Open mike 18/09/2023
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6:00 am, September 18th, 2023 - 27 comments
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 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. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
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. ...3 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. ...4 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. ...5 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. ...5 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. ...5 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. ...5 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 ...5 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
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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. ...6 days ago
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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. ...6 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. ...6 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
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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
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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
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
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- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
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- Building consent processing times improve
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
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- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
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Ryan Hamilton. Nat candidate…and maybe MP. A worry.
I well remember Ryan Hamilton from this…the anti 20 minute City …nutbar conspiracists, who took over a meeting.
And..props to RNZ Undercurrent
Apparently he's also an ex-member of the Destiny Church too!*
Alarm bells should be ringing loudly! Another cranky fundamentalist like Luxon et al?
Edit:
*Can’t find where I read that so may not be true.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/101626168/prostitution-bylaw-a-catalyst-for-city-councillors-interest-in-politics
Confirmation.
https://twitter.com/MxDEJ/status/1703541739452268777
Shane Te Pou says his mate's got it right. Looks pretty spot on:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/shane-te-pou-election-2023-acts-budget-has-the-cuts-national-needs-to-pay-for-its-tax-package/4UZQHFBISFC5PPQ7IJCLTKOZ4Q/
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/actnz/pages/2652/attachments/original/1620723316/15813_A_Budget_for_Middle_NZ_Document_%282%29.pdf?1620723316
and also
(this would be around $40 a week less in the first year and $120 week less by the end of 3 years).
Hope Hipkins hammers this at the televised debates.
A spiked ACT launch 3 weeks from voting starting is useful for a plateau in their rise.
Chippie handled it better.
Seymour 2022: PM should meet with protesters at Parliament, they are peaceful.
Seymour 2023: Get these protesters outa here!
Same people, David. Reap what you sow.
Well observed Observer.
Credit where credit is due. A great policy from Labour with respect to a $4000 grant for people to install Solar on their homes. This is something I have argued for a number of times here. So, it would be hypocritical for me to be political and criticise the idea now.
Damn good idea.
Personally I run a number of UPS'es here at the end of Ponsonby Road because the power tends to be somewhat flaky both in voltage and blackouts. I run workstations and servers in my apartment. But the system shows no real signs of getting much better. It feels like it is steadily moving back to when I moved here in 1998 when we had some severe blackouts.
That is despite the cost of power in real terms increasing by about 40+% in that time despite the dropping in my kWH usage with more efficient hardware (even with my partners showers).
For peace of mind and reliability, when I move out of here to a house, I want to put in solar + small wind, some much bigger batteries than my UPS. Start shifting to a 24VDC household and see if I can get off relying on a flaky power grid that isn't getting fixed up to spec. Besides, I can see some fun in writing code to optimise the house grid (if I ever stop working).
I don't mind staying on the grid and selling off surplus stored power. But at present it sounds like that won't be worth while. The line charges look like they will be moving towards costing more than the price paid for power off my system.
I guess that is what happens after decades of deferring grid maintenance and upgrades.
I think part of the subsidy going towards battery storage is also a good idea. That should help solve some of the load issues that power companies don't like.
Probably the biggest concern is that the increase demand pushes up the price of installs so the value of the subsidy is diluted. Hopefully that isn't the case though.
It has always seemed a no-brainer to me because the cost of putting solar on people's roofs must be a lot quicker and cheaper than say building a new dam. So, the idea would hopefully be self-funding through reduced need for other infrastructure expenditure.
I actually suggested this idea to the energy guy in National. But, I haven't seen anything come of it yet.
Hopefully, they will see it as a good idea as well so it happens whoever is in government.
Don't hold your breath!
Unless there's a buck or several to be made by one of their big donors, I doubt the Natz will entertain the idea.
FWIW, if yr looking at going off grid I would recommend leaving wind out of the mix and get more solar. Ideally if you are able to get a property with running water – creek or spring and go with a pelton wheel.
Consider how you will heat water, gas califont or solid fuel and maybe solar hot water.
Refrigeration is the other use that needs to be ameliorated, there are some good European fridges and freezers. Elcold and Gram are what we have.
Anyone advising on this will tell you to do an energy audit. Look at the wee sticker on any electrical appliance that says what wattage the appliance is and multiply that by the time used a day (in minutes).
From family in Oz they had large communities built with every house with solar hot water and after two to three years to connections from the panels to the water supply crapped out in the sun causing quite a bit of water damage in some cases and high repair costs or disconnection and being left will a small back up electric hot water cylinder.
They said basically the developers put them in every house to get certification with no consideration at all to longevity.
I'm fortunate to benefit from refurbished, old school drain back solar panels. Borderline bulletproof.
A possibility in the example you cite is that componentry is of an inferior quality for the reason you gave.
tsmithfield Good for you!! Couldn't agree more.
Wait for the price of a battery install to increase…..by $4000
You don't think such a profit margin would incentivise others to set up an install business? Really?
As soon as government applied the policy (post election) people would be making plans to get in on the action.
Te Pāti Māori have dropped their Disability policy
The main points
Establish a Mana Hauā Authority
Reallocate 25% of all Disability funding to the Māna Hauā Authority
Establish Kaupapa Māori disability organisations and rehabilitation facilities.
Abolish ACC and establish a Māori ACC Authority.
Ensure that Māori disability organisations are formally included in the development of all disability-related policy and legislation.
Reform building standards to require that all new housing builds are fully accessible.
Remove all barriers for Tangata Hauā to access health services
Ensure that antenatal screening programmes are not biased towards termination of pregnancies if a disability is diagnosed.
Recognise Te Reo Rotarota as an official language in Aotearoa.
Require te reo Māori proficiency to be assessed in NZSL qualifications.
Provide pathways for te reo Māori speakers to learn Te Reo Rotarota and NZSL.
Abolish abatement rates on benefits for Tangata Hauā and their careworkers.
Immediately abolish the minimum wage exemption for Tangata Hauā.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V1fVe2hhe5eNDVBuJYmxu3_07igGSiyo/view
With Uffendal and co ACT candidates plus Nationals lies about costings of tax cuts the Wellsford Tuhoi $2.3 billion under estimate of construction.Remember John Key with his deal of the century the sky casino conference centre ! It nearly caused the bankruptcy of One of NZ's largest companies.National over inflate there policy and ignore their massive mistakes.National would release there cost analysis if it were true!
National is promising $14.5 billion in tax cuts and at the same time promising 13 major roading projects while saying that Labour has left the cupboard bare.
These simple (ridiculous) facts are worth a poster/advert from Labour. Hipkins should be repeating this a few times in tomorrow's TV1 debate.
Why is the MSM not asking more questions about this?
Not clickbait worthy?
A big majority of MSM want a National Government because they are RW? (especially managemant)
The Coalition of chaos? Audrey has a look.
And so on with mostly cuts and undoings.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-national-and-act-where-the-policy-differences-lie/5RBFT3A4MJF5LL3PCYRLYJ5HBM/
Tim Murphy (former Herald editor, hardly a leftie) puts Luxon's media shambles in historical context.
As he correctly points out, in their different ways Hipkins, Ardern, English, Key and Clark could all cope with reporters' questions. It's a basic requirement of the top job. Luxon fails the test.
Luxon And Media Playing Intense Game Of Hide And Seek | Newsroom
So Luxon dressed as a Pirate…
has 25 days of walking the reporters' plank and repelling questions.???