Our office was flooded with sewage on the weekend. Our brand new office building’s internal pipework was put together in haste, shall we say. Apparently some of the wastewater piping in our walls was only pushed together and perhaps tapped with a hammer, not glued. According to one of the plumber’s assistant who was I was nattering to as he set about his work this is not uncommon.
Sort of a metaphor for the John Key economy.
Economic growth via shabby and shady builders employing untrained low wage workers from the third world and flouting regulations not enforced by anyone because they all got made redundant in Bill English’s hunt for a surplus then even more economic growth from the insurance payout and repair work.
Rock star economy right there.
Whereas a building inspector, a trained worker and some plastic cement is pretty communism.
Compost toilets are the answer. Bucket units on every floor, a big barrel in the basement for the composting to occur and the best flower beds in the city.
Bring back the “night soil” man! Urban shit fertilized the market gardens of every city until the advent of modern sewage schemes and the Haber–Bosch process.
Night soil is also why our great grand parents boiled the hell out of their vegetables – otherwise, shit covered veges and a parasite paradise.
Don’t pour your sh*t onto your vegetables, Sanctuary: compost it efficiently and make soil from it to grow your vegetables in. There will be no pathogens to make you sick. Old views of humane management are redundant now; applying ourselves to good humane management is something we humans could do.
As a kid we had night cart collections. I asked what happens to the shit. My big brother said it was used on gardens to grow things like onions. For the next 70+ years I excluded onions from any of my food. Deeply embedded hatred it was.
I love me some fried or roast (never raw) onions but I’m also one of those people that pretty much converts onion (or similar) to garlic…specifically the smell that seems to waft out of my pores almost immediately
I don’t have a problem with it though so its all good, wifey on the other hand…
I love it ianmac Reminds me of the joke about a guy collecting horse manure off the road outside a mental institute. One of the inmates asked “what was he collecting it for?” and the guy said “to put on my Rhubarb” to which the inmate replied ” You better come in here mate, we have custard on ours”
Shocking, wait till it’s a 30 story high rise, with the developers and subcontractors long gone and the council through rate payers picking up the bill, while the 1000’s of inhabitants have to be relocated…
Cheap and lazy NZ construction practises for profit using the lowest common denominator and cheap, inexperienced and illegal labour, have to stop!
GE pasture grasses on a farm near you…soon! Trials in the USA have gone well, we are told and these grasses will be brought here for further trials as soon as the law is changed. GE grasses are the answer to climate change responsibilities, producing less of everything bad and more of everything good, the GE supporters claim. Thank goodness to high-technology! We’ll be able to continue farming with a clear conscience!
But there are detractors:
“Mr Terry said the society’s paper provided a diversity of views, but the framing of the document suggested a lack of even-handedness.
It was talking about GE grasses and their ability to cause changes – such as delivering higher levels of water soluble carbohydrates, more efficient protein use and reduced nitrogen waste – but presented such traits as apparently novel, when similar effects were available from conventional “high sugar” grasses.”
It’s really more anti-technology than anti-science.
Science is about understanding why shit happens, regardless of whether that understanding is useful for anything. Technology is about making new shit happen (hopefully useful shit), regardless of whether that new shit is really understood or not.
I don’t think anyone seriously claims these GE ryegrasses are the answer to climate change. At best they’re a small piece of the puzzle to improving the situation. But every bit helps.
As far the risk to the environment goes, let’s look at what has actually changed. These plants have been modified so that more of their energy goes into making itself more palatable to creatures that want to eat them. Which is a definite non-survival trait if it somehow “escapes”. Unlike characteristics such as herbicide resistance.
As such, I actually think it’s preferable to get these traits expressed by targeted specific genomic manipulations (which is unlikely to affect other characteristics) and getting those traits expressed by conventional methods of selecting variants that happen to show hints of a desired trait from thousands of random mutations. Particularly when those random mutations are generated by “mutation breeding”, when doesn’t seem to generate the opposition it should.
Seriously, if there’s a technique likely to unleash the triffids, it’s forcibly generating all kinds of weird mutations and then selecting by only looking at a few of the characteristics of the resulting organism. That’s how those toxic swedes that poisoned the Southland cattle came about.
Oh, heavens! Another worshiper of the Science gods.
And anyone who even for a single second suggests a Precautionary Approach before unleashing yet another artificial entity into our environment with the purpose of mitigating the negative effects of other nasties previously released is an heretic and should be taken out the back and shot.
Shakes head, rolls eyes and despairs that as a species we seem incapable of learning from our past blunders.
Yes it’s true. According to the precepts of the anti-GE cult, I’m a heretic of the worst kind.
Now that we’re done ad-homming me, do you have anything to say about the actual points I raised? Other than misusing the precautionary principle against something you have a pavlovian gut reaction about but no actual arguments.
Hi Andre, that is part of the problem with opposing GE.
If you are pro the ‘science’, you are able to quote all manner of studies citing all sorts of benefits and advantage’s.
Every study you would cite, has come from a source that has profit as it’s core motive.
I am sure any amount of ‘evidence’ or ‘proof’ could have lauded thalidomide back in the day.
My concern is the unseen (or seen and willingly ignored,) consequences of GE.
Someone better educated than me can articulate what happens when genes are muddled with and are able to move to different species.
Yes the staunch anti GE folk can be a bit hard to listen to, equally so the blind followers of the ‘science’
My father in law still adheres to the myth that round-up is inert and harmless 15minutes after aapplication.
Billions have been spent on the pro GE argument, but still they can’t tell us how to put the GEnie back in the bottle.
“According to the precepts of the anti-GE cult, I’m a heretic of the worst kind.”
So, Andre, pin your colours to the mast and state whether you are pro or anti GE.
I am anti GE. For all the usual previously voiced reasons, but predominantly because the science (and resulting technology) has been driven by the desire to make shit loads of money for the ‘investors’…on the back of clever promotional campaigns claiming (or suggesting strongly) that this *insert latest advancement here* is the Answer To All Our Problems.
I am one of Those People who believe that the reason we are in our current Sorry State is rampant unfettered capitalism. Heroes today are those who have become multi gazillionaires from such investments…and look!!! We are still up the creek and the shit current gets faster every day.
Show me some science and technology around GE and it’s variants that is not in any way profit driven….you know….done solely for the good of the planet and its inhabitants.
Today they are saving us from the effects of climate change….yesterday Monsanto and Co was feeding a starving world.
Well, as we all know, the starvation was not caused by failure of food production…there is more than enough food produced to feed everyone. Its politics and its best buddy capitalism that keeps people poor and starving.
And climate change? AGW? A problem that was foreseen decades ago but fear of undermining the global economy has seen us go past the point of no return. Probably.
And the science and technology investors still seek to profit as Earth becomes increasingly uninhabitable.
The work to modify this ryegrass was done by AgResearch. Which is a Crown Research Institute. So the shareholders and investors are collectively all of us.
Their mission is to improve New Zealand through improvements in agriculture. In this case, profit won’t go to the shareholders of the technologists’ employer, until such time as the productivity improvements show up in an increased tax take (Hah!), but to the farmers that are able to take advantage of the modified ryegrass.
There’s no lock-in mechanism (such as terminator genes), so if the farmers find there’s no benefit they can quickly and easily revert to ‘conventional’ alternatives, which may have been mutation-bred profit centres for big corporations. So this modified ryegrass really is about improving the productivity and reducing the footprint of farming, reducing than locking farmers into a corporate profiteering system.
Well, yeah. I reckon and hope synthetic vat-grown milk and meat will make this specific ryegrass issue pretty much moot. Hopefully soon.
But there’s still the debate about whether GE has any place at all in our future, or only if it can be wrestled out of the hands of shitty corporates, or leave it as the near free-for-all open slather for corporates to fuck us all over that it is right now in some parts of the world.
Also because synthetics will not eradicate natural milk and meat, any more than the car eradicated horses.
In a hundred years, the wealthier hippies will be eating “natural” foods fed on GM stock, whereas today they spend gazillions on free range organic eggs when most people just buy bog-standard.
Synthetics will/could knock the market so badly that processors won’t continue and the whole kit and caboodle will fold. You might find a little farm to supply you, or you might not…
“In a hundred years…” you’re an optimist.
Developing alternatives to the locked-in corporate systems for farmers in government research labs where the motive is something other than immediate corporate profit strikes me as one way that might happen. Which might work a whole lot better if we focus on the characteristics of the modified organisms they produce rather than getting hung up about irrelevant aspects of how they produced the modification.
I can’t see Monsanto et al releasing their grip on the lucrative technologies. Government research labs, you reckon? Government funded GE research; will they want public support for that, I wonder?
It’s a shame Psycho Milt is currently banned. It’s always seemed to me he was a bit closer to the issues and has some actual expertise. As well as being more articulate than I am. Whereas for me, GE is an issue where everything I’ve got is really just second-hand or further removed. It’s really on the fringes of me feeling my opinion is informed enough to inflict it on others.
Yeah I miss PM too on some of these debates – he has a clarity of view and strong vocab to make some very interesting comments irrespective of my agreement or not.
I think I’m a little anti technology – around some things for sure but then again here I am on my child slave labour produced corporatised phone happily typing – active memory block – sadly not dissimilar to t.rump methinks.
As to whether I am pro or anti GE, it’s kind of the wrong question. Yes, nasty corporates have been able to use GE to grossly pad their profits at the expense of farmers and in some cases adding to environmental damage.
But being blanket anti-GE strikes me as being as irrational as being anti-electricity because General Electric has been a real shit of a company and some electricity is generated from burning coal which fucks up the planet. Doing without electricity would really make things much harder and mess up the planet even worse because the alternatives are worse.
I’m much more in favour of risk assessment by considering the characteristics of the organism, with how those characteristics were achieved as a secondary consideration.
For instance, one of the GE ‘success’ stories is around introducing Bt genes into corn and cotton for insect resistance with resulting reduced pesticide use. Clearly that has potential for problems if it transfers into other plants. So if the genes have been introduced via a “gene gun” or a plasmid delivered by a modified virus, then the genes are carried on free-floating bits of DNA that can easily transfer to other organisms, so I would be very wary of releasing those modified plants. But if the genes were introduced by directly editing chromosomes via a technique such as CRISPR or selective breeding, then it’s much much harder for those genes to transfer so I would be less opposed to their widespread use.
In the case of the ryegrass being trialled, all the modified characteristics (that I’m aware of) confer competitive disadvantages to the plant in the wild. Those characteristics are very unlikely to spread even if they transfer to other plants, because any other plants expressing those modifications will instantly be preferentially eaten. Pastures using this ryegrass will require active management to retain their ‘improved’ characteristics. So this scenario is pretty close to what I think GE could and should be used for.
“For instance, one of the GE ‘success’ stories is around introducing Bt genes into corn and cotton for insect resistance with resulting reduced pesticide use.”
The “issue” with inserting Bt genes was that it ruined the possibility of a more subtle, nuanced use of Bt, as practiced by the organic movement.
Thanks, GE industrialists!
Critters such as chafer beetles come to mind as something that might be a lot more enthusiastic about high-lipid nibbles than the older coarser fare that’s evolved to be unappealing to insects.
Chafer beetles will protect us all from GE pollution of the off-farm environment?
Crikey!
Tested the grasses on chafers, have they?
Wouldn’t want to threaten their little lives unthinkingly, would we?
Unfortunately most research about the safety of GE, is behind paywalls.
What little there is. like nano tech, about 80% of the research is about how to monetise it, and less than 10% on safety.
So, following the precautionary principle is entirely appropriate
Who commissions the research does affect the conclusions.
A cynical view is justified, when it is paid for by companies such as Monsanto, considering their track record.
*ahem*
Bayer has purchased Monsanto and is now dropping the Monsanto name and using Bayer. Or more likely causing irreparable damage to the Bayer brand.
“Take GM crops. Greenpeace’s ultimate objective is secure and nutritious food delivered in an environmentally sustainable way for all people on the planet. What are the political, economic and institutional means to deliver that outcome? What role do companies and intellectual property rights have in that process?
The huge variety of answers to these questions means anyone who thinks the only relevant issue is whether GM crops are safe to eat is by default viewing the existing way society deals with those questions as largely satisfactory. We don’t. But that isn’t about science. That’s about the context science operates in, where the benefits of innovation fall, and the ability of governments to manage the novel safety risks that GM crops bring.
And let’s be clear, there is evidence of risks specific to GM crops – to the environment. We need to see more research before any of them can be declared “safe”, not least because dealing with replicating organisms in an open environment is different in character from that of chemical or radiological risk.”
“No silver bullet
These are complex problems. Accepting that there is no silver-bullet solution to energy supply or nutritional deficiencies, what we are left with is a range of more or less good options from which to pick the best and most effective. If you rank these options on the basis of feasibility, timing, costs and deliverability, neither nuclear energy nor GM food are likely to score very highly. Nuclear energy comes at continually high costs, requires long construction times, has risks of serious accident and weapons proliferation, and leaves us with the unsolved and costly problems of radioactive waste – so it is a far less attractive option than renewables and energy efficiency.”
When Fonterra apparently still uses palm oil and coal driers, I think there could be some much safer and simpler solutions to reduce our climate change on planet immediately, than unknown GM crops from US for profit to corporations with the NZ taxpayers picking up the risks.
Palm kernel extract…. a cheap AND nasty stock feed.
“In September 2015, to a generally angry reception from farmers and industry lobby group DairyNZ, Fonterra issued a voluntary guideline that farmers should feed lactating cows no more than 3kg of PKE a day in a diet of 18-20kg of dry matter in order to allow the dairy company to keep to its promise to export markets that its milk comes from pasture and deserves a premium price.
What seems evident is that PKE is linked to changes in the composition of milkfat. Jocelyne Benatar, senior research doctor at the cardiovascular research unit of Auckland City Hospital, tested the fatty acids in seven brands of milk bought at New Zealand supermarkets in 2013, repeating tests she did in 2011, when there wasn’t a drought and PKE use was lower.
The 2013 tests showed that palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid, made up almost 30% of the total fat in the milk she tested, compared with around 15% in 2011, when other fatty acids accounted for more of the total. Oleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, registered more than 30% of total fat in 2013, compared with less than 10% in 2011. Trans-fatty acids, notably vaccenic acid, were also higher in the 2013 results.”
I remember there being some serious backlash about research into how feeding PKE actually changes the milk…and not in a healthy way. Ironic that Fonterra was initially dead keen on PKE in the early days of its use because it increased the all important fat content….then some scientist came along and identified the fats….and if I recall correctly there was some messenger shooting went on.
I have to admit surprise as to how sides emerged over the free speech brouhaha.
The vehemence shown, made me certainly, keep the head down.
It’s a frustration when an issue such as free speech comes up, it is due debate and consideration but the discussion goes straight to boiling point, and I don’t even want to put my toes in the melee.
Its looking like DOC should be renamed the Tourism Corporation of NZ.
“Asked about team process and reflection logs, Sanson hails the fact the department’s now got a “common language of decision-making”. “I’m very proud of the department. We’ve made huge changes over the last four years. We’re here to serve the people of New Zealand, restore biodiversity, and get New Zealand ready for another million visitors.”
85-years old Dianne Feinstein, with as much senior Democrat endorsement and local party machine support as you could wish for, got beat for Democratic Party nomination by Kevin de Leon. She’s the oldest senator, and longest-serving female Senator in the United States. Probably best remembered for her sterling work in legislation against assault rifles.
For de Leon, though, it’s a great come-from-behind underdog win, within the Democratic Party.
Before anyone gets ahead of themselves, he has a long way to go to being elected Senator.
But it’s a huge boost to de León, who has been lagging in polls and only scored 12 percent of the overall tally in June’s open primary. The endorsement means that de León will be featured on official party mailouts.
It may also give de León the legitimacy to raise the kind of campaign funds he’ll need to be competitive in a race where Feinstein has outraised him by massive numbers.
The California Labor Federation, which endorsed de León in April but has yet to supply significant funding support through any independent expenditure, needs to show they can come through with money as well. Because a lower-profile candidate will have everything thrown at them by the opposition.
It’s another sign of the limited renewal that the US Democratic party desperately needs, and is unevenly getting.
Good Morning The Am Show Many thanks for running that story on getting more Wahine into management in Aotearoa and around Papatuanuku . We have to change the whole mind set of te tangata of Papatuanuku male dominance has been bulit into our socity over the last 200 years bulling has to be stopped because this is a trait that males use to dominate wahine and what do you know some male has been touring te Papatuanuku displaying this behaviour to the rest of the Papatuanuku . We have a lot of work ahead of us to correct this problem.
A 4 day work week could work for some but not all we could become a lot more efficient with less days travel to work better still no traveling .
With middle aged employment they are stereotyped as being slow not as prouductive as a young person so there is a perceived advantage to hire the young person also the employer is younger and they don’t like having a more life experenced person in there employment as this makes the employer feel inadequate.
In reality the elderly person would be more productive than the younger person make less mistakes and solve more problems as well I would employ the elder person.
Many thanks to the Australian National Rugby League for inducing the Great Kiwi League player Mark Graeme to be the first Kiwi in the NRL Hall of Fame ka pai.
A electric car subsidy is a good call Duncan that would be the fastest way to reduce our carbon foot print in Aotearoa .Ka kite ano
Nice job that shonkys national party have done over the last 9 years they have put Aotearoa in the best position we’v been in in decades . YEA RIGHT Here’s reality
They have cost us a wasted of 9 years one can never get that back and a bill of $40 billion in the cost of carbon credits thats the reality they played musical hot seat game with our government departments over the last 9 years IE when one mp got the bad press or heat as I put it they past the hot seat to the next mp to deflect the bad press. as for the super ministry what did he do nothing but cover up the big mess that they were making . that’s they way Eco Maori see it Ka kite ano link below .
Here is a man that I agree with the link is Below ana to kai A lot of neo liberals around Aotearoa and Papatuanuku will be gritting there teeth Ka kite ano
This is what happens when the neo liberals bone heads get a hold of your country it slips back a hundred years on Waihine’s Equal rights everyones Equal rights WTF this is the place were democracy started us left humane intelligent tangata have to keep up the good fight for Equality for all the link is below. Ka kite ano.
Some tangata think that because a animal is not human it does not have a intelligent brain we are learning that that perception is totally wrong we need to treat all other being with respect ka kite ano link is below.
This is going to be the big challenge to humanity and Papatuanuku Mega city’s we need to start planing and researching and build Mega city’s that work with Papatuanuku to provide a good environment for all Papatuanuku’s beings not just humans as Papatuanuku is for all beings to enjoy Ka kite ano link below.
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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 ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
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 ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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 ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
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The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
Our office was flooded with sewage on the weekend. Our brand new office building’s internal pipework was put together in haste, shall we say. Apparently some of the wastewater piping in our walls was only pushed together and perhaps tapped with a hammer, not glued. According to one of the plumber’s assistant who was I was nattering to as he set about his work this is not uncommon.
Sort of a metaphor for the John Key economy.
Economic growth via shabby and shady builders employing untrained low wage workers from the third world and flouting regulations not enforced by anyone because they all got made redundant in Bill English’s hunt for a surplus then even more economic growth from the insurance payout and repair work.
Rock star economy right there.
Whereas a building inspector, a trained worker and some plastic cement is pretty communism.
Compost toilets are the answer. Bucket units on every floor, a big barrel in the basement for the composting to occur and the best flower beds in the city.
Bring back the “night soil” man! Urban shit fertilized the market gardens of every city until the advent of modern sewage schemes and the Haber–Bosch process.
Night soil is also why our great grand parents boiled the hell out of their vegetables – otherwise, shit covered veges and a parasite paradise.
Don’t pour your sh*t onto your vegetables, Sanctuary: compost it efficiently and make soil from it to grow your vegetables in. There will be no pathogens to make you sick. Old views of humane management are redundant now; applying ourselves to good humane management is something we humans could do.
As a kid we had night cart collections. I asked what happens to the shit. My big brother said it was used on gardens to grow things like onions. For the next 70+ years I excluded onions from any of my food. Deeply embedded hatred it was.
No fried or roast onions for 70 years?!?! Dang….
Even picked out fragments of onion from say a meat pie. Liked the smell of fried onions though.
I love me some fried or roast (never raw) onions but I’m also one of those people that pretty much converts onion (or similar) to garlic…specifically the smell that seems to waft out of my pores almost immediately
I don’t have a problem with it though so its all good, wifey on the other hand…
I love it ianmac Reminds me of the joke about a guy collecting horse manure off the road outside a mental institute. One of the inmates asked “what was he collecting it for?” and the guy said “to put on my Rhubarb” to which the inmate replied ” You better come in here mate, we have custard on ours”
humane “self-corrected” humanure.
To RG at 1.1 : as well as cutting costs of reticulation and hopefully reducing the awful pong that folk near treatment ponds suffer.
Shocking, wait till it’s a 30 story high rise, with the developers and subcontractors long gone and the council through rate payers picking up the bill, while the 1000’s of inhabitants have to be relocated…
Cheap and lazy NZ construction practises for profit using the lowest common denominator and cheap, inexperienced and illegal labour, have to stop!
Save NZ
Yes I was an apprentice Builders for my dad in 1959 as he was a master builder, and we glued all PVC wate pipes always then, and still do today.
I cannot understand why others didnt as the pressure buildup in the pipes alone will force the unsealed joints to blow open, crazy peolple they are.
GE pasture grasses on a farm near you…soon! Trials in the USA have gone well, we are told and these grasses will be brought here for further trials as soon as the law is changed. GE grasses are the answer to climate change responsibilities, producing less of everything bad and more of everything good, the GE supporters claim. Thank goodness to high-technology! We’ll be able to continue farming with a clear conscience!
But there are detractors:
“Mr Terry said the society’s paper provided a diversity of views, but the framing of the document suggested a lack of even-handedness.
It was talking about GE grasses and their ability to cause changes – such as delivering higher levels of water soluble carbohydrates, more efficient protein use and reduced nitrogen waste – but presented such traits as apparently novel, when similar effects were available from conventional “high sugar” grasses.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/agribusiness/3396673/GE-pasture-trial-concerns
Are you anti Science? Or just selective of what you’ll believe?
“Are you anti Science? Or just selective of what you’ll believe?”
Of course he is not anti Science, (love the capitalization) and of course he is selective about what he accepts as Gospel.
RG, (and the rest of us) would be blind fools if we didn’t all question, question, question….
It’s really more anti-technology than anti-science.
Science is about understanding why shit happens, regardless of whether that understanding is useful for anything. Technology is about making new shit happen (hopefully useful shit), regardless of whether that new shit is really understood or not.
Aww c’mon Robert. If you’re gonna invoke the GE boogeyman, at least use the up to date info instead of something from 2010.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/105433107/us-trials-bring-gm-ryegrass-a-step-closer
I don’t think anyone seriously claims these GE ryegrasses are the answer to climate change. At best they’re a small piece of the puzzle to improving the situation. But every bit helps.
As far the risk to the environment goes, let’s look at what has actually changed. These plants have been modified so that more of their energy goes into making itself more palatable to creatures that want to eat them. Which is a definite non-survival trait if it somehow “escapes”. Unlike characteristics such as herbicide resistance.
As such, I actually think it’s preferable to get these traits expressed by targeted specific genomic manipulations (which is unlikely to affect other characteristics) and getting those traits expressed by conventional methods of selecting variants that happen to show hints of a desired trait from thousands of random mutations. Particularly when those random mutations are generated by “mutation breeding”, when doesn’t seem to generate the opposition it should.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutation_breeding
Seriously, if there’s a technique likely to unleash the triffids, it’s forcibly generating all kinds of weird mutations and then selecting by only looking at a few of the characteristics of the resulting organism. That’s how those toxic swedes that poisoned the Southland cattle came about.
Oh, heavens! Another worshiper of the Science gods.
And anyone who even for a single second suggests a Precautionary Approach before unleashing yet another artificial entity into our environment with the purpose of mitigating the negative effects of other nasties previously released is an heretic and should be taken out the back and shot.
Shakes head, rolls eyes and despairs that as a species we seem incapable of learning from our past blunders.
Yes it’s true. According to the precepts of the anti-GE cult, I’m a heretic of the worst kind.
Now that we’re done ad-homming me, do you have anything to say about the actual points I raised? Other than misusing the precautionary principle against something you have a pavlovian gut reaction about but no actual arguments.
Hi Andre, that is part of the problem with opposing GE.
If you are pro the ‘science’, you are able to quote all manner of studies citing all sorts of benefits and advantage’s.
Every study you would cite, has come from a source that has profit as it’s core motive.
I am sure any amount of ‘evidence’ or ‘proof’ could have lauded thalidomide back in the day.
My concern is the unseen (or seen and willingly ignored,) consequences of GE.
Someone better educated than me can articulate what happens when genes are muddled with and are able to move to different species.
Yes the staunch anti GE folk can be a bit hard to listen to, equally so the blind followers of the ‘science’
My father in law still adheres to the myth that round-up is inert and harmless 15minutes after aapplication.
Billions have been spent on the pro GE argument, but still they can’t tell us how to put the GEnie back in the bottle.
I’m at a meeting, so can’t respond till I get home. I intend to though!
“According to the precepts of the anti-GE cult, I’m a heretic of the worst kind.”
So, Andre, pin your colours to the mast and state whether you are pro or anti GE.
I am anti GE. For all the usual previously voiced reasons, but predominantly because the science (and resulting technology) has been driven by the desire to make shit loads of money for the ‘investors’…on the back of clever promotional campaigns claiming (or suggesting strongly) that this *insert latest advancement here* is the Answer To All Our Problems.
I am one of Those People who believe that the reason we are in our current Sorry State is rampant unfettered capitalism. Heroes today are those who have become multi gazillionaires from such investments…and look!!! We are still up the creek and the shit current gets faster every day.
Show me some science and technology around GE and it’s variants that is not in any way profit driven….you know….done solely for the good of the planet and its inhabitants.
Today they are saving us from the effects of climate change….yesterday Monsanto and Co was feeding a starving world.
Well, as we all know, the starvation was not caused by failure of food production…there is more than enough food produced to feed everyone. Its politics and its best buddy capitalism that keeps people poor and starving.
And climate change? AGW? A problem that was foreseen decades ago but fear of undermining the global economy has seen us go past the point of no return. Probably.
And the science and technology investors still seek to profit as Earth becomes increasingly uninhabitable.
The work to modify this ryegrass was done by AgResearch. Which is a Crown Research Institute. So the shareholders and investors are collectively all of us.
Their mission is to improve New Zealand through improvements in agriculture. In this case, profit won’t go to the shareholders of the technologists’ employer, until such time as the productivity improvements show up in an increased tax take (Hah!), but to the farmers that are able to take advantage of the modified ryegrass.
There’s no lock-in mechanism (such as terminator genes), so if the farmers find there’s no benefit they can quickly and easily revert to ‘conventional’ alternatives, which may have been mutation-bred profit centres for big corporations. So this modified ryegrass really is about improving the productivity and reducing the footprint of farming, reducing than locking farmers into a corporate profiteering system.
IMO, the only way to effectively reduce the footprint of farming is to reduce the amount of land dedicated to farming.
Well, yeah. I reckon and hope synthetic vat-grown milk and meat will make this specific ryegrass issue pretty much moot. Hopefully soon.
But there’s still the debate about whether GE has any place at all in our future, or only if it can be wrestled out of the hands of shitty corporates, or leave it as the near free-for-all open slather for corporates to fuck us all over that it is right now in some parts of the world.
If the writing’s on the wall for meat and milk farming because of synthetics, why are the GE crowd bothering?
Probably because they don’t agree with my reckons and hopes. That’s not unusual, as damaging as that may be to my self-esteem.
Also because synthetics will not eradicate natural milk and meat, any more than the car eradicated horses.
In a hundred years, the wealthier hippies will be eating “natural” foods fed on GM stock, whereas today they spend gazillions on free range organic eggs when most people just buy bog-standard.
Synthetics will/could knock the market so badly that processors won’t continue and the whole kit and caboodle will fold. You might find a little farm to supply you, or you might not…
“In a hundred years…” you’re an optimist.
There will be humans in a hundred years time.
In established societies.
I’m not sure whether more or less would imply the larger calamity, though.
Who, Andre, do you suppose will wrestle GE out of the hands of shitty corporates and what gives you any indication that such a thing could happen?
Developing alternatives to the locked-in corporate systems for farmers in government research labs where the motive is something other than immediate corporate profit strikes me as one way that might happen. Which might work a whole lot better if we focus on the characteristics of the modified organisms they produce rather than getting hung up about irrelevant aspects of how they produced the modification.
I can’t see Monsanto et al releasing their grip on the lucrative technologies. Government research labs, you reckon? Government funded GE research; will they want public support for that, I wonder?
Draco; 100% correct.
All this GMO is doing is to intensify the production of yet more land use because more will want to convert to stock feed rye grass units.
Agriculture, from here to infinity (or ecosystem destruction, whichever comes first)!
Excellent comment Rosemary – with Andre in the house, and other strong commenters, should be an interesting discussion.
Thanks, I think, for the call-out.
It’s a shame Psycho Milt is currently banned. It’s always seemed to me he was a bit closer to the issues and has some actual expertise. As well as being more articulate than I am. Whereas for me, GE is an issue where everything I’ve got is really just second-hand or further removed. It’s really on the fringes of me feeling my opinion is informed enough to inflict it on others.
It was a compliment.
Yeah I miss PM too on some of these debates – he has a clarity of view and strong vocab to make some very interesting comments irrespective of my agreement or not.
I think I’m a little anti technology – around some things for sure but then again here I am on my child slave labour produced corporatised phone happily typing – active memory block – sadly not dissimilar to t.rump methinks.
As to whether I am pro or anti GE, it’s kind of the wrong question. Yes, nasty corporates have been able to use GE to grossly pad their profits at the expense of farmers and in some cases adding to environmental damage.
But being blanket anti-GE strikes me as being as irrational as being anti-electricity because General Electric has been a real shit of a company and some electricity is generated from burning coal which fucks up the planet. Doing without electricity would really make things much harder and mess up the planet even worse because the alternatives are worse.
I’m much more in favour of risk assessment by considering the characteristics of the organism, with how those characteristics were achieved as a secondary consideration.
For instance, one of the GE ‘success’ stories is around introducing Bt genes into corn and cotton for insect resistance with resulting reduced pesticide use. Clearly that has potential for problems if it transfers into other plants. So if the genes have been introduced via a “gene gun” or a plasmid delivered by a modified virus, then the genes are carried on free-floating bits of DNA that can easily transfer to other organisms, so I would be very wary of releasing those modified plants. But if the genes were introduced by directly editing chromosomes via a technique such as CRISPR or selective breeding, then it’s much much harder for those genes to transfer so I would be less opposed to their widespread use.
In the case of the ryegrass being trialled, all the modified characteristics (that I’m aware of) confer competitive disadvantages to the plant in the wild. Those characteristics are very unlikely to spread even if they transfer to other plants, because any other plants expressing those modifications will instantly be preferentially eaten. Pastures using this ryegrass will require active management to retain their ‘improved’ characteristics. So this scenario is pretty close to what I think GE could and should be used for.
“For instance, one of the GE ‘success’ stories is around introducing Bt genes into corn and cotton for insect resistance with resulting reduced pesticide use.”
The “issue” with inserting Bt genes was that it ruined the possibility of a more subtle, nuanced use of Bt, as practiced by the organic movement.
Thanks, GE industrialists!
What, do you suppose, will immediately eat contaminated ryegrass “in the wild”?
Pukeko?
Critters such as chafer beetles come to mind as something that might be a lot more enthusiastic about high-lipid nibbles than the older coarser fare that’s evolved to be unappealing to insects.
Chafer beetles will protect us all from GE pollution of the off-farm environment?
Crikey!
Tested the grasses on chafers, have they?
Wouldn’t want to threaten their little lives unthinkingly, would we?
Unfortunately most research about the safety of GE, is behind paywalls.
What little there is. like nano tech, about 80% of the research is about how to monetise it, and less than 10% on safety.
So, following the precautionary principle is entirely appropriate
Who commissions the research does affect the conclusions.
A cynical view is justified, when it is paid for by companies such as Monsanto, considering their track record.
My reply to Rosemary at 2.2.1.1.2.1 above also covers your points.
+ 1 yep this is not ‘clean’ – it is muddy – agendas outcomes and motives.
“….agendas outcomes and motives.”
Hemp….wonder plant of old that became an illegal crop in so many countries.
Why?…a little wikihistory. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp
Needs little if any agrichemicals…including fertiliser…
You can eat it and wear it and they don’t call it ‘weed’ for nothing.
Heaven forbid that the we’d ever go back in time and be allowed to grow the stuff without legal rigmarole. 😉
*ahem*
Bayer has purchased Monsanto and is now dropping the Monsanto name and using Bayer. Or more likely causing irreparable damage to the Bayer brand.
Andre – I thought you pro-GE guys eschewed emotive arguments:
” if there’s a technique likely to unleash the triffids”
So I’m a lousy cultist…
Apropos of nothing I’ve long considered Triffids to be the scariest of, and the grand daddy of, the modern take on zombies
Greenpeace: This is why we stand against GM crops
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26445-greenpeace-this-is-why-we-stand-against-gm-crops/
“Take GM crops. Greenpeace’s ultimate objective is secure and nutritious food delivered in an environmentally sustainable way for all people on the planet. What are the political, economic and institutional means to deliver that outcome? What role do companies and intellectual property rights have in that process?
The huge variety of answers to these questions means anyone who thinks the only relevant issue is whether GM crops are safe to eat is by default viewing the existing way society deals with those questions as largely satisfactory. We don’t. But that isn’t about science. That’s about the context science operates in, where the benefits of innovation fall, and the ability of governments to manage the novel safety risks that GM crops bring.
And let’s be clear, there is evidence of risks specific to GM crops – to the environment. We need to see more research before any of them can be declared “safe”, not least because dealing with replicating organisms in an open environment is different in character from that of chemical or radiological risk.”
“No silver bullet
These are complex problems. Accepting that there is no silver-bullet solution to energy supply or nutritional deficiencies, what we are left with is a range of more or less good options from which to pick the best and most effective. If you rank these options on the basis of feasibility, timing, costs and deliverability, neither nuclear energy nor GM food are likely to score very highly. Nuclear energy comes at continually high costs, requires long construction times, has risks of serious accident and weapons proliferation, and leaves us with the unsolved and costly problems of radioactive waste – so it is a far less attractive option than renewables and energy efficiency.”
When Fonterra apparently still uses palm oil and coal driers, I think there could be some much safer and simpler solutions to reduce our climate change on planet immediately, than unknown GM crops from US for profit to corporations with the NZ taxpayers picking up the risks.
Most telling, is the fact that GM crop suppliers refuse to accept downstream liability, for themselves.
“GM crop suppliers refuse to accept downstream liability…”
And who allows that?
We do…through the politicians we elect and through our silence.
Because expressing concern about GE etc attracts the label ‘anti-science’.
And we’d not like to be thought of as being ‘anti-science’ ‘cos that implies we’re a bit stoopid, eh?
“When Fonterra apparently still uses palm oil and coal driers.”
You sound very confused SaveNZ.
PKE and lignite-fired dehydrators.
Have you read this…https://www.noted.co.nz/money/business/the-true-price-of-palm-oil/ or some other similar article?
Palm kernel extract…. a cheap AND nasty stock feed.
“In September 2015, to a generally angry reception from farmers and industry lobby group DairyNZ, Fonterra issued a voluntary guideline that farmers should feed lactating cows no more than 3kg of PKE a day in a diet of 18-20kg of dry matter in order to allow the dairy company to keep to its promise to export markets that its milk comes from pasture and deserves a premium price.
What seems evident is that PKE is linked to changes in the composition of milkfat. Jocelyne Benatar, senior research doctor at the cardiovascular research unit of Auckland City Hospital, tested the fatty acids in seven brands of milk bought at New Zealand supermarkets in 2013, repeating tests she did in 2011, when there wasn’t a drought and PKE use was lower.
The 2013 tests showed that palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid, made up almost 30% of the total fat in the milk she tested, compared with around 15% in 2011, when other fatty acids accounted for more of the total. Oleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, registered more than 30% of total fat in 2013, compared with less than 10% in 2011. Trans-fatty acids, notably vaccenic acid, were also higher in the 2013 results.”
I remember there being some serious backlash about research into how feeding PKE actually changes the milk…and not in a healthy way. Ironic that Fonterra was initially dead keen on PKE in the early days of its use because it increased the all important fat content….then some scientist came along and identified the fats….and if I recall correctly there was some messenger shooting went on.
I feel sorry for Chris Trotter and his free speech absolutist mates.
They’ve thrown a tanty and no one cares.
I have to admit surprise as to how sides emerged over the free speech brouhaha.
The vehemence shown, made me certainly, keep the head down.
It’s a frustration when an issue such as free speech comes up, it is due debate and consideration but the discussion goes straight to boiling point, and I don’t even want to put my toes in the melee.
Fwiw, we need more freedom to speak not less.
I think the lesson for Chris Trotter is to pick his battles more carefully and be even more cautious in his selection of new “friends”.
Its looking like DOC should be renamed the Tourism Corporation of NZ.
“Asked about team process and reflection logs, Sanson hails the fact the department’s now got a “common language of decision-making”. “I’m very proud of the department. We’ve made huge changes over the last four years. We’re here to serve the people of New Zealand, restore biodiversity, and get New Zealand ready for another million visitors.”
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/07/16/155418/insiders-pan-docs-corporate-embrace
Curious shift in Californian Senate seat race.
85-years old Dianne Feinstein, with as much senior Democrat endorsement and local party machine support as you could wish for, got beat for Democratic Party nomination by Kevin de Leon. She’s the oldest senator, and longest-serving female Senator in the United States. Probably best remembered for her sterling work in legislation against assault rifles.
For de Leon, though, it’s a great come-from-behind underdog win, within the Democratic Party.
Before anyone gets ahead of themselves, he has a long way to go to being elected Senator.
But it’s a huge boost to de León, who has been lagging in polls and only scored 12 percent of the overall tally in June’s open primary. The endorsement means that de León will be featured on official party mailouts.
It may also give de León the legitimacy to raise the kind of campaign funds he’ll need to be competitive in a race where Feinstein has outraised him by massive numbers.
The California Labor Federation, which endorsed de León in April but has yet to supply significant funding support through any independent expenditure, needs to show they can come through with money as well. Because a lower-profile candidate will have everything thrown at them by the opposition.
It’s another sign of the limited renewal that the US Democratic party desperately needs, and is unevenly getting.
Good Morning The Am Show Many thanks for running that story on getting more Wahine into management in Aotearoa and around Papatuanuku . We have to change the whole mind set of te tangata of Papatuanuku male dominance has been bulit into our socity over the last 200 years bulling has to be stopped because this is a trait that males use to dominate wahine and what do you know some male has been touring te Papatuanuku displaying this behaviour to the rest of the Papatuanuku . We have a lot of work ahead of us to correct this problem.
A 4 day work week could work for some but not all we could become a lot more efficient with less days travel to work better still no traveling .
With middle aged employment they are stereotyped as being slow not as prouductive as a young person so there is a perceived advantage to hire the young person also the employer is younger and they don’t like having a more life experenced person in there employment as this makes the employer feel inadequate.
In reality the elderly person would be more productive than the younger person make less mistakes and solve more problems as well I would employ the elder person.
Many thanks to the Australian National Rugby League for inducing the Great Kiwi League player Mark Graeme to be the first Kiwi in the NRL Hall of Fame ka pai.
A electric car subsidy is a good call Duncan that would be the fastest way to reduce our carbon foot print in Aotearoa .Ka kite ano
Nice job that shonkys national party have done over the last 9 years they have put Aotearoa in the best position we’v been in in decades . YEA RIGHT Here’s reality
They have cost us a wasted of 9 years one can never get that back and a bill of $40 billion in the cost of carbon credits thats the reality they played musical hot seat game with our government departments over the last 9 years IE when one mp got the bad press or heat as I put it they past the hot seat to the next mp to deflect the bad press. as for the super ministry what did he do nothing but cover up the big mess that they were making . that’s they way Eco Maori see it Ka kite ano link below .
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/03/08/95301/think-climate-change-cost-142-billion-try-36-billion# P.S we have the opportunity now to reverse this money mans shonky’s mess now
Eco Maori knows what going down I see the bigger picture some people better start heeding Papatuanukue warning Ka kite ano
Here is a man that I agree with the link is Below ana to kai A lot of neo liberals around Aotearoa and Papatuanuku will be gritting there teeth Ka kite ano
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/17/obama-criticises-strongman-politics-coded-attack-trump
This is what happens when the neo liberals bone heads get a hold of your country it slips back a hundred years on Waihine’s Equal rights everyones Equal rights WTF this is the place were democracy started us left humane intelligent tangata have to keep up the good fight for Equality for all the link is below. Ka kite ano.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/17/italian-court-retrial-two-men-who-raped-woman
Some tangata think that because a animal is not human it does not have a intelligent brain we are learning that that perception is totally wrong we need to treat all other being with respect ka kite ano link is below.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jul/15/the-five-intelligent-birds-tool-use-new-caledonia-crow-kea-green-heron-nuthatch-rook
This is going to be the big challenge to humanity and Papatuanuku Mega city’s we need to start planing and researching and build Mega city’s that work with Papatuanuku to provide a good environment for all Papatuanuku’s beings not just humans as Papatuanuku is for all beings to enjoy Ka kite ano link below.
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/innovavations-from-the-energy-and-environmental-sustainability-solutions-for-megacities-program/