In Terry Pratchett’s disc world books, dwarfs are very keen on rats. I think as I read Jingo at the moment, that we should mine Terry Pratchett’s tales of Ankh-Morpork and surrounding fiefdoms, for good ideas for running the country.
Pratchett is sharp on identifying human behaviour and pretentiousness. He is subtle in revealing the impact of Lord Vetinari, a non-benign ruler who doesn’t make unreasonable laws that are only bound to be broken. (Such as prohibition of cannabis in NZ because some large offshore colonsingl entity has done so, although their previous foray into banning alcohol was a precursor to large criminal groups making billions and funding the training of large family businesses in extortion and other parasitic endeavours.)
We might as well throw out the learned university tomes about economics and politics, as the practitioners just flick through these to the exciting bits where they can read about how to make money (and get beautiful women – don’t know why I put that in as I have never seen that in a textbook). Go for Terry Pratchett, he may be losing it, but then he had more of it than most of us at the beginning so he’s just coming to our level.
And we are such a funny little country that I call on a NZ author to write a series based on us and become a well-loved subject for laughs around the world like Terry’s books. I have been looking at Tom Scott’s early book about his Muldoon days which is very good. But the people’s war and peace is what I’m thinking of, with us all being in as bit players. With some good guys that we can warm to.
And some weirdos like Constable Downspout who is a gargoyle, valued for his ability to keep unblinking watch on street activity, and his simple dietary wants such as regular water and anything else that passes his eyes. Messages sent to him have to be protected from being eaten, or the pigeon that brings them. As Sergeant Detritus the troll points out, after all he is a gargoyle and he finks it’s his lunch. So pigeons and rats?
I wondered what the cryptic “Om” in your comment in reply to mine on the C Hauti thread was about. Now I’m left wondering whether it was a shared joke or a sly dig. Oh no! Paranoia. đ
ghost888
Thanks for the link – it’s long and I haven’t finished yet. I liked this bit from the screed on the dwarfs beginnings. The geode hatched and from it emerged two brothers. One left the cave and saw the sky; he was the first Man and he was enlightened. The other went deeper into the cave; he was the first Dwarf, and he was endarkened.
NZ isn’t so much Pratchett as Tom Sharpe (not stoppard, my bad)- a set variety of characters who have varying degrees of incompetence and peccadillos, with a plot enlivened by antics so outrageously incompetent that (while they might make a good story) nobody would ever believe they could happen in real life.
Fuck sake, a nation-wide media assassination campaign to get to number 59 in the party list? A guy as “picturesque” as Gilmore or Banks?
A curious thing was heard on te wireless Sunday pm which related to an interest in maoridom and its relations with others that I have. The debate at Vic University about the consttitution etc and in particular whether a republic should be chosen in replacement of the monarchy had four people, I imagine of high calibre in these matters, debating this. One was a professor, another another academic, another a law firm partner and another a can’t remember.
The host, a Simon Price i think, asked a question around how the Treaty fits within such a particular question. Every single one of the guests refused to comment. The audience uttered a nervous giggle.
I found this very telling. Whenever issues are raised around here of this world and its issues the accusation of being racist comes out pretty damn quick. Like a knee-jerk reaction. It is as if we are not permitted to question things in this arena, that it is taboo, that certain people are not qualified or of the correct race or ‘status’ to raise issues that are of concern to them. This claim is made by many people in New Zealand (that they are accused of being racist for simply talking race).
This radio debate seemed to pretty strongly confirm this bias in our society. Nobody would dare utter their view. Every single one of the four people were too scared. It was abundantly clear. It was further reinforced by the nervous laughter in the crowd. They risked being labelled for expressing their view.
New Zealand in this regard is immature and needs to grow up.
Did the panelists express why they wouldn’t comment?
Vto, it’s not an issue of not being allowed to raise the points. It’s how it is done. Also, it’s not about the ‘race’ of the person asking the questions, it’s about their mana and their politics. Your politics on this matter appear to me to be against the interests of Maori and in favour of the dominant culture. That, IMO, is why you get accusations of racism.
I would quite happily debate and discuss issues around Te Tiriti with you, but I never get past the feeling that your feelings about the treaty are inherently detrimental for tangata whenua (and thus, IMO, for us all). I know you don’t like being seen like that, I believe that you genuinely care about the issues. Nevertheless, there is this sticking point, and until it is resolved I can’t see how the discussion you want can happen or move forward.
I also wonder if you would be better off being very up front about your politics in this, and not trying to make your arguments appear better to others than they are. Stand your ground, man (or woman) and say what you really want to (you can take that suggestion under advisement, because I know there are people here who like to smack others down rather than engage in open debate).
Hi weka. ” itâs not an issue of not being allowed to raise the points. Itâs how it is done.” Well I would have thought that a panelist discussion at Victoria University broadcast on nat radio about the consitutional arrangements of New Zealand at the behest of the Maori Party is the most apt place in the entire known universe for such issues to be raised. Yet it was politely refused and nervously laughed at as explained. Perhaps it is worth pondering as to the reasons why …………………………
The rest of your points concern me and that was not the point of my post. This is an issue that is frequenntly raised by many people – talk about race issues and be kneejerk labelled a racist. But seeing as you raise my particular penchant and manner a response is required…… I make a conscious effort to make my points clearly and succinctly. There is no motive. There is no tempering of my points to enhance some unspoken agenda. I make my points and stand my ground.
And yes sure, my posts, at times, do work against the current status quo of tangata whenua and the related issues. That is because I see further injustice arising (and we have had enough of that in this country) around te tiriti. I see imbalance in our society and that is unsustainable (not speaking of the obvious maori and colonisation imbalance which is rightly being worked on). It is also the nature of debate – debate is usually around aspects of disagreement not agreement so a certain picture bias will appear. That works equally with others in the other direction of course as is evident on here at times.
I dont understand your point about being upfront about my politics. I am. There is no secret.
Finally, a brief background picture. Our family background branches have three which have been subjected to colonisation, systems of apartheid, oppression and brutality to such an extent that two of the three were forced from their homelands. This all in the last about 10 generations. Two in far off lands and one in aotearoa. These issues are raw and real. On top of a simple curiousity, I would doing an injustice to my forefathermothers if a blind eye was turned to these issues, not to mention those who follow…….
And yes sure, my posts, at times, do work against the current status quo of tangata whenua and the related issues. That is because I see further injustice arising (and we have had enough of that in this country) around te tiriti.
What actually do you want to debate? Maybe a list would help.
The rest of your points concern me and that was not the point of my post. This is an issue that is frequenntly raised by many people â talk about race issues and be kneejerk labelled a racist.
Citation needed for the last bit. I talk about race issues alot and don’t get labelled a racist. Why is that? My points about you could easily apply to many others who wish to challenge treaty issues in ways that support the dominant culture at the expense of Maori.
Well I would have thought that a panelist discussion at Victoria University broadcast on nat radio about the consitutional arrangements of New Zealand at the behest of the Maori Party is the most apt place in the entire known universe for such issues to be raised. Yet it was politely refused and nervously laughed at as explained. Perhaps it is worth pondering as to the reasons why âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ
Not having heard it I have no idea why and wouldn’t begin to guess. I’m not sure how or why you came to the conclusions you did.
I dont understand your point about being upfront about my politics. I am. There is no secret. I either missed or don’t remember your earlier comments on this topic. Lately I see implied argument rather than explicit. As marty suggests, why not make a list of the issues you want discussed, and then we will all know.
For instance
And yes sure, my posts, at times, do work against the current status quo of tangata whenua and the related issues. That is because I see further injustice arising (and we have had enough of that in this country) around te tiriti. I see imbalance in our society and that is unsustainable (not speaking of the obvious maori and colonisation imbalance which is rightly being worked on). It is also the nature of debate â debate is usually around aspects of disagreement not agreement so a certain picture bias will appear. That works equally with others in the other direction of course as is evident on here at times.
I actually don’t know what you are talking about there. What imbalance? What injustice? What picture bias?
btw, I didn’t suggest your arguments sometimes work against the current status quo of Maori (although I get that that is your intention). They appear to work against Maoridom in general.
The host, a Simon Price i think, asked a question around how the Treaty fits within such a particular question. Every single one of the guests refused to comment. The audience uttered a nervous giggle.
I found this very telling. Whenever issues are raised around here of this world and its issues the accusation of being racist comes out pretty damn quick. Like a knee-jerk reaction. It is as if we are not permitted to question things in this arena, that it is taboo, that certain people are not qualified or of the correct race or âstatusâ to raise issues that are of concern to them. This claim is made by many people in New Zealand (that they are accused of being racist for simply talking race).
Here is the link to the Constitutional Review series. Part 5. The question that vto refers to isn’t about the treaty. It is in fact asked by a member of the audience, John Ansell. You can guess the tenor of the question or hear it at around 44:45. The reason the the panelists don’t want to answer, and the reason the audience laughs, is because Ansell’s question is an attempt to distort the issues and hijack the discussion to suit his own agenda. The chair acknowledges this.
The panelists later do discuss some treaty issues, mostly to do with how the Queen took or didn’t take responsibility for ensuring the treaty was honoured.
Good on ya. Minor mistake but make no difference. The problem would seem to arise between us weka because I only heard the words, whereas you heard the words and all of this …
“itâs not an issue of not being allowed to raise the points. Itâs how it is done. Also, itâs not about the âraceâ of the person asking the questions, itâs about their mana and their politics”
We clearly see things differently.
I generally try to weed out those sorts of elementes whereas you want them to lead the way.
I’m a pakeha. I’ll talk to anyone who’ll listen about the Treaty, and even some who won’t. I’ll also listen to them. If the four people on the panel weren’t prepared to do the same, I have to wonder about their calibre.
“Whenever issues are raised around here of this world and its issues the accusation of being racist comes out pretty damn quick. Like a knee-jerk reaction. It is as if we are not permitted to question things in this arena, that it is taboo, that certain people are not qualified or of the correct race or âstatusâ to raise issues that are of concern to them.”
Playing the race card in the context of NZ’s constitution is about as honest as calling “anti-semite” to counter criticism of the Zionist state of Israel.
Maori did not cede sovereignty at Waitangi. The issue isn’t race, the issue is the dishonour of the Crown and parliament’s status as a de-facto government rather than a de-jure government.
I was reading about the three US women who’d been kidnapped for 10yrs. That was nasty enough but the story about the oldest is heartbreaking. Raped at school & made pregnant. Physically and sexually abused by mother’s boyfriend. On the day she was due in court to fight for her child’s custody she’s kidnapped & kept as a sex slave for the next 11 years. Multiple miscarriages, regular beatings, and the anguish of a mother who knows her child is probably lost forever as the years pass painfully by.
Makes you feel like crying. What a shitty, shitty, world this can be.
1 Cor. 12:4
For there are many different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works in all men.
7, now to each one the manifestations of the Spirit is given for the common good;
-the message of wisdom -metanoia
-the message of knowledge-semantic
-faith-perseverance
-gifts of healing-“heal thyself”
-miraculous powers-“gifts”
-prophecy-Plenty of that on The Standard (toasters talking without speaking)
-distinguishing between spirits-discernment
-speaking in different kinds of tongues-philology, linguistics, semiotics
-to Another, the interpretation of tongues.
“we all need a love resurrection, just a little divine intervention” from The Floating Opera at the End of The Road.
-John Barth
(Abandon Romanticism, amor fati).
it is indeed a sad case, and just the tip of the iceberg, DH. I have been pondering on whether to post on it, but I don’t want to participate in the MSM, US-centred sensationalism – so many awful things happening to people around the world – eg human trafficking of women for sexual slavery.
The accused in the US case, also abused the women and children in his family, and, apparently he also was abused.
There was a certain amount of jubilation when the women, and child, were first freed, but their suffering is not over.
And, as the guy got away with it, right under the noses of people looking for the women after they ‘disappeared”, it raises the question of “how many more”?
Yeah I had second thoughts too but the MSM hadn’t really made much of her, was usually referred to as the “third victim”. She’s not fashionable enough.
It is a depresssing problem. Many, if not most, of the 1-2 million maids working in Saudi Arabia are just slaves and no-one seems to give a damn about them. There’s some 45 on death row and it’s a safe bet none have done anything more than defend themselves or just become expendable.
NZ has it’s share, mostly prostitution related, the enforcement is inadequate and penalties far too low. There’s a lack of outrage, don’t know why.
The MSM focused mostly on the liberation story. It has tremendous appeal, and drew me in. The MSM tends to focus on individuals over context and the broader issues: the heroic women, the villainous abducter, etc.
However, normally, the MSM wouldn’t refer to the victims by name – they’d get name suppression. Apparently with this case, the names of the women had already been public knowledge from when they were abducted.
I think it is appropriate that the MSM doesn’t put the “third” woman under intense scrutiny, when she is dealing with such complex issues.
The issues that need to be addressed by the wider public, IMO, is how often such things happen, why it was so easy for it to go unnoticed, how it links in with domestic violence, etc.
At least they broke free. There are probably thousands in the USA still held against their will by kidnappers. Millions dissepear from the streets of the USA every day.
There will be a shift of the primary server over the next couple of weeks. Grrr.
The outage this morning was due to some kind of hardware fault at the server. It was the second one in as many months at the same system.
I realise that we are cheapskates when it comes to paying for these servers because having a low operational cost allows us to not be beholden to anyone. That in turn means that we have a lot of freedom to express opinion regardless who gets offended.
However I’m pretty sure that we can get better system stability without increasing costs at all.
I’m just peeved that I got woken up so damn early with a bleeping phone. I feel like an early awakened hibernating grizzly today… But mostly it was the lack of response that I found irritating. Freaking annoying when they have operators e-mails and a webpage that is meant to display the outages and ETAs.
Hosted overseas and hopefully hidden behind a CDN.
That way we don’t get hammered with excessive overseas bandwidth costs (ie the Southern Cross effective monopoly tax) from overseas bots and it makes it more interesting for the legal idiots if anyone wants to pursue a nuisance suit targeting the providers first (first Colin Craig et al would have to find the server).
The cost isn’t that much of an issue (because of the adverts on the site) except that I want to keep us from getting too dependent on requiring money. At the current cost of operations then we could probably subsist for a few years with just what we have in the bank right now. The ideal level of cost would be something that I could pay it myself without really noticing. That means that we could also fund out of voluntary donations which is mostly happened prior to putting ads on in 2010. We finally got back there at xmas.
The current issue is simply that the provider I picked, whilst usually pretty good as a platform, appears to have this bad habit of not noticing when their system jams. Of course these are for me unscheduled outages (unlike the ones I accidently create for myself) which invariably happen when I’m short of time to handle them.
But I’ve been testing a different provider since March. So it is time to move.
Sick and disabled on benefits, get ready for the long prepared, “FIT FOR WORK AGENDA”, prepared by the National led government, and going to be rolled out by Paula Bennett in the form of a new social welfare regime from 15 July 2013! Yes, the date is approaching fast, and in the background all is being prepared to get many of you, who are supposedly “locked into benefit dependency”, “assisted” get work out there, whether it is serving burgers and chips, pushing trolleys at supermarkets, cleaning, doing some office, factory or forecourt work.
The Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Act is in core parts intended to offer the needed âframeworkâ for the UK style system in welfare and work capacity assessments done by selected medical professionals, that is intended to be introduced here in New Zealand as well. Parliament with the one seat NatACT majority government has hammered through the bill to become law.
To get an idea what preparatory work has been done by key leaders, appointed under this government in key decisionmaking and implementing roles in various state agencies, have a look at the following info. Here is an abundance of links or sources with info that can enlighten readers:
http://nz.linkedin.com/pub/david-beaumont/2a/780/943
(Linked In page of Dr Beaumont, formerly also working for âAtos Origin Healthcareâ in the UK. Heâs been promoting the UK style medical and work capacity tests for many years; heâs also been advising MSD here in NZ)
http://www.healthworkforce.govt.nz/about-us/board-members
(Dr Des Gorman, well known from his advisory role to ACC for many years, and for some highly controversial recommendations. Heâs now also âbossâ of âHealth Work Force NZâ, set up to develop recruitment and training strategies for health sector employees in the NZ health sector)
So this shows you who is in place to execute the new regime that will affected many sick and disabled dependent on welfare. Being “sick” or “disabled” will NOT mean anymore, that you are not able to work. Already for the last couple of years many have been thrown off invalid’s and sickness benefits, for bizarre reasons. The pressure will be on, for you guys to go out and compete with the fit and healthy for the few jobs there are.
Maybe “look forward” to a nice job at the to be extended Sky City Casino then?
If there’s anybody left who still believes David Shearer will stand up to Key/Joyce on the Sky City 35 year rort, please listen to the Labour leader being painfully interviewed by Sean Plunket on Radio Live this morning:
Yep and I wonder whats going to happen when Key gets a 3rd term, the ‘sell it all we got a mandate. Yay come one, and all, you rich people NZ is for sale! I also wonder what the next polls will bring, In fact I dread to think what the next polls will bring!
11 people every week commit suicide in this country
NZ has the highest rate of youth suicide in the OECD
New Zealand’s suicide toll is 50 per cent higher than the road toll.
More New Zealanders under the age of 25 die from suicide than from all medical causes combined.
Suicides of 10-14-year-olds increased 60 per cent between 2007 and 2010.
New Zealand’s youngest known suicide victim was a 6-year-old.
Suicide rates of Maori and Pacific youth are 70 per cent higher than those of other young New Zealanders.
The most common age for Maori and Pacific people to take their lives is 15-19.
Source: CASPER (an organisation for those bereaved by suicide)
A 6 year old committing suicide – get your head around that if you can.
A hui in the deep south is being held to raise awareness of suicide prevention and we need to raise awareness, we need to talk about it and come up with strategies to help these (often) young people.
Our society is focused on the individual, on profit and exploitation, on capitalism and neo-liberalism and all of those factors contribute towards our appalling record in suicide.
The Maori youth suicide rate was 35.3 per 100,000 Maori youth population which was more than 2.5 times higher than non-Maori youth. (13.4 per 100,000)
It is too late to save them when they have gone – we need to save them NOW, we need to give people hope NOW and we need to talk about this disgusting blight on our society NOW. Do your bit and connect with those young people around you, your friends, your family, your whÄnau.
Could it just maybe be that depression and (unfortunately) the suicide that sometimes results is, in large part, a quite appropriate response to our social environment? Could it just maybe be that those we hold to be ‘well balanced and adjusted’ are in fact more psychologically askew than those we seek to balance and adjust back to a situation or perspective whereby they can cope or feel content with things?
I suppose the answer depends on whether you believe that most mental illness is principly biological in origin or hold that it’s essentially environmental. And also on whether you believe our society is healthy or not.
I probably agree to a point in regards to adults but I think youth are different in that they are inheriting the society we have created and I think there is an obligation on our part to help them at least get through to adulthood. That help is based upon giving them hope, personal esteem, and self awareness. The slant in the statistics where certain ethnic groups commit more suicide than others also needs consideration. Why does that happen? I have my views of course and the solution is not that palatable to most in this society.
I have the sneaking suspicion that the slant in ethnicities is confounded by a more extreme distribution in deprivation. A lot of stuff will come out in the wash when census totals are distributed so we have fairly accurate rates again (StatsNZ don’t issue population projections based on deprivation, AFAIK).
…mental illness is principly biological in origin or hold that itâs essentially environmental.
Generally it’s environment+genes, like most phenotypes đ
Depends on the condition though, schizophrenia is usually caused by specific collections of genes, while depression is pretty universal and triggered by environment, albeit with significant genetic components indicated by family studies in relation to severity.
As to your question, personally society is generally quite judgemental of those who are different, creating higher risks for poor mental health outcomes as stress can be a trigger for a whole range of mental illnesses, as well as the isolation/poverty that usually accompanies creating barriers to early intervention/treatment. It makes having a functioning, low barrier to entry, public health system vs the societal costs of mental illness rather important, along with public education at all levels.
Nick is highly sceptical about any psychology model systems/theories that look like they come from before the 90’s due to the long-tail of cargo-cult and pseudoscience psychiatry shit like Freud et al and vile offspring. Which sadly still stick around and screw over the mentally ill. Although PS-model seems to be more evidence based that it’s peers of similar vintage from a brief look.
What is really sad is that our recording of deaths probably understates the number of suicides. For example car deaths that are probably suicides are recorded as accidents.
My extended family has had to deal with suicide not once but twice so it’s something I find very difficult to even contemplate so briefly, IMO, youngsters taking their own lives is the result of despair coupled with the just-world notion and little or no appreciation of the finality of death.
A 6 year old committing suicide â get your head around that if you can.
Easy to do, if you’ve been in that position, and with children, it takes considerable pressure to cause that state of mind. Like constant bullying or familial abuse that is ignored by those in a position to do something about it…
It is too late to save them when they have gone â we need to save them NOW, we need to give people hope NOW and we need to talk about this disgusting blight on our society NOW. Do your bit and connect with those young people around you, your friends, your family, your whÄnau.
MoH’s been really pushing this via advertising, but frankly it’s not penetrating deep enough. Already found that out the hard way with former friends of mine, one who pretty much cut me off completely without seemingly realising the impact it would have on me and so is under sentence of “fist to the groin” if they pull any further shit.
And the worst parts are the constant hiding of suicides by the media, bar that of celebs and criminals of course and negative cultural attitudes to depression and suicide. I don’t know if schools have improved their actions towards childhood and teenage depression and it’s causes, but I’m not aware of much being done during my time in school. The odd assembly spot was about the sum total of it from memory…
“advertisng” is just lip-service; see the Road Toll, alcohol abuse, family violence, sexual abuse etc; it is all structural, that is why I loathe NGO’s and the “helpers” professions; they can all kiss my my firey ass.
Yep, he is strongly telling the government and business lackeys in Christchurch to take their proposed gigantic convention centre and covered stadium white elephants and shove them up the drainpipes.
It grates when business people rant that old lady ratepayers should pay for their business premises. Richie McCaw should be ashamed.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 11.1.1
Just watched Guy Standing’s Lecture in 2011 on The Precariate. The new dangerous class.
If this has not already been mentioned on the standard I highly recommend looking at it. Perhaps some of the right wing arrogant prats who visit this site may also like to have a look, if their pea sized brains can stand the strain they may learn something, as this could affect them.
Highly recommended
The guy’s brilliant!
Sums up perfectly the reason I’ll not vote Labour again (both Party and/or candidate) until they start showing signs of addressing the plight of the precariate, the “under-class” and the denizen. There are those amongst them that are doing their best I know but they’re not yet in the ascendancy.
Similarly, there are many in academia who’re well aware of the phenomenon, but who fail to challenge it at every opportunity – hats off to those that do!
Study shows UK Labour voters think poverty is a personal fault
seems like Labour Party leadership understand their supporters better than we think.
What the foundation seems to pinpoint is a major cultural shift. Almost half of Labour supporters â 47% â surveyed in 2011 said if benefits were not as generous, people would learn to stand on their own feet, up from 17% in 1987. Labour supporters also increasingly think that welfare recipients are undeserving â from 21% in 1987 to 31% in 2011. While the debates around welfare have shifted to the right, Labour supporters moved in greater numbers than those in other parties â with left-wing voters stressing personal agency and individual responsibility.
Depressing study. But I’d also like to know how today’s “Labour voters” compare with the past in terms of proportion of the population and demographic background. There appears to be increasing numbers of people disconnecting from the political process. So maybe the study is at least partly showing that a lot of people more sympathetic to those on low incomes, have given up on the Labour Party.
It could also be that people have given up imagining a better world; that they themselves feel squeezed and feel that if those beneath them get any relief it will only be at their expense. I note that they are concerned about child poverty, which is the only form of poverty, it seems, that is allowed oxygen.I find the bracketing off of child poverty rather sinister, since children’s poverty mostly follows from the impoverishment of their parents.
No one is educating people in left wing history and alternative political economics any more.
The only ideas which get aired are neoliberal ones of one description or another. Both UK Labour and NZ Labour offer few (if any) clear alternatives to orthodox economics ways of looking at the nation and too often buy into market mechanisms as the solution to societal problems.
And what about those roof painting benefit bludgers.
Yeah. I think you’re right. There’s no analysis of economic & political issues on mainstream tv and programmes like Q&A are useless for anyone trying to understand these things. Some good documentaries on YouTube, but who thinks to watch them?
And what makes up the bulk of primetime tv (outside of coooking competitions and middle-class home renovation shows)?
.
Renters
The Force
RPA
Strangeways
24 hours in A and E
Police 10 7
RBT….
All shows that demonise the poorest and most disadvanatged. If reality shows picked on the badly behaving from the middle classes and up they’d be sued.
No analysis of why people feel the need to get trolleyed, just entertainment by derision and hatred.
Yeah. I think youâre right. Thereâs no analysis of economic & political issues on mainstream tv and programmes like Q&A are useless for anyone trying to understand these things.
THIS.
Heck, these days you’re mostly only going to see doco’s about nature on the main channels, or “real life” stuff, rather than any serious social, economic or political doco’s. And if by chance we do see one, 9/10 it’ll be about some place else, rather than the pressing local issues.
And it’s all because the channels know simple, sensationalist pap sells…
To start somewhere, we could outline what a decent society, at the most basic level, would look like, and consider the steps we would need to take to get closer to it than where we are now. Why on earth are security of dwelling and a modest living income not included as human rights, for instance? I know I am dreaming, but I would very much like to see Labour frame things like this; ” We are going to do whatever it takes to achieve X”, X being stable, genuinely affordable housing for each and every citizen, or similar, rather than “We are going to do S, T and U, and X will result.” Recent history tells us that S, T, and U readily result in something other than X once the rapacious smell opportunity – for example the housing plan in the US that resulted in the sub-prime mortgage problem.
I would very much like to see Labour frame things like this; â We are going to do whatever it takes to achieve Xâ
You win votes by playing to peoples prejudices or self interest.
Our current lot of political parties know no other way.
I like Bill’s alternative – housing collectives which are suited to exist within a capitalist market model but internally are structured to work very differently.
You can also appeal to people’s better selves; that is what unleashes the creativity to make things happen. Mean prejudices have already gone too far in turning us into the kind of people we don’t like being.
To start somewhere, we could outline what a decent society, at the most basic level, would look like, and consider the steps we would need to take to get closer to it than where we are now.
Why on earth are security of dwelling and a modest living income not included as human rights, for instance?
Because we haven’t got a purpose to the economy and so it defaults to the purpose of profit and when what is needed goes against profit then it is cast as being bad by both the politicians and the economists (especially the ones on the political right).
@ Draco: surely we must reach the stage soon where even those who appear to be prospering get frightened by our hollowed out, rootless fake economy, and all that can result from this.
Defy the Will of the People! (Paraphased from Question Time Today.)
Judith Collins said today in answer to a Question, that the MMP Reforms would not be presented to the House this year.
Q:Why not?
A: Because there was not full Consensus.
Q: Who were the Parties not in Consensus?
A: There was not full consensus.
Q: Will the tag on seat (as in Act) still be there at the next election?
A: Yes.
It would seem that the Legislation would have to be in the House by end of May in order to pass in time.(Geddes I think.)
My favourite part? “Crime would be heavily targeted in all forms. All criminals would spend their days breaking rocks into smaller rocks for the standard eight-hour work day.”
The author is one Kurt Burrows. If he isn’t a prison guard I suspect he harbours fantasies of being so.
I refuse to click on any link to Stuff Nation, but must express my amusement at someone you describe as “libertarian” advocating for entire bureaucracies to be implemented just so convicted criminals can do completely unproductive work.
I had this weird idea that the country needed more skilled tradies. Train them up, get them out, give them a rebuilding job, keep them away from crime.
Thanks ianmac…. interesting that consensus is a necessary prerequisite…..I for one don’t agree with this as it effectively allows the ‘tail to wag the dog’.
What we actualy want and need is leadership, but of course we won’t get this from a NACT govt now or ever…..
Leadership smeadership. Get away from this archaic vertical organised labour nonsense. The future is horizontal consensus. As Pierre-Joseph Proudhon pointed out, there’s very little point in putting the workers, or anyone, in charge because you’re just creating a new ruling class who have no interest in dismantling the aparatus of government. Power corrupts.
Well now Helen Clarks government and John Keys government have matched each others bullshit and arrogance. Key will now sink to the depths that Clark did in peoples eyes.
New Zealanders voted in a referendum about MMP in 2011. Ignored.
New Zealanders voted in a referendum about the numbers of MPs in 1999. Ignored.
This is why politicians are held in such low regard.
The electoral system is not for the government to determine. It is for the people to determine.
Bullshit the lot. Clark and Key occupy the same shitbox and will each carry their smell together. Stinking pricks.
Clark and Key
Up a tree
Stinking up the neighbourhood
Poo-fucken-wee
Q.T;
English- “while in the top 5 (countries) least likely to fail, our debts are relatively high”.
Robertson on the HLFS (supported by Key) “40,000 jobs behind 2012 Budget target”
Joyce- “not growing them (jobs) as fast as we wish”.
Robertson- “above the worst-case scenario of the last Budget”.
Parker- “current account deficit amongst the worst in the world”.
-NZ non-trade-able sector down 6.4%.
I read that.earlier today. I could be up for it – would give it a go. I’m not much of a meat eater, but I don’t see insects as being any worse fodder than animals.
I tells ya Colonel, we are certainly watching the end metamorphosis pupae. Which reminds me, did ya see The Hellstrom Chronicle when we were young? Re-released last year.
I saw that on Breakfast tv this morning and the light hearted way in which is was received by the presenters. So I sent them this feedback via facebook.
Surprised they didn’t use it.
“With respect, hungry people being told to eat insects and you treat it like a reality tv show challenge.
These people are human beings and thus, by right, should be fed the same healthy food we as consumers throw 50% of away each week.
If the will were there, a way could be found of doing it.
Go on, eat an insect as a stunt, but at the end of the day, my money is on the bugs.
AL1”
Breaking News:
Sartorial elegance of the month has been displayed in the NZ Parliament’s Question Time today.
The ‘honourable’ Tony Ryall is seen, resplendent in pin-striped suit, lime green gingham shirt (possibly run up at short notice on “the wife’s Elna” after their table cloth was ruined by splashes of red wine), and a pastel blue polka dot tie.
Ryall wasn’t prepared to confirm whether or not his boxers were of checked pattern fabric or polka dotted.
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Armyâs State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai RÄwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasnât gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
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Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
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The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
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The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
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This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
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Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. âThe latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
The December labour market statistics have been released, showing yet another increase in unemployment. There are now 156,000 unemployed - 34,000 more than when National took office. And having thrown all these people out of work, National is doubling down on cruelty. Because being vicious will somehow magically create the ...
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This week Kiwirail and Auckland Transport were celebrating the completion of the summer rail works that had the network shut or for over a month and the start of electric trains to Pukekohe. First up, here’s parts of the press release about the shutdown works. Passengers boarding trains in Auckland ...
Through its austerity measures, the coalition government has engineered a rise in unemployment in order to reduce inflation while â simultaneously â cracking down harder and harder on the people thrown out of work by its own policies. To that end, Social Development Minister Louise Upston this week added two ...
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Poor old democracy, it really is in a sorry state. It would be easy to put all the blame on the vandals and tyrants presently trashing the White House, but this has been years in the making. It begins with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and the spirit of Gordon ...
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Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, itâs hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
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Back in 2023, a "prominent political figure" went on trial for historic sex offences. But we weren't allowed to know who they were or what political party they were "prominent" in, because it might affect the way we voted. At the time, I said that this was untenable; it was ...
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Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kĆrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whÄnau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Armyâs annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Armyâs State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Memberâs Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The âFluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Billâ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Memberâs Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current âEnvironmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Frameworkâ. âThis Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if todayâs announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between MÄori and the British Crown. Initially inked by NgÄ Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this governmentâs failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealandâs opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting MÄori and Pacific people especially hard, with MÄori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between MÄori and the British Crown. Initially inked by NgÄ Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing â National still wonât commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the countryâs public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te PÄti MÄori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymourâs âcost-savingâ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. âWhatâs the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?â Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the townâs Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mĆ Te KÄhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tĆ«puna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tĆ«puna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Childrenâs Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her governmentâs terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers â temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymourâs school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Governmentâs move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Governmentâs commitment to get New Zealandâs roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. âIncreasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. âToday I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in WhÄngarei will be offering childhood immunisations â the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Governmentâs record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealandâs strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealandâs national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Governmentâs transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. Itâs a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. âThe racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. âThe latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are âstill both very highâ.â The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawkeâs Bay Fallen Soldiersâ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawkeâs Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealandâs second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. âWe have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mĆ Te KÄhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. âThis Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. âA world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed KÄinga Oraâs decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. âIn 2024 KÄinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,â Mr Bishop says. âAs part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. âAs schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Barnes, Lecturer in Physics, Western Sydney University An artist’s impression of a high-energy particle travelling through the KM3NeT neutrino telescope.KM3NeT Three and a half kilometres beneath the Mediterranean Sea, around 80km off the coast of Sicily, lies half of a ...
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from the box;
“He’s not blessed with a lot of courage”…is Aaron Gilmore
Mobile IT technology is promoting curvature of the spine; 600,000 people in New Zealand may be affected.
Te Papa- “a fun fair”, “management have ripped the guts out of it”, “morale at an all-time low”.
and from the U.N re world food shortages; let them eat “insects”, Grasshoppers.
In Terry Pratchett’s disc world books, dwarfs are very keen on rats. I think as I read Jingo at the moment, that we should mine Terry Pratchett’s tales of Ankh-Morpork and surrounding fiefdoms, for good ideas for running the country.
Pratchett is sharp on identifying human behaviour and pretentiousness. He is subtle in revealing the impact of Lord Vetinari, a non-benign ruler who doesn’t make unreasonable laws that are only bound to be broken. (Such as prohibition of cannabis in NZ because some large offshore colonsingl entity has done so, although their previous foray into banning alcohol was a precursor to large criminal groups making billions and funding the training of large family businesses in extortion and other parasitic endeavours.)
We might as well throw out the learned university tomes about economics and politics, as the practitioners just flick through these to the exciting bits where they can read about how to make money (and get beautiful women – don’t know why I put that in as I have never seen that in a textbook). Go for Terry Pratchett, he may be losing it, but then he had more of it than most of us at the beginning so he’s just coming to our level.
And we are such a funny little country that I call on a NZ author to write a series based on us and become a well-loved subject for laughs around the world like Terry’s books. I have been looking at Tom Scott’s early book about his Muldoon days which is very good. But the people’s war and peace is what I’m thinking of, with us all being in as bit players. With some good guys that we can warm to.
And some weirdos like Constable Downspout who is a gargoyle, valued for his ability to keep unblinking watch on street activity, and his simple dietary wants such as regular water and anything else that passes his eyes. Messages sent to him have to be protected from being eaten, or the pigeon that brings them. As Sergeant Detritus the troll points out, after all he is a gargoyle and he finks it’s his lunch. So pigeons and rats?
that is Od, prism, I was saving Omnianism for Clockie…but there you are. đ (ps, I haven’t read the books, time is fleeting, unless “presencing”)
I wondered what the cryptic “Om” in your comment in reply to mine on the C Hauti thread was about. Now I’m left wondering whether it was a shared joke or a sly dig. Oh no! Paranoia. đ
At least I now know what an Omnian is..
ghost888
Thanks for the link – it’s long and I haven’t finished yet. I liked this bit from the screed on the dwarfs beginnings.
The geode hatched and from it emerged two brothers. One left the cave and saw the sky; he was the first Man and he was enlightened. The other went deeper into the cave; he was the first Dwarf, and he was endarkened.
resonates
Ghost888
What is presencing? And what have you to say about eating grasshoppers and other insects for protein or perhaps rats and pigeons.
NZ isn’t so much Pratchett as Tom Sharpe (not stoppard, my bad)- a set variety of characters who have varying degrees of incompetence and peccadillos, with a plot enlivened by antics so outrageously incompetent that (while they might make a good story) nobody would ever believe they could happen in real life.
Fuck sake, a nation-wide media assassination campaign to get to number 59 in the party list? A guy as “picturesque” as Gilmore or Banks?
weeps
plural
a Bonfire of The Vanities, or, A Man In Full. đ
A curious thing was heard on te wireless Sunday pm which related to an interest in maoridom and its relations with others that I have. The debate at Vic University about the consttitution etc and in particular whether a republic should be chosen in replacement of the monarchy had four people, I imagine of high calibre in these matters, debating this. One was a professor, another another academic, another a law firm partner and another a can’t remember.
The host, a Simon Price i think, asked a question around how the Treaty fits within such a particular question. Every single one of the guests refused to comment. The audience uttered a nervous giggle.
I found this very telling. Whenever issues are raised around here of this world and its issues the accusation of being racist comes out pretty damn quick. Like a knee-jerk reaction. It is as if we are not permitted to question things in this arena, that it is taboo, that certain people are not qualified or of the correct race or ‘status’ to raise issues that are of concern to them. This claim is made by many people in New Zealand (that they are accused of being racist for simply talking race).
This radio debate seemed to pretty strongly confirm this bias in our society. Nobody would dare utter their view. Every single one of the four people were too scared. It was abundantly clear. It was further reinforced by the nervous laughter in the crowd. They risked being labelled for expressing their view.
New Zealand in this regard is immature and needs to grow up.
Did the panelists express why they wouldn’t comment?
Vto, it’s not an issue of not being allowed to raise the points. It’s how it is done. Also, it’s not about the ‘race’ of the person asking the questions, it’s about their mana and their politics. Your politics on this matter appear to me to be against the interests of Maori and in favour of the dominant culture. That, IMO, is why you get accusations of racism.
I would quite happily debate and discuss issues around Te Tiriti with you, but I never get past the feeling that your feelings about the treaty are inherently detrimental for tangata whenua (and thus, IMO, for us all). I know you don’t like being seen like that, I believe that you genuinely care about the issues. Nevertheless, there is this sticking point, and until it is resolved I can’t see how the discussion you want can happen or move forward.
I also wonder if you would be better off being very up front about your politics in this, and not trying to make your arguments appear better to others than they are. Stand your ground, man (or woman) and say what you really want to (you can take that suggestion under advisement, because I know there are people here who like to smack others down rather than engage in open debate).
Hi weka. ” itâs not an issue of not being allowed to raise the points. Itâs how it is done.” Well I would have thought that a panelist discussion at Victoria University broadcast on nat radio about the consitutional arrangements of New Zealand at the behest of the Maori Party is the most apt place in the entire known universe for such issues to be raised. Yet it was politely refused and nervously laughed at as explained. Perhaps it is worth pondering as to the reasons why …………………………
The rest of your points concern me and that was not the point of my post. This is an issue that is frequenntly raised by many people – talk about race issues and be kneejerk labelled a racist. But seeing as you raise my particular penchant and manner a response is required…… I make a conscious effort to make my points clearly and succinctly. There is no motive. There is no tempering of my points to enhance some unspoken agenda. I make my points and stand my ground.
And yes sure, my posts, at times, do work against the current status quo of tangata whenua and the related issues. That is because I see further injustice arising (and we have had enough of that in this country) around te tiriti. I see imbalance in our society and that is unsustainable (not speaking of the obvious maori and colonisation imbalance which is rightly being worked on). It is also the nature of debate – debate is usually around aspects of disagreement not agreement so a certain picture bias will appear. That works equally with others in the other direction of course as is evident on here at times.
I dont understand your point about being upfront about my politics. I am. There is no secret.
Finally, a brief background picture. Our family background branches have three which have been subjected to colonisation, systems of apartheid, oppression and brutality to such an extent that two of the three were forced from their homelands. This all in the last about 10 generations. Two in far off lands and one in aotearoa. These issues are raw and real. On top of a simple curiousity, I would doing an injustice to my forefathermothers if a blind eye was turned to these issues, not to mention those who follow…….
that is it. that is all.
The word you were looking for is ancestors or possibly forebears.
Its good that you are upfront vto
What actually do you want to debate? Maybe a list would help.
The rest of your points concern me and that was not the point of my post. This is an issue that is frequenntly raised by many people â talk about race issues and be kneejerk labelled a racist.
Citation needed for the last bit. I talk about race issues alot and don’t get labelled a racist. Why is that? My points about you could easily apply to many others who wish to challenge treaty issues in ways that support the dominant culture at the expense of Maori.
Well I would have thought that a panelist discussion at Victoria University broadcast on nat radio about the consitutional arrangements of New Zealand at the behest of the Maori Party is the most apt place in the entire known universe for such issues to be raised. Yet it was politely refused and nervously laughed at as explained. Perhaps it is worth pondering as to the reasons why âŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠ
Not having heard it I have no idea why and wouldn’t begin to guess. I’m not sure how or why you came to the conclusions you did.
I dont understand your point about being upfront about my politics. I am. There is no secret. I either missed or don’t remember your earlier comments on this topic. Lately I see implied argument rather than explicit. As marty suggests, why not make a list of the issues you want discussed, and then we will all know.
For instance
And yes sure, my posts, at times, do work against the current status quo of tangata whenua and the related issues. That is because I see further injustice arising (and we have had enough of that in this country) around te tiriti. I see imbalance in our society and that is unsustainable (not speaking of the obvious maori and colonisation imbalance which is rightly being worked on). It is also the nature of debate â debate is usually around aspects of disagreement not agreement so a certain picture bias will appear. That works equally with others in the other direction of course as is evident on here at times.
I actually don’t know what you are talking about there. What imbalance? What injustice? What picture bias?
btw, I didn’t suggest your arguments sometimes work against the current status quo of Maori (although I get that that is your intention). They appear to work against Maoridom in general.
The host, a Simon Price i think, asked a question around how the Treaty fits within such a particular question. Every single one of the guests refused to comment. The audience uttered a nervous giggle.
I found this very telling. Whenever issues are raised around here of this world and its issues the accusation of being racist comes out pretty damn quick. Like a knee-jerk reaction. It is as if we are not permitted to question things in this arena, that it is taboo, that certain people are not qualified or of the correct race or âstatusâ to raise issues that are of concern to them. This claim is made by many people in New Zealand (that they are accused of being racist for simply talking race).
Here is the link to the Constitutional Review series. Part 5. The question that vto refers to isn’t about the treaty. It is in fact asked by a member of the audience, John Ansell. You can guess the tenor of the question or hear it at around 44:45. The reason the the panelists don’t want to answer, and the reason the audience laughs, is because Ansell’s question is an attempt to distort the issues and hijack the discussion to suit his own agenda. The chair acknowledges this.
The panelists later do discuss some treaty issues, mostly to do with how the Queen took or didn’t take responsibility for ensuring the treaty was honoured.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/lecturesandforums/constitutional-review
Vto, did you listen to part 3, Maori Aspirations, for perspective on the review and the treaty?
btw, here’s a hint if you want to avoid being called racist when discussing the treaty: don’t reference out and out racists like Ansell.
Shall I now take it that Ansell is representative of your politics and views?
Just bumping this up so people who read the convo yesterday can see that the issue being referred to was brought up by John Ansell.
Good on ya. Minor mistake but make no difference. The problem would seem to arise between us weka because I only heard the words, whereas you heard the words and all of this …
“itâs not an issue of not being allowed to raise the points. Itâs how it is done. Also, itâs not about the âraceâ of the person asking the questions, itâs about their mana and their politics”
We clearly see things differently.
I generally try to weed out those sorts of elementes whereas you want them to lead the way.
Will take this to today’s Open Mike.
Here http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17052013/#comment-634309
I’m a pakeha. I’ll talk to anyone who’ll listen about the Treaty, and even some who won’t. I’ll also listen to them. If the four people on the panel weren’t prepared to do the same, I have to wonder about their calibre.
“Whenever issues are raised around here of this world and its issues the accusation of being racist comes out pretty damn quick. Like a knee-jerk reaction. It is as if we are not permitted to question things in this arena, that it is taboo, that certain people are not qualified or of the correct race or âstatusâ to raise issues that are of concern to them.”
Playing the race card in the context of NZ’s constitution is about as honest as calling “anti-semite” to counter criticism of the Zionist state of Israel.
Maori did not cede sovereignty at Waitangi. The issue isn’t race, the issue is the dishonour of the Crown and parliament’s status as a de-facto government rather than a de-jure government.
http://www.treatyeducators.org.nz/qa11
Pretty angry about the extended licence for Gambling and the compensation to be charged if rules change.
Rod Oram says compo must be paid if changes made in the future..
Mai Chen said it would need 75% Parliamentary approval to validate compensation.
http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ckpt/ckpt-20130513-1814-constitutional_lawyers_view_of_skycity_deal-048.mp3
Good discussion at Public Address.
I was reading about the three US women who’d been kidnapped for 10yrs. That was nasty enough but the story about the oldest is heartbreaking. Raped at school & made pregnant. Physically and sexually abused by mother’s boyfriend. On the day she was due in court to fight for her child’s custody she’s kidnapped & kept as a sex slave for the next 11 years. Multiple miscarriages, regular beatings, and the anguish of a mother who knows her child is probably lost forever as the years pass painfully by.
Makes you feel like crying. What a shitty, shitty, world this can be.
Epic,tetus
Eidetics
Lurings , cultural, historical, and psychological.
1 Cor. 12:4
For there are many different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works in all men.
7, now to each one the manifestations of the Spirit is given for the common good;
-the message of wisdom -metanoia
-the message of knowledge-semantic
-faith-perseverance
-gifts of healing-“heal thyself”
-miraculous powers-“gifts”
-prophecy-Plenty of that on The Standard (toasters talking without speaking)
-distinguishing between spirits-discernment
-speaking in different kinds of tongues-philology, linguistics, semiotics
-to Another, the interpretation of tongues.
“we all need a love resurrection, just a little divine intervention” from The Floating Opera at the End of The Road.
-John Barth
(Abandon Romanticism, amor fati).
it is indeed a sad case, and just the tip of the iceberg, DH. I have been pondering on whether to post on it, but I don’t want to participate in the MSM, US-centred sensationalism – so many awful things happening to people around the world – eg human trafficking of women for sexual slavery.
The accused in the US case, also abused the women and children in his family, and, apparently he also was abused.
There was a certain amount of jubilation when the women, and child, were first freed, but their suffering is not over.
And, as the guy got away with it, right under the noses of people looking for the women after they ‘disappeared”, it raises the question of “how many more”?
Yes, a shitty, shitty world.
Yeah I had second thoughts too but the MSM hadn’t really made much of her, was usually referred to as the “third victim”. She’s not fashionable enough.
It is a depresssing problem. Many, if not most, of the 1-2 million maids working in Saudi Arabia are just slaves and no-one seems to give a damn about them. There’s some 45 on death row and it’s a safe bet none have done anything more than defend themselves or just become expendable.
NZ has it’s share, mostly prostitution related, the enforcement is inadequate and penalties far too low. There’s a lack of outrage, don’t know why.
The MSM focused mostly on the liberation story. It has tremendous appeal, and drew me in. The MSM tends to focus on individuals over context and the broader issues: the heroic women, the villainous abducter, etc.
However, normally, the MSM wouldn’t refer to the victims by name – they’d get name suppression. Apparently with this case, the names of the women had already been public knowledge from when they were abducted.
I think it is appropriate that the MSM doesn’t put the “third” woman under intense scrutiny, when she is dealing with such complex issues.
The issues that need to be addressed by the wider public, IMO, is how often such things happen, why it was so easy for it to go unnoticed, how it links in with domestic violence, etc.
At least they broke free. There are probably thousands in the USA still held against their will by kidnappers. Millions dissepear from the streets of the USA every day.
There will be a shift of the primary server over the next couple of weeks. Grrr.
The outage this morning was due to some kind of hardware fault at the server. It was the second one in as many months at the same system.
I realise that we are cheapskates when it comes to paying for these servers because having a low operational cost allows us to not be beholden to anyone. That in turn means that we have a lot of freedom to express opinion regardless who gets offended.
However I’m pretty sure that we can get better system stability without increasing costs at all.
Thanks for sorting this, Lynn.
I’m just peeved that I got woken up so damn early with a bleeping phone. I feel like an early awakened hibernating grizzly today… But mostly it was the lack of response that I found irritating. Freaking annoying when they have operators e-mails and a webpage that is meant to display the outages and ETAs.
will it affect delivery of service? (I understand that you are busy, How’s it coming along with those notes Lynn?)
Are you hosting locally or overseas lprent? If you need hardware I can probably find something suitable that won’t cost you anything.
Hosted overseas and hopefully hidden behind a CDN.
That way we don’t get hammered with excessive overseas bandwidth costs (ie the Southern Cross effective monopoly tax) from overseas bots and it makes it more interesting for the legal idiots if anyone wants to pursue a nuisance suit targeting the providers first (first Colin Craig et al would have to find the server).
The cost isn’t that much of an issue (because of the adverts on the site) except that I want to keep us from getting too dependent on requiring money. At the current cost of operations then we could probably subsist for a few years with just what we have in the bank right now. The ideal level of cost would be something that I could pay it myself without really noticing. That means that we could also fund out of voluntary donations which is mostly happened prior to putting ads on in 2010. We finally got back there at xmas.
The current issue is simply that the provider I picked, whilst usually pretty good as a platform, appears to have this bad habit of not noticing when their system jams. Of course these are for me unscheduled outages (unlike the ones I accidently create for myself) which invariably happen when I’m short of time to handle them.
But I’ve been testing a different provider since March. So it is time to move.
The imaginary friend of Joyce et al is fixed.The conspiracy theorists are right
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/everything-is-rigged-the-biggest-financial-scandal-yet-20130425
echoed from a week or so ago Poission
Of course it’s all rigged, what do people imagine the *digital/big bang* environments were designed for!
Wait until further revelations/exposé
conspiracy theoriststhose who pay attention, turn out to be correct about!Sheesh, it’s not even difficult, it’s right in fron of the faces of those looking, and commentating!
As they say my friend – “Hidden in plain sight”…
Sick and disabled on benefits, get ready for the long prepared, “FIT FOR WORK AGENDA”, prepared by the National led government, and going to be rolled out by Paula Bennett in the form of a new social welfare regime from 15 July 2013! Yes, the date is approaching fast, and in the background all is being prepared to get many of you, who are supposedly “locked into benefit dependency”, “assisted” get work out there, whether it is serving burgers and chips, pushing trolleys at supermarkets, cleaning, doing some office, factory or forecourt work.
The Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Act is in core parts intended to offer the needed âframeworkâ for the UK style system in welfare and work capacity assessments done by selected medical professionals, that is intended to be introduced here in New Zealand as well. Parliament with the one seat NatACT majority government has hammered through the bill to become law.
To get an idea what preparatory work has been done by key leaders, appointed under this government in key decisionmaking and implementing roles in various state agencies, have a look at the following info. Here is an abundance of links or sources with info that can enlighten readers:
http://www.nzohna.org.nz/uploaded/Dr%20David%20Beaumont%20New%20Horizons%2013%209%202012.pdf
(Presentation by Dr David Beaumont: âWelfare Reform in New Zealand â Relevance to the Workplaceââ as part of a forum called âNew Horizons: Rebuilding Health and Safety on Solid Groundâ; Christchurch 13 September 2012)
http://www.fitforwork.co.nz/dr-david-beaumonts-message-to-doctors-conference-medical-certification-can-be-fraught-with-problems-for-gps
(Presenting at the General Practice Conference and Medical Exhibition of 11-12 June 2011, Fit For Work Medical Director Dr David Beaumont emphasised the vital role of New Zealand GPs in âhelpingâ their patients return to work)
http://www.fitforwork.co.nz/david-beaumont-and-colleagues-presenting-on-health-benefits-of-work
(âNewsâ fr. âFit For Workâ, by Dr D. Beaumont, featuring Kevin Morris, Director, ACC, at a forum organised by AFOEM and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians; 12.05.2012)
http://nz.linkedin.com/pub/david-beaumont/2a/780/943
(Linked In page of Dr Beaumont, formerly also working for âAtos Origin Healthcareâ in the UK. Heâs been promoting the UK style medical and work capacity tests for many years; heâs also been advising MSD here in NZ)
http://www.wellnz.co.nz/about_us/press_release_details.asp?pressID=36&bhcp=1
(On the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicineâs release of a new position paper, entitled âRealising the health benefits of work.â, 25.05.2010; see the known persons involved!!!)
http://www.healthworkforce.govt.nz/about-us/board-members
(Dr Des Gorman, well known from his advisory role to ACC for many years, and for some highly controversial recommendations. Heâs now also âbossâ of âHealth Work Force NZâ, set up to develop recruitment and training strategies for health sector employees in the NZ health sector)
http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/staffct/staff_details.aspx?staffID=64676F72303130
(Dr Des Gorman, Associate Dean at the Medical School of Auckland Uni)
http://wellsaid.co.nz/inside-acc/prof-des-gorman-delighted-to-join-acc-board/
(now Dr Gorman is also sitting on the ACC Board, appointed by guess whom? Paula Rebstock! I am wondering, whether he is also still on the âNational Health Boardâ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QknNdOhOkr8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCecwuwCHb4
(2 older TV documentaries on ACC cases involving Dr Gorman, referring to âillness beliefâ and mental health as reasons for otherwise âphysicalâ suffering)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6930331/Rebstock-appointment-to-welfare-reform-board-concerns (stuff.co.nz on the appointment of P. Rebstock as Welfare Board chairperson)
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-medical-professionals
Paula Bennettâs speech to medical professionals, informing on the new welfare reforms, 26.09.12)
Professor Mansel Aylward â 2 links with 2 views on his work and medical âresearchâ:
https://hcml.co.uk/?p=200
http://downwithallthat.wordpress.com/category/dubious-academics-universities/cardiff-university/
http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/GP%20CME/Friday/C1%201515%20Bratt-Hawker.pdf
(and let us not forget our âdearâ MSD and WINZ Principal Health Advisor, Dr David Bratt, who likes to compare benefit dependence with drug dependence)
So this shows you who is in place to execute the new regime that will affected many sick and disabled dependent on welfare. Being “sick” or “disabled” will NOT mean anymore, that you are not able to work. Already for the last couple of years many have been thrown off invalid’s and sickness benefits, for bizarre reasons. The pressure will be on, for you guys to go out and compete with the fit and healthy for the few jobs there are.
Maybe “look forward” to a nice job at the to be extended Sky City Casino then?
Thanks, xtasy, for so many useful links.
It does need to be watched, critiqued, opposed and publicised.
đż
I see all sorts of potential “fun” if they try this crap on me, particularly if it triggers suicidal ideation episodes.
‘
Nice job, thank you.
If there’s anybody left who still believes David Shearer will stand up to Key/Joyce on the Sky City 35 year rort, please listen to the Labour leader being painfully interviewed by Sean Plunket on Radio Live this morning:
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Audio.aspx
You can just click on the interview time (approx 10.10 to 10.20 a.m.) and listen to the emptiness.
Yep and I wonder whats going to happen when Key gets a 3rd term, the ‘sell it all we got a mandate. Yay come one, and all, you rich people NZ is for sale! I also wonder what the next polls will bring, In fact I dread to think what the next polls will bring!
Some statistics are brutal
A 6 year old committing suicide – get your head around that if you can.
A hui in the deep south is being held to raise awareness of suicide prevention and we need to raise awareness, we need to talk about it and come up with strategies to help these (often) young people.
Our society is focused on the individual, on profit and exploitation, on capitalism and neo-liberalism and all of those factors contribute towards our appalling record in suicide.
It is too late to save them when they have gone – we need to save them NOW, we need to give people hope NOW and we need to talk about this disgusting blight on our society NOW. Do your bit and connect with those young people around you, your friends, your family, your whÄnau.
Do it NOW.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8667621/Maori-suicide-rates-in-prevention-spotlight
http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2013/05/saving-people.html
Shameful, isn’t it Marty!
And its hardly *just snuck up* on anyone either!
Could it just maybe be that depression and (unfortunately) the suicide that sometimes results is, in large part, a quite appropriate response to our social environment? Could it just maybe be that those we hold to be ‘well balanced and adjusted’ are in fact more psychologically askew than those we seek to balance and adjust back to a situation or perspective whereby they can cope or feel content with things?
I suppose the answer depends on whether you believe that most mental illness is principly biological in origin or hold that it’s essentially environmental. And also on whether you believe our society is healthy or not.
Just food for thought.
an interesting point Bill.
I probably agree to a point in regards to adults but I think youth are different in that they are inheriting the society we have created and I think there is an obligation on our part to help them at least get through to adulthood. That help is based upon giving them hope, personal esteem, and self awareness. The slant in the statistics where certain ethnic groups commit more suicide than others also needs consideration. Why does that happen? I have my views of course and the solution is not that palatable to most in this society.
I have the sneaking suspicion that the slant in ethnicities is confounded by a more extreme distribution in deprivation. A lot of stuff will come out in the wash when census totals are distributed so we have fairly accurate rates again (StatsNZ don’t issue population projections based on deprivation, AFAIK).
Yep. Hope you’re right about better analysis in the census. Deprivation must lead to increased numbers feeling loss of hope.
see below (unlike the avoidance of the Tories).
Generally it’s environment+genes, like most phenotypes đ
Depends on the condition though, schizophrenia is usually caused by specific collections of genes, while depression is pretty universal and triggered by environment, albeit with significant genetic components indicated by family studies in relation to severity.
As to your question, personally society is generally quite judgemental of those who are different, creating higher risks for poor mental health outcomes as stress can be a trigger for a whole range of mental illnesses, as well as the isolation/poverty that usually accompanies creating barriers to early intervention/treatment. It makes having a functioning, low barrier to entry, public health system vs the societal costs of mental illness rather important, along with public education at all levels.
psycho-social model rules, imo.
Nick is highly sceptical about any psychology model systems/theories that look like they come from before the 90’s due to the long-tail of cargo-cult and pseudoscience psychiatry shit like Freud et al and vile offspring. Which sadly still stick around and screw over the mentally ill. Although PS-model seems to be more evidence based that it’s peers of similar vintage from a brief look.
“than”; thankyou.
d’oh
have a sandwich
What is really sad is that our recording of deaths probably understates the number of suicides. For example car deaths that are probably suicides are recorded as accidents.
My extended family has had to deal with suicide not once but twice so it’s something I find very difficult to even contemplate so briefly, IMO, youngsters taking their own lives is the result of despair coupled with the just-world notion and little or no appreciation of the finality of death.
Easy to do, if you’ve been in that position, and with children, it takes considerable pressure to cause that state of mind. Like constant bullying or familial abuse that is ignored by those in a position to do something about it…
MoH’s been really pushing this via advertising, but frankly it’s not penetrating deep enough. Already found that out the hard way with former friends of mine, one who pretty much cut me off completely without seemingly realising the impact it would have on me and so is under sentence of “fist to the groin” if they pull any further shit.
(full details on last years fun)
And the worst parts are the constant hiding of suicides by the media, bar that of celebs and criminals of course and negative cultural attitudes to depression and suicide. I don’t know if schools have improved their actions towards childhood and teenage depression and it’s causes, but I’m not aware of much being done during my time in school. The odd assembly spot was about the sum total of it from memory…
“advertisng” is just lip-service; see the Road Toll, alcohol abuse, family violence, sexual abuse etc; it is all structural, that is why I loathe NGO’s and the “helpers” professions; they can all kiss my my firey ass.
Nyet, adverts can be used to ethically educate others as long as they’re backed up with sufficient social services and resources etc.
Sloppy NAct government
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10883395
ffs!
That’s the Tories in a nutshell, trying the same, failed polices, over and over again, no matter what history or empirical research show.
National and Act work on ideology. Any research that proves them wrong will be systematically ignored.
Just saw Denis O’Rourke in action in the house. Keep an eye on him: he is a dynamic up-and-comer.
Yep, he is strongly telling the government and business lackeys in Christchurch to take their proposed gigantic convention centre and covered stadium white elephants and shove them up the drainpipes.
It grates when business people rant that old lady ratepayers should pay for their business premises. Richie McCaw should be ashamed.
We may not have the same guy.
you mean “yellow fever” O’Rourke?
Just watched Guy Standing’s Lecture in 2011 on The Precariate. The new dangerous class.
If this has not already been mentioned on the standard I highly recommend looking at it. Perhaps some of the right wing arrogant prats who visit this site may also like to have a look, if their pea sized brains can stand the strain they may learn something, as this could affect them.
Highly recommended
The guy’s brilliant!
Sums up perfectly the reason I’ll not vote Labour again (both Party and/or candidate) until they start showing signs of addressing the plight of the precariate, the “under-class” and the denizen. There are those amongst them that are doing their best I know but they’re not yet in the ascendancy.
Similarly, there are many in academia who’re well aware of the phenomenon, but who fail to challenge it at every opportunity – hats off to those that do!
Study shows UK Labour voters think poverty is a personal fault
seems like Labour Party leadership understand their supporters better than we think.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/14/labour-voters-poor-study-solidarity
Depressing study. But I’d also like to know how today’s “Labour voters” compare with the past in terms of proportion of the population and demographic background. There appears to be increasing numbers of people disconnecting from the political process. So maybe the study is at least partly showing that a lot of people more sympathetic to those on low incomes, have given up on the Labour Party.
Just as the Labour Party has given up on them.
It could also be that people have given up imagining a better world; that they themselves feel squeezed and feel that if those beneath them get any relief it will only be at their expense. I note that they are concerned about child poverty, which is the only form of poverty, it seems, that is allowed oxygen.I find the bracketing off of child poverty rather sinister, since children’s poverty mostly follows from the impoverishment of their parents.
No one is educating people in left wing history and alternative political economics any more.
The only ideas which get aired are neoliberal ones of one description or another. Both UK Labour and NZ Labour offer few (if any) clear alternatives to orthodox economics ways of looking at the nation and too often buy into market mechanisms as the solution to societal problems.
And what about those roof painting benefit bludgers.
Yeah. I think you’re right. There’s no analysis of economic & political issues on mainstream tv and programmes like Q&A are useless for anyone trying to understand these things. Some good documentaries on YouTube, but who thinks to watch them?
Roof painters. Coke & popcorn. Jesus.
love your comments every minute đ
And what makes up the bulk of primetime tv (outside of coooking competitions and middle-class home renovation shows)?
.
Renters
The Force
RPA
Strangeways
24 hours in A and E
Police 10 7
RBT….
All shows that demonise the poorest and most disadvanatged. If reality shows picked on the badly behaving from the middle classes and up they’d be sued.
No analysis of why people feel the need to get trolleyed, just entertainment by derision and hatred.
THIS.
Heck, these days you’re mostly only going to see doco’s about nature on the main channels, or “real life” stuff, rather than any serious social, economic or political doco’s. And if by chance we do see one, 9/10 it’ll be about some place else, rather than the pressing local issues.
And it’s all because the channels know simple, sensationalist pap sells…
To start somewhere, we could outline what a decent society, at the most basic level, would look like, and consider the steps we would need to take to get closer to it than where we are now. Why on earth are security of dwelling and a modest living income not included as human rights, for instance? I know I am dreaming, but I would very much like to see Labour frame things like this; ” We are going to do whatever it takes to achieve X”, X being stable, genuinely affordable housing for each and every citizen, or similar, rather than “We are going to do S, T and U, and X will result.” Recent history tells us that S, T, and U readily result in something other than X once the rapacious smell opportunity – for example the housing plan in the US that resulted in the sub-prime mortgage problem.
it is all over, bar the shouting Olwyn; night.
You win votes by playing to peoples prejudices or self interest.
Our current lot of political parties know no other way.
I like Bill’s alternative – housing collectives which are suited to exist within a capitalist market model but internally are structured to work very differently.
You can also appeal to people’s better selves; that is what unleashes the creativity to make things happen. Mean prejudices have already gone too far in turning us into the kind of people we don’t like being.
Indeed. A persuasive, charismatic appeal to our more principled better selves could do it. Either Shearer or Robertson would be quite capable.
Agreed.
Because we haven’t got a purpose to the economy and so it defaults to the purpose of profit and when what is needed goes against profit then it is cast as being bad by both the politicians and the economists (especially the ones on the political right).
Sigh. One can but dream CV.
@ Draco: surely we must reach the stage soon where even those who appear to be prospering get frightened by our hollowed out, rootless fake economy, and all that can result from this.
A fair number of relatively wealthy people (and some extremely wealthy people) see the cliff that we are accelerating towards.
There doesn’t seem to be any real leadership around though, so they’re just going to hold on for the ride.
enough to turn ya’ green
Ardern in Q.T; “material deprivation from 15-21%” (I can read this sh*t after a dozen, why do they choose not to?)
thanks, halfcrown. keep those links coming. ideas definitely more than two cents worth .
Defy the Will of the People! (Paraphased from Question Time Today.)
Judith Collins said today in answer to a Question, that the MMP Reforms would not be presented to the House this year.
Q:Why not?
A: Because there was not full Consensus.
Q: Who were the Parties not in Consensus?
A: There was not full consensus.
Q: Will the tag on seat (as in Act) still be there at the next election?
A: Yes.
It would seem that the Legislation would have to be in the House by end of May in order to pass in time.(Geddes I think.)
OOps. In the Herald re MMP non action:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10883610
Stuff apparently has asked readers to make a Budget. Today’s answer was, well, let’s just say rather ‘libertarian’.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/the-budget-your-10-point-plan-for-nz/8669819/My-NZ-Budget-A-radical-overhaul
My favourite part? “Crime would be heavily targeted in all forms. All criminals would spend their days breaking rocks into smaller rocks for the standard eight-hour work day.”
The author is one Kurt Burrows. If he isn’t a prison guard I suspect he harbours fantasies of being so.
Possibly Chester Burrows trying to hide his identity?
Or Greg O’Connor
I refuse to click on any link to Stuff Nation, but must express my amusement at someone you describe as “libertarian” advocating for entire bureaucracies to be implemented just so convicted criminals can do completely unproductive work.
I had this weird idea that the country needed more skilled tradies. Train them up, get them out, give them a rebuilding job, keep them away from crime.
Thanks ianmac…. interesting that consensus is a necessary prerequisite…..I for one don’t agree with this as it effectively allows the ‘tail to wag the dog’.
What we actualy want and need is leadership, but of course we won’t get this from a NACT govt now or ever…..
Leadership smeadership. Get away from this archaic vertical organised labour nonsense. The future is horizontal consensus. As Pierre-Joseph Proudhon pointed out, there’s very little point in putting the workers, or anyone, in charge because you’re just creating a new ruling class who have no interest in dismantling the aparatus of government. Power corrupts.
True! are you a secret, or not so, Anarchist Pop?
Well now Helen Clarks government and John Keys government have matched each others bullshit and arrogance. Key will now sink to the depths that Clark did in peoples eyes.
New Zealanders voted in a referendum about MMP in 2011. Ignored.
New Zealanders voted in a referendum about the numbers of MPs in 1999. Ignored.
This is why politicians are held in such low regard.
The electoral system is not for the government to determine. It is for the people to determine.
Bullshit the lot. Clark and Key occupy the same shitbox and will each carry their smell together. Stinking pricks.
Clark and Key
Up a tree
Stinking up the neighbourhood
Poo-fucken-wee
Proudly brought to you by the “Parliament is sovereign so it can do what it bloody well likes” crowd.
“New Zealanders voted in a referendum about MMP in 2011. Ignored.”
It wasn’t ignored at all. It asked if we should change, or stick with MMP. We voted to stick with MMP. We stuck with MMP.
The review and public submissions afterwards were not part of a referendum.
Also dropping to 99 MPs was asinine and good that it didn’t happen.
Q.T;
English- “while in the top 5 (countries) least likely to fail, our debts are relatively high”.
Robertson on the HLFS (supported by Key) “40,000 jobs behind 2012 Budget target”
Joyce- “not growing them (jobs) as fast as we wish”.
Robertson- “above the worst-case scenario of the last Budget”.
Parker- “current account deficit amongst the worst in the world”.
-NZ non-trade-able sector down 6.4%.
English- (on poverty relief)- “a highly targeted, practical approach” = minimalist!
WHO THE FUCK DO THESE FUCKWITS THINK THEY ARE KIDDING? ffs
Things have become so grim that the UN suggests westerners start eating insects:
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/eating-insects-could-help-fight-obesity-un-says-5436069
Yep. (grind ya’ teeth and wail a little; this is just the entree).
I read that.earlier today. I could be up for it – would give it a go. I’m not much of a meat eater, but I don’t see insects as being any worse fodder than animals.
crunchy; all the rage in S.E.A; eating on the wing.
If you want to fight obesity eliminate refined sugar and corn syrup from diets. Scrap artificial sweeteners. And give people some regular sleep.
I tells ya Colonel, we are certainly watching the end metamorphosis pupae. Which reminds me, did ya see The Hellstrom Chronicle when we were young? Re-released last year.
Good tip…
well, you know I AM (a servant) đ
I saw that on Breakfast tv this morning and the light hearted way in which is was received by the presenters. So I sent them this feedback via facebook.
Surprised they didn’t use it.
“With respect, hungry people being told to eat insects and you treat it like a reality tv show challenge.
These people are human beings and thus, by right, should be fed the same healthy food we as consumers throw 50% of away each week.
If the will were there, a way could be found of doing it.
Go on, eat an insect as a stunt, but at the end of the day, my money is on the bugs.
AL1”
left you a track on the “lost property” thread. đ
Very kind, but you’ll have to link me, cause I can’t see a lost property thread, my flame pated friend.
need warp factor 7
http://thestandard.org.nz/prwoperty-rwights/#comment-632885
“ya gotta be cruel to be kind”. U?
I see it now, on the fly past.
Breaking News:
Sartorial elegance of the month has been displayed in the NZ Parliament’s Question Time today.
The ‘honourable’ Tony Ryall is seen, resplendent in pin-striped suit, lime green gingham shirt (possibly run up at short notice on “the wife’s Elna” after their table cloth was ruined by splashes of red wine), and a pastel blue polka dot tie.
Ryall wasn’t prepared to confirm whether or not his boxers were of checked pattern fabric or polka dotted.
Wrong day – it’s Ryall though – so same shit different stink in the world of the superficial