How do we stop idiots like this Stringfellow bloke that just ignore the law. At least he's off the roads for two years but I bet he will be driving again as soon as he's released even though he's banned for five years.
The public needs to be protected from people like this. (Imagine if it had been your 8 year old son that was permanently injured).
Unfortunately it seems the only way to keep him off the road is by locking him up. Perhaps it is compulsory that a breathaliser is fitted to his vehicle before it is able to be driven (obviously he could drive someone else's car).
Unfortunately no one seems to have a great solution other than locking him up, as he will drive regardless of having a driving licence.
Perhaps like casinos ban problem gamblers, pubs could be told to ban him (and wholesalers, supermarkets?) just doesn't seem do able.
You seem to think that we, yes we, (should) just lock them up and/or ban them for some time (?) and then release them back into the wild with the same limited skills and in the same fragile mental state as they were before. Luckily, some are working on more constructive solutions although there are no and will never be a silver bullet.
After 11 drink driving convictions the question I would ask is why is he not already in this ststem you suggest? It should not be optional for him as he is a danger to himself and the public. Or has it not worked for him?
Looked up the programme (which I wasn't familiar with) – and initially looks like a good attempt to make a difference.
However, the incentive for participants is that they will avoid jail time, rather than that they actually want to turn their lives around. Which (as noted in multiple international studies) – is *not* a good predictor for long-term success.
According to this review, published 2017.
they had a 62 per cent lower rate of reoffending and 71 per cent lower rate of reimprisonment than the matched sample of offenders over a 12-month period.
However, these positive reductions in the rate of reoffending for AODT Court accepted participants appear to reduce over time. Comparable reductions in offending were -21 per cent over two years, and -17 per cent over three years, with a similar pattern occurring over reimprisonment and frequency of reoffending rates.
The author also notes that those most likely to complete the programme successfully, were also the ones with the highest prediction of not re-offending.
sample of graduates was composed of 57 per cent drink drivers, who were predicted to have lower reoffending rates.
It also reduces offending to a simplistic cost-accountancy formula – based on the court costs rather than the costs to the community.
25 per cent reduction in reoffending by participants generates enough savings in the short-term to recover the $1.3 million yearly additional investment into A ODT Court.
Try telling that to the parent of a child killed or severely injured by a recidivist drunk driver.
Thank you. I’ve already commented @ 1.1.3.1 on the focus on costs in $$ only and that nothing will undo damage or bring back victims.
At least one of your quotes (i.e., the one about recovery of yearly additional investment in the Court, which is based on a “Speculative cost-benefit modelling by the Ministry of Justice” estimate) is incomplete and missing relevant info
BTW, the formatting of that 2017-Review was awful!
In June 2019, an AODT Court Outcomes Evaluation Report was published:
The report found that within two years after graduating from the Court, participants were less likely to offend, less likely to be in prison and less likely to be involved with Police services. Where subsequent offending occurred, it was likely to be less serious offending.
The report also found that participants who completed the AODT programme experienced improved relationships with whānau, improved health, and increased education, training and mahi opportunities.
Agree the formatting of the 2017 report was dire – so sorry if I missed some information re costs.
This one is labelled 'In confidence' I'm assuming that it's been officially released 😉
However, the quote from the 2019 report for longer term effectiveness is much less rosy (p.22), than your comment (limited to outcomes within two years) suggests.
Over longer follow-up periods, the results suggest that the effectiveness of the AODT Court in reducing reoffending and imprisonment declines markedly. There were only significant differences for the overall reoffending rate and frequency of reoffending measures within three years, and no significant differences for any of the measures within a four-year follow-up period.
I wasn’t using any kind of special privilege or authorised access to that report and as far as I’m concerned it is in the Public Domain for all to access and read (and why shouldn’t it be?).
The way I interpret the findings is that there is an initial significant but relatively short-lived improvement and benefit. As with waning immunity, the solution may be a combination of better treatment options and boosters.
5 years in jail to start with. Max sentence for the crime. There are no mitigating circumstances. Really this fine graduation of sentences for 'bad, worse, worst' is rubbish. I can understand a reduction from the maximum with truly mitigating circumstances, but apart from that – 'do the crime, do the time'. I don't care how sorry he is now….. that poor kid and their family have a lifetime sentence. 20% discount for being 'sorry' is ridiculously generous.
Lifetime disqualification from driving. After 10 instances where he's been caught – God knows how many there really were – he's more than demonstrated that he is not capable of making rational choices around alcohol and driving.
Required to sell all vehicles. And permanently prohibited from buying any more. So sorry if that impacts on his ability to work. Get a job in walking distance or ride a bike.
Police choosing to charge anyone who lends him a vehicle as an accessory (and confiscating the vehicle).
Caught driving again – whether drunk or not = automatic 2 year prison sentence – no discretion from the Judge.
Really, it's up to him to decide if he wants to get his alcohol problem under control. My concern is protecting the community.
Yep it costs to keep him in jail. It also costs to let him carry on causing devastation wherever he goes. The lifetime ACC costs for that kid are (or should be – don't know if they're getting good quality advice) astronomical.
I heard the following by chance on Nine to Noon today. It is compelling stuff as told by a former drug dealer who spent years in gaol. Well worth a listen:
Yeah – I caught a bit of that on the way home from the school run [it's a bit much to ask the kid to take the vintage baritone sax on the school bus – both fragile and expensive ;-)]
Will try to listen properly later – when I get a break from work…..
Without a doubt that should be the starting position:
Lifetime disqualification from driving…
Required to sell all vehicles. And permanently prohibited from buying any more. So sorry if that impacts on his ability to work. Get a job in walking distance or ride a bike.
Police choosing to charge anyone who lends him a vehicle as an accessory (and confiscating the vehicle).
For the last point I would like to add the lifetime disqualification from driving for the person providing the car to the offender.
It appears to me, there's some form of "birthright to own & drive a car" here in New Zealand, not dissimilar to gun-rights in the US. I doubt any longterm driving improvements (widespread, excessive speeding, harassment and intimidation of others, like cyclists, pedestrians and other car drivers) can be achieved without a clear message that each time a offence is committed, the driver license could be on the line.
For the last point I would like to add the lifetime disqualification from driving for the person providing the car to the offender.
I don't know I'd go that far. Sometimes there can be quite a bit of intimidation involved in the 'loan' of the car.
But I agree that we do have a 'right to drive' mentality (explicit in our court system – which regularly removes or reduces penalties because the offender 'needs to drive for work').
I heard the government wants New Zealanders to drive 20% less in their cars by 2030.
Why don't we take the worst offending drivers off the road for that? Like everyone driving more than 20 km/h over the speed limit is on a shortlist to get banned from driving (indefinitely) to achieve the reduction above.
Would be interesting to see if / how the driving behaviour changes.
Coming up with solutions that are effective is the problem. At the moment he'll be in jail at a cost of $150,000 a year. What is the financial cost for his unfortunate victims? Clearly a massive amount is involved.
Maybe different investment further back in his history would have obviated the latest terrible incident.
First reply that seems to have some merit, thank you. Sadly, the focus tends to drift to $$ when the bigger cost is social, personal, and mental/emotional. As they say, a heavy sentence won’t undo the damage or bring back the victim.
At the most basic level, if he's in jail, he's not on the roads causing more mayhem.
Once he’s out, if he has no car, is not allowed to own one, and no licence (and anyone who lends him a car, loses it), he's much less likely to drive again.
If he does drive again, he goes straight back to prison.
Yep, in those circumstances, I do think the community will be safer from him.
Yep I did.
Not sure how this differentiation between personal and community is relevant.
Having had something to do with family connections with alcohol abuse problems. They will only change when they want to – it's not something that can be imposed from outside. It doesn't matter how much rehabilitation and/or support is offered. You can't make someone better. They have to choose to want to be better.
All the community can do is protect itself. And, one very simple and effective way is to remove the 'right to drive' from people with alcohol abuse issues. [We already do this, through loss of license provisions]
Those who continue to drive illegally and dangerously – against the provisions of the law – need to be removed from the community, for the safety of that community. And, the only solution we have ATM is jail.
If you want to argue for more rehabilitation facilities – I'll support this.
But, you also have to acknowledge that for many people, they quite simply don't work. And, those people should never drive again.
Not talking about raising a child here. But about an adult who is unwilling to take personal responsibility for his actions and who certainly has had zero regard for the community in which he lives.
Jail (and other legal sanctions) is *how* the community deals with people who wilfully disregard the responsibilities which come with community membership.
Ok, you and I are reading that saying and seeing things differently, which is fine.
Raising a child from birth when they’re not responsible for any of their actions to a person (adult) who’s considered fully responsible for all of their actions is your paradigm, yes? This learning and developing takes time and a personal as well collective effort, I guess we can agree on this. If so, I assume we can also agree that there’s both a personal and collective responsibility for the outcome.
When does this teaching/education stop? Or is it perhaps a lifelong process?
However, there are no real formal tests to see how ‘responsible’ a person is at any stage except perhaps for a driving test. There are milestones that one reaches by default without having to pass anything.
This system of one-size-fits-all is not based on functionality or being fit-for-purpose. However, at some point (i.e., at a certain age) one is deemed ‘responsible’ and that seems to be the end of it when they commit a crime, as far as you are concerned, apparently. The collective/community is then fully entitled and justified in washing their hands off the culprit who’s then outlawed and outcast.
At least that’s how I’ve been reading your comments, so far.
Sorry, have run out of reply links in the correct place.
This system of one-size-fits-all is not based on functionality or being fit-for-purpose. However, at some point (i.e., at a certain age) one is deemed ‘responsible’ and that seems to be the end of it when they commit a crime, as far as you are concerned, apparently. The collective/community is then fully entitled and justified in washing their hands off the culprit who’s then outlawed and outcast.
At least that’s how I’ve been reading your comments, so far.
PS Anker did refer to the Dunedin study @ 2.
My belief is that when someone transitions into becoming an 'adult' (and we can debate over what that definition is) in the community, then they assume both the privileges and responsibilities of that status.
An adult asks for, and is entitled to receive help from the community, for both personal (e.g. dealing with alcohol addiction) and community (e.g. assistance from the community in raising a child) needs. The community provides that help through government and through charity programmes, as well as individually.
An adult who neglects his/her responsibilities, and ignores proffered or available assistance, is responsible for both their actions and the consequences of their actions.
If the consequence of those actions is jail time, and a permanent loss of vehicles and licence, and immediate jail if there is future infringement (the 3 specific suggestions I made), I don't see that the community is washing their hands; they are taking reasonable precautions to protect the innocent, from someone who has repeatedly demonstrated that they are wilfully and dangerously irresponsible.
There is a point in anyone's life, where you need to stop blaming your parents (or other authority figure of your choice) for the bad decisions you make. Plenty of people have sh*t childhoods and don't grow up to be abusers, drunk drivers or criminals.
And, yes, I'm very familiar with the Dunedin study – and commented below.
I do think that there is an argument for an extended (perhaps permanent) legal adolescence for some people (e.g. fetal alcohol syndrome) – in recognition that they don't have now (and perhaps never will have) the mental capacity to accept the responsibilities of adulthood. However, that should also be accompanied by a restriction on rights (e,g, supervised living, no right to drink (or take any other semi-legal substances), or drive). I can only imagine how incredibly unpopular this would be….
This is good, thank you, and I agree with much. I guess the main question is, for me, when and where do we drawn the line and does it have to be a hard line?
An adult can ask for help, but many don’t, for all sorts of reasons. Addicts are not necessarily more inclined to ask for help; some are in denial, some don’t even realise they have a problem and/or how serious it is.
Jail time per se is purely a punishment, IMO, although it is also a protection of the community (risk removal). Releasing a drink driver from prison without proper new skills and a safety net and wrap-around support system is asking for repeat offending, IMO, because the cause of the problem has not been dealt with. Is that solely the responsibility of the person behind bars and only when they’re behind bars [no pun]?
It seems to me that ongoing support and assistance are required to increase the success rates of the alcohol and drug rehabilitation efforts and keep them up for longer. Unfortunately, this goes against the grain for some who deem any money and effort spent on the culprits should rather go to victims and victim support.
The problem I have with framing it in terms of blame is that it tends to become a binary case instead of a complex multi-factorial issue in need of an appropriate multi-pronged approach. Yes, plenty of people have had negative childhood experiences but that’s not a helpful argument, in my opinion – it implies that some made good choices and others didn’t without explaining what may have influenced those choices and how they came about. Prisons are apparently full with people who have had childhood and/or head traumas causing all sorts of mental issues, often undiagnosed. This doesn’t mean that they’re off the hook in terms of taking responsibility and/or doing the time, but it does offer insight into more effective strategies. For the record, none of this is a suggestion for ‘going soft’.
I have been re reading parts of the Dunedin study on criminality and other poor social outcome indicators. Every time I come back to their findings of low self control at 3 years old as predictive of poor outcomes such as criminal offending, substance abuse, teenage pregnancies, and as the Dunedin subjects move towards turning 40, poor health ( the study acknowledges child abuse and poverty as producing poor outcomes) but the self control discovery, should be in key in programmes aimed to reduce negative outcomes. The researchers also noted it was incremental, so even if you were not in the bottom or the top, your level of self control co related with the degree of outcome.
It was concluded that at an early age, kids could be taught skills to improve self control eg emotion regulation, and then again in early adolescents to try and lessen the negative outcomes for teens that can have a life altering course.
But with the drunk driver, if all cars were fitted with breathalysers, then ok. As we don’t have that, yes jail is the only place where we can protect others from him. Pure cost benefit analysis probably cheaper to do so.
Heres the link to the study Weka. I am not sure they teased out why, but I know in two young people who I am close to who had the same family, it was very clear to see. One child had very good self control and was emotionally well regulated. Still able to articulate their needs, so not a fearful child. There outcomes have been great and not too much trouble in adolescence (although sure they got up to a little bit of stuff we don't know about!). The other child was the oppposite and their behaviour during adolescence left them with significant disadvantages that will impact them for the rest of their life (no trouble with the law thankfully)
I know the old test of self control was to see if the child could delay gratification and the classic test back in the day was offering them a marshmellow and telling them if they waited a bit, rather than eating it now, they would get two. So that test is about the ability to delay gratification. I don't know what tests Dunedin used. I think it was a 45 minute process, plus interviewing caregivers.
Oh and also it looks like the good self control at 3 years carried over to predict problem gambling at 32 Years old.
From my own point of view, this isn't about feeling that we can therefore ignore poverty. But it would be one simple test and follow up programme, that wouldn't be too resource intensive that could change the trajectory of a lot of lives
Reports by researcher-observers, teachers, parents, and the children themselves gathered across the ages of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 y were combined into a single highly reliable composite measure.
From the appendix, digging deeper into the study design
Briefly, the nine measures of childhood self-control in the composite include observational ratings of children’s lack of control, parent and teacher reports of impulsive aggression, and parent, teacher, and self reports of hyperactivity, lack of persistence, inattention, and impulsivity. At ages 3 and 5, each study child participated in a testing session involving cognitive and motor tasks. The children were tested by examiners who had no knowledge of their behavioral history. Following the testing, each examiner rated the child’s lack of control in the testing session (3). At ages 5, 7, 9, and 11, parents and teachers completed the Rutter Child Scale (RCS)(4), which included items indexing impulsive aggression and hyperactivity. At ages 9 and 11, the RCS was supplemented with additional questions about the children’s lack of persistence, inattention, and impulsivity (5). At age 11, children were interviewed by a psychiatrist and reported about
their symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity (6)
I suspect this is deliberate on the part of Scomo and his handlers. A carbon copy of the Boris incident. It appeals to the bogan vote much like the bulldozer comment the other day. Gets him on the news cycle doing, 'something which could happen to anyone,' and allows him to make jokes about it after.
Coincidence…or is the inner circle partial to a little blow…
Patricia Bullrich, Argentina’s security minister, said that the gang had sought to use the Russian diplomatic courier service to fly the cocaine to Europe. But when Argentinian police released images of a Russian aircraft used in the sting operation and bearing the number of security council chief, Nikolai Patrushev’s, plane, the Kremlin denied any of its fleet had been involved.
Belonging to the siloviki faction of president Vladimir Putin's inner circle,[3] Patrushev is believed to be one of the closest advisors to Putin and a leading figure behind Russia's national security affairs.[4]
edit: In 2018, after several failed attempts, the traffickers finally loaded the suitcases on a diplomatic courier belonging to the Russian Federal Security Service. Two men were arrested in Argentina, including a liaison officer from Buenos Aires’ police academy, and three in Moscow, two while attempting to retrieve the suitcases at the airport.
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It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
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 Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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How do we stop idiots like this Stringfellow bloke that just ignore the law. At least he's off the roads for two years but I bet he will be driving again as soon as he's released even though he's banned for five years.
Northland boy permanently disabled in crash caused by 11-time drink-driver – NZ Herald
Depends on whether you approach it as a personal, as a social issue, or somewhere (?) in between.
What solutions do you offer, Jimmy?
The public needs to be protected from people like this. (Imagine if it had been your 8 year old son that was permanently injured).
Unfortunately it seems the only way to keep him off the road is by locking him up. Perhaps it is compulsory that a breathaliser is fitted to his vehicle before it is able to be driven (obviously he could drive someone else's car).
Unfortunately no one seems to have a great solution other than locking him up, as he will drive regardless of having a driving licence.
Perhaps like casinos ban problem gamblers, pubs could be told to ban him (and wholesalers, supermarkets?) just doesn't seem do able.
You seem to think that we, yes we, (should) just lock them up and/or ban them for some time (?) and then release them back into the wild with the same limited skills and in the same fragile mental state as they were before. Luckily, some are working on more constructive solutions although there are no and will never be a silver bullet.
https://www.districtcourts.govt.nz/criminal-court/criminal-jurisdiction/specialist-criminal-courts/alcohol-and-other-drug-treatment-court/
After 11 drink driving convictions the question I would ask is why is he not already in this ststem you suggest? It should not be optional for him as he is a danger to himself and the public. Or has it not worked for him?
Perhaps he couldn’t remember?
Looked up the programme (which I wasn't familiar with) – and initially looks like a good attempt to make a difference.
However, the incentive for participants is that they will avoid jail time, rather than that they actually want to turn their lives around. Which (as noted in multiple international studies) – is *not* a good predictor for long-term success.
According to this review, published 2017.
http://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/NZCrimLawRw/2017/11.html
The author also notes that those most likely to complete the programme successfully, were also the ones with the highest prediction of not re-offending.
It also reduces offending to a simplistic cost-accountancy formula – based on the court costs rather than the costs to the community.
Try telling that to the parent of a child killed or severely injured by a recidivist drunk driver.
Thank you. I’ve already commented @ 1.1.3.1 on the focus on costs in $$ only and that nothing will undo damage or bring back victims.
At least one of your quotes (i.e., the one about recovery of yearly additional investment in the Court, which is based on a “Speculative cost-benefit modelling by the Ministry of Justice” estimate) is incomplete and missing relevant info
BTW, the formatting of that 2017-Review was awful!
https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/criminal/specialist-courts/alcohol-and-other-drug-treatment-court/
Agree the formatting of the 2017 report was dire – so sorry if I missed some information re costs.
This one is labelled 'In confidence' I'm assuming that it's been officially released 😉
However, the quote from the 2019 report for longer term effectiveness is much less rosy (p.22), than your comment (limited to outcomes within two years) suggests.
I wasn’t using any kind of special privilege or authorised access to that report and as far as I’m concerned it is in the Public Domain for all to access and read (and why shouldn’t it be?).
The way I interpret the findings is that there is an initial significant but relatively short-lived improvement and benefit. As with waning immunity, the solution may be a combination of better treatment options and boosters.
5 years in jail to start with. Max sentence for the crime. There are no mitigating circumstances. Really this fine graduation of sentences for 'bad, worse, worst' is rubbish. I can understand a reduction from the maximum with truly mitigating circumstances, but apart from that – 'do the crime, do the time'. I don't care how sorry he is now….. that poor kid and their family have a lifetime sentence. 20% discount for being 'sorry' is ridiculously generous.
Lifetime disqualification from driving. After 10 instances where he's been caught – God knows how many there really were – he's more than demonstrated that he is not capable of making rational choices around alcohol and driving.
Required to sell all vehicles. And permanently prohibited from buying any more. So sorry if that impacts on his ability to work. Get a job in walking distance or ride a bike.
Police choosing to charge anyone who lends him a vehicle as an accessory (and confiscating the vehicle).
Caught driving again – whether drunk or not = automatic 2 year prison sentence – no discretion from the Judge.
Really, it's up to him to decide if he wants to get his alcohol problem under control. My concern is protecting the community.
Yep it costs to keep him in jail. It also costs to let him carry on causing devastation wherever he goes. The lifetime ACC costs for that kid are (or should be – don't know if they're getting good quality advice) astronomical.
I heard the following by chance on Nine to Noon today. It is compelling stuff as told by a former drug dealer who spent years in gaol. Well worth a listen:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018842567
Even Kathryn Ryan stayed pretty much silent.
Yeah – I caught a bit of that on the way home from the school run [it's a bit much to ask the kid to take the vintage baritone sax on the school bus – both fragile and expensive ;-)]
Will try to listen properly later – when I get a break from work…..
Without a doubt that should be the starting position:
For the last point I would like to add the lifetime disqualification from driving for the person providing the car to the offender.
It appears to me, there's some form of "birthright to own & drive a car" here in New Zealand, not dissimilar to gun-rights in the US. I doubt any longterm driving improvements (widespread, excessive speeding, harassment and intimidation of others, like cyclists, pedestrians and other car drivers) can be achieved without a clear message that each time a offence is committed, the driver license could be on the line.
I don't know I'd go that far. Sometimes there can be quite a bit of intimidation involved in the 'loan' of the car.
But I agree that we do have a 'right to drive' mentality (explicit in our court system – which regularly removes or reduces penalties because the offender 'needs to drive for work').
Here's an idea…
I heard the government wants New Zealanders to drive 20% less in their cars by 2030.
Why don't we take the worst offending drivers off the road for that? Like everyone driving more than 20 km/h over the speed limit is on a shortlist to get banned from driving (indefinitely) to achieve the reduction above.
Would be interesting to see if / how the driving behaviour changes.
You’re talking about this specific case, aren’t you, and not about recidivist drink-drivers more general?
Nice juxtaposition there.
Coming up with solutions that are effective is the problem. At the moment he'll be in jail at a cost of $150,000 a year. What is the financial cost for his unfortunate victims? Clearly a massive amount is involved.
Maybe different investment further back in his history would have obviated the latest terrible incident.
First reply that seems to have some merit, thank you. Sadly, the focus tends to drift to $$ when the bigger cost is social, personal, and mental/emotional. As they say, a heavy sentence won’t undo the damage or bring back the victim.
"a heavy sentence won’t undo the damage or bring back the victim." No it wont, but if all else has failed, it will keep others safe.
Oh yeah, how does that work exactly?
At the most basic level, if he's in jail, he's not on the roads causing more mayhem.
Once he’s out, if he has no car, is not allowed to own one, and no licence (and anyone who lends him a car, loses it), he's much less likely to drive again.
If he does drive again, he goes straight back to prison.
Yep, in those circumstances, I do think the community will be safer from him.
In other words, it is much more a personal problem than a community one?
Did you listen to the full interview with Billy Macfarlane that Anne linked to @ 1.1.2.1?
Yep I did.
Not sure how this differentiation between personal and community is relevant.
Having had something to do with family connections with alcohol abuse problems. They will only change when they want to – it's not something that can be imposed from outside. It doesn't matter how much rehabilitation and/or support is offered. You can't make someone better. They have to choose to want to be better.
All the community can do is protect itself. And, one very simple and effective way is to remove the 'right to drive' from people with alcohol abuse issues. [We already do this, through loss of license provisions]
Those who continue to drive illegally and dangerously – against the provisions of the law – need to be removed from the community, for the safety of that community. And, the only solution we have ATM is jail.
If you want to argue for more rehabilitation facilities – I'll support this.
But, you also have to acknowledge that for many people, they quite simply don't work. And, those people should never drive again.
It takes a village to raise a child.
Still not seeing the relevance.
Not talking about raising a child here. But about an adult who is unwilling to take personal responsibility for his actions and who certainly has had zero regard for the community in which he lives.
Jail (and other legal sanctions) is *how* the community deals with people who wilfully disregard the responsibilities which come with community membership.
Ok, you and I are reading that saying and seeing things differently, which is fine.
Raising a child from birth when they’re not responsible for any of their actions to a person (adult) who’s considered fully responsible for all of their actions is your paradigm, yes? This learning and developing takes time and a personal as well collective effort, I guess we can agree on this. If so, I assume we can also agree that there’s both a personal and collective responsibility for the outcome.
When does this teaching/education stop? Or is it perhaps a lifelong process?
However, there are no real formal tests to see how ‘responsible’ a person is at any stage except perhaps for a driving test. There are milestones that one reaches by default without having to pass anything.
https://youthlaw.co.nz/rights/legal-ages/
This system of one-size-fits-all is not based on functionality or being fit-for-purpose. However, at some point (i.e., at a certain age) one is deemed ‘responsible’ and that seems to be the end of it when they commit a crime, as far as you are concerned, apparently. The collective/community is then fully entitled and justified in washing their hands off the culprit who’s then outlawed and outcast.
At least that’s how I’ve been reading your comments, so far.
PS Anker did refer to the Dunedin study @ 2.
Sorry, have run out of reply links in the correct place.
My belief is that when someone transitions into becoming an 'adult' (and we can debate over what that definition is) in the community, then they assume both the privileges and responsibilities of that status.
An adult asks for, and is entitled to receive help from the community, for both personal (e.g. dealing with alcohol addiction) and community (e.g. assistance from the community in raising a child) needs. The community provides that help through government and through charity programmes, as well as individually.
An adult who neglects his/her responsibilities, and ignores proffered or available assistance, is responsible for both their actions and the consequences of their actions.
If the consequence of those actions is jail time, and a permanent loss of vehicles and licence, and immediate jail if there is future infringement (the 3 specific suggestions I made), I don't see that the community is washing their hands; they are taking reasonable precautions to protect the innocent, from someone who has repeatedly demonstrated that they are wilfully and dangerously irresponsible.
There is a point in anyone's life, where you need to stop blaming your parents (or other authority figure of your choice) for the bad decisions you make. Plenty of people have sh*t childhoods and don't grow up to be abusers, drunk drivers or criminals.
And, yes, I'm very familiar with the Dunedin study – and commented below.
I do think that there is an argument for an extended (perhaps permanent) legal adolescence for some people (e.g. fetal alcohol syndrome) – in recognition that they don't have now (and perhaps never will have) the mental capacity to accept the responsibilities of adulthood. However, that should also be accompanied by a restriction on rights (e,g, supervised living, no right to drink (or take any other semi-legal substances), or drive). I can only imagine how incredibly unpopular this would be….
This is good, thank you, and I agree with much. I guess the main question is, for me, when and where do we drawn the line and does it have to be a hard line?
An adult can ask for help, but many don’t, for all sorts of reasons. Addicts are not necessarily more inclined to ask for help; some are in denial, some don’t even realise they have a problem and/or how serious it is.
Jail time per se is purely a punishment, IMO, although it is also a protection of the community (risk removal). Releasing a drink driver from prison without proper new skills and a safety net and wrap-around support system is asking for repeat offending, IMO, because the cause of the problem has not been dealt with. Is that solely the responsibility of the person behind bars and only when they’re behind bars [no pun]?
It seems to me that ongoing support and assistance are required to increase the success rates of the alcohol and drug rehabilitation efforts and keep them up for longer. Unfortunately, this goes against the grain for some who deem any money and effort spent on the culprits should rather go to victims and victim support.
The problem I have with framing it in terms of blame is that it tends to become a binary case instead of a complex multi-factorial issue in need of an appropriate multi-pronged approach. Yes, plenty of people have had negative childhood experiences but that’s not a helpful argument, in my opinion – it implies that some made good choices and others didn’t without explaining what may have influenced those choices and how they came about. Prisons are apparently full with people who have had childhood and/or head traumas causing all sorts of mental issues, often undiagnosed. This doesn’t mean that they’re off the hook in terms of taking responsibility and/or doing the time, but it does offer insight into more effective strategies. For the record, none of this is a suggestion for ‘going soft’.
I have been re reading parts of the Dunedin study on criminality and other poor social outcome indicators. Every time I come back to their findings of low self control at 3 years old as predictive of poor outcomes such as criminal offending, substance abuse, teenage pregnancies, and as the Dunedin subjects move towards turning 40, poor health ( the study acknowledges child abuse and poverty as producing poor outcomes) but the self control discovery, should be in key in programmes aimed to reduce negative outcomes. The researchers also noted it was incremental, so even if you were not in the bottom or the top, your level of self control co related with the degree of outcome.
It was concluded that at an early age, kids could be taught skills to improve self control eg emotion regulation, and then again in early adolescents to try and lessen the negative outcomes for teens that can have a life altering course.
But with the drunk driver, if all cars were fitted with breathalysers, then ok. As we don’t have that, yes jail is the only place where we can protect others from him. Pure cost benefit analysis probably cheaper to do so.
my heart goes out to this kid and his whanau
What was their definition of self control in 3 year olds? Did they dig into why the toddlers were like that?
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1010076108
Heres the link to the study Weka. I am not sure they teased out why, but I know in two young people who I am close to who had the same family, it was very clear to see. One child had very good self control and was emotionally well regulated. Still able to articulate their needs, so not a fearful child. There outcomes have been great and not too much trouble in adolescence (although sure they got up to a little bit of stuff we don't know about!). The other child was the oppposite and their behaviour during adolescence left them with significant disadvantages that will impact them for the rest of their life (no trouble with the law thankfully)
I know the old test of self control was to see if the child could delay gratification and the classic test back in the day was offering them a marshmellow and telling them if they waited a bit, rather than eating it now, they would get two. So that test is about the ability to delay gratification. I don't know what tests Dunedin used. I think it was a 45 minute process, plus interviewing caregivers.
Oh and also it looks like the good self control at 3 years carried over to predict problem gambling at 32 Years old.
From my own point of view, this isn't about feeling that we can therefore ignore poverty. But it would be one simple test and follow up programme, that wouldn't be too resource intensive that could change the trajectory of a lot of lives
https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac034/6553423?login=false
This from Dunedin on vacinne hesitancy. Its very interesting.
Marshmallow test on its own has been debunked:
https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/new-study-disavows-marshmallow-tests-predictive-powers/
But, this composite measure used in the Dunedin study apparently has a better predictive outcome.
See link in comment below.
This comes from the longitudinal Dunedin study.
Self-control was measured by:
From the appendix, digging deeper into the study design
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1010076108
I suspect this is deliberate on the part of Scomo and his handlers. A carbon copy of the Boris incident. It appeals to the bogan vote much like the bulldozer comment the other day. Gets him on the news cycle doing, 'something which could happen to anyone,' and allows him to make jokes about it after.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/300591979/australian-election-campaign-goes-off-script-as-scott-morrison-accidentally-tackles-child
No smoking gun, but it seems that a cocaine shipment disappeared within reach of the young Mr Putin.
Coincidence…or is the inner circle partial to a little blow…
Patricia Bullrich, Argentina’s security minister, said that the gang had sought to use the Russian diplomatic courier service to fly the cocaine to Europe. But when Argentinian police released images of a Russian aircraft used in the sting operation and bearing the number of security council chief, Nikolai Patrushev’s, plane, the Kremlin denied any of its fleet had been involved.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/20/four-jailed-for-trying-to-smuggle-cocaine-through-russias-argentine-embassy
Belonging to the siloviki faction of president Vladimir Putin's inner circle,[3] Patrushev is believed to be one of the closest advisors to Putin and a leading figure behind Russia's national security affairs.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Patrushev
edit:
In 2018, after several failed attempts, the traffickers finally loaded the suitcases on a diplomatic courier belonging to the Russian Federal Security Service. Two men were arrested in Argentina, including a liaison officer from Buenos Aires’ police academy, and three in Moscow, two while attempting to retrieve the suitcases at the airport.
https://insightcrime.org/news/russia-argentina-jointly-take-down-fake-diplomats-cocaine-plot/