Open mike 15/04/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 15th, 2023 - 62 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:


Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

62 comments on “Open mike 15/04/2023 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Ad 1
    15 April 2023 at 6:21 am

    Marjorie Taylor Greene has come out in support of Jack Teixeira who allegedly leaked a massive set of US NATO-related documents.

    She's on the Homeland Security Committee.

    MTG would be a natural Charles Linberg VP candidate for Trump, campaigning while he's in trial.

    The Man in the High Castle just needs a decent uniform.

  2. Visubversa 2
    15 April 2023 at 9:09 am

    We are not alone in our Census problems. Somehow, "the most oppressed and marginalised people on the planet" have managed to persuade Statistics departments in at least 2 countries to abandon their professional standards in favor of an ideology.

    "One might ask why the statisticians at the ONS got this so wrong, given that one of their main jobs is to design survey questions that don’t invite false positives. By the ONS’s own admission, the trans question was trialled by means of “community testing at LGBT History Month events”, which is a bit like gauging atheists’ understanding of the Catholic Mass by means of community testing at the Vatican. Why didn’t those in charge anticipate that a question couched in obscure genderese might stump noninitiates, even if it would please their Stonewall overlords?

    The most obvious hypothesis would be that the ONS was cajoled, guilt-tripped, befuddled and emotionally blackmailed into linguistic compliance, like many a fellow national institution before it. Maybe so, but a wider explanation is also available: that those who designed the question didn’t even realise it was couched in obscure genderese. They took their own standards of linguistic apprehension to be universal and binding."

    https://unherd.com/2023/04/how-the-trans-census-fooled-britain/?tl_inbound=1&tl_groups%5B0%5D=18743&tl_period_type=3&mc_cid=fd5d71c105&mc_eid=2c0897f414

  3. Stephen D 3
    15 April 2023 at 9:49 am

    As a teacher I have 27 kids in my Year 7 class. This will grow as the year goes on. It always does.

    The idea of having only 23 students is awesome. It doesn’t sound much, but in the ability to have one on ones with students it is huge.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131774294/smaller-class-sizes-for-years-48-to-be-announced

    • Peter 3.1
      15 April 2023 at 12:25 pm

      One interesting bit to me in the Stuff article was primary teachers’ union NZEI Te Riu Roa president Mark Potter saying very few politicians understood what it was like to work in the classroom.

      I don't think very few anyones really understand what it's like to work in the classroom. There's been more noise lately than usual about what teachers should do and how they should do it. I don't think the average punter pontificating has much real appreciation of what the task is really like.

      • Stephen 3.1.1
        15 April 2023 at 1:19 pm

        And neither do the Nats. Their 3 hours a day of the 3rs is a joke. Leaves no real time for Art, Tech, Languages, Science, Social Studies, PE, and Health.

      • Herodotus 3.1.2
        15 April 2023 at 1:59 pm

        Not only in the classroom, but also the huge efforts and time that teachers endure outside the class room. We have 1 person in our household who has worked most days over the holidays in preparation for the upcoming term, paperwork. There are 2 non English speaking students out of 28 in their class new to NZ and 1 with major learning challengers, all requiring work that I find well beyond the call of teachers- the efforts I am seeing are being replicated by so many teachers all over NZ- and we have the minister telling us of 10+% pay rises-pity their spin is to aggregate such a pay rise to appear as if it is an annual rise. Not limited to teachers but also applied to health workers etc . Disgusting behaviour by a union led party 🤬🤮

  4. Herodotus 4
    15 April 2023 at 10:01 am

    and our govt believes this deserves to be a focal announcement- you under fund a project fit for purpose and then throw a few coins back. Not the 1st time that the govt has done this 🤬
    https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-strengthens-commitment-new-dunedin-hospital

    we had the funding diverted from the eastern bus route in what was once Manukau to pay for the cycle lane for the harbour bridge to then once it was obvious that this wasn’t popular then announced the funding.
    Doesn’t show great decision making – and from a house of voters who’s party votes were more left than almost anyone here – there is a common theme that left is devoid of what is best for this country- only what will gain votes and then followed by u turns.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/300354030/funds-for-auckland-harbour-cycle-bridge-should-go-to-eastern-busway–national-mp

    • Ad 4.1
      15 April 2023 at 1:10 pm

      Yes generally agree.

      Weird that NZTA as a Crown agency with a board with a $500m+ decisionmaking delegation from its Transport minister is rigorously scrutinised by its minister and media, yet a fully Cabinet mandated design for Dunedin Hospital is overturned by MoH which had at the time no Board separation but guts the design and scope after Cabinet decision anyway.

      This is never going to be a government renowned for skilled decision execution.

  5. Anker 5
    15 April 2023 at 10:45 am

    100% Herodotus.

    • The u turns eg with Three Waters, came after legislation was pushed through under urgency. Labour u turned, not for the good of the country, but because they were sinking in the polls prior to Xmas.

    Apparently a letter has gone out to Labour women saying we now have over 50% (or some such figure) women in our Caucus, which begs the question that as Chippy isn’t sure what a woman is and needs to pre formulate an answer to that question, how could they possibly know there are x number of women in the Caucus?

    this of course relates to the census question (great article above thanks Visu).
    sometimes all that is left is humour and so I lol, lol, when the rates of trans (according to the UK census) were particularly high amongst Muslims and people whose second language was English.

    lol, but the serious side of this is that we have extremist ideologues controlling our Govrs

    • Sabine 5.1
      15 April 2023 at 11:28 am

      I was asked a few years back by Phil Twyford what i thought about the concept of 'quota women' and I told him then (his spouse was in his red bus wating) that generally if the Labour party does not promote women on the grounds of excellence and deeds then their quota women will only ever be seen as people who got promoted because they follow the rules and do as they are told.

      And that then follows why the current PM is shitting his pants when asked to define a women, but is happy to pretend to have a half a cabinet of people whom he can't define when asked.

      • Anne 5.1.1
        15 April 2023 at 12:45 pm

        This is one of the most puerile comments I have seen on this site. Just an attempt to create a false premise that Labour only promote women who do as they are told. You got the wrong parties there mate. Its National and ACT who play that game.

        As for the PM shitting in his pants. Once again reality has bypassed you. A silly question raised by a journo bent on revenge did not warrant a reply at all imho. Next thing you will be wanting to know what a man is. Best of luck with that one!

        • bwaghorn 5.1.1.1
          15 April 2023 at 3:02 pm

          Have to disagree with the last bit Anne, chippy showed absolutely weaknesses on the woman question, trying to please everyone never works, .

          It's lucky for labour the greens have racist at no1 spot, ir I'd ditch labour for them .

    • Craig H 5.2
      15 April 2023 at 7:55 pm

      I got an email (from Carmel Sepuloni) so either it was sent to more than just women, or there was more than one email (quite possible).

  6. Reality 6
    15 April 2023 at 11:39 am

    The silly criticism being aimed at the PM regarding what is a woman, will be going over the heads of most people who have busy lives to get on with. No one I know has raised the issue. Dog with a bone by some who would complain whatever the PM said.

    • Terry 6.1
      15 April 2023 at 12:11 pm

      Want is silly is the screaming of the trans activists when someone says that a transgender woman is NOT a real woman.

      Outside of my various work places of the past few years, I’ve never met anyone who does believe a transgender woman is a real woman.

      While in the workplace people are scared to have any opinions other than the officially sanctioned opinions of the rainbow mafia.

      People will say one thing in the office, and something completely different at the weekend BBQ, especially when members of the rainbow mafia are not there.

    • weston 6.2
      15 April 2023 at 12:36 pm

      What is a women etc Well if the busy lives of the sheeple people you know reality have prevented them from realizing the obvious its not so with millions observing the dismal performance of our PM from around the world who now have a perception of him as a weak lilly livered cowed specimen of a man too underdeveloped to have an opinion of his own let alone the most basic knowledge of biology .

      • Anne 6.2.1
        15 April 2023 at 12:53 pm

        They call it projection Weston. Describing one's own image then projecting it on to someone else?

        • Molly 6.2.1.2
          15 April 2023 at 5:24 pm

          Projection, Anne? This issue has impacts on most aspects of society. eg. This woman who attended a planned event called #LetWomenSpeak.

          Recent video came out of the "opposing sides clash" narrative of Stuff:

          Opposing sides clash during the protests over controversial activist Posie Parker/Kellie-Jay Keen, at a rally organised for her in Auckland’s Albert Park.

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/300852693/josie-pagani-why-banning-hate-speech-doesnt-get-rid-of-the-hate

          The intimidation, harassment and violence is in one direction when it comes to women wanting to speak.

          When will people stop making excuses for abusive behaviour?

          https://twitter.com/adriftandhappy/status/1647028966094680064?s=20

          • Shanreagh 6.2.1.2.1
            15 April 2023 at 5:44 pm

            I've found a couple of comments from someone who went to the SBYW events. Not sure where they went. Sounds like the transactivists were pests there as much as at the LWS meeting on 25/3.

            'Went to my local Stand By Your Woman rally 2 listen 2 speakers. Like me a (rainbow) group got 2 meeting point early. Surprised 2 see so many kids. SBYW speaker drowned out by (rainbow) member with bullhorn leading chanting. (rainbow) group found that v pleasurable. No dialogue possible. Beyond sad.'

            and

            [deleted unlinked quote]

            Dr Carol Hamilton

            @kiriceilidh

            4h

            [quote deleted, in premod until we sort this out once and for all. Please reply to my comment below – weka]

            • weka 6.2.1.2.1.1
              15 April 2023 at 6:16 pm

              mod note. Please read above and then respond to the directions below. None of you other comments will appear on TS until this is sorted.

              Please read the following instructions and agree to each number. If you don't understand any of the points, then please ask for clarification of each number you don't get.

              To link to a tweet,

              1. do not use the quote tag (") in the Comment editor
              2. go to the specific tweet you want to quote, not the persons twitter account
              3. click on the date/time stamp
              4. copy and paste this into the TS Comment editor
              5. Press the Submit Comment box
              6. Please try the above with this first tweet on this account
            • weka 6.2.1.2.1.2
              15 April 2023 at 10:30 pm

              I trashed your comment by mistake, because you did two replies. Please stop trying to do anything else other than replying to my mod note.

              You said,

              1. do not use the quote tag (") in the Comment editor Ok
              2. go to the specific tweet you want to quote, not the persons twitter account OK
              3. click on the date/time stamp OK
              4. copy and paste this into the TS Comment editor Ok
              5. Press the Submit Comment box Ok
              6. Please try the above with this first tweet on this accountOk

              I can only find the very first one anyway.

              1:01 PM · Apr 15, 2023

              So just a bald link& intro to it and no putting the actual words in my post?

            • weka 6.2.1.2.1.3
              15 April 2023 at 10:36 pm

              when you copy and pasted the link to that Joni Mitchell tweet did you:

              1. paste it directly into the comment box?
              2. Or did you click on the button with the quotation mark symbol at the top of the comment box?
                • weka …
                  15 April 2023 at 10:47 pm

                  thanks. What should be happening if you are copy and pasting straight into the comment box is the tweet should embed. But instead, your link is ending up with html tags around it and is turning into a link instead.

                  Hang on, sorry my bad, new instructions.

                  1. go to this link
                  2. go to the first tweet
                  3. click on the time/date stamp
                  4. copy the address in the address bar of your browser (the 'URL')
                  5. paste this into the comment box
                  6. Submit Comment
                  • Shanreagh …
                    15 April 2023 at 11:07 pm

                    https://twitter.com/racoons_daily/status/1558509457130209282

                    Sorry cat has had a sustained period of walking all over the keyboard, I think I have got it right.

                    • weka …
                      15 April 2023 at 11:16 pm

                      brilliant, thanks. That looks good.

                      Right, from now on, whenever you want to share something from a tweet to TS, do what you just did. I need you to agree to that before I let you out of premod.

                      I also want you to agree to keep a copy of these instructions so you can refer to them:

                      1. go to the tweet you want to share
                      2. click on the time/date stamp
                      3. copy the address in the address bar of your browser (the 'URL')
                      4. paste this into the comment box
                      5. Submit Comment
                    • Shanreagh …
                      15 April 2023 at 11:38 pm

                      Thanks Weka. I have done a copy & paste into a word doc and put it on my desktop for reference.

                    • weka []
                      15 April 2023 at 11:52 pm

                      👍 Out of premod now, thanks.

            • weka 6.2.1.2.1.4
              15 April 2023 at 10:38 pm

              please stop trying to do anything other than attend to the current questions I am asking you (everything else is going in the Trash as I don't have the time or bandwidth to get distracted).

          • Anne 6.2.1.2.2
            15 April 2023 at 7:19 pm

            Haven't read a word. Here's why:

            You have twisted a two sentence comment that has nothing to do with the fixation on women's rights that has become all too prevalent on this site. It is a ruse being used (by some – not all) to repeatedly ram the subject down our throats as if the rest of us are dormant mice incapable of figuring anything out for ourselves.

            I'll tell you what a woman is:

            She is a female homo sapien with a vagina and boobs. She's been around since God made little apples and she's the same now as she was then. Some women have brains. Others are as thick as two short planks. Some are full of compassion for others. Others are arseholes who don't have a compassionate bone in their bodies. They are all shapes and sizes and they all have the same rights under the law.

            Their opposite number are male homo sapiens who have a penis and no boobs. Just like their female counterparts they can be clever or dumb, gentle and kind or common garden bastards. They too are all shapes and sizes and have equal rights under the law.

            For the tiny group of individuals who are a varied mix of the two – and nature in its infinite glory can also make mistakes – they also have equal rights under the law.

            Here endeth the lesson. And too bad if some of you have no sense of humour. sad

            • Molly 6.2.1.2.2.1
              15 April 2023 at 10:30 pm

              Anne, you enter threads to make remarks, when it is clear you have no idea of the concerns raised – even with the preponderance of comments.

              Eg:

              ""For the tiny group of individuals who are a varied mix of the two – and nature in its infinite glory can also make mistakes – they also have equal rights under the law."

              Conflating DSDs with gender identity. Thinking that intersex means a mixture of two sexes rather than a developmental disorder.

              This kind of conflation actually harms those with DSDs quite significantly.

              https://differently-normal.com/2021/10/25/the-invention-of-intersex/

              • Visubversa …
                16 April 2023 at 9:10 am

                Thanks for this Molly. Just shows how the Transcult invades and colonises anything and everything they think might further their interests.

                • weka …
                  16 April 2023 at 9:31 am

                  can you please dial back the disparaging rhetoric. Name the gender cult or the TRAs or whatever, by naming the ideology without making it all about trans people. People reading who don't know the issues will see transcult as an insult to trans people and their general rights. Think of the debate as a marathon and how we might keep debate on TS robust and fair as well as not turning it into an ecochamber, over the long term.

      • peterh 6.2.2
        16 April 2023 at 8:46 am

        Stephen Jack NAT candidate knows what a woman is , he posted on F/B he likes them like covid easy to spread

  7. Ad 7
    15 April 2023 at 12:58 pm

    Dunedin nurses had a good solid turnout for their protest in the Octagon this morning.

    Also tge ODT had full page ads against the new hospital cost savings.

    Amazing how bad political management turns the most leftie city in NZ against Labour.

    • Corey 7.1
      15 April 2023 at 3:30 pm

      I love Dunedin, very fun town.

      Dunedin is a very very left town for both Labour and the Greens and Christchurch isnt called the peoples republic of Christchurch for nothing, it's a very reliable labour city and both Dunedin and Chch have been absolutely pivotal in nz's progressive history.

      It's weird how often the left shits on both cities and thinks South Island= Bad.

      Would be cool to see more south Islanders who have ground level experience in cabinet and leadership positions, when Sage retires this year year the greens will have no south island representation and currently iirc only two south Islanders have cabinet positions.

      I don't understand how that damned hospital hasn't started construction it was a 2017 election promise.

      • weka 7.1.1
        15 April 2023 at 4:41 pm

        hoping the Greens’ membership list placement process prioritises some SI people.

  8. ianmac 8
    15 April 2023 at 4:32 pm

    Rebecca Wright was pretty good at holding Luxon to account on Newshub this morning.

    In particular she demanded of him how they formed their policy. Evidence. Research etc. Huge number of words but his MPs "talked" to lots of people, talked to the caucus then came up with a plan.

    She pressed him on any evidence that his plan/policy about boot camps for instance.would have evidence that it would achieve the "outcomes" planned. Big hole!

    "You are taking kids away from their home for a year but you have no idea that it would work?"

    About 17 minutes in. Well done Rebecca.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/04/christopher-luxon-calls-new-zealand-crime-utterly-unacceptable-as-he-doubles-down-on-boot-camp-policy.html

  9. Stephen 9
    15 April 2023 at 4:47 pm

    Policy by anecdata.

    No matter what your left persuasion is, these bastards have to kept as far away from the levers of power as possible.

  10. bwaghorn 10
    15 April 2023 at 5:17 pm

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/opinion/131777189/forprofit-healthcare-will-lead-to-increasing-neglect-of-kiwis-on-the-margins

    The cancer of private health care must be removed now before it kills the patient

    • Drowsy M. Kram 10.1
      15 April 2023 at 6:52 pm

      yes
      Not-for-profit health care for all; would prefer public, but don't care too much if the health care service provider is public or private, as long as extracting profit isn't its reason for being, and access to all health services is based on need, not ability to pay.

      Myth: "Privatization" can help everyone access health care

      Looking at you, Coleman.

      • bwaghorn 10.1.1
        15 April 2023 at 8:39 pm

        We should ban politicians from having health insurance so they can experience the Healthcare us unwashed do.

        Based on my reckons that they'll all have health insurance I would if I was on their incomes.

    • Belladonna 10.2
      15 April 2023 at 7:41 pm

      Meanwhile public healthcare already is killing the patient.

      https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/southern-cancer-patients-harmed-long-delays-report

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487760/investigation-highly-critical-of-wait-times-to-see-cancer-specialists

      Perhaps the government and the Ministry of Health should concentrate on the crisis in their own backyard, before they embark on increasing demand by cutting out private healthcare.

      Doing something like:

      • Doubling the intake of medical (and dental) students every year for the next 5 years
      • Offering claw-backs on tertiary fees for medical practitioners (for every year you work in NZ after graduation, you get 1 year of fees forgiven)
      • Increasing the funding to GPs to make this an attractive career path (it absolutely isn't at the moment)
      • Direct funding GPs in smaller/remote areas – based on the number of people enrolled, rather than a per visit payment. To say enrolled, the patient has to have at least an annual consultation with their GP (a bit like a warrant of fitness for your car)

      No this crisis isn't all to do with Labour – it's been building for decades.

      But, what, practically, is the government currently doing? SFA as far as I can see.

      • bwaghorn 10.2.1
        15 April 2023 at 8:41 pm

        Is that not the reason labour have got rid of dhbs, ? To stop the post code lottery

      • Visubversa 10.2.2
        15 April 2023 at 8:51 pm

        One thing the Government can do is to stop the Medical School accepting dozens of foreign students instead of New Zealanders.. I have been to two prize givings at the Auckland Medical School over the last decade or so. They have them in November – practically before the ink is dry on the exam results because what seems like half the class, will not be in New Zealand at the time of the next Capping ceremony.

        • Incognito 10.2.2.1
          15 April 2023 at 9:14 pm

          Places for international students into the two Med Schools in NZ are limited and restricted. To get into Medicine is highly competitive. The schools need to increase their intakes, progressively.

          https://www.otago.ac.nz/oms/education/mbchb/prospective-students/international-students/electives/

          Your comment is inaccurate and misleading. Feel free to support with hard numbers of domestic vs. international student entries/acceptances and graduations. Until then I’d ignore it.

          • Belladonna 10.2.2.1.1
            16 April 2023 at 8:55 am

            I agree – entry to med school (and to dentistry and to vet science) is ridiculously competitive. You could quadruple the intake into med school in NZ – and still only be creaming off the top 1% of ability in those applying.

            • Incognito 10.2.2.1.1.1
              16 April 2023 at 11:35 am

              A number of ‘rejects’ decide to take the long route and do a Science degree or two (or three) before they try again to get into Med School. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as those individuals bring considerable scientific knowledge and experience to the clinic, ultimately. Those individuals are also much more mature. Others, often with medical degrees from overseas, spend a few years in academic departments being involved in biomedical research. And some continue trying to get into Med School in Oz. It’s not all bad, necessarily, but it does tell us something about the NZ situation. I don’t sense a strong political will from the parties involved to make drastic changes. However, if National gets in, they might shake things up with a third Medical School, likely in Waikato although sorting out the mess of Te Pūkenga has higher priority and National doesn’t not have the bandwidth to tackle more than one bullet point at the time.

              • Belladonna …
                16 April 2023 at 1:12 pm

                Have to say I'm not a great proponent of another medical school. Especially at Waikato – which suffers from being too close to Auckland, as well as not having a strong current background in medical and/or human biomedical science.

                You would have to establish a totally new medical school – and face the already-known-issue that top (or even near the top) people just don't want to live in Hamilton.

                It would be a heck of a lot easier and quicker to expand the capacity of Otago and Auckland. And, I've yet to be convinced that either is approaching the 'natural limit' in the size of their med schools.

                I agree that there seems to be no appetite for change from any political party (seriously short-term thinking). Just where do they think that the next generation of medical specialists is going to come from? We are nowhere near training replacements for the numbers retiring each year; let alone increasing capacity for the population expansion, and increases in medical capability.

                I do wonder if it is just that: "short term thinking" around political cycles – it takes 7 years to train a doctor to the base level – another 2-3 years for specialization (including GP) – which is approaching 3 election cycles away.

                Right now, I can't see what can be done with Te Pūkenga – it just seems to be a rolling disaster. Even abandoning all of the sunk cost in the centralization and rolling back to what we had, isn't going to fix the issue (staff already moved on, lack of enrolments due to uncertainty, whole courses and already campuses shut down).

                • Incognito …
                  16 April 2023 at 1:52 pm

                  If National were to make it an election pledge to open a third Med School in Waikato it would be pork barrelling and pandering to its rural constituency. They could also offer a fee-rebate on utes with diesel engines. But nobody would buy that 😉

                  The current Med Schools are not overflowing with enthusiasm either.

                  Short-term thinking is engrained in the NZ psyche – Kiwis tend to operate on a seasonal and/or annual basis. They ‘manage’ accordingly.

                  The Te Pūkenga mess is a textbook example of change management done by amateurs. By “done” I mean that they probably received sound advice from experts but failed to include this, those, and other experts in the process. Possibly, Government didn’t want to be seen as too controlling and ‘authoritarian’ and this has created a knowledge gap and a vacuum of required expertise & adequate leadership. At least, that’s my armchair view of it from a very long distance away. Others may be better informed of this situation.

                  • Belladonna …
                    16 April 2023 at 3:30 pm

                    Med schools have an offer on the table to increase numbers – being ignored by the Government.

                    Initially only an increase of 18 at Otago – and similar at Auckland (they said they could do this immediately in this year, without any scaling up of staff or facilities) – and are open to proposals for a substantial increase in numbers – the figure of 300 more pa has been floated.

                    Unis have been calling for an increase for some time – as have Medical associations – zip from the Government. Suspect they are concerned over the co-funding costs – but *not* funding is costing us worse.

                    Verrall claims decision made before she took over (so ball in Little's court). But this is *the same government* – just changing a Minister, should not result in a substantial policy change. And, in any case, Verrall was an Associate Minister for Health to Little, so should have been over the detail, and had co-responsibility for the decisions.

                    https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/02/28/offer-from-2-medical-schools-to-train-more-students-ignored-by-govt/

                    Te Whatu Ora's comment seems to be typically bureaucratic:

                    "In considering proposed increases to medical student numbers, Te Whatu Ora would emphasise ensuring that increases maintain student well-being, keep attrition rates low, address underrepresentation of Māori and Pacific peoples in our medical workforce, and train students who want to work in rural communities and hard-to-staff areas."

                    Actually, none of these are significant issues in training doctors. If you want to do retention or rural staffing, then that's a decision that TWO can make in increasing rural funding for doctors to make this more attractive. TWO could even offer scholarships – with graduates bonded to work in rural communities for a decade (if they wanted to do so).

                    There are already plenty of dedicated places for Maori and Pasifika in Med schools – at a lower qualification bar for entry.

                    Relaxing the admission criteria (still only creaming off the top 1%) – is highly unlikely to have any effect on student retention or wellbeing. And is, in any case, the job of the university, not of TWO, to manage.

                    None of this has anything to do with the critical importance of increasing places in med school, now (or at least next year – since they've missed the academic boat for this year).

                    • Incognito …
                      16 April 2023 at 8:14 pm

                      Those are valid concerns and they are not new concerns either. Dismissing it as bureaucratic is simplistic. Training medically qualified people takes time and is expensive. Reductionist technocratic approaches are bound to fail, which is why National will flounder in this space too – it will waste time & Taxpayers’ money to maintain quality & standards and integrity.

                  • Belladonna …
                    16 April 2023 at 3:45 pm

                    I think the Te Pūkenga mess is an example of top-down change management: with poor CM skills at the top level, poor direction (both from the CEO and the Minister responsible); and limited consultation with the people doing the job (and huge trust issues from those people, who had a well-justified belief, that this was a job and budget cutting exercise). So change would never have been easy, but working with people rather than informing them of your decisions, would have had a chance of working.

                    The heavy turnover of management at senior levels in Te Pūkenga has not contributed to a successful outcome, either.

                    There is no trust left in Te Pūkenga from the staff in the constituent organizations (both personal communication, and news coverage).

                    Three friends have bailed, and gone back to the industries they came from or taken early retirement (part of the botched redundancy plan from last year). All are excellent teachers, with a huge body of hands-on-technical knowledge, which is desperately needed for vocational training (plumbing/gas fitting, marine engineering, automotive engineering).

                    They will *not* be easy to replace: the combination of being able to teach as well as the technical expertise – is not common; and, everyone in the industry is regarding Te Pūkenga as a poison chalice (why would you go there).

                    Two friends still hanging in there. Both are staying because they're committed to their students. Both are reporting ongoing world-class levels of incompetence and cluster-fuckery from the Te Pūkenga management.

                    • Incognito …
                      16 April 2023 at 8:16 pm

                      Major restructuring is very different from BAU and requires different management (skills & experience). When it involves Senior Management, or Senior Leadership Teams, as they like to call themselves nowadays, this is another reason why they should delegate as much as possible to neutral objective impartial third parties and let them make the hard calls (read: suggestions and recommendations). By analogy, no surgeon should operate on themselves (and doctors should not act as the primary healthcare provider of close ones, as this can cloud their professional judgement and they may not make decisions that are in the best interest or run into a conflict of interest).

  11. Drowsy M. Kram 11
    15 April 2023 at 7:45 pm

    James Hansen speaks out about global climate change [2012 TED talk]
    This [energy] imbalance, if we want to stabilize climate, means that we must reduce CO2 from 391 ppm, parts per million, back to 350 ppm. That is the change needed to restore energy balance and prevent further warming.

    Big news in the close-knit and secretive climate change community!
    At Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii they just measured Atmospheric CO2 at its highest level in human history – 423.01 ppm!!!

    https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1645145093555322881

    COVID-19 AIR TRAVEL RECOVERY
    CRITICAL AVIATION DATA IN ONE PLACE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    GLOBAL TOTAL SEATS (DOMESTIC + INTERNATIONAL)
    The air travel data is plotted by week from the beginning of 2019 to week commencing 11 April 2023.

    Sustainability
    The pandemic has had a huge impact on Air New Zealand, but it has not slowed our commitment to sustainability. If anything, it has demonstrated that air transport is vital to sustaining our local economies through tourism and trade, but it is critical we find a more sustainable way to do this.

    Can't argue with that, and can't argue with 423.01 ppm.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    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 - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T14:45:43+00:00