In the light of California’s terrible fires, and recent fire outbreaks in our own NZ, I am compiling a list of fire-resistant plants and their attributes.
The book I’m working on (functional ecology in NZ) will take about one more year to be thorough.
In the interim Farmers and landowners and planters might want this part of the information. So for what it’s worth (life and property savings) here is a list.
Some Fire Resistant Plants:
Five finger, Hangehange, Kotukutuku/Fuschia, Mapou, Flax, Karamu (and other Coprosmas), Kohekohe, Kowhai, Papauma, Karaka, Poroporo, Puka, Horoeke, Kawakawa, Putaputaweta.
At ground level a good rule of thumb is that if snails readily live in the plants they are likely fireproof. Snails cannot run so they’ve learned to live in fire resistant surrounds. Lillies, sedges…
For shelter belts I can’t recommend Kowhai enough (as part of a design, not monoculture uggh). These fix nitrogen, feed tuis, attract pollinators, and are very hardy wind tolerant and fire resistant species. Seed is free from December onward, nick it with a knife through the hardcover, soak in water overnight and plant. Grow plants out to large enough to identify (and clear) in field as they are establishing if weed pressure will be present.
You get the basic picture. Something as simple as planting is not so straightforward. A little knowledge could go a very long way in provisioning folks with food, fuel, shelter etc. Many needs can and will be met with wise planting.
Stay posted I’ll make functional ecology accessible to all eventually.
Wonderful stuff; I have emailed your info to The Gardener in our family. Thank you.
And thanks to The Standard for allowing a place for posters to write this ‘stuff’.
Politics is ‘the price of cheese’. Having said that, I’m sure none of us are only interested in talking politics. We have other interests; that’s what makes us more rounded and inevitably more interested in making NZ the best place it can be.
That is a useful list and reminds of a pamphlet that was put out in the early 2000s.
Since then Tim Curran at Lincoln University has done some work on flammability of plants in New Zealand. The following link is from an RNZ piece about 3 years ago so there is bound to be something more up to date (maybe not in the public arena though).
Audio doesn’t work very well for me – I get distracted too easily something jogs a thought and next thing I’m looking up books or online searching the audio long forgotten…
If the work concerns our best stuff to burn (not in an ecological sense, but what burns the hottest)
Here’s top 10 flammable plants tested in NZ in descending order.
1. Gorse!
2. Manna gum
3. Kumarahou
4. Rimu
5. Silver beech
6. Manuka
7. Prickly hakea
8. Titoki
9. Wheki
10. Cabbage tree
Gorse is another nitrogen fixer. Sure pays to know a few of a plants functions when you look at both gorse and kowhai. Both fix nitrogen, one fire resistant, the other the most flammable plant…
One of my farmer clients tells a story of a Southland farmer on a farm tour of Scotland, being shown around a nursery and seeing trays of little potted gorse seedlings with ludicrous price tags attached. It was all a bit much….
Yeah audio doesn’t do much for me either but there is a synopsis of the piece.
It looks like your list of the most flammable (and least) is based on Tim Curran’s and Sarah Wyse’s work.
Anyway thanks for the interesting post … it is a timely reminder with summer ahead. There was new interest after the Port Hills fires amoung people who wouldn’t normally have realised there was such a difference.
Port Hills was what prompted me to think on all this, California was a much too deadly reminder to get on with it, and to make sure I include fire in the book.
“At ground level a good rule of thumb is that if snails readily live in the plants they are likely fireproof. ”
Fire’s not going to get those plants then *whispers but snails might 🙂
Good to have such research done and made available. Most of those plants will burn, but more reluctantly than, say, Manuka or toetoe, giving you a better chance of surviving a “California” event. Speed of recovery after a fire is also important, if you want your forest back. Have you tried growing kowhai seed early, WTB? The still-green-about-to-turn-yellow seed sprouts readily, without pre-treatment. They grow easily from cuttings too, as do kaka beak and a native broom, Carmichaelia Odorata.
Yes, fire resistant plants can slow the fire, and resist it spreading unless it is very intense. Once the water content is gone any plant material is tinder. I know you know this stuff, but we have others reading…
I’ll be interviewing several fire fighters before I print the fire section.
You legend mentioning Carmichaelia, the heroes of Canterbury – TBA…
As a ‘rule’ Carmichaelia are not great from cuttings. But are rather varied. All biological rules have rule breakers it seems. But still handy.
Am just running my first green kowhai seed experiments now – very amateur and small as I had/have no idea it’d work.
We really need a Kowhai ID key, not even the plant stores can differentiate some of them. Yet they will differ in rates of growth, sizes, water tolerance etc. If you know a good resource I’m just pulling out all I can from Govt databases and then I’ll get a(nother) biogeographer to walk me through them. There is a lady somewhere’s with a grove of all our Sophora species and two introduced… wish I knew where I read about her.
I’m going to try kowhai cuttings in water, changed regularly and with a willow “wand” for good measure. Also a chip of charcoal. I’ve lots of kotukutuku in at present, waiting for the first roots. I wonder about coppicing kotukutuku to improve access to the konini and increase flowering. Also, “bushy” fuchsia might appeal to the home gardener more than a tree. I’m off now to talk to a bloke about extending a wetland fragment he’s got. He wants to propagate jointed rush and Coprosma propinqua, en masse. Good on him.
All Sophora can be struck by cuttings, all are very difficult to strike in this manner. All seeds are relatively easy.
This is according to Landcare Research – who are awful smart, but also awful gardeners 😉
Interesting re: coppicing tree fuschia. Love to know if it works.
Those wetland plants are a good combo. Estuarine site?
If the site is windy I’d use those plants but add something slightly taller/faster growing for the wetland/land interface, manuka would work in a pinch.
Yes, it’s estuarine. Manuka would be good, as you suggest, but because he’s not bound to natives only, especially at the establishment stage, I’m talking to him about using Lupinus arboreas to shade the grasses, sequester nitrogen and provide “slash” after 3 or so years, not so much near the estuary edge, but more on the rest of the property, which is higher up and calling for different plants. He can plant into those as they open up and the natives will be sheltered, fed and mulched. I mentioned your discussion on fire-readiness and we agreed that manuka might be a liability, especially as his property is bounded by a highway and his land down-wind.
Yeah those lupins do a good job in sand. I was considering a wind/salt shadow of ascending height from the sedge to coprosma to something slightly taller. This to provide a less salty/windy micro climate behind.
If the wind is onshore toward the property the fire risk would be from the ocean/wetland? This should provide a fire shadow?
Nice. There are some salt tolerant Colocasia around, not sure if you can grow them down South though. Such beautiful plants… I’d put a lack of snails down to the high oxalates, and imagine they’re rather hard to burn.
But then, I’ve never grown an apricot in my life, so you Southern folk got me there.
Those sedges, on the waters edge of an estuary, are prime kokopu breeding material. Plant so the king tide levels lap up to their roots, the fish will do the rest. Basically a storm and a king tide coinciding is great kokopu loving weather. They can hide in the murk and lay up where it’s ‘safe’. The next king tide the spawn will hatch and head to sea. they’ll come straight back to where Momma was in whitebait season.
Trade secrets care of the late Charles Mitchell and myself, spread them around!
Kowhai appear to be quite variable and localised. I’ve got a small grove coming along as part of a local initiative to re-establish them in the Whakatipu Basin. Plants from a seed source that is quite similar to my dry location have thrived and are getting close to flowering, others from a cooler lakeside source have just died. The green seed thing is the method used here now with much better results.
The Kawarau face of the Remakables has a lot of Kowhai remnants, going up to 6-700 m. Some of these trees are huge, 7-8 m tall and as wide since they are generally solitary. I’ve been fencing on that face this winter and came across a Kowhai that from a distance I thought was a willow.
We have eight local Sophora species ranging in size from ~1 -3 m (prostrata) to up to 25 m (godleyi, microphylla) though sizes are typically half that.
Most prefer dry conditions and need to be free drained, but I suspect S. tetraptera was your lakeside species, it can cope with wet feet and is the riparian dweller of the bunch.
If you’ve any observations on growth rates I’d love to hear them. Without pampering they need their Mesorhizobium symbiont to really take off, not the Rhizobium associated with clover, acacia, etc. This will also explain failures of seeds to take in new areas at times. The Mesorhizobium do not appear to be ubiquitous like their Rhizobium counterparts.
If you get soil and roots from seedlings under established trees you might luck upon rhizobia. Check inside them for the telltale red-purple color (not yellow/brown-orange) for viability. You can freeze these in a household freezer (not -20 lab freezers that kills them off) and crush them into a paste when you want to innoculate seeds.
Still a fair bit of reading to go on all this as well, but hope that helps.
Collecting mesorhizobium from under parent trees…how far away from the trunk do you reckon the best, most active site for collection might be? I suspect drip-line or further; maybe much further, as the interface between root and mesorhizobium is likely to be at the exploratory point, Imo. Tricky! Interesting!
Absolutely it’s tricky. Yes they reside toward to edges of the root system. You could plant drip lines then transplant away but this’ll get you in trouble on public property. Seedlings near established plants are an order of magnitude better to search under. This requires some seasonal knowledge as a rule (those damn rules again) the seeds are ready a couple of months after flowering. Ideally one would gather seed and rhizobia from the same plant host, but… tricky to get the rhizobia off an older plant.
Sometimes, you can’t miss the stuff.
Definately work from the drip line out on older trees but the rhizobia perish after a bit of time (don’t know exactly) and get harder to find as the trees age. But when you find some…. That’s the gold.
Probably the same innoculant/s for the Carmichaelia. Will let you know when that reading is over.
For kowhai, nurseries usually break seed dormancy of kowhai by soaking in sulphuric acid for a short time but be aware the acid requires wearing a proper facemask and acid resistant gloves. For smaller production people usually just soak them in hot water. There is some info out there somewhere on the interwebs. Otherwise there is a book by Lawrie Metcalf called “The Propagation of New Zealand Native Plants” that is a good starting point. For seed trays – they are best sown in mineral sand with a thin layer of fine stone chip on top to help keep the moisture in.
For websites to identify kowhai species you could start with iNaturalist … fill in ‘kowhai’ and ‘new Zealand’s in the appropriateness fields and then click on an observation that does not identify which exact species. Then click on the genus name and that will take you to another page where you can view descriptions etc.
Other useful websites are NZ plant conservation network and also Manaaki Whenua Landcare under plant systematics (haven’t looked to see if they have a key for kowhai though).
I already use all those resources but we do not have a Kowhai key.
And the keys provided anyway, well, I can read them with my dictionary of ecology, dictionary of biology, google, science degrees…
I want to tell the average person how to tell between Kowhai.
Not paragraphs of this shit
‘Leaves 100-150(-220) mm, imparipinnate, moderately hairy, hairs, straight, appressed. Leaflets 10-20(-25) pairs, 15-35(-40) x 5-8 mm, well spaced, never overlapping or crowded, narrowly ovate to elliptic-oblong.’
And to think, they made their monkeys do all the original write ups in Latin.
WTB you got that right :). I’m hazy on kowhai – they got split again after I finished working at a nursery.
I made my own key once just for local Carex species to try to sort them out in my head … it was still a bit of a puzzle but I did learn a lot about what to look for.
The home nursery-person can insert sandpaper into a tin can, rough side in, and make a shaker that will scarify kowhai seed easily (and musically). Perhaps a band and a regular session on a Sunday night? I understood the mechanism for kowhai seed dispersal was fall into a river, bounce along the stony bed until you’re washed ashore, battered, bruised and waterlogged, then grow as quickly as you can before the next flood.
Keep us posted! about your book’s progress and when it is to be launched. I think it should have a launching party at some live bookshop or perhaps your publishing company or if you have to self-publish do a crowd raiser for it and get people who care and act, on board.
It’s just what is needed. I did a trawl through Lincoln Uni forestry connected info and felt that they were still pinus radiata fixated. I didn’t notice anything that I could connect to planning for the explosive future, exploding rain, or exploding fires after drought. We need more info and action for sure. Sorry to Lincoln if I overlooked some fine ongoing work in this direction.
Gene edited plants are just as safe as normal plants, according to one scientist.
At a Plant and Food Research greenhouse in Auckland, one of the sections is filled with $300 apple trees, and Andy Allan, a professor of plant biology, is pointing out one of his favourite experiment, a tree with bright, fuchsia-coloured flowers.
“The particular red gene we’re testing is under a strong expression, so the roots are red, the trunk is red, the leaves are copper and the fruit goes on to look more like a plum, it’s so dark.”
The apple has an extra apple gene, making it genetically modified. There are other plants in this room that have exactly the same number of genes, but they’ve been edited.
Along with the apples, pears, tomatoes and petunias are thriving, but many also flower all year round and produce seeds five years earlier than usual.
Okay so – what affect will this have on bees, other plants, organisms? And when GM becomes the new thing for young people to get careers in, and corporates to make money from, and hopefully build up monopolies in, what then?
And people selling similar goods as they have historically, what happens to them? Out of the way – we are better, cheaper, have this and that, have added vitamins. You making a living and having a life is nothing to us.
The real disease we have to face is the constant morphing of capitalism presenting its face in unrecognisable ways until we see the connections to our cost. We know that the rich can’t be trusted as they have plundered us and the world to make more money to do what with? Anything that would be useful to mankind, also women, children, and all the little critters that form part of the world which we don’t pay attention to, may be wiped out and they will give you a half-penny to make up for losing your livelihood.
I really like Andy he has no guile about him. But I do not trust GE to save anything. What good has monoculture done anyone except machine harvesters (oil), fertiliser sales (oil), pesticide needs (oil), etc.
The money trail leads me to believe the real people behind all this care not one fuck about the planet, or your health.
Monoculture means entire crops are susceptible to one organism overcoming their defenses. PSA anyone. Then the industry all wanted to sue the government. No personal responsibility, no earth care, no people care.
Evolution is an arms race between plant and pathogen. As soon as the new GE plant savior of mankind is overcome they’ll have another extremely expensive option to replace the last failure, this one will do ever more incredible shit requiring ever more products to support it.
The scientists are amazing, but most are deeply myopic stuck within compartments of their respective fields. These so called smartest folk need to get considerably smarter.
It is good for this scientist to get a publication out under his name as I understand that universities measure your worth by what you publish on your subject.
Whether it serves any real useful purpose for discussing 1080, I think not. Calling for a meeting to discuss the topic is a bit late in the day. Because I am sure that many have been had and the environmental scientists concerned say there is no other way to reduce the pests depradating our nature reserves on difficult country than using 1080. DOC must be careful to not inflate their terminology. Using the word ‘safe’ is unscientific and sounds more like managerialism than science. But as safe as we can make it, would be truthful, along with a mention of the observed benefits as measured against the observed results including deaths.
One thing though is that money is so short and politicians memories even shorter. DOC has funding for certain tasks, and none for others, yet all require some attention. What this scientist says may mask an anxiety that some results are not being counted because they are not part of the template for DOC to obey. If so he should speak up about this aspect.
DOC has refined the dosage and changed the delivery but there will be some killings that they wanted to avoid. So they must be careful, and use it as a special tool, using hunters and bait lines. etc where possible. But we introduced the pest ourselves, and have also been pests that have helped wreck old NZ, we have to be determined to make good.
All the wishy-washy feelings about the birds it has killed, and the fact
that hunting dogs can die from it does not mean stop using it altogether. Magical ideas and theories won’t do the difficult task,
because at the end of the day, there is always the spoilsport human looking for personal advantage, perhaps leaving a breeding pair when they hunt an area closely, to make sure of work for future years.
I sort of agree with the article, but not with its reference to 1080?
Yes, “safe” is subjective, but 1080 is one of those things where you’d have to really try to injure yourself with it. So how reasonable are people who strongly believe it is “unsafe”? Can people who will use unrelated photos of dead animals and blame 1080 really be engaged with in good faith discussions?
One contribution the scientific method can make in subjective discussions is the principle that if you have to make shit up to support your point, you’re wrong.
A better example is the Pike River re-entry: “safety” is a cold assessment of the known hazards, the efficiency of all available methods in ameliorating those hazards, and a subjective evaluation of the worth gained by overcoming those risks. Subjective, but informed. The 1080 argument? Not so much.
I wasn’t impressed with the style of the article from an academic. I
was in Wellington in mid September and wandered up to Parliament Grounds. I was impressed with the vast chalked anti-1080 message on the pavement and on the top stone of the street walls. Very clearly carefully printed, precise, neat – it must have taken hours probably at night to get away with it.
It’s like abortion, the anti people just can’t accept the idea, and don’t want to hear about the value of abortion if done in the most appropriate way and with the right techniques. They want to throw aside every other heavy problem of their world and concentrate on the one thing. It makes them feel good and worthy and misunderstood by the other ignorant, foolish people.
I avoided the subject matter (1080) deliberately. It is the scientists who sound like religious zealots even their students all ape them without knowing why. If you argue you will quickly become a pariah (looney left, wrecker and hater) they do not want a discussion at all. I found it disgusting.
But the left – threats on DOC… WTF! They’re on their own.
I agree with the points re: 1080 is the best option for a shitty budget. That’s about all I agree on with regards to this closing of ranks and opinionated bullying posing as science.
Scientists should present the facts, the research, the data but when it comes to values judgements, they should understand, as we do, that such judgements are not scientific. “Safe” is not a scientific term.
There are several mental disorders which are at least partially defined by the patient having an unreasonable and life-impacting perception of “safe”, either psychologically or physiologically. “Phobias” for a start.
Where people are assigning completely unreasonable “value judgements”, why should[n’t] people who know the field more closely correct them in plain language?
A disgraceful and nasty partisan report on Pike River by Stacey Kirk.
Looks like she also gave a heads up about her report to a whole gaggle of Nat trolls, as hateful comments against Andrew Little have already been liked a whole heap of times this early in the morning.
Well so far nobody was held criminally to account for 29 dead bodies and not sure I heard you worrying about blood on the Natz and mining industries hands when they operated a dangerous mine…
“Well so far nobody was held criminally to account for 29 dead bodies and not sure I heard you worrying about blood on the Natz and mining industries hands when they operated a dangerous mine…”
Its a bit of a stretch to suggest that the government is some how responsible for what happened at the mine.
We get it. IF someone comes to harm Andrew Little will have blood on his hands and he should be held to account.
And 29 people did come too harm, actually DIED, 29 of them, no ifs, buts or maybes, dead, and you seem content no-one has blood on their hands or can or should be held to account.
I still can’t believe the National government did not mount a rescue for those poor men. If the Natz were running the world, the Thai cave rescue, rescue helicopter’s or firefighter’s wouldn’t exist as when accidents happen ‘too dangerous to bother to do anything about it’ seems to be their mantra. Oh, too expensive too.
Even Russia and China bother to do more when things go wrong in mines than the Natz led government, and guess what, often they are successful against the odds.
It might be dangerous to re enter, just as loss of life has happened with other rescues or recovery efforts, but if it was really that dangerous, why the F did the mine get permission to operate and do we just sit back and cover up this crime?
Yes. Making out that the decision is somehow driven by Andrew Little seeking glory says more about Kirk’s impoverished worldview than anything about him.
Her unethical colleagues and bosses also get in on the act. Alongside the hack highlighting one dissenting voice, captioning a photo as “Representatives of *some of* the Pike River families” slyly undermines the mandate of the spokespeople.
She really nails her colours to the mast in that column. I like how there’s a contrast with HDPA in the herald this morning who points out that any money spent on Pike River recovery is better than the 26 million that Key wasted on his bloody silly flag referendum.
Absolutely Ed (2) … Kirk’s piece is disgraceful and lacking substance. Nothing objective about it at all!
Kirk has given the right wing supporters something to feed on this Sunday. Will keep them full for a while.
Interestingly HdPA in the NZH today (try not to open her articles too often), while not exactly heaping too much praise on Andrew Little, has said re-entering the mine is the right thing to do, even though there could be risks involved. She even hinted at the way the Key government had reneged on their promises to the families.
Nope look around the universities, now that they are run like quasi businesses, in particular our education sold out to the private foreign student fees, guess what Law and engineering reign, the arts are out.
Apparently to get the skills we are all going to become baristas, struggling farmers, aged care workers, builders or tilers or if you are “really smart’ , a lawyer in the vein of Jordan Williams or a CTV engineer… cos they seem to be dumbing down, if not just abandoning a lot of tertiary education in NZ in favour of the above where apparently those in the ‘know’ politically think the future lies…
0% Pure critical thinking NZ +
Lucky in preparation for the future the students these days seem to be good at successfully lobbying for ignorance, might hold them in good stead!
Education follows the money. You will naturally have students making choices based on incomes. Engineering etc because Buisiness pays good salaries for those jobs. Law is popular as large incomes can be made in our fault divorce system, property, regulations etc.
To imply those subjects result in non critical thinking people is absurd. There subjects revolve around logic.
Considering what some people with Arts degrees believe in critical thinking isn’t something it can boast about either for too many.
They are even doing recruitment drives for foreign primary school kids now on the North Shore into state primary schools. Maybe an accountant or “entrepreneur” on the primary school board, who knows?
About the only meaning that can be most probably excluded is “importance” itself.
Sure, the Bard could have been going for an ironic juxtaposition, but equally if you can’t remember the full passage, “familial”, “coincidental”, “bloody”, etc can make meaningful sentences as much as “unimportant”.
Odd that they didn’t know the meaning of the word, though.
The exam asked for students to write an essay on whether they agreed with a quote from Julius Caesar which reads: “Events of importance are the result of trivial causes”.
Context gives unimportant, minor, events not likely to be considered to change anything.
yeah – there’s a reason most A-grade undergrads start their essays with a definition of the terms 🙂
Apparently the essay was marked on how you argued your case, rather than whether you got all the words right. So all good for the students who gathered themselves after shitting a brick when they read the question, lol.
Question to TRP – the name I have used is no worse than a lot of names given to national members.
It’s not a Misogynistic name (although others have tried to frame it as such).
How is this any worse than comments made by members of the left on here regarding Collins or bennet?
If what I wrote is considered inappropriate- then ok – I won’t use that term – but politely point out that a lot worse is said of femail member of the right.
[lprent: If it is the one I suspect that you used, then it is extremely misogynist. And I hardly think that ‘Crusher Collins’ is even remotely similar in the misogynist sphere.
But feel free to point ones out that have been consistently used AND you can describe a reason why they are the equivalent. Also track if people have been pulled up on it as well – because I’ll check.
Of course if you do your usual and go trivial about it or continue to whine about being pulled up on it (and waste my time), I’d be happy to replace your handle on your comments, past present and into the future on this site with something that I think is equivalent. Or I could just get rid whining.
I always like to see people having choices with a bit of risk attached.. ]
Belittling women is misogynist, James. However, thanks for accepting the moderation with good grace. I also weed out sexist remarks about Collins et al when I spot ’em. Same for racism, ageism and other casual bigotry. Can’t get them all, for obvious reasons, however most TS commenters make political points without resort to personal insults. Which is nice.
James, if you search urban dictionary for a definition of a ‘cindy’ you might see why it is seen as derogatory and mysogynistic. Look through the definitions and see how many you would object too if your daughter for example was called one.
The meaning is stereotypical and often used in a male context commenting on female characteristics.
The nickname given to Collins is derogatory but it is specific to her perceived qualities and her political history. References to Bennett are unacceptable but not mysogynistic as other politicians like Lange, Muldoon and Brownlee have borne the same insult.
Whatever the insult, they are demeaning to the individual and to the level of political discourse in which we are hopefully engaging.
“They did it too” is not a valid defence. It might be a source of irritation but even in Rugby which I am ‘watching’ right now it doesn’t save you from the upraised arm of the referee.
Have to agree with James on this (God I feel dirty) this is politics . Key got called many worse things by most here including me . I find the cindy tag cringey but meh.
Can you stop verbally kicking our PM James? We care about our new young PM and want to see her able to do her political and private business helping NZ forward, and not to be constantly pecked at and sneered at in some way. It is insulting to the country and to good women. Just keep on criticising what she does as PM or doesn’t do if that is your purpose in life.
“Ignoring calls of violence against people is an enabler of it.”
It is just a picture of the gnats recruiting – funny too in a sick way.
Funny also how you kept mum about aaaaalllll the injustices you see around you now that the new government is doing so well. During the dark gnat years you aided and abetted them like a little toady by keeping your head down and mouth shut.
Consider the violence offered to people who have a darker skin colour to be demeaned in this way. Consider the insult. Consider the violent and superior attitude of the casual and supposedly unaware racist majority shown in this public display. Consider the racism at the same A&P Show of the sale of golliwogs.
In the Sixties, the engineering students had a culture of the “haka party” which they had the eventual wisdom to also consign to history as inappropriate. Like the golliwog I had as a boy in the Fifties.
Context is important, too. Recent events in Taranaki are not helped by this form of unthinking (at best) violence. Mrs Mac1 mentioned a Nelson Morris Dance group which has a long tradition of blackening their faces. The historical context, however, gives the explanation that the dancers of former years wore the face paint as a disguise to hide their identity from such as disapproving employers.
Note that white Santa has black sidekick. Just as the Lone Ranger had Tonto as his cloured sidekick. Both white men have coloured men as their subordinates.
Just as I looked up Tonto, the urban dictionary I mentioned above as a source of current colloquial usage, gives “tonto’ as a term of abuse, a racist insult this time.
We do have a way to go with our bullying, racist, mysoginistic attitudes and behaviour……..
The Auckland Press – what a ratbag cockroach outfit that is – has ignored the fact the Police have declared the Pike River trajedy a Crime Scene.
It has wheeled out that famous “miner’? – Stacy Nobody – to spray her witless words – for her darling editor .
Mostly – she is annoyed over the cost of the re-entry of the Pike River Mine. It seems expensive at 23$Million. Money which should have been spent into making the Mine methane safe before any person was sent down that terrible hole. It was criminal to not ensure the mine was monitored and methane free.
It would be nice if Stacy – a known national party troll – would ask the extremely wealthy John Key for 23$Million to give to the families who lost their fathers and brothers. 29 such brave persons who trusted a shifty John Key.
In the meantime, could I ask Aucklanders to turn out a few decent writers. Ones who understand the Truth. Ones who don’t suck. Ones who declare for all New Zealand.
I note that Heather Du Plessis Allen is no longer one eyed. Deft with her words too. Congratulations to Her.
Here is a very good interview with new UK Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot.
You know it is strange that so many commentators here on the standard bag RT, but I would like to know what Western media source would have this interview?
‘New Palestinian Ambassador to UK Discusses Israel Lobby, Netanyahu & Jeremy Corbyn!’
The “historic compromise” mentioned by the Ambassador of 30 years ago was from the King of Jordan who let them go.
The Ambassador is keen for a two state solution, but doesn’t deign to confirm Israel’s right to exist as one of those two states.
I don’t have any problem with this Ambassador slagging off the recent Israeli government’s settlement of West Bank and of Netanyahu’s leadership. Well deserved and I hope Netanyahu and his wife are shortly in jail. But pretty weird to hear a Hamas rep calling any Israeli government “extremist” when they have a fair few of their own, and criticizing the israeli government for being too Jewish is remarkable from a state run by one of the most militant forms of Islam around.
The interviewer might want to apply to Weta Workshop such is his remarkable transformation into a doormat.
Here is something important to NZ to discuss. If Kiwibank can enlarge and gather in some of the business that is going to foreign owned banks it will be better for us. They have been running long enough to prove that they can manage and compete satisfactorily.
Professor Tim Hazledine of the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Auckland says the government should give Kiwibank the power to compete aggressively on price against the local Australian banks, even at the risk of its own bottom line.
Education learning and how, what to learn? We have had over 100 years of learning just enough to ruin ourselves as a country and our environment. So long and thanks for the fish. So perhaps we should think about these new ways of learning – are they taking our minds and thoughts out of our bodies so we are not in tune with ourselves as whole organisms any more? Our heads looking at the stars, while our feet stand in cow poo, and we have no healthy food to eat.
“They are putting the knowledge to use, so they actually see the purpose of why they are learning.”
Fellow teacher Andrea Tapsell says teaching had also changed hugely since she started out 16 years ago.
“My whole teaching practice has had to change to incorporate the digital technology as well as student agency, as well as bringing in that inquiry, collaborative approach.”
Collaborative approach. How can kids think their own individual thoughts if right from the start they are taught to think as a group? Isn’t that group-think – the one who is different doesn’t fit? Some sharp comments on what we think.
Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, Thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought is great and swift and free. Bertrand Russell
One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny. Bertrand Russell
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/bertrand_russell_125227
Is this true?
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists
in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman
Love this phrase ” areas of interest include communication avoidance and propaganda.”
This man on Radionz was talking about it apprently. I didn’t hear him but was looking at the summaries for Wallace (today noelle) and he sounds interesting.
The avoidance part is why I don’t read James and other trolls. There is only so much I can take in and I can’t afford to take in too much stressful trivia. (Example – did I need to know that there is some kerfuffle about an exam because some students didn’t know the meaning of trivial? Sheesh.)
Dr Ethan Plaut, lecturer in media and communication at the University of Auckland, says the sheer volume of media messages in a 24- hour news cycle is more than anyone can critically process. Ethan Plaut is a former journalist who came from Stanford University to the University of Auckland in January and whose areas of interest include communication avoidance and propaganda.
Quantity is a result of traffic based revenue and connectivity.
So propaganda can be with quantity vs absence.
EG,
There is a large number of Kavanaugh is guilty slanted articles but very few exposing all the lies and false allegations. The public will be all exposed to the guilty arguments but few will read about the lies.
Or,
Everyone knows JLR was unfaithful as there has been many articles naming him and including statements on his infidelity. Very few articles exist naming the female MP who did the same thing. (Unfortunately it’s not mysoginist)
Professor Mark Blyth is a British political scientist from Scotland and a professor of international political economy at Brown University.
His ideas on Brexit are worth listening to.
Ed
If you are going to put up a lot of youtube links, only leave one to open that you think is the best and put a half bracket at the front of the others as (so. That leaves them closed but ready to spring into action.
Otherwise you fill up such a large portion of the page and I don’t want to have these videos dominate it. I get a similar feeling that I used to when I watched tv and had too many Harvey Norman ads come up. I never go there now and never will. Please don’t turn me away from the blog which I have visited for years.
I mentioned the other day that should give a decent intro to the vids to which you link. That’s to avoid spamming the site or turning TS into lefty facebook. This is a place to discuss opinions, and that kinda implies your own opinion should be shared, not someone else’s.
So, tell us what you think, add some links where it adds colour or context, and argue your corner.
You could politely say Ed that you can see what I mean, after I explained how much of the screen your consecutive video shots take up. You could say okay will do. That seems a reasonable, adult response to a reasonable request.
If Brexit was “about the 1%” as he states then it would have happened in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and basically everywhere else that the left deradicalised. It didn’t. So no, the left is not to blame for everything as he implies.
And I love the way he wants Europe but not the Euro.
That means he supports the Pound, namely the English (London) economy that simply makes its money by being a financial capital of the world. He may as well be working for Northern Rock.
But no, he has no need to analyze himself.
It’s like he forgets which areas voted to stay, which sectors of British society voted to stay, which parts of the population voted to stay. There are plenty more actual analyses on the finer breakdowns of the vote on precisely why this happened – and why the vote was so close.
The much more interesting questions are about:
– how the House of Lords amends it,
– which of Labor’s MPs cross the floor to get it through (including the redoubtable Brexit champion Corbyn) and therefore take the electoral credit
– how it gets implemented,
– how fast Britain’s economy declines afterward, and
– how Russia, China, and the Untied States take advantage of a greatly diminished Britain and Europe and keep picking them apart into smaller pieces in their own interest.
[Obviously some people have been missing the fact that ad homs aren’t going down too well with me. People have already been banned, and unless those of you jumping in on this sub-thread want to be joining them, then the suggestion is thatyou all pull your heads in. Do any of you think any author appreciates having the discussion beneath their posts trashed with kindergarten garbage? If it’s seriously all you’re capable of, then just comment on your own facebook or whatever and leave your keyboard alone when you’re on this site] – B.
[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.]
[To repeat. Obviously some people have been missing the fact that ad homs aren’t going down too well with me. People have already been banned, and unless those of you jumping in on this sub-thread want to be joining them, then the suggestion is thatyou all pull your heads in. Do any of you think any author appreciates having the discussion beneath their posts trashed with kindergarten garbage? If it’s seriously all you’re capable of, then just comment on your own facebook or whatever and leave your keyboard alone when you’re on this site] – B.
[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.]
Your logic is standing on its head. One of the reasons that Ed is so disrespected here is that he will make a grand statement but then refuse to say what he actually means.
[And the level of respect you think you’re commanding trying to pass this garbage off as in some way a contribution to this site? Read the moderation comments I’ve left up thread] – Bill
dang.
I scrolled past the funniest antinatvid I have ever seen on fb.
They all got a jolly good serve! soymin and poymin an all the rest.
if it comes again I will take the trouble to note the link.
He didn’t spend anywhere enough in NZ to qualify for residency.
Submitted (assumed unsuccessfully), but reapplies when Jacinda becomes PM and voila- a visa and a job (and it looks like the residency might be as dodge as the job).
“Nobody would have ever thought this could happen,” President Donald Trump said while touring the Camp Fire devastation Saturday.
That’s not true. The Camp Fire was inevitable. It is the event that so many dreaded for so long.
People prepared. Fire prevention officials planned. They drilled. They worked with homeowners. They invented fire-safe councils and Fire on the Ridge and sent fire prevention officials to schools via a program called Fire Pals. They raised money to keep fire lookouts open when the state said it wouldn’t.
Eventually, geography and topography proved to be the trap everyone thought it was.
You might be taking things out of context. Everybody knows fire risks were well known. That the state cut funding as its bankrupt. What happened in scale and speed was probably predicted by a few. Trumps assumption could be based on belief people had time to evacuate as much as the record setting severity.
Nope. The US federal government owns nearly half of the land in California, the other half is privately owned, so nothing to do with California’s fiscal position.
Kia oar The Am Show Mens day yes I’am a proud man Eco tau tokos men to but Equality is my goal .
There you go Duncan the weather is reflecting the extra energy in our environment heat is energy hence the big fluctuation in Aotearoa and Papatuanuku weather and its only going to get stronger IF we all commit to mitigate carbon that is poisoning our environment we can minimize the bad effects of climate change .
The Elon Mus effect is part of the Internet generation effect it has given Elon the power to force change’s that are beneficial for all human kind and not just the wealthy . Michio Kaku predicted that the internet 21’s Century communication device will keep the wealthy honest and the effect will have a big changes on our society.
The only reason the Eastern Bay of Plenty is the way it is simon is because of shonky’s Law’s that kicked the Rural regions & poor people into touch . And the dump laws that made a plant that’s a gift from God that has many beneficial property’s to humans health was made illegal to clear the way for Alcohol barons to reap billions forced on NZ. The settler Nuns used it as the health healing plant it is.
The britexit deal won’t go through unless Britain commits to a policy that rapidly reduces there carbon use fair enough I say.
I remember back in the day the Couch’s changed every 3 to 4 years .
Condolences to all the people who have lost family and property in the Californian fire’s.
We no that the effects of the last governments policy’s are still flowing through the systems higher cost of living I know when I raised my offspring it was much easier to survive .
The kombucha craze was going through Gisborne 15 years ago
Ka kite ano
This is what happens when the system cover up scams . I don’t want people like groper ropper around my MOKO’S
I had just come off the recruit course and we were taught we were always to do what our superiors told us to do. We were taught to always follow orders.”
Taylor says Roper’s behaviour towards female underlings at the base was well known. He would pull bra straps, pinch bottoms, push open the door of the airwomen’s change rooms while they were dressing. He did not hide his actions, Taylor says – they took place out in the open, for all to see.
But before long, Taylor became a particular target of Roper’s attention.
“In the early afternoon the senior NCOs (non-commissioned officers) would leave our section and and they would go down to the Sergeants’ mess and they would drink all afternoon.
Kia ora Tekaea It was cool seeing those kuia getting into there fitness .
Yes there is a lot of people who don’t not what there tipuna have done or achieved I can research our’s there is a bit of infomation on the internet
Burning all those log on Tolaga Bay beach its awsome that its cleaned up the mess .
Our beach is covered in logs to but you would be lucky to have one person a day go there. Ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub Yes Berne I agree with your word’s and Andrews.
With that building that collapsed in the Christ Church earthquake well not only the builder is at fault the council is to what a sham.
No demerit points for the cops they love hassling me on the road unmarked and marked car at least they won’t be hassling other people while they watching me 24/7 what a waste of money.
5G is a technology we need to get correct on the first roll out .
Taupo people you need to get off Grid Solar power systems if the grid goes down you will still have power how can a Town like Taupo lose power with one fault that is not on.
Salvation Army is a good charity to make donations to they do a lot of good work for the common poor person Kia kaha people this is what happens when a business person routs all the money to his M8s.
Peter Jackson new movie looks awsome may be he should make one on Aotearoa in the 1850 to the 1900. Ka kite ano
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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. ...
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 ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
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 ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
In the light of California’s terrible fires, and recent fire outbreaks in our own NZ, I am compiling a list of fire-resistant plants and their attributes.
The book I’m working on (functional ecology in NZ) will take about one more year to be thorough.
In the interim Farmers and landowners and planters might want this part of the information. So for what it’s worth (life and property savings) here is a list.
Some Fire Resistant Plants:
Five finger, Hangehange, Kotukutuku/Fuschia, Mapou, Flax, Karamu (and other Coprosmas), Kohekohe, Kowhai, Papauma, Karaka, Poroporo, Puka, Horoeke, Kawakawa, Putaputaweta.
At ground level a good rule of thumb is that if snails readily live in the plants they are likely fireproof. Snails cannot run so they’ve learned to live in fire resistant surrounds. Lillies, sedges…
For shelter belts I can’t recommend Kowhai enough (as part of a design, not monoculture uggh). These fix nitrogen, feed tuis, attract pollinators, and are very hardy wind tolerant and fire resistant species. Seed is free from December onward, nick it with a knife through the hardcover, soak in water overnight and plant. Grow plants out to large enough to identify (and clear) in field as they are establishing if weed pressure will be present.
You get the basic picture. Something as simple as planting is not so straightforward. A little knowledge could go a very long way in provisioning folks with food, fuel, shelter etc. Many needs can and will be met with wise planting.
Stay posted I’ll make functional ecology accessible to all eventually.
And have a lovely Sunday.
What a wonderful offering! Thank you for your foresight and knowledge.
I set a lot of store in good firebreaks
A.
Thanks, WeTheBleeple
Thank you. This is the kind of action we can all take note of. I have written your list down for further study for planting around our place. Cheers.
Wonderful stuff; I have emailed your info to The Gardener in our family. Thank you.
And thanks to The Standard for allowing a place for posters to write this ‘stuff’.
Politics is ‘the price of cheese’. Having said that, I’m sure none of us are only interested in talking politics. We have other interests; that’s what makes us more rounded and inevitably more interested in making NZ the best place it can be.
To me it is all part of politics. It is we who have got too focussewd on the bribery and conniptions.
That is a useful list and reminds of a pamphlet that was put out in the early 2000s.
Since then Tim Curran at Lincoln University has done some work on flammability of plants in New Zealand. The following link is from an RNZ piece about 3 years ago so there is bound to be something more up to date (maybe not in the public arena though).
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ourchangingworld/audio/201768850/firing-up-the-plant-barbecue
Audio doesn’t work very well for me – I get distracted too easily something jogs a thought and next thing I’m looking up books or online searching the audio long forgotten…
If the work concerns our best stuff to burn (not in an ecological sense, but what burns the hottest)
Here’s top 10 flammable plants tested in NZ in descending order.
1. Gorse!
2. Manna gum
3. Kumarahou
4. Rimu
5. Silver beech
6. Manuka
7. Prickly hakea
8. Titoki
9. Wheki
10. Cabbage tree
Gorse is another nitrogen fixer. Sure pays to know a few of a plants functions when you look at both gorse and kowhai. Both fix nitrogen, one fire resistant, the other the most flammable plant…
One self sows prolifically. One has flowers from which delicious wine can be made. One is a threatened species in its native land 🙂
Coconut scented wine!
One of my farmer clients tells a story of a Southland farmer on a farm tour of Scotland, being shown around a nursery and seeing trays of little potted gorse seedlings with ludicrous price tags attached. It was all a bit much….
Yeah audio doesn’t do much for me either but there is a synopsis of the piece.
It looks like your list of the most flammable (and least) is based on Tim Curran’s and Sarah Wyse’s work.
Anyway thanks for the interesting post … it is a timely reminder with summer ahead. There was new interest after the Port Hills fires amoung people who wouldn’t normally have realised there was such a difference.
Was/is Sarah working with Lincoln on this type of stuff? Cool.
My sources so far are the forestry service, fire service, and an article on the work at Lincoln which aligned very nicely with other data. 😀
https://fireandemergency.nz/assets/Documents/Research-and-reports/Report-20-A-Flammability-Guide-for-Some-Common-New-Zealand-Native-Tree-and-Shrub-Species.PDF
Port Hills was what prompted me to think on all this, California was a much too deadly reminder to get on with it, and to make sure I include fire in the book.
“At ground level a good rule of thumb is that if snails readily live in the plants they are likely fireproof. ”
Fire’s not going to get those plants then *whispers but snails might 🙂
Good to have such research done and made available. Most of those plants will burn, but more reluctantly than, say, Manuka or toetoe, giving you a better chance of surviving a “California” event. Speed of recovery after a fire is also important, if you want your forest back. Have you tried growing kowhai seed early, WTB? The still-green-about-to-turn-yellow seed sprouts readily, without pre-treatment. They grow easily from cuttings too, as do kaka beak and a native broom, Carmichaelia Odorata.
Yes, fire resistant plants can slow the fire, and resist it spreading unless it is very intense. Once the water content is gone any plant material is tinder. I know you know this stuff, but we have others reading…
I’ll be interviewing several fire fighters before I print the fire section.
You legend mentioning Carmichaelia, the heroes of Canterbury – TBA…
As a ‘rule’ Carmichaelia are not great from cuttings. But are rather varied. All biological rules have rule breakers it seems. But still handy.
Am just running my first green kowhai seed experiments now – very amateur and small as I had/have no idea it’d work.
We really need a Kowhai ID key, not even the plant stores can differentiate some of them. Yet they will differ in rates of growth, sizes, water tolerance etc. If you know a good resource I’m just pulling out all I can from Govt databases and then I’ll get a(nother) biogeographer to walk me through them. There is a lady somewhere’s with a grove of all our Sophora species and two introduced… wish I knew where I read about her.
That’s very clever stuff, loved the bit about snails, thanks for that.
I’m going to try kowhai cuttings in water, changed regularly and with a willow “wand” for good measure. Also a chip of charcoal. I’ve lots of kotukutuku in at present, waiting for the first roots. I wonder about coppicing kotukutuku to improve access to the konini and increase flowering. Also, “bushy” fuchsia might appeal to the home gardener more than a tree. I’m off now to talk to a bloke about extending a wetland fragment he’s got. He wants to propagate jointed rush and Coprosma propinqua, en masse. Good on him.
All Sophora can be struck by cuttings, all are very difficult to strike in this manner. All seeds are relatively easy.
This is according to Landcare Research – who are awful smart, but also awful gardeners 😉
Interesting re: coppicing tree fuschia. Love to know if it works.
Those wetland plants are a good combo. Estuarine site?
If the site is windy I’d use those plants but add something slightly taller/faster growing for the wetland/land interface, manuka would work in a pinch.
Yes, it’s estuarine. Manuka would be good, as you suggest, but because he’s not bound to natives only, especially at the establishment stage, I’m talking to him about using Lupinus arboreas to shade the grasses, sequester nitrogen and provide “slash” after 3 or so years, not so much near the estuary edge, but more on the rest of the property, which is higher up and calling for different plants. He can plant into those as they open up and the natives will be sheltered, fed and mulched. I mentioned your discussion on fire-readiness and we agreed that manuka might be a liability, especially as his property is bounded by a highway and his land down-wind.
Yeah those lupins do a good job in sand. I was considering a wind/salt shadow of ascending height from the sedge to coprosma to something slightly taller. This to provide a less salty/windy micro climate behind.
If the wind is onshore toward the property the fire risk would be from the ocean/wetland? This should provide a fire shadow?
The wind comes from the other direction. I’m looking to build the windward forest first, then encourage the estuarine edge communities to multiply.
Nice. There are some salt tolerant Colocasia around, not sure if you can grow them down South though. Such beautiful plants… I’d put a lack of snails down to the high oxalates, and imagine they’re rather hard to burn.
But then, I’ve never grown an apricot in my life, so you Southern folk got me there.
Those sedges, on the waters edge of an estuary, are prime kokopu breeding material. Plant so the king tide levels lap up to their roots, the fish will do the rest. Basically a storm and a king tide coinciding is great kokopu loving weather. They can hide in the murk and lay up where it’s ‘safe’. The next king tide the spawn will hatch and head to sea. they’ll come straight back to where Momma was in whitebait season.
Trade secrets care of the late Charles Mitchell and myself, spread them around!
Kowhai appear to be quite variable and localised. I’ve got a small grove coming along as part of a local initiative to re-establish them in the Whakatipu Basin. Plants from a seed source that is quite similar to my dry location have thrived and are getting close to flowering, others from a cooler lakeside source have just died. The green seed thing is the method used here now with much better results.
The Kawarau face of the Remakables has a lot of Kowhai remnants, going up to 6-700 m. Some of these trees are huge, 7-8 m tall and as wide since they are generally solitary. I’ve been fencing on that face this winter and came across a Kowhai that from a distance I thought was a willow.
That’s fascinating.
We have eight local Sophora species ranging in size from ~1 -3 m (prostrata) to up to 25 m (godleyi, microphylla) though sizes are typically half that.
Most prefer dry conditions and need to be free drained, but I suspect S. tetraptera was your lakeside species, it can cope with wet feet and is the riparian dweller of the bunch.
If you’ve any observations on growth rates I’d love to hear them. Without pampering they need their Mesorhizobium symbiont to really take off, not the Rhizobium associated with clover, acacia, etc. This will also explain failures of seeds to take in new areas at times. The Mesorhizobium do not appear to be ubiquitous like their Rhizobium counterparts.
If you get soil and roots from seedlings under established trees you might luck upon rhizobia. Check inside them for the telltale red-purple color (not yellow/brown-orange) for viability. You can freeze these in a household freezer (not -20 lab freezers that kills them off) and crush them into a paste when you want to innoculate seeds.
Still a fair bit of reading to go on all this as well, but hope that helps.
Collecting mesorhizobium from under parent trees…how far away from the trunk do you reckon the best, most active site for collection might be? I suspect drip-line or further; maybe much further, as the interface between root and mesorhizobium is likely to be at the exploratory point, Imo. Tricky! Interesting!
Absolutely it’s tricky. Yes they reside toward to edges of the root system. You could plant drip lines then transplant away but this’ll get you in trouble on public property. Seedlings near established plants are an order of magnitude better to search under. This requires some seasonal knowledge as a rule (those damn rules again) the seeds are ready a couple of months after flowering. Ideally one would gather seed and rhizobia from the same plant host, but… tricky to get the rhizobia off an older plant.
Sometimes, you can’t miss the stuff.
Definately work from the drip line out on older trees but the rhizobia perish after a bit of time (don’t know exactly) and get harder to find as the trees age. But when you find some…. That’s the gold.
Probably the same innoculant/s for the Carmichaelia. Will let you know when that reading is over.
For kowhai, nurseries usually break seed dormancy of kowhai by soaking in sulphuric acid for a short time but be aware the acid requires wearing a proper facemask and acid resistant gloves. For smaller production people usually just soak them in hot water. There is some info out there somewhere on the interwebs. Otherwise there is a book by Lawrie Metcalf called “The Propagation of New Zealand Native Plants” that is a good starting point. For seed trays – they are best sown in mineral sand with a thin layer of fine stone chip on top to help keep the moisture in.
For websites to identify kowhai species you could start with iNaturalist … fill in ‘kowhai’ and ‘new Zealand’s in the appropriateness fields and then click on an observation that does not identify which exact species. Then click on the genus name and that will take you to another page where you can view descriptions etc.
Other useful websites are NZ plant conservation network and also Manaaki Whenua Landcare under plant systematics (haven’t looked to see if they have a key for kowhai though).
Thanks Pingao. Civ 6 much?
I already use all those resources but we do not have a Kowhai key.
And the keys provided anyway, well, I can read them with my dictionary of ecology, dictionary of biology, google, science degrees…
I want to tell the average person how to tell between Kowhai.
Not paragraphs of this shit
‘Leaves 100-150(-220) mm, imparipinnate, moderately hairy, hairs, straight, appressed. Leaflets 10-20(-25) pairs, 15-35(-40) x 5-8 mm, well spaced, never overlapping or crowded, narrowly ovate to elliptic-oblong.’
And to think, they made their monkeys do all the original write ups in Latin.
/sarc
WTB you got that right :). I’m hazy on kowhai – they got split again after I finished working at a nursery.
I made my own key once just for local Carex species to try to sort them out in my head … it was still a bit of a puzzle but I did learn a lot about what to look for.
The home nursery-person can insert sandpaper into a tin can, rough side in, and make a shaker that will scarify kowhai seed easily (and musically). Perhaps a band and a regular session on a Sunday night? I understood the mechanism for kowhai seed dispersal was fall into a river, bounce along the stony bed until you’re washed ashore, battered, bruised and waterlogged, then grow as quickly as you can before the next flood.
Good tip Robert. They seem to spout alright on their own even without any treatment under mature trees (although not reliably enough for home grown).
Keep us posted! about your book’s progress and when it is to be launched. I think it should have a launching party at some live bookshop or perhaps your publishing company or if you have to self-publish do a crowd raiser for it and get people who care and act, on board.
It’s just what is needed. I did a trawl through Lincoln Uni forestry connected info and felt that they were still pinus radiata fixated. I didn’t notice anything that I could connect to planning for the explosive future, exploding rain, or exploding fires after drought. We need more info and action for sure. Sorry to Lincoln if I overlooked some fine ongoing work in this direction.
I’ll just tack on an interesting bit about planting trees in USA with caring advice.
So that the keen tree planter had success.
Also a mention of a nasty borer which we will have to look out for as we embrace the world and its offsiders.
http://treetrust.org/tag/emerald-ash-borer/
Also GM?
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/2018671180/has-the-time-come-for-genetic-modification
Gene edited plants are just as safe as normal plants, according to one scientist.
At a Plant and Food Research greenhouse in Auckland, one of the sections is filled with $300 apple trees, and Andy Allan, a professor of plant biology, is pointing out one of his favourite experiment, a tree with bright, fuchsia-coloured flowers.
“The particular red gene we’re testing is under a strong expression, so the roots are red, the trunk is red, the leaves are copper and the fruit goes on to look more like a plum, it’s so dark.”
The apple has an extra apple gene, making it genetically modified. There are other plants in this room that have exactly the same number of genes, but they’ve been edited.
Along with the apples, pears, tomatoes and petunias are thriving, but many also flower all year round and produce seeds five years earlier than usual.
Okay so – what affect will this have on bees, other plants, organisms? And when GM becomes the new thing for young people to get careers in, and corporates to make money from, and hopefully build up monopolies in, what then?
And people selling similar goods as they have historically, what happens to them? Out of the way – we are better, cheaper, have this and that, have added vitamins. You making a living and having a life is nothing to us.
The real disease we have to face is the constant morphing of capitalism presenting its face in unrecognisable ways until we see the connections to our cost. We know that the rich can’t be trusted as they have plundered us and the world to make more money to do what with? Anything that would be useful to mankind, also women, children, and all the little critters that form part of the world which we don’t pay attention to, may be wiped out and they will give you a half-penny to make up for losing your livelihood.
I really like Andy he has no guile about him. But I do not trust GE to save anything. What good has monoculture done anyone except machine harvesters (oil), fertiliser sales (oil), pesticide needs (oil), etc.
The money trail leads me to believe the real people behind all this care not one fuck about the planet, or your health.
Monoculture means entire crops are susceptible to one organism overcoming their defenses. PSA anyone. Then the industry all wanted to sue the government. No personal responsibility, no earth care, no people care.
Evolution is an arms race between plant and pathogen. As soon as the new GE plant savior of mankind is overcome they’ll have another extremely expensive option to replace the last failure, this one will do ever more incredible shit requiring ever more products to support it.
The scientists are amazing, but most are deeply myopic stuck within compartments of their respective fields. These so called smartest folk need to get considerably smarter.
AKA: Go multidisciplinary, or go home.
Multidisciplinary, that’s my secret watchword. I keep it as a talisman that I don’t know how to use, but it has power!
Did y’all read this article from a few days ago?
It’s great and on topic.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/108533174/facts-dont-give-scientists-a-monopoly-on-the-truth
It is good for this scientist to get a publication out under his name as I understand that universities measure your worth by what you publish on your subject.
Whether it serves any real useful purpose for discussing 1080, I think not. Calling for a meeting to discuss the topic is a bit late in the day. Because I am sure that many have been had and the environmental scientists concerned say there is no other way to reduce the pests depradating our nature reserves on difficult country than using 1080. DOC must be careful to not inflate their terminology. Using the word ‘safe’ is unscientific and sounds more like managerialism than science. But as safe as we can make it, would be truthful, along with a mention of the observed benefits as measured against the observed results including deaths.
One thing though is that money is so short and politicians memories even shorter. DOC has funding for certain tasks, and none for others, yet all require some attention. What this scientist says may mask an anxiety that some results are not being counted because they are not part of the template for DOC to obey. If so he should speak up about this aspect.
DOC has refined the dosage and changed the delivery but there will be some killings that they wanted to avoid. So they must be careful, and use it as a special tool, using hunters and bait lines. etc where possible. But we introduced the pest ourselves, and have also been pests that have helped wreck old NZ, we have to be determined to make good.
All the wishy-washy feelings about the birds it has killed, and the fact
that hunting dogs can die from it does not mean stop using it altogether. Magical ideas and theories won’t do the difficult task,
because at the end of the day, there is always the spoilsport human looking for personal advantage, perhaps leaving a breeding pair when they hunt an area closely, to make sure of work for future years.
Good article for sure.
I would add that the very reductionist nature of science makes it a poor choice for solutions for complex systems.
It’s still the best we got for answering how stuff works, but yeah, it can be nonsensical with varying context.
I sort of agree with the article, but not with its reference to 1080?
Yes, “safe” is subjective, but 1080 is one of those things where you’d have to really try to injure yourself with it. So how reasonable are people who strongly believe it is “unsafe”? Can people who will use unrelated photos of dead animals and blame 1080 really be engaged with in good faith discussions?
One contribution the scientific method can make in subjective discussions is the principle that if you have to make shit up to support your point, you’re wrong.
A better example is the Pike River re-entry: “safety” is a cold assessment of the known hazards, the efficiency of all available methods in ameliorating those hazards, and a subjective evaluation of the worth gained by overcoming those risks. Subjective, but informed. The 1080 argument? Not so much.
I wasn’t impressed with the style of the article from an academic. I
was in Wellington in mid September and wandered up to Parliament Grounds. I was impressed with the vast chalked anti-1080 message on the pavement and on the top stone of the street walls. Very clearly carefully printed, precise, neat – it must have taken hours probably at night to get away with it.
It’s like abortion, the anti people just can’t accept the idea, and don’t want to hear about the value of abortion if done in the most appropriate way and with the right techniques. They want to throw aside every other heavy problem of their world and concentrate on the one thing. It makes them feel good and worthy and misunderstood by the other ignorant, foolish people.
I avoided the subject matter (1080) deliberately. It is the scientists who sound like religious zealots even their students all ape them without knowing why. If you argue you will quickly become a pariah (looney left, wrecker and hater) they do not want a discussion at all. I found it disgusting.
But the left – threats on DOC… WTF! They’re on their own.
I agree with the points re: 1080 is the best option for a shitty budget. That’s about all I agree on with regards to this closing of ranks and opinionated bullying posing as science.
Scientists should present the facts, the research, the data but when it comes to values judgements, they should understand, as we do, that such judgements are not scientific. “Safe” is not a scientific term.
It’s not an infinitely subjective term, either.
There are several mental disorders which are at least partially defined by the patient having an unreasonable and life-impacting perception of “safe”, either psychologically or physiologically. “Phobias” for a start.
Where people are assigning completely unreasonable “value judgements”, why should[n’t] people who know the field more closely correct them in plain language?
[edit-silly typo lol]
Many thanks for the time you are putting into this project WTB (1) and posting this info. Much appreciated. Will stay tuned.
A disgraceful and nasty partisan report on Pike River by Stacey Kirk.
Looks like she also gave a heads up about her report to a whole gaggle of Nat trolls, as hateful comments against Andrew Little have already been liked a whole heap of times this early in the morning.
Kirk has form as a right wing propagandist.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108616189/stacey-kirk-high-risk-for-reward-of-going-down-pike-river-mine
Indeed she is right.
If someone dies (I I really hope nobody does) – then Little will have blood on his hands, and he should be held to account for it.
Well so far nobody was held criminally to account for 29 dead bodies and not sure I heard you worrying about blood on the Natz and mining industries hands when they operated a dangerous mine…
John Key breaks his word to Pike River Mine families
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW5Kvum9Sx4
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has told The Australian newspaper that the Pike River Mine “would be illegal” if it were constructed in Australia.
http://www.hrdevelopment.co.nz/2011/06/john-key-admits-pike-river-mine-would-be-illegal-in-australia/
“Well so far nobody was held criminally to account for 29 dead bodies and not sure I heard you worrying about blood on the Natz and mining industries hands when they operated a dangerous mine…”
Its a bit of a stretch to suggest that the government is some how responsible for what happened at the mine.
Having heard from you james, if this is the alt-right line of attack, I say double the guard on the mine.
People have already died jimbo.
We get it. IF someone comes to harm Andrew Little will have blood on his hands and he should be held to account.
And 29 people did come too harm, actually DIED, 29 of them, no ifs, buts or maybes, dead, and you seem content no-one has blood on their hands or can or should be held to account.
I still can’t believe the National government did not mount a rescue for those poor men. If the Natz were running the world, the Thai cave rescue, rescue helicopter’s or firefighter’s wouldn’t exist as when accidents happen ‘too dangerous to bother to do anything about it’ seems to be their mantra. Oh, too expensive too.
Even Russia and China bother to do more when things go wrong in mines than the Natz led government, and guess what, often they are successful against the odds.
It might be dangerous to re enter, just as loss of life has happened with other rescues or recovery efforts, but if it was really that dangerous, why the F did the mine get permission to operate and do we just sit back and cover up this crime?
At Pike River, the police were in charge and decided it was too dangerous for them to do anything. For the politicians it was an operational matter.!
I would like to know what specialist advice the police obtained pertaining to the Pike River mine operation prior to it being shutdown?
As well when it came to the cost of retrieving remains the operation then became a government decision.
Going into the mine draft will establish what is factual and what is incorrect in that area.
Stacey Kirk is a right wing troll who regularly sings from Hooten’s song sheet.
Yes. Making out that the decision is somehow driven by Andrew Little seeking glory says more about Kirk’s impoverished worldview than anything about him.
Her unethical colleagues and bosses also get in on the act. Alongside the hack highlighting one dissenting voice, captioning a photo as “Representatives of *some of* the Pike River families” slyly undermines the mandate of the spokespeople.
Ah, I see there is already a dedicated post about this topic: https://thestandard.org.nz/will-andrew-little-be-responsible-if-the-pike-river-mine-gets-hit-by-a-meteor/
She really nails her colours to the mast in that column. I like how there’s a contrast with HDPA in the herald this morning who points out that any money spent on Pike River recovery is better than the 26 million that Key wasted on his bloody silly flag referendum.
Another silly old hack flaps his gums in defence of his heroes in the last govt: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/john-armstrongs-opinion-pike-river-decision-shabby-posturing-not-truth-and-justice
Well, this from the man who bad mouthed David Cunnliffe. Why would we rate his views?
What a disgusting article. This is the tripe our so called journos dish up, scum.
Absolutely Ed (2) … Kirk’s piece is disgraceful and lacking substance. Nothing objective about it at all!
Kirk has given the right wing supporters something to feed on this Sunday. Will keep them full for a while.
Interestingly HdPA in the NZH today (try not to open her articles too often), while not exactly heaping too much praise on Andrew Little, has said re-entering the mine is the right thing to do, even though there could be risks involved. She even hinted at the way the Key government had reneged on their promises to the families.
Sunday Trivia…
Students say they don’t know what ‘trivial’ means in exam question fiasco
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/16/students-say-they-dont-know-what-trivial-means-in-exam-question-fiasco
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/11/students-launch-petition-after-confusion-by-word-trivial-in-nzqa-exam.html
https://www.change.org/p/nzqa-nzqa-to-accept-y13-history-essay-marks-based-own-student-s-own-definition-of-word-trivial?fbclid=IwAR3zpKzCmtKxwgswmL2v160H7sJ1WxSOE7fG9g4XEdYcyjisAZp4-p92Y4U
meh … thats of little importance.
🙂
Such an interesting exam question, and the plot of many movies… I’d have gone nuts answering this.
With the widespread existence of the game ‘Trivial Pursuit’, students don’t have a leg to stand on defending their lack of vocabulary.
Maybe student’s are not abandoning the humanities, instead, the humanities are fed up and abandoning the students.
Nope look around the universities, now that they are run like quasi businesses, in particular our education sold out to the private foreign student fees, guess what Law and engineering reign, the arts are out.
Apparently to get the skills we are all going to become baristas, struggling farmers, aged care workers, builders or tilers or if you are “really smart’ , a lawyer in the vein of Jordan Williams or a CTV engineer… cos they seem to be dumbing down, if not just abandoning a lot of tertiary education in NZ in favour of the above where apparently those in the ‘know’ politically think the future lies…
0% Pure critical thinking NZ +
Lucky in preparation for the future the students these days seem to be good at successfully lobbying for ignorance, might hold them in good stead!
Education follows the money. You will naturally have students making choices based on incomes. Engineering etc because Buisiness pays good salaries for those jobs. Law is popular as large incomes can be made in our fault divorce system, property, regulations etc.
To imply those subjects result in non critical thinking people is absurd. There subjects revolve around logic.
Considering what some people with Arts degrees believe in critical thinking isn’t something it can boast about either for too many.
That is what 8 years of “National” Standards have done to Kids.
But luckily they are prepared for their future.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/07/national-s-election-signs-perfect-photoshop-opp.html
They are even doing recruitment drives for foreign primary school kids now on the North Shore into state primary schools. Maybe an accountant or “entrepreneur” on the primary school board, who knows?
Anything for a $.
The meaning of the word ‘trivial’ was obvious from the quote that they were supposed to write an essay about.
So, no, they don’t get a pass because they didn’t understand the meaning of the word.
Bit harsh.
About the only meaning that can be most probably excluded is “importance” itself.
Sure, the Bard could have been going for an ironic juxtaposition, but equally if you can’t remember the full passage, “familial”, “coincidental”, “bloody”, etc can make meaningful sentences as much as “unimportant”.
Odd that they didn’t know the meaning of the word, though.
Not really. They’re 13th year, they should know enough to extrapolate the unknown from the known. It’s how people learn their native language as a child.
Context gives unimportant, minor, events not likely to be considered to change anything.
I think you’re letting your knowledge of the word effect your interpretation of the context.
Read it with a blank:
“Events of importance are the result of _______ causes”
Sure, there could be poetic juxtaposition for “minor”. But it’s a bold call to make in an exam.
Probably best to choose an option you do understand, rather than one you don’t.
yeah – there’s a reason most A-grade undergrads start their essays with a definition of the terms 🙂
Apparently the essay was marked on how you argued your case, rather than whether you got all the words right. So all good for the students who gathered themselves after shitting a brick when they read the question, lol.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/11/serious-questions-over-papua-new-guinea-hosting-the-apec-summit.html
What a waste of time.
15 Million of NZ’s money wasted and [PM Jacinda Ardern] dosnt even get a meeting with the PNG leader.
They buy 40 luxury Maseratis – but [PM Jacinda Ardern] gets a Toyota Highlander.
[Any more misogyny and your next comment will be in 2019. TRP]
She chose that as a preference. Trolling James.
Question to TRP – the name I have used is no worse than a lot of names given to national members.
It’s not a Misogynistic name (although others have tried to frame it as such).
How is this any worse than comments made by members of the left on here regarding Collins or bennet?
If what I wrote is considered inappropriate- then ok – I won’t use that term – but politely point out that a lot worse is said of femail member of the right.
[lprent: If it is the one I suspect that you used, then it is extremely misogynist. And I hardly think that ‘Crusher Collins’ is even remotely similar in the misogynist sphere.
But feel free to point ones out that have been consistently used AND you can describe a reason why they are the equivalent. Also track if people have been pulled up on it as well – because I’ll check.
Of course if you do your usual and go trivial about it or continue to whine about being pulled up on it (and waste my time), I’d be happy to replace your handle on your comments, past present and into the future on this site with something that I think is equivalent. Or I could just get rid whining.
I always like to see people having choices with a bit of risk attached.. ]
Cease your mewling, James.
Thought James supported the All Blacks avidly.
Why is he posting all this stuff during their game against Ireland?
why would anybody care?
Coz the Mighties … lost?
They did – but what a game.
Because I’m capable of more than one thing at once.
Belittling women is misogynist, James. However, thanks for accepting the moderation with good grace. I also weed out sexist remarks about Collins et al when I spot ’em. Same for racism, ageism and other casual bigotry. Can’t get them all, for obvious reasons, however most TS commenters make political points without resort to personal insults. Which is nice.
Fair enough. When I see them I’ll do my best to help and point them out.
Yes it pays to reread ones own comments.
James, if you search urban dictionary for a definition of a ‘cindy’ you might see why it is seen as derogatory and mysogynistic. Look through the definitions and see how many you would object too if your daughter for example was called one.
The meaning is stereotypical and often used in a male context commenting on female characteristics.
The nickname given to Collins is derogatory but it is specific to her perceived qualities and her political history. References to Bennett are unacceptable but not mysogynistic as other politicians like Lange, Muldoon and Brownlee have borne the same insult.
Whatever the insult, they are demeaning to the individual and to the level of political discourse in which we are hopefully engaging.
“They did it too” is not a valid defence. It might be a source of irritation but even in Rugby which I am ‘watching’ right now it doesn’t save you from the upraised arm of the referee.
Have to agree with James on this (God I feel dirty) this is politics . Key got called many worse things by most here including me . I find the cindy tag cringey but meh.
Can you stop verbally kicking our PM James? We care about our new young PM and want to see her able to do her political and private business helping NZ forward, and not to be constantly pecked at and sneered at in some way. It is insulting to the country and to good women. Just keep on criticising what she does as PM or doesn’t do if that is your purpose in life.
Did you treat key or English like that?
Would you if it was bridges.
Are you saying we treat this PM differently because you agree with her or because she’s a female?
They can’t see misandry James.
@lprent – please please please rename James
A.
not really misogyny but an admixture of right wing tory nasty extremism with some of the other chucked in.
I’d feel safer in a truck in PNG jimbo.
Highlander? There can be only one.
There is only one and here he is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1ttUNILKMo
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/11/18/political-caption-competition-803/
“you know sometimes it’s easier in my view to just to stop the trail and give them a good f**king hiding. Put an end to it right there and then.”
There is a young girl amongst the people in the photo?
Do people thing she deserves a good hiding also?
Is violence the answer?
What has that got to do with
National Party recruitment drive
Ignoring calls of violence against people is an enabler of it.
By trying to turn a suggestion of violence against people (including a young girl) into a joke is not appropriate.
Given Māori are over represented in prison, domestic violence, and violence against children- it amazes me that you think that this is ok.
“Ignoring calls of violence against people is an enabler of it.”
It is just a picture of the gnats recruiting – funny too in a sick way.
Funny also how you kept mum about aaaaalllll the injustices you see around you now that the new government is doing so well. During the dark gnat years you aided and abetted them like a little toady by keeping your head down and mouth shut.
What a sick puppy you have turned into james, you support the beating of children, then in another breath say all violence is bad.
Either show some guts and admit beating children in any context is wrong – or crawl back under the rock you came from.
If you can’t tell the difference between a smack and giving them a good fucking hiding – you shouldn’t be allowed near children.
Still I guess the law was made for people like you.
A “good” hiding, James?
Odd choice of words…
What did you think of Key’s hair-pulling – assault or “horsing around”?
The mask has fallen.
James is a construct.
Not a real person.
This morning he forgot he was a keen All Black supporter.
Not sure how you can come to that conclusion Eddie.
I watched the game and enjoyed it – despite the result. Ireland deserved the win.
A good fucking hiding. – it’s a quote – if you don’t like it take it up with hone.
Would love to see how caring he is on the matter.
are you a hooton bot james?
Quotes are presented inside of quotation marks, or they’re not quotes. Simple commenting etiquette, James.
See 6.1 above.
In your haste to be a smart arse you might have missed it.
Or just that your wee mind can’t carry a thread a few post.
So no change from you then, still into beating kids then ah james. Nothing changes with you.
Is violence the answer?
No.
Consider the violence offered to people who have a darker skin colour to be demeaned in this way. Consider the insult. Consider the violent and superior attitude of the casual and supposedly unaware racist majority shown in this public display. Consider the racism at the same A&P Show of the sale of golliwogs.
In the Sixties, the engineering students had a culture of the “haka party” which they had the eventual wisdom to also consign to history as inappropriate. Like the golliwog I had as a boy in the Fifties.
Context is important, too. Recent events in Taranaki are not helped by this form of unthinking (at best) violence. Mrs Mac1 mentioned a Nelson Morris Dance group which has a long tradition of blackening their faces. The historical context, however, gives the explanation that the dancers of former years wore the face paint as a disguise to hide their identity from such as disapproving employers.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/11/dutch-fighting-in-the-streets-over-racist-black-pete-character.html?fbclid=IwAR0_E4tXuAx-2hOEDoUaze9XRdQY4xxFiW21KAvg5aiX6geYWrfEAl2dTak
And now the Netherlands have a similar situation?
Note that white Santa has black sidekick. Just as the Lone Ranger had Tonto as his cloured sidekick. Both white men have coloured men as their subordinates.
Just as I looked up Tonto, the urban dictionary I mentioned above as a source of current colloquial usage, gives “tonto’ as a term of abuse, a racist insult this time.
We do have a way to go with our bullying, racist, mysoginistic attitudes and behaviour……..
Can we ever stop analysing everything for the underlying meaning and accept that there are nuances in life?
The hospital admissions, stitches and broken bones probably precipitated their eventual wisdom.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/17-10-2017/mocking-the-haka-the-haka-party-incident-and-casual-racism-in-new-zealand/
Pike River Scandal
The Auckland Press – what a ratbag cockroach outfit that is – has ignored the fact the Police have declared the Pike River trajedy a Crime Scene.
It has wheeled out that famous “miner’? – Stacy Nobody – to spray her witless words – for her darling editor .
Mostly – she is annoyed over the cost of the re-entry of the Pike River Mine. It seems expensive at 23$Million. Money which should have been spent into making the Mine methane safe before any person was sent down that terrible hole. It was criminal to not ensure the mine was monitored and methane free.
It would be nice if Stacy – a known national party troll – would ask the extremely wealthy John Key for 23$Million to give to the families who lost their fathers and brothers. 29 such brave persons who trusted a shifty John Key.
In the meantime, could I ask Aucklanders to turn out a few decent writers. Ones who understand the Truth. Ones who don’t suck. Ones who declare for all New Zealand.
I note that Heather Du Plessis Allen is no longer one eyed. Deft with her words too. Congratulations to Her.
Movement in UK political polls ..
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/17/labour-gains-lead-over-tories-opinion-poll
Thanks, great news.
Turn Labour left!
https://inequality.org/great-divide/some-leveraging-inspiration-from-old-archimedes/?fbclid=IwAR1MittOP1088bcVw46BaYD6hWThsHQDIoI36mTrb6Y4TqcQnIUSk1W
Worth a read IMO
Here is a very good interview with new UK Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot.
You know it is strange that so many commentators here on the standard bag RT, but I would like to know what Western media source would have this interview?
‘New Palestinian Ambassador to UK Discusses Israel Lobby, Netanyahu & Jeremy Corbyn!’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzMWg9PIFLQ
The “historic compromise” mentioned by the Ambassador of 30 years ago was from the King of Jordan who let them go.
The Ambassador is keen for a two state solution, but doesn’t deign to confirm Israel’s right to exist as one of those two states.
I don’t have any problem with this Ambassador slagging off the recent Israeli government’s settlement of West Bank and of Netanyahu’s leadership. Well deserved and I hope Netanyahu and his wife are shortly in jail. But pretty weird to hear a Hamas rep calling any Israeli government “extremist” when they have a fair few of their own, and criticizing the israeli government for being too Jewish is remarkable from a state run by one of the most militant forms of Islam around.
The interviewer might want to apply to Weta Workshop such is his remarkable transformation into a doormat.
Hi Cindy James
What clothes are you wearing today Darling ?
I hope you wash them frequently.
[OT, pointless abuse is not welcome here. No more, please. TRP]
Sooo TRP is Cindy ok in this context?
No, no it is not. See above.
Here is something important to NZ to discuss. If Kiwibank can enlarge and gather in some of the business that is going to foreign owned banks it will be better for us. They have been running long enough to prove that they can manage and compete satisfactorily.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018671704/tim-hazledine-time-to-give-kiwibank-teeth
money
Tim Hazledine: time to give Kiwibank teeth
From Sunday Morning, 7:11 am today
Listen duration 20′ :09
Professor Tim Hazledine of the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Auckland says the government should give Kiwibank the power to compete aggressively on price against the local Australian banks, even at the risk of its own bottom line.
Education learning and how, what to learn? We have had over 100 years of learning just enough to ruin ourselves as a country and our environment. So long and thanks for the fish. So perhaps we should think about these new ways of learning – are they taking our minds and thoughts out of our bodies so we are not in tune with ourselves as whole organisms any more? Our heads looking at the stars, while our feet stand in cow poo, and we have no healthy food to eat.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/2018670501/learning-revolution-or-pathway-to-ignorance
“We were teaching a lot of components of different maths things that they needed to know for future years.
“[It was] a lot of ticking off of what they needed to cover, where for me today a lot of it is getting kids to learn through doing.
“They are putting the knowledge to use, so they actually see the purpose of why they are learning.”
Fellow teacher Andrea Tapsell says teaching had also changed hugely since she started out 16 years ago.
“My whole teaching practice has had to change to incorporate the digital technology as well as student agency, as well as bringing in that inquiry, collaborative approach.”
Collaborative approach. How can kids think their own individual thoughts if right from the start they are taught to think as a group? Isn’t that group-think – the one who is different doesn’t fit? Some sharp comments on what we think.
Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, Thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought is great and swift and free. Bertrand Russell
One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny. Bertrand Russell
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/bertrand_russell_125227
Is this true?
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists
in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman
Love this phrase ” areas of interest include communication avoidance and propaganda.”
This man on Radionz was talking about it apprently. I didn’t hear him but was looking at the summaries for Wallace (today noelle) and he sounds interesting.
The avoidance part is why I don’t read James and other trolls. There is only so much I can take in and I can’t afford to take in too much stressful trivia. (Example – did I need to know that there is some kerfuffle about an exam because some students didn’t know the meaning of trivial? Sheesh.)
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018671715/ethan-plaut-overloaded-by-media-how-much-is-too-much
Ethan Plaut: overloaded by media – how much is too much?
From Sunday Morning, 10:04 am today
Listen duration 32′ :14″
Dr Ethan Plaut, lecturer in media and communication at the University of Auckland, says the sheer volume of media messages in a 24- hour news cycle is more than anyone can critically process. Ethan Plaut is a former journalist who came from Stanford University to the University of Auckland in January and whose areas of interest include communication avoidance and propaganda.
Its a subject I’ve looked at a lot as well.
Quantity is a result of traffic based revenue and connectivity.
So propaganda can be with quantity vs absence.
EG,
There is a large number of Kavanaugh is guilty slanted articles but very few exposing all the lies and false allegations. The public will be all exposed to the guilty arguments but few will read about the lies.
Or,
Everyone knows JLR was unfaithful as there has been many articles naming him and including statements on his infidelity. Very few articles exist naming the female MP who did the same thing. (Unfortunately it’s not mysoginist)
Which lies?
Professor Mark Blyth is a British political scientist from Scotland and a professor of international political economy at Brown University.
His ideas on Brexit are worth listening to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGvZil0qWPg
Here Jimmy Dore looks at Mark Blyth and explores his argument why Brexit Is Good for working people In clear, simple terms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xq-gWv91WM
Best quote from the video.
“…The Hamptons are not a defensible position. The Hamptons are on a low-lying beach. Eventually the people will come for you.”
If you want to watch mark Blyth without Jimmy Dore, here is the extract.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwK0jeJ8wxg
More thought provoking stuff.
Mark Blyth on The Consequences of Neoliberalism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyxcholoFG8
Ed
If you are going to put up a lot of youtube links, only leave one to open that you think is the best and put a half bracket at the front of the others as (so. That leaves them closed but ready to spring into action.
Otherwise you fill up such a large portion of the page and I don’t want to have these videos dominate it. I get a similar feeling that I used to when I watched tv and had too many Harvey Norman ads come up. I never go there now and never will. Please don’t turn me away from the blog which I have visited for years.
The best one is 15.1.1.
You can always scroll past by the way.
Or you could tone it down, Ed.
I mentioned the other day that should give a decent intro to the vids to which you link. That’s to avoid spamming the site or turning TS into lefty facebook. This is a place to discuss opinions, and that kinda implies your own opinion should be shared, not someone else’s.
So, tell us what you think, add some links where it adds colour or context, and argue your corner.
You could politely say Ed that you can see what I mean, after I explained how much of the screen your consecutive video shots take up. You could say okay will do. That seems a reasonable, adult response to a reasonable request.
If Brexit was “about the 1%” as he states then it would have happened in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and basically everywhere else that the left deradicalised. It didn’t. So no, the left is not to blame for everything as he implies.
And I love the way he wants Europe but not the Euro.
That means he supports the Pound, namely the English (London) economy that simply makes its money by being a financial capital of the world. He may as well be working for Northern Rock.
But no, he has no need to analyze himself.
It’s like he forgets which areas voted to stay, which sectors of British society voted to stay, which parts of the population voted to stay. There are plenty more actual analyses on the finer breakdowns of the vote on precisely why this happened – and why the vote was so close.
The much more interesting questions are about:
– how the House of Lords amends it,
– which of Labor’s MPs cross the floor to get it through (including the redoubtable Brexit champion Corbyn) and therefore take the electoral credit
– how it gets implemented,
– how fast Britain’s economy declines afterward, and
– how Russia, China, and the Untied States take advantage of a greatly diminished Britain and Europe and keep picking them apart into smaller pieces in their own interest.
I have an idea you may be in the Public Service in some capacity Ad…would that be the case?
Don’t do doxxing. Poor form.
You can say that I have some idea of how local an central government work.
Try addressing the substantive points raised.
substantive!….lol.
gross misrepresentation would be more accurate
Are you a member Ed?
[Obviously some people have been missing the fact that ad homs aren’t going down too well with me. People have already been banned, and unless those of you jumping in on this sub-thread want to be joining them, then the suggestion is thatyou all pull your heads in. Do any of you think any author appreciates having the discussion beneath their posts trashed with kindergarten garbage? If it’s seriously all you’re capable of, then just comment on your own facebook or whatever and leave your keyboard alone when you’re on this site] – B.
[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.]
Open Parachute has an interesting item on Russia and bots and dodgy sites.
https://openparachute.wordpress.com/2018/11/18/and-you-thought-russiagate-could-not-get-sillier/
Ed you haven’t answered my question.
[To repeat. Obviously some people have been missing the fact that ad homs aren’t going down too well with me. People have already been banned, and unless those of you jumping in on this sub-thread want to be joining them, then the suggestion is thatyou all pull your heads in. Do any of you think any author appreciates having the discussion beneath their posts trashed with kindergarten garbage? If it’s seriously all you’re capable of, then just comment on your own facebook or whatever and leave your keyboard alone when you’re on this site] – B.
[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.]
Ed doesn’t do that. Answer questions? All so beneath him.
If he was shown some respect by certain commenters he might.
I reply to you maui and others who come on this site to share ideas.
Rather than snipe and troll.
All maui ever does is agree and thank you. You two really should just get a room.
Your logic is standing on its head. One of the reasons that Ed is so disrespected here is that he will make a grand statement but then refuse to say what he actually means.
[And the level of respect you think you’re commanding trying to pass this garbage off as in some way a contribution to this site? Read the moderation comments I’ve left up thread] – Bill
dang.
I scrolled past the funniest antinatvid I have ever seen on fb.
They all got a jolly good serve! soymin and poymin an all the rest.
if it comes again I will take the trouble to note the link.
Link ?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/11/derek-handley-granted-nz-citizenship-despite-being-years-short-of-requirement.html
This is very amusing.
Falling years short of the requirement- a multi millionaire friend of the PM gets granted residency.
Peter Theil anyone? I believe Handley spent a lot of his youth in NZ. I’ll have to look that up. Peter Theil not so much.
Edit: Here we go for a start.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Handley
Also in the very article you link to it says he arrived here as a child of four and did all his schooling here including university.
He didn’t spend anywhere enough in NZ to qualify for residency.
Submitted (assumed unsuccessfully), but reapplies when Jacinda becomes PM and voila- a visa and a job (and it looks like the residency might be as dodge as the job).
James, were you born in New Zealand?
Or spawned “elsewhere”?
I often wonder if James’ mother was named “Petrie” and was quite a dish!
James reckons 20 years from age 4 to 24 isn’t enough to ‘qualify for residency’.
I think this morning’s rugger result has had more effect on James than he’s willing to let on.
Actually it’s the law that says that. See that’s why he couldn’t qualify under the normal rules.
You’re a bit slow.
I think you’ll find he’s been a resident for some years. It’s you who is very very slow.
None of your business
That’s a no. 😂
Welcome, immigrant.
No it’s none of your business.
So what?
Try a link that shows he met residency requirements.
I’ll wait – but you may be some time.
What is it with this government and dodge residencies???
Dude’s former residency status and familial connections made him a shoo-in for citizenship under the exceptional circumstances provisions.
Wonder why he didn’t get it first time ?????? You know being a shoo in and all.
Couldn’t match Theil’s offer?
Nice, Joe!
Planning rules, who needs ’em.
“Nobody would have ever thought this could happen,” President Donald Trump said while touring the Camp Fire devastation Saturday.
That’s not true. The Camp Fire was inevitable. It is the event that so many dreaded for so long.
People prepared. Fire prevention officials planned. They drilled. They worked with homeowners. They invented fire-safe councils and Fire on the Ridge and sent fire prevention officials to schools via a program called Fire Pals. They raised money to keep fire lookouts open when the state said it wouldn’t.
Eventually, geography and topography proved to be the trap everyone thought it was.
https://www.chicoer.com/2018/11/17/editorial-camp-fire-the-tragedy-we-were-all-warned-about/
You might be taking things out of context. Everybody knows fire risks were well known. That the state cut funding as its bankrupt. What happened in scale and speed was probably predicted by a few. Trumps assumption could be based on belief people had time to evacuate as much as the record setting severity.
Diagnosis. TDS
Nope. The US federal government owns nearly half of the land in California, the other half is privately owned, so nothing to do with California’s fiscal position.
Kia oar The Am Show Mens day yes I’am a proud man Eco tau tokos men to but Equality is my goal .
There you go Duncan the weather is reflecting the extra energy in our environment heat is energy hence the big fluctuation in Aotearoa and Papatuanuku weather and its only going to get stronger IF we all commit to mitigate carbon that is poisoning our environment we can minimize the bad effects of climate change .
The Elon Mus effect is part of the Internet generation effect it has given Elon the power to force change’s that are beneficial for all human kind and not just the wealthy . Michio Kaku predicted that the internet 21’s Century communication device will keep the wealthy honest and the effect will have a big changes on our society.
The only reason the Eastern Bay of Plenty is the way it is simon is because of shonky’s Law’s that kicked the Rural regions & poor people into touch . And the dump laws that made a plant that’s a gift from God that has many beneficial property’s to humans health was made illegal to clear the way for Alcohol barons to reap billions forced on NZ. The settler Nuns used it as the health healing plant it is.
The britexit deal won’t go through unless Britain commits to a policy that rapidly reduces there carbon use fair enough I say.
I remember back in the day the Couch’s changed every 3 to 4 years .
Condolences to all the people who have lost family and property in the Californian fire’s.
We no that the effects of the last governments policy’s are still flowing through the systems higher cost of living I know when I raised my offspring it was much easier to survive .
The kombucha craze was going through Gisborne 15 years ago
Ka kite ano
This is what happens when the system cover up scams . I don’t want people like groper ropper around my MOKO’S
I had just come off the recruit course and we were taught we were always to do what our superiors told us to do. We were taught to always follow orders.”
Taylor says Roper’s behaviour towards female underlings at the base was well known. He would pull bra straps, pinch bottoms, push open the door of the airwomen’s change rooms while they were dressing. He did not hide his actions, Taylor says – they took place out in the open, for all to see.
But before long, Taylor became a particular target of Roper’s attention.
“In the early afternoon the senior NCOs (non-commissioned officers) would leave our section and and they would go down to the Sergeants’ mess and they would drink all afternoon.
“Early evening, the Section would get a phone call and he (Roper) would specifically ask for a lift home from me.When I went to pick him up he was extremely intoxicated. The minute the car started he would lock the car doors and start abusing me. Ka kite ano
Link below P.S you see people the system is far from perfect they protect there own and don’t care who they hurt in this protect the old——–man
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/108581557/ogled-groped-and-locked-in-a-cage-air-force-servicewoman-speaks-out-against-defence-force-for-protecting-rapist
Eco Maori music for the minute P.S the sandfly did not like my last post the sirens are going off
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4
Kia ora Tekaea It was cool seeing those kuia getting into there fitness .
Yes there is a lot of people who don’t not what there tipuna have done or achieved I can research our’s there is a bit of infomation on the internet
Burning all those log on Tolaga Bay beach its awsome that its cleaned up the mess .
Our beach is covered in logs to but you would be lucky to have one person a day go there. Ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub Yes Berne I agree with your word’s and Andrews.
With that building that collapsed in the Christ Church earthquake well not only the builder is at fault the council is to what a sham.
No demerit points for the cops they love hassling me on the road unmarked and marked car at least they won’t be hassling other people while they watching me 24/7 what a waste of money.
5G is a technology we need to get correct on the first roll out .
Taupo people you need to get off Grid Solar power systems if the grid goes down you will still have power how can a Town like Taupo lose power with one fault that is not on.
Salvation Army is a good charity to make donations to they do a lot of good work for the common poor person Kia kaha people this is what happens when a business person routs all the money to his M8s.
Peter Jackson new movie looks awsome may be he should make one on Aotearoa in the 1850 to the 1900. Ka kite ano