“Many of the immigrant children ruthlessly separated from their family by the Trump administration are being shipped to a Christian adoption agency with ties to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
Rewire News reports on the condition of some of those children separated from their family:
Migrant children in Michigan who have been separated from their parents by the Trump administration are attending “a special school” run by Bethany Christian Services, an anti-choice organization with a record of coercive adoption practices that has yet to receive instructions about how to reunify these children with their detained parents.
The Other 98%, a left leaning Facebook page, explains more about the controversial Bethany Christian Services and their relationship with Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, noting:
Bethany Christian Services, an adoption center with financial ties to [Education Secretary] Betsy DeVos, has taken 81 immigrant children who were forcibly separated from their parents at the border. Most have had no contact with their families. They’re charging $700 per child per night. This isn’t foster care, this is state-sponsored kidnapping.”
Really lucky to be in Trafalger Sq yesterday, we joined our Daughter With A Placard. Don’t worry about the kids they’re goin’be alright. Huge cheers for Jeremy Corbyn so glad he turned up, starting to get a few clues about how to win an election. Tory supporters seem confused, like how can their heroes be so bloody incompetent.
On another note, we have been trying to move around England and any turkey that says we need more population I will persoally strangle when Iget back home.
Yeah, we stuck the stick it was on in a Parliament Square garden.That should do it.
Mind you I’ve now got to pay penance for 8 laps around Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in a Ferrari 430 today, but on the upside it produced a lot of organic fertilizer that had to be cleaned out of the car.
Brian Eno is spot on with this. I reckon it’s required listening (only 3 minutes 🙂
Bill, you might enjoy this (if you’re not already familiar with it).
I was in the midst of my formative years when Eno left Roxy Music and explored his Ambient music genre. I dug it. It’s cool to catch up with him.
I still dig him. He’s right, machines are better at most traditional jobs. Seeya welders, drivers and bricklayers. In an ideal world we would be evolving our way towards the opportunity for the whole village to embrace and chase what is in their hearts. There’s room for more dreams fulfilled. Not jobs but what we do.
Hi David Mac
Music for Airports was a favourite of mine in those early days, followed by his next 3 or 4 albums – break apart expectations, he does. My all-time favourite Eno piece is this one:
One year ago this weekend, Metiria Turei took the stage and built up the hopes of many, what have the Greens done since then to further the economic justice cause?
According to this opinion piece in the link below, absolutely nothing.
Most stories can be spun one way or another. You seem to be drawn towards those stories that have the potential to be spun up like tops.
I’m sure you’ve heard the story about the attention seeking little boy that ran down from the hills every morning with his hands aflapping and shrieking “The Wolf is coming”. Can you see how some people would draw comparisons between your contributions to this blog and that little boy?
I have to make a conscious effort to fight that urge Chairman.
I’m drawing attention to the fact the Greens have done little on the economic justice front. Thus, we on the left should be upping the pressure for them to act. Which is far better than showing our discontent in the polling booth come next election.
So do you care to comment on that?
If you care to only focus on the opinion piece linked, care to point out what you think is being spun? Moreover, in what way do you believe it is being spun?
Are you alright there, Dave? You’re coming across as a bit of a nutter.
I seriously hope you don’t have a gun cabinet.
I was thinking more along the lines of the Greens advocating for employees on the Government’s tree planting scheme to receive their fair share of the Government’s investment by receiving the living wage.
I’d like to see the Greens push forward the start of the cheaper doctors visits. As usual, winter is having its toll on the health system as people put off going to the doctors and turn up at hospitals.
I’d also like to see the Greens advocating for an increase and extension to the winter energy payments.
These are just a number of small steps the Greens could have taken to advance their economic justice cause. I’ve yet to see them even talk about doing any of these.
But I have been assured they are doing what they can.
Those seem sensible suggestions (even if you are sea-lioning) but you are advocating from a leftist greens perspective as if they’re still in opposition. Their mana, in their current political context, will increase in direct proportion to the extent that they are seen to be team players by the coalition partners. They know that.
Yeah, that response was reasonable, but it still seems to me that you’re not really factoring in that the GP is now operating in a totally different political context. Our parliamentarians have adjusted accordingly.
I also think you haven’t integrated the extent to which Metiria’s stand was personal. I supported her on a couple of political blogs at the time (“beneficiaries deserve to have reps in parliament”) while criticising her poor political judgment as well. You can’t reasonably expect other MPs to be bound by her personal stand. Why don’t beneficiaries form their own party? Plenty enough of them!
It’s been factored in. And it’s no different to them securing their other wins. In fact, easier in some respect as the policies were happening regardless. Thus, squeezing a few more pennies out of the Government wouldn’t have been such a big task, but would have been a big boost for their support. And as for the living wage, it wouldn’t of added to the Government’s cost.
Metiria’s stand was supported by the party, which promised to continue on the cause.
Moreover, economic justice is part of what the Greens stand for. Albeit they are currently doing little on that front.
Joe, that’s spot on! Mind if I paste the content?
“Sealioning
A subtle form of trolling involving “bad-faith” questions. You disingenuously frame your conversation as a sincere request to be enlightened, placing the burden of educating you entirely on the other party. If your bait is successful, the other party may engage, painstakingly laying out their logic and evidence in the false hope of helping someone learn. In fact you are attempting to harass or waste the time of the other party, and have no intention of truly entertaining their point of view. Instead, you react to each piece of information by misinterpreting it or requesting further clarification, ad nauseum. The name “sea-lioning” comes from a Wondermark comic strip.”
Written by a twenty-something leftist guy, but not too banal until you get to this:
“The future of the party might be Chloe Swarbrick and the urban millennials who now fill the backroom office, but a lot of the loudest supporters are still protest-hardened veterans who want to upend the economic order completely. Thus far, these Marxist-leaning Green voters have got the least out of the party in Government, which is ironic, given it was arguably Turei’s big economic justice speech that got the party into Government in the first place.”
Half a century in the Green movement in Aotearoa as of this year, and I’ve yet to encounter a “Marxist-leaning Green voter”. Five years as an office-holder in the GP early nineties, didn’t spot any there either. Nor in the GP since rejoining three years ago. If this young dude ventures into the forest, I bet he’ll see unicorns.
Jacinda knows too well the importance of bringing the public on board, therefore is the stage being set for her to show leadership and help settle public sector wage disputes upon her return?
Or is Labour playing hardball with Unions to appease businesses fear decent public sector wage settlements will set a precedent, thus increase private sector wage demands and expectations?
Businesses have expressed this fear and intentionally or not, Labour’s stance (there is no more money) helps to appease it.
I don’t think that’s it at all. Business knows Labour have money and they are simply holding back.
Either way, that’s not going to change business confidence. That’s low because they don’t seem to know what they are going to implement and how they are going to do it.
Who do you think Labour are appeasing by holding back the money?
Currently, the Government is on the wrong side of public opinion in this dispute. Do you think Jacinda’s return will see Labour correct that positioning or do you think her return will see their current stance harden?
She will be remembered for her DJ work. She was the first to run 2 turntables in opposite directions, created the illusion of a vigorous scratching conversation.
Don’t care
The more houses the better .
I think you will see the kiwibuild ones being a for of rent to own were kiwibuild Inc will keep ownership till there is enough equity for the new owner to go it alone .
The market price ones might provide more upfront funding benefits. Houses sold and a govt guaranteed deposit paid prior to cables and pipes being laid.
While KiwiBuild isn’t being promoted as a “subsidy”, it appears the government will be buying the KiwiBuild component of a development “off the plan”. This should be pretty attractive to developers and allow a lot of new projects to get going.
That’s probably not that different to what happens now where a few good units or sections, along with a couple of cheepies are offered at launch and the developer hopes like hell someone will bite and give the capital to get the show on the road.
But with the price constraints on KiwiBuild, yes the houses or units will be different to “market” properties.
In Queenstown we’ve got this, which is doing something sort of similar to KiwiBuild, and maybe better, http://www.newground.co.nz/queenstown-mixed-tenure-housing/https://www.toruapartments.co.nz The ownership of some units won’t be exactly freehold, more a closed / controlled / mixed model, but the clout of the Housing Trust got it off the ground. Can see some KB uptake coming in too. Prices start at $495,000 when there’s not much around for less than a million.
The devil will undoubtedly be in the detail, read contract that the developer will be signing to get the KiwiBuild sale. I can’t see the government loosing.
But most of that risk is in the very start, getting those first few sales to get the project moving. A huge percentage of developments just don’t get that traction, at least around Queenstown. I don’t have any real figures, but my gut feeling would be well above 50%, and maybe 70%+ of probably quite good ideas don’t run. You could say that’s darwinian market forces, but it’s also developers and financiers not being willing to take a risk at the lower end of the market. The margin is just not there, or more the margin is better further up and the development is safer.
One solid purchaser, being KiwiBuild, vs 20 or 30 individuals that might disappear on you at settlement (happened here in 2008 to the demise of many developers) should be a pretty good deal.
Housing developments of late get pushed along by handsome thin men in expensive suits. They don’t swing hammers, they get manicures.
Don’t we want to be talking to those guys that said ‘Uh Oh’ after the 1st leaky building was completed? The guy in the leather apron of tools rather than the Armani dude.
How do we grease the path for the guys that know what they’re doing? Know how to get things done.
I think KiwiBuild is on the right track. It’s going to get those that are “all but” getting into ownership out of rentals and into a freehold. It’s going to make it easier for the apartment developers, and in Queenstown that’s a desperate need.
There’s been a lot of brown field apartment developments that haven’t gone anywhere because they couldn’t get the pre-sales and finance together, maybe they could have with KB. I doubt standalone KiwiBuild properties will happen here, in reality I don’t think there will be any more pavlova paradises in Queenstown, entry will be appartments.
I worked for Neil in the late 70’s. A very similar situation where the government stoked the entry level housing market with Family Benefit capitalisation. And it worked. Maybe that could be recycled with WFF once KB hits the affordability wall.
“When the sun was young and faint and the Earth was barely formed, a gigantic black hole in a distant, brilliant galaxy spat out a powerful jet of radiation. That jet contained neutrinos – subatomic particles so tiny and difficult to detect they are nicknamed “ghost particles.” ”
Wide participation of the New Zealand way of life via unified healthy and strong population of independent communities in NZ sports club culture, a major basis of our traditonal egalitarian roots before neo-liberalism’s wreaking ball.
That way as a people we can be best practise in values but able to stand up for ourselves as a society and people should things come to worst case.
The local myopic neo-liberalism of our hoarding elitism is too amateur and out of it’s depth, as it has in part contributed to the problem, & it’s shabby incompetent preparedness will be too late by half if probabilities are not properly weighed and given due consideration while the train is still on the tracks.
A bit of feedback post nurses strike.
In palmy a bit of disappointment in some of the senior nursing colleagues deciding to cross picket line and work.
These scabs, had prior to the industrial action talked a good talk but when it mattered….
Is there a term for someone who puts in an appearance on the picket line then crosses it and works?
Positively speaking, a few senior doctors expressed surprise and admiration for the seen and unseen job nurses do.
Not sure where from here, but the feeling is positive and united amongst the workers.
So right Robert!! I loved Pooh sticks, and Eeyore always thinking his “would never win”.
I have a visual of Eeyore floating down the river with his legs in the air!! LOL
By Joves yes @ The Chairman. You might be correct going forward. And what’s Godawful worse, I see that business confidence is down, and there are a number of others lining up and threatening industrial action and better working conditions going forward, on the back of a decade of under-funding and under-resourcing of critical services.
Why, even on Q+A this morning, the sage Corin Dann alluded to the possibility of the NZ Police being next. Can you imagine! Quelle horreur! Just for one moment – imagine the quinisquences. It could become like some Hayseed Dixie Bohemian Rhapsody.
It really is a sorry, sorry state of affairs.
Thank gawd you’re comfy though eh? It must be a real relief knowing you’ve planned your life so exceptionally well, and that you’re so much better than all those other poor unfortunates. I’m truly awestruck. They can’t even get off their chuffs long enough to work hard and become the self made man, able to afford the luxury of pontification. We really should all aspire to be like you.
Eeyore! Eeyore!
Yes, despite Labour’s moves to appease businesses, confidence is down. Leaving some asking, why bother?
Especially seeing as at the same time, Labour’s moves to help appease businesses is putting at risk the party’s support. Potentially turning workers in the public sector (and the public that largely supports them) against them.
While my life may be more comfortable than some, I to am feeling the pinch.
The nurses need to be paid a lot more especially from when they first start nursing to keep them in that field. According to this pay scale a REGISTERED nurse only gets $26.68 per hour. And the pay does not increase much as they get experience.
Then add in 3 years degree, post graduate study and the costs of all that with student loans and then go on to earn half of a registered plumber (approx$50 – $90 p/h)
The average police officer earns more than a nurse in NZ but does not need to have a degree to enter the police force. So it seems that nurses are very undervalued in the sector.
It also looks like aged care nurses are paid LESS from the link, so again the bad employers in that very profitable sector are moaning to government they can’t find people, while paying them less, surprise surprise. Most migrants enter via aged care as it’s easier entry into the country, then as soon as they can they swap to the higher wages and better conditions away from the aged care. So again they need to address WHY people do not stay in that sector (aged care) (paying 3% less of an underpaid profession, while doing a difficult job is probably why!)
Could a registered nurse afford that Kiwibuild home, does not look like it. So something is wrong with declining wages and the cost of building in NZ.
We will be a country of lawyers and accountants who produce nothing, but sadly when we get sick, there is not gonna be enough experienced nurses and doctors, especially in Auckland.
Kiwibuild should have been designed to help workers in important sectors like nurses and police and teachers, fire fighters, medical professionals etc to live here cheaply, so those essential workers can afford to live in Auckland and save while doing so.
They are forced to compete against those who just studies here and have money from their parents can get a cheap Kiwibuild house, knocking out others who the city actually needs to be here. It has not been very well thought out what will happen in Auckland in 5 years time nor any statistics on what happens to those who gain residency and what they do with their ‘skill’ post permanent residency aka change to a better paid sector so the shortages are constant because underlying issues of poor conditions and wages in that sector related to living costs, are not being met.
You lost credibility when you conflated a tradespersons charge out rate with wages.
A plumber has to meet insurance, tools, travel, a van, holidays, sick leave, ACC, training, registration and guarentees out of his/her charge out rate. And still charges a quarter of a lawyers rate, despite having twice the expenses.
A journeyman plumber, without has own business would be lucky to get $20/hour.
It is not directly comparable with nurses hourly wage rates.
That is probably true aka cheap plumbing rates for workers, but I suggest you call out a registered plumber in Auckland and see what they are charged out at. First there is the travel, then call out charge and then $50 – $90 p/h, then there will be a massive mark up on materials. That is where the excessive pricing in Auckland it coming from, construction firms giving massive mark ups on everything while keeping the actual wages of many plumbers/workers low.
Neoliberalism is only able to work because the free market is not a contained system and they are using globalism to bring in cheap workers.. while expecting the countries welfare system aka taxpayer money to provide the employer income support between the low wages and high living costs.
The comparison is to show what is going to happen in expensive cities, aka the essential workers like nurses are going to be hit hard and marginalised on their salary, and then industries like construction can only keep workers by using migrants labour to make the profit margins higher.
But actually keeps experienced people out of that industry because they look at other sectors that pay higher. Likewise the corporations can profit further because our government is subsidising their wages via accomodation and WFF and other methods. Instead of actually trying to get a consistent wage across sectors such as paying more to nurses.
Then in construction there is the materials themselves such as ironsand being practically given away by NZ government and councils…. the environmental costs being given to the locals both flora and funa as well as people living there while the corporation profits.
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, NZ is one of the highest countries in the world per square meter to build, even though we give away the resources for practically nothing and pay the workers practically nothing and now giving away public land for purchase for practically nothing both high country and now prime land.
Somethings wrong with how the NZ government are thinking about the issues.
We need the nurses and need the plumbers but we don’t need all the overhead of ‘profiteering’ via middlemen that has become the NZ way. Where hospitals have considerable highly paid staff outside of direct medicine who call the shots and construction pay low wages but our house prices are high and slow to build.
Maybe with the decline of the votes for Greens it’s time they listen to some of the issues being talked about rather than attacking the messengers and that is true of their other supporters.
I don’t necessarily agree with The Chairman about what has gone wrong with the Greens, because I think a reasonable amount of Green voters are actually wealthy or doing ok and want to keep NZ as a beautiful country that is clean and green as well as socially equal, but on the other hand I find it disconcerting that he gets attacked overtime he makes a point and it is a personal attack rather than debate on what he/she has said.
Greens could do with the debate, because their vote shrink shows they are not connecting with people as they used to, and Labour need them to get over 5% too, so it’s not just for the Greens.
I think Green supporters should dispute his/her point or link, not him/her personally. Doesn’t make the Green Party look good, if their supporters are all at war with each other not in a constructive way but a personal way.
Green Party needs to go back to being more of a Broadchurch aka Labour strategy. This means including Green voters from poor to rich, young to old. Not thinking there is some niche to appeal to that they seem to be getting wrong mostly a sort of war against middle class home owners vs beneficiaries like last election, and ignoring what the fuck has happened over the last decade.
Went to some Greenpeace talk led by Russell Norman a while ago and was astonished to see so many older affluent types there. I don’t think that group is targeted by the current Greens but those from the 1970’s flower power are still around and were voting Green but maybe stopped now.
The Green’s saving grace is their Policy which is hard to change. But the present lot seem in my view taking a very odd approach to Green policy in many areas such as giving their questions to the Natz and giving the go ahead for foreign water sales while being against it.
Greens fail to realise that most people don’t want to be on a benefit so having an increase in money for benefits isn’t what so many people want, they want social mobility aka going from Paula Bennet/beneficiary to real wealth and being in parliament. No point getting xtra $200 a week when transport/housing/power/education is out of control and benefits can be reversed by the next government policy.
People want genuine change that is not just taking from the middle class to the poor but to actually go back to an age of social mobility and local democracy including housing and water and genuine clean green NZ.
To do that Greens have to understand that people can be income poor but rich due to the many ways people are legally allowed to move/reduce income or in the case of those coming from overseas, unable to work out taxable income. So everything to do with ‘taxable income’ is not an equaliser anymore for taxation. Areas such as Robin Hood tax should be looked to respond to the changing demographics, Natx stupidity or planning and inequality in NZ.
First off, I agree people do want upward mobility. Nevertheless, we do require a benefit system that is fit for purpose, which should encompass livable payment rates.
Secondly, some are destine to be on benefits for years to come due to poor health or other disabilities, therefore shouldn’t be destine to live a life of poverty.
“People want genuine change that is not just taking from the middle class to the poor but to actually go back to an age of social mobility and local democracy including housing and water and genuine clean green NZ”.
That is what we had when the upper middle classes used to pay their taxes. I paid about 50% of my income in tax. (It was worth it, to live in a functional society) It doesn’t happen for free!
It will never happen if Government artificially keep their part of the economy to 30%. Successful countries have a Government share over 50%.
Trickle down does not work. The wealthy are expert at wasting money.
Upward mobility depends, firstly, on having enough to eat and somewhere to live.
Half rich listers pay tax not at the highest rate…. How do you tax people who benefit but don’t live in the country or are not even a person but a company or trust? The left led with that message (higher PAYE taxes and other taxes on residents) for a decade which kept the Natz in power, middle classes don’t want to be the only ones paying taxes for all in this country.
We now are subsidising the supermarkets and McDonalds minimum wage employers with multimillion turnovers of the world $5000 a year in WFF while the left idea of equality is to tell those who are Doctors (after 7 years of student loans and massive sacrifice) to pay more taxes, while championing the 3 x bankrupt developers, inept business like Fletchers, and others making $100 million but somehow go bankrupt before paying their bills?
Green bashing… Communist LOL wouldn’t know one if he fell over one.
Andrew stood down because Meteria hogged the limelight…. HO. Andrew stood down because he faced he didn’t have Jacinda’s cut through. (I know that)
Make Jacinda do something she doesn’t want to!! HO HO Good luck!!
Others have commented well, so don’t bother Chairman.
I have given that journalist the benefit of the doubt before.
First it was..Greens would get more from National.. Yeah Right!! (Nat looking for friends)
Then, it was Greens going down the gurgler caused by Labour!! LOL (We Nats want their % party share to drop and ours might increase) Give me strength.
You had already put the article up.
Agree; exactly what Hooton was getting at last week in his rant against Stephen Mills on RNZ Hoots can be over the top but at least he has a view and critiques both sides , mills and mickey and thier ilk appear to simply tow a party line or default to 9 years of neglect, very intellectualy dishonest in my book
Happy with 9 years of neglect if in context of gfc, 2 major earthquakes, that National entered power with nz entering recession and government budget deficits even before GFC hit , likewise house price rises is not a national phenomenon, they where rising under labour who had a great strategy of shrinking country wirh negative migration as people voted with thier feet Such a great strategy Labour and coalition on course to repeat again
I am on record as being critical of the current Government, especially around the self defeating and irresponsible “budget responsibility rules” and the TPPA. however, whenever a critic descends into invoking the “communist” bogey (Marxist FFS), they have lost the plot.
And no matter how much a well intentioned Government fluffs around, they are never going to do as much harm as National’s deliberate, self interested, vandalism.
It’s not a massive hand brake it is the will of the populace, the greens polled just above 5pc and are probably lower now, it’s far left policies have little support and no mandate at all The greens are better of in opposition at least there they can let off steam and make their followers feel better
While the Greens have little power they do have some influence. Thus have secured a number of wins.
Moreover, they’ve built up an expectation they would continue to fight for Metiria’s cause. Therefore, one would have expected to at least see them advocate and use this influence a bit more. Albeit, even if they failed to secure more wins.
For example, the following below are a number of areas where policy was happening regardless, thus the Greens should have used the opportunity to advocate for a little more economic justice.
The Greens could have advocated for employees on the Government’s tree planting scheme to receive their fair share of the Government’s investment by receiving the living wage.
The Greens could have advocated to push forward the start of cheaper doctors visits.
The Greens could of advocated for an increase and extension to the winter energy payments.
And if the party recognised the importance of this work being seen, it would have been widely communicated.
Communications being another area that is lacking when it comes to the Greens.
The winter energy payment is the only increase people (on benefits) without young dependents are going to get from this Government. Therefore, it was one of the only opportunities the Greens realistically had to secure them a little more.
As a sweetener to help attain this objective, the Greens could have gone through their policy wins to see if savings, small cutbacks or partial deferrals could be made/found, thus offered up to help accommodate a deal.
As for the living wage suggestion, it won’t add to the Government’s cost as that will be paid by the return from the investment.
This is the kind of thinking and actions one would assume would be coming from the Greens, yet despite your assurance they are doing what they can, we’ve seen nothing of the sort.
Take Rosemary’s advice, Chairman – give it up. Your spiel is transparent and we identified your intent long ago. You continue to plead innocent, but no one (bar others of your ilk) is fooled. Like rust, you don’t sleep, but we detect the tang of iron oxide every time you comment and you are not to our taste.
I don’t despise you, Chairy, I see you for what you are, that’s all. Can’t help it, you’re so obvious . You “represent the part of the Left….”
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, ah me, oh my!
Good one!
Chairman, you have blown your own cover so many times that I have given up replying to you. Your credibility rating is zilch for many, who, incidentally, find your persistence almost amusing, but who get tired of responding. I for one agree fully with Robert and Patricia.
Can you enlighten us all as to what you would see as being economic justice? Most of the contributors here (I suspect) think of you as having a ‘special’ relationship with TS because of your valued contributions and dedication to making a comment from the armchair on everything, and I’m sure we’d all be better off if you could give us – even just a smidgen – of a definition of economic justice.
In fact I think you’re probably the highest level of special.
I’m certainly in awe of you.
Moreover, you’ll be dismayed to hear that I have problems growing rhubarb. The spinach does extremely well in my inner city soil type but the rhubarb rhubarb just does not want to take. I’d ask Robert G but I know you’re better equipped in the art of growing rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb
This little list below will give you the gist of where I’m coming from.
Livable benefit rates.
A living wage.
A progressive tax system.
Wage and conditions protection when contracts go up for tender and new operators take over.
Discounts or exemptions for the poor from aggressive taxes.
Yes, you often pretend convincingly to be truly Left. But then you consistently spread disillusionment, and encourage the Greens towards policies that will make them less popular..
So transparent and obvious over time. Too many have seen through you now.
One way to expand the reach of your town’s public transport system. Don’t wait for the local council, they don’t seem to know what’s going on, just do it….
‘Most people who study economics only study a little before becoming politicians, journalists, civil servants, executives, lawyers and community leaders. That makes the most basic course—Economics 101—the most influential one. It frames the economic narrative in boardrooms, in editorial meetings, in parliamentary debates, and in public discourse.
[…]
‘Students wanting to discuss climate change, air pollution, or ocean acidification are offered just two words: “environmental externalities.” The logic is impeccable: with the market put centre stage on day one, anything outside market contracts is defined as external.
But as the cognitive linguist George Lakoff teaches, words matter. If you care about refugees, you don’t call them “illegals”; if you care about Earth’s life-supporting systems, you don’t call them “externalities.”
[…]
‘…textbook theory tacitly assumes that economies can buck nature and succeed by growing forever. Students are rarely invited to consider whether endless GDP growth is desirable, necessary, or possible.’
Yes, words matter. ‘Growth’ works for tumours and toxic algae too. To ‘Progress’ only means to go forwards; you can do this just as well in the dark, progressing boldly to the rim of a cliff, at the bottom of which you might still hope a handy ambulance will be waiting to rescue you when you land. Or not.
Good link and points. People are being taught an ideology of economics that is decades old, simplistic, one dimensional and irrelevant or actually adding to the planet problems and long term survival of ecosystems that sustain life!
The extremists are the fruitcakes who think, “infinite growth in a finite planet” is even possible”.
Combined with many of the wealthy, who want load the costs of decreasing growth in the rate of profit (I know, a Marxist concept) ,and climate change, onto the less well off, forever.
California renewable energy policy expert Tam Hunt has founded a new start-up to solar power trains.
Solar Trains proposes constructing a solar canopy over miles of train track, enough to solar-power the nation’s electric train systems.
About ten cities in the US have electric train systems. These include BART in California, and the NY Subway system (most of the NYC Subway is actually above ground once it leaves Manhattan).
Electric rail is super sustainable already, but hardly a fast-evolving technology. Beginning as a visionary concept based on Jules Verne’s science fiction idea of a future in 1911, BART ultimately only began to be developed in 1946.
Worth consideration for the future transport needs to plan now for?
Best we keep all our rail system in place and use it all then.
Crickey, looking at that photo, for a minute there i thought i’d clicked onto the Daily Mail. Much as i do love a good English sing-a-long “Free Tommy Tommy”
Sundays would be much nicer if we just ignored these people.
I prefer this speech by Corbyn as a more positive representation of the English peoples and their(and our) struggles and aspirations as they unfolded this week..
“The Labour leader called for young people to be “fully equipped” to exercise their rights in the workplace.
Speaking at the annual Durham Miners’ Gala, Mr Corbyn said the move was necessary as trade unions have been “marginalised, vilified and undermined” for years. Develop rights Labour proposes that the lessons form part of broader citizenship classes, though it did not give examples of exactly what would be taught. “Children should not only learn about trade unions and their rights at work, but should be fully equipped to exercise and develop those rights,” he told the celebration of working class culture.”
This is a interesting article and the comments section.
This was a bottom line for NZF and Acting PM Peters said he would enter if I recall that correctly. I really want the families to get closure and answers and I hope they do with what is happening.
I don’t know the answer but when do you say enough is enough 35m, 50m, 100m can you put a dollar amount in this, who knows?
Could the money be better used for new homes, investment in the west coast to great jobs and better infrastructure, nurses (govt saying there is no more money) or more police and teachers.
I am sure some on here will point to the flag referendum and the money spent on that as it’s a similar amount. I believe it was was a waste of money. However I personally would have liked to see the union jack removed from the flag and have something that was more identifiable as a symbol of NZ.
This is insane.Dana Rohrabacher, Joe Walsh, Trent Lott and Larry Pratt advocating for a “first responders” assault weapons class for….toddlers.Seriously. Watch this.Sacha Baron Cohen exposes the INSANITY of the gun lobby. pic.twitter.com/Ny5pxOlP1S— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) July 15, 2018
Pretty sure that I fixed the ‘remember the comment details’ issue for comments today before I went off for a sunday afternoon snooze. However I only bothered to test it on Linux Chrome and Firefox.
If it isn’t working for someone on their second comment AND you are sure that you have left cookies enabled, then let me know the operating system and the browser versions.
BTW I commented on it on yesterday’s open mike. In google pig latin just keep in the mood of the discussion.
Pre-populated fields are working on Safari, and the Replies tab is back but not quite behaving as it should.
The replies show, but with a seperate scroll box of 9 current comments above them, and wiht the Comments tab live rather than the Replies tab.
As an aside, has the absence of the replies tab changed behaviour on the site? While it’s been a pain following conversations, there seems to have been a reduction in the disruptive trolling.
Only when I have time. I am still puzzled how the cookie system got munted at all. Or more correctly I am trying to puzzle out where I enabled it in the first place.
I looked at backups from well prior to my return from Singapore (ie before shifting the site to a new server), and couldn’t see the code to set the cookies for the fields on the return to the client.
I will have a look at the replies box. That is usually the result of either CSS caching (try a hard refresh – usually Shift+F5 or Alt+F5 from memory) or something on the comments blocking the javascript fully rendering the tabs.
Trolls: Personally they tend to hibernate in the middle of winter. It seems initially seem unusual, because the Pratchett theory would indicate that their intelligence should rise as it gets cooler. However I suspect that the shock of having those strange things called thoughts means that they are in shock over winter. But after the weather warms, then they tend to revert to the stupid arseholes that we all love to detest.
On a more serious not, the variation between winter and summer is usually about 25% of page views and comments overall.
“The issue is how quickly we do it and at what scale. At a global level, we need to invest on the order of 1.5 to 2 percent of GDP per year in raising energy efficiency standards and expanding the supply of renewables in order to have a good chance at driving global emissions down by 80 percent within 20 years and eliminating emissions altogether within 30 years.”
If the Green’s new bank has enough money to build electic cars, then contact his guy Hannemann from Colibri Energy, and do a deal on the batteries.
They had shown in 2010 already the ability for e-cars to do 600kms on a single charge. But German car makers are all taking the piss, only offering contracts which would take all rights to the battery tech.
Interesting to note that google-et-al will label this link as right-wing-extremist, as they are peace activists regarding a free Palestine, and less military spending, etc.
Good morning The Am Show looks like uses are enjoining the best part of a journey is getting back home.
Congradulations to France winning the Russian held FootBall World Cup.
The Papatuanuku statue Bastian point I say is a good thing there could be a plark of the story and we need to teach everyone to respect Papatuanuku especial the mokopunas .
The sandflys have been swarming since I made my comments about the assistant commissioner I wonder why.
Ka kite ano
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
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Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
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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 ...
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Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
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Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
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Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
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Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
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ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
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Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
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The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
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Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels All systems are “go” for tonight’s launch of China’s next step in a carefully planned lunar exploration program. Placed on top of a powerful Long March 5 rocket, the Chang’e 6 ...
National returned a massive donation the day after a Newsroom story linked the donors to a property being investigated for operating unlawfully as a migrant workers’ hostel. The party’s 2023 donation filings, released on Friday, show it returned a $200,000 donation from Buen Holdings on August 23. That was the ...
Pacific Media Watch New Zealand has slumped to an unprecedented 19th place in the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index survey released today on World Press Freedom Day — May 3. This was a drop of six places from 13th last year when it slipped out of its ...
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A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
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“Many of the immigrant children ruthlessly separated from their family by the Trump administration are being shipped to a Christian adoption agency with ties to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
Rewire News reports on the condition of some of those children separated from their family:
Migrant children in Michigan who have been separated from their parents by the Trump administration are attending “a special school” run by Bethany Christian Services, an anti-choice organization with a record of coercive adoption practices that has yet to receive instructions about how to reunify these children with their detained parents.
The Other 98%, a left leaning Facebook page, explains more about the controversial Bethany Christian Services and their relationship with Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, noting:
Bethany Christian Services, an adoption center with financial ties to [Education Secretary] Betsy DeVos, has taken 81 immigrant children who were forcibly separated from their parents at the border. Most have had no contact with their families. They’re charging $700 per child per night. This isn’t foster care, this is state-sponsored kidnapping.”
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2018/07/devos-linked-to-christian-adoption-agency-implicated-in-state-sponsored-kidnapping/#7Ao5eoeQxOPsGAWI.01
CPS have been in the the same ‘line of business’ within US boarders for decades…
Locals or immigrants…are all targetted by the same predators…
Examining isolated instances and seeking to map the actions to an administration is to miss the wider truth…
That the system is the predator…the entire sytem including all the public ‘departments’ which are actually private businesses…
Gorging on human energy to exist…
It’s a helluva deterrent. ‘Don’t sneak into the US with your kids because you won’t see them until they’re old enough to find you, if they want to.’
The stats could move and give Trump something that isn’t a lie to trumpet about.
The citizens of the US should know that what happens to others as a ‘deterrent’ can quickly happen to them.
But then history tends to repeat itself.
I don’t really agree with a lot JMG has written here but I know some will love it and it is interesting.
https://www.ecosophia.net/the-alt-right-the-ctrl-left-and-the-esc-center/
Yeah Marty, agree or disagree, it’s tasty prose.
The Alt-Right, the Ctrl-Left, and the Esc-Centre.
Ha!
Really lucky to be in Trafalger Sq yesterday, we joined our Daughter With A Placard. Don’t worry about the kids they’re goin’be alright. Huge cheers for Jeremy Corbyn so glad he turned up, starting to get a few clues about how to win an election. Tory supporters seem confused, like how can their heroes be so bloody incompetent.
Rock on Adrian, that’s awesome to hear, what a wonderful family outing 🙂
On another note, we have been trying to move around England and any turkey that says we need more population I will persoally strangle when Iget back home.
Enjoy your trip Adrian.
How you planted some tree re your carbon foot print 😊
Yeah, we stuck the stick it was on in a Parliament Square garden.That should do it.
Mind you I’ve now got to pay penance for 8 laps around Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in a Ferrari 430 today, but on the upside it produced a lot of organic fertilizer that had to be cleaned out of the car.
Brian Eno is spot on with this. I reckon it’s required listening (only 3 minutes 🙂
Bill, you might enjoy this (if you’re not already familiar with it).
Robert – thank-you. Made my morning that.
I was in the midst of my formative years when Eno left Roxy Music and explored his Ambient music genre. I dug it. It’s cool to catch up with him.
I still dig him. He’s right, machines are better at most traditional jobs. Seeya welders, drivers and bricklayers. In an ideal world we would be evolving our way towards the opportunity for the whole village to embrace and chase what is in their hearts. There’s room for more dreams fulfilled. Not jobs but what we do.
Hi David Mac
Music for Airports was a favourite of mine in those early days, followed by his next 3 or 4 albums – break apart expectations, he does. My all-time favourite Eno piece is this one:
One year ago this weekend, Metiria Turei took the stage and built up the hopes of many, what have the Greens done since then to further the economic justice cause?
According to this opinion piece in the link below, absolutely nothing.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/105466237/henry-cooke-the-greens-are-winning-the-war-but-losing-battles-along-the-way
Fake news from The Chairman.
I didn’t pen the opinion piece.
Moreover, you failed to substantiate your assertion.
The opinion piece was scum and reposting it was scum.
And your reasoning for this conclusion is?
Most stories can be spun one way or another. You seem to be drawn towards those stories that have the potential to be spun up like tops.
I’m sure you’ve heard the story about the attention seeking little boy that ran down from the hills every morning with his hands aflapping and shrieking “The Wolf is coming”. Can you see how some people would draw comparisons between your contributions to this blog and that little boy?
I have to make a conscious effort to fight that urge Chairman.
I’m drawing attention to the fact the Greens have done little on the economic justice front. Thus, we on the left should be upping the pressure for them to act. Which is far better than showing our discontent in the polling booth come next election.
So do you care to comment on that?
If you care to only focus on the opinion piece linked, care to point out what you think is being spun? Moreover, in what way do you believe it is being spun?
“I’m drawing attention to the fact the Greens have done little”
The first part of your response encapsulates every one of your posts Chair.
We’ll need to see the wolves amongst the lambs Chair, then we’ll go and get the keys to the gun cabinet and set the alarm bells ringing.
Are you alright there, Dave? You’re coming across as a bit of a nutter.
I seriously hope you don’t have a gun cabinet.
I was thinking more along the lines of the Greens advocating for employees on the Government’s tree planting scheme to receive their fair share of the Government’s investment by receiving the living wage.
I’d like to see the Greens push forward the start of the cheaper doctors visits. As usual, winter is having its toll on the health system as people put off going to the doctors and turn up at hospitals.
I’d also like to see the Greens advocating for an increase and extension to the winter energy payments.
These are just a number of small steps the Greens could have taken to advance their economic justice cause. I’ve yet to see them even talk about doing any of these.
But I have been assured they are doing what they can.
Those seem sensible suggestions (even if you are sea-lioning) but you are advocating from a leftist greens perspective as if they’re still in opposition. Their mana, in their current political context, will increase in direct proportion to the extent that they are seen to be team players by the coalition partners. They know that.
@Dennis Frank
You say I’m advocating from a leftist greens perspective as if they’re still in opposition.
No. Not at all.
See my post to Bewildered
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15-07-2018/#comment-1503547
Yeah, that response was reasonable, but it still seems to me that you’re not really factoring in that the GP is now operating in a totally different political context. Our parliamentarians have adjusted accordingly.
I also think you haven’t integrated the extent to which Metiria’s stand was personal. I supported her on a couple of political blogs at the time (“beneficiaries deserve to have reps in parliament”) while criticising her poor political judgment as well. You can’t reasonably expect other MPs to be bound by her personal stand. Why don’t beneficiaries form their own party? Plenty enough of them!
@Dennis Frank
It’s been factored in. And it’s no different to them securing their other wins. In fact, easier in some respect as the policies were happening regardless. Thus, squeezing a few more pennies out of the Government wouldn’t have been such a big task, but would have been a big boost for their support. And as for the living wage, it wouldn’t of added to the Government’s cost.
Metiria’s stand was supported by the party, which promised to continue on the cause.
Moreover, economic justice is part of what the Greens stand for. Albeit they are currently doing little on that front.
despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage…
https://youtu.be/6IDz8DLMWOM
Dude’s sealioning..
I know i just wanted to put the song up – reminded me of the chair.
Joe, that’s spot on! Mind if I paste the content?
“Sealioning
A subtle form of trolling involving “bad-faith” questions. You disingenuously frame your conversation as a sincere request to be enlightened, placing the burden of educating you entirely on the other party. If your bait is successful, the other party may engage, painstakingly laying out their logic and evidence in the false hope of helping someone learn. In fact you are attempting to harass or waste the time of the other party, and have no intention of truly entertaining their point of view. Instead, you react to each piece of information by misinterpreting it or requesting further clarification, ad nauseum. The name “sea-lioning” comes from a Wondermark comic strip.”
Ha, yeah, it’s a thing. News to me.
I still wonder if Chair is a Green lover or hater. The Father of a n’er do well child or a John Key guy pretending to care.
Guess I could find out if I cared more, I sort of like the intrigue.
“I still wonder if Chair is a Green lover…”
He’s not.
You’re welcome.
Sealion…is a good name for a boat, don’t think I’ve seen it used before. The ocean king of the jungle.
A seal would look good in a mane.
Written by a twenty-something leftist guy, but not too banal until you get to this:
“The future of the party might be Chloe Swarbrick and the urban millennials who now fill the backroom office, but a lot of the loudest supporters are still protest-hardened veterans who want to upend the economic order completely. Thus far, these Marxist-leaning Green voters have got the least out of the party in Government, which is ironic, given it was arguably Turei’s big economic justice speech that got the party into Government in the first place.”
Half a century in the Green movement in Aotearoa as of this year, and I’ve yet to encounter a “Marxist-leaning Green voter”. Five years as an office-holder in the GP early nineties, didn’t spot any there either. Nor in the GP since rejoining three years ago. If this young dude ventures into the forest, I bet he’ll see unicorns.
One assumes his reference to Marxist-leaning Greens is a reference to the Sue Bradford types that remain.
Greens that support democratic socialism, he means.
Never met a Marxist in the Green party.
Yes, those democratic socialists that support economic justice and that helped get the Greens into power have got the least out of the party thus far.
Why are we waiting?
“Doing what we can” doesn’t seem to be eventuating into anything. Do better.
And again, do you lot require some help with that?
The Chair’s in the house – confidence levels plummet!
Games magically lift across the left!
Seems to be a propaganda piece designed to discredit the Greens and all the progress that they’ve been making as part of government.
“Seems to be a propaganda piece designed to discredit the Greens…”
Yet, it claims the Greens are winning the war.
Jacinda knows too well the importance of bringing the public on board, therefore is the stage being set for her to show leadership and help settle public sector wage disputes upon her return?
Or is Labour playing hardball with Unions to appease businesses fear decent public sector wage settlements will set a precedent, thus increase private sector wage demands and expectations?
Businesses have expressed this fear and intentionally or not, Labour’s stance (there is no more money) helps to appease it.
I don’t think that’s it at all. Business knows Labour have money and they are simply holding back.
Either way, that’s not going to change business confidence. That’s low because they don’t seem to know what they are going to implement and how they are going to do it.
Who do you think Labour are appeasing by holding back the money?
Currently, the Government is on the wrong side of public opinion in this dispute. Do you think Jacinda’s return will see Labour correct that positioning or do you think her return will see their current stance harden?
Gloom and misery and a plodge of smear as well – the Chairman’s legacy.
Jacinda can either offer public sector workers more gloom and misery or help facilitate an amicable settlement to this impasse.
What do you think her legacy will be?
Better than yours
She will be remembered for her DJ work. She was the first to run 2 turntables in opposite directions, created the illusion of a vigorous scratching conversation.
Hmmmm
errrrrmmmm
mmmm
Chairman, The Coalition Government may be waiting and holding back money, to see whether mico plasma bovis costs could esculate. ( No reply required.)
Another day another this is what we are going to do from labour
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/105459252/up-to-10000-new-homes-will-be-built-in-south-auckland
Business needs to stop being silly brats and get going
Of those homes 3000 will be state homes, 3500 will be affordable and KiwiBuilds, and 3500 market price homes.
3500 market price homes
Are they going to be different to the Kiwi Build homes?
Of those homes 3000 will be state homes, 3500 will be affordable and KiwiBuilds, and 3500 market price homes.
3500 market price homes
Are they going to be different to the Kiwi Build homes?
Don’t care
The more houses the better .
I think you will see the kiwibuild ones being a for of rent to own were kiwibuild Inc will keep ownership till there is enough equity for the new owner to go it alone .
The market price ones might provide more upfront funding benefits. Houses sold and a govt guaranteed deposit paid prior to cables and pipes being laid.
While KiwiBuild isn’t being promoted as a “subsidy”, it appears the government will be buying the KiwiBuild component of a development “off the plan”. This should be pretty attractive to developers and allow a lot of new projects to get going.
That’s probably not that different to what happens now where a few good units or sections, along with a couple of cheepies are offered at launch and the developer hopes like hell someone will bite and give the capital to get the show on the road.
But with the price constraints on KiwiBuild, yes the houses or units will be different to “market” properties.
In Queenstown we’ve got this, which is doing something sort of similar to KiwiBuild, and maybe better, http://www.newground.co.nz/queenstown-mixed-tenure-housing/ https://www.toruapartments.co.nz The ownership of some units won’t be exactly freehold, more a closed / controlled / mixed model, but the clout of the Housing Trust got it off the ground. Can see some KB uptake coming in too. Prices start at $495,000 when there’s not much around for less than a million.
Turning 10 acres into 100 homes has a history of being pretty risky.
Funders know this and treat ventures accordingly. Applicants need to walk on water.
A govt that greases those paths, lowers the risks associated with going all in on 20 houses…we’ll get what we deserve.
The devil will undoubtedly be in the detail, read contract that the developer will be signing to get the KiwiBuild sale. I can’t see the government loosing.
But most of that risk is in the very start, getting those first few sales to get the project moving. A huge percentage of developments just don’t get that traction, at least around Queenstown. I don’t have any real figures, but my gut feeling would be well above 50%, and maybe 70%+ of probably quite good ideas don’t run. You could say that’s darwinian market forces, but it’s also developers and financiers not being willing to take a risk at the lower end of the market. The margin is just not there, or more the margin is better further up and the development is safer.
One solid purchaser, being KiwiBuild, vs 20 or 30 individuals that might disappear on you at settlement (happened here in 2008 to the demise of many developers) should be a pretty good deal.
Housing developments of late get pushed along by handsome thin men in expensive suits. They don’t swing hammers, they get manicures.
Don’t we want to be talking to those guys that said ‘Uh Oh’ after the 1st leaky building was completed? The guy in the leather apron of tools rather than the Armani dude.
How do we grease the path for the guys that know what they’re doing? Know how to get things done.
I think KiwiBuild is on the right track. It’s going to get those that are “all but” getting into ownership out of rentals and into a freehold. It’s going to make it easier for the apartment developers, and in Queenstown that’s a desperate need.
There’s been a lot of brown field apartment developments that haven’t gone anywhere because they couldn’t get the pre-sales and finance together, maybe they could have with KB. I doubt standalone KiwiBuild properties will happen here, in reality I don’t think there will be any more pavlova paradises in Queenstown, entry will be appartments.
I worked for Neil in the late 70’s. A very similar situation where the government stoked the entry level housing market with Family Benefit capitalisation. And it worked. Maybe that could be recycled with WFF once KB hits the affordability wall.
Sweet!
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12089266
Neat – reminded me of the far righties
“When the sun was young and faint and the Earth was barely formed, a gigantic black hole in a distant, brilliant galaxy spat out a powerful jet of radiation. That jet contained neutrinos – subatomic particles so tiny and difficult to detect they are nicknamed “ghost particles.” ”
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12089249
Wide participation of the New Zealand way of life via unified healthy and strong population of independent communities in NZ sports club culture, a major basis of our traditonal egalitarian roots before neo-liberalism’s wreaking ball.
That way as a people we can be best practise in values but able to stand up for ourselves as a society and people should things come to worst case.
The local myopic neo-liberalism of our hoarding elitism is too amateur and out of it’s depth, as it has in part contributed to the problem, & it’s shabby incompetent preparedness will be too late by half if probabilities are not properly weighed and given due consideration while the train is still on the tracks.
https://www.thetrumpet.com/17476-is-news-of-chinas-rise-hurting-china
NZ1st!
A bit of feedback post nurses strike.
In palmy a bit of disappointment in some of the senior nursing colleagues deciding to cross picket line and work.
These scabs, had prior to the industrial action talked a good talk but when it mattered….
Is there a term for someone who puts in an appearance on the picket line then crosses it and works?
Positively speaking, a few senior doctors expressed surprise and admiration for the seen and unseen job nurses do.
Not sure where from here, but the feeling is positive and united amongst the workers.
Jolly empowering, downing tools.
Unless the Government comes to the party with more funding, further industrial action seems imminent.
Eeyore! Eeyore!
So right Robert!! I loved Pooh sticks, and Eeyore always thinking his “would never win”.
I have a visual of Eeyore floating down the river with his legs in the air!! LOL
By Joves yes @ The Chairman. You might be correct going forward. And what’s Godawful worse, I see that business confidence is down, and there are a number of others lining up and threatening industrial action and better working conditions going forward, on the back of a decade of under-funding and under-resourcing of critical services.
Why, even on Q+A this morning, the sage Corin Dann alluded to the possibility of the NZ Police being next. Can you imagine! Quelle horreur! Just for one moment – imagine the quinisquences. It could become like some Hayseed Dixie Bohemian Rhapsody.
It really is a sorry, sorry state of affairs.
Thank gawd you’re comfy though eh? It must be a real relief knowing you’ve planned your life so exceptionally well, and that you’re so much better than all those other poor unfortunates. I’m truly awestruck. They can’t even get off their chuffs long enough to work hard and become the self made man, able to afford the luxury of pontification. We really should all aspire to be like you.
Eeyore! Eeyore!
Yes, despite Labour’s moves to appease businesses, confidence is down. Leaving some asking, why bother?
Especially seeing as at the same time, Labour’s moves to help appease businesses is putting at risk the party’s support. Potentially turning workers in the public sector (and the public that largely supports them) against them.
While my life may be more comfortable than some, I to am feeling the pinch.
Brilliant OncewasTim. 1000%
The nurses need to be paid a lot more especially from when they first start nursing to keep them in that field. According to this pay scale a REGISTERED nurse only gets $26.68 per hour. And the pay does not increase much as they get experience.
https://www.payscale.com/research/NZ/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate
To survive on that in Auckland is a joke.
Then add in 3 years degree, post graduate study and the costs of all that with student loans and then go on to earn half of a registered plumber (approx$50 – $90 p/h)
The average police officer earns more than a nurse in NZ but does not need to have a degree to enter the police force. So it seems that nurses are very undervalued in the sector.
It also looks like aged care nurses are paid LESS from the link, so again the bad employers in that very profitable sector are moaning to government they can’t find people, while paying them less, surprise surprise. Most migrants enter via aged care as it’s easier entry into the country, then as soon as they can they swap to the higher wages and better conditions away from the aged care. So again they need to address WHY people do not stay in that sector (aged care) (paying 3% less of an underpaid profession, while doing a difficult job is probably why!)
Could a registered nurse afford that Kiwibuild home, does not look like it. So something is wrong with declining wages and the cost of building in NZ.
We will be a country of lawyers and accountants who produce nothing, but sadly when we get sick, there is not gonna be enough experienced nurses and doctors, especially in Auckland.
Kiwibuild should have been designed to help workers in important sectors like nurses and police and teachers, fire fighters, medical professionals etc to live here cheaply, so those essential workers can afford to live in Auckland and save while doing so.
They are forced to compete against those who just studies here and have money from their parents can get a cheap Kiwibuild house, knocking out others who the city actually needs to be here. It has not been very well thought out what will happen in Auckland in 5 years time nor any statistics on what happens to those who gain residency and what they do with their ‘skill’ post permanent residency aka change to a better paid sector so the shortages are constant because underlying issues of poor conditions and wages in that sector related to living costs, are not being met.
You lost credibility when you conflated a tradespersons charge out rate with wages.
A plumber has to meet insurance, tools, travel, a van, holidays, sick leave, ACC, training, registration and guarentees out of his/her charge out rate. And still charges a quarter of a lawyers rate, despite having twice the expenses.
A journeyman plumber, without has own business would be lucky to get $20/hour.
It is not directly comparable with nurses hourly wage rates.
That is probably true aka cheap plumbing rates for workers, but I suggest you call out a registered plumber in Auckland and see what they are charged out at. First there is the travel, then call out charge and then $50 – $90 p/h, then there will be a massive mark up on materials. That is where the excessive pricing in Auckland it coming from, construction firms giving massive mark ups on everything while keeping the actual wages of many plumbers/workers low.
Neoliberalism is only able to work because the free market is not a contained system and they are using globalism to bring in cheap workers.. while expecting the countries welfare system aka taxpayer money to provide the employer income support between the low wages and high living costs.
The comparison is to show what is going to happen in expensive cities, aka the essential workers like nurses are going to be hit hard and marginalised on their salary, and then industries like construction can only keep workers by using migrants labour to make the profit margins higher.
But actually keeps experienced people out of that industry because they look at other sectors that pay higher. Likewise the corporations can profit further because our government is subsidising their wages via accomodation and WFF and other methods. Instead of actually trying to get a consistent wage across sectors such as paying more to nurses.
Then in construction there is the materials themselves such as ironsand being practically given away by NZ government and councils…. the environmental costs being given to the locals both flora and funa as well as people living there while the corporation profits.
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, NZ is one of the highest countries in the world per square meter to build, even though we give away the resources for practically nothing and pay the workers practically nothing and now giving away public land for purchase for practically nothing both high country and now prime land.
Somethings wrong with how the NZ government are thinking about the issues.
We need the nurses and need the plumbers but we don’t need all the overhead of ‘profiteering’ via middlemen that has become the NZ way. Where hospitals have considerable highly paid staff outside of direct medicine who call the shots and construction pay low wages but our house prices are high and slow to build.
Henry Cooke, writing and Green bashing and selective memory. Not good Henry….. I think my first impressions were right… a bit of a Nat really.
Care to enlighten us a bit more by providing some examples that would back your assertions (Green bashing, selective memory, etc)?
As you have already proved in the past to be simply, a Green basher, similar to the article writer, you have blown any credibility you may have had.
Maybe with the decline of the votes for Greens it’s time they listen to some of the issues being talked about rather than attacking the messengers and that is true of their other supporters.
I don’t necessarily agree with The Chairman about what has gone wrong with the Greens, because I think a reasonable amount of Green voters are actually wealthy or doing ok and want to keep NZ as a beautiful country that is clean and green as well as socially equal, but on the other hand I find it disconcerting that he gets attacked overtime he makes a point and it is a personal attack rather than debate on what he/she has said.
Greens could do with the debate, because their vote shrink shows they are not connecting with people as they used to, and Labour need them to get over 5% too, so it’s not just for the Greens.
That is because over a long period of time, he has proved he is more interested in bashing the Greens, rather than being accurate.
I think Green supporters should dispute his/her point or link, not him/her personally. Doesn’t make the Green Party look good, if their supporters are all at war with each other not in a constructive way but a personal way.
Green Party needs to go back to being more of a Broadchurch aka Labour strategy. This means including Green voters from poor to rich, young to old. Not thinking there is some niche to appeal to that they seem to be getting wrong mostly a sort of war against middle class home owners vs beneficiaries like last election, and ignoring what the fuck has happened over the last decade.
Went to some Greenpeace talk led by Russell Norman a while ago and was astonished to see so many older affluent types there. I don’t think that group is targeted by the current Greens but those from the 1970’s flower power are still around and were voting Green but maybe stopped now.
The Green’s saving grace is their Policy which is hard to change. But the present lot seem in my view taking a very odd approach to Green policy in many areas such as giving their questions to the Natz and giving the go ahead for foreign water sales while being against it.
Greens fail to realise that most people don’t want to be on a benefit so having an increase in money for benefits isn’t what so many people want, they want social mobility aka going from Paula Bennet/beneficiary to real wealth and being in parliament. No point getting xtra $200 a week when transport/housing/power/education is out of control and benefits can be reversed by the next government policy.
People want genuine change that is not just taking from the middle class to the poor but to actually go back to an age of social mobility and local democracy including housing and water and genuine clean green NZ.
To do that Greens have to understand that people can be income poor but rich due to the many ways people are legally allowed to move/reduce income or in the case of those coming from overseas, unable to work out taxable income. So everything to do with ‘taxable income’ is not an equaliser anymore for taxation. Areas such as Robin Hood tax should be looked to respond to the changing demographics, Natx stupidity or planning and inequality in NZ.
@SaveNZ you hit the nail on the head with people wanting upward mobility in preference to benefits.
Phrase most often heard: I just want to get away from them.
A couple of points.
First off, I agree people do want upward mobility. Nevertheless, we do require a benefit system that is fit for purpose, which should encompass livable payment rates.
Secondly, some are destine to be on benefits for years to come due to poor health or other disabilities, therefore shouldn’t be destine to live a life of poverty.
“People want genuine change that is not just taking from the middle class to the poor but to actually go back to an age of social mobility and local democracy including housing and water and genuine clean green NZ”.
That is what we had when the upper middle classes used to pay their taxes. I paid about 50% of my income in tax. (It was worth it, to live in a functional society) It doesn’t happen for free!
It will never happen if Government artificially keep their part of the economy to 30%. Successful countries have a Government share over 50%.
Trickle down does not work. The wealthy are expert at wasting money.
Upward mobility depends, firstly, on having enough to eat and somewhere to live.
Half rich listers pay tax not at the highest rate…. How do you tax people who benefit but don’t live in the country or are not even a person but a company or trust? The left led with that message (higher PAYE taxes and other taxes on residents) for a decade which kept the Natz in power, middle classes don’t want to be the only ones paying taxes for all in this country.
We now are subsidising the supermarkets and McDonalds minimum wage employers with multimillion turnovers of the world $5000 a year in WFF while the left idea of equality is to tell those who are Doctors (after 7 years of student loans and massive sacrifice) to pay more taxes, while championing the 3 x bankrupt developers, inept business like Fletchers, and others making $100 million but somehow go bankrupt before paying their bills?
You may call it Green bashing. But what I do is hold them to accountant.
Moreover, I tend to also offer them an alternative to consider.
No you don’t – you bash.
The Chairman wants to be a white ant, but he’s too blue to get away with it.
Show me where you believe I’ve bashed them is this thread?
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15-07-2018/#comment-1503334
Nothing but scorn for the Greens there.
And pretty much everywhere else you comment on them.
I merely asked a question and stated a fact.
Evidently, your definition of bashing is nothing of the sort.
Green bashing… Communist LOL wouldn’t know one if he fell over one.
Andrew stood down because Meteria hogged the limelight…. HO. Andrew stood down because he faced he didn’t have Jacinda’s cut through. (I know that)
Make Jacinda do something she doesn’t want to!! HO HO Good luck!!
Others have commented well, so don’t bother Chairman.
I have given that journalist the benefit of the doubt before.
First it was..Greens would get more from National.. Yeah Right!! (Nat looking for friends)
Then, it was Greens going down the gurgler caused by Labour!! LOL (We Nats want their % party share to drop and ours might increase) Give me strength.
You had already put the article up.
You’re spot on, Patricia
Attacking the author rather than directly addressing what was stated tends to be “spot on” with your approach, Robert.
Give it up TC.
Supporters of the Current Incumbents are as one-eyed and belligerent as supporters of the Previous Incumbents.
Sad, and dangerous.
Despite some fairly obvious wheel spinning from this Coalition, criticism (however well meaning and constructive) will not be tolerated.
Agree; exactly what Hooton was getting at last week in his rant against Stephen Mills on RNZ Hoots can be over the top but at least he has a view and critiques both sides , mills and mickey and thier ilk appear to simply tow a party line or default to 9 years of neglect, very intellectualy dishonest in my book
And if we ignored said 9 years of neglect, would that help you forget that truth?
Happy with 9 years of neglect if in context of gfc, 2 major earthquakes, that National entered power with nz entering recession and government budget deficits even before GFC hit , likewise house price rises is not a national phenomenon, they where rising under labour who had a great strategy of shrinking country wirh negative migration as people voted with thier feet Such a great strategy Labour and coalition on course to repeat again
I am on record as being critical of the current Government, especially around the self defeating and irresponsible “budget responsibility rules” and the TPPA. however, whenever a critic descends into invoking the “communist” bogey (Marxist FFS), they have lost the plot.
And no matter how much a well intentioned Government fluffs around, they are never going to do as much harm as National’s deliberate, self interested, vandalism.
Economic injustice is a problem this country requires to fix. So instead of claiming fake news, join with me to remind the Greens we’re still waiting.
The Greens are doing what we can.
A massive handbrake in the form of Winston Peters, and Labours neo-liberals, still exists.
Not to mention the degree of benny bashing:, prejudice and tolerance of poverty, amongst those who don’t give a shit, so long as they are OK.
“The Greens are doing what we can.”
Rubbish!
There is far more you should and could be doing.
Are you lot so useless do you require me to list a few things?
It’s not a massive hand brake it is the will of the populace, the greens polled just above 5pc and are probably lower now, it’s far left policies have little support and no mandate at all The greens are better of in opposition at least there they can let off steam and make their followers feel better
While the Greens have little power they do have some influence. Thus have secured a number of wins.
Moreover, they’ve built up an expectation they would continue to fight for Metiria’s cause. Therefore, one would have expected to at least see them advocate and use this influence a bit more. Albeit, even if they failed to secure more wins.
For example, the following below are a number of areas where policy was happening regardless, thus the Greens should have used the opportunity to advocate for a little more economic justice.
The Greens could have advocated for employees on the Government’s tree planting scheme to receive their fair share of the Government’s investment by receiving the living wage.
The Greens could have advocated to push forward the start of cheaper doctors visits.
The Greens could of advocated for an increase and extension to the winter energy payments.
What makes you think we didn’t.
Except for winter energy payments. Should be bringing power back into public ownership and removing the private taxation of power users.
Funny how if you ask people which policies they support, without a party label, the overwhelming majority prefer Green policies.
A majority for CGT, dealing with AGW, and against asset sales and the TPPA for example.
Which is why both Labour and National, suddenly pretend to be more caring and left wing, before every election.
“What makes you think we didn’t.”
Because it wasn’t communicated.
And if the party recognised the importance of this work being seen, it would have been widely communicated.
Communications being another area that is lacking when it comes to the Greens.
The winter energy payment is the only increase people (on benefits) without young dependents are going to get from this Government. Therefore, it was one of the only opportunities the Greens realistically had to secure them a little more.
As a sweetener to help attain this objective, the Greens could have gone through their policy wins to see if savings, small cutbacks or partial deferrals could be made/found, thus offered up to help accommodate a deal.
As for the living wage suggestion, it won’t add to the Government’s cost as that will be paid by the return from the investment.
This is the kind of thinking and actions one would assume would be coming from the Greens, yet despite your assurance they are doing what they can, we’ve seen nothing of the sort.
You’re own record as moaning they aren’t far left enough for your liking. It’s hardly comparable with what @bewildered was pointing out about Hooton.
Nice try though
I’ve got broad shoulders, Rosemary. Moreover, the problems we face are far too important to let the current incumbent’s cheerleaders deter me.
But thanks just the same.
Take Rosemary’s advice, Chairman – give it up. Your spiel is transparent and we identified your intent long ago. You continue to plead innocent, but no one (bar others of your ilk) is fooled. Like rust, you don’t sleep, but we detect the tang of iron oxide every time you comment and you are not to our taste.
You have identified nothing, Robert. All you largely do is attack the messenger as you’re a self confessed troll.
Moreover, despite how much you despise me and what I stand for, I represent a part of the left the Greens and Labour require to keep on board.
I don’t despise you, Chairy, I see you for what you are, that’s all. Can’t help it, you’re so obvious . You “represent the part of the Left….”
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, ah me, oh my!
Good one!
Clearly, you don’t see what I represent.
I’m part of the left that would like to see more from the Greens on economic justice. Where do you stand on that?
Chairman, you have blown your own cover so many times that I have given up replying to you. Your credibility rating is zilch for many, who, incidentally, find your persistence almost amusing, but who get tired of responding. I for one agree fully with Robert and Patricia.
Can you enlighten us all as to what you would see as being economic justice? Most of the contributors here (I suspect) think of you as having a ‘special’ relationship with TS because of your valued contributions and dedication to making a comment from the armchair on everything, and I’m sure we’d all be better off if you could give us – even just a smidgen – of a definition of economic justice.
In fact I think you’re probably the highest level of special.
I’m certainly in awe of you.
Moreover, you’ll be dismayed to hear that I have problems growing rhubarb. The spinach does extremely well in my inner city soil type but the rhubarb rhubarb just does not want to take. I’d ask Robert G but I know you’re better equipped in the art of growing rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb
Thank you OnceWasTim.
You said it far better than I did!
@ OnceWasTim
This little list below will give you the gist of where I’m coming from.
Livable benefit rates.
A living wage.
A progressive tax system.
Wage and conditions protection when contracts go up for tender and new operators take over.
Discounts or exemptions for the poor from aggressive taxes.
Yes, you often pretend convincingly to be truly Left. But then you consistently spread disillusionment, and encourage the Greens towards policies that will make them less popular..
So transparent and obvious over time. Too many have seen through you now.
I have come to conclusion, from you record, that rather than being left wing, you are a paid agent for ACT!
One way to expand the reach of your town’s public transport system. Don’t wait for the local council, they don’t seem to know what’s going on, just do it….
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2155275/passengers-and-even-bus-drivers-duped-45-fake-bus-stops-appear
The free market in action Graeme 😉
A taut think piece for a wet Sunday…
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/other/new-economics-environment-raworth
‘Most people who study economics only study a little before becoming politicians, journalists, civil servants, executives, lawyers and community leaders. That makes the most basic course—Economics 101—the most influential one. It frames the economic narrative in boardrooms, in editorial meetings, in parliamentary debates, and in public discourse.
[…]
‘Students wanting to discuss climate change, air pollution, or ocean acidification are offered just two words: “environmental externalities.” The logic is impeccable: with the market put centre stage on day one, anything outside market contracts is defined as external.
But as the cognitive linguist George Lakoff teaches, words matter. If you care about refugees, you don’t call them “illegals”; if you care about Earth’s life-supporting systems, you don’t call them “externalities.”
[…]
‘…textbook theory tacitly assumes that economies can buck nature and succeed by growing forever. Students are rarely invited to consider whether endless GDP growth is desirable, necessary, or possible.’
Yes, words matter. ‘Growth’ works for tumours and toxic algae too. To ‘Progress’ only means to go forwards; you can do this just as well in the dark, progressing boldly to the rim of a cliff, at the bottom of which you might still hope a handy ambulance will be waiting to rescue you when you land. Or not.
Good link and points. People are being taught an ideology of economics that is decades old, simplistic, one dimensional and irrelevant or actually adding to the planet problems and long term survival of ecosystems that sustain life!
Exactly.
The extremists are the fruitcakes who think, “infinite growth in a finite planet” is even possible”.
Combined with many of the wealthy, who want load the costs of decreasing growth in the rate of profit (I know, a Marxist concept) ,and climate change, onto the less well off, forever.
Bad mistake – these emergency people need more support – they must be funded imo.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/105406329/police-mental-health-plan-victim-of-funding-cuts-under-new-government
Here’s a futuristic idea, involving solar-powered trains.
https://understandsolar.com/solar-powered-trains-future-of-public-transportation/
California renewable energy policy expert Tam Hunt has founded a new start-up to solar power trains.
Solar Trains proposes constructing a solar canopy over miles of train track, enough to solar-power the nation’s electric train systems.
About ten cities in the US have electric train systems. These include BART in California, and the NY Subway system (most of the NYC Subway is actually above ground once it leaves Manhattan).
Electric rail is super sustainable already, but hardly a fast-evolving technology. Beginning as a visionary concept based on Jules Verne’s science fiction idea of a future in 1911, BART ultimately only began to be developed in 1946.
Worth consideration for the future transport needs to plan now for?
Best we keep all our rail system in place and use it all then.
Re:Free Tommy
Crickey, looking at that photo, for a minute there i thought i’d clicked onto the Daily Mail. Much as i do love a good English sing-a-long “Free Tommy Tommy”
Sundays would be much nicer if we just ignored these people.
I prefer this speech by Corbyn as a more positive representation of the English peoples and their(and our) struggles and aspirations as they unfolded this week..
“The Labour leader called for young people to be “fully equipped” to exercise their rights in the workplace.
Speaking at the annual Durham Miners’ Gala, Mr Corbyn said the move was necessary as trade unions have been “marginalised, vilified and undermined” for years. Develop rights Labour proposes that the lessons form part of broader citizenship classes, though it did not give examples of exactly what would be taught. “Children should not only learn about trade unions and their rights at work, but should be fully equipped to exercise and develop those rights,” he told the celebration of working class culture.”
Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-corbyn-has-called-for-children-to-learn-about-trade-unions/
Publicly funded political indoctrination from the left. Why am I not surprised.
Urgh, teaching children to work together, when will the indoctrination end
This is a interesting article and the comments section.
This was a bottom line for NZF and Acting PM Peters said he would enter if I recall that correctly. I really want the families to get closure and answers and I hope they do with what is happening.
I don’t know the answer but when do you say enough is enough 35m, 50m, 100m can you put a dollar amount in this, who knows?
Could the money be better used for new homes, investment in the west coast to great jobs and better infrastructure, nurses (govt saying there is no more money) or more police and teachers.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/105488455/pike-river-reentry-could-cost-12m-more-than-23m-budget-minister-says
I am sure some on here will point to the flag referendum and the money spent on that as it’s a similar amount. I believe it was was a waste of money. However I personally would have liked to see the union jack removed from the flag and have something that was more identifiable as a symbol of NZ.
Oh dear…
https://twitter.com/Mikel_Jollett/status/1018353465070768129
Pretty sure that I fixed the ‘remember the comment details’ issue for comments today before I went off for a sunday afternoon snooze. However I only bothered to test it on Linux Chrome and Firefox.
If it isn’t working for someone on their second comment AND you are sure that you have left cookies enabled, then let me know the operating system and the browser versions.
BTW I commented on it on yesterday’s open mike. In google pig latin just keep in the mood of the discussion.
Cheers
lprent
It’s working.
yep prepopulated paradise
testing
edit: yep all good. I’m using Chrome.
Works for me too. 🙂
Cheers lprent. It’s all working good for me, thanks.
Pre-populated fields are working on Safari, and the Replies tab is back but not quite behaving as it should.
The replies show, but with a seperate scroll box of 9 current comments above them, and wiht the Comments tab live rather than the Replies tab.
As an aside, has the absence of the replies tab changed behaviour on the site? While it’s been a pain following conversations, there seems to have been a reduction in the disruptive trolling.
The Replies tab looks to be back to it’s normal behaviour now.
You do a marvellous job here Lprent, our world is a better place for your effort
Only when I have time. I am still puzzled how the cookie system got munted at all. Or more correctly I am trying to puzzle out where I enabled it in the first place.
I looked at backups from well prior to my return from Singapore (ie before shifting the site to a new server), and couldn’t see the code to set the cookies for the fields on the return to the client.
I will have a look at the replies box. That is usually the result of either CSS caching (try a hard refresh – usually Shift+F5 or Alt+F5 from memory) or something on the comments blocking the javascript fully rendering the tabs.
Trolls: Personally they tend to hibernate in the middle of winter. It seems initially seem unusual, because the Pratchett theory would indicate that their intelligence should rise as it gets cooler. However I suspect that the shock of having those strange things called thoughts means that they are in shock over winter. But after the weather warms, then they tend to revert to the stupid arseholes that we all love to detest.
On a more serious not, the variation between winter and summer is usually about 25% of page views and comments overall.
Safari – w perfect
Yes perfect. Well done.
Looks like Theresa May has had her own back on Donald Trump:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/15/theresa-may-donald-trump-told-me-to-sue-the-eu
BBC video;
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-44838333/what-did-president-trump-suggest-pm-may-should-do
😆
test
Fields stay populated
Safari
Yat
Thanks Lprent, muchos gracias.
Not that I’m wiser n Spanish than Latin.
Kitchen French is my forte.
“The issue is how quickly we do it and at what scale. At a global level, we need to invest on the order of 1.5 to 2 percent of GDP per year in raising energy efficiency standards and expanding the supply of renewables in order to have a good chance at driving global emissions down by 80 percent within 20 years and eliminating emissions altogether within 30 years.”
https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/29/05/2018/are-fossil-fuel-divestment-campaigns-working-conversation-economist-robert-pollin
In NZs case that equates to around NZ$5 billion pa
If the Green’s new bank has enough money to build electic cars, then contact his guy Hannemann from Colibri Energy, and do a deal on the batteries.
They had shown in 2010 already the ability for e-cars to do 600kms on a single charge. But German car makers are all taking the piss, only offering contracts which would take all rights to the battery tech.
Interesting to note that google-et-al will label this link as right-wing-extremist, as they are peace activists regarding a free Palestine, and less military spending, etc.
Sorry, interview with this battery-tech-dude is in German
https://kenfm.de/mirko-hannemann/
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/671cef622b13d2f9b281d905e6fafad83c4d6d04/0_363_3500_2100/master/3500.jpg?w=1920&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=d19ad25873884622592d1241eb56894a
Radge – “anyone that has gone beyond the bounds of regular behaviour, generally because they are crazy.”
Bampot – “stupid or crazy person”
Good morning The Am Show looks like uses are enjoining the best part of a journey is getting back home.
Congradulations to France winning the Russian held FootBall World Cup.
The Papatuanuku statue Bastian point I say is a good thing there could be a plark of the story and we need to teach everyone to respect Papatuanuku especial the mokopunas .
The sandflys have been swarming since I made my comments about the assistant commissioner I wonder why.
Ka kite ano