Colin Peacock takes Melissa Lee to task here and, in his own way, doesn't hold back.
So which outlets, programmes or individuals were showing signs of political bias or interference in our media now – or might if new funding comes on-stream?
“I see it all over the place. It doesn’t happen all the time but you can certainly see when the stories were not fulsome,“ she said.
Lee declined to tell Mediawatch or give examples – a shame given her Kiwiblog article challenged media to have "the strength to ask the questions."
Clearly she is keen to raise a lot of questions about the media – though she had few clear answers this week for Mediawatch.
He reminds us the last time NZ on Air money was used for political interference, it was Melissa Lee herself who did it.
I have no doubt were she to get her hands on that portfolio she'd not hesitate to use it against her political opponents. Her use of the Dirty Politics outfit, Kiwiblog, to "start a conversation" points directly to this.
The media treatment of this so far reminds, in the incomplete, and I would say dishonest framing, of Sue Bradfords s59 Bill–removing a defence for child assault–was widely portrayed as an anti smacking law. And similarly, after several years Family First and others were claiming that the law change had not stopped children dying…
In the fire arms instance I would like to know the stats, what type of weapons were used, and who used them. Legal/illegal, hand gun/shot gun/rifle/semi auto. Have the cops been more diligent in recording activity involving firearms? Has “501” friction been a factor?
ACT seems to want to disparage both the Govt. reaction to the 51 Mosque killings, and score points with the gun nuts using figures that may or may not support what they are saying–when–some investigative work is done beyond the provocative headlines.
"If the rampant spread of the virus continues and more critical mutations accumulate, then we may be condemned to chasing after the evolving SARS-CoV-2 continually, as we have long done for influenza virus," Ho says. "Such considerations require that we stop virus transmission as quickly as is feasible, by redoubling our mitigation measures and by expediting vaccine rollout."
Both a vaccine and treatment are required to combat Covid – 19 due to Covid being endemic.
When I look at how promising antibiotics were as the cure all I think this is what is going to happen with Covid vaccines.
When it came to the Spanish flu in 1918 was it fatal because people had no immunity when they had the viral form or they got a bacterial infection and there was no treatment for it?
there's also potential the the vaccine rollout won't happen fast enough/wide enough (and other measures) and the virus will mutate in response to that as well.
Urgent contact tracing is under way after NSW Health revealed the state's first positive case in 55 days was confirmed as a 47-year-old man who works as a security guard at two Covid-19 hotels for returned travellers.
The man does shift work at the Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney's CBD and the Mantra hotel at Haymarket. He also has a fulltime job in an office.
As a result of the NSW scare, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia have issued travel alerts in response to the new coronavirus case in NSW.
On Sunday NSW lost its 55-day streak without any coronavirus cases after a Sydney hotel quarantine worker tested positive to Covid-19.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said contact tracers had spoken to 130 colleagues. Photo / News Ltd
The 47-year-old man, who received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine earlier this month, tested positive on Saturday night – prompting urgent contact tracing identifying six potential hot spots in the city.
Are our security guards at our plaque hotels working three jobs? Do they also each have 130 'collegues'. Seriously, it seems that both in OZ and in NZ we have been lucky so many times.
Any news on the source of the Valentines outbreak in South Auckland? I scan the news but it seems there is / has been no update?
Australian politicians know how well elimination works when it comes to a single case of community transmission and are learning how essential it is to reduce a person having multiple contact (when a higher risk) to reduce community transmission.
Australian politicians need to stop pressuring NZ to have a travel bubble with Australia as they shut down their internal state borders because that is what they consider is necessary to do.
When the time is right for a country to partially or fully open their border it will happen. No country has closed its border to the people who have the right to return?
A recent article on this site, dealing with an issue important enough for one to have expected dozens of comments, has so far attracted just six.
Is this because comments were restricted to women-only, and thus demonstrates how so few women feel safe in venturing to give their opinions here? If so, it's a pretty disgraceful reflection on many of our regular "clientele".
Not really. I've thought that I might make my next post on energy issues confined to 'nuclear power advocates only'. I believe it's a crucially important aspect of the climate change discussion, but given how vociferously I get attacked on this topic here at TS, I've decided this is the only way I can feel safe.
If authors care deeply about an issue – they are entitled to limit who comments on their posts to specific categories of people. Not only this, but even people from within that category can be expelled if the author disagrees with their views.
These are established practices here at The Standard. I'm absolutely not quibbling with them, and intend to make more use them myself in future.
The point is however is that it will likely reduce the number of comments – as Obtrectator was concerned about.
I presume you're referring to the ongoing waste issue in Southland. I honestly cannot think how this is directly linked to nuclear power in any fashion – although in a much broader picture I might suggest that a society which had access to abundant, clean and cheap power might well be able to deal with such waste products.
One of potentials of a hyper-energised society is the opportunity to close the loop on much more of our resource use. But it's not at all clear to me how this ties into your specific question.
Unless of course I missed the point of it completely.
[cue diversion about how nuclear tech just around the corner will be completely clean, and how nuclear waste isn't that dangerous if you spread it over thousands of square kilometres]
Yes – but technically they're of a completely different nature.
As it happens the nuclear waste (which isn't really waste at all, just fuel that current reactor designs can't effectively use) can be safely stored and managed far more safely than many industrial wastes.
One of the best features of some next generation of designs being worked on, is their ability to take existing stockpiles of nuclear 'waste' and consume it for fuel leaving much smaller volumes of radio-toxic material that becomes completely safe within about 300 years, rather than 100,000's. (Nor are we talking extreme levels of radiation, you can actually walk around such a storage depot for some hours with zero impact. The most intense radiation decays away within a few decades.)
Or just park it next to your power plant as the current fleet of reactors have done for decades now with very few meaningful problems.
And quite the opposite of McFlock's assertion about "if you spread it over thousands of square kilometres" – no-one proposes such a nonsense. It's far easier to put it into an underground repository like a deep disused mine shaft in a geologically stable location. There are literally thousands of places this can be done with very high reliability.
And orders of magnitude safer than the uncountable number of waste heaps from coal burning power plants that are dotted all over the planet.
Only one accident released any significant quantity of radiation – Chernobyl. The TMI and Fukushima releases were by comparison tiny and there is no evidence anyone was ever harmed. Over the entire history of nuclear power generation the absolute worst case number of people who have died as a result of radiation might be as high as 10,000. And that's being generous.
Yet at the same time air pollution from coal burning power is now understood to kill around that many people per day. Yet you demonstrate exactly zero concern over this.
The death toll from Chernobyl falls into roughly four categories.
Firstly there were a several plant operators killed outright and a group of firemen who were stupidly allowed to run directly into the reactor hall and full view of the open core. About 30 men died almost immediately from acute radiation syndrome in the minutes to months afterwards.
Also there is a group of 'liquidators' who heroically exposed themselves to moderately high (but well short of lethal) levels of radiation in order to help clean up the site. There is some evidence of a mild increase in excess deaths in this group, but the numbers are low.
Then there is the group of young people who contracted thyroid cancer because the authorities failed to evacuate them or treat with iodine in time. These number several thousand in total, but because it's a highly treatable cancer relatively few died or were seriously harmed.
The above three groups we can realistically allocate to radiation harm, and they total to under a few 100 people. At most.
All others are projections based on maps of fallout density (invariably at very low levels) across the whole of Europe. They're all based on the now discredited LNT (Linear No Threshold) model that proposes that any level of radiation (even less than background) causes harm. Naturally it produces absurdly high death rates that opponents of nuclear power seized upon and refused to let go of, even when multiple UN reports determined that at the very most maybe 4,000 excess deaths could be accounted theoretically for in this manner. No actual evidence – just modelling based on a contentious and unknowable theory.
Yet every single day coal power kills 10,000 people and you still have nothing to say. Every single fucking day. Far from being harmful, by substituting for coal, nuclear power has actually saved many millions of lives – the exact opposite of your fears.
This febrile fearmongering has caused us to not implement the one single technology that could have stopped climate change in it's tracks decades ago – and you own it.
The question I asked @4 on the topic you are commenting about I was not excluding anyone.
Why do you feel as though you could get a ban?
Yesterday I made a comment on Open Mike Treetop@7. and I knew it could recieve a negative view. I made it because I felt strongly about how the issue was not being taken as seriously as it needs to be taken.
Great post weka “Women and male violence”. Even the dimmest among us might register the UK Police tacit support for “Football Lads” vs. “nasty macho enforcement copper” for the women. It was not “someone” that in error let the ‘filth’ out of their restraints, it was patriarchal revenge, one of their own pinged for extreme violence on a woman. UK like USA Police recruit the worst of the worst.
Various women that identified as such, have left The Standard as posters and authors over the years, so no corner of society, or online forum seems exempt from the stunningly obvious position of women still. Trawl the archives for evidence if you like. A woman did bring us all into existence, and resentment of that level of power is totally part of misogyny.
And lastly, if you as a white male are genuinely trying to be an ally to one group or another of exploited and oppressed people–try doing some useful work in the background certainly at first, and earn your place there rather than assume it.
For trying to sneak a comment through the back door, as it were, on a topic where men have specifically been asked to keep away. I've been threatened with a ban in the past (and called an abusive name by one of people meant to be upholding standards here) for much less.
OM is open for a reason. It's where people can talk about whatever they want (within the general rules of the site). The boundaries were around a single post, not site wide.
It's partly to do with Mondays on TS often being quiet, and TS commenting being quieter than in the past generally. But yes, the problems for women commenting (and writing) on TS generally are an ongoing issue. Thanks for pointing this out.
Obrectator@ 8.
Quite a few people have been put off commenting here, and it includes men and women. Some of the responses I have seen to what seem to me quite reasonable and valid opinions will often receive such rabid replies that it does not surprise me TS has lost a number of authors and commentators. I question my own participation from time to time.
The problem seems to me there is a lack of tolerance on the part of a number of regular commentators. Well, there were always a few nutjobs around (rwnj mostly) but most of them have now gone.
In the past most commenters knew how to voice their disagreements without indulging in language bordering on abusive and/or humiliating for some unsuspecting contributor. Perhaps a little more respect would go some way to making people feel "safe" to return to this site.
Regardless of the question of whether it should happen or not, the government could easily extend cover for mental injury for those affected by the 15 March event without widening the net to everyone. All it would mean is passing specific legislation. The social welfare system has whole instruments approved for specific groups or those affected by a specific event. Heck, there's even whole Acts passed that relate to one group of person to the exclusion of everyone else.
If there was the will to do it it would happen. A further, and often convenient, influence is ACC itself. While it shouldn't, ACC holds a lot of sway when it comes to government policy. The legal boffins at ACC would be feeding all this bullshit into the government's ear about how ACC is a unique scheme with its very special set of characteristics, which is of course true. But this does not mean the government cannot introduce legislation (and it would need legislation) to provide cover for mental injury for victims of what happened on 15 March 2019. This has got nothing to do with the nature of the scheme. They can simply pass legislation that says that. There's nothing unusual about this – it's happened often in the past.
It's surprising Ardern's fallen for this line. She's saying it can't be done without widening the net. This is simply incorrect. She either doesn't want to extend cover for this particular group, has been beaten down by ACC officials, there are darker forces at play, or all three.
Dunno about darker forces, but she's already seen the effect of exceptions for the "deserving" being answered with "isn't everyone deserving?": the covid work subsidy at a higher rate than the dole.
I don't know the math, but if it was opened up to non-physical injuries, for a start there will be questions about the relative trauma of Mar15 survivors vs Whakaari survivors vs survivors of a bus crash with multiple injuries or deaths. And there's no good and obvious reason to discriminate between different incidents that cause PTSD.
My impulse would be to say "well, give it to everyone, then". But I don't have to balance the books.
how much would 'giving it to everyone' reduce the cost longterm?
but i agree, anyone looking to J.A. to increase any benefits to all is looking at the wrong person. She ain't gonna do nothing much in that regards until next election time, if by that time she still can be bothered.
Dunno about bothered. I suspect the current government have an agenda, and are concerned about it being derailed or interfered with by the budgetary repercussions of decisions like this (i.e. outside of their primary agenda).
well its a well hidden agenda then, and a year in they should maybe come public with it? Or are we not worthy knowing the agenda of dear Jacinda and her handmaids?
at the moment handmaid is about the best way of putting it. I would call them 'butler' or 'man' what is the male equivalent for someone who is at the beckon of someone? And i see the set up of the current Labour government the same way as J.Key had his. Him at the helm and all the others at the quick n ready to run and fetch papers. Take this as you like. And if you want to compare this to the killing of a young women – whose body was destroyed to the point of using dental records for identification by a cop no less- to me calling the underlings handmaids. Sure why not. At the end of it its all the same. Right?
A year into her second term. Well almost a year. At some stage really it would be nice to see what else there is to this labour government, when it comes to poverty reduction, managing homelessness – rather then just dumping them in rubbish motels, increasing benefit levels to the point of livable and so on and so forth. Covid is one thing. But her blunt refusal to do anything more on the 'welfare' then the little she trickled down on the deserving few, be it benefit increases, be it mental health for people who were unlucky enough to be part of a mass shooting but lucky enough to not get shot dead is neither kind, nor gentle, nor polite, nor helpful.
And if you want to compare this to the killing of a young women – whose body was destroyed to the point of using dental records for identification by a cop no less- to me calling the underlings handmaids. Sure why not. At the end of it its all the same. Right?
Both actions seemed (to me) to be on the same side of the ledger (as it were), but of course not comparable in magnitude, just in direction.
I think I must be a bit over-sensitive to comments on The Standard that belittle successful women. There was one commenter here, Shadrach, who really didn't like the idea that in just a few years Greta Thunberg had achieved a higher profile with more positive influence than he was likely to achieve in a lifetime. I found his PoV discouraging.
Of course I'm hypocritical, since I can't abide Collins and that sometimes comes out in my comments. Forgive.
A year into her second term. Well almost a year.
Thanks Sabine; current Government was formed on 31 October 2020, so we’re four and a half months in. Hope you forgive my confusion, again.
Good reasoning McFlock. All the same how often do we have massacres in NZ, and of people belonging to a large world religion that feels vulnerable. We would need to do some fast and thoughtful actions if there was an attack on Jewish synagogues in the same dastardly way. We should shift ourselves to be 'kinder and practical' in our sorrowful reaction; pass special legislation to meet the situation and any further ones of similar infamy. Words and actions joined.
Cover for mental injury is already available if caused by physical injury and without the need for physical injury for accidents at work or as a result of sexual abuse. Sure, these are for specific groups of person rather than a specific event like 15 March, but there's nothing to prevent an approach that's based on extending cover in this way. There are provisions under the Social Security Act that are related to specific events, for example, that have been introduced as events arise.
Such as approach is vastly cheaper, too, because it's invariably limited to a specific number of people. Sure, it involves a decision on what's 'deserving' and what's not, but so does any 'policy' decision. It's a matter of the government snapping itself out of its black and white way of looking at things, at least when it comes to ACC.
It's not in fact such a new or novel approach at all. There plenty examples. Every policy decision involves judgement, and extending cover in this way would not be expensive because it's highly likely to be limited to a specific number of people. If they wanted to do it they could. I just don't but Ardern's reasoning.
There might also be an issue around how one defines pstd related to Mar15. I suspect there will always be someone mediaworks can dig up who would be a deserving case but who misses out on ACC coverage. But if they get included then the bill for therapy rapidly inflates.
I don't think ACC should be worried about widening cover for mental injury on an as-an-event-arises basis. By definition the numbers aren't significant, and even less significant when you look at the kind of dough ACC's about:
People whose family members have been killed or who have suffered physical injuries can easily be compensated. People who have suffered mental trauma can be provided with support and counselling and they should be.
Trying to put a figure on financial compensation for mental distress is a minefield and open to exploitation on all levels. We need to be very wary.
Have you ever looked into the guidelines for cover under ACC for a mental injury?
The way a person is assessed for compensation has so many snags to it. A person could have been sexually assaulted and have PTSD but were they an alcoholic or a drug addict their addiction could be stated as the reason for the PTSD.
ACC are the ones who exploit the system when it comes to cover for a mental injury. Since the inception of ACC the most severe changes have been for a mental injury. It is time to reclaim what has been taken.
Do you think that when the government are not acknowleding the person’s PTSD because of not being physically injured that this causes further harm and is a barrier to overcoming the PTSD?
"The way a person is assessed for compensation has so many snags to it. A person could have been sexually assaulted and have PTSD but were they an alcoholic or a drug addict their addiction could be stated as the reason for the PTSD."
Classic tactic. It's so easy for ACC to get a lackey specialist to give an opinion that says the injury wasn't caused by the accident so no cover. This happens in an environment that's about finding ways of refusing claimant cover. Then it's up to the claimant to find a specialist to say it was. A claimant has to know how to do this or get independent help. Most don't bother. Even when a claimant does manage to find a specialist it becomes a battle of expert opinion. This is how the process works, and from start to finish ACC is concentrating denying the claimant. Sure, the legislation requires ACC to 'investigate the claim' and claimants have rights of review and appeal, but the way this is done isn't about getting to the truth of a matter. The whole system's a mess and this government's got its head in the sand.
If I really need to do a link I attempt it. I looked up Mental Injury Assessments for ACC 27 pages long.
A person is really in the shit if they do not have a good lawyer. The mental injury assessment is ambiguous.
When it comes to a settlement for those in state and faith based care is the government not going to acknowledge significant trauma when there was no physical force?
The government need to apologise for not having cover for a mental injury where there was no physical force. Mental injuries usually linger long after physical injuries, this is what infuriates me the most.
Why does it have to be ACC that is being targeted for reparations for this harm? Mental harm can vary vastly between people involved in the same instance and must be difficult to put a figure on. Is there more of a case for enhanced welfare benefits and intervention to deal with the on going stress? But having said that isn't the object to get people functioning as well as possible not leave them brooding on any form of compensation or benefit for lengthy periods? The alternative is presumably a "sue everything in sight" regime.
And FWIW years ago I dealt with some cases under the old workers compo Act. Basically no treatment or rehabilitation was provided and people where left to rot on a weekly payment until death happened when the surviving spouse received a payout based on the shortened life expectancy. Anything that replicates this even with bigger weekly payments doesn't have a lot to offer long term.
What do the business minded think about this? Is it a good move? Concentrate on keeping NZ resources under NZ ownership and control – that seems to be what is happening. Or am I mistaken?
The deal will see the Australian companies – collectively called PowAR – take control of Tilt's four Australian windfarms, while Mercury will buy the four New Zealand farms for $770m.
Well I'm always very happy to see monopoly or oligopoly assets remain in NZ's hands. We have a better chance of regulating them without TPP type interference for the benefit of the country and ultimately to make ourselves richer by removing the monopoly rent and therefore allowing welfare benefits to purchase more for the same amount of taxpayer money. Not that Meridian is signing up for the second half of the deal.
Stats from 2010 for homicides around the world. :Looking at stats per 100,000, NZ came in at 21st. But we are one of five who have some more women killed than men.
According to the data given by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, worldwide, 78.7% of homicide victims are men, and in 193 of the 202 listed countries or regions, men were more likely to be killed than women. In two, the ratio was 50:50 (Switzerland and British Virgin Islands), and in the remaining seven –
Tonga, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Latvia, and Hong Kong – women were slightly more likely to be victims of homicides compared to males.
We are similar to the Netherlands in ratio per 100,000 but differ in percentage of numbers; (65% men to 35% women for Netherlands, NZ 48.8% men to 51.2% women).
Luxembourg stands out among the developed nations with no female murdersl Greece is low with 6.5% to 93.4% males Honduras has the highest world rate at 90.4 but mostly males, similar numbers to Greece.
Perhaps we could ask social anthropologists from the low number nations to look at our stats and comment in what way our culture is different to the countries with low female murder stats . An outside opinion on our results and how to change them downwards could be a good move and better than the constant blame game, which is started when a NZ women is killed anywhere it seems.
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TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
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Colin Peacock takes Melissa Lee to task here and, in his own way, doesn't hold back.
He reminds us the last time NZ on Air money was used for political interference, it was Melissa Lee herself who did it.
I have no doubt were she to get her hands on that portfolio she'd not hesitate to use it against her political opponents. Her use of the Dirty Politics outfit, Kiwiblog, to "start a conversation" points directly to this.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018787264/claims-of-cancel-culture-and-media-bias-get-political
Thanks for the read.
I followed the link to Kiwiblog, the comments were enlightening.
Using Aotearoa causes such conniptions amongst some.
I shall be sure to use the noun from now on.
ACT’s resident gun lover MP, Nicole McKee, of COLFO (Council of Licensed Firearm Owners) says the gun laws and confiscations introduced following the Christchurch massacre had no impact on a rise in crimes involving guns.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/438377/rise-in-gun-crime-despite-government-clampdown-after-terror-attack
The media treatment of this so far reminds, in the incomplete, and I would say dishonest framing, of Sue Bradfords s59 Bill–removing a defence for child assault–was widely portrayed as an anti smacking law. And similarly, after several years Family First and others were claiming that the law change had not stopped children dying…
In the fire arms instance I would like to know the stats, what type of weapons were used, and who used them. Legal/illegal, hand gun/shot gun/rifle/semi auto. Have the cops been more diligent in recording activity involving firearms? Has “501” friction been a factor?
ACT seems to want to disparage both the Govt. reaction to the 51 Mosque killings, and score points with the gun nuts using figures that may or may not support what they are saying–when–some investigative work is done beyond the provocative headlines.
A person is required to register each car they own and not an individual gun. Both users require a licence.
Looks like COVID-19 could be here to stay.
"If the rampant spread of the virus continues and more critical mutations accumulate, then we may be condemned to chasing after the evolving SARS-CoV-2 continually, as we have long done for influenza virus," Ho says. "Such considerations require that we stop virus transmission as quickly as is feasible, by redoubling our mitigation measures and by expediting vaccine rollout."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210308131712.htm
Both a vaccine and treatment are required to combat Covid – 19 due to Covid being endemic.
When I look at how promising antibiotics were as the cure all I think this is what is going to happen with Covid vaccines.
When it came to the Spanish flu in 1918 was it fatal because people had no immunity when they had the viral form or they got a bacterial infection and there was no treatment for it?
there's also potential the the vaccine rollout won't happen fast enough/wide enough (and other measures) and the virus will mutate in response to that as well.
This just boggles the mind,
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-coronavirus-two-australian-states-hit-border-alerts-issued/RVSIQVQN6ZI4PHMNLIM7SPFRWY/
Are our security guards at our plaque hotels working three jobs? Do they also each have 130 'collegues'. Seriously, it seems that both in OZ and in NZ we have been lucky so many times.
Any news on the source of the Valentines outbreak in South Auckland? I scan the news but it seems there is / has been no update?
Are our security guards at our plaque hotels working three jobs?
Anecdata but a temporary fill-in security officer at my workplace usually worked at the local MIQ facilities.
Australian politicians know how well elimination works when it comes to a single case of community transmission and are learning how essential it is to reduce a person having multiple contact (when a higher risk) to reduce community transmission.
Australian politicians need to stop pressuring NZ to have a travel bubble with Australia as they shut down their internal state borders because that is what they consider is necessary to do.
When the time is right for a country to partially or fully open their border it will happen. No country has closed its border to the people who have the right to return?
David Clark actually doing something useful.
Financial adviser law changes come into effect (msn.com)
A recent article on this site, dealing with an issue important enough for one to have expected dozens of comments, has so far attracted just six.
Is this because comments were restricted to women-only, and thus demonstrates how so few women feel safe in venturing to give their opinions here? If so, it's a pretty disgraceful reflection on many of our regular "clientele".
[Ban accepted in advance …. ]
Not really. I've thought that I might make my next post on energy issues confined to 'nuclear power advocates only'. I believe it's a crucially important aspect of the climate change discussion, but given how vociferously I get attacked on this topic here at TS, I've decided this is the only way I can feel safe.
But realistically I don't expect many comments.
Nice of you to trivialise the murder of Sarah Everard there.
Do you ever step back from your poor, put-upon engineer schtick?
Are you saying that climate change is a trivial issue? This would surprise me.
I'm wondering why you make a dreadful tragedy, one which strikes to the very heart of women the world over, all about you.
If authors care deeply about an issue – they are entitled to limit who comments on their posts to specific categories of people. Not only this, but even people from within that category can be expelled if the author disagrees with their views.
These are established practices here at The Standard. I'm absolutely not quibbling with them, and intend to make more use them myself in future.
The point is however is that it will likely reduce the number of comments – as Obtrectator was concerned about.
Irony lost on RL, as usual.
As a nuclear power advocate, what/how/who needs to sort out the waste linked to Rio Tinto's commercial activities?
I presume you're referring to the ongoing waste issue in Southland. I honestly cannot think how this is directly linked to nuclear power in any fashion – although in a much broader picture I might suggest that a society which had access to abundant, clean and cheap power might well be able to deal with such waste products.
One of potentials of a hyper-energised society is the opportunity to close the loop on much more of our resource use. But it's not at all clear to me how this ties into your specific question.
Unless of course I missed the point of it completely.
Both smelting and generating nuclear energy have an undesirable waste product.
[cue diversion about how nuclear tech just around the corner will be completely clean, and how nuclear waste isn't that dangerous if you spread it over thousands of square kilometres]
Yes – but technically they're of a completely different nature.
As it happens the nuclear waste (which isn't really waste at all, just fuel that current reactor designs can't effectively use) can be safely stored and managed far more safely than many industrial wastes.
One of the best features of some next generation of designs being worked on, is their ability to take existing stockpiles of nuclear 'waste' and consume it for fuel leaving much smaller volumes of radio-toxic material that becomes completely safe within about 300 years, rather than 100,000's. (Nor are we talking extreme levels of radiation, you can actually walk around such a storage depot for some hours with zero impact. The most intense radiation decays away within a few decades.)
Or just park it next to your power plant as the current fleet of reactors have done for decades now with very few meaningful problems.
And quite the opposite of McFlock's assertion about "if you spread it over thousands of square kilometres" – no-one proposes such a nonsense. It's far easier to put it into an underground repository like a deep disused mine shaft in a geologically stable location. There are literally thousands of places this can be done with very high reliability.
And orders of magnitude safer than the uncountable number of waste heaps from coal burning power plants that are dotted all over the planet.
you propose it every time you minimise a nuclear accident that released radioactive material.
Only one accident released any significant quantity of radiation – Chernobyl. The TMI and Fukushima releases were by comparison tiny and there is no evidence anyone was ever harmed. Over the entire history of nuclear power generation the absolute worst case number of people who have died as a result of radiation might be as high as 10,000. And that's being generous.
Yet at the same time air pollution from coal burning power is now understood to kill around that many people per day. Yet you demonstrate exactly zero concern over this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SffEKAoSQZY
Yup, ssdd.
The death toll from Chernobyl falls into roughly four categories.
Firstly there were a several plant operators killed outright and a group of firemen who were stupidly allowed to run directly into the reactor hall and full view of the open core. About 30 men died almost immediately from acute radiation syndrome in the minutes to months afterwards.
Also there is a group of 'liquidators' who heroically exposed themselves to moderately high (but well short of lethal) levels of radiation in order to help clean up the site. There is some evidence of a mild increase in excess deaths in this group, but the numbers are low.
Then there is the group of young people who contracted thyroid cancer because the authorities failed to evacuate them or treat with iodine in time. These number several thousand in total, but because it's a highly treatable cancer relatively few died or were seriously harmed.
The above three groups we can realistically allocate to radiation harm, and they total to under a few 100 people. At most.
All others are projections based on maps of fallout density (invariably at very low levels) across the whole of Europe. They're all based on the now discredited LNT (Linear No Threshold) model that proposes that any level of radiation (even less than background) causes harm. Naturally it produces absurdly high death rates that opponents of nuclear power seized upon and refused to let go of, even when multiple UN reports determined that at the very most maybe 4,000 excess deaths could be accounted theoretically for in this manner. No actual evidence – just modelling based on a contentious and unknowable theory.
Yet every single day coal power kills 10,000 people and you still have nothing to say. Every single fucking day. Far from being harmful, by substituting for coal, nuclear power has actually saved many millions of lives – the exact opposite of your fears.
This febrile fearmongering has caused us to not implement the one single technology that could have stopped climate change in it's tracks decades ago – and you own it.
ssdd for sure
The question I asked @4 on the topic you are commenting about I was not excluding anyone.
Why do you feel as though you could get a ban?
Yesterday I made a comment on Open Mike Treetop@7. and I knew it could recieve a negative view. I made it because I felt strongly about how the issue was not being taken as seriously as it needs to be taken.
The post is restricted to women commenting only.
Open Mike is open to all (within the site rules).
Great post weka “Women and male violence”. Even the dimmest among us might register the UK Police tacit support for “Football Lads” vs. “nasty macho enforcement copper” for the women. It was not “someone” that in error let the ‘filth’ out of their restraints, it was patriarchal revenge, one of their own pinged for extreme violence on a woman. UK like USA Police recruit the worst of the worst.
Various women that identified as such, have left The Standard as posters and authors over the years, so no corner of society, or online forum seems exempt from the stunningly obvious position of women still. Trawl the archives for evidence if you like. A woman did bring us all into existence, and resentment of that level of power is totally part of misogyny.
And lastly, if you as a white male are genuinely trying to be an ally to one group or another of exploited and oppressed people–try doing some useful work in the background certainly at first, and earn your place there rather than assume it.
The issue of women at TS is a really good example of how invisible the problem can be when the status quo supports men at the expense of women.
I did not see your bold mod. I realised this when you responded to the above.
"Why do you feel as though you could get a ban?"
For trying to sneak a comment through the back door, as it were, on a topic where men have specifically been asked to keep away. I've been threatened with a ban in the past (and called an abusive name by one of people meant to be upholding standards here) for much less.
When it comes to being called an abusive name, when it occurs call it out, regardless of who says it.
I did. And much to my surprise got no blowback.
OM is open for a reason. It's where people can talk about whatever they want (within the general rules of the site). The boundaries were around a single post, not site wide.
It's partly to do with Mondays on TS often being quiet, and TS commenting being quieter than in the past generally. But yes, the problems for women commenting (and writing) on TS generally are an ongoing issue. Thanks for pointing this out.
Obrectator@ 8.
Quite a few people have been put off commenting here, and it includes men and women. Some of the responses I have seen to what seem to me quite reasonable and valid opinions will often receive such rabid replies that it does not surprise me TS has lost a number of authors and commentators. I question my own participation from time to time.
The problem seems to me there is a lack of tolerance on the part of a number of regular commentators. Well, there were always a few nutjobs around (rwnj mostly) but most of them have now gone.
In the past most commenters knew how to voice their disagreements without indulging in language bordering on abusive and/or humiliating for some unsuspecting contributor. Perhaps a little more respect would go some way to making people feel "safe" to return to this site.
sheesh for gods sake we are talking about people being oppressed and you hijack it to an anti-Trans thing.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I’d rather that particular fight didn’t kick off under that particular post, thanks.
Ardern is completely wrong here.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300252628/christchurch-terror-attack-jacinda-ardern-says-government-cant-expand-acc-cover-for-traumatised-victims
Regardless of the question of whether it should happen or not, the government could easily extend cover for mental injury for those affected by the 15 March event without widening the net to everyone. All it would mean is passing specific legislation. The social welfare system has whole instruments approved for specific groups or those affected by a specific event. Heck, there's even whole Acts passed that relate to one group of person to the exclusion of everyone else.
If there was the will to do it it would happen. A further, and often convenient, influence is ACC itself. While it shouldn't, ACC holds a lot of sway when it comes to government policy. The legal boffins at ACC would be feeding all this bullshit into the government's ear about how ACC is a unique scheme with its very special set of characteristics, which is of course true. But this does not mean the government cannot introduce legislation (and it would need legislation) to provide cover for mental injury for victims of what happened on 15 March 2019. This has got nothing to do with the nature of the scheme. They can simply pass legislation that says that. There's nothing unusual about this – it's happened often in the past.
It's surprising Ardern's fallen for this line. She's saying it can't be done without widening the net. This is simply incorrect. She either doesn't want to extend cover for this particular group, has been beaten down by ACC officials, there are darker forces at play, or all three.
Dunno about darker forces, but she's already seen the effect of exceptions for the "deserving" being answered with "isn't everyone deserving?": the covid work subsidy at a higher rate than the dole.
I don't know the math, but if it was opened up to non-physical injuries, for a start there will be questions about the relative trauma of Mar15 survivors vs Whakaari survivors vs survivors of a bus crash with multiple injuries or deaths. And there's no good and obvious reason to discriminate between different incidents that cause PTSD.
My impulse would be to say "well, give it to everyone, then". But I don't have to balance the books.
how much would 'giving it to everyone' reduce the cost longterm?
but i agree, anyone looking to J.A. to increase any benefits to all is looking at the wrong person. She ain't gonna do nothing much in that regards until next election time, if by that time she still can be bothered.
Dunno about bothered. I suspect the current government have an agenda, and are concerned about it being derailed or interfered with by the budgetary repercussions of decisions like this (i.e. outside of their primary agenda).
well its a well hidden agenda then, and a year in they should maybe come public with it? Or are we not worthy knowing the agenda of dear Jacinda and her handmaids?
On the one hand there's a post about male violence towards women, and then there's this belittling comment about our PM (and her handmaids?)
And "a year in" to/from what? Genuine question.
at the moment handmaid is about the best way of putting it. I would call them 'butler' or 'man' what is the male equivalent for someone who is at the beckon of someone? And i see the set up of the current Labour government the same way as J.Key had his. Him at the helm and all the others at the quick n ready to run and fetch papers. Take this as you like. And if you want to compare this to the killing of a young women – whose body was destroyed to the point of using dental records for identification by a cop no less- to me calling the underlings handmaids. Sure why not. At the end of it its all the same. Right?
A year into her second term. Well almost a year. At some stage really it would be nice to see what else there is to this labour government, when it comes to poverty reduction, managing homelessness – rather then just dumping them in rubbish motels, increasing benefit levels to the point of livable and so on and so forth. Covid is one thing. But her blunt refusal to do anything more on the 'welfare' then the little she trickled down on the deserving few, be it benefit increases, be it mental health for people who were unlucky enough to be part of a mass shooting but lucky enough to not get shot dead is neither kind, nor gentle, nor polite, nor helpful.
Both actions seemed (to me) to be on the same side of the ledger (as it were), but of course not comparable in magnitude, just in direction.
I think I must be a bit over-sensitive to comments on The Standard that belittle successful women. There was one commenter here, Shadrach, who really didn't like the idea that in just a few years Greta Thunberg had achieved a higher profile with more positive influence than he was likely to achieve in a lifetime. I found his PoV discouraging.
Of course I'm hypocritical, since I can't abide Collins and that sometimes comes out in my comments. Forgive.
Thanks Sabine; current Government was formed on 31 October 2020, so we’re four and a half months in. Hope you forgive my confusion, again.
Good reasoning McFlock. All the same how often do we have massacres in NZ, and of people belonging to a large world religion that feels vulnerable. We would need to do some fast and thoughtful actions if there was an attack on Jewish synagogues in the same dastardly way. We should shift ourselves to be 'kinder and practical' in our sorrowful reaction; pass special legislation to meet the situation and any further ones of similar infamy. Words and actions joined.
Cover for mental injury is already available if caused by physical injury and without the need for physical injury for accidents at work or as a result of sexual abuse. Sure, these are for specific groups of person rather than a specific event like 15 March, but there's nothing to prevent an approach that's based on extending cover in this way. There are provisions under the Social Security Act that are related to specific events, for example, that have been introduced as events arise.
Such as approach is vastly cheaper, too, because it's invariably limited to a specific number of people. Sure, it involves a decision on what's 'deserving' and what's not, but so does any 'policy' decision. It's a matter of the government snapping itself out of its black and white way of looking at things, at least when it comes to ACC.
It's not in fact such a new or novel approach at all. There plenty examples. Every policy decision involves judgement, and extending cover in this way would not be expensive because it's highly likely to be limited to a specific number of people. If they wanted to do it they could. I just don't but Ardern's reasoning.
There might also be an issue around how one defines pstd related to Mar15. I suspect there will always be someone mediaworks can dig up who would be a deserving case but who misses out on ACC coverage. But if they get included then the bill for therapy rapidly inflates.
I don't think ACC should be worried about widening cover for mental injury on an as-an-event-arises basis. By definition the numbers aren't significant, and even less significant when you look at the kind of dough ACC's about:
https://www.acc.co.nz/newsroom/stories/annual-report-2019/
People whose family members have been killed or who have suffered physical injuries can easily be compensated. People who have suffered mental trauma can be provided with support and counselling and they should be.
Trying to put a figure on financial compensation for mental distress is a minefield and open to exploitation on all levels. We need to be very wary.
Have you ever looked into the guidelines for cover under ACC for a mental injury?
The way a person is assessed for compensation has so many snags to it. A person could have been sexually assaulted and have PTSD but were they an alcoholic or a drug addict their addiction could be stated as the reason for the PTSD.
ACC are the ones who exploit the system when it comes to cover for a mental injury. Since the inception of ACC the most severe changes have been for a mental injury. It is time to reclaim what has been taken.
Do you think that when the government are not acknowleding the person’s PTSD because of not being physically injured that this causes further harm and is a barrier to overcoming the PTSD?
"The way a person is assessed for compensation has so many snags to it. A person could have been sexually assaulted and have PTSD but were they an alcoholic or a drug addict their addiction could be stated as the reason for the PTSD."
Classic tactic. It's so easy for ACC to get a lackey specialist to give an opinion that says the injury wasn't caused by the accident so no cover. This happens in an environment that's about finding ways of refusing claimant cover. Then it's up to the claimant to find a specialist to say it was. A claimant has to know how to do this or get independent help. Most don't bother. Even when a claimant does manage to find a specialist it becomes a battle of expert opinion. This is how the process works, and from start to finish ACC is concentrating denying the claimant. Sure, the legislation requires ACC to 'investigate the claim' and claimants have rights of review and appeal, but the way this is done isn't about getting to the truth of a matter. The whole system's a mess and this government's got its head in the sand.
If I really need to do a link I attempt it. I looked up Mental Injury Assessments for ACC 27 pages long.
A person is really in the shit if they do not have a good lawyer. The mental injury assessment is ambiguous.
When it comes to a settlement for those in state and faith based care is the government not going to acknowledge significant trauma when there was no physical force?
The government need to apologise for not having cover for a mental injury where there was no physical force. Mental injuries usually linger long after physical injuries, this is what infuriates me the most.
Why does it have to be ACC that is being targeted for reparations for this harm? Mental harm can vary vastly between people involved in the same instance and must be difficult to put a figure on. Is there more of a case for enhanced welfare benefits and intervention to deal with the on going stress? But having said that isn't the object to get people functioning as well as possible not leave them brooding on any form of compensation or benefit for lengthy periods? The alternative is presumably a "sue everything in sight" regime.
And FWIW years ago I dealt with some cases under the old workers compo Act. Basically no treatment or rehabilitation was provided and people where left to rot on a weekly payment until death happened when the surviving spouse received a payout based on the shortened life expectancy. Anything that replicates this even with bigger weekly payments doesn't have a lot to offer long term.
The alternative is for ACC to keep doing what has always been done knowing it does not work for some people.
Partly this is why people become stuck and are left to their own devices which can be counter productive.
The legislation for a mental injury has not been updated when it comes to what is known that PTSD does physically and on a physiological level.
What do the business minded think about this? Is it a good move? Concentrate on keeping NZ resources under NZ ownership and control – that seems to be what is happening. Or am I mistaken?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/438395/windfarm-operator-tilt-renewables-to-be-sold-for-nearly-3-billion
The deal will see the Australian companies – collectively called PowAR – take control of Tilt's four Australian windfarms, while Mercury will buy the four New Zealand farms for $770m.
Well I'm always very happy to see monopoly or oligopoly assets remain in NZ's hands. We have a better chance of regulating them without TPP type interference for the benefit of the country and ultimately to make ourselves richer by removing the monopoly rent and therefore allowing welfare benefits to purchase more for the same amount of taxpayer money. Not that Meridian is signing up for the second half of the deal.
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Not quite so one-sided; the Nats may have clawed back some support, although it's within the margin of error. Adding the left and right votes:
1News/Colmar Brunton poll
Dec. 2020: LG 61%, NA 33%
Mar. 2021: LG 58%, NA 35%
The Maori party and NZ first were unchanged on 2% each.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/438430/new-tvnz-poll-labour-on-49-percent-national-on-27-percent
Stats from 2010 for homicides around the world. :Looking at stats per 100,000, NZ came in at 21st. But we are one of five who have some more women killed than men.
According to the data given by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, worldwide, 78.7% of homicide victims are men, and in 193 of the 202 listed countries or regions, men were more likely to be killed than women. In two, the ratio was 50:50 (Switzerland and British Virgin Islands), and in the remaining seven –
Tonga, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Latvia, and Hong Kong – women were slightly more likely to be victims of homicides compared to males.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homicide_statistics_by_gender
We are similar to the Netherlands in ratio per 100,000 but differ in percentage of numbers; (65% men to 35% women for Netherlands, NZ 48.8% men to 51.2% women).
Luxembourg stands out among the developed nations with no female murdersl Greece is low with 6.5% to 93.4% males Honduras has the highest world rate at 90.4 but mostly males, similar numbers to Greece.
Perhaps we could ask social anthropologists from the low number nations to look at our stats and comment in what way our culture is different to the countries with low female murder stats . An outside opinion on our results and how to change them downwards could be a good move and better than the constant blame game, which is started when a NZ women is killed anywhere it seems.
How can this be a good move? Costs are going up everywhere.
Waitomo district to have zero rates increase next financial year
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/438416/waitomo-district-to-have-zero-rates-increase-next-financial-year