Open mike 18/03/2020
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
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The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...6 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
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Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...2 weeks ago
- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...2 weeks ago
- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...20 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...3 days ago
- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...3 days ago
- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...3 days ago
- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...3 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...3 days ago
- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...3 days ago
- Appointments to the ENZ board
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...4 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...4 days ago
- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...4 days ago
- Judicial appointment announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...4 days ago
- GDP data highlights importance of growth
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...4 days ago
- Strengthening Free Speech in Universities
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...4 days ago
- Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...4 days ago
- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...4 days ago
- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
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- Government boosts support for avian influenza response
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...4 days ago
- Levelling the playing field for media advertising
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...5 days ago
- Inspector-General of Defence appointed
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...5 days ago
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...5 days ago
- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...5 days ago
- Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace
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- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...5 days ago
- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...5 days ago
- A busy year in the House
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...5 days ago
- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...5 days ago
- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...5 days ago
- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...5 days ago
- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...5 days ago
- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...5 days ago
- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...5 days ago
- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...5 days ago
- Gene Technology Bill passes first reading
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- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...44 minutes ago - Govt walks away from infrastructure alliance
The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...44 minutes ago
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.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-title { font-size: 1.2em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .entry-meta { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: center; margin-top: 0.5em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-meta { font-size: 0.8em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .avatar { height: 25px; width: 25px; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail{ margin: 0; margin-bottom: 0.25em; } .wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail img { height: auto; width: 100%; ...44 minutes ago
- Vanuatu quake: Warnings as bad weather threat looms for Port Vila
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Pull through headline on TV3 breakfast show this morning.
KIWIFRUIT FARMERS MAY EMPLOY UNEMPLOYED LOCALS AS TOURIST NUMBERS DWINDLE
I'm a bit confused as to how I feel about that "Gee, that's no good?" or "Won't that stimulate spending in that community?" or "Shouldn't we already be talking with local unemployed before we're bankrolling German 20 something scenic tours of NZ?"
Ahh I get it, people who find themselves unemployed in coming weeks will be able to find temp work picking kiwifruit, Yep, cool.
So the kiwi workers are no longer 'too lazy' to pick fruit?
Looks like the kickbacks will be drying up for a few contractors.
Joltin' Joe…
https://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/joltinjoedimaggio.shtml
Revoltin' Joe….
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2020/03/13/how-covid-19-became-a-pandemic/
Can someone explain this. We are meant to sneeze into the elbow area, then greet people by bumping elbows?!?
Instant transmission of the virus from one persons garments to another, touch your elbow with your hands (e.g. folding arms) then touch your face and bingo! you are infected.
Yeah na we should just go for the good old kiwi raise of the eyebrows are up tilt of the head and chur bro .
Easy to sort. Keep one elbow for polite greetings and the other elbow for sneezing into. The trick will be to remember which is which.
Blow nose with inside elbow, touch with outside. I can't touch my nose with my outside elbow anyway. I'm not made of rubber.
It's a cough or sneeze, uncontrolled, and particles are still likely to fly anywhere around the elbow.
However – each to their own. If people are doing this, even though I don't think it's perfect, they are probably trying to be safe in other areas as well.
Carry tissues. Say hello and smile. Keep hands in pocketses.
Social distancing requires no body touching with someone who is coughing or sneezing. I don't know who is suggesting elbow bumping but please don't. The recommended distance is 2m. I think it's prudent to keep that distance for all interactions at the moment, unless closer is absolutely necessary. We should be doing 2m whether we have symptoms or not.
I think it was WHO back in SARS came up with elbow bumbing, because so many cultures greet with some manner of handshake or touching or kissing.
Every outbreak, high-level bureaucrats make it popular as only high level bureaucrats unused to photo-ops can make something popular, lol
Bloody stupid idea, frankly. Should've gone Vulcan from the start.
Not me, I hate those Vulcans. As we say on the home world – better molten than Vulcan.
I'm giving the reverse Agincourt salute, or just keeping my head down and avoiding eye contact.
Hate is illogical. Live long, and prosper.
Maybe you should try a Rimmer salute instead.
That is most illogical.
Illogical if you didn't at least have a smile on your face after watching it.
Smeghead.
"reverse Agincourt salute"
Just make sure no one behind you can see it, they might get the wrong idea…
It's a risk they'll have to take.
This virus will be a test of our national values
(Dame Anne Salmond)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120335043/this-virus-will-be-a-test-of-our-national-values
Soimun has certainly shown us what his values are over the past 24 hours
"Abortion referendum scrapped – public won't decide on law change."
That is good if the Bill passes in the House as seems likely.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12317689
Good.
Good decision by MPs on this. 50% of the population should have legislated control over their own bodies and reproductive health, without “tyranny of the majority” type interventions such as NZ First’s proposed referendum. Much of society has moved on with this issue from the 70s, simple as that.
Yes. Requiring lies about mental health is not on (especially given NZ's generally crap attitude to mental health issues)
I'd like to think that the government doesn't wind up borrowing to support the well paid in the workforce. I see the business pages are starting to talk redundancy. Just looked at one company that pays it's 12 or so senior people around $20 million. These are all the employees over $1million – There is another significant bunch between $0.5 mill and $1 mill. Chop this down and 800 people could have $25k for 6 months – instead of redundancy and being pushed onto the dole and borrowings the taxpayer has to repay. Okay this is a company that has a lot of wider issues but it won't be alone.
Time to put in place some rules around redundancies having to be signed off by the labour department (any rules around redundancy now are largely ignored) – which can only happen if the upper level has taken the big hit. Maybe also look at hefty tax increases for the well paid. And don't be sucked by the "we are earning it in a crisis" – the implication is that they don't really earn it the rest of the time?
Lower level staff are going to get hammered as are a lot of investors through their kiwisavers etc – I can see any reason why some who are drawing large salaries can't share the pain.
Time for a maximum wage perhaps.
Say no more than 12 times the lowest paid in the company.
Classic Black Swan event eh! In accord with Parkinson's Law, those earning $1 mill will probably have mortgage and loan repayments of $900,000 and they will collapse just as fast, if not faster, than a household earning $60,000 a year paying $20k pa on their house. Almost everybody lives up to their means. It won't be pretty.
In Feb they announced borrowing $12billion for infrastructure projects.
All those engineers and design teams are suitably recompensed. There's tens of thousands of subbies kept going from it as well.
Coronavirus: Eight new cases in New Zealand.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/03/coronavirus-eight-new-cases-in-new-zealand.html
Don't Panic!
All recently returned from overseas.
When the reverse-diaspora gets tallied, we'll see what happens. Got a colleague flying back into iso in a few days, actually.
As expected, Biden wins Florida in a blowout and wins Illinois solidly. Arizona results expected to start coming in after 4pm out time.
A special ray of sunshine in the safe Dem Illinois 3rd Congressional District, where solidly progressive Marie Newman appears to have successfully primaried the incumbent anti-abortion centrist Dan Lipinski.
However, even in this safe Dem district, Biden is beating Sanders 3:2. Looks like progressive ideas are popular there but Sanders personally is not.
Looks like progressive ideas are popular there but Sanders personally is not.
The power of homogenised propaganda coming in at people from all angles, no matter which way they turn, aye?
Sanders was the most popular member of congress by far in polls over these past few years, no?
You might remember how corporate media blanked him when they weren't discounting him before they got on to maligning him and back to blanking him (haven't seen much of him on msm of late being interviewed about topics of the day).
It works.
And when powerful corporate interests (that includes msm) have symbiotic relations with politicians then, y'know, it's pretty easy to bolster an anti-Sanders message by getting a slew of those politicians to say Biden is "the man", and have msm ignore the fact those self same politicians voiced very serious reservations about Biden's capabilities only a few months back.
Shame Sanders doesn't have any "fuck you" attitude and, like Corbyn, seems to suffer from the middle class malaise of "reasonableness". He could have done far worse than photocopy a page from Trump's book when it comes to confronting vested interests. But no.
"Let me tell you, Joe is a good friend of mine" 🙄
"Sanders was the most popular member of congress".
How do you come to that conclusion. What Polls are you relying on?
With voters in his own state.
Sen. Bernie Sanders maintained his position as America’s most popular senator, with 64 percent of voters in his state approving of him. As he considers a second run for the presidency, the Vermont independent tops the list for the 11th quarter in a row
https://morningconsult.com/2019/01/10/americas-most-and-least-popular-senators-q4-2018/
I wondered if that might have been the Poll that was being used. Bill hasn't confirmed it of course but replies to requests like mine for confirmation of claims are often ignored. Moderators sometimes miss people who don't attempt to justify there claims.
The poll you quote seems an awfully thin reed to justify a claim that Sanders is "The most popular member of Congress" wouldn't you think? It covers only Senators. The majority of members of Congress are of course the members of the House of Representatives, who outnumber the Senators by 435 to 100. Do you know how popular the most liked of them are?
It also assumes that only the single number of approvals being considered. Would you not think a number for net approvals might be more rational? Approval minus disapproval say?
That would show that Bernie is the least popular Senator in his own State wouldn't it? Leahy on a net +39% is ahead of Bernie on +36%.
However the point I would make is that a measure like this, looking only at the numbers for Senators in their home state is hardly relevant is it? We could make equally wide extrapolations to make claims like the following.
"Jacinda Ardern is the least popular Prime Minister in New Zealand"
"Donald Trump is the most popular President in the US"
Just as true aren't they, and the supporting evidence is just as flimsy?
A great man of democracy.
There is no reason to believe that Sanders is personally unpopular. The fact is that the 'electability' propaganda from the Democratic Party has been very successful. Paradoxically, Trump's awfulness has made it harder for Sanders to win – Democratic party voters have been persuaded to vote against the person who best represents their interests and opinons (Sanders) in order to get rid of Trump.
God knows whether it will pan out that way. How bad do the effects of Covid-19 need to be before Trump loses? If the pandemic is still biting in November – whose voters won't turn up out of fear? Maybe the ones who know they'll have to queue for 5 hours due to Republican voter suppression tactics in poor neighbourhoods? Can Trump outflank Biden on the left with issues like NAFTA and the Iraq war, and win the mid-west swing states again? We have no idea.
From here it looks like a terrible lost opportunity. It matters because the only global institution capable of stamping on corporate power and delivering a green new deal is the US federal government. And now the best we can hope for is Sleepy Joe – a very conservative democrat with a record of serving his corporate masters. Bad days for humanity and the planet.
Maybe popular wasn't the best word. Maybe "think Biden would do a better job as president to advance the things they want" might be a bit closer.
I'm kinda relieved I voted for Warren before the choice narrowed to Biden or Sanders. I really don't know which way I'd choose. I really prefer the space where Bernie centres his ideas, but his record of actually achieving anything significant from his decades in Congress is negligible. Then when it comes to being a politician with a chance of winning the Electoral College, he frequently self-sabotages.
Such as the way he torpedoed any chance of he may have had of winning Florida by doubling down on his "Castro done good" comments, rather than grab the opportunity to go after Trump for his cosying up to dictators for his personal benefit. Or when asked about responding to coronavirus, he defaulted to replaying his exact same message he's been playing for forty years with zero tailoring to the specific circumstances at hand. It comes across as old man yelling at the sky, rather than someone that can read a novel situation and has the cognitive adaptability to come up with an appropriate customised response.
btw, for any mods with itchy ban-hammers, the quote marks in the comment above indicate paraphrasing rather than literal direct quotes.
Hmm. Medicare for All is very popular and something people want advanced, yes? But your argument is that people will vote for the guy who says he'll veto Medicare for All if he's President, because he's the guy who will advance their interests.
I kinda suspect a similar story would unfold for other popular "wants" of Americans.
And maybe that's why, in spite of an unprecedented boost in the polls he got off the back of all the 'heavy wieght' brouhaha after he won S. Carolina, his poll numbers are already heading south. And maybe…just maybe…that soft support for Biden is why Perez stuck it to Democratic voters and ignored public health advice in order to get another three states under Biden's belt while the spell of Biden's "electability" lasts…just maybe.
This line of defence for Sanders tanking is wafer thin. If you haven't fallen for it, why should the actual democrat voters?
I'm at the advantage of not actually living in the place where the thing is going on. I'm not subject to the same direct anxieties about Trump. I am absolutely not suggesting that my judgement is any better than theirs – though your seem to be insinuating that I am. And it isn't a 'defence', it's an observation, offered without the same snide absolutism of your response.
I do agree with your overall sentiment, but it's tempered by events today in the USA where the Trump administration has stepped up to the crisis in a dramatic fashion. Trump is the master of exploiting a crisis to his own benefit and I recall Ad writing a good post to that effect about a month ago.
Too soon to tell which way it may go.
Dylan Ratigan was shitting on the irony of Trump getting a landslide campaigning on Medicare for All and a UBI 🙂
What we do know is that his rhetoric will curve to Biden's left, just as it did with Clinton.
Exactly. A major part of his political genius is that he’s the least ideological POTUS I can ever recall and he’ll take whatever cards he’s dealt and play them win, whatever it takes.
Here's another irony; the left loves bemoaning how the system has thrown up three old white guys, yet if you want to find out about the last woman standing in the race you will only hear about it from Tucker Carlson.
The difference is now the bilious fake-bronze baboon has a record of actual actions. Which are mostly incompetent renditions of bog-standard Repug priorities.
It's not like 2016 where he could spout nonsense all over the entire ideological spectrum and fantasists would cherry-pick the one thing he said that met their desires and kid themselves that that was what he would do.
Do me a favour and stop wasting the rabid rants on me. I know he's a total goat of a man, I personally can't stand even listening to him dribble on. But there is no question he's also done at least a dozen 'impossible things' from winning the 2016 nomination onward; it's worth understanding why.
You know like the left is supposed to be bigly on social context.
Anyone else's workplace going ridiculously HUT HUT HUT! over this whole thing?
It just feels like a bunch of meaningless and largely pointless risk plans to make up and keep busy with.
Fuck me if I have to lead another workshop on messaging and risk.
The Stephen Mills Labour Party is over. An interventionist Govt for the people is needed. No more transferring power to the strong like what Labour believes since 1984. This activist govt is the model for climate change where 95 % can die unlike the small percent for this flu.
Dominance over the powerful or they will impose their interests to the 95 %'s detriment.
The best thing about Labour is the rich were never an ideal, just a stoppage they believed couldn't be passed. I'm sure Clark believes in the full recovery of the benefits Shipley cut.
Kia Ora Newshub.
Doctors using Skype to advise cancer patients who are most vulnerable to the virus is Ka pai.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
One of the New virus cases is in Rotorua.
Our government redeployment program was needed.
Gardening and self sestanable living is the way to go.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
The traffic jams are gone for now the road workers will be able to get more mahi achieved.
I still seem to have a few cars around me.????. There is even a silver van with black windows that parks in front of me when I'm walking my dog and takes off when I get close to it been seeing it on the road constantly.?????
Yes the Rangatahi need to take this virus seriously and do thing to minimise them selves from catching it and spreading it.
That's is good the endangered Black Rinos population is rising.
I have confidence that Aotearoa can control the virus.
The difference between Climate change and the virus is the virus is short term deaster Climate change is long term.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Newshub.
Air New Zealand getting a government bailout.
One would think the police would go and talk to a person who didn't obey the law.???. about the virus.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
That's good that Te Tairawhiti is getting 28 million to keep tangata in mahi. One doesn't sell the whare to keep a business going.
Its good to see all the health packs being delivered to Tangata Whenua.
Ka kite Ano