Changes coming, but no consultation with those in the disability sector … transferring oversight to MSD … the politics of the sacrifice of targeted groups for the good of the landlord class and its camp followers.
Just when you thought the CoC vandals could not go much lower, they manage to scrape the barrel a bit more and attack the disabled community!!
Baldrick Luxon–7 luxury pads no less–really does seem to enjoy putting the boot into vulnerable people, who he as a prosperity christian, likely sees as losers that will certainly not be going to his version of the afterlife.
This is making me feel afraid for the future as a disabled person.
I shout so much and get so angry publicly because this is so damn important that we must band together against the bandits in charge lest they slip into worse quagmires of banal evil.
What this government is doing is banally evil.
We must all stand up to this odious government in every way.
Ingrid Hopkins uncritically presents a 'good news story’.
Changes around RSE workers are presented and defended.
If I have the story straight. On one hand fruit picking is such a job that the industry wants to pay the minimum wage.
On the other, it contains such complexities that the workers will be at that rate for up to two full seasons before being eligible for an increase of wages.
Meanwhile the numbers have increased at the same time as the government puts punitive measures on those seeking work.
Remember when you read labour shortage they mean a wage shortage.
Some of it is because the jobs are in the regions (so no use for someone in Central Auckland who's unwilling to shift seasonally). Some of it is because they are pretty much dead-end jobs (seasonal workers are just there for the pay-cheque).
Perhaps you could provide some evidence that there are significant numbers of people who are actually missing out on these jobs, before you cue the outrage.
I think I have been misunderstood. Sorry I wasn’t clearer.
I do hold a strong view on migration but none of it is against the migrants themselves. They contribute to the beautiful, diverse and colourful migrant country that Aotearoa is.
My scorn is for the employers that run a business model that needs minimum wage workers and successive governments that run record migration without the requisite investment in infrastructure.
Schools, hospitals, ferry ports, housing. All of which could be done by a Ministry of Works, which, incidentally could employ some of these job seekers.
I think that there is a difference between workers in the seasonal scheme (who, by and large are doing jobs that most kiwis won't do) – and other temporary workers (thinking of tourism buisnesses like skiing), where they both take jobs that are attractive to Kiwis, and occupy housing which is in short supply.
I'm not 100% happy with the seasonal scheme, but I don't see a real alternative. Even if the salary was doubled (which, BTW, would follow through into food prices locally), these jobs aren't desirable. Seen as dead end. In the 'wrong' place. Seasonal. And, TBH, if you've ever done picking work as a school holiday job (putting my hand up here), just darned hard work.
Plenty of New Zealanders go and work picking and packing in the seasons every year. You can clearly see this in the benefit numbers for Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay or Nelson which go up and down with the seasons. Pick any of those regions.
Do workers leave during the season? – yep my kids a good example. They picked fruit (one on an orchard without toilets) but left during the season as they got full-time permanent work. RSE workers don't have that option. Others workers left cause they were pinched by other orchardists – they (the orchardists) don't want to talk about that and still others left at third pick cause down the road they were doing first pick and they could make more money in a short season. RSE workers don't have that option. NZ workers get erratic hours cause RSE workers have to be guaranteed 30 hours NZer's do not.
Orchardists will whine about my kids leaving their orchard while at the same time whinging in the usual right wing way if you don't like low pay and want to get ahead then get a better job.
The fact that there are Kiwis in the regions picking up seasonal work, does zip for those unemployed in the main centres. They're effectively unavailable for this work.
Your kids leaving for a better job (higher paying, guaranteed hours, etc.) is exactly why the seasonal workers are needed. They're tied into a contract, you're kids are not (and, I'm pretty sure you'd mightily object to them being tied down to work for a season – with no option out). Picking is a low wage, dead-end job. There's not much you can do about this.
If you want Kiwis to do this work – then you have a few options – none of which are entirely palatable.
Pay more. Which flows onto increased prices for food in NZ & therefore drives the kind of inflation which impacts on the real cost of living for all of us.
Relocate unemployed people from the urban centres to work on these seasonal contracts. I'm sure you can imagine all the ways that this can go wrong, just as well as I can.
Require people (like your kids) to sign up for a whole season – so everyone has certainty of hours and of labour. Not seeing a whole lot of desire from anyone for this option.
While people aren't keen on the RSE schemes (for a whole lot of reasons) – I'm not seeing anyone coming up with a viable alternative.
Perhaps you could provide some evidence that there are significant numbers of people who are actually missing out on these job
Did you look at the graphs? Plenty of local people in those areas have done and do this work. See how the NZ numbers drop less each season though as RSE numbers increase. Do you think people with years of experience working picking fruit and in packhouses suddenly said one day "fuck it, I'm not going to work there any more. I'll just sit on a benefit" or do you think it more likely as RSE numbers increased and employers could get money back off them for all sorts of costs that fewer locals were employed.
Prior to RSE many orchardists used illegal labour and contractors who never paid the PAYE, student loan money etc to IRD – the orchardists always knew this – they are as bad as the liquor store outlets, restaurants and dairies holding peoples passports and doing the same.
Has gone from around a 2,000 drop in a season in Bay of Plenty to 1,000 a season.
The better option surely would be to let them fail like other non-competitive industries we have let fail in the past. Then maybe money can go into something more productive.
Oh and the prices go up when international prices go up – nothing to do with local supply and demand – in fact they deliberately don't use supply and demand in local pricing but refuse to pick the production and/or sell locally in order to inflate prices. An orchardist a couple of years back was quite clear in the media they wouldn't release their produce on the local market in order to keep prices up. 80% are exported so local pricing isn't that important to most.
We no longer have car industries clothing industries, etc. Any reason state intervention is still enabling the apple industry? Isn't that socialism?
The other options are of course robotics which many have invested in to lift productivity. Maybe just maybe without state intervention to give them cheaper labour and wage get-back schemes they may have done this sooner.
Your figures show that there are *some* Kiwi workers who are willing to work seasonally – not that there are enough to do the whole of the job.
And, it was perfectly clear during that same Covid travel restriction period, that there simply weren't enough local workers to do the job. Regardless of how much was paid.
August is a good month for the average person with PAYE rates reducing from 31st of July and mortgage rates reducing for those on a floating rate. Things are looking up!
Yes but if Labour was still in government, you would still have the large rates and insurance increases, but would have no relief from PAYE (in fact Grant would probably have increased the ACC levies part) and probably no interest rate reduction either, so yes I think things are looking up for the average person. Try going to a Chemist Warehouse if you are concerned about prescription charges.
Lots of people may well go and do that. And then, come the day the last independent pharmacist has been driven out of business because they can't afford the loss-leader tactic of waiving prescription charges, the Chemist Warehouse (and other big chains), slavering at the mouth with anticipation, will promptly whack that $5 on again.
Well Jimmy if labour were still in government the reserve bank would still be taking into account employment and we would not have had an orgy of firings in the public service my superannuation wouldn't have been grinched by the government we would still have reduced cost public transport for many more than get it now cigarette companies wouldn't be celebrating their minions in government making them $$ we wouldn't have police officers and medical professionals wasting their time on back office work and we wouldn't have the spectacle of RW sociopaths punching down on the weakest in our society. Nazi's were big fans of social darwinsm so is this RW government.
Is having a different opinion counted as "trolling"?
If everyone just agrees with each other, then there is really no need for discussion as it would just be a group of people agreeing with each other and complaining (about everything the government does) and will probably just reduce in size over time with less and less people making a comment that is not in line with the 'required' narrative and will probably end up disappearing. .
$2.50 on my pension, nothing on my 10hr a week job. Rates, insurance, power groceries all going up so not looking up really. Lucky to have no mortgage and some savings.
But don't let that stop you claiming it as a NACTNZFIST initiative.
They have had to retain it as they would quickly loose half their support if they cancelled it.
The Winter Energy Payment was first available in 2018 for 13 weeks from 1 July until 30 September. In subsequent years it has been available for 22 weeks from 1 May until 30 September. Nearly 98% of people eligible for the payment receive it, and the annual cost was about $450m in 2019. https://www.motu.nz/assets/Uploads/ExecSummary_impact-2018-Families-Package-Winter-Energy-Payment.pdf
The majority of commenters on this site see everything National does is bad and everything Labour does is good. I don't see it that way. I think the winter energy payment is a good idea by Labour. Another really good idea by Labour was Kiwi Saver.
I'm not set in stone hard right wing or hard left wing. But as I said above, disagreeing with a Labour policy on here no matter how stupid you think it is (eg. GST on Fruit & Vege) gets you labelled as a right wing troll.
OK give us one good thing this CofC Govt has done since its election, that has been of benefit to the more disadvantaged in our country and has not been directly targeted at the wealthy. eg The tax breaks were primarily targeted at high income earners and not at those on low to middle comes.
Another example -The cancellation of fuel taxes in Auckland is short term gain for those who use cars for the majority of their travel around the city but the resulting cancellation of money for the development of transport infrastructure that that fuel tax was enabling, means more heavy congestion on roads already failing to cope during peak hour travel.
Fact is this current incompetent and useless bunch of pricks haven't a f****** clue as to the damage they are wrecking on NZ. But simply smile and say things are looking up and it will come right in the end. It's just so much bullshit.
From your perspective, everything that a centre right government does, is by definition, bad. Or can you give examples of previous right-wing policies which you approve of?
Have to say that the charter school initiative, and the revision of the curriculum (focus on reading, writing, maths) is going down very well with many people I know. Including some very left wing parents. It's amazing how much you stop supporting teacher union rhetoric, once your kid is caught in the gears of a failing education system.
Really, you can't argue that this is for the benefit of the wealthy (they're already sending their kids to private schools, or have default private schools resulting from their Decile 10 housing location).
Can you name the benefit of for-profit education, Belladonna, which is what charter schools introduce? Look to the UK and Australia, both with 2-tier schooling systems, and for-profit education heavily subsidised by taxpayers, (in Australia at a greater amount than equivalent state schools) to see how this approach deepens economic and social division in society. And a common curriculum helps create a common society. The Aussie 2-tier system has quantifiable effects on societal inequity.
Plus, there may be state schools forced into the charter school system, according to Seymour's comments earlier this year. This CoC charter school policy is not sought by most people in the education system, or by most parents, but is being introduced for ideological and financial reasons.
Parents already have a chance to send their kids to special interest schools.
Can you name a benefit of continuing with the currently failing state school system.
And, if parents already have a chance to send their kids to 'special interest schools' (what would these be, I wonder) – why all the angst about charter schools?
If you'll examine the history of charter schools previously in NZ – you'll see that they were not on the 'for profit' model, but were rather small organizations set up to deal with specific educational styles. Why do you think it will be different this time?
Indeed a significant MoE concern is specifically that the organizations *won't* be business focused.
Ministry of Education had warned careful planning would be needed over curriculum regulation and governance, as previous experience showed many charter schools were started by small organisations that lacked money and business experience.
Not seeing any evidence that schools will be 'forced' to become charter schools. Indeed the demand seems to be greater than forecast – so no need to force anyone.
I can see why the educational establishment is threatened – yet another flavour of school system wildly outperforming their members – why are you?
Not for profit, eh? Alwyn and Karen Poole, charter school founders, of the Villa Education Trust :
PPTA’s long standing concerns about charter school management’s lack of accountability are vindicated by an Auditor-General’s report.
Some of the truth has now come out with the report late last year of an inquiry by the Auditor-General into the payment of $450,000 by a school board to a trust on which its members were trustees.
The board, charged with overseeing the transition to the state system of two former charter schools*, South Auckland Middle School and Middle School West Auckland, paid $450,000 in ‘management fees’ to the Villa Education Trust which was made up of exactly the same people as the transition board.
*So they paid themselves $450,000 of public money in 2017 and the Auditor-General wasn't happy.
Coincidentally, around 2017, the Pooles bought their first house and side business in Russell:
The place the Pooles bought, Titore Lodge, is in a lush garden setting with sea views and access to a private beach cove. It is a collection of four units, three of which the Pooles rent out on AirBnB.
I have had lifetime of service in Education and Training at all levels from primary to tertiary in administration and the classroom. I have post graduate degrees in Education. I can find no serious evidence to suggest that students who are enrolled in these so called "charter schools" do any better than if they were enrolled in state or public schools.
Just think for a moment on what is being offered.
a. Untrained and unregistered "teachers"
b. No requirement to follow a recognised national curriculum.
Another way in which the Nazis aimed to indoctrinate the younger population was through reforming the education system.
They aimed to de-intellectualise education: they did not want education to provoke people to ask questions or think for themselves. They believed this approach would instill obedience and belief in the Nazi worldview, creating the ideal future generation.
The Nazis first focused on changing what students learned. They changed the core curriculum to emphasise sports, history and racial science as the most important subjects. In 1936, sport was taught for a minimum of two to three hours every school day. By 1938, this had been increased to five hours every day. Subjects such as religion became less important, and were eventually removed from the curriculum altogether.
The Nazis also adapted where the students learned from. They introduced new textbooks which were often racist, and promoted ideas such the need for Lebensraum . Any textbooks used to educate students had to be approved by the party.
The Nazis also placed great emphasis on who the teachers were. Under the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service Act of 7 April 1933, just three months after Hitler became chancellor, all Jewish teachers, and teachers with undesirable political beliefs (such as communists), were dismissed.
Further, is there any guarantee that a young person completing such "education" can move on to further study, where their NCEA results would be questionable, if they are granted by an unqualified teacher school assessment?
You’re a real hero in your own mind fighting those self-erected straw men.
A troll is what a troll does. We have enjoyed LW trolls on here but given that TS is a Left-leaning blog, RWNJs get much better bang for their buck and ROI from their masturbation of their ego thinking that it is the apex & climax of their neoliberal wet dream of self-actualisation.
Yes it's called a Winter Energy Payment and goes nowhere near paying for the firewood and power used to heat our house-so still not looking up. And as for the Chemist Warehouse-the closest one for people living inNapier is in Hastings and not on a bus route so those without their own transport or a friend/relative to take them can't access that. Life for a lot of people is not the rosy thing you think it is.
For those committed to performing (figuratively) anilingus on their hero Natzo MPs, there could indeed be a certain amount of “looking up” involved.
Tax cuts for the already better off actually diminish the social wage in terms of what can be spent on public infrastructure and services for the majority of taxpayers.
As for cash rate, the Reserve Bank Act and pandering to Australian Banks rolls over each election regardless of which MMP grouping is in office.
Problem to me is the tax brackets had not been adjusted for 14 years. They were set when $70k was a "Rich Pricks" income.
We had got to the ridiculous stage with minimum wage increases pushing a person who was on the minimum wage in to the 30% tax bracket. IMO they have still not raised the brackets enough.
[if you want to make an argument against NZ’s social security system, then please do so in your own words, and use short quotes with links as references/back ups to what you are trying to assert. But bear in mind that this is a website and commentariat aligned with the labour movement, and simplistic reckons will probably be treated as trolling – weka]
There are many posts accepted by this site that provide insights into the thoughts of qualified commentators without further commentary.
These are Alan Duff's thoughts. His own background (particularly his troubled childhood) and his ability to walk the talk (with his Books in Homes New Zealand recently celebrating 30 years) make his views far from 'simplistic reckons'.
His central claims are that "social welfare is “robbing” tangata whenua of self-dignity and enabling a victim mentality that perpetuates the cycle of poverty.", and that Māori are trapped in a cycle of dependency and a victim mentality. His solution (as it has been for decades) is education, which he calls the 'enemy of poverty'.
In my view he hits the nail on the head, and not just for Māori. Inter-generational welfare dependency is a trap that assigns good people to poor outcomes.
[I know what Duff’s ideas are, and I didn’t call them simplistic reckons, I was calling your commenting style that. Here again you simply make some assertions of your views, but don’t really bring anything new to the table. This is a labour aligned political blog, we’ve heard it all before.
“There are many posts accepted by this site that provide insights into the thoughts of qualified commentators without further commentary”
yes, and almost none of them have spent weeks in premod because multiple authors consider them to be trolling. First rule of commenting is don’t suck up moderation time. I think I’ve cut you enough slack. I’ve asked you to change how you are commenting and today I’ve given some pointers. If you don’t want to take cues from a moderator, then take some time off. In case you hadn’t noticed, TS is going through some major changes. Come back in a month, the site should have transitioned by then – weka]
Why does Alan Duff think that welfare is a Maori issue?
Is he opposed to welfare?
Is he ashamed that there are Maori with disability, women with children and no job nor working partner, or are in poor health so they cannot work or are now too old to get work they need to pay the rent (as they do not own property)?
Is it not important to him that this also applies to others, or is this really about his own shame that others of his middle class status know there are Maori not like himself?
Shifting to the UnCaring creeps at MSD ? Fucks sake….if i was Disabled and/or had Disabled family/Friends, I would be very concerned, if not outright worried.
I hope all the Support groups stay solid for them ! I stand solid with you as well !
Rolling on Gravel and Kay, and all in your plight today. "Support Will be provided by MSD" Tui Tui. You predicted this. We will protest at this change, and the way it was done. Heartless doesn't even come close. Dollars before people is their go to.
Thank you Patricia, it means a lot to know that people outside of our community give a damn.
I will never, ever comprehend how right wing politicians think all of this is perfectly OK. It's more than just ideology, it's sadism with a healthy dose of sociopathy. Even moreso with their women MPs.
And by extension, the people who vote for them. There's some RW leaning people on this site. I would love to know why you find all this acceptable.
As always, I'll plug away within advocacy and activist disability groups with my comrades-in-arms in order to push back at this appalling government's reactionary moves.
This shifting of Whaikaha to MSD is like shoving an already wounded animal back into a predator's fangs.
And Louise is letting this happen or worse yet egging on all of this.
Polarizing psychologist Jordan Peterson now says he will attend the social media training he was ordered to undergo by his professional body after Canada's top court refused to hear his appeal, according to his lawyer.
In 2022, the governing body for Ontario's psychologists told Peterson — who has gained international fame with his views on women, masculinity and gender identity — to undergo a social media training program or risk losing his licence to practise.
The College of Psychologists of Ontario said some of his social media posts may be "degrading," raise questions about his abilities as a psychologist and risk bringing the profession into disrepute.
That is a criminal suit, not a civil suit. Under French law, it is up to the French hate crime prosecutors to investigate the validity of taking on individuals or providers; and who, specifically will be prosecuted. However, there are big fines for individuals, and the possibility of imprisonment of up to 4 years.
If anything it will do the opposite, i've no doubt the testing from the boxing outfit will be leaked and the question of her biological sex status will be dragged backwards and forwards through the courts and publicly on X or tiktok ad nauseum.
Better to return home a hero and get on with life imho.
Jimmy, Nicola Willis and yourself need to stop peddling the belief we can all get prescriptions filled at Chemist Warehouse. Lower Hutt does not have a Chemist Warehouse. I assume that is the case in a number of other towns as well. Would it make sense to drive or train or bus to Lambton Quay or Kilbirnie? Petrol and fares cost money.
Ah but you see, if we don't make an effort to go to a Chemist warehouse- no matter the location- therefore it's personal responsibility and we only have ourselves to blame for forking out prescription charges. /s
The only perk to this benefit thing is keeping free scripts (for now) so I'm not currently affected by this policy. But for the record, a warehouse chemist set up shop literally next door to my community pharmacy some years ago. The free scripts never tempted me on principle. One of the pharmacies in the area closed because of it, and this current one was losing so many customers, who returned with free scripts. It was several years before I even set foot in the place, and only then as the sold a product I couldn't get anywhere else.
Bibi recently added five new demands to Israel’s negotiating position over Gaza, creating obstacles to a ceasefire deal while blaming Hamas for deadlock (gift link)
It's the last thing the leadership of either side wants, which is quite a problem. Netanyahu's a turkey that isn't going to vote for Christmas, and Hamas' whole strategy relies on propaganda featuring Palestinians killed by the IDF. Good luck to anyone trying to sort that out.
The Long Read at The Guardian has Omer Bartov, an Israeli living outside Israel who served in the Yom Kippur war. His article provides an important insight on the emotional temperature of those in Israel.
"This summer, one of my lectures [in Israel] was protested by far-right students. Their rhetoric brought to mind some of the darkest moments of 20th-century history – and overlapped with mainstream Israeli views to a shocking degree."
Bartov is a historian who has researched how the Ukranian village where his grandmother lived could turn on its Jewish neighbours when Nazis overran their village; and how Germans going into battle had been conditioned for years by the Nazi State to believe their cause was right, by scapegoating Slavs and Jews as sub-human.
It shows how deeply Israeli society, as well as the Israeli State, have descended into the mindset of a Final Solution for Gaza [my words, not his].
The emotional temperature in Israel's changed significantly since 7 October last year, for sure. But the Jews still have a long way to go before they're anywhere near the Arabs' enthusiasm for a Final Solution.
"The Arabs" still have a long way to go to before they're anywhere near the IDF's killing and maiming of tens of thousands of civilians in the current conflict.
Perhaps the Israeli establishment (now) regards all Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, children included, as potential terrorists. That might explain the continuing carnage and 'collateral damage', 10 months on from Hamas’ attack.
"In the current conflict," maybe. In the Syrian Civil War they clocked up around 600,000 dead.
All this stuff about the supposedly murderous attitude of Israelis towards people in Gaza is only possible from people who have no idea of how Muslims feel about "enemies of Islam," of which they consider Israeli Jews the foremost examples.
All this stuff about the supposedly murderous attitude of Israelis towards people in Gaza is only possible from people who have no idea of how Muslims feel about "enemies of Islam,"…
The way the current conflict continues to play out has me wondering whether “all this stuff” about any supposedly murderous intent of the Israeli establishment towards people in Gaza, and how some Muslims feel about "enemies of Islam", might not be mutually exclusive.
The idea that Israel has an aim of trying to wipe out the Palestinians is ridiculous for multiple reasons:
1. Hamas built no civilian shelters or any other infrastructure, so civilians are completely unprotected against attacks.
2. Given 1 above, Israel has the military capacity to kill most of the 2 million-plus Gazan Arabs in a matter of weeks.
3. That hasn't happened. The civilian death toll is incredibly low given 1 and 2 above.
4. The destruction would cease if Hamas surrendered. A sane govt would have surrendered back in December with most of Gaza undamaged. Gaza doesn't have a sane govt, hence the destruction continues.
5. The "urbicide" is a direct consequence of Hamas using the civilian buildings of Gaza as military facilities. Look there for responsibility for the number of destroyed buildings.
Israel's occupation, which is now considered to be the longest military occupation in modern history, has seen it constructing illegalsettlements there, creating a system of institutionalized discrimination against Palestinians under its occupation called Israeli apartheid.
Claims like this always only make sense if the Arabs are ignored, therefore the Arabs are always ignored.
Since 1948, Israel has only expanded beyond the territory allocated to it by the UN partition due to Arabs starting wars with it and losing. It's been willing to give captured land back again in exchange for a peace agreement, eg Sinai Peninsula given back to Egypt, Golan heights not given back to Syria.
The "longest military occupation" is in the same category: the land can be given back in exchange for a meaningful peace agreement. The local Arabs can't/won't agree to peace, therefore the occupation continues and the Arabs living there are exposed to those Israelis who believe the whole land should be theirs.
The Israelis got a great reminder 10 months ago of what would happen if they withdrew from occupied territories without a meaningful peace agreement, so don't go expecting any improvement even if Netanyahu does get what's coming to him and there's a change of govt.
The idea that Israel has an aim of trying to wipe out the Palestinians is ridiculous for multiple reasons:
1. Hamas built no civilian shelters or any other infrastructure, so civilians are completely unprotected against attacks.
Not following your logic – surely Hamas-built civilian shelters would have been reduced to rubble by now ("Hamas using the civilian buildings of Gaza as military facilities", etc. etc.), like many mosques, schools, hospitals and cemeteries – this is (asymmetric) war!
2. Given 1 above, Israel has the military capacity to kill most of the 2 million-plus Gazan Arabs in a matter of weeks.
Yes, that's been the case for some time. Imho, the IDF killing "2 million-plus Gazan Arabs in a matter of weeks" would not be a 'good look' – neither is making the Gaza Strip uninhabitable, but it has a less barbaric feel than outright killing.
The logic: Gaza's govt has completely exposed its people to harm by building extensive shelters for its own forces but none for civilian use. If Israel wanted those civilians dead, or if it even just didn't particularly care what happens to them, many more would be dead than the relatively small number that have been killed.
Why would, or should they? Zionist settlers are attacking them, including with dogs !
Zak Witus observed as…
In 2022, I volunteered for three months as a human rights observer in Masafer Yatta, a rural area of the West Bank where Palestinian residents rely largely on shepherding and agriculture to earn a living. I confronted two of the settlers in question, Yinon Levi and Ely Federman, on a near weekly basis, and watched as they attacked Palestinians – unprovoked – with my own eyes.
Fellow activists have also filmed Federman setting his German shepherd on a Palestinian resident of the area, biting his arm and abdomen, while other settlers pointed guns at Palestinian onlookers. (Federman’s dog has been documented repeatedly attacking other Palestinian residents.)
2023 was the worst year on record for settler violence. Settlers attacked Palestinians and their property in more than 1,200 separate incidents. They killed at least 10 Palestinian people. They torched dozens of houses. And this was all before the Hamas attacks of 7 October.
These are just some of the zionist settler who would violently clear Palestinians from their land. I have seen it described as ethnic cleansing. I concur.
If you lose a war, or multiple wars in this case, peace tends to be on the victor's terms. If you consistently refuse any terms and instead hold out for an eventual victory in the war you started over 70 years ago but no longer have any means of fighting beyond random acts of terrorism, things aren't going to go well for you and people also aren't going to feel particularly sympathetic towards you. That's just a given, it's nothing to do with Arabs or Jews.
If Israel wanted those civilians dead, or if it even just didn't particularly care what happens to them, many more would be dead than the relatively small number that have been killed.
That’s cold comfort for surviving Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Territories. Will this conflict teach them to be grateful for small mercies?
It's the same in any conflict of this type. The extremists at either end of the spectrum need each other to justify their own murderous existences. Usually it's the would-be peacemakers or bridge-builders who get taken out, sometimes by their "own" side (remember Gandhi? – too soft on the Muslims, decided one of his fellow-Hindus),
Truly disgusting behaviour by the IDF. Reported in The Guardian widespread use of civilian Palestinian men to trip booby-traps. They are being picked up, dressed in IDF uniforms with their hands tied and being forced to walk through buildings and tunnels that might be booby-trapped. If they survive, they are set free, small mercy.
'One soldier had been told Palestinian civilians were being used to replace the dog units that search for explosives “because too many dogs had died”, he added.'
fifty years after the Te Reo Māori Society and Ngā Tamatoa petitioned Parliament.
@waub.bsky.social
I saw the Anishinaabemowin version of Star Wars in Sudbury tonight and was totally blown away. It was absolutely tremendous to see and hear our language dubbed into one of the biggest movies ever. Congrats to everyone who made this happen! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
The world premiere of an Ojibway-language version of Star Wars: A New Hope was screened in Winnipeg on Thursday evening, bringing rave reviews and also a galaxy of optimism for First Nations languages.
"The biggest joy out of the whole thing is for my community to see the movie and hear our language in such an epic scale," Dennis Chartrand, a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe in Manitoba, also known as Pine Creek First Nation, said ahead of the showing at the Centennial Concert Hall.
A couple of points, 1, Blenheim has a Chemist Warehouse, the next one south is in Christchurch 300kms away, to the west there’s one in Nelson140kms away. Not really local.
In todays Guardian under Woe is Us, Australian numeracy and literacy results are creating the same panic as here but researchers and academics who know what they are talking about but don’t get listened to because “ We have another opinion” from….fill in the country fit for Hoskins clone here. Apparently it’s all bullshit, the criteria are set far too high to accommodate the huge span between the top 1% and the bottom 1%., well that’s my assumption Dude.
What is appalling is the IT illiteracy of silly old buggers in their 70s who can’t link to stuff because..I’m a grumpy old shit, but it’s in the Guardian today.
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
The December labour market statistics have been released, showing yet another increase in unemployment. There are now 156,000 unemployed - 34,000 more than when National took office. And having thrown all these people out of work, National is doubling down on cruelty. Because being vicious will somehow magically create the ...
Boarded up homes in Kilbirnie, where work on a planned development was halted. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 5 are;Housing Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announcedKāinga Ora would be stripped of ...
This week Kiwirail and Auckland Transport were celebrating the completion of the summer rail works that had the network shut or for over a month and the start of electric trains to Pukekohe. First up, here’s parts of the press release about the shutdown works. Passengers boarding trains in Auckland ...
Through its austerity measures, the coalition government has engineered a rise in unemployment in order to reduce inflation while – simultaneously – cracking down harder and harder on the people thrown out of work by its own policies. To that end, Social Development Minister Louise Upston this week added two ...
This year, we've seen a radical, white supremacist government ignoring its Tiriti obligations, refusing to consult with Māori, and even trying to legislatively abrogate te Tiriti o Waitangi. When it was criticised by the Waitangi Tribunal, the government sabotaged that body, replacing its legal and historical experts with corporate shills, ...
Poor old democracy, it really is in a sorry state. It would be easy to put all the blame on the vandals and tyrants presently trashing the White House, but this has been years in the making. It begins with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and the spirit of Gordon ...
The new school lunches came in this week, and they were absolutely scrumptious.I had some, and even though Connor said his tasted like “stodge” and gave him a sore tummy, I myself loved it!Look at the photos - I knew Mr Seymour wouldn’t lie when he told us last year:"It ...
The tighter sanctions are modelled on ones used in Britain, which did push people off ‘the dole’, but didn’t increase the number of workers, and which evidence has repeatedly shown don’t work. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, ...
Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, it’s hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The regional imperialist powers, including Australia, New Zealand and France have maintained neo-colonial control over the Southwest Pacific for more than a century, keeping the fragile island nations in a state of dependency with conditions of poverty ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Public transport in Queensland now costs just 50 cents. Yet in the first six months of the trial, it’s been revealed that thousands of commuters were ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Harris Rimmer, Professor, Griffith Law School, Griffith University Two federal politicians from opposing camps reached across the aisle this week to promote a valuable cause – the wellbeing of future Australian generations. Independent MP Sophie Scamps tabled the Wellbeing of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Younger, Lecturer in Southern Ocean Vertebrate Ecology, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Australia’s Antarctic territory represents the largest sliver of the ice continent. For decades, Australian scientists have headed to one of our three bases – Mawson, ...
A Māori Purposes Bill is an omnibus bill that enables minor, technical, and non-controversial amendments to legislation relating to Māori affairs. This Māori Purposes Bill aims to modernise some legislation relating to Māori Affairs. ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Dwyer, Research Director, Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney 24K-Productions Our cars sit unused most of the time. If you have an electric vehicle, you might leave it charging at home or work after driving it. But there’s another step ...
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Changes coming, but no consultation with those in the disability sector … transferring oversight to MSD … the politics of the sacrifice of targeted groups for the good of the landlord class and its camp followers.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350378945/anxious-wait-disabled-communities-expect-cuts-following-whaikaha-review
Just when you thought the CoC vandals could not go much lower, they manage to scrape the barrel a bit more and attack the disabled community!!
Baldrick Luxon–7 luxury pads no less–really does seem to enjoy putting the boot into vulnerable people, who he as a prosperity christian, likely sees as losers that will certainly not be going to his version of the afterlife.
This is making me feel afraid for the future as a disabled person.
I shout so much and get so angry publicly because this is so damn important that we must band together against the bandits in charge lest they slip into worse quagmires of banal evil.
What this government is doing is banally evil.
We must all stand up to this odious government in every way.
Ingrid Hopkins uncritically presents a 'good news story’.
Changes around RSE workers are presented and defended.
If I have the story straight. On one hand fruit picking is such a job that the industry wants to pay the minimum wage.
On the other, it contains such complexities that the workers will be at that rate for up to two full seasons before being eligible for an increase of wages.
Meanwhile the numbers have increased at the same time as the government puts punitive measures on those seeking work.
Remember when you read labour shortage they mean a wage shortage.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018951244/govt-to-raise-cap-on-seasonal-workers-coming-to-nz
Yes great line.
I think that we have a lot of evidence that job-seeking kiwis won't even apply for, let along stay in, these roles.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113872851/why-the-meat-and-fruitpicking-sectors-are-missing-out-on-kiwi-employees
Some of it is because the jobs are in the regions (so no use for someone in Central Auckland who's unwilling to shift seasonally). Some of it is because they are pretty much dead-end jobs (seasonal workers are just there for the pay-cheque).
Perhaps you could provide some evidence that there are significant numbers of people who are actually missing out on these jobs, before you cue the outrage.
Just think it through.
For anyone to do a seasonal job, they have to be able to: pay for their accommodation at their home area,
get a replacement for any family support they are providing,
transport from home to the orchards,
food and living costs at the orchard, all on the minimum wage.
Outrage is for the hypocricy if this regime for the bullying, punitive sanctions while still having the inflation tap on full.
We all know there is an uneven playing field comparing recent arrival workers with someone called a job seeker.
I agree. That's why I think the outrage expressed by the OP against the migrant seasonal workers is misplaced.
I seriously doubt that they are contributing to keeping the 'inflation tap on full'
I think I have been misunderstood. Sorry I wasn’t clearer.
I do hold a strong view on migration but none of it is against the migrants themselves. They contribute to the beautiful, diverse and colourful migrant country that Aotearoa is.
My scorn is for the employers that run a business model that needs minimum wage workers and successive governments that run record migration without the requisite investment in infrastructure.
Schools, hospitals, ferry ports, housing. All of which could be done by a Ministry of Works, which, incidentally could employ some of these job seekers.
I think that there is a difference between workers in the seasonal scheme (who, by and large are doing jobs that most kiwis won't do) – and other temporary workers (thinking of tourism buisnesses like skiing), where they both take jobs that are attractive to Kiwis, and occupy housing which is in short supply.
I'm not 100% happy with the seasonal scheme, but I don't see a real alternative. Even if the salary was doubled (which, BTW, would follow through into food prices locally), these jobs aren't desirable. Seen as dead end. In the 'wrong' place. Seasonal. And, TBH, if you've ever done picking work as a school holiday job (putting my hand up here), just darned hard work.
Plenty of New Zealanders go and work picking and packing in the seasons every year. You can clearly see this in the benefit numbers for Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay or Nelson which go up and down with the seasons. Pick any of those regions.
https://www.data.msd.govt.nz/?_inputs_&benefits-name=%22Jobseeker%20Support%20Work%20Ready%22&benefits-tabset=%22trend%22&benefits-areatype=%22MSD%20region%22&benefits-area=%22Bay%20of%20Plenty%22
Do workers leave during the season? – yep my kids a good example. They picked fruit (one on an orchard without toilets) but left during the season as they got full-time permanent work. RSE workers don't have that option. Others workers left cause they were pinched by other orchardists – they (the orchardists) don't want to talk about that and still others left at third pick cause down the road they were doing first pick and they could make more money in a short season. RSE workers don't have that option. NZ workers get erratic hours cause RSE workers have to be guaranteed 30 hours NZer's do not.
Orchardists will whine about my kids leaving their orchard while at the same time whinging in the usual right wing way if you don't like low pay and want to get ahead then get a better job.
The fact that there are Kiwis in the regions picking up seasonal work, does zip for those unemployed in the main centres. They're effectively unavailable for this work.
Your kids leaving for a better job (higher paying, guaranteed hours, etc.) is exactly why the seasonal workers are needed. They're tied into a contract, you're kids are not (and, I'm pretty sure you'd mightily object to them being tied down to work for a season – with no option out). Picking is a low wage, dead-end job. There's not much you can do about this.
If you want Kiwis to do this work – then you have a few options – none of which are entirely palatable.
While people aren't keen on the RSE schemes (for a whole lot of reasons) – I'm not seeing anyone coming up with a viable alternative.
Do you have one?
Perhaps you could provide some evidence that there are significant numbers of people who are actually missing out on these job
Did you look at the graphs? Plenty of local people in those areas have done and do this work. See how the NZ numbers drop less each season though as RSE numbers increase. Do you think people with years of experience working picking fruit and in packhouses suddenly said one day "fuck it, I'm not going to work there any more. I'll just sit on a benefit" or do you think it more likely as RSE numbers increased and employers could get money back off them for all sorts of costs that fewer locals were employed.
Prior to RSE many orchardists used illegal labour and contractors who never paid the PAYE, student loan money etc to IRD – the orchardists always knew this – they are as bad as the liquor store outlets, restaurants and dairies holding peoples passports and doing the same.
Has gone from around a 2,000 drop in a season in Bay of Plenty to 1,000 a season.
The better option surely would be to let them fail like other non-competitive industries we have let fail in the past. Then maybe money can go into something more productive.
Oh and the prices go up when international prices go up – nothing to do with local supply and demand – in fact they deliberately don't use supply and demand in local pricing but refuse to pick the production and/or sell locally in order to inflate prices. An orchardist a couple of years back was quite clear in the media they wouldn't release their produce on the local market in order to keep prices up. 80% are exported so local pricing isn't that important to most.
We no longer have car industries clothing industries, etc. Any reason state intervention is still enabling the apple industry? Isn't that socialism?
The other options are of course robotics which many have invested in to lift productivity. Maybe just maybe without state intervention to give them cheaper labour and wage get-back schemes they may have done this sooner.
https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2066-robots-for-horticulture
Robotics is an interesting solution. It would, of course, leave all of those Kiwi seasonal workers unemployed.
Were you as opposed to the RSE scheme when Labour reinstated it, during Covid lockdowns?
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/one-way-quarantine-free-travel-rse-workers-starting-october
Your figures show that there are *some* Kiwi workers who are willing to work seasonally – not that there are enough to do the whole of the job.
And, it was perfectly clear during that same Covid travel restriction period, that there simply weren't enough local workers to do the job. Regardless of how much was paid.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/432284/lack-of-nz-workers-an-issue-for-orchardists-with-covid-restrictions
Which is why the government opened up the RSE scheme again.
You do realize that NZ depends on agricultural exports – to pay for all of the nice to have things which support our lifestyle.
August is a good month for the average person with PAYE rates reducing from 31st of July and mortgage rates reducing for those on a floating rate. Things are looking up!
"Things are looking up!"
Rates, insurance, public transport costs, prescription charges….
You're right, things are up.
Yes but if Labour was still in government, you would still have the large rates and insurance increases, but would have no relief from PAYE (in fact Grant would probably have increased the ACC levies part) and probably no interest rate reduction either, so yes I think things are looking up for the average person. Try going to a Chemist Warehouse if you are concerned about prescription charges.
Lots of people may well go and do that. And then, come the day the last independent pharmacist has been driven out of business because they can't afford the loss-leader tactic of waiving prescription charges, the Chemist Warehouse (and other big chains), slavering at the mouth with anticipation, will promptly whack that $5 on again.
Well Jimmy if labour were still in government the reserve bank would still be taking into account employment and we would not have had an orgy of firings in the public service my superannuation wouldn't have been grinched by the government we would still have reduced cost public transport for many more than get it now cigarette companies wouldn't be celebrating their minions in government making them $$ we wouldn't have police officers and medical professionals wasting their time on back office work and we wouldn't have the spectacle of RW sociopaths punching down on the weakest in our society. Nazi's were big fans of social darwinsm so is this RW government.
Jimy -pathetica ttempt at PR .don't give up your day job.
When PR is a euphemism for trolling.
Is having a different opinion counted as "trolling"?
If everyone just agrees with each other, then there is really no need for discussion as it would just be a group of people agreeing with each other and complaining (about everything the government does) and will probably just reduce in size over time with less and less people making a comment that is not in line with the 'required' narrative and will probably end up disappearing. .
Are you honestly suggesting that you’re doing TS a favour by trollishly spouting CoC propaganda and talking points masquerading as ‘your opinion’!?
Please stop insulting our intelligence – I can’t wait for you to disappear back under the bridge where you came from.
$2.50 on my pension, nothing on my 10hr a week job. Rates, insurance, power groceries all going up so not looking up really. Lucky to have no mortgage and some savings.
Don't you get a payment towards your electricity? My retired mother in law does.
A payment introduced in 2017 by the Labour Govt.
But don't let that stop you claiming it as a NACTNZFIST initiative.
They have had to retain it as they would quickly loose half their support if they cancelled it.
The Winter Energy Payment was first available in 2018 for 13 weeks from 1 July until 30 September. In subsequent years it has been available for 22 weeks from 1 May until 30 September. Nearly 98% of people eligible for the payment receive it, and the annual cost was about $450m in 2019.
https://www.motu.nz/assets/Uploads/ExecSummary_impact-2018-Families-Package-Winter-Energy-Payment.pdf
The majority of commenters on this site see everything National does is bad and everything Labour does is good. I don't see it that way. I think the winter energy payment is a good idea by Labour. Another really good idea by Labour was Kiwi Saver.
I'm not set in stone hard right wing or hard left wing. But as I said above, disagreeing with a Labour policy on here no matter how stupid you think it is (eg. GST on Fruit & Vege) gets you labelled as a right wing troll.
OK give us one good thing this CofC Govt has done since its election, that has been of benefit to the more disadvantaged in our country and has not been directly targeted at the wealthy. eg The tax breaks were primarily targeted at high income earners and not at those on low to middle comes.
Another example -The cancellation of fuel taxes in Auckland is short term gain for those who use cars for the majority of their travel around the city but the resulting cancellation of money for the development of transport infrastructure that that fuel tax was enabling, means more heavy congestion on roads already failing to cope during peak hour travel.
Fact is this current incompetent and useless bunch of pricks haven't a f****** clue as to the damage they are wrecking on NZ. But simply smile and say things are looking up and it will come right in the end. It's just so much bullshit.
From your perspective, everything that a centre right government does, is by definition, bad. Or can you give examples of previous right-wing policies which you approve of?
Have to say that the charter school initiative, and the revision of the curriculum (focus on reading, writing, maths) is going down very well with many people I know. Including some very left wing parents. It's amazing how much you stop supporting teacher union rhetoric, once your kid is caught in the gears of a failing education system.
Really, you can't argue that this is for the benefit of the wealthy (they're already sending their kids to private schools, or have default private schools resulting from their Decile 10 housing location).
Can you name the benefit of for-profit education, Belladonna, which is what charter schools introduce? Look to the UK and Australia, both with 2-tier schooling systems, and for-profit education heavily subsidised by taxpayers, (in Australia at a greater amount than equivalent state schools) to see how this approach deepens economic and social division in society. And a common curriculum helps create a common society. The Aussie 2-tier system has quantifiable effects on societal inequity.
Plus, there may be state schools forced into the charter school system, according to Seymour's comments earlier this year. This CoC charter school policy is not sought by most people in the education system, or by most parents, but is being introduced for ideological and financial reasons.
Parents already have a chance to send their kids to special interest schools.
Can you name a benefit of continuing with the currently failing state school system.
And, if parents already have a chance to send their kids to 'special interest schools' (what would these be, I wonder) – why all the angst about charter schools?
If you'll examine the history of charter schools previously in NZ – you'll see that they were not on the 'for profit' model, but were rather small organizations set up to deal with specific educational styles. Why do you think it will be different this time?
Indeed a significant MoE concern is specifically that the organizations *won't* be business focused.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/david-seymour-says-78-applications-received-for-new-or-converted-charter-schools/4MQ7STKUXFEQHOJSIMFV6CQIHQ/
Not seeing any evidence that schools will be 'forced' to become charter schools. Indeed the demand seems to be greater than forecast – so no need to force anyone.
I can see why the educational establishment is threatened – yet another flavour of school system wildly outperforming their members – why are you?
Not for profit, eh? Alwyn and Karen Poole, charter school founders, of the Villa Education Trust :
https://www.ppta.org.nz/news-and-media/truth-will-out/
*So they paid themselves $450,000 of public money in 2017 and the Auditor-General wasn't happy.
Coincidentally, around 2017, the Pooles bought their first house and side business in Russell:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/housing-affordability/123589681/i-bought-my-first-home-in-my-50s–dont-expect-the-govt-to-help
Nice work if you can get it.
I have had lifetime of service in Education and Training at all levels from primary to tertiary in administration and the classroom. I have post graduate degrees in Education. I can find no serious evidence to suggest that students who are enrolled in these so called "charter schools" do any better than if they were enrolled in state or public schools.
Just think for a moment on what is being offered.
a. Untrained and unregistered "teachers"
b. No requirement to follow a recognised national curriculum.
c. Training rather than education. The vision of those North Shore school students in black on TV last night, eagerly watched by DS, was reminiscent of the schooling of children in 1930's Germany
Further, is there any guarantee that a young person completing such "education" can move on to further study, where their NCEA results would be questionable, if they are granted by an unqualified teacher school assessment?
You’re a real hero in your own mind fighting those self-erected straw men.
A troll is what a troll does. We have enjoyed LW trolls on here but given that TS is a Left-leaning blog, RWNJs get much better bang for their buck and ROI from their masturbation of their ego thinking that it is the apex & climax of their neoliberal wet dream of self-actualisation.
Yes it's called a Winter Energy Payment and goes nowhere near paying for the firewood and power used to heat our house-so still not looking up. And as for the Chemist Warehouse-the closest one for people living inNapier is in Hastings and not on a bus route so those without their own transport or a friend/relative to take them can't access that. Life for a lot of people is not the rosy thing you think it is.
For those committed to performing (figuratively) anilingus on their hero Natzo MPs, there could indeed be a certain amount of “looking up” involved.
Tax cuts for the already better off actually diminish the social wage in terms of what can be spent on public infrastructure and services for the majority of taxpayers.
As for cash rate, the Reserve Bank Act and pandering to Australian Banks rolls over each election regardless of which MMP grouping is in office.
Are you aware that a one off tax cut is less than the impact of a wage increase?
For example the difference between a 25 cent an hour increase in MW and $1 an hour is $30 a week.
These wage increases occur 3 times in an election cycle.
Then there is the C of C not going ahead with the Fair Pay Agreement – industry wage increases.
Problem to me is the tax brackets had not been adjusted for 14 years. They were set when $70k was a "Rich Pricks" income.
We had got to the ridiculous stage with minimum wage increases pushing a person who was on the minimum wage in to the 30% tax bracket. IMO they have still not raised the brackets enough.
Alan Duff says it out loud. Real Life: Once Were Warriors author Alan Duff claims welfare is robbing Māori of ‘self-dignity’ – NZ Herald
[quote deleted]
[if you want to make an argument against NZ’s social security system, then please do so in your own words, and use short quotes with links as references/back ups to what you are trying to assert. But bear in mind that this is a website and commentariat aligned with the labour movement, and simplistic reckons will probably be treated as trolling – weka]
mod note
There are many posts accepted by this site that provide insights into the thoughts of qualified commentators without further commentary.
These are Alan Duff's thoughts. His own background (particularly his troubled childhood) and his ability to walk the talk (with his Books in Homes New Zealand recently celebrating 30 years) make his views far from 'simplistic reckons'.
His central claims are that "social welfare is “robbing” tangata whenua of self-dignity and enabling a victim mentality that perpetuates the cycle of poverty.", and that Māori are trapped in a cycle of dependency and a victim mentality. His solution (as it has been for decades) is education, which he calls the 'enemy of poverty'.
In my view he hits the nail on the head, and not just for Māori. Inter-generational welfare dependency is a trap that assigns good people to poor outcomes.
[I know what Duff’s ideas are, and I didn’t call them simplistic reckons, I was calling your commenting style that. Here again you simply make some assertions of your views, but don’t really bring anything new to the table. This is a labour aligned political blog, we’ve heard it all before.
“There are many posts accepted by this site that provide insights into the thoughts of qualified commentators without further commentary”
yes, and almost none of them have spent weeks in premod because multiple authors consider them to be trolling. First rule of commenting is don’t suck up moderation time. I think I’ve cut you enough slack. I’ve asked you to change how you are commenting and today I’ve given some pointers. If you don’t want to take cues from a moderator, then take some time off. In case you hadn’t noticed, TS is going through some major changes. Come back in a month, the site should have transitioned by then – weka]
mod note.
Why does Alan Duff think that welfare is a Maori issue?
Is he opposed to welfare?
Is he ashamed that there are Maori with disability, women with children and no job nor working partner, or are in poor health so they cannot work or are now too old to get work they need to pay the rent (as they do not own property)?
Is it not important to him that this also applies to others, or is this really about his own shame that others of his middle class status know there are Maori not like himself?
NZ's Disabled next on NACT1's hit list.
Shifting to the UnCaring creeps at MSD ? Fucks sake….if i was Disabled and/or had Disabled family/Friends, I would be very concerned, if not outright worried.
I hope all the Support groups stay solid for them ! I stand solid with you as well !
Rolling on Gravel and Kay, and all in your plight today. "Support Will be provided by MSD" Tui Tui. You predicted this. We will protest at this change, and the way it was done. Heartless doesn't even come close. Dollars before people is their go to.
Thank you Patricia, it means a lot to know that people outside of our community give a damn.
I will never, ever comprehend how right wing politicians think all of this is perfectly OK. It's more than just ideology, it's sadism with a healthy dose of sociopathy. Even moreso with their women MPs.
And by extension, the people who vote for them. There's some RW leaning people on this site. I would love to know why you find all this acceptable.
Thanks for the support, Patricia!
As always, I'll plug away within advocacy and activist disability groups with my comrades-in-arms in order to push back at this appalling government's reactionary moves.
This shifting of Whaikaha to MSD is like shoving an already wounded animal back into a predator's fangs.
And Louise is letting this happen or worse yet egging on all of this.
This has to goddamn stop, indeed.
Cue the endless whining about being cancelled.
/
Polarizing psychologist Jordan Peterson now says he will attend the social media training he was ordered to undergo by his professional body after Canada's top court refused to hear his appeal, according to his lawyer.
In 2022, the governing body for Ontario's psychologists told Peterson — who has gained international fame with his views on women, masculinity and gender identity — to undergo a social media training program or risk losing his licence to practise.
The College of Psychologists of Ontario said some of his social media posts may be "degrading," raise questions about his abilities as a psychologist and risk bringing the profession into disrepute.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/supreme-court-jordan-peterson-1.7288497
Imane Khelif could be on her way to being set up for life.
https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/jk-rowling-elon-musk-imane-khelif-lawsuit-1236105185/
That is a criminal suit, not a civil suit. Under French law, it is up to the French hate crime prosecutors to investigate the validity of taking on individuals or providers; and who, specifically will be prosecuted. However, there are big fines for individuals, and the possibility of imprisonment of up to 4 years.
AP News Press release
If anything it will do the opposite, i've no doubt the testing from the boxing outfit will be leaked and the question of her biological sex status will be dragged backwards and forwards through the courts and publicly on X or tiktok ad nauseum.
Better to return home a hero and get on with life imho.
Jimmy, Nicola Willis and yourself need to stop peddling the belief we can all get prescriptions filled at Chemist Warehouse. Lower Hutt does not have a Chemist Warehouse. I assume that is the case in a number of other towns as well. Would it make sense to drive or train or bus to Lambton Quay or Kilbirnie? Petrol and fares cost money.
Ah but you see, if we don't make an effort to go to a Chemist warehouse- no matter the location- therefore it's personal responsibility and we only have ourselves to blame for forking out prescription charges. /s
The only perk to this benefit thing is keeping free scripts (for now) so I'm not currently affected by this policy. But for the record, a warehouse chemist set up shop literally next door to my community pharmacy some years ago. The free scripts never tempted me on principle. One of the pharmacies in the area closed because of it, and this current one was losing so many customers, who returned with free scripts. It was several years before I even set foot in the place, and only then as the sold a product I couldn't get anywhere else.
Luxon thinks only in Auckland terms…and it has lots of the Ozzie owned Chemist Warehouses.
Woolworths in Petone has a fees free pharmacy if thats close by.
Peace is the last thing Netanyahu wants.
.
@joshuajfriedman.com
Bibi recently added five new demands to Israel’s negotiating position over Gaza, creating obstacles to a ceasefire deal while blaming Hamas for deadlock (gift link)
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/13/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-cease-fire-talks.html
https://bsky.app/profile/joshuajfriedman.com/post/3kzlus54rj42k
It's the last thing the leadership of either side wants, which is quite a problem. Netanyahu's a turkey that isn't going to vote for Christmas, and Hamas' whole strategy relies on propaganda featuring Palestinians killed by the IDF. Good luck to anyone trying to sort that out.
The Long Read at The Guardian has Omer Bartov, an Israeli living outside Israel who served in the Yom Kippur war. His article provides an important insight on the emotional temperature of those in Israel.
"This summer, one of my lectures [in Israel] was protested by far-right students. Their rhetoric brought to mind some of the darkest moments of 20th-century history – and overlapped with mainstream Israeli views to a shocking degree."
Bartov is a historian who has researched how the Ukranian village where his grandmother lived could turn on its Jewish neighbours when Nazis overran their village; and how Germans going into battle had been conditioned for years by the Nazi State to believe their cause was right, by scapegoating Slavs and Jews as sub-human.
It shows how deeply Israeli society, as well as the Israeli State, have descended into the mindset of a Final Solution for Gaza [my words, not his].
Well worth a read.
The emotional temperature in Israel's changed significantly since 7 October last year, for sure. But the Jews still have a long way to go before they're anywhere near the Arabs' enthusiasm for a Final Solution.
"The Arabs" still have a long way to go to before they're anywhere near the IDF's killing and maiming of tens of thousands of civilians in the current conflict.
Perhaps the Israeli establishment (now) regards all Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, children included, as potential terrorists. That might explain the continuing carnage and 'collateral damage', 10 months on from Hamas’ attack.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war#Scale_of_destruction
And I've learned a new word.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domicide
"In the current conflict," maybe. In the Syrian Civil War they clocked up around 600,000 dead.
All this stuff about the supposedly murderous attitude of Israelis towards people in Gaza is only possible from people who have no idea of how Muslims feel about "enemies of Islam," of which they consider Israeli Jews the foremost examples.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jihad
The way the current conflict continues to play out has me wondering whether “all this stuff” about any supposedly murderous intent of the Israeli establishment towards people in Gaza, and how some Muslims feel about "enemies of Islam", might not be mutually exclusive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbicide#Palestine
Time will tell.
The idea that Israel has an aim of trying to wipe out the Palestinians is ridiculous for multiple reasons:
1. Hamas built no civilian shelters or any other infrastructure, so civilians are completely unprotected against attacks.
2. Given 1 above, Israel has the military capacity to kill most of the 2 million-plus Gazan Arabs in a matter of weeks.
3. That hasn't happened. The civilian death toll is incredibly low given 1 and 2 above.
4. The destruction would cease if Hamas surrendered. A sane govt would have surrendered back in December with most of Gaza undamaged. Gaza doesn't have a sane govt, hence the destruction continues.
5. The "urbicide" is a direct consequence of Hamas using the civilian buildings of Gaza as military facilities. Look there for responsibility for the number of destroyed buildings.
The zionists are very keen for lebensraum. At the expense of Palestinians. To them Palestinian Land and Lives are just…collateral damage.
Claims like this always only make sense if the Arabs are ignored, therefore the Arabs are always ignored.
Since 1948, Israel has only expanded beyond the territory allocated to it by the UN partition due to Arabs starting wars with it and losing. It's been willing to give captured land back again in exchange for a peace agreement, eg Sinai Peninsula given back to Egypt, Golan heights not given back to Syria.
The "longest military occupation" is in the same category: the land can be given back in exchange for a meaningful peace agreement. The local Arabs can't/won't agree to peace, therefore the occupation continues and the Arabs living there are exposed to those Israelis who believe the whole land should be theirs.
The Israelis got a great reminder 10 months ago of what would happen if they withdrew from occupied territories without a meaningful peace agreement, so don't go expecting any improvement even if Netanyahu does get what's coming to him and there's a change of govt.
Not following your logic – surely Hamas-built civilian shelters would have been reduced to rubble by now ("Hamas using the civilian buildings of Gaza as military facilities", etc. etc.), like many mosques, schools, hospitals and cemeteries – this is (asymmetric) war!
Yes, that's been the case for some time. Imho, the IDF killing "2 million-plus Gazan Arabs in a matter of weeks" would not be a 'good look' – neither is making the Gaza Strip uninhabitable, but it has a less barbaric feel than outright killing.
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-gaza-who-will-pay-to-rebuild/
The logic: Gaza's govt has completely exposed its people to harm by building extensive shelters for its own forces but none for civilian use. If Israel wanted those civilians dead, or if it even just didn't particularly care what happens to them, many more would be dead than the relatively small number that have been killed.
There is no "reply" function to your
So I will reply here. You state..
Why would, or should they? Zionist settlers are attacking them, including with dogs !
Zak Witus observed as…
These are just some of the zionist settler who would violently clear Palestinians from their land. I have seen it described as ethnic cleansing. I concur.
If you lose a war, or multiple wars in this case, peace tends to be on the victor's terms. If you consistently refuse any terms and instead hold out for an eventual victory in the war you started over 70 years ago but no longer have any means of fighting beyond random acts of terrorism, things aren't going to go well for you and people also aren't going to feel particularly sympathetic towards you. That's just a given, it's nothing to do with Arabs or Jews.
That’s cold comfort for surviving Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Territories. Will this conflict teach them to be grateful for small mercies?
Well, yes, if you let fascists come to power, things can turn out badly for you. It's a shame, but there's no point in blaming others for it.
Seems a tad callous, especially towards the dead infants? Never mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_fascism#Allegations_of_fascism_and_comparisons_to_past_fascist_regimes
It's the same in any conflict of this type. The extremists at either end of the spectrum need each other to justify their own murderous existences. Usually it's the would-be peacemakers or bridge-builders who get taken out, sometimes by their "own" side (remember Gandhi? – too soft on the Muslims, decided one of his fellow-Hindus),
Very much so. See also: Anwar Sadat, Yitzhak Rabin.
Truly disgusting behaviour by the IDF. Reported in The Guardian widespread use of civilian Palestinian men to trip booby-traps. They are being picked up, dressed in IDF uniforms with their hands tied and being forced to walk through buildings and tunnels that might be booby-trapped. If they survive, they are set free, small mercy.
'One soldier had been told Palestinian civilians were being used to replace the dog units that search for explosives “because too many dogs had died”, he added.'
@waub.bsky.social
I saw the Anishinaabemowin version of Star Wars in Sudbury tonight and was totally blown away. It was absolutely tremendous to see and hear our language dubbed into one of the biggest movies ever. Congrats to everyone who made this happen! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:2g3z7dxgugnfu5tja6a4coxk/post/3kznhktixzv22
The world premiere of an Ojibway-language version of Star Wars: A New Hope was screened in Winnipeg on Thursday evening, bringing rave reviews and also a galaxy of optimism for First Nations languages.
"The biggest joy out of the whole thing is for my community to see the movie and hear our language in such an epic scale," Dennis Chartrand, a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe in Manitoba, also known as Pine Creek First Nation, said ahead of the showing at the Centennial Concert Hall.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/star-wars-ojibwe-anishinaabemowin-indigenous-language-dub-1.7290025
A couple of points, 1, Blenheim has a Chemist Warehouse, the next one south is in Christchurch 300kms away, to the west there’s one in Nelson140kms away. Not really local.
In todays Guardian under Woe is Us, Australian numeracy and literacy results are creating the same panic as here but researchers and academics who know what they are talking about but don’t get listened to because “ We have another opinion” from….fill in the country fit for Hoskins clone here. Apparently it’s all bullshit, the criteria are set far too high to accommodate the huge span between the top 1% and the bottom 1%., well that’s my assumption Dude.
What is appalling is the IT illiteracy of silly old buggers in their 70s who can’t link to stuff because..I’m a grumpy old shit, but it’s in the Guardian today.