Charter Schools will be back if the Nats get elected apparently. Vast amounts of taxpayers money funnelled to a few dodgy private education providers with little or no oversight. Sure to be a vote winner right?
i hear private schools receiving funding is ok, just ask Shane Jones to put it on a 'shovel ready list' and the male co-leader of a support/supply confidence party to sign it off. 🙂 And besides Charter schools were always on the books for National and ACT. They at the very least have been very honest about who is gonna get money from them.
What is good for the geese is good for the gander and thus if National does it is now OK. No more high horses here for Lefties.
Analysis: The visceral response to James Shaw’s $11.7m cheque for the Green School shows New Zealand has strong feelings about private school education. Laura Walters looks at whether NZ is ready to give up private schools and whether we can afford to
Well, the of course the government must keep continuing funding the projects of their 'peers' 🙂
Its the funding of those that have no money that the government must not keep up, you know, the beneficiaries, the unemployed, soon to be unemployed, falling of the covid unemployment and such. They can just go get fucked, find a ditch to live in and learn the value of 'work'. Cause That is government. No difference between the lot of them.
@ Sabine …. "Cause That is government. No difference between the lot of them" unfortunately that is exactly right, both Labour and National are free market liberal political parties, the only difference is in their delivery of this short sighted selfish ideology…one is driving straight toward the cliff, while the other is taking the scenic route.
Thank you incog for some sanity….if people actually read the Green Party policies instead of listening to the gotcha hits from the Herald and Tova O'Brien they just might see who has progressive policies and vote accordingly.
@Incognito, Look Shaw is a free market liberal, that is just a fact….and he was voted in by Green Party members…so of course by default their political ideology is tied directly to his leadership, and belief system, is it not?
"James Peter Edward Shaw (born 6 May 1973) is a New Zealand politician and a leader of the … Shaw believes that the market can be reformed to incorporate sustainability within its normal operations."
The problem with the NZ Greens is that while of course they are with out doubt better than the other two main parties, while they follow a Liberal free market ideology, they can only ever win some battles, but will without question lose the war..in other words under Shaws leadership and ideological direction they are on the same path as Labour/National, heading toward the same cliff..just in slow motion…but moving toward it none the less.
In the same way folk dismiss a sky fairy, it matters not what adjective you use to describe a 'market', in this use of the word, it is still an abstract fiction.
Don’t you find it ironic that instead of focussing on the Education Policy of the Green Party you focus one on single individual? You also seem to know that individual very well and attributing certain powers (e.g. power of persuasion?) to this single person. How much influence do you ascribe to this person in setting out Policies of the Green Party? Why do you think this person apologised publically and profoundly to the Party and its members? Should we nominate this person for Oscar for best acting?
Adrian: Is it salient or just semantics to query the lack of the words 'Liberal' and 'free market' in your quote, "Shaw believes that the market can be reformed to incorporate sustainability within its normal operations."? It would not seem out of place for the Co-Leader of the Green Party to accept that there has to be some sort of market or means of exchange that incorporates 'green' controls. After all, the 'free' market is already riddled with controls that cater for the financial interests of 'the investors'.
Maybe you are both right, however I have a strong suspicion you are following a fools errand with that one, I believe that when 95% of humans are allowed to open the pandora box that is the 'greed' motive deeply imbedded into the psyche they will act only for short term gain, which is of course exactly what we don't want….as Alan Greenspan actually had to admit himself…
And as free markets are and will always be chained to the unrelenting commodification of all resources for profit motive I fail to see how the end result I have described above could possibly be avoided?
I agree. If someone is a wealthy bludger, they should at least acknowledge it instead of just trotting round looking askance at anyone who isn't a high rater in the materialism and consumerism stakes which is all they seem to think about.
So if you see some ordinary folks on your lawn, give them some leeway; 'Don't be so quick to 'eave 'alf a brick, It's the missis, meself and the boys.' ex Pam Ayres
yeah, retrain all the dears that lost their jobs over the last few month, pay them next to nothing (same as National btw) to do so while they live in their ditch, so as to learn the value of 'work'.
Yeah, same bull, just with sprinkles, pink glittery kinder gentler sprinkles.
Sabine – you'll be delighted and encouraged by this news! It elevates the status of James Shaw.
"Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz congratulated New Zealand on introducing the scheme.
“Once again, New Zealand is leading the world,” Stiglitz said, in a video included with the press statement from Shaw.
In a statement, the Responsible Investment Association Australasia welcomed the announcement.
“This marks a significant step forward and demonstrates New Zealand’s exemplary leadership on the global issue of climate change and the sustainability of New Zealand’s financial system and economy,” RIAA chief Simon O’Connor said."
Here is the crucial point that that I made a week or so back; private schools essentially subsidise the state system, not the other way around has everyone assumes:
This year, private schools will receive an average of $1556.32 per student from the government.
The pot of money allocated has remained relatively unchanged over the past decade, since a modest hike in 2010.
Meanwhile, funding of state and state-integrated schools in 2019 was an average of $8475 per student. This includes property and operational funding as well as teachers’ salaries.
In 2019, private school per-student subsidies, operational and salary costs were funded at 19 percent of the equivalent funding for state and state-integrated schools.
Essentially, the Government saves money by keeping private schools open.
Willing parents pay the majority of the cost of the schooling, while also supporting the public education sector through their taxes.
Well so far our private schools have not become profit seeking entities as far as I know. If I understand it correctly in the UK private profit making businesses are being handed state schools to run under an education trust type models -often with the parents having little or no say in the decisions.
With the charter school model how long before something similar is tried here.
I would have a real problem with a model that collected taxes from the general public then handed those dollars over to private organisations who generated profits and large salaries and used the left overs to actually fund an education.
I'd expect even funds now handed out to private schools to come with some strict tags around maximum salaries etc. The government could start with the universities, tagging public funds to ensure excessive salaries advertising etc are not soaking up that money or the money the students pay.
That seems like a reasonable boundary. Although it has to be said the vast majority of independent schools in NZ are run by people who are doing it for a philosophical or religious reason, eg the Montessori, Steiner and Catholic schools.
By and large making a profit is a relatively low consideration for them and I'd guess that the salaries being paid are nothing startling as a rule.
By and large making a profit is a relatively low consideration for them and I'd guess that the salaries being paid are nothing startling as a rule.
Agreed. I have had the fortunate position having taught in State, Independent and Private schools and tertiary institutions over a 40 year career in education. My last teaching position was in a private Steiner school and I have to say that it was the most productive and amazing learning experience I ever had in the classroom. I was paid a fraction of the full salary I would have received in a State School. Contrary to popular belief none of the students at the school came from wealthy homes. Of the students in my class, one graduated at the top of her class in med school and is now working in mental health, another is a regional co-convenor of the Green Party and an elected member on a local community board. Another had been constantly absent from his local state school, and in desperation his mother asked if I could accept him into my class. He is now an engineering graduate.
On the other hand, the worst school I ever experienced was an elite private school on the North Shore. One of the words it has in its motto is "Aroha" – a quality distinctly lacking in the school's culture at that time. It was an extremely abusive climate, and my health still suffers. If I had not left when I did after 3 years, I know I would be dead by now. While I was there, one teacher who was under extreme pressure, committed suicide. The comments from the parents were "How could she do that to the children!"
Of the State schools, they also varied from extremely good to hopeless. The climate there was totally dependent on the senior staff and staff turn-over reflected that. In the worst State school I was only there on secondment for the last term of the year, having been "lent" from my permanent position so I could be with my parents in Wellington in the final days of their life. Almost half the staff at that school left on the final day of the school year, and my 3 months was one of the longest periods of service at that time in the school.
I have not previously participated in this ongoing debate on the Green's Education policy despite being a paid up Green member and personally knowing Catherine Delahunty, the Education Spokesperson for the Greens during her time as an MP and the person most responsible for the current Education policy. I do think there has been a lot of ill informed commentary on this matter and take my hat off to weka et al who have valiantly tried to keep the facts of the matter front and centre. There are many parts of the Greens Education policy that are progressive and would make a huge difference to our schools nation wide, but I am not so sure wrt the matter of private schools. As you note Red, they do have their place.
As a social worker in the late '60's one of my client families involved a young lad who was extremely able, but his whanau through circumstance, were no longer able to care for him. After working with them for some time it became apparent that they would love to see him being given the opportunity to attend Te Aute College. It was a great solution, they were able to enrol him and he enjoyed the school, and did well. He brought mana to an otherwise desperate whanau, and such an opportunity was not available in the State system.
Both my parents were teachers and their experiences align very much with what you are saying here. The classroom experience was usually fine, the staffroom experience varied a lot more. So much depends on the character and quality of the head teacher and staff.
But otherwise thank you for an informed view on this story.
Does this actually work? It showed Auckland Grammer & Epsom as the schools but I thought it went on parent address – not a private hostel that fees are paid to? Also is it Maori & Pasifika or the ones who can pay a big fee?
These state schools are apparently pretty good at sifting out the parent who rents a short term flat etc too get their kids in or has some other fiddle going.
@ RedBaron – as far as I know yes the programme begun by the guy from the States still works. If you visit the website linked to by greyrawshark you will see there recent news items featuring past and present students who have benefited from the scheme. He has returned to his home town and has begun a similar programme there, although he keeps in touch with those the Auckland venture. There was a documentary about him and the programme a few years back. Both of the schools here were very supportive of the scheme, as were the parents.
@greyrawshark – Yes Te Aute is still going. It became an integrated school under the Kirk Government in the 1970's
In 1973, the college was again hit by financial difficulties, but a direct appeal for assistance to the Prime Minister, Norman Kirk, secured Te Aute's future. In 1977 an agreement between Te Aute Trust Board and the Government resulted in Te Aute becoming a State Integrated School.
While I was there, one teacher who was under extreme pressure, committed suicide. The comments from the parents were "How could she do that to the children!"
I have teachers in the family. There used to be something called collegiality so that teachers worked together to share and learn from each other. But it wasn't noticeable at the primary school where my sister taught. The principal was at the behest of the school board, and could be unreasonable and played favourites with the teachers, certainly did not have a good working and supportive relationship with them all. My sister used to be given the kids that others couldn't control but in the end rebelled with one or two, and sent them to the Principal to deal with. She'd work till 11 pm most weeknights.
My brother retired early from his tech training classes as he found the boys too hard to control and – they could be quite confronting and undisciplined. He now builds guitars which he enjoys.
There used to be something called collegiality so that teachers worked together to share and learn from each other.
Yes very much a major factor in many schools. This was a matter that was earnestly protected back in the 90's with the desire by the Nat govt to move to bulk funding and performance pay. This was strenuously resisted by the PPTA and the teaching profession as such changes in renumeration practice would have lead to competitive practices and the loss of collegiality; and a subsequent decline in pedagogy. I remember that teachers at the time were willing to forgo an increase in salary, simply to retain the then current pay scheme and avoid bulk funding.
Interesting replies above. I think integrated schools are generally a good thing in that they provide some diversity without I believe being allowed to charge massive fees (are they capped?) and the money goes to the schools not any profit related overheads, unlike the UK experience.
AFAIK theses schools also have to take (within reason) all comers so to speak and adhere to national curriculums. In other words non catholic can attend catholic schools.
I would have real trouble funding the likes of say Gloriavale because by design these are schools that exclude any who are not attached to the main "sect" for want of a better word.
Education in state integrated schools is also funded by the government, but they usually charge compulsory fees — also known as ‘attendance dues’ — to help maintain their facilities. The amount is typically around NZ$1,500 a year.
Catholic schools accept about 5% ‘all comers’ (I think the term is “non-preference student”). If they accept more than their maximum roll, they will not get extra/additional funding for those students from MoE. In Auckland, there is a lot of pressure on (these) schools to accept students.
Knowing what your children are being taught is important. Is the curriculum balanced or indoctrinating? Some primary schools have quite disturbing religious instruction from people who are not teachers, and they may be taught the opposite to what parents believe and think appropriate.
By far the biggest component of that $6.1 to $9.4 billion was an estimated $2 billion a year in tax fraud – benefit fraud by comparison was thought to be about $80 million.
Something tells me that, if they weren't stealing so much from us in the first place, we wouldn't have any trouble properly funding education up to, and including, all the private schools.
And that was in 2014 – it would have gotten worse since.
Of course we can afford to stop funding private schools. Where else do you think the money that funds comes from? The rich? The rich don't pay for anything as if they did they wouldn't remain rich.
but are they charter schools with double glazing and cyrstal gardens? If so its ok.
Or is it only not ok when National does it, but when others do it they take one leader to sing mea culpa (befitting the old adage of ‘its easier to say sorry then to ask permission) and the other leader to stand there and add gravitas. (Stand by your man….lalalalala)
What a ticking time bomb the ' Land of the free, home of the brave' has become.
I thought the thinking behind bearing arms, was to protect yrself from the state, not from yr fellow townsfolk.
Cue some misguided comment about Trumps America. This has been building for years, while he has done nothing to calm the waters, this suits the presidency to the ground. Keep the people distracted while the corprotocracy rolls on.
This shit is nothing new….Obama changed nothing, in fact most statistics for African Americans went down under that useless free market, wall st lovin', drone lovin' smooth talking Obama….and then we all ended up with Trump…Obama's actual legacy….the forever downward spiral of free market capitalism literally punches us in the face with Trump, yet for some unknown reason most people still only see this governance and ideology as viable…so get get ready to get punched and kicked some more, till we are all on our knees begging for mercy.
You seem to be obsessed with one small issue Sabine….surely policies related to bigger issues such as climate change and alleviating poverty should be taking centre stage so close to the election. Or are you a closet ACT voter trying to destroy the Greens?
National candidate makes false claims about his work / business acumen.
Collins moans about lockdown staying at 2.5 and 2 in the South Island saying South Islanders are fed up yeah fed up with National undermining our efforts.
Seymour chimes in what an idiot.
Looking around the World those countries that are following the National ACT business before people's lives are not only allowing people to die unnecessarily their businesses and economies are in much worse shape.
Con woman Collins and slimy Seymour making idiots out of themselves for cheap desperate political gain.
Media anywhere on the nth harbour Nat MP ? Granny has the full size National party pop up ad you have to remove to read the banner and insert nat party ads alongside the page also.
Those are just paid National Party ads on Stuff and the Herald. I doubt they have much to do with the editorial line of the papers themselves. The pop up banner ad on the Herald sure is annoying though.
What is interesting is that National must spending loads on these ads and Labour doesn’t seem to be spending anything much at all so far?
Saw a post on Twitter that claimed the Nats are in trouble in Rotorua, a seat they won comfortably in 2017. Tukituki has also been talked up as a possible Labour gain.
I think the research shows direct voter contact is what makes an actual difference. No one changes their vote or gets out to vote because of an advertisement. Talking to people, listening to their concerns and explaining things such as how you can get enrolled to vote or where their nearest polling booth is can make a difference.
We have quite a few 'supporters' in our small rural top of the south island community – pro Qanon, anti-1080 -vaccination – fluoride -5G anti you name it! They are very vocal on Facebook but not one of them turned up to the Advance NZ candidate meeting or cafe meet up here this week I hear. Are they enrolled to vote and will they actually bother to vote?
The candidate has not signed up to contest the electorate yet, but there are still 3 days to go and a small matter of $300 to pay.
tell them the election is just a hoax designed to get them into a booth and take their dna , that will enrage and please them equally(thats a whole other conspiracy)
It might pay to be informed about anti 5G instead of just dismissing a group protesting about something new. It took a time to get people to take Covid-19 seriously, thank goodness we did. Every new bit of technology can't be good. Perhaps we need to get vaccinations each year against the new influx of technology.
The latest is that our Polytech in our smart city is talking about developing pilotless planes. Our polytechnics were where people went to get skills for jobs. Now they are about to develop systems that will replace people's jobs. That's progress folks.
And it probably means that we will become a small centre for developing armed force systems and munitions; there is money in those, probably the biggest manufacturer and systems development in the world. And then there is space equipment to spend money on.
Meanwhile the people's skills and the communities of the living on Planet Earth try to continue with our humanity and our civilisation – until the land is commandeered for some august purpose or growing palm oil trees for profit.
The problem is that Polytechs went from largely trades based ('skills for jobs') to believing that they are universities. They are not! Their degrees are mostly regurgitation, rather than critical thinking.
The pilotless planes research is the stuff that BE students do, usually as part of their Masters or Phd. It really has no place in a Polytech.
And as for those useless BAdmin etc that many Polys churn out as a way to scam overseas students, dont get me started!
To steal a bit from Plato, self-learning is walking around in a dark cave. You'll probably be okay feeling around slowly, but you might get overconfident and walk off a ledge into a chasm (think people who watch too much youtube theories).
You get a teacher who knows the field and has a structured plan (doesn't have to be university or whatever, but some sort of a tutor or master.apprentice), and they're shining a torch at items of interest in the cave. Pretty soon you have a good idea of where everything is and the shape of that cave – and where the pitfalls are.
When I was at polytech getting my degree a couple of years back it was, essentially, directed self-learning with deadlines. IMO, this works quite well but we need to find a way so as to get everyone involved in it.
So we do have teachers and structured plans and degrees showing progress but it's not limited to only those who go to the school/polytech/university.
As I say, the government, and society in general, hasn't really twigged to the fact that learning is a life long endeavour and that we need to encourage it and recognise the milestones that people achieve even if they haven't gone to school to achieve it.
And polytech ain't university, traditionally. For a phd you specifically need to somehow increase the sum of all human knowledge. To qualify as a swiss watchmaker they give you a sheet of steel and you make a watch using the knowledge they taught you.
I don't disagree that "self-taught" can be a thing. Most people who claim it have big gaps in their knowledge. And might not have thought it through.
self learning has no profit in it. big $$$ in teaching you how to learn (sorry, selling you a qualification). bloody utube has cost forprofit education a fortune…..righto, off to have a go at dentistry
Now they are about to develop systems that will replace people's jobs. That's progress folks.
Yes, it is. Requiring less people to do stuff means that the nation can actually do more stuff. That's actually how a nation become richer both culturally and economically.
Agree Draco, but sadly the strategy under both Labour and National for decades has been to replace jobs by new more efficient technology (good), then leave many deskilled and in low paid jobs (bad), then introduce even cheaper labour via backpackers and other non resident imports that will work more for even less (ultra bad).
Just seems like the underpants theives on South Park. Successive governments just seem like they only understand the first step. No overall strategy.
The government see a profit off of an action and decide to do more of that action and look for export markets resulting in stagnation and even destruction (see our waterways).
What needs to happen is that, once the local market is met, that resources get shifted to something else and thus we get diversification and development.
But we don't want to become richer as a nation. That's in the past. That's going round countries robbing them of their resources, that is always wanting growth. That is separating off into income stratas and spending time always wanting, not being grateful and happy and enjoying what we have.
You are stuck in the 20th century DTB and it's no good being there because it led us to here and it is not good being in the world at this time watching it be destroyed. And the worst is, finding that when people get better off in the western world, they get meaner. So it doesn't help society to be happier and enjoy their lives. And then it is a ratrace to get more and change the car for a better one, and the curtains and the lounge. Wasteful use of resources is the result.
Yes, we do. We really don't want to return to the past.
Higher productivity doesn't necessitate growth but it does allow people to live better lives.
You are stuck in the 20th century DTB
Yeah, no.
What have I said on here over the last 10 years that makes you think that I think that the present system is good?
Even the comment that you responded to was, in its way, pointing out the failure of the present system which seeks only to do more of the same stuff rather than doing different stuff and developing the economy and society.
You are sincere DTB but stuck in the premises of the mind of the 20th century. After WW2 we had the rest of the century to compose ourselves and get on with using our intelligence to make a sustainable and happy society. So yes you may not agree with what happened then, but it is too late to start again. We had one chance and we blued? it.
And in line with my startling discovery (to me) of what was very plain but I hadn't processed it, we are incapable of living just better lives and also ensuring that all others around us have their needs attended to as well (so all have satisfactory lives). That leads to limiting our lives against excess, which would mean closing bars down at reasonable hours so limiting alcoholism by the vulnerable etc. You won't agree with that probably. Alcohol is a big drain on the nation's purse, and saps individual's vigour and their families are impacted too.
Higher productivity doesn't necessitate growth but it does allow people to live better lives.
Which people? The few producing? What about the others once employed perhaps doing the dirty jobs? They might have liked the camaraderie, the physical activity that went along with that, and would stick at it provided they got paid decently.
The reason that your idea has got big holes in it, is the fact that people like to work. That's most of the time. They will go on working for nothing if there is a crisis, and they think it is important to carry on. Our surnames tend to be formed from the trades that people carried out; miller, smith. There is satisfaction in a skill and it has always been part of the esteem felt by others. Women usually don't get differentiated in old family histories because they did everything and didn't earn their living from it, though in 15th/16th centuries there were Wif,Wife,Husewif surnames.
Jobs, earning, are important to self-esteem and to the sort of recognition you get from society. No-one respects the unemployed, and women being disrespected caused the feminist push in the 1970s, If there are fewer jobs, with higher productivity, will the unemployed be enabled to find their own gifts, pursue them, and be paid adequately for their own contribution to the life and outputs of their home town? They aren't now, and in the next few months it will be interesting to see how government treat those not able to get any or enough employment to keep themselves plus families in secure, warm housing.
That leads to limiting our lives against excess, which would mean closing bars down at reasonable hours so limiting alcoholism by the vulnerable etc. You won't agree with that probably.
Pretty sure you'll find that I've suggested doing just that.
Which people? The few producing? What about the others once employed perhaps doing the dirty jobs?
I'm against capitalism and keep saying that we need to get rid of it.
Its the many the produce, not the few. The capitalists are the ones stealing from everyone else. This needs to end (see the bit about capitalism).
Probably happier now that they don't have to do them (Yes, I've done those jobs).
The reason that your idea has got big holes in it, is the fact that people like to work.
There's a difference between liking to work and being challenged and doing the chores. We get rid of the chores and develop better challenges.
If there are fewer jobs, with higher productivity, will the unemployed be enabled to find their own gifts, pursue them, and be paid adequately for their own contribution to the life and outputs of their home town?
Yes and yes.
They aren't now
Of course not as our economic system only rewards the rich by allowing them to steal from everybody else but where have I said that we need to keep the failed system that we have now?
And, after all that, none of you diatribe addresses the fact that better productivity does allow better living.
Low productivity gives you no porcelain toilets nor the pipes that take away the sewage nor the treatment plants.
There won't be electric ovens nor fridges in every house.
No gibboard or pink batts providing better insulation to keep people warm.
The list is long in the ways that higher productivity leads to better living. The fact the present system of capitalism abuses it doesn't make it wrong – just shows that we need to get rid of capitalism.
If they can build pilotless planes, hydrogen based lighter than air freight should become realistic – one way to expand airfreight volume in spite of decreased passenger traffic.
They've had pilotless planes for awhile. All that's needed is a simple auto-pilot once its off the ground and even landings are now automated.
Standard aircraft, as far as I know, still don't have an automated take-off but something tells me that the same difficulties don't really apply to lighter-than-air craft.
Hydrogen would be the major problem, IMO, in what you suggest as if that goes up in flames there'd be several tonnes of freight possibly falling over inhabited land. It's not just the pilots and passengers that are a concern.
Could happen that an area could be wiped out by fire from a hydrogen fuelled aircraft and we could have the California happenings as a result. It wouldn't be wise to risk using hydrogen.
Hydrogen fuel is hazardous because of the low ignition energy and high combustion energy of hydrogen, and because it tends to leak easily from tanks. Explosions at hydrogen filling stations have been reported.
Hydrogen fuelling stations generally receive deliveries of hydrogen by truck from hydrogen suppliers. An interruption at a hydrogen supply facility can shut down multiple hydrogen fuelling stations.
The Public Party/Advance NZ (and others like the Tamaki's Vision and the ONE Party) didn't register at all in the last major (CM, NRR) polls, like not even 0.1%. Of course that might change in the next polls.
I sometimes wonder if we need more unions back. Apart from the obvious wages and conditions stuff, they were a path to leadership and gave some sort of a voice and solidarity to various groups of people who often don't have a lot. Is some of this quite normal "need to belong" transfering to organised religion or organised conspiracy theories?
Very good suggestion Red. The old FOL did indeed provide a positive structure and framework that is now missing. Seems that sector (employees representation) is now a fractured shell of what it once was.
The chances of their party winning Te Tai Tokerau are as great as there are that my mum, a polio hobbler, will be picked at halfback and captain for the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup games. She died 11 tears ago.
Am I surprised by the nats newfound Interest in Rail? AND the Environment.Gotta laugh : )
Bishop says a train route to Mosgiel makes sense.
"If you work here in the Dunedin CBD and you live in Mosgiel, rather than getting into your car you will have a, you know, potentially you will have a transport option of getting on the train in the morning and going home again in the evening.
"That's not only great for the environment but it's also great for congestion on that route.
Crikey – that took them long enough to work out. Used to get the railcar out to Mosgiel to pick fruit back in the day – growers'd pick you up there – worked well for all concerned. Must’ve been forty years ago – plus ca change.
“The Rail and Maritime Transport Union, representing about 50 workers at Dunedin Railways, submitted a proposal on Thursday as part of a consultation process with management.
Options in the proposal included a commuter service to local destinations such as Mosgiel and Port Chalmers, or establishing a long-distance passenger service between Dunedin and other cities on the main south line.”
Yes of course I did. But seriously, the time for rail revival for commute has arrived. Its amazing to look back at Auckland rail system 20 years ago and compare it to today. And the year on year growth says it all. And thats before the City Rail Link opens. After that, another massive leap I would expect.
Hi sorry if got that wrong. Just wondering if your user name is based Christchurch?
You probably know this?
'However, the Public Transport Users' Association Christchurch spokesperson Tane Apanui said he was disappointed there was no commitment to a commuter rail service.
"We've had no assurances whatsoever from local council, regional council or central government – in fact it seems to have dropped off their radar completely.
"It appears that all the councils and the government pay lip service to our concerns but when it comes to the crunch they never follow through."
Mr Apanui is proposing a rail service that joins the North Canterbury townships of Amberley, Waipara, Rangiora, and Rolleston and Darfield, with the city.'
I think one of the problems in ChCh re commuter rail is the north rail line wanders somewhat after it leaves the Amberley area, diverting inland to Rangiora. Makes for a long slow journey.
Plus the area has straight motorway with excellent connections and relatively light traffic. Also, since the quake, ChCh lacks a meaningful CBD (more decentralised now).
The South line is maybe a goer, from Rolleston and through the industrial areas of Hornby and Blenheim Rd.
ChCh sprawls, and it just getting worse. The council just seems to have let ChCh become endless to the west. No real pockets of population like Wellington or Dunedin.
A little gift for train watchers – City of New Orleans. It’s like watching the passing of the idea that was the United States of America. Modern and effective and happy and good living. Now it’s :
And all the towns and people seem
To fade into a bad dream
And the steel rails still ain’t heard the news
The conductor sings his song again
The passengers will please refrain
This train’s got the disappearing railroad blues
I love the way the US armed gangs (debatable as to whether they are legally constituted "militia") have travelled to the west coast to protect property threatened by all the wildfires.
Oh, wait they're just focussing on protecting property from BLM protestors? lol
Murder rates would be up to five times higher than they are but for medical developments over the past 40 years…Without this technology, there would be no less than 50,000 and as many as 115,000 homicides annually instead of an actual 15,000 to 20,000
“New Zealand finance companies will be made to report on climate change risk, Climate Change Minister James Shaw has announced. The policy will force about 200 large financial organisations in New Zealand to disclose how exposed their business and investments are to climate-change related risk. Any bank, credit union, building society, investment scheme, insurer, or Crown Financial Institution with more than $1b in assets will be required to either disclose this risk or explain why it has not.”
“These 200 or so institutions will cover 90 per cent of the assets controlled in New Zealand, and includes large crown investors such as ACC and the NZ Super Fund.”
“While other countries are working on similar schemes, New Zealand is the first to introduce one – although entities will not be required to report on climate risk until 2023 at the earliest. ”
“Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has congratulated New Zealand on introducing the scheme. “Once again, New Zealand is leading the world,” Stiglitz said, in a video included with the press statement from Shaw.”
The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) has welcomed the New Zealand Government’s announcement today that it will require the business and finance sector to report on climate risks. “This marks a significant step forward and demonstrates New Zealand’s exemplary leadership on the global issue of climate change and the sustainability of New Zealand’s financial system and economy” said RIAA CEO Simon O’Connor.
Ms. Wooten also expressed concern regarding the high numbers of detained immigrant women at ICDC receiving hysterectomies. She stated that while some women have heavy menstruation or other severe issues that would require hysterectomy, “everybody’s uterus cannot be that bad.” Ms. Wooten explained:
Everybody he sees has a hysterectomy—just about everybody. He’s even taken out the wrong ovaryon a young lady [detained immigrant woman]. She was supposed to get her left ovary removed because it had a cyst on the left ovary;he took out the right one. She was upset. She had to go back to take out the left and she wound up with a total hysterectomy. She still wanted children—so she has to go back home now and tell her husband that she can’t bearkids… she said she was not all the way out under anesthesia and heard him [doctor] tell the nurse that he took the wrong ovary.
Ms. Wooten also stated that detained women expressed to her that they didn’t fully understand why theyhadto get a hysterectomy. She said:“I’ve had several inmates tell me that they’ve been to seethe doctorand they’ve had hysterectomies and they don’t know why they went or why they’re going.” And if the immigrants do understand what they’re getting done, “some of them a lot of times won’t even go, they say they’ll wait to get back to their country to go to the doctor.” The rate at which the hysterectomies have occurred have beena red flag for Ms. Wooten and other nurses at ICDC. Ms. Wooten explained:
We’ve questioned among ourselves like goodness he’s taking everybody’s stuff out…That’s his specialty, he’s the uterus collector. I know that’s ugly…is he collecting these things or something…Everybody he sees, he’s taking all their uteruses out or he’s taken their tubes out. What in the world
Legalized discrimination against Jews in Germany began immediately after the Nazi seizure of power in January 1933. Violence and economic pressure were used by the Nazi regime to encourage Jews to voluntarily leave the country.
The ideology of Nazism brought together elements of antisemitism, racial hygiene, and eugenics and combined them with pan-Germanism and territorial expansionism with the goal of obtaining more Lebensraum (living space) for the Germanic people. Nazi Germany attempted to obtain this new territory by attacking Poland and the Soviet Union, intending to deport or exterminate the Jews and Slavs living there, who were viewed as being inferior to the Aryan master race.
Beware of one's own unpleasant tendencies I think. It is important to not let the genie out of the bottle in politicians, who are close to that potent fuel, the mixture of power and hubris:
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely!
Another – Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right of being able to do what we ought.
It's all good. That southwest corner of Utah is kinda high on my list of places with lots of fun things to go and do in the outdoors. So if a bunch of the stupider inhabitants self-cull before my next chance to go there spend time having fun, all the better.
Our leaders will attempt to examine the possibility of life in some distant star by hook or by crook even if it kills us. It's the finding out that counts.
Bloody bikes. And mountain bikes have become as invading and pernicious as motor bikes. Men and machines – what is it? Get out in the open air on your two legs, enjoy the world instead of trying to jump off it into space for a short time. Do things for yourself, by yourself, you don't need a machine all the time. And people are beginning to hate you, see you as vandals and savages. In Nelson an area was set aside for a mountain bike track, but that wasn't enough for the m-bikers, some of them chopped down other trees so they could go where they want.
And machines instead of walking. Those scooters – in a few years there will be weakened right legs with muscular left after doing all the work. Then the motorised ones that swish past as fast as cars but on the footpaths. And of course the bikes ridden by adults and children at speed and disconcerting everyone’s peaceful existence. Bicycles will have to have registration plates I think, where they can be seen as you lie on the footpath and they go swiftly out of sight.
(And the behind closed doors sounds familiar. The males are not known for their retiring ways, if they want something they advocate strongly, and there are many middle class males with time and money and expensive machines who have taken up this sport, and they get on Councils and places where their say is It. And who can deny them their rights to have what they want, being healthy and fit in the outdoors – Godzone.)
edit
Ho, it's mainly males who are into mountain biking; the females are the obsessive sports mad ones.
And I don't care about whether cycling is better for your health or not it isn't good for the health of people walking to have machines riding round and past them, with cyclists imposing themselves into what used to be a peaceful and enjoyable exercise.
And if it says cycle track then only people who can't read would expect there not to be cyclists on it. But when it's a footpath that doesn't work in the other direction does it.
Really, all the women cyclists I know also go mountain biking.
And then, of course, it doesn’t matter who is mostly doing the riding same as it doesn’t matter who is doing the typewriting.
And if it says cycle track then only people who can't read would expect there not to be cyclists on it.
Councils have an irritating habit of making them both and its stupid. And when I go out riding I always find people walking on the cycle paths. Both happen, largely I think, because many people mistakenly believe that bicycles, unlike cars, are safe.
And all the cyclists I know will stay off footpaths.
to support Cyclists. There are sadly "some" Cyclists who are boneheads…vastly outnumbered by bonehead vehicle steerers.
The casualty/death statistic of Cyclists in NZ caused by vehicles…is appalling.
I've talked to overseas Cyclists (Dutch, German, Scandinavian…but all Countries) and they have never struck the slack driver attitudes…some bordering on hate (purposely steering at/going as close as possible : ( of NZed.
Re dual use tracks. I fitted a bell on all my Bikes (yes i have a few : ) Doesnt work on the earbud/ph txting doofus. Or the Dog…that is running free ahead of the owner…on tracks that specifically say "Dogs on leads.Under control"
Back when everyone knew politics was sure-fire death by boredom, the yippies proved it could be fun, so I got a way to game the system. Just provide an angle nobody else has thought of, then watch it catch on as everyone realised they too could escape boredom via an unconventional way forward. https://www.history.com/news/yippies-1968-dnc-convention
So to Abbie Hoffman's definition of free speech, thoughtfully recycled by Matt Taibbi recently: Free speech is the right to shout theatre in a crowded fire.
Steal This Book was trite. I recall my copy being on my bookcase for at least a year before someone stole it. Didn't notice the vanishing until at least three decades later when I went looking for it, so no problem. His FBI file "was 13,262 pages long" according to Wikipedia.
By the late 1960s, Hoffman and Rubin had come to believe that American politics and culture had devolved into a state of abject absurdity.
Deja vu all over again again.
During an anti-war march in 1967 in Washington, DC, Hoffman, Rubin and the poet Allen Ginsberg organized a public exorcism of the Pentagon. Dressed in wild costumes and aided by Mayan healers, the crowd attempted to cast out the demons of war and even to levitate the massive five-sided home of the U.S. Department of Defense.
You can imagine the young Donald Trump watching, going "Hmmm, these wackos are actually onto something. I need to think more like that!"
“The image was the message,” says Jonah Raskin, an emeritus professor of communication studies at Sonoma State University who was friends with Hoffman and wrote the 1992 biography For the Hell of It: The Life and Times of Abbie Hoffman. Raskin describes Hoffman and Rubin’s colorful protest methods as “guerilla theater” tailor-made for TV cameras.
Hoffman and Rubin’s ragtag crew didn’t officially become the Yippies until January 1968 when the group got high in a New York apartment and dreamed up the best way to protest the upcoming convention in Chicago. The Democratic party, in their eyes, had become the “National Death Party” for its staunch support of the Vietnam War.
Unfair to target the leftists: the death cult of mainstreamers has always been stauchly bipartisan, as Richard Nixon would shortly prove. Taibbi links to now:
In Defense of Looting is supposed to be the woke generation’s answer to Steal This Book, another anarchist instructional published in an epic period of unrest… So this is a 288-page book written by a Very Online Person in support of the idea that other people should loot, riot, and burn things in the real world. Style-wise, In Defense of Looting continues the impressive streak of the woke movement having yet to produce a single readable piece of literature.
Showing his age. Youngsters who spend their lives on the phone can't reasonably be expected to produce literature.
Another case of " moan moan moan, me me me " again. If you can't sell your private language course without a work visa then you are selling the visa not the course. Another of our super bright business sectors shows how dumb they really are. And no mention of the locals who need to compete for those jobs and the cost of the welfare to support them.
This sector needs to see the changes as an opportunity and upskill or reskill and not depend on the government for help. That's what the unemployed get told isn't it?
Well thank God for that – the immigration traders hollowed out the industry for the actual ESL teachers and their genuine clientele – who were a small but fairly select group usually doing it as prep for higher education.
Coming to any country is a privilege and not a right. When there is growing unemployment people need to ask who is the priority an overseas student with a work visa or a person seeking work who is on unemployment.
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
The Minister Responsible for GCSB and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security have been notified of this review, and have been provided a finalised Terms of Reference. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Minglu Chen, Senior Lecturer, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Robert Way/Shutterstock As the past few years have illustrated so clearly, the Australia-China relationship is complicated. As such, it is crucial for Australians to develop a more nuanced understanding of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mariana Campbell, Research Lecturer, Conservation, Charles Darwin University Marilyn Connell Australian freshwater turtles are facing an alarming trend. Almost half of these species are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is one of Australia’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debbie Passey, Digital Health Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josephine Barbaro, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, Psychologist, La Trobe University Unsplash We’ve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder ...
PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s deputy opposition leader James Nomane has accused the government of “reckless economic management” that has forced devaluation to manage loan repayments in foreign currency and placate the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister James Marape “must stop lying to the people of Papua New Guinea”, ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Jane Arthur, author of Brown Bird, and former bookseller at Good Books.The book I wish I’d writtenI have been working on not comparing myself to others. On accepting that what I can ...
The final decision on the Wellington District Plan makes it official: High-density housing is legal across most of Wellington. Housing minister Chris Bishop has announced his decision on the Wellington District Plan, approving a series of amendments to radically upzone most of Wellington, allowing tens of thousands of new townhouses ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to ...
RNZ News As Israel presses ahead with strikes in Rafah and seizing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, aid agencies are sounding the alarm of a “catastrophic humanitarian situation”. Rafah was “significant” because it was the only part in Gaza that had not been terribly damaged by the conflict, United Nations ...
With funding set to be scrapped for the Hamilton-Auckland commuter train, Te Huia enthusiast Georgie Dansey argues for it to be thrown a lifeline. It’s 5.45am and the chain of my crappy old bike falls off slugging up the one hill in Hamilton. I contemplate yeeting the bike into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Cooke, Honorary Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and wellbeing globally. We all see ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Brail, Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto A shift to hybrid and remote work continues to affect worker presence in Toronto’s downtown.(Shutterstock) Downtown Toronto, the core of Canada’s largest city, continues to reel from the lingering ...
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...
Productivity apps now make up a big chunk of the software market. But do they work? And why do they all have AI integrations?Despite being firmly on the record as a physical planner fan, I sometimes dream of something better than my pretty diary and its scrawled, ugly, interior ...
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office. Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...
An objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. It’s power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, there’s the rich list and the powerful “c-suite” list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeer’s phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gadd’s story has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology Ans Westra, self-portrait, c. 1963. National Library ref AWM-0705-F They try but invariably fail – those writers who believe they are capable of encapsulating in prose or verse the essence of ...
Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the growing concern around the world in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. What’s all this? When Covid-19 arrived on our shores in early 2020, some argued we were too slow, or crucially, ill-prepared for a pandemic. So ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Franco Montalto, Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and Director, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory, Drexel University Water runs into a storm drain in a Los Angeles alley on Aug. 19, 2023, during Tropical Storm Hilary.Citizen of the Planet/Universal Images ...
The inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones has turned up a new witness who says he saw two teenagers and a small child in a high vis vest in the area where the boy’s body was found the day he died. Lachie’s body was discovered face up ...
Stories from the tenancy trenches, featuring spider infestations, cupboard rats and same-sex discrimination. Lucy’s brother was living in a damp 1930s building in Mt Eden where “he had to tie the cupboard doors closed so the rats didn’t get in”. Although he shared custody of his six-year-old son, his property ...
Simeon Brown, Chris Luxon, and Wayne Brown climbed into a hole and announced a plan to solve Auckland’s water woes. This is how it’ll work. New Zealand’s pipes are munted. They’re cracked and leaking, and struggling to handle all the extra poos excreted by our rising population. It’s a big, ...
I knew Taika Waititi quite well when he was a kid. His mother lived in a tall narrow house in Aro St, and my youngest sister had a similar house two doors along. They were both single mums, they each had a son aged seven. Taika and my nephew Stepan ...
Opinion: “As time passes, knowledge of the circumstances of the August 2016 outbreak will fade and its immediate impact will be lost.” This statement is from the 2017 report of the Official Inquiry into the Havelock North campylobacteriosis outbreak. The then National-led government established the inquiry after the outbreak left ...
Opinion: Nicholas Khoo looks at two key points in the high-stakes foreign policy pact debate – and asks if NZ can engage with as little drama as possible. The post Where to next for the Aukus ruckus? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Opinion: ‘Reference-class forecasting’ is at the heart of improving pricing a project and identifying the expected timeframe but it doesn’t appear to be in use here The post ‘Think fast and act slowly’ is failing big projects appeared first on Newsroom. ...
What do a sombrero in Argentina and cognitive driving tests have in common? Don’t worry, we’re not setting up a bad joke. Hinengaro Clinic dementia clinician Gregory Winkelman has the answer on today’s episode of The Detail. “We ask a patient’s spouse or son or daughter: If you went to ...
Wellington long jumper Phoebe Edwards is back and she’s having fun again. Until this year, Edwards, a top athlete in her teens, had never competed as a senior athlete in New Zealand. In March, the 26-year-old won a national long jump title in a lifetime best of 6.28m after ...
After replacing a fifth of their caucus in just four months, the Greens’ opportunity to reset, reshuffle and refocus on the Government is quickly slipping away The post Persistent Green Party scandals delay caucus reset appeared first on Newsroom. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
By Robin Martin, RNZ News reporter A New Zealand local authority, Whanganui District Council, has passed a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, condemnation of all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides of the conflict and the immediate return of hostages. It comes as ...
Asia Pacific Report The Aotearoa chapter of the Women’s International league for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has appealed to the New Zealand government to call out Israel over the “cruel and barbaric use of force” in Gaza and demand a permanent ceasefire. The league’s open letter was sent to Prime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will invest $566 million over a decade on data, maps and other tools to promote exploration and development in Australia’s resources industry. The project will fund “the first comprehensive map of what’s ...
Asia Pacific Report Following an open letter by Auckland University academics speaking out in support of their students’ right to protest against the genocidal Israeli war on Gaza, a group of academics at Otago University have today also called on New Zealand academic institutions to “repair colonial violence” and end ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda J. Graham, Professor and Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education, Queensland University of Technology Ryan Tauss/ Unsplash, CC BY Two male students have been expelled from a Melbourne private school for their involvement in a list ranking female students. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Reserve Bank is now assuming Australians will see no interest rate cuts this year – and quite possibly none before the next federal election, due next May. That’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University The Victorian budget offered more of the same on Tuesday, with the only change being how the budget papers were packaged. The usual shrink wrap was gone, hinting at savings in the pages ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Coalition is demanding extensive amendments to the government’s legislation targeting non-citizens who refuse to co-operate with their removal. In a dissenting report to the senate inquiry into the legislation, the Coalition says it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanita Yadav, Senior Research Fellow, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Brett Boardman/Belvoir The complex and grappling issue of violence against women takes centre stage in the soul-stirring solo dance drama Nayika: A Dancing Girl. During a dinner conversation ...
Disruption to patient care from a nationwide junior doctors strike is bordering on unsafe, a senior doctor claims, despite what health officials say. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Ground Picture/Shutterstock The anti-cancer drug abemaciclib (also known as Vernezio) has this month been added to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to treat certain ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic McAfee, Postdoctoral researcher, marine ecology, University of Adelaide Robbie Porter, OzFish Unlimited Around Australia, hundreds of people are coming together to help a once-prized, but decimated and largely forgotten marine ecosystem. They’re busy restoring Australia’s native oyster and mussel reefs. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Webb, Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology Austin Human/Unsplash How does Earth stop meteors from hitting Earth and hurting people? –Asher, 6 years 11 months, New South Wales Alright, let’s embark on a meteor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rory Mulcahy, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of the Sunshine Coast Professional sports organisations regularly promote and develop initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion. While sport has the power to change attitudes by sparking conversations about political issues and social ...
Comment: The weekly Monday post-Cabinet press conference is a useful forum for observing Christopher Luxon and how he is developing into the job of Prime Minister. He attempts to convey the impression of a man of action, speaking fast, delivering memorised National Party strategies in a connect-the-slogans kind of way, ...
Double votes, missing ballot boxes, tired tech and stressed staff: how tick-tallying went astray at last year’s election. Cast your mind back to November 2023, that bleary-eyed post-election period duringwhichwewaited, andwaited, for a coalition deal to be hammered out. A distraction from the hotel-hopping of our ...
Jamie-Lee Ross has given up on getting Botany and goes on the list alone.
Must've had some internal polls.
Very sad – his party is the only interesting thing in this entire election.
Ad, I think you're probably sleep-deprived.
May you live in interesting times, Ad 😉
I guess psychopaths are kind of interesting. Also.
The sad thing about jlr completely jumping the shark is that he has let national off the hook for its dodgy fundraising and selling of list spots .
The wonderful, wonderful Jami-Lee.
Charter Schools will be back if the Nats get elected apparently. Vast amounts of taxpayers money funnelled to a few dodgy private education providers with little or no oversight. Sure to be a vote winner right?
Gosh they're not even trying to win flogging that horse again however the campaign contributions are always welcome.
i hear private schools receiving funding is ok, just ask Shane Jones to put it on a 'shovel ready list' and the male co-leader of a support/supply confidence party to sign it off. 🙂 And besides Charter schools were always on the books for National and ACT. They at the very least have been very honest about who is gonna get money from them.
What is good for the geese is good for the gander and thus if National does it is now OK. No more high horses here for Lefties.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/govt-cant-afford-to-stop-funding-private-schools-yet
Well, the of course the government must keep continuing funding the projects of their 'peers' 🙂
Its the funding of those that have no money that the government must not keep up, you know, the beneficiaries, the unemployed, soon to be unemployed, falling of the covid unemployment and such. They can just go get fucked, find a ditch to live in and learn the value of 'work'. Cause That is government. No difference between the lot of them.
Are you a speed-reader?
@ Sabine …. "Cause That is government. No difference between the lot of them" unfortunately that is exactly right, both Labour and National are free market liberal political parties, the only difference is in their delivery of this short sighted selfish ideology…one is driving straight toward the cliff, while the other is taking the scenic route.
Yup, they’re all as bad as each other except they’re not.
https://www.greens.org.nz/education_policy
Thank you incog for some sanity….if people actually read the Green Party policies instead of listening to the gotcha hits from the Herald and Tova O'Brien they just might see who has progressive policies and vote accordingly.
@Incognito, Look Shaw is a free market liberal, that is just a fact….and he was voted in by Green Party members…so of course by default their political ideology is tied directly to his leadership, and belief system, is it not?
"James Peter Edward Shaw (born 6 May 1973) is a New Zealand politician and a leader of the … Shaw believes that the market can be reformed to incorporate sustainability within its normal operations."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Shaw_(New_Zealand_politician)
The problem with the NZ Greens is that while of course they are with out doubt better than the other two main parties, while they follow a Liberal free market ideology, they can only ever win some battles, but will without question lose the war..in other words under Shaws leadership and ideological direction they are on the same path as Labour/National, heading toward the same cliff..just in slow motion…but moving toward it none the less.
So you don't think that word "free" actually means anything?
What do mean?
When the word "free" is put in front of the word "market", do you think that actually means anything?
In the same way folk dismiss a sky fairy, it matters not what adjective you use to describe a 'market', in this use of the word, it is still an abstract fiction.
A good point. The word free as its used in the term free-market means without rules or regulations.
And thus we see dangerous drugs, marketed as legal highs, enter the market.
Don’t you find it ironic that instead of focussing on the Education Policy of the Green Party you focus one on single individual? You also seem to know that individual very well and attributing certain powers (e.g. power of persuasion?) to this single person. How much influence do you ascribe to this person in setting out Policies of the Green Party? Why do you think this person apologised publically and profoundly to the Party and its members? Should we nominate this person for Oscar for best acting?
Adrian: Is it salient or just semantics to query the lack of the words 'Liberal' and 'free market' in your quote, "Shaw believes that the market can be reformed to incorporate sustainability within its normal operations."? It would not seem out of place for the Co-Leader of the Green Party to accept that there has to be some sort of market or means of exchange that incorporates 'green' controls. After all, the 'free' market is already riddled with controls that cater for the financial interests of 'the investors'.
Amazingly enough, so do I.
I just don't think that capitalism can be. Need to get rid of the ownership paradigm that allows the few to bludge off of the rest of us.
Maybe you are both right, however I have a strong suspicion you are following a fools errand with that one, I believe that when 95% of humans are allowed to open the pandora box that is the 'greed' motive deeply imbedded into the psyche they will act only for short term gain, which is of course exactly what we don't want….as Alan Greenspan actually had to admit himself…
And as free markets are and will always be chained to the unrelenting commodification of all resources for profit motive I fail to see how the end result I have described above could possibly be avoided?
Well, in that case, you could vote for the Green Party 😉
I should clarify:
I think a market could be made to work with all encompassing regulations.
I don't think a free-market could be as there's simply no control.
I agree. If someone is a wealthy bludger, they should at least acknowledge it instead of just trotting round looking askance at anyone who isn't a high rater in the materialism and consumerism stakes which is all they seem to think about.
So if you see some ordinary folks on your lawn, give them some leeway; 'Don't be so quick to 'eave 'alf a brick, It's the missis, meself and the boys.' ex Pam Ayres
http://hummingblonde.blogspot.com/2015/01/poem-4-starlings.html
a free market is just a pyramid scheme that hasnt collapsed yet.
lol.
yeah, retrain all the dears that lost their jobs over the last few month, pay them next to nothing (same as National btw) to do so while they live in their ditch, so as to learn the value of 'work'.
Yeah, same bull, just with sprinkles, pink glittery kinder gentler sprinkles.
Thanks incognito for your daily buoyancy and sense.
John Clarke has some great points about politics. Are we the same as Australians.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5m5B_C2VB0
I like it 200%
Sabine – you'll be delighted and encouraged by this news! It elevates the status of James Shaw.
"Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz congratulated New Zealand on introducing the scheme.
“Once again, New Zealand is leading the world,” Stiglitz said, in a video included with the press statement from Shaw.
In a statement, the Responsible Investment Association Australasia welcomed the announcement.
“This marks a significant step forward and demonstrates New Zealand’s exemplary leadership on the global issue of climate change and the sustainability of New Zealand’s financial system and economy,” RIAA chief Simon O’Connor said."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/300107158/election-2020-financial-sector-will-have-to-report-on-climate-change-risk-in-worldfirst-move
Here is the crucial point that that I made a week or so back; private schools essentially subsidise the state system, not the other way around has everyone assumes:
(From Incog’s link above.)
Well so far our private schools have not become profit seeking entities as far as I know. If I understand it correctly in the UK private profit making businesses are being handed state schools to run under an education trust type models -often with the parents having little or no say in the decisions.
With the charter school model how long before something similar is tried here.
I would have a real problem with a model that collected taxes from the general public then handed those dollars over to private organisations who generated profits and large salaries and used the left overs to actually fund an education.
I'd expect even funds now handed out to private schools to come with some strict tags around maximum salaries etc. The government could start with the universities, tagging public funds to ensure excessive salaries advertising etc are not soaking up that money or the money the students pay.
That seems like a reasonable boundary. Although it has to be said the vast majority of independent schools in NZ are run by people who are doing it for a philosophical or religious reason, eg the Montessori, Steiner and Catholic schools.
By and large making a profit is a relatively low consideration for them and I'd guess that the salaries being paid are nothing startling as a rule.
Agreed. I have had the fortunate position having taught in State, Independent and Private schools and tertiary institutions over a 40 year career in education. My last teaching position was in a private Steiner school and I have to say that it was the most productive and amazing learning experience I ever had in the classroom. I was paid a fraction of the full salary I would have received in a State School. Contrary to popular belief none of the students at the school came from wealthy homes. Of the students in my class, one graduated at the top of her class in med school and is now working in mental health, another is a regional co-convenor of the Green Party and an elected member on a local community board. Another had been constantly absent from his local state school, and in desperation his mother asked if I could accept him into my class. He is now an engineering graduate.
On the other hand, the worst school I ever experienced was an elite private school on the North Shore. One of the words it has in its motto is "Aroha" – a quality distinctly lacking in the school's culture at that time. It was an extremely abusive climate, and my health still suffers. If I had not left when I did after 3 years, I know I would be dead by now. While I was there, one teacher who was under extreme pressure, committed suicide. The comments from the parents were "How could she do that to the children!"
Of the State schools, they also varied from extremely good to hopeless. The climate there was totally dependent on the senior staff and staff turn-over reflected that. In the worst State school I was only there on secondment for the last term of the year, having been "lent" from my permanent position so I could be with my parents in Wellington in the final days of their life. Almost half the staff at that school left on the final day of the school year, and my 3 months was one of the longest periods of service at that time in the school.
I have not previously participated in this ongoing debate on the Green's Education policy despite being a paid up Green member and personally knowing Catherine Delahunty, the Education Spokesperson for the Greens during her time as an MP and the person most responsible for the current Education policy. I do think there has been a lot of ill informed commentary on this matter and take my hat off to weka et al who have valiantly tried to keep the facts of the matter front and centre. There are many parts of the Greens Education policy that are progressive and would make a huge difference to our schools nation wide, but I am not so sure wrt the matter of private schools. As you note Red, they do have their place.
As a social worker in the late '60's one of my client families involved a young lad who was extremely able, but his whanau through circumstance, were no longer able to care for him. After working with them for some time it became apparent that they would love to see him being given the opportunity to attend Te Aute College. It was a great solution, they were able to enrol him and he enjoyed the school, and did well. He brought mana to an otherwise desperate whanau, and such an opportunity was not available in the State system.
Both my parents were teachers and their experiences align very much with what you are saying here. The classroom experience was usually fine, the staffroom experience varied a lot more. So much depends on the character and quality of the head teacher and staff.
But otherwise thank you for an informed view on this story.
Macro Is Te Aute still going?
And what reports have you heard about the InZone school program started in Auckland by the USA guy.
https://inzoneeducation.org.nz/
Does this actually work? It showed Auckland Grammer & Epsom as the schools but I thought it went on parent address – not a private hostel that fees are paid to? Also is it Maori & Pasifika or the ones who can pay a big fee?
These state schools are apparently pretty good at sifting out the parent who rents a short term flat etc too get their kids in or has some other fiddle going.
@ RedBaron – as far as I know yes the programme begun by the guy from the States still works. If you visit the website linked to by greyrawshark you will see there recent news items featuring past and present students who have benefited from the scheme. He has returned to his home town and has begun a similar programme there, although he keeps in touch with those the Auckland venture. There was a documentary about him and the programme a few years back. Both of the schools here were very supportive of the scheme, as were the parents.
@greyrawshark – Yes Te Aute is still going. It became an integrated school under the Kirk Government in the 1970's
@RedBaron
Here is a documentary recorded last year in which the founder and current director talk about the project
edit
From Macro 2.01pm
I have teachers in the family. There used to be something called collegiality so that teachers worked together to share and learn from each other. But it wasn't noticeable at the primary school where my sister taught. The principal was at the behest of the school board, and could be unreasonable and played favourites with the teachers, certainly did not have a good working and supportive relationship with them all. My sister used to be given the kids that others couldn't control but in the end rebelled with one or two, and sent them to the Principal to deal with. She'd work till 11 pm most weeknights.
My brother retired early from his tech training classes as he found the boys too hard to control and – they could be quite confronting and undisciplined. He now builds guitars which he enjoys.
Yes very much a major factor in many schools. This was a matter that was earnestly protected back in the 90's with the desire by the Nat govt to move to bulk funding and performance pay. This was strenuously resisted by the PPTA and the teaching profession as such changes in renumeration practice would have lead to competitive practices and the loss of collegiality; and a subsequent decline in pedagogy. I remember that teachers at the time were willing to forgo an increase in salary, simply to retain the then current pay scheme and avoid bulk funding.
Teachers at integrated schools (a large chunk of these are Catholic schools) are paid by MoE (cue: Novopay).
Interesting replies above. I think integrated schools are generally a good thing in that they provide some diversity without I believe being allowed to charge massive fees (are they capped?) and the money goes to the schools not any profit related overheads, unlike the UK experience.
AFAIK theses schools also have to take (within reason) all comers so to speak and adhere to national curriculums. In other words non catholic can attend catholic schools.
I would have real trouble funding the likes of say Gloriavale because by design these are schools that exclude any who are not attached to the main "sect" for want of a better word.
https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/education/school-system
Catholic schools accept about 5% ‘all comers’ (I think the term is “non-preference student”). If they accept more than their maximum roll, they will not get extra/additional funding for those students from MoE. In Auckland, there is a lot of pressure on (these) schools to accept students.
Knowing what your children are being taught is important. Is the curriculum balanced or indoctrinating? Some primary schools have quite disturbing religious instruction from people who are not teachers, and they may be taught the opposite to what parents believe and think appropriate.
Economic crime costs up to $9.4bn
Something tells me that, if they weren't stealing so much from us in the first place, we wouldn't have any trouble properly funding education up to, and including, all the private schools.
And that was in 2014 – it would have gotten worse since.
Of course we can afford to stop funding private schools. Where else do you think the money that funds comes from? The rich? The rich don't pay for anything as if they did they wouldn't remain rich.
Ha! Love that!
The rich don’t pay, they invest. Please keep up.
but are they charter schools with double glazing and cyrstal gardens? If so its ok.
Or is it only not ok when National does it, but when others do it they take one leader to sing mea culpa (befitting the old adage of ‘its easier to say sorry then to ask permission) and the other leader to stand there and add gravitas. (Stand by your man….lalalalala)
Perturbing.
https://www.facebook.com/Shavezchz/videos/10224288679868414
What happened to the video I posted? It played successfully for a while, then disappeared!?
Ha! Then reappeared!
not showing for me now either, but it was before. I reposted below too.
What a ticking time bomb the ' Land of the free, home of the brave' has become.
I thought the thinking behind bearing arms, was to protect yrself from the state, not from yr fellow townsfolk.
Cue some misguided comment about Trumps America. This has been building for years, while he has done nothing to calm the waters, this suits the presidency to the ground. Keep the people distracted while the corprotocracy rolls on.
This shit is nothing new….Obama changed nothing, in fact most statistics for African Americans went down under that useless free market, wall st lovin', drone lovin' smooth talking Obama….and then we all ended up with Trump…Obama's actual legacy….the forever downward spiral of free market capitalism literally punches us in the face with Trump, yet for some unknown reason most people still only see this governance and ideology as viable…so get get ready to get punched and kicked some more, till we are all on our knees begging for mercy.
How Obama Destroyed Black Wealth https://jacobinmag.com/2017/12/obama-foreclosure-crisis-wealth-inequality
America just spent 8 years with a black president. For many African Americans, it meant one big thing: freedom to ‘dream’ https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-na-obama-african-americans/
Militias, police, lawyers, charismatic leaders, tribalism, race, exile. Mangatawhiri to Mohaka 1863 – 1872.
You seem to be obsessed with one small issue Sabine….surely policies related to bigger issues such as climate change and alleviating poverty should be taking centre stage so close to the election. Or are you a closet ACT voter trying to destroy the Greens?
or just a serial moaner?
Taxpayers Union will be right onto that, for sure.
National candidate makes false claims about his work / business acumen.
Collins moans about lockdown staying at 2.5 and 2 in the South Island saying South Islanders are fed up yeah fed up with National undermining our efforts.
Seymour chimes in what an idiot.
Looking around the World those countries that are following the National ACT business before people's lives are not only allowing people to die unnecessarily their businesses and economies are in much worse shape.
Con woman Collins and slimy Seymour making idiots out of themselves for cheap desperate political gain.
Media anywhere on the nth harbour Nat MP ? Granny has the full size National party pop up ad you have to remove to read the banner and insert nat party ads alongside the page also.
Our owned media.
uBlock origin and Ghostery own the owned media.
Political gain is ahead of the health of the nation. I have always had the view that good health is better than having money.
@tc 3.1
Those are just paid National Party ads on Stuff and the Herald. I doubt they have much to do with the editorial line of the papers themselves. The pop up banner ad on the Herald sure is annoying though.
What is interesting is that National must spending loads on these ads and Labour doesn’t seem to be spending anything much at all so far?
Saw a post on Twitter that claimed the Nats are in trouble in Rotorua, a seat they won comfortably in 2017. Tukituki has also been talked up as a possible Labour gain.
I think the research shows direct voter contact is what makes an actual difference. No one changes their vote or gets out to vote because of an advertisement. Talking to people, listening to their concerns and explaining things such as how you can get enrolled to vote or where their nearest polling booth is can make a difference.
The picture of Jacinda with a netball team on the front page of the ODT today is all the advertising Labour needs.
JLR…aka Simon Bridges bagman.. ex nat party whip and otherwise scumbag. Has found somewhere..
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/426050/election-2020-jami-lee-ross-not-contesting-botany-seat
Someone please tell me the claims in this article by JLR are bs re the chances of Advance NZ gaining any seats, lists or otherwise.
I have ignored these nutters until now as I thought they were just a sad joke. Maybe not (still a sad joke, just now also a dangerous sad joke).
We have quite a few 'supporters' in our small rural top of the south island community – pro Qanon, anti-1080 -vaccination – fluoride -5G anti you name it! They are very vocal on Facebook but not one of them turned up to the Advance NZ candidate meeting or cafe meet up here this week I hear. Are they enrolled to vote and will they actually bother to vote?
The candidate has not signed up to contest the electorate yet, but there are still 3 days to go and a small matter of $300 to pay.
North of Nelson by any chance? Takaka?
No Peter ChCh, south of Nelson halfway to the West Coast surprisingly.
tell them the election is just a hoax designed to get them into a booth and take their dna , that will enrage and please them equally(thats a whole other conspiracy)
It might pay to be informed about anti 5G instead of just dismissing a group protesting about something new. It took a time to get people to take Covid-19 seriously, thank goodness we did. Every new bit of technology can't be good. Perhaps we need to get vaccinations each year against the new influx of technology.
The latest is that our Polytech in our smart city is talking about developing pilotless planes. Our polytechnics were where people went to get skills for jobs. Now they are about to develop systems that will replace people's jobs. That's progress folks.
And it probably means that we will become a small centre for developing armed force systems and munitions; there is money in those, probably the biggest manufacturer and systems development in the world. And then there is space equipment to spend money on.
Meanwhile the people's skills and the communities of the living on Planet Earth try to continue with our humanity and our civilisation – until the land is commandeered for some august purpose or growing palm oil trees for profit.
The problem is that Polytechs went from largely trades based ('skills for jobs') to believing that they are universities. They are not! Their degrees are mostly regurgitation, rather than critical thinking.
The pilotless planes research is the stuff that BE students do, usually as part of their Masters or Phd. It really has no place in a Polytech.
And as for those useless BAdmin etc that many Polys churn out as a way to scam overseas students, dont get me started!
That was my impression about Polytechs, under neolib influence though. You seem to have some definite knowledge.
Or you can, like, download it off the internet. And then play with it in your own time and learn that way.
Learning isn't restricted to schools and universities. IMO, its a life long endeavour which our society hasn't really taken into account yet.
To steal a bit from Plato, self-learning is walking around in a dark cave. You'll probably be okay feeling around slowly, but you might get overconfident and walk off a ledge into a chasm (think people who watch too much youtube theories).
You get a teacher who knows the field and has a structured plan (doesn't have to be university or whatever, but some sort of a tutor or master.apprentice), and they're shining a torch at items of interest in the cave. Pretty soon you have a good idea of where everything is and the shape of that cave – and where the pitfalls are.
When I was at polytech getting my degree a couple of years back it was, essentially, directed self-learning with deadlines. IMO, this works quite well but we need to find a way so as to get everyone involved in it.
So we do have teachers and structured plans and degrees showing progress but it's not limited to only those who go to the school/polytech/university.
As I say, the government, and society in general, hasn't really twigged to the fact that learning is a life long endeavour and that we need to encourage it and recognise the milestones that people achieve even if they haven't gone to school to achieve it.
"Directed".
And polytech ain't university, traditionally. For a phd you specifically need to somehow increase the sum of all human knowledge. To qualify as a swiss watchmaker they give you a sheet of steel and you make a watch using the knowledge they taught you.
I don't disagree that "self-taught" can be a thing. Most people who claim it have big gaps in their knowledge. And might not have thought it through.
And that usually requires playing silly buggers with the unknown. Can't learn something new by doing the same thing over and over again.
Yeah, about that:
A very well-calculated pile of bricks and timbers, with multiple fail-safe and contingency plans.
Dude in his kitchen… not so much.
self learning has no profit in it. big $$$ in teaching you how to learn (sorry, selling you a qualification). bloody utube has cost forprofit education a fortune…..righto, off to have a go at dentistry
Yes, it is. Requiring less people to do stuff means that the nation can actually do more stuff. That's actually how a nation become richer both culturally and economically.
Agree Draco, but sadly the strategy under both Labour and National for decades has been to replace jobs by new more efficient technology (good), then leave many deskilled and in low paid jobs (bad), then introduce even cheaper labour via backpackers and other non resident imports that will work more for even less (ultra bad).
Just seems like the underpants theives on South Park. Successive governments just seem like they only understand the first step. No overall strategy.
The government see a profit off of an action and decide to do more of that action and look for export markets resulting in stagnation and even destruction (see our waterways).
What needs to happen is that, once the local market is met, that resources get shifted to something else and thus we get diversification and development.
But we don't want to become richer as a nation. That's in the past. That's going round countries robbing them of their resources, that is always wanting growth. That is separating off into income stratas and spending time always wanting, not being grateful and happy and enjoying what we have.
You are stuck in the 20th century DTB and it's no good being there because it led us to here and it is not good being in the world at this time watching it be destroyed. And the worst is, finding that when people get better off in the western world, they get meaner. So it doesn't help society to be happier and enjoy their lives. And then it is a ratrace to get more and change the car for a better one, and the curtains and the lounge. Wasteful use of resources is the result.
So your idea above is bollocks.
Yes, we do. We really don't want to return to the past.
Higher productivity doesn't necessitate growth but it does allow people to live better lives.
Yeah, no.
What have I said on here over the last 10 years that makes you think that I think that the present system is good?
Even the comment that you responded to was, in its way, pointing out the failure of the present system which seeks only to do more of the same stuff rather than doing different stuff and developing the economy and society.
You are sincere DTB but stuck in the premises of the mind of the 20th century. After WW2 we had the rest of the century to compose ourselves and get on with using our intelligence to make a sustainable and happy society. So yes you may not agree with what happened then, but it is too late to start again. We had one chance and we blued? it.
And in line with my startling discovery (to me) of what was very plain but I hadn't processed it, we are incapable of living just better lives and also ensuring that all others around us have their needs attended to as well (so all have satisfactory lives). That leads to limiting our lives against excess, which would mean closing bars down at reasonable hours so limiting alcoholism by the vulnerable etc. You won't agree with that probably. Alcohol is a big drain on the nation's purse, and saps individual's vigour and their families are impacted too.
Higher productivity doesn't necessitate growth but it does allow people to live better lives.
Which people? The few producing? What about the others once employed perhaps doing the dirty jobs? They might have liked the camaraderie, the physical activity that went along with that, and would stick at it provided they got paid decently.
The reason that your idea has got big holes in it, is the fact that people like to work. That's most of the time. They will go on working for nothing if there is a crisis, and they think it is important to carry on. Our surnames tend to be formed from the trades that people carried out; miller, smith. There is satisfaction in a skill and it has always been part of the esteem felt by others. Women usually don't get differentiated in old family histories because they did everything and didn't earn their living from it, though in 15th/16th centuries there were Wif,Wife,Husewif surnames.
Jobs, earning, are important to self-esteem and to the sort of recognition you get from society. No-one respects the unemployed, and women being disrespected caused the feminist push in the 1970s, If there are fewer jobs, with higher productivity, will the unemployed be enabled to find their own gifts, pursue them, and be paid adequately for their own contribution to the life and outputs of their home town? They aren't now, and in the next few months it will be interesting to see how government treat those not able to get any or enough employment to keep themselves plus families in secure, warm housing.
Pretty sure you'll find that I've suggested doing just that.
There's a difference between liking to work and being challenged and doing the chores. We get rid of the chores and develop better challenges.
Yes and yes.
Of course not as our economic system only rewards the rich by allowing them to steal from everybody else but where have I said that we need to keep the failed system that we have now?
And, after all that, none of you diatribe addresses the fact that better productivity does allow better living.
The list is long in the ways that higher productivity leads to better living. The fact the present system of capitalism abuses it doesn't make it wrong – just shows that we need to get rid of capitalism.
If they can build pilotless planes, hydrogen based lighter than air freight should become realistic – one way to expand airfreight volume in spite of decreased passenger traffic.
They've had pilotless planes for awhile. All that's needed is a simple auto-pilot once its off the ground and even landings are now automated.
Standard aircraft, as far as I know, still don't have an automated take-off but something tells me that the same difficulties don't really apply to lighter-than-air craft.
Hydrogen would be the major problem, IMO, in what you suggest as if that goes up in flames there'd be several tonnes of freight possibly falling over inhabited land. It's not just the pilots and passengers that are a concern.
Could happen that an area could be wiped out by fire from a hydrogen fuelled aircraft and we could have the California happenings as a result. It wouldn't be wise to risk using hydrogen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_fuel
Hydrogen fuel is hazardous because of the low ignition energy and high combustion energy of hydrogen, and because it tends to leak easily from tanks. Explosions at hydrogen filling stations have been reported.
Hydrogen fuelling stations generally receive deliveries of hydrogen by truck from hydrogen suppliers. An interruption at a hydrogen supply facility can shut down multiple hydrogen fuelling stations.
The Public Party/Advance NZ (and others like the Tamaki's Vision and the ONE Party) didn't register at all in the last major (CM, NRR) polls, like not even 0.1%. Of course that might change in the next polls.
I sometimes wonder if we need more unions back. Apart from the obvious wages and conditions stuff, they were a path to leadership and gave some sort of a voice and solidarity to various groups of people who often don't have a lot. Is some of this quite normal "need to belong" transfering to organised religion or organised conspiracy theories?
Very good suggestion Red. The old FOL did indeed provide a positive structure and framework that is now missing. Seems that sector (employees representation) is now a fractured shell of what it once was.
David Farrier on RNZ looks at how this political lunacy has developed so quickly here in NZ.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018763932/david-farrier-on-red-pilling-and-covid-19-conspiracies
The chances of their party winning Te Tai Tokerau are as great as there are that my mum, a polio hobbler, will be picked at halfback and captain for the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup games. She died 11 tears ago.
Bless from another polio hobbler!!
The election result for JLR is going to be painful.
Am I surprised by the nats newfound Interest in Rail? AND the Environment.Gotta laugh : )
Bishop says a train route to Mosgiel makes sense.
"If you work here in the Dunedin CBD and you live in Mosgiel, rather than getting into your car you will have a, you know, potentially you will have a transport option of getting on the train in the morning and going home again in the evening.
"That's not only great for the environment but it's also great for congestion on that route.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/425991/national-south-island-transport-plan-focuses-on-safety-cycling-rail-and-bridges
Makes good sense though. The geography and urban pockets of Dunedin are much like Wellington, and lend themselves well to suburban rail.
We can actually play the idea as good or bad, rather than solely focusing on who said it.
Crikey – that took them long enough to work out. Used to get the railcar out to Mosgiel to pick fruit back in the day – growers'd pick you up there – worked well for all concerned. Must’ve been forty years ago – plus ca change.
Of course it's a good idea.
The problem is schedulling a decent commuter system around the freight trains. That's what got in the way of a DCC trial happening this year.
Fucking nats turn up a day late, a dollar short, and always promise delivery for tomorrow.
Hmmm, of course its a Good Idea…and has already been previously promulgated.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/interest-rail-needs-testing-mayor
nats taking heed of Union : )
“The Rail and Maritime Transport Union, representing about 50 workers at Dunedin Railways, submitted a proposal on Thursday as part of a consultation process with management.
Options in the proposal included a commuter service to local destinations such as Mosgiel and Port Chalmers, or establishing a long-distance passenger service between Dunedin and other cities on the main south line.”
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/railway-workers-respond
Apart…from that.. the point of my comment is the Irony of the nats newfound..etc etc But you knew that right : )?
Yes of course I did. But seriously, the time for rail revival for commute has arrived. Its amazing to look back at Auckland rail system 20 years ago and compare it to today. And the year on year growth says it all. And thats before the City Rail Link opens. After that, another massive leap I would expect.
Hi sorry if got that wrong. Just wondering if your user name is based Christchurch?
You probably know this?
'However, the Public Transport Users' Association Christchurch spokesperson Tane Apanui said he was disappointed there was no commitment to a commuter rail service.
"We've had no assurances whatsoever from local council, regional council or central government – in fact it seems to have dropped off their radar completely.
"It appears that all the councils and the government pay lip service to our concerns but when it comes to the crunch they never follow through."
Mr Apanui is proposing a rail service that joins the North Canterbury townships of Amberley, Waipara, Rangiora, and Rolleston and Darfield, with the city.'
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/381059/govt-lip-service-to-concerns-about-chch-commuter-rail
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/24-11-2018/a-new-plan-for-christchurch-rail/
Rail.Just makes Sense.
I think one of the problems in ChCh re commuter rail is the north rail line wanders somewhat after it leaves the Amberley area, diverting inland to Rangiora. Makes for a long slow journey.
Plus the area has straight motorway with excellent connections and relatively light traffic. Also, since the quake, ChCh lacks a meaningful CBD (more decentralised now).
The South line is maybe a goer, from Rolleston and through the industrial areas of Hornby and Blenheim Rd.
ChCh sprawls, and it just getting worse. The council just seems to have let ChCh become endless to the west. No real pockets of population like Wellington or Dunedin.
A little gift for train watchers – City of New Orleans. It’s like watching the passing of the idea that was the United States of America. Modern and effective and happy and good living. Now it’s :
And all the towns and people seem
To fade into a bad dream
And the steel rails still ain’t heard the news
The conductor sings his song again
The passengers will please refrain
This train’s got the disappearing railroad blues
yes chch must be biggest city in sq k now
https://www.facebook.com/Shavezchz/videos/10224288679868414
link to video
USA or Somalia.
Much the same thing.
Yeah I know, hyperbole.
I love the way the US armed gangs (debatable as to whether they are legally constituted "militia") have travelled to the west coast to protect property threatened by all the wildfires.
Oh, wait they're just focussing on protecting property from BLM protestors? lol
Meanwhile Chicago reverts to the bad old days.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2020/9/14/21433625/chicago-wekend-shootings-september-11-14
But then it could be worse.
Murder rates would be up to five times higher than they are but for medical developments over the past 40 years…Without this technology, there would be no less than 50,000 and as many as 115,000 homicides annually instead of an actual 15,000 to 20,000
https://twitter.com/gelmanisaac/status/1305447073181908994
Breaking news: https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/300107158/election-2020-financial-sector-will-have-to-report-on-climate-change-risk-in-worldfirst-move
“New Zealand finance companies will be made to report on climate change risk, Climate Change Minister James Shaw has announced. The policy will force about 200 large financial organisations in New Zealand to disclose how exposed their business and investments are to climate-change related risk. Any bank, credit union, building society, investment scheme, insurer, or Crown Financial Institution with more than $1b in assets will be required to either disclose this risk or explain why it has not.”
“These 200 or so institutions will cover 90 per cent of the assets controlled in New Zealand, and includes large crown investors such as ACC and the NZ Super Fund.”
“While other countries are working on similar schemes, New Zealand is the first to introduce one – although entities will not be required to report on climate risk until 2023 at the earliest. ”
“Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has congratulated New Zealand on introducing the scheme. “Once again, New Zealand is leading the world,” Stiglitz said, in a video included with the press statement from Shaw.”
The most pro-life pres ever…
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Ms. Wooten also expressed concern regarding the high numbers of detained immigrant women at ICDC receiving hysterectomies. She stated that while some women have heavy menstruation or other severe issues that would require hysterectomy, “everybody’s uterus cannot be that bad.” Ms. Wooten explained:
Ms. Wooten also stated that detained women expressed to her that they didn’t fully understand why theyhadto get a hysterectomy. She said:“I’ve had several inmates tell me that they’ve been to seethe doctorand they’ve had hysterectomies and they don’t know why they went or why they’re going.” And if the immigrants do understand what they’re getting done, “some of them a lot of times won’t even go, they say they’ll wait to get back to their country to go to the doctor.” The rate at which the hysterectomies have occurred have beena red flag for Ms. Wooten and other nurses at ICDC. Ms. Wooten explained:
https://projectsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/OIG-ICDC-Complaint-1.pdf
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/like-an-experimental-concentration-camp-whistleblower-complaint-alleges-mass-hysterectomies-at-ice-detention-center/
4 more years will take the USA to Wannsee 1942.
Legalized discrimination against Jews in Germany began immediately after the Nazi seizure of power in January 1933. Violence and economic pressure were used by the Nazi regime to encourage Jews to voluntarily leave the country.
The ideology of Nazism brought together elements of antisemitism, racial hygiene, and eugenics and combined them with pan-Germanism and territorial expansionism with the goal of obtaining more Lebensraum (living space) for the Germanic people. Nazi Germany attempted to obtain this new territory by attacking Poland and the Soviet Union, intending to deport or exterminate the Jews and Slavs living there, who were viewed as being inferior to the Aryan master race.
Beware of one's own unpleasant tendencies I think. It is important to not let the genie out of the bottle in politicians, who are close to that potent fuel, the mixture of power and hubris:
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely!
Another – Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right of being able to do what we ought.
The current USian regime were corrupt before they gained power.
Barking.
– Charles Mackay
https://twitter.com/Jared_Carrabis/status/1305521504365535232
It's all good. That southwest corner of Utah is kinda high on my list of places with lots of fun things to go and do in the outdoors. So if a bunch of the stupider inhabitants self-cull before my next chance to go there spend time having fun, all the better.
Ignorance, scorn and hatred. Laugh and cry while it lasts.
The children of Jove's daughter?
https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1305598182571810822
Our leaders will attempt to examine the possibility of life in some distant star by hook or by crook even if it kills us. It's the finding out that counts.
Warning long rant.
Bloody bikes. And mountain bikes have become as invading and pernicious as motor bikes. Men and machines – what is it? Get out in the open air on your two legs, enjoy the world instead of trying to jump off it into space for a short time. Do things for yourself, by yourself, you don't need a machine all the time. And people are beginning to hate you, see you as vandals and savages. In Nelson an area was set aside for a mountain bike track, but that wasn't enough for the m-bikers, some of them chopped down other trees so they could go where they want.
And machines instead of walking. Those scooters – in a few years there will be weakened right legs with muscular left after doing all the work. Then the motorised ones that swish past as fast as cars but on the footpaths. And of course the bikes ridden by adults and children at speed and disconcerting everyone’s peaceful existence. Bicycles will have to have registration plates I think, where they can be seen as you lie on the footpath and they go swiftly out of sight.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/426071/hawke-s-bay-community-says-mountain-bike-park-plan-disastrously-bad-idea
About 900 people in Eskdale have signed a petition to stop the development, and accuse the Hastings District Council of keeping the conversation behind closed doors.
But the council says it is very early days.
Eskdale Park is north of Napier, where many from the region come to relax and unwind by enjoying a picnic or swimming in the river.
(And the behind closed doors sounds familiar. The males are not known for their retiring ways, if they want something they advocate strongly, and there are many middle class males with time and money and expensive machines who have taken up this sport, and they get on Councils and places where their say is It. And who can deny them their rights to have what they want, being healthy and fit in the outdoors – Godzone.)
What's with all the bloody sexism? I know just as many women who bicycle as men.
BTW, bicycling is better exercise than walking as it targets more muscle groups and does less damage to the body.
And if the sign says cycle track then don't walk on it as its a bloody road.
edit
Ho, it's mainly males who are into mountain biking; the females are the obsessive sports mad ones.
And I don't care about whether cycling is better for your health or not it isn't good for the health of people walking to have machines riding round and past them, with cyclists imposing themselves into what used to be a peaceful and enjoyable exercise.
And if it says cycle track then only people who can't read would expect there not to be cyclists on it. But when it's a footpath that doesn't work in the other direction does it.
[citation needed]
Really, all the women cyclists I know also go mountain biking.
And then, of course, it doesn’t matter who is mostly doing the riding same as it doesn’t matter who is doing the typewriting.
Councils have an irritating habit of making them both and its stupid. And when I go out riding I always find people walking on the cycle paths. Both happen, largely I think, because many people mistakenly believe that bicycles, unlike cars, are safe.
And all the cyclists I know will stay off footpaths.
You're a saint DTB and always right.
Yes, I know 🙄
Aye. I joined CAN
https://can.org.nz/
to support Cyclists. There are sadly "some" Cyclists who are boneheads…vastly outnumbered by bonehead vehicle steerers.
The casualty/death statistic of Cyclists in NZ caused by vehicles…is appalling.
I've talked to overseas Cyclists (Dutch, German, Scandinavian…but all Countries) and they have never struck the slack driver attitudes…some bordering on hate (purposely steering at/going as close as possible : ( of NZed.
Re dual use tracks. I fitted a bell on all my Bikes (yes i have a few : ) Doesnt work on the earbud/ph txting doofus. Or the Dog…that is running free ahead of the owner…on tracks that specifically say "Dogs on leads.Under control"
Anyway… On your Bike : )
"targets more muscle groups" Needle in the V – gentle now.
Secret places where the bikes don't go.
Back when everyone knew politics was sure-fire death by boredom, the yippies proved it could be fun, so I got a way to game the system. Just provide an angle nobody else has thought of, then watch it catch on as everyone realised they too could escape boredom via an unconventional way forward. https://www.history.com/news/yippies-1968-dnc-convention
So to Abbie Hoffman's definition of free speech, thoughtfully recycled by Matt Taibbi recently: Free speech is the right to shout theatre in a crowded fire.
https://taibbi.substack.com/p/dont-steal-this-book
Steal This Book was trite. I recall my copy being on my bookcase for at least a year before someone stole it. Didn't notice the vanishing until at least three decades later when I went looking for it, so no problem. His FBI file "was 13,262 pages long" according to Wikipedia.
Deja vu all over again again.
You can imagine the young Donald Trump watching, going "Hmmm, these wackos are actually onto something. I need to think more like that!"
Unfair to target the leftists: the death cult of mainstreamers has always been stauchly bipartisan, as Richard Nixon would shortly prove. Taibbi links to now:
Showing his age. Youngsters who spend their lives on the phone can't reasonably be expected to produce literature.
Another case of " moan moan moan, me me me " again. If you can't sell your private language course without a work visa then you are selling the visa not the course. Another of our super bright business sectors shows how dumb they really are. And no mention of the locals who need to compete for those jobs and the cost of the welfare to support them.
This sector needs to see the changes as an opportunity and upskill or reskill and not depend on the government for help. That's what the unemployed get told isn't it?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/426078/bid-to-retain-work-visa-option-for-students-stuck-overseas
Well thank God for that – the immigration traders hollowed out the industry for the actual ESL teachers and their genuine clientele – who were a small but fairly select group usually doing it as prep for higher education.
Coming to any country is a privilege and not a right. When there is growing unemployment people need to ask who is the priority an overseas student with a work visa or a person seeking work who is on unemployment.