Kieran McAnulty making the case for agriculture reform.
Sorry about the cut and paste, couldn’t figure out how to link to Facebook.
”Anyone who knows me well knows that I am passionate about the Primary Sector. They know both sides of my family have farmed for generations, and that both my parents continue to work in the sector. They also know that I entered politics in part to work towards sustainable rural communities.
I won’t be joining tomorrow’s protests. The sentiment behind them does not represent the whole sector and undermines the hard work of so many farmers who are keen to get ahead of the curve.
Now is not the time to tread water. Maintaining the status quo or, God forbid, going backwards will not deliver for rural communities.
We are a trading nation. Our prosperity depends on consumers choosing to buy our products. We have leveraged the 100% pure, clean and green image that we have cultivated over decades in order to extract the best price possible for our products.
But we mustn’t assume that demand will continue as is. We have never targeted the cheapest markets – we have always sold to the most discerning customers in the world. They want quality, so they choose our products.
However, markets change. And so too does consumer demand. The markets we are targeting want to know that if they are buying products from the bottom of the globe they can do so with a clear conscience. Consumers want to know their purchases are environmentally sustainable, that they are climate friendly, with high animal welfare standards and that the workers in the industry get a good wage with good conditions.
We have led the world in this. Our farmers are the most efficient producers in the world. But, we aren’t as ahead of the pack as we used to be.
We know there is a lot of change coming. And we know it is tough. We know there is concern about the pace of change. The Government hears that and has shown a willingness to amend things in order to make it work. We will continue to do so.
We don’t agree with those who say it isn’t the Government’s job to lead on this.
If we stop moving forward to address the impacts of climate change, allow further degradation of our fresh water and don’t do more to address animal welfare standards, there is no way we will meet this Government’s goal of working with the sector to achieve a $40b increase in export value.
Because that’s what is at stake. We either get ahead of the curve and reap the benefits, or we slowly fall behind.
We used to debate the ‘why’ – in 2003 the Government proposed a levy to invest in research on reducing methane emissions. That was protested and was scrapped. Now many – including those protesting tomorrow – are calling for such a fund.
The ETS was introduced as a compromise following protests against a carbon tax. Now many are saying the ETS is flawed and a carbon tax would be better.
I’m proud that as a country we have moved on from that. We no longer debate the ‘why’ and have moved on to discussing the ‘how’.
I acknowledge the constructive work of industry bodies like Dairy NZ and Beef and Lamb, and the efforts made by companies like Fonterra. They understand what needs to be done. Yet the group behind tomorrow’s protests have criticised them for it. So many of the farmers I engage with every week are on board with what needs to be done and are getting on with it. My bet is many of them will be disappointed by tomorrow’s protests.
I am disappointed too. Not necessarily because of the issues they are protesting – I discuss those with people every day. I am disappointed because of what I fear it will do. There is truth to the concept of an urban- rural divide. Some in urban areas don’t give enough credence to those farmers that have been doing their bit over many years. And farmers resent them for it. This is not where we need to be as a nation.
So much work goes into trying to bring often urban-based environmental groups and farmers together, encouraging them to learn about each other’s perspectives. It is in meeting and learning where we develop respect for those we don’t really know. And we were making progress.
It is my fear that tomorrow’s protests will undo this good work. It’ll make farmers look stubborn and resistant to change, which on the whole they are not. It’ll make them look like climate change deniers, which most of them aren’t. There will no doubt be someone that does or says something that will hurt the image of the farmers I know, and potentially, it’ll hurt how those overseas view us.
The markets we are trying to enter have much stricter environmental and climate standards than us. They will look at our protests and wonder why we are opposing proposals that aren’t as harsh as those they have in their own countries. These are the very same people in the very same markets we want to sell more of our products to.
So I won’t be joining the protests tomorrow, but I will continue to back the majority of farmers who want the best price for their products, the best for the environment and the best for our country.”
In total agreement with Kieran McAnulty. Especially when he makes the point how our markets are getting more picky about from whom they buy. As an agricultural trading nation, farmers should be wanting to give markets offshore reasons to buy from us, not reasons not to.
On a personal level, I used to be able to catch trout in the Ruamahanga River. Probably not so much now.
The ute tax is avoidable now, you just don’t buy a new ute for a couple of years when there will be alternatives, unfortunately they probably won’t be Toyota.
Think it’ll be a very different picture in a couple of years
Given at least one of the organisers of today's protests was a candidate for the crank Advance NZ party I look forward to seeing Judith being filmed on her tractor with someone waving an anti-vax banner behind her.
With the Groundswell ad inviting; "Bring your tractor, ute, and the dogs", the hopes of the Dunedin supporters for a calm event may be in vain:
{Groundswell co-founder Bryce McKenzie said} "If somebody is angry about what’s happening and they’re thinking about coming on a tractor, we’d ask them not to do that…
Federated Farmers national president Andrew Hoggard said there was a real risk of the agricultural sector being made out to look like "a bunch of fringe nutters".
A big concern was offensive signage being brought to the protests, which would do more harm than good.
Though with the weather today, no one is going to be looking at the signs much except as improvised umbrellas. If you howl in a gale, does it make a sound?
The weather in Dunedin has cleared up a lot since dawn, so the rain is probably most of the way to Chch (& west coast!) by now. At least it's not another cabin feverish school holiday.
Links from mobile not working today, so I will probably ease off commenting until I am back at my laptop. ODT had coverage of event- featuring a one month ultimatum for the government to knuckle under (no specific consequences threatened for not doing so though). Also some minor assault of a counterprotester – but the Octagon has HD cameras everywhere, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out.
dickhead did it in front of an odt camera. Snuck up from a blind spot and snatched it. And another brave man held a profarming sign in front of her face when she was talking to the camera. Looked pleased with himself for being so innovative, too.
"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will chair the "informal leaders' retreat" over video-conference late Friday night – the first time the Asia Pacific bloc has held such talks ahead of its regular November event. United States President Joe Biden, China President Xi Jinping, and Russia President Vladimir Putin have all confirmed their participation."
Xi & Putin must have gleaned some basis of common interest in the preliminary plan of the teleconference agenda. I applaud the PM's initiative and hope her scheme includes a proactive design – the pandemic thus far seems to have induced mostly reactive responses by nations.
"In a statement issued on Monday, Ardern said she would invite the leaders to discuss "immediate measures to achieve more coordinated regional action to assist recovery". She later told reporters not to expect any significant breakthroughs or announcements out of the discussion."
Yeah, best to minimise expectations. I presume her officials have proposed possible regional co-ordinations and perhaps advance negotiation has prompted similar suggestions from other administrations. Seems history will be made tonight if sufficient common ground is established.
"Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman said it was a "bold initiative" for New Zealand to convene such a meeting and spoke to Ardern's clout on the world stage."
Any player is only as good as their latest performance – in the minds of the audience & other players – so hers tonight will depend on the quality of the thinking and planning involved. Good to see her advancing Aotearoa's leadership capacity anyway.
""She's in quite a strong position to point out to great powers like China and the United States… they need to co-operate more, because the alternative model of rivalry and name-calling has not worked." Patman said he expected Ardern would urge the economies to take a collaborative approach in the face of the global pandemic, in particular regarding vaccines."
He's right to remind us that collaborative endeavour ought to accompany competition between nations. Those in younger generations with a global outlook will be encouraged by a renewal of the balance between the two.
I might do a post on the weekend about this. There are two jaw dropping passages in the article:
“There is a brief psychological assessment of Trump, who is described as an “impulsive, mentally unstable and unbalanced individual who suffers from an inferiority complex”.
There is also apparent confirmation that the Kremlin possesses kompromat, or potentially compromising material, on the future president, collected – the document says – from Trump’s earlier “non-official visits to Russian Federation territory”.
The paper refers to “certain events” that happened during Trump’s trips to Moscow. Security council members are invited to find details in appendix five, at paragraph five, the document states. It is unclear what the appendix contains.
“It is acutely necessary to use all possible force to facilitate his [Trump’s] election to the post of US president,” the paper says.”
And Trump’s response:
“This is disgusting. It’s fake news, just like RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA was fake news. It’s just the Radical Left crazies doing whatever they can to demean everybody on the right.
“It’s fiction, and nobody was tougher on Russia than me, including on the pipeline, and sanctions. At the same time we got along with Russia. Russia respected us, China respected us, Iran respected us, North Korea respected us.
“And the world was a much safer place than it is now with mentally unstable leadership.”
Since Luke Harding's hilarious fiction featuring Manafort and his visit to Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy there's not much reason to believe anything Harding writes is not incredible.
Absolutely on point there Brigid. How anyone can take seriously anything that Luke Harding writes is beyond belief. With regard to the Manafort visit to Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy words to the effect that we are to believe the most surveilled building in the most surveilled city with cctv on all surrounding buildings and no one noticed Manafort entering??!
In the US the far right have linked their cause, to the cause of the oil companies, with the belief, (encouraged by big oil), that climate change is a conspiracy spread by Leftists to destroy the American way of life.
Just like the unprovoked attacks on blacks and Asians by white supremacists. There have been many documented unprovoked attacks on Americans who choose to drive electric cars.
Apart from many acts of vandalism of parked electric cars, and screamed abuse and obscene gestures, one way Right Wing conspiracy theorists have attacked electric car owners is the practice known as ICEing. ie organised blocking of electric charging stations by large SUVs and other Internal Combustion, ICE vehicles preventing electric car owners recharging their batteries.
Another tactic used by these extremists, is altering your exhaust to pour smoke to blind electric car drivers or anyone else they take offence at. Like 'ICEing' this practice is also common enough to have a name, and is known as 'Rolling Coal'.
If this wasn't a serious manifestation of a malfunctioning society and mind-set, I'd suggest that EV owners placate the attention-drawing neediness of such ICE owners by installing speakers under their vehicles rear where exhaust pipes would otherwise be, and play the vibrant sounds of Harleys at full-throated acceleration, the song of a 12 cylinder straight pipe racing boat engine or a tourist space rocket at take-off. That should convince these ICErs that EV owners are real men.
The power supplies for them alone currently (giggle) cost about as much as my wee suzuki UZ50.
But that sort of thing, yeah. Just a matter of time, I'm hoping.
Mind you, the last suzuki I had ran for something like 7 years without me bothering to put in any oil, so the current one could well see me into retirement now I'm bothering with basic maintenance lol
McFlock – these guys in the valley used to be good at various kinds of tinkering. Their website seems geared to installing ebike kits nowadays, but they may still do custom work too. It may even be possible to turn your suzuki into an electric moped and still ride on a car licence? Though, you might be more limited as to power options than a newbuild:
For vehicles first registered prior to 1 May 2011
A moped includes a motor vehicle with three wheels, a power output not exceeding 2kW and a maximum speed of 50km/h.
They look very interesting; over $2K can be street legal compliant, a scooter that looks like a grunty little Harley, good range and top speed for town use.
The cyclists on our walkways are enjoined to let the pedestrians know they are coming up behind, certainly. I guess a cyclist on a road trusts all cars to give it sufficient berth when passing and likewise the driver trusts the cyclist will check behind when moving its line across the road width. I've never yet heard a cycle bell as a walker though- shouted warnings, yes, but not a bell.
How many cyclists have a bell and rear vision mirrors nowadays?
I hope the tenant appeals this decision. $700 for this level of harassment from a landlord is less than what’s awarded when the bond’s not lodged with Tenancy Services. Ridiculous.
"A 1972 MIT study predicted that rapid economic growth would lead to societal collapse in the mid 21st century. A new paper shows we’re unfortunately right on schedule."
“BAU2 and CT scenarios show a halt in growth within a decade or so from now,” the study concludes. “Both scenarios thus indicate that continuing business as usual, that is, pursuing continuous growth, is not possible. Even when paired with unprecedented technological development and adoption, business as usual as modelled by LtG would inevitably lead to declines in industrial capital, agricultural output, and welfare levels within this century.”
Study author Gaya Herrington told Motherboard that in the MIT World3 models, collapse “does not mean that humanity will cease to exist,” but rather that “economic and industrial growth will stop, and then decline, which will hurt food production and standards of living… In terms of timing, the BAU2 scenario shows a steep decline to set in around 2040.”
“The necessary changes will not be easy and pose transition challenges but a sustainable and inclusive future is still possible,” said Herrington.
The best available data suggests that what we decide over the next 10 years will determine the long-term fate of human civilization."
We in the south are in for a seriously damaging rain event. Let’s run a book on how many hours on from the protest it will take for the first “ agriculture spokesman “ to go on tv and demand more money from the government for reinstatement.
My pick is in the single figures, about 6. Hypocrits Without Shame.
A farmer (also called an agriculturer[?]) is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock.
It amounts to a polluters charter to do as they please to our waterways and head in the sand climate change denialism.
This inchoate protest in the face of overwhelming public rejection of their demands has to be seen in the context of the collapse of the National party as a viable political opposition. These people clearly feel they no longer have a mechanism to hijack public policy in their favour.
Damien O’Connor’s warning about not being too cocky like tourism had beed was very apt
Tourism’s cockiness destroyed any social license or goodwill the industry had with the New Zealand public. Being on the receiving end of the public’s wrath in our gallery over the last year hasn’t been pleasant.
Farmers risk a similar loss of social license that’s probably only going to polarise the situation even more
A point missed by most is that farm utes etc are tax depreciated by 20% per annum, therefore after 5 years owners have not paid any tax on earnings equal to the cost of the vehicle. This is not available to anybody else owning a vehicle including most of the people who work for them.
Every one of the utes in that protest is running on subsidised fuel to the tune of whatever tax rate the owner is on, which for most is fuck all because of all the accumulated depreciation on every bit of gear they own.
They are hypocrites because they amount to the most wealthy group of state beneficaries in the country.
Not up on this stuff, but isn't the tax going to hit the pseudo tradesmen who have the bright shiny double-cabs for mum to drop them and the kids off at work and school then claim rebates?
The farm like any other business that is registered for gst is only collecting this tax for the govt and the pays out to them. The end unregistered (you and me) pay the gst to the ird. and gst costs or charges are not the companies, and there are mechanisms within the tax system to account for private benefits gst portion, so the gst rebate has no benefit to the farm.
And for those comments below an example of where there is personal use, if the Ute is used to transport the family to and return the airport for a holiday, or the Ute is used to tow the boat to the crib for a holiday.😉
but if as you have stated only that portion of income generating activity is applied to the asset then the same applies to the end user argument with regard to the GST applied to said asset….which as I noted upthread is all moot because both the income generating activity v private benefit and subsequent tax implications are widely ignored.
"This is not available to anybody else owning a vehicle" – you are wrong same as not taking into account personal use , but don't let that get in the way for your argument, hate to read an argument based on straw !!!!
What do you think happens to those vehicles used for any business . e.g trucks, buses, tractors etc
Do you also not understand about costs incurred to earn a profit being deducted, and when the vehicle is sold then any depreciation recovered is taxed.
Also the personal use is not deductible "Examples include gasoline, oil, fuel, water, rent, electricity, telephone, automobile upkeep, repairs, insurance, interest and taxes. Farmers must allocate these expenses between their business and personal parts. Generally, the personal part of these expenses is not deductible"
ps you claim to be a farmer I am reminded of William Joyce when I read that
and then theres the real world….where personal use is seldom separated out, or it is 'legitimised' and the fact that the enforcement is seldom applied.
Will these things really matter 30 years from now? [thanks to pat for that link]
Hold on to hope, best of luck, and don't take your eye off the ball
The best available data suggests that what we decide over the next 10 years will determine the long-term fate of human civilization. Although the odds are on a knife-edge, Herrington pointed to a “rapid rise” in environmental, social and good governance priorities as a basis for optimism, signalling the change in thinking taking place in both governments and businesses. She told me that perhaps the most important implication of her research is that it’s not too late to create a truly sustainable civilization that works for all.
One vehicle and associated running costs is fully deductible, any further vehicle that is used at anytime for farm or job related tasks is deductible on a percentage basis.
Farm workers driving to work don’t get any deductibles, it can be 50kms here and back for some so I pay extra to cover fuel costs for those who work for us.
If you don’t think the deductibility regime isn’t rorted Herod you are dreaming and talking out your arse.
Just had a look at the photos from the protests and I’m pretty sure most of those tractors are brand new and have come straight off a dealers yard, the giveaway is the wheels, it doesn’t take many hours on a farm until they look secondhand.
Yes, I’m inside looking at an iPad, but after 8 hours in the pissing rain I’m at least allowed a cup of tea, tax deductible of course!
The government/ird have viewed commuting to and from work as private travel – as it occurs outside work hours. And the same applies to all workers not just those working on farms. And in the city the further out you live the cheaper property is but the more expensive it is to travel in terms on time and running costs, and ask our great leaders why public transport priorities are for the inner sections of the city and on the margins PT is marginal to non-existent at best.
And I am not that naive to believe that this is being rorted.
Adrian is a farmer. I've been on his property. I've known the man for over twenty years- an independent, forceful thinker and a bloody hard worker. His very decent rosé is far less red than his politics.
Is it just me or can anyone else see the irony of this. On the day farmers have a Howly bag protest over water and climate change issues, climate change delivers yet another red warning event on the West Coast. This within weeks of a similar event in South Canterbury. Both are prominent dairy farming areas. Farmers are evacuating ahead of flooding and I expect they will hold their hand out for government assistance, just like the last lot. Howl of protest accompanied by howling rain. It’s almost justice!
I thought there was no more money available (same was said by the government regarding the teachers) until there was more, $408m more. Glad to see the government starting to listen and show some appreciation towards this well deserving sector. Pity we had to go thru this process with the government staring down the nurses. These nurses deserve everything they get and IMO still more is required.
When people highlight that the NZ govt doesn't have a financial constraint this is what is meant. When the govt says there are no funds for that its nothing about budgets or accounts its just their way of saying no we don't want to fund that.
Perhaps now the govt will be able to fully fund Starship with the extra $15m ($7m has been pledged of this) that was short to allow the extra need beds to be added. Especially with the outbreak of this RVS. The only way to achieve any $$ from the govt is to embarrass them into action. Pity that they could not see an obvious need.
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Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Photo by Jari Hytönen on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government is talking up the crucial role of gas as a transition fuel “through to 2050 and beyond”. In a gas strategy to be released on Thursday, the government envisages the fuel’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Next week the government will again next try to get its legislation through to deal with non-citizens who won’t cooperate with efforts to deport them. The bill, which the opposition and crossbench refused to rush ...
A long-term project that will set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bree Hurst, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Law, QUT, Queensland University of Technology TK Kurikawa/Shutterstock A much-awaited report into Coles and Woolworths has found what many customers have long believed – Australia’s big supermarkets engage in price gouging. What started ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Ghezelbash, Associate Professor and Deputy Director, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney The Albanese government wanted to avoid an inquiry into its migration amendment bill. The report, handed down yesterday by a senate committee that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Lobbying is at the heart of government. Who has access to and influence over key government officials shapes the decisions governments make – and how they make them. The ability to influence ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myfany Turpin, Associate Professor, Ethnomusicology, Linguistics and Ethnobiology, University of Sydney The act representing Australia at this year’s Eurovision contest has sadly not qualified for the grand final. Yet for Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross, the duo that makes up Electric Fields, ...
In announcing changes to the school lunches programme, David Seymour said kids would no longer be served ‘woke’ foods. To clear up any confusion, The Spinoff has compiled a guide to the wokeness levels of some common food items. Apple = NOT WOKE Avocado = WOKE Avocado, smashed = EVEN ...
The Minister Responsible for GCSB and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security have been notified of this review, and have been provided a finalised Terms of Reference. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Minglu Chen, Senior Lecturer, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Robert Way/Shutterstock As the past few years have illustrated so clearly, the Australia-China relationship is complicated. As such, it is crucial for Australians to develop a more nuanced understanding of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mariana Campbell, Research Lecturer, Conservation, Charles Darwin University Marilyn Connell Australian freshwater turtles are facing an alarming trend. Almost half of these species are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is one of Australia’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debbie Passey, Digital Health Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josephine Barbaro, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, Psychologist, La Trobe University Unsplash We’ve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder ...
PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s deputy opposition leader James Nomane has accused the government of “reckless economic management” that has forced devaluation to manage loan repayments in foreign currency and placate the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister James Marape “must stop lying to the people of Papua New Guinea”, ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Jane Arthur, author of Brown Bird, and former bookseller at Good Books.The book I wish I’d writtenI have been working on not comparing myself to others. On accepting that what I can ...
The final decision on the Wellington District Plan makes it official: High-density housing is legal across most of Wellington. Housing minister Chris Bishop has announced his decision on the Wellington District Plan, approving a series of amendments to radically upzone most of Wellington, allowing tens of thousands of new townhouses ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to ...
RNZ News As Israel presses ahead with strikes in Rafah and seizing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, aid agencies are sounding the alarm of a “catastrophic humanitarian situation”. Rafah was “significant” because it was the only part in Gaza that had not been terribly damaged by the conflict, United Nations ...
With funding set to be scrapped for the Hamilton-Auckland commuter train, Te Huia enthusiast Georgie Dansey argues for it to be thrown a lifeline. It’s 5.45am and the chain of my crappy old bike falls off slugging up the one hill in Hamilton. I contemplate yeeting the bike into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Cooke, Honorary Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and wellbeing globally. We all see ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Brail, Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto A shift to hybrid and remote work continues to affect worker presence in Toronto’s downtown.(Shutterstock) Downtown Toronto, the core of Canada’s largest city, continues to reel from the lingering ...
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...
Productivity apps now make up a big chunk of the software market. But do they work? And why do they all have AI integrations?Despite being firmly on the record as a physical planner fan, I sometimes dream of something better than my pretty diary and its scrawled, ugly, interior ...
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office. Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...
An objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. It’s power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, there’s the rich list and the powerful “c-suite” list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeer’s phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gadd’s story has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology Ans Westra, self-portrait, c. 1963. National Library ref AWM-0705-F They try but invariably fail – those writers who believe they are capable of encapsulating in prose or verse the essence of ...
Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the growing concern around the world in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. What’s all this? When Covid-19 arrived on our shores in early 2020, some argued we were too slow, or crucially, ill-prepared for a pandemic. So ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Franco Montalto, Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and Director, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory, Drexel University Water runs into a storm drain in a Los Angeles alley on Aug. 19, 2023, during Tropical Storm Hilary.Citizen of the Planet/Universal Images ...
The inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones has turned up a new witness who says he saw two teenagers and a small child in a high vis vest in the area where the boy’s body was found the day he died. Lachie’s body was discovered face up ...
Stories from the tenancy trenches, featuring spider infestations, cupboard rats and same-sex discrimination. Lucy’s brother was living in a damp 1930s building in Mt Eden where “he had to tie the cupboard doors closed so the rats didn’t get in”. Although he shared custody of his six-year-old son, his property ...
Simeon Brown, Chris Luxon, and Wayne Brown climbed into a hole and announced a plan to solve Auckland’s water woes. This is how it’ll work. New Zealand’s pipes are munted. They’re cracked and leaking, and struggling to handle all the extra poos excreted by our rising population. It’s a big, ...
After replacing a fifth of their caucus in just four months, the Greens’ opportunity to reset, reshuffle and refocus on the Government is quickly slipping away The post Persistent Green Party scandals delay caucus reset appeared first on Newsroom. ...
I knew Taika Waititi quite well when he was a kid. His mother lived in a tall narrow house in Aro St, and my youngest sister had a similar house two doors along. They were both single mums, they each had a son aged seven. Taika and my nephew Stepan ...
Opinion: “As time passes, knowledge of the circumstances of the August 2016 outbreak will fade and its immediate impact will be lost.” This statement is from the 2017 report of the Official Inquiry into the Havelock North campylobacteriosis outbreak. The then National-led government established the inquiry after the outbreak left ...
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Kieran McAnulty making the case for agriculture reform.
Sorry about the cut and paste, couldn’t figure out how to link to Facebook.
”Anyone who knows me well knows that I am passionate about the Primary Sector. They know both sides of my family have farmed for generations, and that both my parents continue to work in the sector. They also know that I entered politics in part to work towards sustainable rural communities.
I won’t be joining tomorrow’s protests. The sentiment behind them does not represent the whole sector and undermines the hard work of so many farmers who are keen to get ahead of the curve.
Now is not the time to tread water. Maintaining the status quo or, God forbid, going backwards will not deliver for rural communities.
We are a trading nation. Our prosperity depends on consumers choosing to buy our products. We have leveraged the 100% pure, clean and green image that we have cultivated over decades in order to extract the best price possible for our products.
But we mustn’t assume that demand will continue as is. We have never targeted the cheapest markets – we have always sold to the most discerning customers in the world. They want quality, so they choose our products.
However, markets change. And so too does consumer demand. The markets we are targeting want to know that if they are buying products from the bottom of the globe they can do so with a clear conscience. Consumers want to know their purchases are environmentally sustainable, that they are climate friendly, with high animal welfare standards and that the workers in the industry get a good wage with good conditions.
We have led the world in this. Our farmers are the most efficient producers in the world. But, we aren’t as ahead of the pack as we used to be.
We know there is a lot of change coming. And we know it is tough. We know there is concern about the pace of change. The Government hears that and has shown a willingness to amend things in order to make it work. We will continue to do so.
We don’t agree with those who say it isn’t the Government’s job to lead on this.
If we stop moving forward to address the impacts of climate change, allow further degradation of our fresh water and don’t do more to address animal welfare standards, there is no way we will meet this Government’s goal of working with the sector to achieve a $40b increase in export value.
Because that’s what is at stake. We either get ahead of the curve and reap the benefits, or we slowly fall behind.
We used to debate the ‘why’ – in 2003 the Government proposed a levy to invest in research on reducing methane emissions. That was protested and was scrapped. Now many – including those protesting tomorrow – are calling for such a fund.
The ETS was introduced as a compromise following protests against a carbon tax. Now many are saying the ETS is flawed and a carbon tax would be better.
I’m proud that as a country we have moved on from that. We no longer debate the ‘why’ and have moved on to discussing the ‘how’.
I acknowledge the constructive work of industry bodies like Dairy NZ and Beef and Lamb, and the efforts made by companies like Fonterra. They understand what needs to be done. Yet the group behind tomorrow’s protests have criticised them for it. So many of the farmers I engage with every week are on board with what needs to be done and are getting on with it. My bet is many of them will be disappointed by tomorrow’s protests.
I am disappointed too. Not necessarily because of the issues they are protesting – I discuss those with people every day. I am disappointed because of what I fear it will do. There is truth to the concept of an urban- rural divide. Some in urban areas don’t give enough credence to those farmers that have been doing their bit over many years. And farmers resent them for it. This is not where we need to be as a nation.
So much work goes into trying to bring often urban-based environmental groups and farmers together, encouraging them to learn about each other’s perspectives. It is in meeting and learning where we develop respect for those we don’t really know. And we were making progress.
It is my fear that tomorrow’s protests will undo this good work. It’ll make farmers look stubborn and resistant to change, which on the whole they are not. It’ll make them look like climate change deniers, which most of them aren’t. There will no doubt be someone that does or says something that will hurt the image of the farmers I know, and potentially, it’ll hurt how those overseas view us.
The markets we are trying to enter have much stricter environmental and climate standards than us. They will look at our protests and wonder why we are opposing proposals that aren’t as harsh as those they have in their own countries. These are the very same people in the very same markets we want to sell more of our products to.
So I won’t be joining the protests tomorrow, but I will continue to back the majority of farmers who want the best price for their products, the best for the environment and the best for our country.”
So do you have an actual opinion, or are you just good for a rip and dump?
Thanks for the affirmation.
In total agreement with Kieran McAnulty. Especially when he makes the point how our markets are getting more picky about from whom they buy. As an agricultural trading nation, farmers should be wanting to give markets offshore reasons to buy from us, not reasons not to.
On a personal level, I used to be able to catch trout in the Ruamahanga River. Probably not so much now.
Yeah, saw that on fb last night, good forward thinking leadership that’s shared by a lot of farmers
But the pull of the rugby club locker room ‘wadrrrya’ is still strong.
Their slogan
No farmers
No growers
No food
should really be
No change
No markets
No farmers
Which is what McAnulty is saying simplified to a slogan
Yip bunch grizzling wind bags, that can't handle change, imho
Apart from the ute tax ,I still think for a public good tax to be fair it has to be avoidable, and the ute tax is not for farmers.
The ute tax is avoidable now, you just don’t buy a new ute for a couple of years when there will be alternatives, unfortunately they probably won’t be Toyota.
Think it’ll be a very different picture in a couple of years
A placard on a bridge down here says "I live in New Zealand not Aotearoa, stop ramming Māori (sic) down our throats" & an anti communism one.
Good to see some sense being spoken….thanks for posting McAnulty's piece.
Given at least one of the organisers of today's protests was a candidate for the crank Advance NZ party I look forward to seeing Judith being filmed on her tractor with someone waving an anti-vax banner behind her.
With the Groundswell ad inviting; "Bring your tractor, ute, and the dogs", the hopes of the Dunedin supporters for a calm event may be in vain:
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/hopes-howl-protest-will-strike-right-note
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/125759839/what-are-aotearoas-farmers-actually-protesting-about-this-friday
Though with the weather today, no one is going to be looking at the signs much except as improvised umbrellas. If you howl in a gale, does it make a sound?
. If you howl in a gale, does it make a sound? great question.
It does but like pissing in the wind it's not fun and might back fire.
The weather in Dunedin has cleared up a lot since dawn, so the rain is probably most of the way to Chch (& west coast!) by now. At least it's not another cabin feverish school holiday.
Links from mobile not working today, so I will probably ease off commenting until I am back at my laptop. ODT had coverage of event- featuring a one month ultimatum for the government to knuckle under (no specific consequences threatened for not doing so though). Also some minor assault of a counterprotester – but the Octagon has HD cameras everywhere, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out.
dickhead did it in front of an odt camera. Snuck up from a blind spot and snatched it. And another brave man held a profarming sign in front of her face when she was talking to the camera. Looked pleased with himself for being so innovative, too.
She was having none of it. Good for her.
Naturally the police were out in force taking pics and ticketing tractors without warrants for road travel.
I was thinking about that.
Don't forget checking that all the cockies had their odometers on, tracking their fuel use for RUC. lol as if.
The deluge currently hitting the West coast is coming in from the north, and has been since yesterday.
Unless my geographic and meteorology knowledge has taken a hit, I doubt any weather you had in Dunedin this morning has headed up our way.
Stay safe on the roads today everyone and keep away from those wild-eyed farmers hooning in their Utes.
Re one of the organisers being a candidate – Advance NZ is deregistering as a political party as of today. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/07/jami-lee-ross-political-party-advance-new-zealand-deregistering.html
It is not often I have been in the majority
Small majority believe there is still time to avert climate disaster – survey
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/05/small-majority-believe-there-is-still-time-to-avert-climate-disaster-survey?
"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will chair the "informal leaders' retreat" over video-conference late Friday night – the first time the Asia Pacific bloc has held such talks ahead of its regular November event. United States President Joe Biden, China President Xi Jinping, and Russia President Vladimir Putin have all confirmed their participation."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/447012/hopes-something-significant-will-come-from-apec-meeting-chaired-by-ardern
Xi & Putin must have gleaned some basis of common interest in the preliminary plan of the teleconference agenda. I applaud the PM's initiative and hope her scheme includes a proactive design – the pandemic thus far seems to have induced mostly reactive responses by nations.
"In a statement issued on Monday, Ardern said she would invite the leaders to discuss "immediate measures to achieve more coordinated regional action to assist recovery". She later told reporters not to expect any significant breakthroughs or announcements out of the discussion."
Yeah, best to minimise expectations. I presume her officials have proposed possible regional co-ordinations and perhaps advance negotiation has prompted similar suggestions from other administrations. Seems history will be made tonight if sufficient common ground is established.
"Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman said it was a "bold initiative" for New Zealand to convene such a meeting and spoke to Ardern's clout on the world stage."
Any player is only as good as their latest performance – in the minds of the audience & other players – so hers tonight will depend on the quality of the thinking and planning involved. Good to see her advancing Aotearoa's leadership capacity anyway.
""She's in quite a strong position to point out to great powers like China and the United States… they need to co-operate more, because the alternative model of rivalry and name-calling has not worked." Patman said he expected Ardern would urge the economies to take a collaborative approach in the face of the global pandemic, in particular regarding vaccines."
He's right to remind us that collaborative endeavour ought to accompany competition between nations. Those in younger generations with a global outlook will be encouraged by a renewal of the balance between the two.
Bold move Prime Minister Ardern.
Imagine marching in aspiration for New Zealand to become like Somalia or India.
Credible validation. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/15/kremlin-papers-appear-to-show-putins-plot-to-put-trump-in-white-house
I might do a post on the weekend about this. There are two jaw dropping passages in the article:
“There is a brief psychological assessment of Trump, who is described as an “impulsive, mentally unstable and unbalanced individual who suffers from an inferiority complex”.
There is also apparent confirmation that the Kremlin possesses kompromat, or potentially compromising material, on the future president, collected – the document says – from Trump’s earlier “non-official visits to Russian Federation territory”.
The paper refers to “certain events” that happened during Trump’s trips to Moscow. Security council members are invited to find details in appendix five, at paragraph five, the document states. It is unclear what the appendix contains.
“It is acutely necessary to use all possible force to facilitate his [Trump’s] election to the post of US president,” the paper says.”
And Trump’s response:
“This is disgusting. It’s fake news, just like RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA was fake news. It’s just the Radical Left crazies doing whatever they can to demean everybody on the right.
“It’s fiction, and nobody was tougher on Russia than me, including on the pipeline, and sanctions. At the same time we got along with Russia. Russia respected us, China respected us, Iran respected us, North Korea respected us.
“And the world was a much safer place than it is now with mentally unstable leadership.”
Had to laugh.
You missed the '/sarc' attribute
Since Luke Harding's hilarious fiction featuring Manafort and his visit to Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy there's not much reason to believe anything Harding writes is not incredible.
FYI
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/12/06/assa-d06.html
Absolutely on point there Brigid. How anyone can take seriously anything that Luke Harding writes is beyond belief. With regard to the Manafort visit to Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy words to the effect that we are to believe the most surveilled building in the most surveilled city with cctv on all surrounding buildings and no one noticed Manafort entering??!
https://www.salon.com/2018/12/07/the-manafort-assange-meeting-that-wasnt-a-case-study-in-journalistic-malpractice/
We've all heard about casual racism
How about casual fascism?
In the US the far right have linked their cause, to the cause of the oil companies, with the belief, (encouraged by big oil), that climate change is a conspiracy spread by Leftists to destroy the American way of life.
Just like the unprovoked attacks on blacks and Asians by white supremacists. There have been many documented unprovoked attacks on Americans who choose to drive electric cars.
Apart from many acts of vandalism of parked electric cars, and screamed abuse and obscene gestures, one way Right Wing conspiracy theorists have attacked electric car owners is the practice known as ICEing. ie organised blocking of electric charging stations by large SUVs and other Internal Combustion, ICE vehicles preventing electric car owners recharging their batteries.
Anti-Tesla pickup truck drivers take over a Supercharger station again
https://electrek.co/2019/01/01/tesla-pickup-truck-drivers-supercharger-protest/?
Apart from low level intimidation like ICEing there have been numerous unprovoked shooting attacks on electric cars.
Another tactic used by these extremists, is altering your exhaust to pour smoke to blind electric car drivers or anyone else they take offence at. Like 'ICEing' this practice is also common enough to have a name, and is known as 'Rolling Coal'.
If this wasn't a serious manifestation of a malfunctioning society and mind-set, I'd suggest that EV owners placate the attention-drawing neediness of such ICE owners by installing speakers under their vehicles rear where exhaust pipes would otherwise be, and play the vibrant sounds of Harleys at full-throated acceleration, the song of a 12 cylinder straight pipe racing boat engine or a tourist space rocket at take-off. That should convince these ICErs that EV owners are real men.
fun fact. the current ford mustang I.C.E. is so quiet that it has a noise generator to give it the V8 rumble.
My Leaf is known to my friends as the Black Ninja. It too has a noise generator; at low speeds only, for pedestrian safety. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_vehicle_warning_sounds
I'm waiting for an affordable electric motor scooter 50cc-equivalent to come out, $2-3k mark.
Silent but deadly 😉
Ubco ,kiwi built,
The power supplies for them alone currently (giggle) cost about as much as my wee suzuki UZ50.
But that sort of thing, yeah. Just a matter of time, I'm hoping.
Mind you, the last suzuki I had ran for something like 7 years without me bothering to put in any oil, so the current one could well see me into retirement now I'm bothering with basic maintenance lol
McFlock – these guys in the valley used to be good at various kinds of tinkering. Their website seems geared to installing ebike kits nowadays, but they may still do custom work too. It may even be possible to turn your suzuki into an electric moped and still ride on a car licence? Though, you might be more limited as to power options than a newbuild:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/vehicle-types/motorcycles-and-mopeds/information-for-moped-riders/
https://dunedinelectricbikes.nz/conversions/
cheers
https://kiwihoverboard.co.nz/product/gaea3-eec-fat-tyre-e-scooter-road-legal/?
They look very interesting; over $2K can be street legal compliant, a scooter that looks like a grunty little Harley, good range and top speed for town use.
Definitely in the ballpark – 20 degree hill climb might be an issue (especially with my fat butt), but definitely getting there. Very interesting.
As a cyclist the quiet cars are terrifying, seemingly come out of nowhere. Maybe, they too, need a little bell to ring?
The cyclists on our walkways are enjoined to let the pedestrians know they are coming up behind, certainly. I guess a cyclist on a road trusts all cars to give it sufficient berth when passing and likewise the driver trusts the cyclist will check behind when moving its line across the road width. I've never yet heard a cycle bell as a walker though- shouted warnings, yes, but not a bell.
How many cyclists have a bell and rear vision mirrors nowadays?
I hope the tenant appeals this decision. $700 for this level of harassment from a landlord is less than what’s awarded when the bond’s not lodged with Tenancy Services. Ridiculous.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/renting/125751215/auckland-landlord-harassed-tenant-to-the-point-he-needed-antianxiety-medication
Yes some people should not be landlords. Without hearing all the facts from both sides, it does seem like the landlord got off too lightly.
Here's the decision here. The TT got the intentional nature of the unlawful entry wrong, too – an error often made by adjudicators.
https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/6827729-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf
Some are wondering if the farmers’ “howl” will harm their image:
The poster boy on the right is named, Robbie "Gooserooter" Shefford, according to his Facebook page.
https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-business/howl-protest-thousands-farmers-prepare-march-through-47-towns-and-cities.
ASB have company…didnt take long.
https://www.interest.co.nz/personal-finance/111298/new-zealands-largest-home-loan-lender-follows-asb-its-own-rate-hike-so
"A 1972 MIT study predicted that rapid economic growth would lead to societal collapse in the mid 21st century. A new paper shows we’re unfortunately right on schedule."
https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3xw3x/new-research-vindicates-1972-mit-prediction-that-society-will-collapse-soon
“BAU2 and CT scenarios show a halt in growth within a decade or so from now,” the study concludes. “Both scenarios thus indicate that continuing business as usual, that is, pursuing continuous growth, is not possible. Even when paired with unprecedented technological development and adoption, business as usual as modelled by LtG would inevitably lead to declines in industrial capital, agricultural output, and welfare levels within this century.”
Study author Gaya Herrington told Motherboard that in the MIT World3 models, collapse “does not mean that humanity will cease to exist,” but rather that “economic and industrial growth will stop, and then decline, which will hurt food production and standards of living… In terms of timing, the BAU2 scenario shows a steep decline to set in around 2040.”
“The necessary changes will not be easy and pose transition challenges but a sustainable and inclusive future is still possible,” said Herrington.
The best available data suggests that what we decide over the next 10 years will determine the long-term fate of human civilization."
We in the south are in for a seriously damaging rain event. Let’s run a book on how many hours on from the protest it will take for the first “ agriculture spokesman “ to go on tv and demand more money from the government for reinstatement.
My pick is in the single figures, about 6. Hypocrits Without Shame.
Disclosure, I’m a farmer.
I thought you had a vineyard
Divide and conquer eh?
The seven demands of the farmers protest is an exceptionalist wonder –
https://groundswellnz.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GROUNDSWELL-position-statement.pdf
It amounts to a polluters charter to do as they please to our waterways and head in the sand climate change denialism.
This inchoate protest in the face of overwhelming public rejection of their demands has to be seen in the context of the collapse of the National party as a viable political opposition. These people clearly feel they no longer have a mechanism to hijack public policy in their favour.
good point about the collapse of National.
The list is incredibly self-serving. It also looks like 'trust us, because we're very important'. Hubris.
Damien O’Connor’s warning about not being too cocky like tourism had beed was very apt
Tourism’s cockiness destroyed any social license or goodwill the industry had with the New Zealand public. Being on the receiving end of the public’s wrath in our gallery over the last year hasn’t been pleasant.
Farmers risk a similar loss of social license that’s probably only going to polarise the situation even more
what have the public been saying to you at the gallery?
Yeah, I suspect the farmers are misjudging the public mood here. Might be messaging Labour more?
A point missed by most is that farm utes etc are tax depreciated by 20% per annum, therefore after 5 years owners have not paid any tax on earnings equal to the cost of the vehicle. This is not available to anybody else owning a vehicle including most of the people who work for them.
Every one of the utes in that protest is running on subsidised fuel to the tune of whatever tax rate the owner is on, which for most is fuck all because of all the accumulated depreciation on every bit of gear they own.
They are hypocrites because they amount to the most wealthy group of state beneficaries in the country.
Exactly…the tax is a complete red herring
Not up on this stuff, but isn't the tax going to hit the pseudo tradesmen who have the bright shiny double-cabs for mum to drop them and the kids off at work and school then claim rebates?
Only in initial outlay….it will all be written off (depreciated) against income, not to mention the GST rebate
The farm like any other business that is registered for gst is only collecting this tax for the govt and the pays out to them. The end unregistered (you and me) pay the gst to the ird. and gst costs or charges are not the companies, and there are mechanisms within the tax system to account for private benefits gst portion, so the gst rebate has no benefit to the farm.
And for those comments below an example of where there is personal use, if the Ute is used to transport the family to and return the airport for a holiday, or the Ute is used to tow the boat to the crib for a holiday.😉
but if as you have stated only that portion of income generating activity is applied to the asset then the same applies to the end user argument with regard to the GST applied to said asset….which as I noted upthread is all moot because both the income generating activity v private benefit and subsequent tax implications are widely ignored.
"This is not available to anybody else owning a vehicle" – you are wrong same as not taking into account personal use , but don't let that get in the way for your argument, hate to read an argument based on straw !!!!
What do you think happens to those vehicles used for any business . e.g trucks, buses, tractors etc
Do you also not understand about costs incurred to earn a profit being deducted, and when the vehicle is sold then any depreciation recovered is taxed.
Also the personal use is not deductible "Examples include gasoline, oil, fuel, water, rent, electricity, telephone, automobile upkeep, repairs, insurance, interest and taxes. Farmers must allocate these expenses between their business and personal parts. Generally, the personal part of these expenses is not deductible"
ps you claim to be a farmer I am reminded of William Joyce when I read that
and then theres the real world….where personal use is seldom separated out, or it is 'legitimised' and the fact that the enforcement is seldom applied.
Get real a farmer with a utility/truck can have 100% deductibility and so too a tradie with his or her sign written on it.
FYI, Adrian has been commenting here for 9 years AFAIK and is on record as being a farmer. You were saying?
You queried his “claim” and you still doubt him, it seems; I confirmed that AFAIK the “claim” was kosher, Herodotus. Don’t have a go at the messenger.
Not a real farmer eh?
Will these things really matter 30 years from now? [thanks to pat for that link]
Hold on to hope, best of luck, and don't take your eye off the ball
One vehicle and associated running costs is fully deductible, any further vehicle that is used at anytime for farm or job related tasks is deductible on a percentage basis.
Farm workers driving to work don’t get any deductibles, it can be 50kms here and back for some so I pay extra to cover fuel costs for those who work for us.
If you don’t think the deductibility regime isn’t rorted Herod you are dreaming and talking out your arse.
Just had a look at the photos from the protests and I’m pretty sure most of those tractors are brand new and have come straight off a dealers yard, the giveaway is the wheels, it doesn’t take many hours on a farm until they look secondhand.
Yes, I’m inside looking at an iPad, but after 8 hours in the pissing rain I’m at least allowed a cup of tea, tax deductible of course!
The government/ird have viewed commuting to and from work as private travel – as it occurs outside work hours. And the same applies to all workers not just those working on farms. And in the city the further out you live the cheaper property is but the more expensive it is to travel in terms on time and running costs, and ask our great leaders why public transport priorities are for the inner sections of the city and on the margins PT is marginal to non-existent at best.
And I am not that naive to believe that this is being rorted.
Adrian is a farmer. I've been on his property. I've known the man for over twenty years- an independent, forceful thinker and a bloody hard worker. His very decent rosé is far less red than his politics.
godsomeone tried to cancel god. Wasn't me.
Not me
🤠
Which god?
small g implies any of them.
Would be quite happy to see Mammon cancelled.
not a real god, but someone sure got the humans confused.
are any of them real?
Only the socially constructed ones are real. The absolute ones cannot be known by man.
so all of them
could be a bit problematic in a multi cultural society
No kidding! There is much confusion about Babylonian confusion.
Mammon getting in the way again
If you can't tell the difference between Gaia and humans feeling greed, I probably can't help you.
The one true God
I wish Gaia were the one true God.
Is it just me or can anyone else see the irony of this. On the day farmers have a Howly bag protest over water and climate change issues, climate change delivers yet another red warning event on the West Coast. This within weeks of a similar event in South Canterbury. Both are prominent dairy farming areas. Farmers are evacuating ahead of flooding and I expect they will hold their hand out for government assistance, just like the last lot. Howl of protest accompanied by howling rain. It’s almost justice!
I thought there was no more money available (same was said by the government regarding the teachers) until there was more, $408m more. Glad to see the government starting to listen and show some appreciation towards this well deserving sector. Pity we had to go thru this process with the government staring down the nurses. These nurses deserve everything they get and IMO still more is required.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nurses-lift-strike-notices-after-revised-pay-contract-offer-now-for-members-to-decide/ZYAUGWC23N56ZQUQFPYUTQF7D4/
When people highlight that the NZ govt doesn't have a financial constraint this is what is meant. When the govt says there are no funds for that its nothing about budgets or accounts its just their way of saying no we don't want to fund that.
Perhaps now the govt will be able to fully fund Starship with the extra $15m ($7m has been pledged of this) that was short to allow the extra need beds to be added. Especially with the outbreak of this RVS. The only way to achieve any $$ from the govt is to embarrass them into action. Pity that they could not see an obvious need.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300274447/starship-hospital-launches-15m-fundraising-campaign-amid-critical-icu-occupancy