Open mike 18/09/2023
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6:00 am, September 18th, 2023 - 27 comments
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- It’s time for the ADF to train in Asia-Pacific languages
The proposed negotiation of an Australia–Papua New Guinea defence treaty will falter unless the Australian Defence Force embraces cultural intelligence and starts being more strategic with teaching languages—starting with Tok Pisin, the most widely spoken language in ...5 hours ago - Here is the news at 4.30
Bishop ignores pawnPoor old Tama Potaka says he didn't know the new RMA legislation would be tossing out the Treaty clause.However, RMA Minister Bishop says it's all good and no worries because the new RMA will still recognise Māori rights; it's just that the government prefers specific role descriptions over ...6 hours ago - China’s shadow fleet threatens Indo-Pacific communications
China is using increasingly sophisticated grey-zone tactics against subsea cables in the waters around Taiwan, using a shadow-fleet playbook that could be expanded across the Indo-Pacific. On 25 February, Taiwan’s coast guard detained the Hong Tai ...6 hours ago
- Improving OIA enforcement
Yesterday The Post had a long exit interview with outgoing Ombudsman Peter Boshier, in which he complains about delinquent agencies which "haven't changed and haven't taken our moral authority on board". He talks about the limits of the Ombudsman's power of persuasion - its only power - and the need ...8 hours ago - A Fist, an American Flag, and Fire
Hi,Two stories have been playing over and over in my mind today, and I wanted to send you this Webworm as an excuse to get your thoughts in the comments.Because I adore the community here, and I want your sanity to weigh in.A safe space to chat, pull our hair ...10 hours ago - Tuesday 25 March
A new employment survey shows that labour market pessimism has deepened as workers worry about holding to their job, the difficulty in finding jobs, and slowing wage growth. Nurses working in primary care will get an 8 percent pay increase this year, but it still leaves them lagging behind their ...10 hours ago - Big Gun
Big gunBig gun number oneBig gunBig gun kick the hell out of youSongwriters: Ascencio / Marrow.On Sunday, I wrote about the Prime Minister’s interview in India with Maiki Sherman and certainly didn’t think I’d be writing about another of his interviews two days later.I’d been thinking of writing about something ...11 hours ago - Economic security and geostrategic competition: tariffs don’t equal coercion
The Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on Australian aluminium and steel has surprised the country. This has caused some to question the logic of the Australia-United States alliance and risks legitimising China’s economic coercion. ...11 hours ago
- NZ Government, an Atlas Network puppet, intent on ruining public healthcare
OPINION & ANALYSIS:At the heart of everything we see in this government is simplicity. Things are simpler than they appear. Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Behind all the public relations, marketing spin, corporate overlay e.g. ...12 hours ago - China will need 10,000GW of wind and solar by 2060
This is a re-post from Carbon Brief by Wang Zhongying, chief national expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute, and Kaare Sandholt, chief international expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute China will need to install around 10,000 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar capacity ...14 hours ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Tuesday, March 26
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...14 hours ago - Most people want a people-friendly city
With many of Auckland’s political and bureaucratic leaders bowing down to vocal minorities and consistently failing to reallocate space to people in our city, recent news overseas has prompted me to point out something important. It is extremely popular to make car-dominated cities nicer, by freeing up space for people. ...14 hours ago - Indonesia wants an aircraft carrier. No one knows why
When it comes to fleet modernisation programme, the Indonesian navy seems to be biting off more than it can chew. It is not even clear why the navy is taking the bite. The news that ...14 hours ago
- tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-2287094456929079731
Chris Trotter is now on Substack visit him at christrotter418256.substack.com ...1 day ago - Australia should work with South Korea to secure undersea cables
South Korea and Australia should enhance their cooperation to secure submarine cables, which carry more than 95 percent of global data traffic. As tensions in the Indo-Pacific intensify, these vital connections face risks from cyber ...1 day ago
- Parliament says “no” to transparency
The Parliament Bill Committee has reported back on the Parliament Bill. As usual, they recommend no substantive changes, all decisions having been made in advance and in secret before the bill was introduced - but there are some minor tweaks around oversight of the new parliamentary security powers, which will ...1 day ago
- Bolt from the blue: what we know (and don’t know) about the US’s powerful F-47 fighter
When the F-47 enters service, at a date to be disclosed, it will be a new factor in US air warfare. A decision to proceed with development, deferred since July, was unexpectedly announced on 21 ...1 day ago
- Yesterday Once More
All my best memoriesCome back clearly to meSome can even make me cry.Just like beforeIt's yesterday once more.Songwriters: Richard Lynn Carpenter / John BettisYesterday, Winston Peters gave a State of the Nation speech in which he declared War on the Woke, described peaceful protesters as fascists, said he’d take our ...1 day ago - Can we now find out who the real Vladimir Putin is?
Regardless of our opinions about the politicians involved, I believe that every rational person should welcome the reestablishment of contacts between the USA and the Russian Federation. While this is only the beginning and there are no guarantees of success, it does create the opportunity to address issues ...1 day ago - The transatlantic world will never be the same
Once upon a time, the United States saw the contest between democracy and authoritarianism as a singularly defining issue. It was this outlook, forged in the crucible of World War II, that created such strong ...1 day ago
- 30% of doctors leave NZ after graduation
A pre-Covid protest about medical staffing shortages outside the Beehive. Since then the situation has only worsened, with 30% of doctors trained here now migrating within a decade. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories shortest: The news this morning is dominated by the crises cascading through our health system after ...1 day ago - Monday 24 March
Bargaining between the PSA and Oranga Tamariki over the collective agreement is intensifying – with more strike action likely, while the Employment Relations Authority has ordered facilitation. More than 850 laboratory staff are walking off their jobs in a week of rolling strike action. Union coverage CTU: Confidence in ...2 days ago
- The permanent Australia-China contest in the South Pacific
Foreign Minister Penny Wong in 2024 said that ‘we’re in a state of permanent contest in the Pacific—that’s the reality.’ China’s arrogance hurts it in the South Pacific. Mark that as a strong Australian card ...2 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes on Monday, March 24
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...2 days ago - Gordon Campbell on Israel’s murderous relapse, and Peters’ sad decline
In the past week, Israel has reverted to slaughtering civilians, starving children and welshing on the terms of the peace deal negotiated earlier this year. The IDF’s current offensive seems to be intended to render Gaza unlivable, preparatory (perhaps) to re-occupation by Israeli settlers. The short term demands for the ...2 days ago - 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #12
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 16, 2025 thru Sat, March 22, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. We are still interested ...2 days ago
- Bullying a Chess Bot: More Martinian Shenanigans
In recent months, I have garnered copious amusement playing Martin, chess.com’s infamously terrible Chess AI. Alas, it is not how it once was, when he would cheerfully ignore freely offered material. Martin has grown better since I first stumbled upon him. I still remain frustrated at his capture-happy determination to ...2 days ago - Indian Summer
Every time that I see ya,A lightning bolt fills the room,The underbelly of Paris,She sings her favourite tune,She'll drink you under the table,She'll show you a trick or two,But every time that I left her,I missed the things she would doSongwriters: Kelly JonesThis morning, I posted - Are you excited ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Soliloquy for the week to March 23
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- Worming Through Dangerous Times
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As space becomes more contested, Australia should play a key role with its partners in the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative to safeguard the space domain. Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States signed the ...4 days ago
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Ooh you're a cool catComing on strong with all the chit chatOoh you're alrightHanging out and stealing all the limelightOoh messing with the beat of my heart yeah!Songwriters: Freddie Mercury / John Deacon.It would be a tad ironic; I can see it now. “Yeah, I didn’t unsubscribe when he said ...4 days ago - Friday 21 March
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- Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on Friday, March 21
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I have argued before that one ought to be careful in retrospectively allocating texts into genres. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) only looks like science-fiction because a science-fiction genre subsequently developed. Without H.G. Wells, would Frankenstein be considered science-fiction? No, it probably wouldn’t. Viewed in the context of its time, Frankenstein ...5 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #12 2025
Open access notables The severe 2020 coral bleaching event in the tropical Atlantic linked to marine heatwaves, Rodrigues et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Marine heatwaves can amplify the vulnerabilities of regional marine ecosystems and jeopardise local economies and food resources. Here, we show that marine heatwaves in the tropical ...5 days ago
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Elbridge Colby’s senate confirmation hearing in early March holds more important implications for US partners than most observers in Canberra, Wellington or Suva realise. As President Donald Trump’s nominee for under secretary of defence for ...5 days ago
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China’s defence budget is rising heftily yet again. The 2025 rise will be 7.2 percent, the same as in 2024, the government said on 5 March. But the allocation, officially US$245 billion, is just the ...5 days ago
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Speilmeister: Christopher Luxon’s prime-ministerial pitches notwithstanding, are institutions with billions of dollars at their disposal really going to invest them in a country so obviously in a deep funk?HAVING WOOED THE WORLD’s investors, what, if anything, has New Zealand won? Did Christopher Luxon’s guests board their private jets fizzing with enthusiasm for ...5 days ago
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Christchurch City Council is one of 18 councils and three council-controlled organisations (CCOs) downgraded by ratings agency S&P. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories shortest: Standard & Poor’s has cut the credit ratings of 18 councils, blaming the new Government’s abrupt reversal of 3 Waters, cuts to capital ...5 days ago - Recession ends – Economic challenges remain
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New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...2 days ago - “Make New Zealand First Again”
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Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...4 days ago
- Release: National at sea over Defence jobs
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- Release: National standards returning by stealth
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- Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along
Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...5 days ago
- Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...6 days ago
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The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...6 days ago
- Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes
Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...6 days ago
- NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...7 days ago
- Release: Still no certainty for disability communities
One year on from the Government’s abrupt and callous changes to disability funding, the community still has no idea what the future holds. ...1 week ago
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The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Palestine: A Call to Action Against Israels Treacherous Attack
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- MP Views: Living Strong, The Economy, Servicing Our Nation, The Golden Egg, and 4 Year Terms
Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...1 week ago
- Shane Jones has no shame
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- Release: National botches health funding numbers
Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong. ...2 weeks ago
- Government tramples on the rights of disabled migrant children
The Green Party is condemning the Government’s move to tighten access to visas for disabled children. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Auckland needs second harbour crossing
Labour supports Minister Chris Bishop’s call for input on the second Waitematā Harbour crossing. ...2 weeks ago
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I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you today about how we make overseas investment work for all New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour does not support PPPs for prisons
Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
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The newly released report on the South Dunedin Future Programme must be a wake-up call for our Government. ...2 weeks ago
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Workers will now be able to go to the Police and report their employer if they are not being paid wages they’re owed. ...2 weeks ago
- Missed opportunity to stop the stealing of Māori land
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- Release: Labour supports sanctions against Israel’s illegal occupation
The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
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The Green Party is concerned by the impact the Government’s proposed changes to procurement processes could have on people and planet. ...2 weeks ago
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With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour’s approach to Māori economy benefits all
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- 20 Years of Success Down the Drain: Govt Gut Whānau Ora
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- Green Party launches petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access
The Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to extend visa-free travel to visitors from Pacific Island nations. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour welcomes reinstatement of Heath NZ board
Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow
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- Release: Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address
Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa It is a great pleasure to be here with you this morning. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill to Remove Woke ‘DEI’ Regulations from Public Service
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will ensure employment decisions in the public service are based on merit and not on forced woke ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ targets. “This Bill would put an end to the woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets in the public sector. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour outlines priorities of next Govt
The next Labour Government will prioritise jobs, health and homes so Kiwis and Kiwi businesses have the opportunity to thrive. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Refreshed team to drive Labour’s 2026 priorities
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has unveiled a new economic team as part of a caucus reshuffle. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls for end to police referrals to Destiny programmes
Police have referred 20 offenders to Destiny Church-affiliated programmes Man Up and Legacy as ‘wellness providers’ in the last year, raising concerns that those seeking help are being recruited into a harmful organisation. ...3 weeks ago
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- New electronic system to support pharmacy efficiency
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- New associate psychology role to grow the mental health workforce
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- Proceeds of crime to fund safety measures in central Auckland
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- PMs Luxon & Modi deepen NZ-India ties
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held productive talks in New Delhi today. Fresh off announcing that New Zealand and India would commence negotiations towards a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the two Prime Ministers released a joint statement detailing plans for further cooperation between the two countries across ...1 week ago
- New Zealand & India strengthen forestry ties
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the forestry sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...1 week ago
- New Zealand & India strengthen horticultural ties
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the horticulture sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...1 week ago
- Family Court Judges appointed
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Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU). “This unit will boost critical care services in the lower North Island, providing extra capacity and relieving pressure on the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and emergency department. “Wellington Regional Hospital has previously relied ...1 week ago
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Check against delivery.Kia ora koutou katoa It’s a real pleasure to join you at the inaugural New Zealand infrastructure investment summit. I’d like to welcome our overseas guests, as well as our local partners, organisations, and others.I’d also like to acknowledge: The Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and other Ministers from the Coalition ...2 weeks ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tax cuts are the centrepiece of the Albanese government’s cost-of-living budget bid for re-election in May. The surprise tax measures mean taxpayers will receive an extra tax cut of up to A$268 from July 1 ...37 minutes ago - At a glance: the 2025 federal budget
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Digital Storytelling Team, The Conversation, The Conversation What’s the theme? Many budget measures are aimed at easing cost of living. The headline announcement is tax cuts: everyone will get one, but not until July 1 2026. Other major spends are on ...37 minutes ago
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- Fiji solidarity group condemns Rabuka plans for Israeli embassy in Jerusalem
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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.???