Lets start again the way modern NZ started in the beginning – with honest hard working people looking for opportunity to succeed that was no longer reachable in Britian in the 1800,s.
I well remember all those swindled English and German migrants sold land that wasn't owned, having to live in tents for years on end, sometimes as solo mums, as their children died. It was great. Not too many turned up with the equivalent of $50m in their pocket, and most towns were violent hell holes. Maori might have something to say about being shot at again, and having anything stolen off them. But your basic maths is right, if it weren't for the reality of how much it would cost to get that money here.
You must be very old to remember all that!. My pioneering ancestors didn,t mention that they met such horror in 1842 and 1852. They arrived to basic ( but expected ) primitive beginnings ( Nelson ) and successfully worked steadily to comfortable old ages.
It's a good idea – so long as this is their only citizenship and they renounce all others. And that $50m+ needs to be domiciled here.
We are about to lose the shirts off our backs economically, and we don't have enough millionaires either absolutely or proportionately to start up this country again.
I'm sure it goes against the egalitarian spirit of the left – but without some serious fresh injection of capital, the workers of New Zealand could toil away for decades and still have to rely on the state for most things in their lives.
The international (English language) media have been lauding the NZ response to the COVID-19 crisis, but looking at the worldometer stats (must admit I’ve been alternatively mesmerised and horrified over the last few weeks by the figures), there are some standout countries that have hardly been mentioned: Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong, in particular.
It’s hard to make sense of all thefigures and not easy to make easy comparisons because of so many different variables that you don’t know about: size of population, testing rate, amountof contact tracing, quarantining strategy etc., but it’s also hard to ignore Vietnam with no deaths and hardly any cases yet it’s right next to China. Taiwan similar with only 6 deaths and a population similar to Australia, Hong Kong with only 4 deaths and again hardly any cases. All 3 countries were badly affected by the SARS epidemic in 2003 and seemed to have learned from the experience. All shut down their borders in early January, 2 months before NZ, and had well thought out pandemic strategies already in place just in case another nasty zoonotic virus (one that jumps from another species) turned up, which of course it did.
Lessons to be learned by the rest of the world. Links below to articles about Taiwan and Vietnam.
For those who flunked Chinese 101, this basically says that Taiwan is part of China, and we are all ignorant and no doubt racist if we think otherwise as there is one and only one China.
Hmm, wonder how they reconcile their empire including Xinjiang and Xizang (Tibet) then. Hardly comprised of Han Tzu or historically part of China.
2021 is a dangerous year, and Xi has already stated repeatedly that within one year China will seize Taiwan back.
I just wish more Kiwis would read the local Chinese press. Racist and imperialist in the extreme. I honestly think many of our Chinese immigrants consider NZ to be just an overseas outpost of the Chinese Empire.
I just wish more Kiwis would read the local Chinese press. Racist and imperialist in the extreme.
Agreed. I cannot read the language, but I have trusted sources who do. And they tell me much the same things.
If people here think I'm stridently anti-CCP it's mainly for this reason.
I honestly think many of our Chinese immigrants consider NZ to be just an overseas outpost of the Chinese Empire.
The reality is a lot more nuanced. The overseas Chinese diaspora is deeply divided on the CCP. Many of those who oppose them fear a backlash in the West that would could scarcely help but to fail to discriminate between the various groups.
A good doco American Factory, about a Chinese business man buying a factory in USA, the way they describe the Americans is quite revealing, some quite truthful, but clearly quite racist.
Trumps presser yesterday was the most bizarre yet. Let's dim the lights, says trump as a little film starts up lamenting agent orange. It was weird. I've never seen him so defensive, he was off the hook raging at journalists who tried their best to hold him to account yesterday.
Today it looks like the presser is in the rose garden, thank goodness, can't dim the lights there, so no promotional film from POTUS.
Today's was even more unreal, he spent the longest time reading out names of big corporations. Can't even remember why now lololz, because he went on for so long. But he deliberately didn't mention microsoft, he must have beef with them.
He also spent most of the time blaming other people. It's all China's fault and the WHO because they didn't tell trump to take action and weren't transparent. It's got nothing to do with trump calling the virus a hoax or his lack of listening ability, nope, apparently everything is someone elses fault.
As well he talked up how the USA has more ICU rooms than Italy or France etc. Love to fact check on that. And he spent ages bragging about how many ventilators the USA has. Because it's a competition lolz.
Fauci was MIA, I hope he's ok.
Here's a link for a replay of today's bizarre presser in the Rose Garden.
Thanks Cinny. I got it through the Guardian link but couldn't stomach all of it. It was like listening to a drug addled nut-bar. Just awful.
Yes, I heard the latest installment of the blame game. The lies are so blatant that his followers must have the lowest IQ in the entire country to not know he is the fake.
Did you see the clip of Dr Fauci yesterday explaining what he meant by his comments the previous day concerning Trump 's original denial of the virus? He was in front of the microphone looking so small and vulnerable while two stony faced thugs stood over him just to his left. Trump and Pence. Poor man. Not surprised he didn't turn up today. He is being bullied behind the scenes. That is obvious.
Dr Fauci turns 80 this year – he has been a senior figure in US public health for a loooong time. Not sure how susceptible he is to bullying – at some point he may be forced to ‘stand down’, but I'm guessing he won’t be keen to go as long as he believes that continuing to advise Trump can do some public health good.
"He has turned down several offers to lead his agency's parent, the NIH [National Institutes of Health], and has been at the forefront of US efforts to contend with viral diseases like HIV, SARS, the 2009 swine flu pandemic, MERS, Ebola and COVID-19." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Fauci
Hi DMK, I didn't mean to infer Fauci was 'afraid' of Trump but rather he was being undermined behind the scenes – a better word than bullying.
Its a measure of the a*****e that – despite his [false] words to the contrary – Trump thinks he can push around an 80 year old with knowledge and experience he is incapable of ever attaining, and without any empathy or respect for the age of the gentleman.
Lets not forget he tweeted only a few days ago he wanted to fire Fauci because he said something Trump did not like.
Agree with all you've written Anne, just thought that Dr Fauci's age, medical expertise and record of public service were interesting. Being in their seventies would seem to be about the only thing Fauci and Trump have in common.
Identify, and if any of them catch covid and/or pass it on, hold them liable for treatment costs and consider criminal negligence or wilful endangerment charges.
Germany has drive by testing and done fairly well so far as a transit country to boot,
and in the US if you don't work you starve – and also right wing, and Donald wants a march and the Trumpists march.
Maybe the idiots are the ones pretending that they can stay home for month on end with the government sending care packages until the virus is eradicated and then they go back to live as it was before.
maybe the actual solution is somewhere inbetween.
Without knowing if any of those protesters aren't spreading covid, they're just being sour krauts and maple strops, and should heed the advice on social distancing and mass gatherings. I mean it would be really stupid to end a lock down as they want, only to have thousands more catch it because money and bau.
Though their self righteous reaction is a bit of an ah, now I get it moment.
Maybe the idiots are the ones pretending that they can stay home for month on end with the government sending care packages until the virus is eradicated and then they go back to live as it was before.
Who thinks that? Most people I'm seeing who understand the need for lock down also understand we're not going back to BAU.
Sure, though wilful breaching lock down orders are not only frustrating but ultimately dangerous to a lot of people. I hope none of them bought a surprise home to their bubbles.
Which would be tough as protesting is a right and all, and historically, most on the left would view the police on a spectrum of suspicion, but it's a deadly pandemic, and I would also expect a minimum warning of go home or be arrested would end a pointless protest like these above.
It's not the gathering to protest that bothers me, it's the blatant ignoring of the 2m distancing, and I'm guessing they're not bothering with hand washing, no face touching etc too.
I do agree, they can't really protest observing 2m spacing rules, so just like anyone too close in a queue at the moment, they'll cause some suspicion concerning their observance skills/understanding/compliance.
The liberal media show us that Chompsky's 'manufacturing concent' model is operating perfectly in it's job of protecting Biden…even here in little ol' NZ, RNZ doesn't touch this story either…
The Democratic Party seem to realise that they have coalesced around the worst possible anti-Sanders candidate. Biden is an incredibly 'target-rich environment' for Republican attack ads. There's the corruption allegations against his son (Hunter) and brother (James) – both suspected of using access to Joe as bargaining chips. There's his support for the Iraq war, for cutting social security, and for stripping people of bankruptcy protection. There's his support for NAFTA and TPPA. And now the glossed over and uninvestigated sexual abuse allegations. Not to mention an increasing tendency to flub his lines. It's going to be bloody. I guess the Democratic Party would have preferred to coalesce around Buttigieg or Klobuchar or Harris or even Bloomberg – but they weren't options after South Carolina.
What's also clear is that Sanders doesn't own his own movement. Despite endorsing Biden he can't command their obedience. To some extent, his movement will shuck him off and find a new leader – true to their likely belief in the Tolstoyan maxim that a leader is the wave pushed ahead by the ship. The age divide – Sanders winning under 45's decisively and Biden over 45's equally decisively – suggests many younger voters may simply not vote (which they are prone not to do anyway)
And Trump is going to claim victory over the 'Chinese virus' – irrespective of how many C-19 deaths there finally are. He's going to lie through his teeth about the whole thing, make a case for his own foresight and competence – and stand a good chance of being believed.
20% annually so 10% for 6 months I assume. Personally I'd have also taken a hatchet to the police commissioner and the head of the defence force who I believe earn way above the prime minister and given it to the director general of health
She could have played it like the old game, get one up on Bridges, for a moment in the news. But she informed him beforehand, gave him a chance to match her.
Taking the high ground is what works for her. It's good politics. Kicking him in the goolies plays well to the base, like some on here, but that's exactly what Bridges would do, and that's why he loses. Big picture classy versus small picture petty.
Sometimes I think that her political skills are as much underestimated by her supporters as her detractors.
Yes I flubbed a few lines. But; apart from the title, that was from memory (as I used my one editing chance on fixing that)! Surprised I did that well myself, after so many years.
If it is any consolation, anecdotally speaking, there seems to be a dramatic drop-off in numbers seeking hospital help for self-harm and suicide attempts.
I have been pondering possible reasons for this: limited or restricted access to alcohol, stronger ties to others by being connected to a bubble, a greater closeness and/or appreciation of those nearest and dearest….
Some of these may be an explanation for the drop in family harm notifications.
Biff fake-Tannin' is delaying the stimulus payments going out to Americans made unemployed by COVID-19. So they can have his shaky sharpie scrawl on them. Could be worse I s'pose, they could have been delayed further so that Dim Dotardashian got his ugly mug printed on them as well.
TOKYO: Japan urged its citizens on Wednesday (Apr 15) to stay home, as media reports warned that as many as 400,000 of them could die of the coronavirus without urgent action, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came under pressure to hand out more cash.
New Zealand is now "the envy of the world", according to the Grattan Institute, which said the country had a "realistic chance" of eliminating COVID-19 within the next couple of months.
So, it's been a strange day – apologies if I have seemed like a bear with a sore tooth at times,.. but that's pretty much accurate. I had a kernel from lunch caught in between my teeth – so I flossed it out, along with much of the tooth! Dental school (over the phone) gave me a choice between meds or extraction. Went with meds (painkillers and antibiotics until level 3 at least).
Anyway, on the way to the chemist there is this oldish crusty bloke reeling from side to side of the footpath. Shouting at the woman (normal street clothes) in front of me to get out of his way – even though it was clearly him lurching towards her. So then it's my turn…
I am wearing a zipped-up hoody, facial bandana and jeans (really not skirt weather today!). In retrospect, I may have looked a bit Islamic? He sneers at me: "If I had a gun, I'd shoot the lot of you!". That was surprising, maybe what Muslims in Dunedin put up with all the time? So I bellow back "Forget you – currant!", which he may have misheard, because he got out of my face really quickly after that.
The strange thing was that he didn't seem drunk or otherwise intoxicated. Guess it's just the stress of lockdown.. and him being an arsehole too, of course.
I heard stephen mills saying on kathrine ryans program the other day that he thought jeremey corbyn was the worst leader the uk labour party had ever had funny i thought mills was supposed to represent the lefts view on the program he was taking part in an hooten the right ??but on yer steve may as well put the boot in everyone else has .Would have thought you couldve cut corbyn a tiny bit of slack tho steve it cant have been easy for example trying to be effective in ahighly corrosive poisonous snake pit that is the uk labour party .Even going home to put your feet up must have been something of an ordeal for jc given the daily onslaught of hit pieces in maybe all of the papers by hostile corporate presstittutes taking their orders from on high by powerfull figures determined to stop you getting any traction .IM petty sure that if a labour leader in this country managed to increase membership of the party by the numbers that jeremy corbyn did over there it would be have to be regarded equally with jesus's trick of walking on water !!Supprizes me that so many people both here and there cant decide weather they are left right or in between or how low they can go to keep their noses in the trough .The uk labour part it seems is no different to the democratic party in the states in that they will even go to the extream of deliberately losing an election to maintain the status quo .Rotten to the core would be an understatement in both cases imo.
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. ...
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Welcome to members of the diplomatic corp, fellow members of parliament, the fourth estate, foreign affairs experts, trade tragics, ladies and gentlemen. ...
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National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...
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The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...
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Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...
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With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...
The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...
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Progressing a holistic strategy to unlock the potential of New Zealand’s geothermal resources, possibly in applications beyond energy generation, is at the centre of discussions with mana whenua at a hui in Rotorua today, Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is in the early stages ...
New annual data has exposed the staggering cost of delays previously hidden in the building consent system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I directed Building Consent Authorities to begin providing quarterly data last year to improve transparency, following repeated complaints from tradespeople waiting far longer than the statutory ...
Increases in water charges for Auckland consumers this year will be halved under the Watercare Charter which has now been passed into law, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say. The charter is part of the financial arrangement for Watercare developed last year by Auckland Council ...
There is wide public support for the Government’s work to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity protections, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The Ministry for Primary Industries recently completed public consultation on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act and the submissions show that people understand the importance of having a strong biosecurity ...
A new independent review function will enable individuals and organisations to seek an expert independent review of specified civil aviation regulatory decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Director of Civil Aviation, Acting Transport Minister James Meager has announced today. “Today we are making it easier and more affordable ...
The Government will invest in an enhanced overnight urgent care service for the Napier community as part of our focus on ensuring access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown has today confirmed. “I am delighted that a solution has been found to ensure Napier residents will continue to ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey attended a sod turning today to officially mark the start of construction on a new mental health facility at Hillmorton Campus. “This represents a significant step in modernising mental health services in Canterbury,” Mr Brown says. “Improving health infrastructure is ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed confirmation the economy has turned the corner. Stats NZ reported today that gross domestic product grew 0.7 per cent in the three months to December following falls in the June and September quarters. “We know many families and businesses are still suffering the after-effects ...
The sealing of a 12-kilometre stretch of State Highway 43 (SH43) through the Tangarakau Gorge – one of the last remaining sections of unsealed state highway in the country – has been completed this week as part of a wider programme of work aimed at improving the safety and resilience ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters says relations between New Zealand and the United States are on a strong footing, as he concludes a week-long visit to New York and Washington DC today. “We came to the United States to ask the new Administration what it wants from ...
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed changes to international anti-money laundering standards which closely align with the Government’s reforms. “The Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) last month adopted revised standards for tackling money laundering and the financing of terrorism to allow for simplified regulatory measures for businesses, organisations and sectors ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he welcomes Medsafe’s decision to approve an electronic controlled drug register for use in New Zealand pharmacies, allowing pharmacies to replace their physical paper-based register. “The register, developed by Kiwi brand Toniq Limited, is the first of its kind to be approved in New ...
The Coalition Government’s drive for regional economic growth through the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund is on track with more than $550 million in funding so far committed to key infrastructure projects, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “To date, the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) has received more than 250 ...
[Comments following the bilateral meeting with United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio; United States State Department, Washington D.C.] * We’re very pleased with our meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this afternoon. * We came here to listen to the new Administration and to be clear about what ...
The intersection of State Highway 2 (SH2) and Wainui Road in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be made safer and more efficient for vehicles and freight with the construction of a new and long-awaited roundabout, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. “The current intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road is ...
The Ocean Race will return to the City of Sails in 2027 following the Government’s decision to invest up to $4 million from the Major Events Fund into the international event, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand is a proud sailing nation, and Auckland is well-known internationally as the ...
Improving access to mental health and addiction support took a significant step forward today with Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announcing that the University of Canterbury have been the first to be selected to develop the Government’s new associate psychologist training programme. “I am thrilled that the University of Canterbury ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened the new East Building expansion at Manukau Health Park. “This is a significant milestone and the first stage of the Grow Manukau programme, which will double the footprint of the Manukau Health Park to around 30,000m2 once complete,” Mr Brown says. “Home ...
The Government will boost anti-crime measures across central Auckland with $1.3 million of funding as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Fund, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “In recent years there has been increased antisocial and criminal behaviour in our CBD. The Government ...
The Government is moving to strengthen rules for feeding food waste to pigs to protect New Zealand from exotic animal diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD), says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. ‘Feeding untreated meat waste, often known as "swill", to pigs could introduce serious animal diseases like FMD and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held productive talks in New Delhi today. Fresh off announcing that New Zealand and India would commence negotiations towards a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the two Prime Ministers released a joint statement detailing plans for further cooperation between the two countries across ...
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the forestry sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the horticulture sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new Family Court Judges. The new Judges will take up their roles in April and May and fill Family Court vacancies at the Auckland and Manukau courts. Annette Gray Ms Gray completed her law degree at Victoria University before joining Phillips ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU). “This unit will boost critical care services in the lower North Island, providing extra capacity and relieving pressure on the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and emergency department. “Wellington Regional Hospital has previously relied ...
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Check against delivery.Kia ora koutou katoa It’s a real pleasure to join you at the inaugural New Zealand infrastructure investment summit. I’d like to welcome our overseas guests, as well as our local partners, organisations, and others.I’d also like to acknowledge: The Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and other Ministers from the Coalition ...
Comment: Life on Earth is undergoing a sixth mass extinction, with species disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Aotearoa is no exception. Since human arrival, over 60 species have vanished, and more than 75 percent of indigenous reptiles, birds, bats, and freshwater fish are either threatened with extinction or at risk ...
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Caught a Bridges interview this morning.
We really dodged a bullet, avoiding having that degree of cognitive ignorance, in charge.
Sickening, watching the interveiwer treating him with deference and agreement, rather than the hostile way interviewers treat Government MP's.
We really do have a biased media.
Imagine if Bridges/ Nats were leading this, lockdown, then lift early, then lockdown, lift early etc … would have been chaos.
One of his henchmen, Paul Goldsmith, was on Kathryn Ryan's show this morning. Embarrassingly bad.
This ain't no "standard seasonal flu", they also may find the high death rate is because hospitals have been underfunded, as simple as that. And considering the UK aren't counting the residential home deaths, unlike us here. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/we-are-all-resigned-to-getting-it-nhs-staff-reveal-fears-from-the-frontlines-of-covid-19
Haven't heard an explanation why emergency rooms aren't routinely flooded with 'standard seasonal 'flu' cases.
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/influenza
In other words, it hasn’t started yet.
Flu jab nurse reckoned there will be substantially fewer cases this year because of all that hand washing and distancing we're doing.
The basic math goes like this: If NZ could attract 2000 people to invest $50m, that would raise $100b.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12324752
NO THANKYOU.!
Lets start again the way modern NZ started in the beginning – with honest hard working people looking for opportunity to succeed that was no longer reachable in Britian in the 1800,s.
Make NZ Great Again!
I well remember all those swindled English and German migrants sold land that wasn't owned, having to live in tents for years on end, sometimes as solo mums, as their children died. It was great. Not too many turned up with the equivalent of $50m in their pocket, and most towns were violent hell holes. Maori might have something to say about being shot at again, and having anything stolen off them. But your basic maths is right, if it weren't for the reality of how much it would cost to get that money here.
Can I get a hip hooray for the capitalists?
You must be very old to remember all that!. My pioneering ancestors didn,t mention that they met such horror in 1842 and 1852. They arrived to basic ( but expected ) primitive beginnings ( Nelson ) and successfully worked steadily to comfortable old ages.
It's a good idea – so long as this is their only citizenship and they renounce all others. And that $50m+ needs to be domiciled here.
We are about to lose the shirts off our backs economically, and we don't have enough millionaires either absolutely or proportionately to start up this country again.
I'm sure it goes against the egalitarian spirit of the left – but without some serious fresh injection of capital, the workers of New Zealand could toil away for decades and still have to rely on the state for most things in their lives.
Don't fret, it will happen anyway.
Europe is in for a very unsettling decade or two, there will be many well qualified people with both money and talent looking to escape.
"the workers of New Zealand could toil away for decades and still have to rely on the state for most things in their lives."
So UBI might as well start now and their toil and initiative over the next decades will quickly be constructive .
The international (English language) media have been lauding the NZ response to the COVID-19 crisis, but looking at the worldometer stats (must admit I’ve been alternatively mesmerised and horrified over the last few weeks by the figures), there are some standout countries that have hardly been mentioned: Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong, in particular.
It’s hard to make sense of all thefigures and not easy to make easy comparisons because of so many different variables that you don’t know about: size of population, testing rate, amountof contact tracing, quarantining strategy etc., but it’s also hard to ignore Vietnam with no deaths and hardly any cases yet it’s right next to China. Taiwan similar with only 6 deaths and a population similar to Australia, Hong Kong with only 4 deaths and again hardly any cases. All 3 countries were badly affected by the SARS epidemic in 2003 and seemed to have learned from the experience. All shut down their borders in early January, 2 months before NZ, and had well thought out pandemic strategies already in place just in case another nasty zoonotic virus (one that jumps from another species) turned up, which of course it did.
Lessons to be learned by the rest of the world. Links below to articles about Taiwan and Vietnam.
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/asia/population-the-same-as-australia-s-but-a-fraction-of-the-coronavirus-cases-20200412-p54j67.html
https://www.dailysabah.com/world/with-no-deaths-reported-vietnams-response-to-coronavirus-pandemic-earns-praise/news
https://www.facebook.com/846555798724560/posts/2942654555781330/
There is only one China.
For those who flunked Chinese 101, this basically says that Taiwan is part of China, and we are all ignorant and no doubt racist if we think otherwise as there is one and only one China.
Hmm, wonder how they reconcile their empire including Xinjiang and Xizang (Tibet) then. Hardly comprised of Han Tzu or historically part of China.
2021 is a dangerous year, and Xi has already stated repeatedly that within one year China will seize Taiwan back.
I just wish more Kiwis would read the local Chinese press. Racist and imperialist in the extreme. I honestly think many of our Chinese immigrants consider NZ to be just an overseas outpost of the Chinese Empire.
I just wish more Kiwis would read the local Chinese press. Racist and imperialist in the extreme.
Agreed. I cannot read the language, but I have trusted sources who do. And they tell me much the same things.
If people here think I'm stridently anti-CCP it's mainly for this reason.
I honestly think many of our Chinese immigrants consider NZ to be just an overseas outpost of the Chinese Empire.
The reality is a lot more nuanced. The overseas Chinese diaspora is deeply divided on the CCP. Many of those who oppose them fear a backlash in the West that would could scarcely help but to fail to discriminate between the various groups.
A good doco American Factory, about a Chinese business man buying a factory in USA, the way they describe the Americans is quite revealing, some quite truthful, but clearly quite racist.
Sorry I should have pointed out ,scroll down for English.
Well 3 guesses why Taiwan might not get mentioned.
I hate guessing. Just tell us.
Trumps presser yesterday was the most bizarre yet. Let's dim the lights, says trump as a little film starts up lamenting agent orange. It was weird. I've never seen him so defensive, he was off the hook raging at journalists who tried their best to hold him to account yesterday.
Today it looks like the presser is in the rose garden, thank goodness, can't dim the lights there, so no promotional film from POTUS.
Can you supply a link Cinny? I have trouble finding them – lack of knowledge and know how.
I saw part of yesterday's presser and it was like something out of A in Wonderland. Un…. believable!
Covfefe
Covfefailure
Anne, I'll post a live link for tomorrow.
Today's was even more unreal, he spent the longest time reading out names of big corporations. Can't even remember why now lololz, because he went on for so long. But he deliberately didn't mention microsoft, he must have beef with them.
He also spent most of the time blaming other people. It's all China's fault and the WHO because they didn't tell trump to take action and weren't transparent. It's got nothing to do with trump calling the virus a hoax or his lack of listening ability, nope, apparently everything is someone elses fault.
As well he talked up how the USA has more ICU rooms than Italy or France etc. Love to fact check on that. And he spent ages bragging about how many ventilators the USA has. Because it's a competition lolz.
Fauci was MIA, I hope he's ok.
Here's a link for a replay of today's bizarre presser in the Rose Garden.
Thanks Cinny. I got it through the Guardian link but couldn't stomach all of it. It was like listening to a drug addled nut-bar. Just awful.
Yes, I heard the latest installment of the blame game. The lies are so blatant that his followers must have the lowest IQ in the entire country to not know he is the fake.
Did you see the clip of Dr Fauci yesterday explaining what he meant by his comments the previous day concerning Trump 's original denial of the virus? He was in front of the microphone looking so small and vulnerable while two stony faced thugs stood over him just to his left. Trump and Pence. Poor man. Not surprised he didn't turn up today. He is being bullied behind the scenes. That is obvious.
Dr Fauci turns 80 this year – he has been a senior figure in US public health for a loooong time. Not sure how susceptible he is to bullying – at some point he may be forced to ‘stand down’, but I'm guessing he won’t be keen to go as long as he believes that continuing to advise Trump can do some public health good.
Hi DMK, I didn't mean to infer Fauci was 'afraid' of Trump but rather he was being undermined behind the scenes – a better word than bullying.
Its a measure of the a*****e that – despite his [false] words to the contrary – Trump thinks he can push around an 80 year old with knowledge and experience he is incapable of ever attaining, and without any empathy or respect for the age of the gentleman.
Lets not forget he tweeted only a few days ago he wanted to fire Fauci because he said something Trump did not like.
Agree with all you've written Anne, just thought that Dr Fauci's age, medical expertise and record of public service were interesting. Being in their seventies would seem to be about the only thing Fauci and Trump have in common.
CNN's chyron writer deserves a medal and a raise.
https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/cnn-chyrons-give-persuasive-rationales-cnn-stop-airing-trumps-coronavirus
The media highlight of the day? When such a beauty comes up early you know Trump or anyone else is going to have to go really hard to compete.
Man on radio talking about Obama endorsing Biden. (That's news? You're so bereft that it's the only thing in the world to talk about? etc, etc.)
Obama's thing is a 10 minute speech, well, 'monologue' and according to the guru "There's a man who likes the sound of his own voice." !!!!!!
Mirror, mirror on the wall ….
If Michelle Obama goes around publicly endorsing Biden his lead (already good) will stretch into the far distance.
Covidiocy abounds.
https://twitter.com/DanDicksPFT/status/1249449767404363776
https://twitter.com/Terrence_STR/status/1250068818170392576
#COVIDIOTS
Identify, and if any of them catch covid and/or pass it on, hold them liable for treatment costs and consider criminal negligence or wilful endangerment charges.
Vancouver is a good size bigger than Auckland. The guy in the clip said there was a massive crowd. I think he is exaggerating.
Accordingto B.C. media it was a small group of about 20, mostly anti-vaxxers and other local right wing nut jobs.
Germany has drive by testing and done fairly well so far as a transit country to boot,
and in the US if you don't work you starve – and also right wing, and Donald wants a march and the Trumpists march.
Maybe the idiots are the ones pretending that they can stay home for month on end with the government sending care packages until the virus is eradicated and then they go back to live as it was before.
maybe the actual solution is somewhere inbetween.
Without knowing if any of those protesters aren't spreading covid, they're just being sour krauts and maple strops, and should heed the advice on social distancing and mass gatherings. I mean it would be really stupid to end a lock down as they want, only to have thousands more catch it because money and bau.
Though their self righteous reaction is a bit of an ah, now I get it moment.
Who thinks that? Most people I'm seeing who understand the need for lock down also understand we're not going back to BAU.
unfortunately it would be hard to establish who caught cv from who, so presumably endangerment or manslaughter wouldn't be a go.
Am curious what penalties Canada (or NZ) has for such behaviour in a pandemic or under a civil emergency.
Sure, though wilful breaching lock down orders are not only frustrating but ultimately dangerous to a lot of people. I hope none of them bought a surprise home to their bubbles.
I totally think the state should deal to that. If it were NZ I would expect arrests.
Which would be tough as protesting is a right and all, and historically, most on the left would view the police on a spectrum of suspicion, but it's a deadly pandemic, and I would also expect a minimum warning of go home or be arrested would end a pointless protest like these above.
It's not the gathering to protest that bothers me, it's the blatant ignoring of the 2m distancing, and I'm guessing they're not bothering with hand washing, no face touching etc too.
I do agree, they can't really protest observing 2m spacing rules, so just like anyone too close in a queue at the moment, they'll cause some suspicion concerning their observance skills/understanding/compliance.
The liberal media show us that Chompsky's 'manufacturing concent' model is operating perfectly in it's job of protecting Biden…even here in little ol' NZ, RNZ doesn't touch this story either…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63yeQ1GCzIY
The Democratic Party seem to realise that they have coalesced around the worst possible anti-Sanders candidate. Biden is an incredibly 'target-rich environment' for Republican attack ads. There's the corruption allegations against his son (Hunter) and brother (James) – both suspected of using access to Joe as bargaining chips. There's his support for the Iraq war, for cutting social security, and for stripping people of bankruptcy protection. There's his support for NAFTA and TPPA. And now the glossed over and uninvestigated sexual abuse allegations. Not to mention an increasing tendency to flub his lines. It's going to be bloody. I guess the Democratic Party would have preferred to coalesce around Buttigieg or Klobuchar or Harris or even Bloomberg – but they weren't options after South Carolina.
What's also clear is that Sanders doesn't own his own movement. Despite endorsing Biden he can't command their obedience. To some extent, his movement will shuck him off and find a new leader – true to their likely belief in the Tolstoyan maxim that a leader is the wave pushed ahead by the ship. The age divide – Sanders winning under 45's decisively and Biden over 45's equally decisively – suggests many younger voters may simply not vote (which they are prone not to do anyway)
And Trump is going to claim victory over the 'Chinese virus' – irrespective of how many C-19 deaths there finally are. He's going to lie through his teeth about the whole thing, make a case for his own foresight and competence – and stand a good chance of being believed.
Unhappy days.
Cuomo Governor of New York, "Donald Trump has declared himself as King Trump."
Midday news on 1.
Some twitter reaction to Nixon-on-bath-salts' proclamation that his "authority is total"
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-total-authority-twitter-coronavirus-pandemic_n_5e951344c5b606109f5ed818
I almost wish they would go for authoritarianism now, while there's still some fight left in people.
Meanwhile in a galaxy far away.
https://www.facebook.com/1684474681589898/posts/2847187235318631/
NZ Herald utterly gobsmacking incompetent…it's dammed obvious that proof reading is considered unnecessary
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12324961
States repeatedly it's 20% cut in salaries yet multiple examples given in $ terms are all 10% .
Oh and I’m waiting for reporters to ask Bridges and Rimmer if they will be taking cuts as well.
20% annually so 10% for 6 months I assume. Personally I'd have also taken a hatchet to the police commissioner and the head of the defence force who I believe earn way above the prime minister and given it to the director general of health
You are right as are they I've gotten old
Heard on the news Bridge's is.
If you a going to make a pointless token gesture, then they will all do it.
Assuming Rimmer is Seymour, imagine he will jump on the pointless PR band wagon.
Not sure about Winston given "The super annuation thing". Will probably say he will, which doesn't mean much.
It is a gesture, but it isn't pointless.
Ardern is smarter than that.
She could have played it like the old game, get one up on Bridges, for a moment in the news. But she informed him beforehand, gave him a chance to match her.
Taking the high ground is what works for her. It's good politics. Kicking him in the goolies plays well to the base, like some on here, but that's exactly what Bridges would do, and that's why he loses. Big picture classy versus small picture petty.
Sometimes I think that her political skills are as much underestimated by her supporters as her detractors.
Resumé
BY DOROTHY PARKER
Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.
Portrait of the Artist
By Dorothy Parker
Lead me to a quiet cell
Where never footfall rankles
With steel chains go bind me well
Make fast my wrists and ankles
O wrap my limbs with linen fair
With hempen cord go bind me
And of your mercy leave me there
Nor tell them where to find me
Bar the door there as you go
And see its bolts be double
Come back in half an hour or so
And I will be in trouble.
Yes I flubbed a few lines. But; apart from the title, that was from memory (as I used my one editing chance on fixing that)! Surprised I did that well myself, after so many years.
Trump Rocks Bohemian Rhapsody.
Oh dang! Must show Miss 15, she loves that song and loathes trump. Putin on the piano is a beautiful touch loololz.
Funny as.
Unintended Consequences:
If it is any consolation, anecdotally speaking, there seems to be a dramatic drop-off in numbers seeking hospital help for self-harm and suicide attempts.
I have been pondering possible reasons for this: limited or restricted access to alcohol, stronger ties to others by being connected to a bubble, a greater closeness and/or appreciation of those nearest and dearest….
Some of these may be an explanation for the drop in family harm notifications.
Biff fake-Tannin' is delaying the stimulus payments going out to Americans made unemployed by COVID-19. So they can have his shaky sharpie scrawl on them. Could be worse I s'pose, they could have been delayed further so that Dim Dotardashian got his ugly mug printed on them as well.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trumps-name-on-stimulus-check-irs-coronavirus_n_5e965be0c5b6ead140045899
today they declared that the money will be accessible to debt collectors.
Many people will get it via direct bank deposit
and never see a cent.
But King Trump of Trumplandia will feel all great again, having his name on a 'cheque'.
Looting the exchequer while they still can.
https://twitter.com/RBReich/status/1250165676829859840
http://archive.li/FIN3p
Not a fan generally, but this is a really good move by TOP.
https://twitter.com/top_nz/status/1250267758211653633
That's clever and all but what are these guys actually doing? Looks like ACT for the Left to me.
apparently about to release new policy on a UBI.
Of course it can get worse.
https://twitter.com/ksieff/status/1250197488159600640
https://twitter.com/tylerkingkade/status/1250068290224844800
..and worser…
TOKYO: Japan urged its citizens on Wednesday (Apr 15) to stay home, as media reports warned that as many as 400,000 of them could die of the coronavirus without urgent action, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came under pressure to hand out more cash.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/japan-citizens-isolate-reports-warn-covid-19-coronavirus-deaths-12644310
Suggestion that I put into practice today both at Work and Socially
Didn't email or txt, all interaction was by phone. Good also to just talk not just the functional txt/email.
I'm phoning two people every night.
Australia is flattening the coronavirus curve. But should we try to squash it like New Zealand?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-04-15/coronavirus-elimination-australia-new-zealand/12150302
So, it's been a strange day – apologies if I have seemed like a bear with a sore tooth at times,.. but that's pretty much accurate. I had a kernel from lunch caught in between my teeth – so I flossed it out, along with much of the tooth! Dental school (over the phone) gave me a choice between meds or extraction. Went with meds (painkillers and antibiotics until level 3 at least).
Anyway, on the way to the chemist there is this oldish crusty bloke reeling from side to side of the footpath. Shouting at the woman (normal street clothes) in front of me to get out of his way – even though it was clearly him lurching towards her. So then it's my turn…
I am wearing a zipped-up hoody, facial bandana and jeans (really not skirt weather today!). In retrospect, I may have looked a bit Islamic? He sneers at me: "If I had a gun, I'd shoot the lot of you!". That was surprising, maybe what Muslims in Dunedin put up with all the time? So I bellow back "Forget you – currant!", which he may have misheard, because he got out of my face really quickly after that.
The strange thing was that he didn't seem drunk or otherwise intoxicated. Guess it's just the stress of lockdown.. and him being an arsehole too, of course.
food for thought.
Wage subsidy spend to date 9 billion….
IMF projection 25 billion contraction NZ GDP next 12 months….
12 months interest (only) on residential mortgages NZ 13 billion…
12 months interest (only) on personal lending NZ 1.2 billion…
heh
https://twitter.com/RaybonKan/status/1250185582690439168
I heard stephen mills saying on kathrine ryans program the other day that he thought jeremey corbyn was the worst leader the uk labour party had ever had funny i thought mills was supposed to represent the lefts view on the program he was taking part in an hooten the right ??but on yer steve may as well put the boot in everyone else has .Would have thought you couldve cut corbyn a tiny bit of slack tho steve it cant have been easy for example trying to be effective in ahighly corrosive poisonous snake pit that is the uk labour party .Even going home to put your feet up must have been something of an ordeal for jc given the daily onslaught of hit pieces in maybe all of the papers by hostile corporate presstittutes taking their orders from on high by powerfull figures determined to stop you getting any traction .IM petty sure that if a labour leader in this country managed to increase membership of the party by the numbers that jeremy corbyn did over there it would be have to be regarded equally with jesus's trick of walking on water !!Supprizes me that so many people both here and there cant decide weather they are left right or in between or how low they can go to keep their noses in the trough .The uk labour part it seems is no different to the democratic party in the states in that they will even go to the extream of deliberately losing an election to maintain the status quo .Rotten to the core would be an understatement in both cases imo.
Bridges is doing a better job of opposition than the UK Labour right now, & the UK actually have problems, urgent ones, that should be called out, but UK Labour? Not a squeak…
Kia Ora Newshub.
That's is correct we can't jump to soon out of isolation.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Hopefully we can step down to level 3 in good time.
Ka pai giving the Kaumatua flue vaxcernation at their Marae.
The Raukumara need a lot of mahi to minimise the pest in it I still champion A bounty on pest.
The new Te reo teaching programs are good.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Good to hear that our farmers are still working.
I remember that person pushing for lock down next minute he wants Aotearoa to come out early.
I say the government has done a good job with the virus it's impossible to keep everyone happy.
There are a few things from the old days that could create mahi.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Newshub.
You would think that property owners will give their business tenants rent reduction in times like this.
That's good Aotearoa being involved in a international research project for the virus.
Its awesome the mahi Doc is doing in Aotearoa.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
I think it's good to use online service to help tangi with the virus isolation.
That's what it used to be like people helping people Ka pai to the guy who put out the fire.
Cool that forestry workers can go back to mahi in level 3lock down.
Awsome that tangata are protecting Te Kauri Tane Mahuta.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Newshub.
Cool those people importanting PPE gear.
Extreme weather events is going to be the new normal.
Counterfeiters of virus cures are low flogging off crap that is just a money spinner.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Kia Kaha Whanau Aotearoa is in a great place.
Ka kite Ano.
https://youtu.be/qQfetkoGrpU
Kia Ora Newshub.
You will always find some people who have a different opinion.
What fools go and dump rubbish in a cemetery.
I think ACC needs a cleanup.
That's is cool the 21st century commutation devices to make movies and waiata during the virus isolation.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Cool that their is going to be virus testing in our remote rual regions
In good time the lock down levels will lift.
Good the people getting donations and send out period products to unfortunate Wahine.
Ka kite Ano.