now living rural, let me assure you that there are a lot of people living with little to no electricity.
line charges + consumption makes for hefty bills. And this years consumption over winter is averaged and rises your line charges for next year.
i have yet to use the electric heater. Its fire place and gas. Currently we are at a balmy +5 degrees in the house on average and + 10 where i sit and type.
But sun is up, so all good. Soon it will get warm in here. hahahahahaha
yeah, living rural in certain areas is not for the fainthearted.
Yeah I know that’s a reality alright; been there and done that myself. Not so fond memories of getting up one morning to find a glass of water frozen over on the kitchen bench. OK when you’re young, not so OK as the years go by.
WHO have long recommended that the minimum overnight temperature should not go below 16 degC, otherwise there are long-term health risks.
Absolutely as a nation we should be ashamed of the number of people tucked away out of sight living in very reduced circumstances; no power, telephone, sod all heating if any. As I type this I have in mind some very vivid memories of encountering just this. It’s bloody wrong at every possible level.
When he should have had the farm taken from him and it given into Landcorp’s care. And he gets to keep all of the debt and never be allowed to own a business or be in an administrative position ever again as he’s shown that he just isn’t worthy of it.
Trying again:
A few weeks ago I saw an excellent graph showing government debt in billions, from the start of the Labour-led government to now – a clear downward curve until National’s tax cuts just after they were elected and a clear upwards curve from then.
Does anyone have a link for it?
I’d also be interested in a table over the same period of government surpluses or deficits. Some National apologists appear to be under the impression that National have achieved a period of large surpluses which have wiped out government debt!
How about a list of all property national have flogged not just in the contentious state housing lolly scramble but across police, doc, education, health etc etc
When the local police can’t bring in a new member due to there not being anywhere for him and his family to live you have effectively impaired the operational effectiveness.
All because they sold the house they used for that exact purpose in a booming coastal town, bet someone did nicely out of that deal.
Then there’s fire station sites in strategic suburban sites like akl’s takapuna moved to glenfield and flogged to a resthome crowd. The local community members I spoke to still scratch their heads at that one as the brigade is further away now should those multi million high rise boxes planned ignite.
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/befu2015/021.htm
Try this link that shows gross best of about $90b which given the obgal expected “surplus” the gross debt remains constant. Which will mean that NZInc will have to increase our debt to pay for Acts affordable tax cuts . So they are achievable but only if we borrow….
Way back when (2013) I posted this on the Standard, regarding the Reserve Bank reporting, which stopped the existing easily accessible reporting on the Government Debt which was held on a spreadsheet – E3 and replaced it with a navigation of sorts.
(I still have a copy of that E3 spreadsheet if anyone at TS wants me to send it in. (Historical figures from Mar 1993 – Dec 2012))
I’ve just checked and it seems that that convoluted system has changed again, but I’m sure the information is hidden there somewhere.
Original post on the access to government debt figures below:
“Now you have to visit Statistics NZ, Open/download the Balance of Payments and International Investment position Quarterly report, select Table 11: International financial assets and liabilities then and add two figures together to get the debt:
Add Line 29 General Government + Line 30 Monetary Authorities to get the same data that has been reported in the discontinued Reserve Bank report.
To save some time (and sanity) the latest figures are below:
2012 Dec $52.481 billion (same as final data on Reserve Bank spreadsheet)
2013 Mar $56.773 billion
2013 June $50.913 billion”
Thanks Molly for that info which is probably what I was begging for earlier. But the fact that we need understandable base historic information is still of prime importance, and needs to be referred to constantly.
We need to remember what that politician turd in Canada did with environmental records carefully noted and conserved and built up over years, he destroyed them. We need to be aware of how quickly a mass of anything can be destroyed by modern nihilists and skewed psychopaths. People who get into positions of power for a few years can turn around like religious fanatics and wipe out the historical monuments and records to higher thought and understanding in a few days.
(By the way has anyone noticed how fast some professionals and advisors speak, it’s like their specialised interest and subject has entered their brain cells and pours out without conscious thought.)
Ed1 asked yesterday for some graphs as he has today. Could someone who is onto this sort of thing come to the party with them. If you know the right location, pathway and butons to press you can help us through the maze. Please.
And we have to keep looking back at useful truthful reliable trustable information to set ourselves straight again as we get buffeted with waves of stuff every day, whuich has to be prioritised just to allow it space to settle in our minds. So someone might ask the same question in another three months. Let’s be kind to each other and not snap ‘We’ve already been told that’.
Since posting the initial reply to Ed1, I’ve had a bit of a play around with the new tables and spreadsheets available from the Reserve Bank, but I haven’t yet been able to find the corresponding lines and figures from the original post I made in 2013.
Changes to reporting and statistics make it difficult to have access to historical figures and trends.
Would also be interested if anyone else knows how to retrieve the Government debt figures from the Reserve Bank.
The new station is about 2kms away from the old one. I would say it is now better located to cover the area it is supposed to service, which is Takapuna and as far north as Sunnynook and Forrest Hill. Previously while Takapuna town centre was within a 1 km of the service station, these other suburbs were out on a limb.
Devonport is also supposed to shift to Belmont which makes sense.
There is some sobering reading in regards to the fire at Grenfell tower, on a community blog site: Grenfell Action Group.
If you follow up this reading with a visit to the KCTMO (Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation) you will see their blogposts on the incident. Short, and understandably focused on the well-being of the tenants at present:
“It is too early to speculate what caused the fire and contributed to its spread. We will co-operate fully with all the relevant authorities in order to ascertain the cause of this tragedy.
We are aware that concerns have been raised historically by residents. We always take all concerns seriously and these will form part of our forthcoming investigations. While these investigations continue with our co-operation, our core priority at the moment is our residents.”
… but it seems to be that despite concerns, investigations were not currently happening. The sentencing has been carefully constructed to give the impression that “forthcoming investigations” are current, by starting the next sentence with “while these investigations continue“.
The care with which these statements are constructed, seem to be missing from the care taken to look after the tenants, given the historical concerns raised by the group.
There is a piece on 9toNoon right now about raising concerns for years and nothing has been done by regulators and politicians. It will not be a unique building! We can’t rely on people in power to do things right obviously. Who would want to live in one of these tall blocks knowing this. And many of them are beyond the ability of the services to rescue people in highrises.
and – What we are doing to avoid having to build high-rise buildings to park our population, (think about it they are just another sort of parking building) – less than nothing. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201847592/horowhenua-mayor-furious-about-social-housing-sale
(The Horowhenua mayor Michael Feyen says the sale of housing for the elderly in and around Levin is a fire sale and should never have happened. Leaked documents show the units and land have sold for less than their book value)
I don’t think anyone has the gall to blame this on terrorists. The people are numb and stunned and resigned. I hope there will be two fundraising efforts: a special Mayor’s fund and also a Red Cross one that will be available in small ways day by day so that it is accessible.
They should see the portaloos coming forward at present, and small eats and drinks. Remember Mayor Bob Parker in Chch, couldn’t handle the enquiry for portaloos, too close to the real people’s needs. The shock and tears in Notting Hill will intensify over the next few days and weeks.
Grenfell tower developers decided to go for the cladding without the fire retardant mineral….
Cladding is a material attached to a building’s frame to create an outer wall.
The purpose of cladding – which can be made from wood, metal or plastic – is to prevent condensation and to let water vapour escape.
But adding cladding to tower blocks creates an additional fire risk, according to some experts.
The material can be flammable and it also creates a cavity that traps other burning material between the cladding and the building.
Grenfell Tower underwent a £10.3 million renovation project in May 2016 and was fit with insulated exterior cladding and double-glazed windows.
In the early hours of this morning, the fire at Grenfell tower spread to the cladding outside.
‘The cladding went up like a matchstick’, according to reports by one resident.
The building was clad with polyester powder-coated (PPC) aluminium rain-screen panels, according to the Guardian.
Some have described it as ‘polystyrene-type’ cladding – and it may have been clad in the cheaper.
According to Reynobond’s website, the manufacturer of the panels, they come in two variants.
One version a polyethylene core, which is a type of plastic, and flammable.
Another version comes with a fire retardant mineral and has a higher resistance to fire.
Grenfell tower developers decided to go for the cladding without the fire retardant mineral, which could be seen burning and melting in the early hours of this morning.
Another issue is the process of applying the rain-proof frontage can create a 25mm-30mm cavity between the cladding and the insulation behind it.
Arnold Tarling, chartered surveyor and fire expert with property firm Hindwoods, said this can have the effect of creating a ‘wind tunnel and also traps any burning material between the rain cladding and the building’.
He said: ‘So had it been insulated per se, the insulation could fall off and fall away from the building, but this is all contained inside.’
He added not all insulation used in the process is the more expensive non-flammable type.
‘So basically you have got a cavity with a fire spreading behind it.’
Angus Law, of the BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, said: ‘Early media reports suggest that this event has similarities with other fires that have occurred recently around the world.’
He added: ‘The UK’s regulatory framework for tall residential buildings is intended to prevent the spread of fire between floors and between apartments.
‘If spread of fire does occur, as has happened at Grenfell Tower, the consequences are often catastrophic.’
Construction firm Rydon, which carried out the refurbishment of the exterior of Grenfell Tower which finished last year, installing cladding and new windows, said its work ‘met all required building control, fire regulation, and health and safety standards’.
Design specifications suggest the renovation work carried out at Grenfell Tower included a 50mm ‘ventilated cavity’ next to 150mm of Celotex FR5000 insulation.
This insulation, according to Celotex, has a Class 0 rating under UK building regulations, meaning it has the highest rating for preventing the spread of flames and prevents the spread of heat.
In July last year, the 75-storey Sulafa Tower in Dubai Marina went up in flames, following a number of similar fires in the Middle East, including one at the 63-storey The Address Downtown Dubai on New Year’s Eve 2015.
James Lane, head of fire engineering at BB7, told IFSEC Global last July: ‘Another high-rise apartment block is apparently victim to the poor fire properties of its external cladding.
‘Any building constructed before the 2013 change in the local fire codes will be at risk from this kind of rapid and extensive fire spread unless major work is undertaken in the region to replace combustible insulation core cladding panels with a suitable alternative.’
“A disaster waiting to happen,” is how the architect and fire expert Sam Webb describes hundreds of tower blocks across the UK, after the fire at Grenfell Tower in Kensington that has left at least six people dead. “We are still wrapping postwar high-rise buildings in highly flammable materials and leaving them without sprinkler systems installed, then being surprised when they burn down.”
Webb surveyed hundreds of residential tower blocks across the country in the early 1990s and presented a damning report to the Home Office, which revealed that more than half of the buildings didn’t meet basic fire safety standards. He said: “We discovered a widespread breach of safety, but we were simply told nothing could be done because it would ‘make too many people homeless’.
“I really don’t think the building industry understands how fire behaves in buildings and how dangerous it can be. The government’s mania for deregulation means our current safety standards just aren’t good enough.”
Experts and politicians are pointing fingers in an effort to explain what caused the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in London that killed at least 12 and injured dozens more on Wednesday morning. Quite unfortunately, all fingers appear to be pointing in the same direction, at a new aluminum rainscreen cladding installed, in part, to make the building more attractive to wealthy neighbors in luxury flats nearby.
To joe90,
It must be obvious to any student having taken high school chemistry that the metal, aluminium or a partly made aluminium product is highly flammable at high temperatures. Remember the British made aluminium navy vessels that were easily ignited by French exocet missiles during the Falklands War.
Remember the British aluminium navy vessels that were easily ignited by exorcit missiles during the Falkland War.
An urban myth, apparently.
.
There are many misconceptions and incorrect stories regarding the use of aluminum in warship construction.
One common story is that HMS Sheffield, a destroyer sunk during the 1982 Falkland War, was lost because her alleged aluminum superstructure made her more vulnerable to damage. This story is completely untrue, because Sheffield’s superstructure was not aluminum. Like all ships of her class, her hull and superstructure were entirely steel. Aluminum played no role in her loss.
Two Royal Navy warships lost during the Falklands War did have aluminum superstructures, and their loss is incorrectly attributed to this feature. Ardent was hit by seven 500- and 1000-pound bombs, plus at least two more bombs which failed to detonate, and sank some six hours after the attack. Any warship of her size, regardless of aluminum or steel construction, would likely be sunk by this many bombs, so aluminum cannot be blamed here. Antelope, another aluminum-superstructure ship, was struck by two bombs, which lodged in the ship but failed to explode. Later, while one of the bombs was being defused, it exploded, blowing a major hole in the hull and starting a large fire. The fire eventually reached the magazines, causing these to explode. Again, an aluminum superstructure appears to have little connection to the ship’s loss, which was caused by the explosion of the bomb and the magazines.
A related story claims the US Navy and Royal Navy abanonded aluminum superstructures, in favor of steel, as a result of the Falklands war. Since aluminum superstructures played little or no role in the Falkands losses, this story is obviously untrue. The Royal Navy’s switch to steel appears to be a result of a 1977 fire in the frigate Amazon. In the US Navy, the switch from aluminum to steel superstructures was a result of the 1975 collision between the carrier John F. Kennedy and the cruiser Belknap. The collision caused major fires aboard the cruiser, and her aluminum superstructure essentially melted; she was reduced to a badly burnt hulk. This incident lead to a decision to adopt steel superstructures in the next new warship class, the Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class destroyers. This decision had been made prior to the Falkands War.
I noticed in the link that maui put up, the street-wise were saying that the building exterior had been done up to look good for people overflying the area, rather than adding value for the people living in it.
And this from RedLogix piece says it all in accordance with the information that we hear reiterated, (just thinking back to the government’s careless attitude to the building of Christchurch’s earthquake collapsed building.)
“I really don’t think the building industry understands how fire behaves in buildings and how dangerous it can be.
The government’s mania for deregulation means our current safety standards just aren’t good enough.”
I was talking to a young (30) chap at work.
He is going to vote for the first time this year. In the past it was irrelevant, nothing to do with him.
He reckons he is voting for a future, voting for those who are the next generation.
Congratulated him heartily.
Matters not for whom he votes, he is engaged in the process.
I will be encouraging others to be enroll band vote in the mainly early 20’s workforce.
If you can believe Richard Harman apparently English is the only member of the cabinet that supports resolution 2334 that opposes the illegal Israeli settlements continually being built in Palestine. This says everything about the National Party. It’s here:
Interestingly English slapped Brownlee down. Maybe he should have thought a bit longer before appointing the least diplomatic person on the planet as our chief diplomat? The slap-down is described here:
“But Brownlee had to endure a humiliating public put-down from English over his RNZ interview. In a May 8 press conference, English said: “We’re not describing it (the resolution) as premature,” he said. “Our role in the resolution was that it expressed Government policy. “The resolution was expressing long-standing Government policy – in fact, a long-standing commonly held international view.””
Reminds me of that time the stadium full of Turkish football fans responded to a requested minute’s silence for victims of the Paris attack by chanting Allahu Akbar.
It’s not that I don’t have empathy for the victims, but I don’t necessarily think that calling out the Saudi soccer team merits a news item – let alone an international one.
I remember approaching the referee (at half time) of a soccer match in 2010 after he had lined up the eight and nine years olds and told them to stand in silence for the Elim students who died in the tragic Mangatepopo canyoning accident.
I asked why this occurred and he said that a couple of those students played soccer. Not at the club that was holding the match, not at the club that were visitors, but at another location. When I said that I thought this was a mawkish act to visit on young players he advised that all coaches and referees had been asked to do this by the national soccer organisation and that I should take it up with them.
A couple of brief emails (politely answered) led to the conclusion that the organisation considered it appropriate to advise all soccer teams to have a minute of silence before the commencement of each game because of the participation in soccer of a couple of the students.
I still feel uneasy about the enforced public display of sympathy on young people who didn’t have an understanding of what they were doing and why. It seemed an appropriation to me. Even worse, some of those young players would no doubt have had personal tragedies that were not acknowledged in any way by their own teams and clubs, and the difference would have been felt.
When it comes to the politicisation of children and their leisure time, I couldn’t agree more.
Thankfully, the Saudi international football team were not children, they were grown ups who more than capably understand the symbolic value of solidarity and condemnation in the face of extremist violence. As noted in the article, Australians are feeling pretty raw about two women from their country being stabbed to death by jihadist men while enjoying their OE.
“Thankfully, the Saudi international football team were not children, they were grown ups who more than capably understand the symbolic value of solidarity and condemnation in the face of extremist violence.”
They are also from a country where violence and intolerance is a fact of life.
Expecting them to behave differently because they have been asked to, brings to mind the fable of the snake and the frog. Or memorably, the character Shelley on Northern Exposure The Woman & The Snake. (Not that I think the Saudis are snakes, but the fable is about expecting change, when behaviour and nature has been pretty constant.)
So, the excuse of cultural differences could be a valid one – or at least, understandable. To be considered before it is dismissed.
It is our culture that expects public solidarity for incidents that cause us concern, and we note those who don’t participate.
Are we are asking for genuine solidarity or just feigned? At what point does it lose meaning?
“Expecting them to behave differently because they have been asked to, brings to mind the fable of the snake and the frog.”
How does this affect your view of migrants from this part of the world? Are they too morally incapable of behaving in a manner inconsistent with a Sharia country?
And how is it that we can understand their culture, but they not ours? We understand that it is polite to not walk into a Mosque with our shoes on, or to walk the streets of Riyadh swigging from a whiskey bottle. To suggest that we are capable of understanding and complying with their conventions to avoid causing offence, but they aren’t with ours …. doesn’t that sound a bit condescending? Like saying they’re basically stuck in a state of permanent infancy, with no insight into the needs or motivation of the other?
Yes. I agree with what you are saying in terms of acceptable behaviour.
However, having received quite a vitriolic response from the referee, I note that even within our own culture we ask for conformity in behaviour – to extend that out to other cultures – and flag their non-conformity is an exercise in futility.
The actions shown by the Saudi soccer team is disrespectful to the host nation.
But there are many acts of westerners that are disrespectful of nations around the world, not least the military invasion of some of them, and the corporate displacement of communities and their access to natural resources. An current example in Iceland is the use of the the moss landscapes to create long-lasting meaningless graffiti.
Essentially, the story is about a group of young men, acting disrespectfully at a football match in Australia who have the same disregard for victims of terrorists attacks in London, that similarly aged young men in Australia might have for victims of the Syria airstrikes ordered by the US government, or the recent terrorist attacks in Yemen.
Are you so sure that an Australian team playing soccer in Saudi Arabia, would feel comfortable with a minutes silence for the atrocities committed in the Palestinian conflict? On either side?
It borders on tokenism if it is not genuinely felt.
But I’m partially conflicted, because it does show a lack of respect and tolerance, but I consider this to be an issue with many cultures. Including our own.
“How does this affect your view of migrants from this part of the world? “
It doesn’t. To begin with, migrants make the choice to leave because there appears to be a country that suits them better than their place of birth.
We should understand this, as we have had NZers moving all over the earth for better opportunities.
I don’t expect the behaviour of one group in a culture to determine that of the whole culture. Especially not those who have made a deliberate choice to leave.
Right, and that’s how it should be – because adults are quite capable of grasping that things are meaningful to others, and how nice it can be to recognize that for just a minute.
So I’m glad the Saudis lost this game of football, winning after such an unnecessarily obnoxious display makes it all the more fitting.
(I’m going to stop soon, because I’m off to do something that would be illegal in Saudi Arabia, and while doing that will be teaching my daughter the same.)
I’m just wary of the development of media tropes that tends to lump all misbehaviours of certain cultures at a time when tension is already high.
Whenever, I read an article like the New York Post – I flip the story, to see if the same initial response I have to it would be duplicated if the players (ha!) in it were changed. eg. Australian players in Saudi etc.
In that case, I would understand the lack of knowledge and empathy that would accompany a refusal to participate. Even more so, if their team management responded to the request and not the players themselves.
Taking that note, in such a country as Saudi Arabia, who knows what would await a player that took it upon themselves to publicly disregard direction?
I know what you mean, I have a girl too, which is why I’m very suspicious of ideologies which don’t think much of them.
The script flip is a great way to look at this. Last I checked, sympathy for Palestine was very widespread in the West. I see Free Palestine t-shirts and bumper stickers all the time. Sympathy for the victims of radical Islamic terrorist attacks on the west in countries like Saudi or Turkey though? Well, I guess the actions of a single football team is perhaps not the greatest sample, but a stadium full of thousands?
The last Saudi king was considerably more enlightened than the current one. This doesn’t affect laws – they don’t change them often – but the severity with which they are enforced. A woman who drove a car who had been left alone has now been subjected to prosecution for example.
This from section 2.2 of the SSC document “Guidance for the 2017 Election period”
Programme launches and events
Key points
-Agencies should continue to support Ministers with ‘business as usual’ initiatives during an election period.
-Particular care is needed around ceremonial events to avoid perceptions of being associated with any political aspects of such events.
There is no blanket restriction on Ministers wishing to launch programmes or initiatives in the lead up to the election. In general, the business of government should continue and State servants should support Ministers with ‘business as usual’ initiatives. However, the nature and timing of high profile ceremonial events (e.g. building openings or award ceremonies) must be carefully considered.
During an election period, there is a risk that public launches and events may take on a ‘party political’ character that would not be evident at other times. This is particularly so when Ministers and/or MPs are involved in the event. In general, State servants should support Ministers as usual, but must be vigilant in avoiding association with any political aspects of such events. Particular care must also be taken with the preparation of supporting material. All agency material must remain strictly impartial and factual to avoid any perceptions of being associated with any party political messages (see ‘advertising campaigns’ directly below).
The ceremonial opening of the problematic $1.4B Waterview Tunnel is on Sunday 18 June just 5 days out from the official beginning of the 2017 election period on Friday 23 June when much greater scrutiny is applied to the use of ‘public launches and events’ for party political purposes.
Coincidence? Think not.
In fact there is still no opening date although somewhere around Sunday 09 July would be a good guess as the school term ends on Friday 07 July. Isn’t it odd then there might be a three week gap between the ribbon cutting and a still un-named opening date?
I think this strategy stands to backfire terribly for the Democrats. The Russia stuff is rapidly coming to nothing, and this new turn probably will too. Suddenly the midterms will be upon them. Most of the races are for seats currently held by Dems, so there’s more for them to lose than to win. They are leaderless, lacking much of an agenda beyond ‘but muh Russians’, and they’ve really just put their feet up and hoped that the outcome of these hearings will be all the messaging they need.
If the outcome of these hearings fails to deliver the headshot (and how many times did they claim in the campaign that one scandal or another would be just that?), it will be the Republicans who go to town on pointing out that the Democrats asking people for their vote have spent the last 2 years playing sore loser and whining to little effect. Look how badly the Republicans got burnt trying to play those games. It’s an absolute turnoff, but the Dems have repeated the mistake.
Sanders had a strategy, but idiots like Nancy Pelosi wouldn’t get on board. He said, support Trump on things which matter – bringing back jobs, opposing TPPA (ok, not I understand why Pelosi wasn’t on board) – but oppose him hard on things like medical, taxes, immigration reform. That was a strategy, that was something you’d be able to put in front of voters after 2 years and demonstrate that you’d been putting the work in and preparing to make Trump a one termer. But Russia.
All we have so far is the early stages of multiple investigations, which are all still widening.
After that we have the findings, and the media hits from that.
After that we have determinations on who gets to face charges or sanctions. At which point there will be White House firings.
After that we have trials.
After that we have sentencings.
After that we have a further wave of White House restructuring, and a whole bunch more pressure on the President himself.
And all of the above has big media implications, at each stage.
After that we have the President on record polling lows – far lower than now. And no-one in the Republican dominated Congress or Senate willing to come anywhere near him let alone propose legislation.
After that we are in to the next Presidential election.
With the whole White House swinging and attracting flies like a 6-week cow corpse hauled out of a river.
That is what the Democrat renewal programme seems to look like right now, and it seems to be going just fine.
Innuendo in the Washington Post isn’t a hit, it’s an echo. Do you think ordinary Americans read it? Trials and sentencing only follow if someone gets found guilty, and given how much of a flop Comey’s star testimony has been, it’s really not looking great – especially when you compare it to the potential which Bernie’s approach offered as an opposition strategy.
And we’re going by polls on Trump now? Isn’t this an age of learning things, or just when it gives us a narrow loss for Corbyn? If we want more Corbyns and Bernies, we have to stop pretending that perpetual losers like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are onto a winner. They’re a large part of the reason Trump won – much larger than the phantom menace of Putin.
Definitely not the optimum Democrat renewal strategy, but it;s the one history has dealt them so that’s what they have to operate with.
The Washington Post is not the only entity reporting – it’s everyone in the MSM and the main blogs. This is going to go all the way.
And don’t need to worry about whether there was actual collusion with the Russian – the charges will be about Obstruction. The cover up. Which is all these political amateurs are doing now.
Well that’s exactly my point – the investigation is not widening, it’s slaloming, and each new path comes to yet another dead end. Russia! Oops, no. Comey’s testimony! Oops, no. Obstruction! By all means hold your breath…
I don’t know what would be worse for them. To head into the midterms having spent all that sound and fury for nothing, or for nothing more than getting Flynn, Kushner, or Sessions on a minor technicality or two. Where in the real world of ordinary people would you trumpet that as a productive use of two years’ work. You think that’s the sort of thing middle Americans relate to? Oh yay, after hyped up promises and a thousand breaking news banners of Russian spies, presidential lies, impeachment, corruption, and proof of a stolen election we get …. proof Mike Flynn and Jeff Sessions told a couple of porkies, proof Jared Kushner tried to keep the intelligence services off administration comms with Russia, and maybe, just maybe, proof Trump leaned on Comey to be loyal to him and/or to leave things be with Flynn.
So I do not for a minute agree that the Democrats are making the best of the situation they’ve been given. There’s nothing wrong with letting those hearings take their course, but why are they sitting on their hands in the meantime? They clearly have no clue about how the electorate feels about work, about producing. Two years for outcomes which are already shifting into less relevant arenas? That does not make returning your local Democrat in a marginal seat look like bang for buck.
As I keep reiterating, Sanders proposed a strategy and they spurned it – probably because it was an embarrassing reminder that they chose the wrong leader, and that’s why they are where they are. He and Corbyn understand what Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and their ilk will never understand at this rate: protest without proactivity just pisses working people off, especially if it seems to amount to the square root of fuck all.
It looks to be widening by the day as Mueller stacks his team with experts in campaign finance violations, money laundering and Eastern Europe organised crime.
His own words led to the obstruction of justice investigation so perhaps he, his whelps and his proxies should STFU because every time they open their yaps, the hole gets bigger.
The GOP side of the media is already all over that element of Comey’s testimony though, and their meme majick is all over it in ways which ours will never match (honestly, the #MAGA crowd do this so much better than the online left)
I couldn’t read your paywalled link to an article in the Wall Street Journal, but other than the content of Comey’s testimony, what materials will they be able to call upon to determine whether there was obstruction? And even if they do determine obstruction, to what effect if the main investigation is a flop? How does that show that the Democrats have done anything of note in 2 years of opposition?
According to the Post, Mueller has reached out to NSA Director Mike Rogers, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and former NSA Deputy Director Richard Ledgett to voluntarily interview them as part of the obstruction inquiry. All three men have agreed, the Post said. It’s unclear whether Mueller made his request before Coats and Rogers testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee last week. At that open hearing, both men declined to answer multiple questions from senators about their interactions with the president. The hearing came one day after the Post reported Trump had asked Coats and Rogers in March to intervene with then-director Comey to halt the Russia investigation.
Inclined to agree with joe. It’s usually not the crime that gets them, but the cover-up.
But having said that, unseating Trump is going to be a fraught and unpredictable process. And Sanders is working hard to be in the right spot if and when something happens.
Exactly – Independent senator Sanders is working hard. The Democrats? Last I checked, Chucky Cheese was running around trying to convince Antifa protesters to become Democrats. An apt summary of how clueless they really are.
We had no problems telling Israel what we thought of their illegal settlements in 2016. It was a good day to be Kiwi when Resolution 2334 was announced.
But now we hear Gerry did not support the resolution.
I am not terribly surprised, at the same time quite disgusted. Gerry knew what he was doing when he said a few weeks ago he thought the Resolution was premature.
Hi Mod If you could push my ones out since 1.30pm I’d appreciate.
[r0b: Sometimes there isn’t a mod about, sorry. I suggested you trying making an account / logging in a while ago?]
No I’ll have a try when I get time to do more unsatisfying work. Nothing I am doing at present is yielding fruitful results so have to keep pegging on with what time and energy I can muster. So I’ll have another go and it may fall into place.
This is a rant from hereon about me and on behalf of other people who don’t want their lives dominated by bloody machines and systems and apps.
I hate having to learn all the time how to do basic operations and form filling that keep changing. Everything gets more complicated when we are promised simple fast and easy.
Under the captcha in the CTU site the other day there was something about choice with three options, and I didn’t know what it referred to, I ignored it and seemed to be okay. There are little symbols for things and I don’t know what they refer to, and there is not a different symbol for each thing only a row of little oblongs that you have to interrogate with your mouse for identification.
We are asked/ordered to use computers and on-line storage more and then have to adapt to system changes needed to prevent our communications being stolen or our machine being invaded by bots or something that are under the control of some faceless entity. My bank site has been adapted to make it more difficult for nasties to hack and I now need my cellphone to give me a confirmation number that I have to enter. Good, but it now takes extra time to do anything, first find cellphone, is it charged, is it in credit etc.I Then I find that if I want to copy a bank number when making a deposit I can’t have any spaces or dashes, and I have to copy from left to right or it won’t accept the number.
There is less time available for actually thinking and doing things because you have to keep adapting to new changes to programs. It isn’t a Brave New World when everyone on line is trying to get at you and sell or steal from you. And you have to read a 10page document of Terms and Conditions before you can proceed with anything. Eddie Izzard got a huge laugh from his audience when he challenged them, – ‘I know none of you have read the T&C on anything. Ever.’
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
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Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
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The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
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The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
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The brighter future…………..
‘Parents with children in kindergarten could face a price hike of up to $700 a year’
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/93487305/parents-oppose-longer-hours-and-540-hike-in-kindegarten-fees
The brighter future…………..
Southland man’s benefit couldn’t cover his power bills – so he’s been living without it
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/91781601/southland-man-powerless-to-government
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/93618128/man-without-power-is-getting-the-help-he-needs
now living rural, let me assure you that there are a lot of people living with little to no electricity.
line charges + consumption makes for hefty bills. And this years consumption over winter is averaged and rises your line charges for next year.
i have yet to use the electric heater. Its fire place and gas. Currently we are at a balmy +5 degrees in the house on average and + 10 where i sit and type.
But sun is up, so all good. Soon it will get warm in here. hahahahahaha
yeah, living rural in certain areas is not for the fainthearted.
Yeah I know that’s a reality alright; been there and done that myself. Not so fond memories of getting up one morning to find a glass of water frozen over on the kitchen bench. OK when you’re young, not so OK as the years go by.
WHO have long recommended that the minimum overnight temperature should not go below 16 degC, otherwise there are long-term health risks.
Absolutely as a nation we should be ashamed of the number of people tucked away out of sight living in very reduced circumstances; no power, telephone, sod all heating if any. As I type this I have in mind some very vivid memories of encountering just this. It’s bloody wrong at every possible level.
+1
This has been a long-term plan by the management of at least some of the kindergarten associations with right-leaning attitudes
The brighter future…………..
Farm owners fined $21k for under-paying migrant workers
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/333018/farm-owners-fined-21k-for-under-paying-migrant-workers
When he should have had the farm taken from him and it given into Landcorp’s care. And he gets to keep all of the debt and never be allowed to own a business or be in an administrative position ever again as he’s shown that he just isn’t worthy of it.
This is the reality about the immigration issue. Noting to do with ‘lazy’ kiwis. Its all about fucking over the immigrants like in the third world.
Trying again:
A few weeks ago I saw an excellent graph showing government debt in billions, from the start of the Labour-led government to now – a clear downward curve until National’s tax cuts just after they were elected and a clear upwards curve from then.
Does anyone have a link for it?
I’d also be interested in a table over the same period of government surpluses or deficits. Some National apologists appear to be under the impression that National have achieved a period of large surpluses which have wiped out government debt!
How about a list of all property national have flogged not just in the contentious state housing lolly scramble but across police, doc, education, health etc etc
When the local police can’t bring in a new member due to there not being anywhere for him and his family to live you have effectively impaired the operational effectiveness.
All because they sold the house they used for that exact purpose in a booming coastal town, bet someone did nicely out of that deal.
Then there’s fire station sites in strategic suburban sites like akl’s takapuna moved to glenfield and flogged to a resthome crowd. The local community members I spoke to still scratch their heads at that one as the brigade is further away now should those multi million high rise boxes planned ignite.
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/befu2015/021.htm
Try this link that shows gross best of about $90b which given the obgal expected “surplus” the gross debt remains constant. Which will mean that NZInc will have to increase our debt to pay for Acts affordable tax cuts . So they are achievable but only if we borrow….
Hi Ed1,
Way back when (2013) I posted this on the Standard, regarding the Reserve Bank reporting, which stopped the existing easily accessible reporting on the Government Debt which was held on a spreadsheet – E3 and replaced it with a navigation of sorts.
(I still have a copy of that E3 spreadsheet if anyone at TS wants me to send it in. (Historical figures from Mar 1993 – Dec 2012))
I’ve just checked and it seems that that convoluted system has changed again, but I’m sure the information is hidden there somewhere.
Original post on the access to government debt figures below:
Thanks Molly for that info which is probably what I was begging for earlier. But the fact that we need understandable base historic information is still of prime importance, and needs to be referred to constantly.
We need to remember what that politician turd in Canada did with environmental records carefully noted and conserved and built up over years, he destroyed them. We need to be aware of how quickly a mass of anything can be destroyed by modern nihilists and skewed psychopaths. People who get into positions of power for a few years can turn around like religious fanatics and wipe out the historical monuments and records to higher thought and understanding in a few days.
(By the way has anyone noticed how fast some professionals and advisors speak, it’s like their specialised interest and subject has entered their brain cells and pours out without conscious thought.)
Ed1 asked yesterday for some graphs as he has today. Could someone who is onto this sort of thing come to the party with them. If you know the right location, pathway and butons to press you can help us through the maze. Please.
And we have to keep looking back at useful truthful reliable trustable information to set ourselves straight again as we get buffeted with waves of stuff every day, whuich has to be prioritised just to allow it space to settle in our minds. So someone might ask the same question in another three months. Let’s be kind to each other and not snap ‘We’ve already been told that’.
Since posting the initial reply to Ed1, I’ve had a bit of a play around with the new tables and spreadsheets available from the Reserve Bank, but I haven’t yet been able to find the corresponding lines and figures from the original post I made in 2013.
Changes to reporting and statistics make it difficult to have access to historical figures and trends.
Would also be interested if anyone else knows how to retrieve the Government debt figures from the Reserve Bank.
tc,
The new station is about 2kms away from the old one. I would say it is now better located to cover the area it is supposed to service, which is Takapuna and as far north as Sunnynook and Forrest Hill. Previously while Takapuna town centre was within a 1 km of the service station, these other suburbs were out on a limb.
Devonport is also supposed to shift to Belmont which makes sense.
There is some sobering reading in regards to the fire at Grenfell tower, on a community blog site: Grenfell Action Group.
If you follow up this reading with a visit to the KCTMO (Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation) you will see their blogposts on the incident. Short, and understandably focused on the well-being of the tenants at present:
“It is too early to speculate what caused the fire and contributed to its spread. We will co-operate fully with all the relevant authorities in order to ascertain the cause of this tragedy.
We are aware that concerns have been raised historically by residents. We always take all concerns seriously and these will form part of our forthcoming investigations. While these investigations continue with our co-operation, our core priority at the moment is our residents.”
… but it seems to be that despite concerns, investigations were not currently happening. The sentencing has been carefully constructed to give the impression that “forthcoming investigations” are current, by starting the next sentence with “while these investigations continue“.
The care with which these statements are constructed, seem to be missing from the care taken to look after the tenants, given the historical concerns raised by the group.
There is a piece on 9toNoon right now about raising concerns for years and nothing has been done by regulators and politicians. It will not be a unique building! We can’t rely on people in power to do things right obviously. Who would want to live in one of these tall blocks knowing this. And many of them are beyond the ability of the services to rescue people in highrises.
I will put up the audio when it comes up.
Here are reports from Radionz morning report etc.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201847570/london-fire-death-toll-is-still-expected-to-rise
(Last month New Zealand made changes to the type of cladding that can be used on buildings.
The vice-president of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Michael James, said there will still be some buildings in New Zealand that have the same type of cladding.)
and – update
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201847581/london-fire-death-toll-expected-to-rise
and – NZ?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201847582/some-nz-buildings-have-same-flammable-cladding-as-grenfell
(Michael James is the vice-president of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers says there will be some buildings in NZ that still have the same type of cladding that is being blamed for the wide-spread damage to Grenfell Tower.)
and – What we are doing to avoid having to build high-rise buildings to park our population, (think about it they are just another sort of parking building) – less than nothing.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201847592/horowhenua-mayor-furious-about-social-housing-sale
(The Horowhenua mayor Michael Feyen says the sale of housing for the elderly in and around Levin is a fire sale and should never have happened. Leaked documents show the units and land have sold for less than their book value)
There’s a strong political and class thread running through this tragedy as well:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/video/2017/jun/14/grenfell-fire-people-community-video
I don’t think anyone has the gall to blame this on terrorists. The people are numb and stunned and resigned. I hope there will be two fundraising efforts: a special Mayor’s fund and also a Red Cross one that will be available in small ways day by day so that it is accessible.
They should see the portaloos coming forward at present, and small eats and drinks. Remember Mayor Bob Parker in Chch, couldn’t handle the enquiry for portaloos, too close to the real people’s needs. The shock and tears in Notting Hill will intensify over the next few days and weeks.
The Mayor’s Fund could be for more major tasks.
Grenfell tower developers decided to go for the cladding without the fire retardant mineral….
Cladding is a material attached to a building’s frame to create an outer wall.
The purpose of cladding – which can be made from wood, metal or plastic – is to prevent condensation and to let water vapour escape.
But adding cladding to tower blocks creates an additional fire risk, according to some experts.
The material can be flammable and it also creates a cavity that traps other burning material between the cladding and the building.
Grenfell Tower underwent a £10.3 million renovation project in May 2016 and was fit with insulated exterior cladding and double-glazed windows.
In the early hours of this morning, the fire at Grenfell tower spread to the cladding outside.
‘The cladding went up like a matchstick’, according to reports by one resident.
The building was clad with polyester powder-coated (PPC) aluminium rain-screen panels, according to the Guardian.
Some have described it as ‘polystyrene-type’ cladding – and it may have been clad in the cheaper.
According to Reynobond’s website, the manufacturer of the panels, they come in two variants.
One version a polyethylene core, which is a type of plastic, and flammable.
Another version comes with a fire retardant mineral and has a higher resistance to fire.
Grenfell tower developers decided to go for the cladding without the fire retardant mineral, which could be seen burning and melting in the early hours of this morning.
Another issue is the process of applying the rain-proof frontage can create a 25mm-30mm cavity between the cladding and the insulation behind it.
Arnold Tarling, chartered surveyor and fire expert with property firm Hindwoods, said this can have the effect of creating a ‘wind tunnel and also traps any burning material between the rain cladding and the building’.
He said: ‘So had it been insulated per se, the insulation could fall off and fall away from the building, but this is all contained inside.’
He added not all insulation used in the process is the more expensive non-flammable type.
‘So basically you have got a cavity with a fire spreading behind it.’
Angus Law, of the BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, said: ‘Early media reports suggest that this event has similarities with other fires that have occurred recently around the world.’
He added: ‘The UK’s regulatory framework for tall residential buildings is intended to prevent the spread of fire between floors and between apartments.
‘If spread of fire does occur, as has happened at Grenfell Tower, the consequences are often catastrophic.’
Construction firm Rydon, which carried out the refurbishment of the exterior of Grenfell Tower which finished last year, installing cladding and new windows, said its work ‘met all required building control, fire regulation, and health and safety standards’.
Design specifications suggest the renovation work carried out at Grenfell Tower included a 50mm ‘ventilated cavity’ next to 150mm of Celotex FR5000 insulation.
This insulation, according to Celotex, has a Class 0 rating under UK building regulations, meaning it has the highest rating for preventing the spread of flames and prevents the spread of heat.
In July last year, the 75-storey Sulafa Tower in Dubai Marina went up in flames, following a number of similar fires in the Middle East, including one at the 63-storey The Address Downtown Dubai on New Year’s Eve 2015.
James Lane, head of fire engineering at BB7, told IFSEC Global last July: ‘Another high-rise apartment block is apparently victim to the poor fire properties of its external cladding.
‘Any building constructed before the 2013 change in the local fire codes will be at risk from this kind of rapid and extensive fire spread unless major work is undertaken in the region to replace combustible insulation core cladding panels with a suitable alternative.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4604296/Was-cladding-blame-spread-tower-block-fire.html
And from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/14/disaster-waiting-to-happen-fire-expert-slams-uk-tower-blocks
It gets worse.
.
Experts and politicians are pointing fingers in an effort to explain what caused the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in London that killed at least 12 and injured dozens more on Wednesday morning. Quite unfortunately, all fingers appear to be pointing in the same direction, at a new aluminum rainscreen cladding installed, in part, to make the building more attractive to wealthy neighbors in luxury flats nearby.
http://gizmodo.com/how-rich-neighbors-may-have-factored-into-londons-deadl-1796103077?IR=T
To joe90,
It must be obvious to any student having taken high school chemistry that the metal, aluminium or a partly made aluminium product is highly flammable at high temperatures. Remember the British made aluminium navy vessels that were easily ignited by French exocet missiles during the Falklands War.
An urban myth, apparently.
.
There are many misconceptions and incorrect stories regarding the use of aluminum in warship construction.
One common story is that HMS Sheffield, a destroyer sunk during the 1982 Falkland War, was lost because her alleged aluminum superstructure made her more vulnerable to damage. This story is completely untrue, because Sheffield’s superstructure was not aluminum. Like all ships of her class, her hull and superstructure were entirely steel. Aluminum played no role in her loss.
Two Royal Navy warships lost during the Falklands War did have aluminum superstructures, and their loss is incorrectly attributed to this feature. Ardent was hit by seven 500- and 1000-pound bombs, plus at least two more bombs which failed to detonate, and sank some six hours after the attack. Any warship of her size, regardless of aluminum or steel construction, would likely be sunk by this many bombs, so aluminum cannot be blamed here. Antelope, another aluminum-superstructure ship, was struck by two bombs, which lodged in the ship but failed to explode. Later, while one of the bombs was being defused, it exploded, blowing a major hole in the hull and starting a large fire. The fire eventually reached the magazines, causing these to explode. Again, an aluminum superstructure appears to have little connection to the ship’s loss, which was caused by the explosion of the bomb and the magazines.
A related story claims the US Navy and Royal Navy abanonded aluminum superstructures, in favor of steel, as a result of the Falklands war. Since aluminum superstructures played little or no role in the Falkands losses, this story is obviously untrue. The Royal Navy’s switch to steel appears to be a result of a 1977 fire in the frigate Amazon. In the US Navy, the switch from aluminum to steel superstructures was a result of the 1975 collision between the carrier John F. Kennedy and the cruiser Belknap. The collision caused major fires aboard the cruiser, and her aluminum superstructure essentially melted; she was reduced to a badly burnt hulk. This incident lead to a decision to adopt steel superstructures in the next new warship class, the Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class destroyers. This decision had been made prior to the Falkands War.
http://www.hazegray.org/faq/smn6.htm#F7
I noticed in the link that maui put up, the street-wise were saying that the building exterior had been done up to look good for people overflying the area, rather than adding value for the people living in it.
And this from RedLogix piece says it all in accordance with the information that we hear reiterated, (just thinking back to the government’s careless attitude to the building of Christchurch’s earthquake collapsed building.)
This is vile.
How does the NZ situation compare – anyone know?
Or haven’t we even looked?
Nothing we didn’t already know, this graph illustrates exactly what needs to happen in September.
Young people have to get out and vote.
Looking at the whole survey, the Left could do well to focus on the health sector when talking to the over 50s. Again, nothing we didn’t already know.
I was talking to a young (30) chap at work.
He is going to vote for the first time this year. In the past it was irrelevant, nothing to do with him.
He reckons he is voting for a future, voting for those who are the next generation.
Congratulated him heartily.
Matters not for whom he votes, he is engaged in the process.
I will be encouraging others to be enroll band vote in the mainly early 20’s workforce.
You’re a good example to all gsays.
Well done you @ gsays (7.1)
Update.
Two more today said they intend to vote.
One, for the first time, expressed a sense of duty, the other had voted before.
Still the oldies fucking over the young.
Not all of us are engaged in that sort of activity , bud. Keep your ageism to yourself, please.
True, just most of them.
If you can believe Richard Harman apparently English is the only member of the cabinet that supports resolution 2334 that opposes the illegal Israeli settlements continually being built in Palestine. This says everything about the National Party. It’s here:
http://politik.co.nz/en/content/foreignaffairs/1116/Standoff-that-divided-Cabinet-ends-Murray-McCully-Gerry-Brownlee-Bill-English-UN-Security-Council-Israel-Itzhak-Gerberg.htm
Interestingly English slapped Brownlee down. Maybe he should have thought a bit longer before appointing the least diplomatic person on the planet as our chief diplomat? The slap-down is described here:
“But Brownlee had to endure a humiliating public put-down from English over his RNZ interview. In a May 8 press conference, English said: “We’re not describing it (the resolution) as premature,” he said. “Our role in the resolution was that it expressed Government policy. “The resolution was expressing long-standing Government policy – in fact, a long-standing commonly held international view.””
Good old Saudi Arabia.
http://nypost.com/2017/06/09/saudi-soccer-teams-refusal-to-honor-london-terror-victims-was-despicable/
Reminds me of that time the stadium full of Turkish football fans responded to a requested minute’s silence for victims of the Paris attack by chanting Allahu Akbar.
It’s not that I don’t have empathy for the victims, but I don’t necessarily think that calling out the Saudi soccer team merits a news item – let alone an international one.
I remember approaching the referee (at half time) of a soccer match in 2010 after he had lined up the eight and nine years olds and told them to stand in silence for the Elim students who died in the tragic Mangatepopo canyoning accident.
I asked why this occurred and he said that a couple of those students played soccer. Not at the club that was holding the match, not at the club that were visitors, but at another location. When I said that I thought this was a mawkish act to visit on young players he advised that all coaches and referees had been asked to do this by the national soccer organisation and that I should take it up with them.
A couple of brief emails (politely answered) led to the conclusion that the organisation considered it appropriate to advise all soccer teams to have a minute of silence before the commencement of each game because of the participation in soccer of a couple of the students.
I still feel uneasy about the enforced public display of sympathy on young people who didn’t have an understanding of what they were doing and why. It seemed an appropriation to me. Even worse, some of those young players would no doubt have had personal tragedies that were not acknowledged in any way by their own teams and clubs, and the difference would have been felt.
When it comes to the politicisation of children and their leisure time, I couldn’t agree more.
Thankfully, the Saudi international football team were not children, they were grown ups who more than capably understand the symbolic value of solidarity and condemnation in the face of extremist violence. As noted in the article, Australians are feeling pretty raw about two women from their country being stabbed to death by jihadist men while enjoying their OE.
“Thankfully, the Saudi international football team were not children, they were grown ups who more than capably understand the symbolic value of solidarity and condemnation in the face of extremist violence.”
They are also from a country where violence and intolerance is a fact of life.
Expecting them to behave differently because they have been asked to, brings to mind the fable of the snake and the frog. Or memorably, the character Shelley on Northern Exposure The Woman & The Snake. (Not that I think the Saudis are snakes, but the fable is about expecting change, when behaviour and nature has been pretty constant.)
So, the excuse of cultural differences could be a valid one – or at least, understandable. To be considered before it is dismissed.
It is our culture that expects public solidarity for incidents that cause us concern, and we note those who don’t participate.
Are we are asking for genuine solidarity or just feigned? At what point does it lose meaning?
“Expecting them to behave differently because they have been asked to, brings to mind the fable of the snake and the frog.”
How does this affect your view of migrants from this part of the world? Are they too morally incapable of behaving in a manner inconsistent with a Sharia country?
And how is it that we can understand their culture, but they not ours? We understand that it is polite to not walk into a Mosque with our shoes on, or to walk the streets of Riyadh swigging from a whiskey bottle. To suggest that we are capable of understanding and complying with their conventions to avoid causing offence, but they aren’t with ours …. doesn’t that sound a bit condescending? Like saying they’re basically stuck in a state of permanent infancy, with no insight into the needs or motivation of the other?
Yes. I agree with what you are saying in terms of acceptable behaviour.
However, having received quite a vitriolic response from the referee, I note that even within our own culture we ask for conformity in behaviour – to extend that out to other cultures – and flag their non-conformity is an exercise in futility.
The actions shown by the Saudi soccer team is disrespectful to the host nation.
But there are many acts of westerners that are disrespectful of nations around the world, not least the military invasion of some of them, and the corporate displacement of communities and their access to natural resources. An current example in Iceland is the use of the the moss landscapes to create long-lasting meaningless graffiti.
Essentially, the story is about a group of young men, acting disrespectfully at a football match in Australia who have the same disregard for victims of terrorists attacks in London, that similarly aged young men in Australia might have for victims of the Syria airstrikes ordered by the US government, or the recent terrorist attacks in Yemen.
Are you so sure that an Australian team playing soccer in Saudi Arabia, would feel comfortable with a minutes silence for the atrocities committed in the Palestinian conflict? On either side?
It borders on tokenism if it is not genuinely felt.
But I’m partially conflicted, because it does show a lack of respect and tolerance, but I consider this to be an issue with many cultures. Including our own.
Yeah, I figured sooner or later colonialism or military adventurism on the part of some western countries would make an appearance.
… and moss graffiti… 🙂
I rather like moss graffiti.
… and nudes too, I guess.
Oh right, I was thinking more like this stuff:
https://indulgy.com/post/Xh82A5AWH1/moss-graffiti-recipie-mix-it-all-in-a-blende
Whatever you do, don’t send those nudes to Riyadh. Or do, on a scale of millions.
“How does this affect your view of migrants from this part of the world? “
It doesn’t. To begin with, migrants make the choice to leave because there appears to be a country that suits them better than their place of birth.
We should understand this, as we have had NZers moving all over the earth for better opportunities.
I don’t expect the behaviour of one group in a culture to determine that of the whole culture. Especially not those who have made a deliberate choice to leave.
Right, and that’s how it should be – because adults are quite capable of grasping that things are meaningful to others, and how nice it can be to recognize that for just a minute.
So I’m glad the Saudis lost this game of football, winning after such an unnecessarily obnoxious display makes it all the more fitting.
(I’m going to stop soon, because I’m off to do something that would be illegal in Saudi Arabia, and while doing that will be teaching my daughter the same.)
I’m just wary of the development of media tropes that tends to lump all misbehaviours of certain cultures at a time when tension is already high.
Whenever, I read an article like the New York Post – I flip the story, to see if the same initial response I have to it would be duplicated if the players (ha!) in it were changed. eg. Australian players in Saudi etc.
In that case, I would understand the lack of knowledge and empathy that would accompany a refusal to participate. Even more so, if their team management responded to the request and not the players themselves.
Taking that note, in such a country as Saudi Arabia, who knows what would await a player that took it upon themselves to publicly disregard direction?
I know what you mean, I have a girl too, which is why I’m very suspicious of ideologies which don’t think much of them.
The script flip is a great way to look at this. Last I checked, sympathy for Palestine was very widespread in the West. I see Free Palestine t-shirts and bumper stickers all the time. Sympathy for the victims of radical Islamic terrorist attacks on the west in countries like Saudi or Turkey though? Well, I guess the actions of a single football team is perhaps not the greatest sample, but a stadium full of thousands?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcU4ousVLhc
It’s perfectly reasonable to be concerned.
The last Saudi king was considerably more enlightened than the current one. This doesn’t affect laws – they don’t change them often – but the severity with which they are enforced. A woman who drove a car who had been left alone has now been subjected to prosecution for example.
This from section 2.2 of the SSC document “Guidance for the 2017 Election period”
The ceremonial opening of the problematic $1.4B Waterview Tunnel is on Sunday 18 June just 5 days out from the official beginning of the 2017 election period on Friday 23 June when much greater scrutiny is applied to the use of ‘public launches and events’ for party political purposes.
Coincidence? Think not.
In fact there is still no opening date although somewhere around Sunday 09 July would be a good guess as the school term ends on Friday 07 July. Isn’t it odd then there might be a three week gap between the ribbon cutting and a still un-named opening date?
https://www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/guidance-stateservants.pdf
Trump is now under investigation for obstruction of justice.
Hang in there for a full term Donny.
Democrats need the full 4 years to renew.
I think this strategy stands to backfire terribly for the Democrats. The Russia stuff is rapidly coming to nothing, and this new turn probably will too. Suddenly the midterms will be upon them. Most of the races are for seats currently held by Dems, so there’s more for them to lose than to win. They are leaderless, lacking much of an agenda beyond ‘but muh Russians’, and they’ve really just put their feet up and hoped that the outcome of these hearings will be all the messaging they need.
If the outcome of these hearings fails to deliver the headshot (and how many times did they claim in the campaign that one scandal or another would be just that?), it will be the Republicans who go to town on pointing out that the Democrats asking people for their vote have spent the last 2 years playing sore loser and whining to little effect. Look how badly the Republicans got burnt trying to play those games. It’s an absolute turnoff, but the Dems have repeated the mistake.
Sanders had a strategy, but idiots like Nancy Pelosi wouldn’t get on board. He said, support Trump on things which matter – bringing back jobs, opposing TPPA (ok, not I understand why Pelosi wasn’t on board) – but oppose him hard on things like medical, taxes, immigration reform. That was a strategy, that was something you’d be able to put in front of voters after 2 years and demonstrate that you’d been putting the work in and preparing to make Trump a one termer. But Russia.
“rapidly coming to nothing”?
All we have so far is the early stages of multiple investigations, which are all still widening.
After that we have the findings, and the media hits from that.
After that we have determinations on who gets to face charges or sanctions. At which point there will be White House firings.
After that we have trials.
After that we have sentencings.
After that we have a further wave of White House restructuring, and a whole bunch more pressure on the President himself.
And all of the above has big media implications, at each stage.
After that we have the President on record polling lows – far lower than now. And no-one in the Republican dominated Congress or Senate willing to come anywhere near him let alone propose legislation.
After that we are in to the next Presidential election.
With the whole White House swinging and attracting flies like a 6-week cow corpse hauled out of a river.
That is what the Democrat renewal programme seems to look like right now, and it seems to be going just fine.
Innuendo in the Washington Post isn’t a hit, it’s an echo. Do you think ordinary Americans read it? Trials and sentencing only follow if someone gets found guilty, and given how much of a flop Comey’s star testimony has been, it’s really not looking great – especially when you compare it to the potential which Bernie’s approach offered as an opposition strategy.
And we’re going by polls on Trump now? Isn’t this an age of learning things, or just when it gives us a narrow loss for Corbyn? If we want more Corbyns and Bernies, we have to stop pretending that perpetual losers like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are onto a winner. They’re a large part of the reason Trump won – much larger than the phantom menace of Putin.
Definitely not the optimum Democrat renewal strategy, but it;s the one history has dealt them so that’s what they have to operate with.
The Washington Post is not the only entity reporting – it’s everyone in the MSM and the main blogs. This is going to go all the way.
And don’t need to worry about whether there was actual collusion with the Russian – the charges will be about Obstruction. The cover up. Which is all these political amateurs are doing now.
Well that’s exactly my point – the investigation is not widening, it’s slaloming, and each new path comes to yet another dead end. Russia! Oops, no. Comey’s testimony! Oops, no. Obstruction! By all means hold your breath…
I don’t know what would be worse for them. To head into the midterms having spent all that sound and fury for nothing, or for nothing more than getting Flynn, Kushner, or Sessions on a minor technicality or two. Where in the real world of ordinary people would you trumpet that as a productive use of two years’ work. You think that’s the sort of thing middle Americans relate to? Oh yay, after hyped up promises and a thousand breaking news banners of Russian spies, presidential lies, impeachment, corruption, and proof of a stolen election we get …. proof Mike Flynn and Jeff Sessions told a couple of porkies, proof Jared Kushner tried to keep the intelligence services off administration comms with Russia, and maybe, just maybe, proof Trump leaned on Comey to be loyal to him and/or to leave things be with Flynn.
So I do not for a minute agree that the Democrats are making the best of the situation they’ve been given. There’s nothing wrong with letting those hearings take their course, but why are they sitting on their hands in the meantime? They clearly have no clue about how the electorate feels about work, about producing. Two years for outcomes which are already shifting into less relevant arenas? That does not make returning your local Democrat in a marginal seat look like bang for buck.
As I keep reiterating, Sanders proposed a strategy and they spurned it – probably because it was an embarrassing reminder that they chose the wrong leader, and that’s why they are where they are. He and Corbyn understand what Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and their ilk will never understand at this rate: protest without proactivity just pisses working people off, especially if it seems to amount to the square root of fuck all.
It looks to be widening by the day as Mueller stacks his team with experts in campaign finance violations, money laundering and Eastern Europe organised crime.
https://www.wired.com/story/robert-mueller-special-counsel-investigation-team/
All the while previous avenues are closing – so it’s not widening, it’s changing direction.
His own words led to the obstruction of justice investigation so perhaps he, his whelps and his proxies should STFU because every time they open their yaps, the hole gets bigger.
The GOP side of the media is already all over that element of Comey’s testimony though, and their meme majick is all over it in ways which ours will never match (honestly, the #MAGA crowd do this so much better than the online left)
https://pics.conservativememes.com/so-james-comey-can-read-donald-trumps-mind-to-find-22703057.png
I think there’s an awful lot more than Comey’s testimony behind the investigation.
https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/mueller-probe-examining-whether-donald-trump-obstructed-justice-1497490897
I couldn’t read your paywalled link to an article in the Wall Street Journal, but other than the content of Comey’s testimony, what materials will they be able to call upon to determine whether there was obstruction? And even if they do determine obstruction, to what effect if the main investigation is a flop? How does that show that the Democrats have done anything of note in 2 years of opposition?
Much the same content below.
According to the Post, Mueller has reached out to NSA Director Mike Rogers, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and former NSA Deputy Director Richard Ledgett to voluntarily interview them as part of the obstruction inquiry. All three men have agreed, the Post said. It’s unclear whether Mueller made his request before Coats and Rogers testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee last week. At that open hearing, both men declined to answer multiple questions from senators about their interactions with the president. The hearing came one day after the Post reported Trump had asked Coats and Rogers in March to intervene with then-director Comey to halt the Russia investigation.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/donald-trump-is-under-investigation-for-obstruction-of-justice/530412/
Cheers – interesting read. Definitely little in this for the Democrats to take credit for.
Inclined to agree with joe. It’s usually not the crime that gets them, but the cover-up.
But having said that, unseating Trump is going to be a fraught and unpredictable process. And Sanders is working hard to be in the right spot if and when something happens.
Exactly – Independent senator Sanders is working hard. The Democrats? Last I checked, Chucky Cheese was running around trying to convince Antifa protesters to become Democrats. An apt summary of how clueless they really are.
Oh the webs we weave when we seek to deceive…
Here’s another American perspective instead of the second hand news we get from our MSM and the bought and paid for CNN , FOX etc…
Comey Admits That He And Mueller Have Already Rigged The Russia …
Video for trump investigated by mueller alex jones▶ 11:54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fFkJGj_K7A
https://willnewzealandberight.com/2017/06/15/new-zealand-wimps-out-to-israel/
We had no problems telling Israel what we thought of their illegal settlements in 2016. It was a good day to be Kiwi when Resolution 2334 was announced.
But now we hear Gerry did not support the resolution.
I am not terribly surprised, at the same time quite disgusted. Gerry knew what he was doing when he said a few weeks ago he thought the Resolution was premature.
“A man is taking former politician John Banks to court in a bid to prove the two-term Auckland mayor is his father.
However, neither the 70-year-old nor his legal representative appeared in the High Court at Auckland for the start of the case.”
“The DNA will have its say”
The man is not seeking DNA but that would settle the matter. Huh???
DNA test not orderable…but look at the photos…try growing a pair Banks front up
Banks no shows at court
http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/banks-no-show-at-paternity-case-hearing/
Hi Mod If you could push my ones out since 1.30pm I’d appreciate.
[r0b: Sometimes there isn’t a mod about, sorry. I suggested you trying making an account / logging in a while ago?]
I did try but it wasn’t proceeding as I expected and I left it. Next time it will be fine I am sure.
Give it another try and post here what happens?
I’ve been through the moderation list again and again and I have no idea why you are being caught every comment. I’ll ask lprent to have a look.
No I’ll have a try when I get time to do more unsatisfying work. Nothing I am doing at present is yielding fruitful results so have to keep pegging on with what time and energy I can muster. So I’ll have another go and it may fall into place.
This is a rant from hereon about me and on behalf of other people who don’t want their lives dominated by bloody machines and systems and apps.
I hate having to learn all the time how to do basic operations and form filling that keep changing. Everything gets more complicated when we are promised simple fast and easy.
Under the captcha in the CTU site the other day there was something about choice with three options, and I didn’t know what it referred to, I ignored it and seemed to be okay. There are little symbols for things and I don’t know what they refer to, and there is not a different symbol for each thing only a row of little oblongs that you have to interrogate with your mouse for identification.
We are asked/ordered to use computers and on-line storage more and then have to adapt to system changes needed to prevent our communications being stolen or our machine being invaded by bots or something that are under the control of some faceless entity. My bank site has been adapted to make it more difficult for nasties to hack and I now need my cellphone to give me a confirmation number that I have to enter. Good, but it now takes extra time to do anything, first find cellphone, is it charged, is it in credit etc.I Then I find that if I want to copy a bank number when making a deposit I can’t have any spaces or dashes, and I have to copy from left to right or it won’t accept the number.
There is less time available for actually thinking and doing things because you have to keep adapting to new changes to programs. It isn’t a Brave New World when everyone on line is trying to get at you and sell or steal from you. And you have to read a 10page document of Terms and Conditions before you can proceed with anything. Eddie Izzard got a huge laugh from his audience when he challenged them, – ‘I know none of you have read the T&C on anything. Ever.’