in less secure jobs, and only a slight 0.2 percent decrease in those in permanent work….
Contract work Pffftttt.
But she'd like something more secure – a permanent part-time job.
"I'd prefer that over doing the contracting work, purely because you just don't know how much money's coming in every week and when it's going to stop, because at any stage they can actually turn around and say we've got no more work for you."
But permanent jobs that she can fit around her kids are hard to come by.
"There's probably quite a few mums that feel the same way. We all want to work and we've got the skills to work. It just means that we have to find employers that are keen to actually take us on."
And now we have this deprivation that affects everyone.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/444669/taranaki-food-charity-introduces-lottery-system-to-manage-demand
Here is a very excellent interview with author Jenny Chan, talking about her book on contemporary industrial Chinese workers and the dire conditions in the mega factories they work in while making so much of what we all consume….strangely enough this issue is never really brought up any more, even throughout this current anti-China moment…very strange.
Dying for an iPhone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60p6J1SItwk
Hi Adrian. I have visited factories in a number of locations in China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and into the Pacific (although obviously not since early 2020). I have visited factories in China that would do any country proud in terms of workers conditions, but I have also visited many that were stuck in a time warp of shocking conditions, both in the factories themselves and in worker hostels/accommodation. I have walked out of more than one in utter disgust.
Interesting gypsy. We can look to you for some reliable information about some things we don't read much about.
Wow.
What kind of administration gets its Justice Department to secretly investigate one of its own top lawyers while said top lawyer is still serving with zero hint of any kind of impropriety or disloyalty?
Is it just me, or does it really look like the only criteria Repugs use for selecting their presidents is whether their choice can be bad enough to make previous Repugs look better in hindsight? I mean geez, trying to dig dirt on McGahn is waay lower than even anything Nixon tried.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/apple-trump-doj-don-mcgahn_n_60c635dee4b08ecb9afac078
Sounds a little like Nicky Hagar's treatment here when he spoke truth to power.
Unlike Nicky Hagar, I would be very surprised to see the US DoJ issue an apology and an undisclosed compensation.
Would be great if I were proven wrong on this one.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018798993/finding-wellington-s-next-top-mould-el
Howsing – looking at what people are complaining about in Wellington.
A good leverage to get government to act to help 'ghost' houses to be used, inhabited, managed competently and lawfully, and insured. There is one empty in Nelson where the children cannot agree on parents' estate terms and the house sits empty for years.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/444698/newtown-house-fire-burnt-property-s-manager-says-complaints-made-for-years
Geoff Williams of Rotorua's council is enviably adept at flannel with his outward looking internally appointed 7 outcome focused deputy ceos blahblahblah.