Hopefully the supply chain is good and can handle the extra demand so price doesn't increase and offset tax credit.
Only negative is there is also a surge in ute sales with people trying to get in before the price increase (especially Ford Rangers and Isuzu at the Field Days).
The subsidy means the retail price will increase. Increased demand means prices rise as for any product. My porridge goes up in price in winter , along with soups. Its the same business rules from the low end to the top end. Reports in media confirm the dealers are raising prices even ahead of any subsidy coming in.
That is great news. It highlights how the farming community are not being economically crushed by this Government despite all the "pretty Communist" attitudes from rural NZ. If they can still afford to be buying brand new Utes with gay abandon life must be pretty sweet. It also highlights the fact that there isn't a ban on buying Utes at this stage despite the rhetoric of Nat/Act and some of the commentators here who love to "foment mischief"
Hopefully the Car Manufacturers step up with the alternatives by the time these latest sales are passed their use-by date.
Utes are not being banned. Just being made more expensive once the tax is added on to them. Lets hope they are wrong about EV's also being increased in price due to the tax credit else it becomes a bit like the petrol stations advertising "petrol at 10c off a litre on Wednesday", when they have already increased the price to compensate.
I'm agreeing with you Jimmy.Quite a few people are talking as if they are being banned, that was my point, great that people will still have the choice and hopefully the naysayers like National Party Stalwart David Farrar, as one example, stop misrepresenting the situation. Re prices, they will only be as valuable as people are prepared to pay. If they try and charge too much, someone will come in with a cheaper option. That's how we are told Market Forces are supposed to work. They'll soon drop the prices if the vehicles stay on the shop floor.
Agree RBO how many of us can buy a new car let alone a overpriced ute? The floodgates will soon open pouring EV's and especially utes into this country just because Toyota is in denial about there overrated product doesn't mean the rest of the manufacturers will hold back. Car dealers live in the same shark pool as real estate agents and will do there utmost to rip us off.
One of New Zealand's most original artists and musicians passed away yesterday, my good mate Fane Flaws…Fane was always a willing comrade in any and all hair brained action or event I went to him with, he was one of the most beautiful, madly creative and generous humans I have ever meet…we are all really going to miss him and his extraordinary exuberant energy…so long pal.
He picked me up hitch hiking once, he was surprised I knew who he was, I was a fan of Jesus on a Stick and the RWP animation. Sorry to hear of his death and your and your friends loss.
It is the numbers that make the pest [paraphrasing Paracelsus].
It appears that the F&B report was released not so long ago. It would be so helpful if articles in MSM would provide a link to original documents and sources, for further reading if desired. It almost looks as if there is a policy of not linking off and away from the MSM website …
I'd have thought that it is an invitation to first of all be a hunter in helping reduce the number of pests and providing sport, recreation and food.
In the longer run, since these pests won't be totally eradicated, the result will be more challenging hunting; the reward being a sense of achievement rather than a quick slaughter of wild goats or whatever.
The other reward will be in the vegetative growth and beauty as the bush regenerates, for hunter, tramper, bush bathers alike, with carbon emissions decreased as a bonus.
My hunting cousin years ago welcomed deer culling as it provided a much better trophy as a result of lower numbers.
The other night I saw a video of a hunter at a British farm shooting rats with an air gun and killing them with clean headshots. It was for pest control, as poisoning kills the owls that help keeping the rat numbers down, but it made for remarkably good watching.
Your cousin is one of the very few hunters who see it that way. Most hunters see better hunting as easier hunting and want animal densities that allow them to crash through the scrub and get, or at least see, an animal within 2-300m from where they park their ute. Three day tramps into the bush aren’t part of the picture, that’s what helicopters are for.
With reduced densities giving better trophies, the species where this is most apparent is thar. That industry is built on the huge bulls that came through after the helicopter culls (absolute slaughter) in the early 80s. Prior to the cull numbers were high but heads poor, like now but today’s range is larger.
After yesterdays announcement regarding the roll out of Covid 19, and the age bands and timing. Why was there no comment that I can find as to why the roll out should not be on a geography basis, or at leats focused initially towards the Auckland region ? Auckland has experienced all the shutdowns due to outbreaks, so why not protect the entranceway to the country and fan out from there ? Just an alternative outlook
Setting up the resources needed (vaccinators, vaccination sites, logistics of vaccine supply) for each area then managing the throughput so get an even workflow seems to me to be a better way to do it than trying to do it region by region where everything would have to be moved for massive and disruptive vaccination surges in each region.
One could argue that vaccinating border-facing workers and their families was already Auckland-centric in effect, if not intent. So what you are suggesting has actually occurred but in a somewhat more targeted way?
And a different alternative idea on how the vaccine rollout should proceed popped up on Garner's show this morning. He suggested that young people should get done first rather than last because they ‘travel the world’. We don’t know whether vaccinated people can transmit the virus, but we do know that some will catch it. So his suggestion opens the possibility of young people coming home from overseas hotspots to infect their unvaccinated elders. His speculation provided an opening for Des Gorman to (as usual) piss all over the efforts of everyone who has done a good job of keeping us safe in the last 15 months. The bitter, catastrophising and consistently wrong Gorman augmented the disgracefulness of Garner's stupidity rather well.
Does Garner remember Climate Change? Gas guzzling planes polluting the sky and young people angry about it. Covid19 is rampant overseas and who would want to travel to those places. Young people are not as irresponsible as he thinks, in fact it's quite the reverse.
How many people does this guy have to kill before they stop him driving. So judge has banned him from driving until August 2022, what's the bet he's back behind the wheel next month?
Drink-drivers are just unfortunate individuals who cannot be leg-roped like the out of control animals they are; in fact all alcohol drinkers are well treated in law, compared to those committing the misdemeanour of growing cannabis.
Alcohol is great (and pollies and business leaders like it for their drug of choice and it brings in lots of taxes) – it is the enthusiastic, fun-loving members of the public who go OTT that are the problem.
A tiny number each year convicted , for ONLY a charge a growing/supply because they were dealers and suppliers.
Its in the 200 per year range from the police annual statistics , ie cannabis only numbers
The rest of the cannabis charges are because they were criminals often get all the charges possible when arrested for something else. Thats how police charging works, have all the possibilities as separate charges even though there may be only one primary charge for which they came to attention of police.
The classic case some years back, in a slightly different situation, a man was sent to jail for walking into a gallery and walking out with a valuable painting. Not mentioned his primary charge in the prison sentence was armed robber, and both were heard at the same time
and https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/124810986/timaru-man-fined-200-for-cannabis-possession
‘Police found 13g of cannabis plant split between multiple jars, scales, and $800 in Humphris’ vehicle during the traffic stop.
McDonald said, when questioned by police, Humphris stated the cannabis was for personal use and the money was to purchase the drug for a friend.”
So a firearm presented to police at one place …hmmm
Another person in a traffic stop has scales , jars and lots of cash…hmmm
Theres been a lot of rain in South island but they think w came down in last shower when its ‘personal use’
Australia and Britain have signed a deal for trade that is mini in terms of $, but large in terms of acceptance of goods not complying with Brit environmental standards.
Australian farming allows the use of 71 highly hazardous substances and thousands more types of pesticides that are currently banned in the UK, including neonicotinoids, which harm the pollinators at the root of our food system, such as bees. The environmental standards of some foods produced in Australia are so far below the standards upheld by UK farmers that these products shouldn’t be sold in the UK at all, let alone given open access to UK markets with a zero tariff, zero quota trade deal. This isn’t simply about free trade versus protectionism. It is about delivering the best results and most sustainable approach for people and the planet….
The utter shambles that has developed under Labour’s Broadcasting and Media Minister Kris Faafoi, a former TVNZ political reporter, is revealed in correspondence between his office and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage obtained under the Official Information Act….
The aide-memoire, dated Wednesday 17 February, fulfils its function by reminding the minister of his plan to report to Cabinet on the viability of “a new public media entity” in October. It then reveals something new:
“Legislation to establish a new public media entity will also disestablish TVNZ and RNZ. This legislation will also include a Charter for the new entity.”
There had been a change of plan. What had begun as the development of a business case based on merging TVNZ and RNZ had morphed into something else. It had been assumed that a merger of the two broadcasters would extend only to their news rooms, management and governance and that public radio would retain its separate structure, purpose and operations governed by its charter, newly reviewed and good for another five years.
It does seem odd, to be ditching RNZ and retaining the hapless clowns of TVNZ. Like many here I've given up on TV – life's too short for unmitigated tripe larded with inane advertising.
RNZ still retains a few shreds of dignity and professionalism – if anything it should be them taking over and restructuring the useless tv arm.
Combining the two will just drive up costs as , anyone on TV expects $50-$100k per year more .
The RNZ stories are usually of a longer format , a few minutes say , while TV is addicted to sound bites of 30 sec and an inane back and forth with the studio 'talent' along the lines 'what more can you tell us …..'
How long ago was that ? And its seen as bad management and cost cutting , not a lone extremist. Who would be the central character – in a movie sense- that awful Pike River Coal manager ?
Denise Roche doesn't hold back on her opinion of Nationals last shining light. He really did get away with some nasty stuff couched in his jokey blokey shallowness.
edit
John Key asked his thoughts on the above said airily 'Well I'm rich, so I must be right most of the time. What are you – just envious pricks?’
And he might be right – look at how Labour acted when there was opportunity – went for the money over principle or commitment to good conditions for all – shallow, not water-tight like the leaky homes we have as one of their modern-day legacies/
Winston has returned. It seems odd that he has been quiet for so long but he now seems to have found the thing he has been looking for.
The Vaccination campaign is well into the too little, too late category and the public are recognising it. Winston has an attack meme and he is going, in his inimitable style, to use it.
"the 76-year-old doyen of Kiwi politics has used it [an interview on Australian television] to slam the government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, deriding as "too late" and leaving NZ open to potential tragedy."
"We're half way through the vaccine year and we've done about a tenth of the job. That's the problem," he said.
"It's months too late. A lot of the strands right now are real dangerous. If (an outbreak) would happen we could see a tragedy again."
NZ is ranked 120th in the world for vaccine doses administered per capita – last in the developed world."
He is right of course and people in New Zealand are beginning to realise it. The rubbish about being at the front of the queue is being widely seen by the New Zealand public as a lie. Instead we are "last in the developed world".
I wonder what coverage this will get in the New Zealand media? I see the ODT is covering it but will Stuff and the Herald try and pretend it doesn't exist?
The story seems to be headline news in the Australian papers.
Hint. We are way way done the list. I didn't bother to check whether we were precisely 120th because they include places that aren't really countries but I am prepared to believe the value of 120 may be near enough. We are in about 140th place on the percentage with at least 1 vaccination. Our latest date is more recent than most so that would tend to push us up the list.
According to that article, Our World in Data, an online research publication run by Oxford University researchers, ranked Australia "113th among the world's countries for total doses per 100 residents, falling behind Kazakhstan, Cambodia and Seychelles".
So we are about the same level as Australia?
One World data, is a bit rough and ready, as like Australia NZ is using Astra Zeneca which requires 2 does per person, while other vaccines are one dose.
As we have seen last week when the claim was orchestrated by |national and echoed by Hooton that we were 'running out of vaccines'… but 1 million more early next month
We are dependent on vaccine supply , and its politics over who does or doesnt get – Europe especially preventing does leaving for 'less deserving ststes'
Of course The Vaccination campaign is "NOT" well into the too little, too late category and the public are "NOT" recognizing it. It is on track, the new Vaccines are arriving on schedule, many of us have been lucky to be Vaccinated and everyone who wants to get Vaccinated will get their turn. Rather than your relentless negativity of every issue what the Majority of the Public see is the headlines like Stuff today, of how we continue to be safe with the real headlines …
One case in Managed Isolation, none in the Community.
…unlike the headlines you and Winston are offering "If (an outbreak) would…" "we could see a tragedy…"
Sure Winston, like you, is entitled to voice his opinion but life in NZ is not the Land of the Long Black Cloud. It's actually pretty darn good, and THAT is what people see. IMHO
Hint. The topic Winston was talking about, and that I commented on, was the failure of the vaccine campaign.
You may be right about what Stuff covers. They, like the Herald aren't news outlets. They are bought and paid for Jacindamania freaks.
I found it interesting though that the majority of the comments Morning Report broadcast this morning on the vaccination program were disapproving. I imagine the people producing that program will have had a blast from their superiors to keep to the story line that the PM is a Saint and has saved us.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get vaccinations for at least the people who are most at risk from catching it. Which doesn't include healthy 40 year old people as far as I know.
We just have to hope the dangerous new variants – Delta, Vietnam & so on – don't take us by surprise in the way they have in a few other previously successful Countries where political elites complacently assumed that dodging the bullet in 2020 was the end of the matter.
The lesson that apparently still hasn't managed to penetrate among the political establishment here is that you don't play around, presume to 'control' or negotiate with this virus. You don't get to have your cake & eat it.
Bloody hell. Someone better tell Mike Hoskings that the Herald is a paid for Jacindamania freak. He won't have a Happy Day. Haha. Hint… Vaccine rollout I assume is part of a countries resilience of which NZ was voted number one a month ago.
Alwyn, do you actually read anything or just the stuff that fits with your narrative?
If you read the link provided by Red Blooded One, you’ll see a nice wee table in which NZ ranks at the top despite the relatively poor vaccination performance as shown in the right column of the table.
I think the entrance to Alwyn's mind requires a carefully cut Yale key with all angles sharply defined to ensure fit.
He talks like a relative of mine who is an alcoholic, and when away from the chateau cardboard can talk apparently lucidly criticising the useless politicians and how they can’t get anything right – ‘Projection’.
A couple of vaccinations would be nice. But I'm only in Group 3 and am being ignored. I should have been a Cabinet Minister. A bunch of them were vaccinated back in March.
And don't tell me not to worry. My sister was infected in the first outbreak.
I'm Group 3. I received my email invite to book a week ago. All good.
My understanding is the invites are still being rolled out so maybe yours is still in the pipeline. I'm in Auckland so maybe they gave us priority because we had the privilege of having more draconian lockdowns than the rest of the country.
Don't live in northland then do you anne? Ruakaka locals have to drive to kaitaia to get a jab any time in the next month. just the first one by the way.
Otherwise it's some time in august for Maori and over 50, september for non maori and over 50.
Supposedly a targeted area because of the deprivation. I'm sure a 200km+ round trip will help with the "Access" and will "alleviate" the deprivation
You're not being ignored, even if you feel it feels that way, the roll out is happening and while the country stays safe, thanks to a strict countries response we are at a position of it being very unlikely you could come into contact with someone affected. That first outbreak would have been frightening, I hope your sister has recovered fully. I am very greatful as an over 60 year old, living in the Far North to have been able to have my two jabs, but I truly believe those of you who haven't had it yet are quite safe until your jab arrives. Meantime keep scanning wherever you go, I still do, knowing that we will keep on top of this bloody Covid. This Government may not be your choice to run the country but they have kept us safe despite the criticisms. Best wishes to you Alwyn, I hope you can eventually see the silver lining that our Covid Response has given us.
Apparently there's a shortage of nurses. Apparently nurses are run off their feet. Tell you what, we'll get every nurse in the country to stop what they're doing and go into getting five million vaccinated. How would that go?
We bitched about lockdowns, we bitched about travel being off, we bitched about having to wear masks, we bitched about someone in MIQ stuffing up, we bitched about someone in MIQ being an idiot, we bitched about having to go into MIQ, we bitched that we didn't do what Taiwan did, or Sweden did, or Singapore did or Australia did, we bitched about there not being five million vaccines straight off, we're bitching about everyone not being vaccinated right now.
I remember the bitching about how terrible life was last year when the world was going to end because we were in lockdown. We were facing a life no others had faced, a suffering unimaginable and indescribable.
I wonder how our grandparents and great grandparents regarded the hellish lives we were forced to live? You know, the ones who went to the other side of the world and literally fought in the trenches in WW1. You know the ones who were in a World War for six bloody years.
Most of those finding anything they can to bitch about re vaccinations should look at themselves in the mirror and wonder that in the stuff-up, the oversight, the schemozzle, the disaster, at least one prick made it through.
There's a great line from a Randy Rainbow song , something like "I'll save the world by laying on the couch". I think some people are struggling to have a perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WimbyL_25Nw
Most of those finding anything they can to bitch about re vaccinations should look at themselves in the mirror and wonder that in the stuff-up, the oversight, the schemozzle, the disaster, at least one prick made it through.
All this moaning is why I have said, all along, that along with the Covid-19 virus we, in NZ, also have had to contend with the 'moaning Minnie or Matthew virus' that followed the virus in.
This is characterised by intense and unceasing moaning. nit picking, name-calling of those who are helping. Its after effects include a lack of gratitude, more intense moaning and, despite the anti-govt rants, is a hand permanently out for any Govt help.
Said in jest, perhaps, but sadly this moaning is fast becoming a NZ trait.
There seems to be no cure as the usual mixing around with others who might have said 'quit 'yer moaning' are closed as we huddle close to only those who agree with us.
This on who controls our country eventually, after certain procedures have been traversed. How can we get needed and thoughtful change when there is such a jiggery-pokery political system? (Allow 30 mins for reading and thinking!)
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Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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 ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
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This is good news that the government incentives are encouraging more to look at EV's.
'Mad rush' as EV sales surge in Auckland, but limited stock could hike prices | Stuff.co.nz
Hopefully the supply chain is good and can handle the extra demand so price doesn't increase and offset tax credit.
Only negative is there is also a surge in ute sales with people trying to get in before the price increase (especially Ford Rangers and Isuzu at the Field Days).
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/125470270/farmers-flock-to-buy-utes-before-clean-car-feebate-scheme-begins
The ute surge will continue as business fleets push to renew before the tax changes.
Dead Cummins bounce.
The subsidy means the retail price will increase. Increased demand means prices rise as for any product. My porridge goes up in price in winter , along with soups. Its the same business rules from the low end to the top end. Reports in media confirm the dealers are raising prices even ahead of any subsidy coming in.
That is great news. It highlights how the farming community are not being economically crushed by this Government despite all the "pretty Communist" attitudes from rural NZ. If they can still afford to be buying brand new Utes with gay abandon life must be pretty sweet. It also highlights the fact that there isn't a ban on buying Utes at this stage despite the rhetoric of Nat/Act and some of the commentators here who love to "foment mischief"
Hopefully the Car Manufacturers step up with the alternatives by the time these latest sales are passed their use-by date.
Utes are not being banned. Just being made more expensive once the tax is added on to them. Lets hope they are wrong about EV's also being increased in price due to the tax credit else it becomes a bit like the petrol stations advertising "petrol at 10c off a litre on Wednesday", when they have already increased the price to compensate.
I'm agreeing with you Jimmy.Quite a few people are talking as if they are being banned, that was my point, great that people will still have the choice and hopefully the naysayers like National Party Stalwart David Farrar, as one example, stop misrepresenting the situation. Re prices, they will only be as valuable as people are prepared to pay. If they try and charge too much, someone will come in with a cheaper option. That's how we are told Market Forces are supposed to work. They'll soon drop the prices if the vehicles stay on the shop floor.
Agree RBO how many of us can buy a new car let alone a overpriced ute? The floodgates will soon open pouring EV's and especially utes into this country just because Toyota is in denial about there overrated product doesn't mean the rest of the manufacturers will hold back. Car dealers live in the same shark pool as real estate agents and will do there utmost to rip us off.
One of New Zealand's most original artists and musicians passed away yesterday, my good mate Fane Flaws…Fane was always a willing comrade in any and all hair brained action or event I went to him with, he was one of the most beautiful, madly creative and generous humans I have ever meet…we are all really going to miss him and his extraordinary exuberant energy…so long pal.
He picked me up hitch hiking once, he was surprised I knew who he was, I was a fan of Jesus on a Stick and the RWP animation. Sorry to hear of his death and your and your friends loss.
Thanks,luckily he left us all with a huge amount of great songs and art to remember him by which helps soften the blow somewhat.
An interesting alleged link between pests and carbon sequestration of native ecosystems.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/444985/pests-destroying-native-ecosystems-ability-to-store-carbon-forest-and-bird
It is the numbers that make the pest [paraphrasing Paracelsus].
It appears that the F&B report was released not so long ago. It would be so helpful if articles in MSM would provide a link to original documents and sources, for further reading if desired. It almost looks as if there is a policy of not linking off and away from the MSM website …
https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/climate-change-and-introduced-browsers
Will be interesting to see farmer’s response to this.
On one hand it’s presenting an opportunity to decrease emissions without having to make large reductions in stock numbers.
On the other it’s taking away their toys, since most farmers are keen hunters, or aspire to be
I'd have thought that it is an invitation to first of all be a hunter in helping reduce the number of pests and providing sport, recreation and food.
In the longer run, since these pests won't be totally eradicated, the result will be more challenging hunting; the reward being a sense of achievement rather than a quick slaughter of wild goats or whatever.
The other reward will be in the vegetative growth and beauty as the bush regenerates, for hunter, tramper, bush bathers alike, with carbon emissions decreased as a bonus.
My hunting cousin years ago welcomed deer culling as it provided a much better trophy as a result of lower numbers.
The other night I saw a video of a hunter at a British farm shooting rats with an air gun and killing them with clean headshots. It was for pest control, as poisoning kills the owls that help keeping the rat numbers down, but it made for remarkably good watching.
Wekas keep the mouse population under control.
Among other things.
https://twitter.com/PredatorFreeNZ/status/1203923424835276805
https://www.nzgeo.com/audio/understanding-how-weka-could-help-with-pest-control-by-eating-rodents/
Spotlighting rats in the sheds with an air rifle…. remarkably good fun
Save the owls
Build a better mouse trap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=IpT9lj91MiE&feature=emb_logo
Your cousin is one of the very few hunters who see it that way. Most hunters see better hunting as easier hunting and want animal densities that allow them to crash through the scrub and get, or at least see, an animal within 2-300m from where they park their ute. Three day tramps into the bush aren’t part of the picture, that’s what helicopters are for.
With reduced densities giving better trophies, the species where this is most apparent is thar. That industry is built on the huge bulls that came through after the helicopter culls (absolute slaughter) in the early 80s. Prior to the cull numbers were high but heads poor, like now but today’s range is larger.
After yesterdays announcement regarding the roll out of Covid 19, and the age bands and timing. Why was there no comment that I can find as to why the roll out should not be on a geography basis, or at leats focused initially towards the Auckland region ? Auckland has experienced all the shutdowns due to outbreaks, so why not protect the entranceway to the country and fan out from there ? Just an alternative outlook
Setting up the resources needed (vaccinators, vaccination sites, logistics of vaccine supply) for each area then managing the throughput so get an even workflow seems to me to be a better way to do it than trying to do it region by region where everything would have to be moved for massive and disruptive vaccination surges in each region.
One could argue that vaccinating border-facing workers and their families was already Auckland-centric in effect, if not intent. So what you are suggesting has actually occurred but in a somewhat more targeted way?
And a different alternative idea on how the vaccine rollout should proceed popped up on Garner's show this morning. He suggested that young people should get done first rather than last because they ‘travel the world’. We don’t know whether vaccinated people can transmit the virus, but we do know that some will catch it. So his suggestion opens the possibility of young people coming home from overseas hotspots to infect their unvaccinated elders. His speculation provided an opening for Des Gorman to (as usual) piss all over the efforts of everyone who has done a good job of keeping us safe in the last 15 months. The bitter, catastrophising and consistently wrong Gorman augmented the disgracefulness of Garner's stupidity rather well.
Does Garner remember Climate Change? Gas guzzling planes polluting the sky and young people angry about it. Covid19 is rampant overseas and who would want to travel to those places. Young people are not as irresponsible as he thinks, in fact it's quite the reverse.
The virus finds the missing link if you erect barriers elsewhere, but its a good point.
How many people does this guy have to kill before they stop him driving. So judge has banned him from driving until August 2022, what's the bet he's back behind the wheel next month?
Dunedin court gives repeat drink-driver home detention for latest offence – NZ Herald
Drink-drivers are just unfortunate individuals who cannot be leg-roped like the out of control animals they are; in fact all alcohol drinkers are well treated in law, compared to those committing the misdemeanour of growing cannabis.
Alcohol is great (and pollies and business leaders like it for their drug of choice and it brings in lots of taxes) – it is the enthusiastic, fun-loving members of the public who go OTT that are the problem.
"misdemeanour of growing cannabis."
A tiny number each year convicted , for ONLY a charge a growing/supply because they were dealers and suppliers.
Its in the 200 per year range from the police annual statistics , ie cannabis only numbers
The rest of the cannabis charges are because they were criminals often get all the charges possible when arrested for something else. Thats how police charging works, have all the possibilities as separate charges even though there may be only one primary charge for which they came to attention of police.
The classic case some years back, in a slightly different situation, a man was sent to jail for walking into a gallery and walking out with a valuable painting. Not mentioned his primary charge in the prison sentence was armed robber, and both were heard at the same time
examples
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/125311399/timaru-woman-gets-discharge-and-conviction-for-cultivating-cannabis
‘According to the summary of facts, police went to Laurie’s address in Albury on January 10, 2021, for a welfare check.
“When police arrived at the address, they were threatened with the use of a firearm by an unknown occupant,” the summary says..
and
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/124810986/timaru-man-fined-200-for-cannabis-possession
‘Police found 13g of cannabis plant split between multiple jars, scales, and $800 in Humphris’ vehicle during the traffic stop.
McDonald said, when questioned by police, Humphris stated the cannabis was for personal use and the money was to purchase the drug for a friend.”
So a firearm presented to police at one place …hmmm
Another person in a traffic stop has scales , jars and lots of cash…hmmm
Theres been a lot of rain in South island but they think w came down in last shower when its ‘personal use’
Story after story , just in Stuff, covers small scale but none the less 'dealers and suppliers'
meanwhile this is the big stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/124277051/four-men-jailed-for-24-millionayear-cannabis-operation-in-northland
'Five glasshouses filled with cannabis plants, including one more than 60m wide,'
Yet its view of the cannabis supporters that its a 'misdemenour' – which doesnt exist in NZ, but suggest that its little thing
A screwed up system, gets more screwed up encouraging corruption and 'double dealing' eh ghost.
Australia and Britain have signed a deal for trade that is mini in terms of $, but large in terms of acceptance of goods not complying with Brit environmental standards.
Australian farming allows the use of 71 highly hazardous substances and thousands more types of pesticides that are currently banned in the UK, including neonicotinoids, which harm the pollinators at the root of our food system, such as bees. The environmental standards of some foods produced in Australia are so far below the standards upheld by UK farmers that these products shouldn’t be sold in the UK at all, let alone given open access to UK markets with a zero tariff, zero quota trade deal. This isn’t simply about free trade versus protectionism. It is about delivering the best results and most sustainable approach for people and the planet….
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2106/S00050/on-britains-pathetic-trade-deal-with-australia.htm
What's going on down with our public radio committed to faction-free reporting of truth and facts.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2106/S00052/rnzs-magna-charter-part-3.htm
The utter shambles that has developed under Labour’s Broadcasting and Media Minister Kris Faafoi, a former TVNZ political reporter, is revealed in correspondence between his office and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage obtained under the Official Information Act….
The aide-memoire, dated Wednesday 17 February, fulfils its function by reminding the minister of his plan to report to Cabinet on the viability of “a new public media entity” in October. It then reveals something new:
“Legislation to establish a new public media entity will also disestablish TVNZ and RNZ. This legislation will also include a Charter for the new entity.”
There had been a change of plan. What had begun as the development of a business case based on merging TVNZ and RNZ had morphed into something else. It had been assumed that a merger of the two broadcasters would extend only to their news rooms, management and governance and that public radio would retain its separate structure, purpose and operations governed by its charter, newly reviewed and good for another five years.
It does seem odd, to be ditching RNZ and retaining the hapless clowns of TVNZ. Like many here I've given up on TV – life's too short for unmitigated tripe larded with inane advertising.
RNZ still retains a few shreds of dignity and professionalism – if anything it should be them taking over and restructuring the useless tv arm.
+100 Stuart
Combining the two will just drive up costs as , anyone on TV expects $50-$100k per year more .
The RNZ stories are usually of a longer format , a few minutes say , while TV is addicted to sound bites of 30 sec and an inane back and forth with the studio 'talent' along the lines 'what more can you tell us …..'
MCH simply lost this initiative in the 2021/22 budget round, and decide to do a scold of their Minister.
What kids they are.
They should instead ask why they got rolled by Treasury in the bid process, again.
Would there be as much out rage if they decided to make a film about the Pike River mine?
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
How long ago was that ? And its seen as bad management and cost cutting , not a lone extremist. Who would be the central character – in a movie sense- that awful Pike River Coal manager ?
Could cast Andrew Little as Lyle Lanley
https://www.classhook.com/resources/1816-the-simpsons-monorail-salesman
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/matangireia/story/2018791588/series-2-episode-6-denise-roche-matangireia
Denise Roche doesn't hold back on her opinion of Nationals last shining light. He really did get away with some nasty stuff couched in his jokey blokey shallowness.
When asked to sum up John Key in one word, she replied 'Prick!'
Well said!
edit
John Key asked his thoughts on the above said airily 'Well I'm rich, so I must be right most of the time. What are you – just envious pricks?’
And he might be right – look at how Labour acted when there was opportunity – went for the money over principle or commitment to good conditions for all – shallow, not water-tight like the leaky homes we have as one of their modern-day legacies/
Winston has returned. It seems odd that he has been quiet for so long but he now seems to have found the thing he has been looking for.
The Vaccination campaign is well into the too little, too late category and the public are recognising it. Winston has an attack meme and he is going, in his inimitable style, to use it.
"the 76-year-old doyen of Kiwi politics has used it [an interview on Australian television] to slam the government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, deriding as "too late" and leaving NZ open to potential tragedy."
"We're half way through the vaccine year and we've done about a tenth of the job. That's the problem," he said.
"It's months too late. A lot of the strands right now are real dangerous. If (an outbreak) would happen we could see a tragedy again."
NZ is ranked 120th in the world for vaccine doses administered per capita – last in the developed world."
He is right of course and people in New Zealand are beginning to realise it. The rubbish about being at the front of the queue is being widely seen by the New Zealand public as a lie. Instead we are "last in the developed world".
I wonder what coverage this will get in the New Zealand media? I see the ODT is covering it but will Stuff and the Herald try and pretend it doesn't exist?
The story seems to be headline news in the Australian papers.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/peters-slams-arderns-nz-vaccine-010146638.html
Says who (apart from Peters)? Are we last on a per capita basis?
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/charting-new-zealands-vaccine-rollout
Any suggestions as to how? Placebo vaccinations?
I suggest you can check the claim here.
Hint. We are way way done the list. I didn't bother to check whether we were precisely 120th because they include places that aren't really countries but I am prepared to believe the value of 120 may be near enough. We are in about 140th place on the percentage with at least 1 vaccination. Our latest date is more recent than most so that would tend to push us up the list.
https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
But wait theres more
According to that article, Our World in Data, an online research publication run by Oxford University researchers, ranked Australia "113th among the world's countries for total doses per 100 residents, falling behind Kazakhstan, Cambodia and Seychelles".
So we are about the same level as Australia?
One World data, is a bit rough and ready, as like Australia NZ is using Astra Zeneca which requires 2 does per person, while other vaccines are one dose.
As we have seen last week when the claim was orchestrated by |national and echoed by Hooton that we were 'running out of vaccines'… but 1 million more early next month
We are dependent on vaccine supply , and its politics over who does or doesnt get – Europe especially preventing does leaving for 'less deserving ststes'
Of course The Vaccination campaign is "NOT" well into the too little, too late category and the public are "NOT" recognizing it. It is on track, the new Vaccines are arriving on schedule, many of us have been lucky to be Vaccinated and everyone who wants to get Vaccinated will get their turn. Rather than your relentless negativity of every issue what the Majority of the Public see is the headlines like Stuff today, of how we continue to be safe with the real headlines …
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300336505/covid19-one-new-case-in-managed-isolation-stewart-island-test-results-due-back
One case in Managed Isolation, none in the Community.
…unlike the headlines you and Winston are offering "If (an outbreak) would…" "we could see a tragedy…"
Sure Winston, like you, is entitled to voice his opinion but life in NZ is not the Land of the Long Black Cloud. It's actually pretty darn good, and THAT is what people see. IMHO
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/
Hint… NZ is at the top.
Hint. The topic Winston was talking about, and that I commented on, was the failure of the vaccine campaign.
You may be right about what Stuff covers. They, like the Herald aren't news outlets. They are bought and paid for Jacindamania freaks.
I found it interesting though that the majority of the comments Morning Report broadcast this morning on the vaccination program were disapproving. I imagine the people producing that program will have had a blast from their superiors to keep to the story line that the PM is a Saint and has saved us.
Well. I can see another reason why the PM wanted to get vaccinated.
Not even a bloody test for the Air New Zealand crews. How long would you give it before we have another outbreak?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300336892/covid19-all-vaccinated-air-nz-crew-now-exempt-from-isolation
Another 111 days, at least.
Sydney had been doing quite well for a decent length of time hadn't it?
And then this happened.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-coronavirus-new-restrictions-in-sydney-new-community-case/543PA4ADYNBWEHAH57H4YUGLZ4/
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get vaccinations for at least the people who are most at risk from catching it. Which doesn't include healthy 40 year old people as far as I know.
You’re a tough negotiator. I’ll take 11 days off my earlier offer, so it’ll be 100 days, at least
Jacinda will (have to) save us again from our lack of compliance and vigilance
100 days is OK Incog. I will have had both my shots by then.
Elderly have been badly let down.
We just have to hope the dangerous new variants – Delta, Vietnam & so on – don't take us by surprise in the way they have in a few other previously successful Countries where political elites complacently assumed that dodging the bullet in 2020 was the end of the matter.
The lesson that apparently still hasn't managed to penetrate among the political establishment here is that you don't play around, presume to 'control' or negotiate with this virus. You don't get to have your cake & eat it.
Travel Bubble with Oz was always too early IMO.
lol
just keep reaching for that rainbow, eh.
Bloody hell. Someone better tell Mike Hoskings that the Herald is a paid for Jacindamania freak. He won't have a Happy Day. Haha. Hint… Vaccine rollout I assume is part of a countries resilience of which NZ was voted number one a month ago.
Alwyn, do you actually read anything or just the stuff that fits with your narrative?
If you read the link provided by Red Blooded One, you’ll see a nice wee table in which NZ ranks at the top despite the relatively poor vaccination performance as shown in the right column of the table.
Of course I saw it. So what? Winston was talking about, and I was commenting on, the vaccination performance. It isn't just "relatively poor".
It is IMHO bloody terrible.
Of course, you did
If NZ is “bloody terrible”, what are the words to describe all the lower ranked countries, the rest of the World, in fact? Bloody shambolic?
I think the entrance to Alwyn's mind requires a carefully cut Yale key with all angles sharply defined to ensure fit.
He talks like a relative of mine who is an alcoholic, and when away from the chateau cardboard can talk apparently lucidly criticising the useless politicians and how they can’t get anything right – ‘Projection’.
Any suggestions as to how? Placebo vaccinations? Maybe ask Bishop, Bridges, and Collins? She might have a few contacts. Sinovac anyone – alwyn?
Are you personally scared you might catch Covid Alwyn, can we help you ease your fears in some way?
A couple of vaccinations would be nice. But I'm only in Group 3 and am being ignored. I should have been a Cabinet Minister. A bunch of them were vaccinated back in March.
And don't tell me not to worry. My sister was infected in the first outbreak.
I think it is ok to worry a little but some attacks on the Government are utterly irrational, IMHO.
As long as the MIQ barrier holds and prevents community outbreaks it’ll be steady as she goes.
Even Taiwan’s success ended abruptly. So, yes, some fears are justified.
"My sister was infected in the first outbreak."
Fair enough mate.
I'm Group 3. I received my email invite to book a week ago. All good.
My understanding is the invites are still being rolled out so maybe yours is still in the pipeline. I'm in Auckland so maybe they gave us priority because we had the privilege of having more draconian lockdowns than the rest of the country.
Don't live in northland then do you anne? Ruakaka locals have to drive to kaitaia to get a jab any time in the next month. just the first one by the way.
Otherwise it's some time in august for Maori and over 50, september for non maori and over 50.
Supposedly a targeted area because of the deprivation. I'm sure a 200km+ round trip will help with the "Access" and will "alleviate" the deprivation
Ruakaka locals have to drive to kaitaia to get a jab any time in the next month.
You can pop into town on the weekend.
Whangārei
Northland Event Centre
51 Okara Drive, Whangārei
(Please wear warm clothes and
bring an umbrella in case it is raining)
Saturday 19 June, 9am-2pm
Tuesday 22 June, 8am-7.30pm
Wednesday 23 June, 10am-5pm
Thursday 24 June, 8am-7.30pm
Saturday 26 June, 9am-2pm
https://www.northlanddhb.org.nz/home/covid-19/covid-19-northland-hub/vaccine-programme-information/
You may want to get in touch with these people:
https://www.anxiety.org.nz/
You're not being ignored, even if you feel it feels that way, the roll out is happening and while the country stays safe, thanks to a strict countries response we are at a position of it being very unlikely you could come into contact with someone affected. That first outbreak would have been frightening, I hope your sister has recovered fully. I am very greatful as an over 60 year old, living in the Far North to have been able to have my two jabs, but I truly believe those of you who haven't had it yet are quite safe until your jab arrives. Meantime keep scanning wherever you go, I still do, knowing that we will keep on top of this bloody Covid. This Government may not be your choice to run the country but they have kept us safe despite the criticisms. Best wishes to you Alwyn, I hope you can eventually see the silver lining that our Covid Response has given us.
Apparently there's a shortage of nurses. Apparently nurses are run off their feet. Tell you what, we'll get every nurse in the country to stop what they're doing and go into getting five million vaccinated. How would that go?
We bitched about lockdowns, we bitched about travel being off, we bitched about having to wear masks, we bitched about someone in MIQ stuffing up, we bitched about someone in MIQ being an idiot, we bitched about having to go into MIQ, we bitched that we didn't do what Taiwan did, or Sweden did, or Singapore did or Australia did, we bitched about there not being five million vaccines straight off, we're bitching about everyone not being vaccinated right now.
I remember the bitching about how terrible life was last year when the world was going to end because we were in lockdown. We were facing a life no others had faced, a suffering unimaginable and indescribable.
I wonder how our grandparents and great grandparents regarded the hellish lives we were forced to live? You know, the ones who went to the other side of the world and literally fought in the trenches in WW1. You know the ones who were in a World War for six bloody years.
Most of those finding anything they can to bitch about re vaccinations should look at themselves in the mirror and wonder that in the stuff-up, the oversight, the schemozzle, the disaster, at least one prick made it through.
There's a great line from a Randy Rainbow song , something like "I'll save the world by laying on the couch". I think some people are struggling to have a perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WimbyL_25Nw
Keep calm and carry on.
https://www.edexlive.com/news/2021/may/19/living-a-little-in-the-times-of-coronahere-are-11-tips-to-keep-calm-and-carry-on-during-covid-20830.html
All this moaning is why I have said, all along, that along with the Covid-19 virus we, in NZ, also have had to contend with the 'moaning Minnie or Matthew virus' that followed the virus in.
This is characterised by intense and unceasing moaning. nit picking, name-calling of those who are helping. Its after effects include a lack of gratitude, more intense moaning and, despite the anti-govt rants, is a hand permanently out for any Govt help.
Said in jest, perhaps, but sadly this moaning is fast becoming a NZ trait.
There seems to be no cure as the usual mixing around with others who might have said 'quit 'yer moaning' are closed as we huddle close to only those who agree with us.
Time for, again……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYvMeT2GC14
Fred Dagg.
This on who controls our country eventually, after certain procedures have been traversed. How can we get needed and thoughtful change when there is such a jiggery-pokery political system? (Allow 30 mins for reading and thinking!)
https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2021/06/18/writing-the-rights-no-right-turn-is-wrong/