Two reasons…..
1) The boat building industry in NZ is huge, and cutting edge.
2) They don’t care about critical needs of people who aren’t in the National Party.
Local Government funds sport facilities like grounds and community centres, so there’s some government funding of sorts.
Theoretically, funding high performance sport allows the sports organisations to fund grass roots sports from their other funds since they don’t have to pay as much for representative teams etc, and it’s a form of advertising that gets more kids involved, so health outcomes are improved.
“Being involved in sport is one of the best health benefits available.”
If you are participating in the sports, as opposed to watching this would be true.
But government funding for sports at grassroots level is much lower than that for our “elite” or “high performance” sports.
And given the high level of branding on those sports by sponsors, we are effectively subsiding large advertising campaigns. But you probably consider that more worthwhile than making sports accessible to all.
The Trump administration will attack overseas regulations that restrict the export of GMO crops and other products resulting from American technological innovation, said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1gWEjUHvAE
@AsleepWhileWalking, SHOCKING. Although I’m getting the impression John Key was pretty comfortable with Genetic Modification … god knows how much is already here.
Thats too big a question to answer here Gosman, but nope, I like my food fully tested over time before it’s said to be safe, I’m concerned about declining bee populations and effects to the environment by this type of experiment and also companies like Monsanto that use their patent rights to create a monopoly of the food supply which has resulted in economic losses by small farmers. Also concerned about the conflicts of interests between regulatory agencies, corporations and governmental channels.
ALL your food is genetically modified. The potato you eat is not the same as the natural potato that human first found growing. The Sheep and Cows we have an abundance of do not look much like the animals that our ancestors first domesticated 6000 odd years ago.
You really can’t tell the difference between gene splicing and selecting seed from a plant that has the best characteristics? I suspect you can but are using a misleading argument because you don’t care if there are problems with genetic engineering.
It isn’t just my argument Weka. It is the generally accepted scientific view on Genetically modified food. Or is Scientific consensus only useful when it comes to Climate change?
Gosman, the boy asks a lot of questions to keep everyone running around, however he is pig-ignorant about the subject at hand, genetic engineering and selective breeding. I do believe that certain cultures may be offended if they found that a pig gene had been spliced into their favourite vegetable genome;-))
Gosman, please try to distinguish the difference between selective breeding (hybridisation) and genetic modification.
The former has been practiced for 6000 odd years.
Genetic modification is more recent.
Genetic modification through interspecies genetic transfers is an entirely natural process. Bacteria and viruses have been doing it practically since life began. How do you think you got that little bit of neanderthal in you?
It’s up to the people who believe there’s a huge difference between bacteria and viruses causing inter-species gene transfer and humans causing it to make a case for that difference – and more to the point, to make a case for such a likelihood of harm arising from that difference that it needs to be banned, because that’s the only context in which people mention it.
No, the precautionary principle ignores the fact that people have been getting on just fine without it for a 100,000 years. That reality trumps the precautionary principle. Along with all those non peer reviewed new technologies that were enthusiastically introduced to human populations without widespread testing or great knowledge of how they worked, such as penicillin, vaccines and basic medical hygiene.
I should probably elaborate on that. Genetic engineering is already subject to a shitload of regulations because precautionary principle. People who want it banned outright (more accurately, restricted to being carried out in Third World or authoritarian countries) need to show such a clear and present danger from it that banning would be justified.
In short: if there’s no plausible case for harm to arise, you’re asking people to prove a negative. We can’t go banning every invention anyone comes up with on the basis that they can’t prove it won’t cause some unspecifed harm at some unspecified future point.
There’s another reason why certain experiments are only conducted in “Third World or authoritarian countries” and that is because of ethical considerations. More often than not these outweigh risks of presumed and possible harm.
Well, yes. That’s yet another reason why I think we’d be nuts to banish genetic engineering to Third World countries and authoritarian dictatorships. Ask the Green Party why they think that’s a good idea, not me.
it;s a lot closer to that comparison than you think when you consider the method that that neanderthal and your great^1000-grandmother +1 used to splice their DNA together.
yeah I couldn’t find the clip of how the SP kids did it lol
I’m actually pretty ambivalent about the entire issue – my main objection to GM food is more along the lines of how corporates use it than any Pandora’s Box scenario.
GM just becomes a way to lock in monoculture to one brand, terminator seeds enforce reliance on that supplier, and it’s just another way for capitalists to fuck the workers (farmers being the next rung of workers up the ladder). Farmers fuck the farm workers, corporations fuck the farmers, and the system continues to eat itself.
Go for a drive through the cropping parts of Manawatu or Canterbury and you will see a range of corporate seeds in the fields. Go to a nursery and see the same in the rose garden. Or go to an export fruit warehouse and see the braeburns, pacific roses and galas, along with the zespri golds boxed up.
What you are ignoring is that other smart people are equally capable of coming up with alternative breeds, and no farmer is forced to use any of them.
…I like my food fully tested over time before it’s said to be safe…
It’s a good thing your distant ancestors who domesticated all the food we eat today were a little more adventurous, isn’t it? Also, no food ever has been subjected to the testing regimes inflicted on directly-genetically-modified food, so you should probably stick with the GE food to be really safe.
…I’m concerned about declining bee populations and effects to the environment…
Aren’t we fuckin’ all…
…by this type of experiment…
I presume by “experiment” you mean use of directly-modified foods in production, which isn’t actually an experiment. There is no evidence whatsoever that the practice of GE has or might in future cause a decline in bee populations, and evidence thus far suggests it’s actually better for the environment than conventional cropping.
…companies like Monsanto that use their patent rights to create a monopoly of the food supply which has resulted in economic losses by small farmers.
Well, yeah. But that has nothing to do with GE. Companies were patenting seed varieties long before GE was invented.
Also concerned about the conflicts of interests between regulatory agencies, corporations and governmental channels.
I am too. A hell of organic-food activists and vegetarians seem to be influencing those bodies. But as long as society is run by humans, that’s going to be a problem.
Milt, I wonder, do you have a view of what farmers whose economic well-being relies upon customers that require guaranteed GMO-free produce and how their future’s would be affected by a neighbour planting GMO crops, which could cross the boundaries between their properties. It’s not science, but politics, I guess. There is, after all, more to the issue than just the science.
We’ve had that conversation before. I don’t believe farmers have the right to veto other farmers’ choice of crop, especially if the basis for the veto is the desire to serve a niche market with peculiar ideas about food. It is about politics rather than science, as you say.
And the politics, or “ground-reality” of the issue can’t be ignored. Your argument ” I don’t believe farmers have the right to veto other farmers’ choice of crop” works both ways: farmers using GMO crops in the same space as farmers who cannot afford to have their own crops contaminated by GMOs “veto”their neighbours potential activities; something I guess you are equally unhappy about. I haven’t seen an argument from you that settles the issue.
There is no issue. There would be an issue if there was some actual harm that could come from GMO seeds drifting onto non-GMO neighbouring properties, but there is no actual harm – no more than there is from non-GMO seeds drifting onto GMO properties. The “harm” being claimed here is an ideological one, and the solution to it is in the hands of the bodies with authority over the ideology – ie, pressure the relevant organic certification bodies to stop being unreasonable, rather than pressuring local councils to trample on people’s civil rights.
Hi, Psycho Milt. I’m trying to understand in a non-combative way. I can’t understand how the organic certification bodies are unreasonable; they promote and support GMO-free production. The customers of those products rely upon an authority to guarantee the authenticity; ie.GMO-free, of the food they wish to purchase. How could those agencies: Demeter etc. abandon their customers by changing their stance? You may be able to help me grasp this.
Edit: the “actul harm” comes to the livelihoods of the GMO-free farmers. That’s real, tangible and devastating, where their earning is destroyed by the actions of their neighbours.
I have to call bullshit on the claim there is no harm to farmers from their gmo farming neighbours.
Monsanto Canada Inc vs Schneider 2004.
From Wikipedia: “That case concerned Percy Schmeiser, who claimed to have discovered that some canola growing on his farm in 1997 was Roundup resistant. Schmeiser harvested the seed from the Roundup resistant plants, and planted the seed in 1998. Monsanto sued Schmeiser for patent infringement for the 1998 planting. Schmeiser claimed that because the 1997 plants grew from seed that was pollinated with pollen blown into his field from neighboring fields, he owned the harvest and was entitled to do with it whatever he wished, including saving the seeds from the 1997 harvest and planting them in 1998. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto_legal_cases
I’m sorry for the combative tone – I find the enthusiasm for GMO-free as irrational as enthusiasm for religions and that tends to come through in my comments.
Organic certification bodies are being unreasonable by pretending that GMO food is inorganic. It can be grown organically the same as any other food, because, well, it is any other food, isn’t it. It’s all just food. Only someone with a genetic testing kit could tell whether an organically-grown plant was directly modified or not (in fact with the current trend for using CRISPR on the original genome it may soon be impossible to tell in some cases), and that distinction is itself entirely academic. There’s no practical, real-world basis for distinguishing between them at all.
What this is really about is pandering to the superstitions of people with more money than sense. There’s good money in that, to be sure, but let’s not pretend it’s actually about food safety or what constitutes organic farming. It isn’t the government’s job to protect a superstition-based market, especially if it has to unreasonably restrain citizens to achieve that protection.
Disputes over patented seeds are irrelevant to genetic engineering. Patenting seeds has been going on for a long time, much longer than genetic engineering has been around.
Oh I dunno, manipulating the genetic structure of crops that you eat so that they’re the only thing that survives being sprayed by Roundup, an industrial pipe cleaner sounds like common sense to you??
You have to measure how many people die from nuclear energy over the lifetime of the energy production. That’s measures in thousands of years, good luck with that.
We’re not here to do your homework for you. You cherry-picked “the last few decades” in order to establish the “safety” of nuclear energy. That restricted timeframe, even if the numbers were accurate, is irrelevant to the issue of whether nuclear energy is safe. If someone has been driving drunk for decades without an accident, does that make them “safe”, or just “lucky”?
We have had 29 die recently at Pike river taking out coal. Maybe time to look at renewable ways to make energy. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster – not just the loss of life immediately but the lasting effects of the radiation…
You agree that mankind’s activities have caused the climate to change, Gosman?
That’s progress.
There is no “scientific consensus around GMOs” – there is instead, a range of scientific findings on aspects of GMOs that you might like to present here, if you are serious about the discussion. By all means do that, rather than pushing the nonsensical position you’ve tried out here today.
I’m yet to see the consensus on GMO’s, I’ve seen a consensus forming around mono crops, like the ones you put up, with their over use and other problems. So when there is a consensus I will support it.
I will continue to support scientist who have used genetic engineering to fix up problems with selective breeding and hybridisation. And have been a supporter of that all the way through, but like many I feel when we don’t fully understand how things work, it’s not a time to play god.
Yep – saveNZ – right now the Australian NZ food authority is calling for submissions – deadlines soon – on whether canola seed and potato seed should be genetically modified. Pandora is being let out of the box !
Page 8 of the AustralianNZFood Standards development Work Plan 16 June 2017 has the details.
Pandora was let out of the box the first time ancient humans noticed a genetic mutation that was useful to humans in a plant and stopped nature from breeding it out of existence. The rest (human civilisation) is history…
Those boats are incredible feats of engineering, amazing to watch. Was living in Devonport when the Americas cup was raced in Auckland, it was a wonderful time, the city so alive, loved every minute of it.
Would be exciting if we won and were able to hold the event here again, sadly I don’t think we have the accommodation in Auckland to house all the teams and supporters, but maybe with a change of government we will be ready in time.
The increased economic activity that always accompanies Labour governments will take care of that. Oh, and there’ll be more motel beds available because they’ll increase state housing stock too.
Wayne Mapp’s slap down comment from yesterday is worth reposting here:
“James,
Your comment about the Americas Cup is a deliberate wind up. You know perfectly well that this site is not really a forum for sport and was bound to generate negative comment.”
Professional spectacles like the America’s Cup or Super Rugby etc isn’t sport, it’s entertainment industry product and as such has more in common with the likes of WWE than it does with sport.
Sport is about ordinary people going out and getting active because it’s fun. This professional crap is about a subset of 1 percenters figuring out how to get even wealthier by selling eyeballs to advertisers.
Sport is about ordinary people going out and getting active because it’s fun. This professional crap is about a subset of 1 percenters figuring out how to get even wealthier by selling eyeballs to advertisers.
Funnily enough that is what the old farts running Rugby Union in the UK used to think. A more privileged and stuck up bunch you would have trouble finding.
My father in law at the age of 65 was playing rugby as a Golden Oldie because he loved participating in the sport. The oldest chap that I last saw in that match was 90 years old. And the Saturday kids are playing sport for fun too.
Not so sure about the Elite though.
Nah. Professional sportspeople are sportspeople who are utilized by the entertainment industry. There is a big big difference. Do you personally know any proffessional sportsperson in person?
Your description mocks the hard hard work professionals put in to be elite. I dont want to be like them and I can appreciate their effort.
After leaving high school I put three years into getting good at my chosen sport, reaching as high as representing NZ internationally. Where I was racing against professionals, albeit just at the start of professionalism in that particular sport so they were just barely scraping by covering their expenses. And I learned I didn’t have what it takes to get right to the top.
Since then I’ve spent a substantial part of my career in various parts of sporting industries. Which frequently involved working with professional sportspeople at the top of their sport. Most of them were fairly clear-eyed about the fact that their high incomes depended on their ability to produce a saleable entertainment spectacle.
Not professional sportspeople but entertainers based on your first comment. Good we are on the same page now ☺ because I don’t disagree with your point just the way you made it.
I was in Rotorua in the weekend for the Lions v Maori match. The town was alive with New Zealand culture and thousands of British and Irish tourists, mixing with each other and having a fantastic time.
Personally, I’m thinking it’s probably a good idea to extend such a WOF to all living quarters. Some people will complain as some people always will but they’ll end up being better off a long with the rest of us.
If it stops people becoming sick or dying I’m all for it, because at the moment that’s what seems to be happening, unhealthy homes are slowly killing people.
We all know your solution to the problems of the World Draco.
No you don’t because even I don’t.
They are straight out of Pyongyang.
No, that’s where National/ACT/Republicans and RWNJs in general get their ideas from.
I actually prefer democracy. Even the elected dictatorship that National’s been taking away here and there is better than the absolute dictatorship that they and other RWNJs obviously prefer.
“Massively supportive of Labours plan of a ‘warrant of fitness’ for boarding houses…”
Got a link to that?
The concern is the cost burden will be passed on to tenants, further driving up rents. Moreover, if put into practice before cheap alternative premises are provided, more will end up homeless.
Yes I do share the concern, even as a landlord, and from what I’ve heard Labour has been addressing it which is awesome, I really rate Phil Twyford, he is doing great work and is truly passionate about his portfolio.
My friend moved the other week, her son has always suffered from bad asthma, she thought she had found a great house, it is a great house, but not for her son. He has started to feel unwell again, but we found the problem when the venetian blinds were let down in his room, they are riddled with mould, as are the curtain linings, mold spores are so toxic for that kid.
The landlord may not have realised there was so much mold happening behind the curtains etc, landlord is away at present, will be interesting to see how long they take to fix it. In the meantime we’ve scrubbed and I’m making some new curtains to hang up, but it still won’t address the damp in that room, a rental warrant of fitness could provide a check list, eliminating the problem before the house was rented out. Her situation may not be a big deal for some and is very mild compared with what was on the telly, but it is a huge issue for the health of her son. As well, addressing the problem means for the landlord not having an even bigger more expensive problem later as the house ages.
With that in mind a rental WOF would benefit all and benefit our already over stretched health system.
For a landlord a WOF could be factored into their rental equation along with rates, insurance, repairs etc. And if rents were capped it would make an even greater difference especially in our largest city.
This year I’m voting to save lives, I’m voting to change the government.
Rather concerned with Labour’s approach. They have it the wrong way around. They need to have alternative premises prepared and ready to go before they apply a housing WoF.
No, I was suggesting that 1600 people a year are currently killed by their homes and that’s the flipside of your eviction concern. If 1500 people lost their homes and died because they couldn’t afford homes that don’t kill people, that’s still 100 fewer deaths than if we kept the shitty homes until more people could afford to live in non-murdering homes.
The cost of heating is related to the shittiness of the home, by the way. Draughtier or more damp homes require bigger heating bills.
While non-insulated homes cost more to heat, the cost of heating a well insulated home is still expensive, thus a struggle for some, hence played a role in a number of those deaths.
“No, I was suggesting that 1600 people a year are currently killed by their homes and that’s the flipside of your eviction concern. If 1500 people lost their homes and died because they couldn’t afford homes that don’t kill people, that’s still 100 fewer deaths than if we kept the shitty homes “
Are you suggesting Labour should take that gamble?
At least we know how many people are killed by shitty homes. we don’t know that anyone will be made homeless by a decent WoF being implemented alongside the improvements to housingNZ and the kiwibuild program (which will get more people out of the rental market, thus keeping prices down for the decent quality homes).
All you’re doing is pretending that your way around isn’t the flipside of that exact same gamble, even though your conclusion is based on zero actual numbers.
“At least we know how many people are killed by shitty homes…”
So can we take that as a yes, you want Labour to take that gamble?
One can’t provide exact numbers to a proposal that has yet to take place. But one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that places will close and rents will increase, thus leaving a number with nowhere to go.
Seeing as Labour seem happy to take the gamble shouldn’t they have an estimate on how many people will be put out when they apply a housing WoF?
Deferring a WoF will allow more time for HNZ to catch those that fall through the gaps, regardless the numbers.
But one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that places will close and rents will increase, thus leaving a number with nowhere to go.
Funnily enough, rocket scientists frequently deal with multivariable situations, rather than simply assuming that the entire thing might blow up so it’s a bad idea.
If one were to follow a simply supply/demand curve, you might be right, or at have a reasonable concern. But with multiple policies going on (and even the chance that a Labgrn victory will automatically pop the speculative housing bubble and free up spaces in the rental market as actual resident NZers move into currently speculatively vacant houses) the idea that work on improving housing standards must wait until work on the homeless is complete is, frankly, bloody stupid. At the very least, development of the housing standards will take time during which work on state housing will also be proceeding.
Evidently, you failed to see I’ve taken variables into account and there still remains a potential risk.
Popping the housing bubble may impact the wider economy. Thus, impact on peoples ability to borrow, while putting pressure on those that are already leveraged up, hence may result in more looking to rent as they go belly up.
The worry for Labour will be how many others will be concerned? And will that concern put them off voting Labour?
Moreover, if Labour do make a hash of it, it will kill their credibility and mostly likely keep them out of power for decades.
I’m not sure Labour will worry about how many people will share your assumption-based concerns. You’re not very good at spreading them.
Which is good, because we know that 1600 people a year are dying, and you don’t want to do anything about it until your theoretical concerns have been allayed.
“Which is good, because we know that 1600 people a year are dying, and you don’t want to do anything about it until your theoretical concerns have been allayed.”
No. I want to see it done in a way that is less likely to exacerbate the problem.
Just had a look at your link. “1600 deaths attributed to cold houses each winter in New Zealand”. Told you heating is a factor.
The core problem with mould is humidity. Temperature much less so. Just insulating, raising the temperature without increasing the air change rate and getting the humidity under control will likely make matters worse.
If you have condensation running down your windows in winter, you likely have a mould problem.
This is an issue the NZ building industry has struggled to get to grips with. But in general we find some form of ventilation system is always the most effective cure.
Yes. Every landlord has a different cash flow situation, but overall with returns well under 4 % in many larger centres, there often isn’t much margin to re-invest back into the property.
Especially when most improvements make very little difference to the rent, even though they are of real benefit to the tenant. The signals are all wrong, made worse in the context of a broken building industry.
What would help is a package of incentives, assistance and regulation, plus the return of a revitalised HNZ into the market to put a social floor under the market.
The state could offer low interest, long-term financial packages available to landlords tied to substantial upgrades, and meeting strongly graded WoF standards. Big emphasis on healthy safe environments, lower energy costs, and ongoing R&D to provide the tools to progressively improve NZ’s generally crappy housing stock. Look around the world for best practice ideas, materials and methods. Find ways to use local resources and manufacturing to slash material costs.
Big regulatory sticks for landlords that fall short.
Get the state back into heavily training and re-directing the energies of the building industry into creating sustainable living systems for families and communities. Encourage local councils and iwi back into land development and social housing. Look for smarter more human centred housing configurations.
There are many, many highly talented, visionary people out there with skills and experience who given the leadership opportunities could transform our nations homes. All it takes is a political party with some vision and balls.
“The state could offer low interest, long-term financial packages available to landlords tied to substantial upgrades, and meeting strongly graded WoF standards.”
Yes, this would reduce the sum being passed on. However, until housing supply outstrips demand, there will be scope for rents to increase.
Increasing the housing stock and that of HNZ will take time. Therefore, if we want to avoid costs being passed on (thus avert the risk of forcing more people out and onto the streets) applying a housing WoF should be deferred until the housing shortage is addressed. By which time we may find the increase in quality and supply, thus the corresponding market competition created, ceases the need.
No, it comes down to actual numbers. Your problem with the policy is that you believe it will cause more homelessness, but that’s based purely on speculation even before we take into account a number of parallel policies that Labour have, from emergency temp housing to the effects of kiwibuild on the rental market. you have no idea whether the problem will exist at all, let alone its extent if it does.
On the flipside, we have actual numbers of a clear problem right now, a problem that you think should take a back seat to your hypothetical worry.
It’s based on a logical assumption considering the variables.
Apart from temporary housing (which will still take some time) Labour’s other two parallel policies will take even longer, leaving a void for people to fall through. Therefore, while we do have a problem now, one shouldn’t overlook the potential harm Labour’s proposal could do.
I get the feeling Labour are looking for any excuse to push this WoF through, as with their CGT. And if people fall through the gaps, so be it.
I don’t think the problem should take a back seat, providing alternative homes should be a priority. I just don’t want to see it exacerbated by racing into an overheated market with a WoF first.
Not at all. It’s another way to address the problem, without resulting in putting people out of homes they are currently residing in.
Adding cost to an overheated market will have wider implications. As rents increase, cut backs will be made (food, power, doctors visits, etc) hence consumer spending will slow down, negatively impacting retailers and no doubt tenants health.
“And when we have the additional homes, you’ll still be saying the same damned thing”
Not at all. However, as I pointed out before, the increase in quality and supply, thus the corresponding market competition created may cease the need.
Although, the cost of heating will still be problematic
“The state could offer low interest, long-term financial packages available to landlords tied to substantial upgrades, and meeting strongly graded WoF standards.”
My problem with that is it’s essentially the government indirectly subsidising banks and property speculators. Helping good landlords makes sense, but I have to wonder if the returns are so low that landlord’s can’t upkeep the property then perhaps they should be earning a living a different way.
“Get the state back into heavily training and re-directing the energies of the building industry into creating sustainable living systems for families and communities. Encourage local councils and iwi back into land development and social housing. Look for smarter more human centred housing configurations.”
Would love to see more done on the intersection of state/social housing and intentional communities. Huge potential there that would help with not just housing but a whole range of issues affecting the actual humans that live in our economy. This is why I don’t buy the traditional left wing idea that the govt should do everything.
This is why I don’t buy the traditional left wing idea that the govt should do everything.
I’m pretty sure that’s not a traditional left-wing idea. Hell, even I don’t hold that position although I think that the state should provide all housing.
I was short handing. In certain sectors e.g. housing, health, welfare, some people believe that the govt should do it all and there should be no NGO involvement.
The Government outlay would be repaid, thus overtime there would be no direct fiscal cost. There would however be an opportunity cost, as in the money could be spent elsewhere.
…if the returns are so low that landlord’s can’t upkeep the property then perhaps they should be earning a living a different way.
What’s being talked about isn’t “upkeep,” it’s substantial improvements. I have a rental built in 1910 – it’s well-maintained, but it’s still a hundred-year-old house. Making it behave like a modern house would involve hugely expensive improvements (not maintenance) that bring little return because you’re still asking tenants to rent a hundred-year-old house in a dodgy neighbourhood.
Landlords aren’t going to make those improvements without a fat subsidy. The government could force them to make the improvements, which would have two outcomes:
1. Increased rents.\
2. Forced exodus from the property market of middle-class people who have to sell cheap because they can’t afford to make the improvements. And woe betide the government that wrecks the retirement savings of NZ’s middle class…
How is the government not acting to destroy someone’s investment “protecting” it? That’s like saying you “protect” your kids by not punching them in the face.
Also: “I would never want to live in one.” Well, no-one’s going to make you, so your point’s irrelevant. Fact is there are people who do want to live in them, because they’re cheap. Providing only expensive housing doesn’t meet everyone’s requirements (and by that, I mean “doesn’t meet everyone’s requirements in the real, actually-existing world, not their requirements in Draco’s post-revolutionary utopia”).
How is the government not acting to destroy someone’s investment “protecting” it?
Because instead of acting in the best interests of the population as a whole as they should do they’re acting in a way that allows you to not lose money.
In other words, they’d be punching everyone else in the face for your personal benefit. I think that you should just wear the risk that you took when you bought an investment property.
Fact is there are people who do want to live in them, because they’re cheap.
Do they really want to live in them or is it because it’s all they can afford?
I don’t want to live in one because the chances are that it’s a damp, mouldy death-trap that’s cold throughout the year.
Providing only expensive housing doesn’t meet everyone’s requirements
Government provided housing would be the best available but everyone would be able to afford it and there’d be a home for everyone.
The easy answer to the building WOF is to cap rents on unWOFed buildings. If it’s a dump then the tenant needs their financial resources to mitigate the risks – and if you don’t like the rent cap, WOF your building. This would apply pressure to the worst landlords without punishing the tenants.
well if it drives up rental costs we (taxpayers) will at least be financing healthy and dry homes with the Accommodation Supplement rather then moldy, cold and deadly ice boxes as we do currently.
Secondly, if the rental gets an upgrade, that would be considered a business expense and should be tax deductible.
Thirdly, if someone has a rental and can’t afford to keep it to a minimum standard, and that is what the WOF would do – then they should not be in the business of renting.
A number of people staying in such dives already receive accommodation benefits. So unless that is also going to further increase, an increase in rental cost will result in forcing some people out.
Substantial improvements of a rental is not tax deductible. And it would be fair to say a number of these dives require substantial improvements.
Affording to keep a rental to a minimum standard will result in a number requiring to increase their rent, thus risk forcing some people out. And round we go again.
National just announced an increase in the Accomodation Supplement should they be again selected to run this country.
And all of that without a WOF.
but hey, lets just do nothing. Cause that is what you are arguing for.
ACtually, lets get rid of all regulations of anything. Cause hey it might be inconvenient to some. Fuck the rest.
My argument is if we want to avoid costs being passed on (thus avert the risk of forcing more people out and onto the streets) applying a housing WoF should be deferred until the housing shortage is addressed.
Therefore, the first thing to do is to focus on how we can quickly build more homes in a cost effective way.
BTW – I’m not against overseas students coming here, in fact think it’s a great idea as when you look at how hard it is for students in China for example with all the competition there, and of course anyone now who speaks great English and Chinese is almost guaranteed a job in China. So win win.
At present it’s not win win, as some educational places are not giving real course in exchange for this but instead a lottery of residency with the fake course. Not happy with that! Also people going into debt to send their kids here with money lenders and the like. Not on.
And they should be operating in places that need the students not Auckland!!! And local students should not be effected. Local lecturers should not be forced to dumb down courses. There should be specific overseas student courses that teach english while they study. And no working visas or residency to go with it.
The whole tertiary situation seems screwed with too much emphasis of bums on seats at universities and not enough about the actual results against other universities.
We have an excellent tertiary education reputation in NZ, which I fear is sadly being diminished for short term gains that will turn us into the ‘Trump University’ of the Pacific if it’s allowed to continue.
Foreign students study at schools and tertiary institutions all over NZ, not just in Auckland. Every university and polytech has foreign students, not just the Auckland-based ones. Student visas to study English is big business everywhere in NZ.
I agree the rorts need work, but the Labour policies will address them well.
Personally I reckon the Chump doesn’t have the nous or the discipline for any kind of grand plan like that. The emotionally undeveloped wealthy brat who’s never had to learn impulse control or humility remains the much better explanation.
Enjoyed that. Thanks Macro. So, May’s Britain has gone the same way as Trump’s America. At least both have enough local wits to keep us from going completely bonkers with despair.
TOP’s position is that we should leave the environment for our descendants in no worse shape than we inherited it – and preferably in better shape. We will protect and enhance our natural environment, not just because we love it, but because it makes good business sense.
What is so hard about keeping two complementary ideas in your head at the one time? What is so wrong about having a deep emotional connection to the land, AND understanding the economic value of a healthy environment at the same time?
Or is just sour grapes because Morgan threatens to nibble on the Green’s lunch a bit?
I think both The Green Party and TOP are working to solve environmental issues within a capitalist model, though they’ve got different methods to go about it. I don’t have a problem with that in fact it’s probably good to have another party – TOP in there proposing how we might go about it. Probably TOP have a better chance than the Greens stealing votes off National too as I think they will get votes from all over the political spectrum. That can’t be a bad thing, reducing Nationals vote. Not as good as a National voter switching to Green which is a 2 vote swing, but a 1 vote swing can’t be sneezed at either.
Perhaps go to TDB and see what Bradbury’s reasoning is about it:
I have a 7 year old daughter & I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever once felt any ‘chilling effect’ on my parenting because I don’t bash my kid!
More than ten pedestrians were hit by a van which veered onto a pavement near a renowned north London mosque late last night, according to reports.
Several people were reportedly hurt after the van ploughed into a crowd outside Finsbury Park Mosque, where hate cleric Abu Hamza once preached, as they finished Ramadan evening prayers called taraweeh.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing bystanders wrestle the suspect to the floor and pin him down until officers arrived.
Funny though the news seem to be reporting it as a ‘serious incident’ not a terror attack. Apparently terrorising UK muslims does not come under that moniker for news agencies.
I have been looking at info on Crystal Palace, London which at its final location was wrecked by fire in 1936, and the remaining water tower in 1941. It used to be an ancient oak forest before development spread. The space has been used for car racing, concerts etc. It seems that here there is room for extensive housing, of various types and heights with a barrier of 10 stories could well be established and STILL there would be park land and the well-loved amenities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Palace_Park
Wikipedia says this:
Proposed developments
A number of proposals to redevelop the Crystal Palace Park have been put forward since the 1980s. The park was handed to the London Borough of Bromley after the abolition of the Greater London Council in 1986, and a long-fought-over local issue is whether to build on the open space which was the location of the original Crystal Palace building or to leave it as parkland as the Greater London Council had done. In 1989 Bromley proposed the development of the site for hotel and leisure purposes, it culminated in the passing by the House of Commons of the Bromley London Borough Council (Crystal Palace) Act 1990, which limits development on the site.[22][23]
The Italian Terraces.
In 1997, a planning proposal was submitted which involved 53,000 square metres of leisure floor space, including a 20-screen multiplex. The proposal was opposed by a local campaign group, the Crystal Palace Campaign, set up a month later.[24]
In 2003, plan for a modern building in glass was submitted to the Bromley council.[25]
In 2007, a £67 million master plan was drawn up by London Development Agency which includes the building of a new sports centre, the creation of a tree canopy to mimic the outline of the palace, the restoration of the Paxton Axis walkway through the park, but it also included a controversial proposal for housing on two parts of the park.[26] It won government backing in 2010, and the plans were upheld by the High Court in 2012 after a challenge by a local group, the Crystal Palace Community Association.[27][28]
In January 2011 the owners of Crystal Palace F.C. announced plans to relocate the club back to the site of the NSC from their current Selhurst Park home, redeveloping it into a 25,000-seater, purpose-built football stadium.[29] However Tottenham Hotspur F.C. also released plans to redevelop the NSC into a 25,000-seater stadium, maintaining it as an athletics stadium, as part of their plans to redevelop the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.[30]
In 2013, a plan to build a replica of the destroyed Crystal Palace was proposed by a Chinese developer.[31][32][33] Bromley Council however cancelled the exclusivity agreement with the developer in 2015.[34]
(
It’s enormous over 200 acres, has a Sydenham address, is south of the South Circular Road and if looking at Vauxhall and the Imperial War Museum near the Thames it can be found by moving directly down.
So what about it you constipated British politicians?)
It would be good if housing could be built within known and normal fire service capabilities, say no higher than 10 stories, with internal staircases and quality lifts. And with fire in mind, with double controls, sprinklers, and as well, fire retardant applications outside. Then once built the building should be managed to provide continual affordable housing based on historic cost plus maintenance valuations not some market frenzied shark attack valuations.
That would keep them affordable for low-middle income people, and kept up to standard, handled by Council or a non-profit social housing entity. The Barbican redevelopment seems to be likely to be priced for the middle class. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbican_Estate
Has anyone heard of new regulations allowing employers to be notified whenever there are any changes on their employees’ driving licences ? Even when they don’t have a work car or use their personal vehicle for work related purposes.
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from 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 public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
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 ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles and that ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
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 ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Despite a “historic” ceasefire agreement in Papua New Guinea between Enga authorities and tribal leaders after months of bitter warfare, a young woman has been found brutally killed near Kaekin village, Wapenamanda. Despite the peace agreement and signing concluded in Port Moresby last Thursday ...
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
Are you deeply passionate about sharing Māori stories? We’re on the hunt for an experienced writer/editor to lead coverage in our Ātea section.Ātea is a deeply valued section of The Spinoff site, offering Māori perspectives and insights across politics, current affairs and culture. We are thrilled to be looking ...
By Aisha Azeemah in Suva With the lights on one of his sneakers blinking as he ran through the gallery, a little boy looked up at several works of art. One of them was a sculpture of his grandfather: the man who changed how we see the Pacific — Epeli ...
WHAT: Uber drivers are holding a rally outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington tomorrow, as the company begins its appeal against 2022’s Employment Court verdict (in a case taken jointly by FIRST Union and E tū) that four drivers were permanent ...
RNZ Pacific The Fiji Meteorological Service has a heavy rain warning still in place for the whole of the country after a weekend of flooding, although some floodwaters have receded. Flood and flash flood warnings and alerts are also in place, including a warning for all flash flood-prone areas, small ...
Responding to Grant Robertson’s recent admission on a Q+A with Jack Tame that his only regret from his time in office was that he didn’t take on more debt, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Alex Murphy, said: “Grant Robertson has now admitted that he ...
Comment: Re-elected Russian President Vladimir President has declared victory ahead of a fifth term in power, after an election that offered no credible alternative candidates. Following the death of his main opponent Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison last month, thousands of Russians followed Navalny’s plea to cast a symbolic ...
Every week that passes seems to tighten the fiscal noose for Christopher Luxon and co – a noose, moreover, of their own making.“Don’t tell me what you value: show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.” This phrase, a favourite of US president Joe Biden’s, resonates ...
Analysis by Geoffrey Miller – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Geoffrey Miller. Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are ...
Auckland may be the largest city in Aotearoa, but it’s the small community-led organisations within it that make the city thrive. The Spinoff spoke to two council-funded organisations who are doing their bit.“Torrent.” That’s the word one 40-year resident of Dundale Avenue used to describe what became of the ...
Commenting on the introduction of the living wage for all employees and contractors at Kāpiti Coast District Council, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “The problem with blanket living-wage policies is that they ...
With the upcoming SailGP event in Ōtautahi/Christchurch looming, there is mounting apprehension regarding the safety of Hector's dolphins, an endangered species unique to New Zealand waters. The event, scheduled to take place in an area frequented by ...
Why does the government continue to fund what is essentially a leisure activity (sports) when critical needs of the people aren’t being met?
Two reasons…..
1) The boat building industry in NZ is huge, and cutting edge.
2) They don’t care about critical needs of people who aren’t in the National Party.
so you not think that he government should fund sports ?
I’m sure that would be a winner. Being involved in sport is one of the best health benefits available.
How about fundinding Sports at the healthy entry level instead of the high end high cost end?
Very good point. The same applies to arts and culture.
Local Government funds sport facilities like grounds and community centres, so there’s some government funding of sorts.
Theoretically, funding high performance sport allows the sports organisations to fund grass roots sports from their other funds since they don’t have to pay as much for representative teams etc, and it’s a form of advertising that gets more kids involved, so health outcomes are improved.
“Being involved in sport is one of the best health benefits available.”
If you are participating in the sports, as opposed to watching this would be true.
But government funding for sports at grassroots level is much lower than that for our “elite” or “high performance” sports.
And given the high level of branding on those sports by sponsors, we are effectively subsiding large advertising campaigns. But you probably consider that more worthwhile than making sports accessible to all.
Exactly.
I’d have less concern with the government backing Team NZ if it didn’t have all that advertising on it for the mega corporations.
Then we wouldn’t be able to afford to compete.
Of course we could. If we can afford to compete now with all the added costs of the corporations involved then we can afford to compete without them.
“Being involved in sport is one of the best health benefits available.”
With the amount of related injuries and deaths, some would question that.
Good point. The same goes for Arts and culture.
France arrested 429 people on suspicion of Islamist terrorism offences in 2016.
Spain and Belgium were the next highest in the Eurozone arresting 69 and 62 respectively.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-06-17/wtf-chart-day-mapping-jihadi-arrests-across-europe-0
The Trump administration will attack overseas regulations that restrict the export of GMO crops and other products resulting from American technological innovation, said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1gWEjUHvAE
Except how will they attack these regulations?
@AsleepWhileWalking, SHOCKING. Although I’m getting the impression John Key was pretty comfortable with Genetic Modification … god knows how much is already here.
What is wrong with Genetic modification exactly? Do you not eat Potatoes or Corn or Sheep or Beef or pretty much every item produced by modern farms?
Thats too big a question to answer here Gosman, but nope, I like my food fully tested over time before it’s said to be safe, I’m concerned about declining bee populations and effects to the environment by this type of experiment and also companies like Monsanto that use their patent rights to create a monopoly of the food supply which has resulted in economic losses by small farmers. Also concerned about the conflicts of interests between regulatory agencies, corporations and governmental channels.
ALL your food is genetically modified. The potato you eat is not the same as the natural potato that human first found growing. The Sheep and Cows we have an abundance of do not look much like the animals that our ancestors first domesticated 6000 odd years ago.
You really can’t tell the difference between gene splicing and selecting seed from a plant that has the best characteristics? I suspect you can but are using a misleading argument because you don’t care if there are problems with genetic engineering.
It isn’t just my argument Weka. It is the generally accepted scientific view on Genetically modified food. Or is Scientific consensus only useful when it comes to Climate change?
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/01/29/pewaaas-study-scientific-consensus-on-gmo-safety-stronger-than-for-global-warming/
Next you’ll be telling us there is no difference between a wood burning fire and a nuclear fission reactor … because they both produce heat.
Heh, might use that one next time, cheers.
There is a scientific consensus that plant breeding and gene splicing are the same? I think you are telling porkies Gosman.
Gosman, the boy asks a lot of questions to keep everyone running around, however he is pig-ignorant about the subject at hand, genetic engineering and selective breeding. I do believe that certain cultures may be offended if they found that a pig gene had been spliced into their favourite vegetable genome;-))
Gosman, please try to distinguish the difference between selective breeding (hybridisation) and genetic modification.
The former has been practiced for 6000 odd years.
Genetic modification is more recent.
Genetic modification through interspecies genetic transfers is an entirely natural process. Bacteria and viruses have been doing it practically since life began. How do you think you got that little bit of neanderthal in you?
because my great^1000-grandmother had a wee bit of neanderthal in her?
Not quite the same as trying to splice pig and elephant DNA.
It’s up to the people who believe there’s a huge difference between bacteria and viruses causing inter-species gene transfer and humans causing it to make a case for that difference – and more to the point, to make a case for such a likelihood of harm arising from that difference that it needs to be banned, because that’s the only context in which people mention it.
Precautionary principle trumps that every time.
You seem to be conflating “precautionary principle” with “proving a negative.”
No, the precautionary principle ignores the fact that people have been getting on just fine without it for a 100,000 years. That reality trumps the precautionary principle. Along with all those non peer reviewed new technologies that were enthusiastically introduced to human populations without widespread testing or great knowledge of how they worked, such as penicillin, vaccines and basic medical hygiene.
I should probably elaborate on that. Genetic engineering is already subject to a shitload of regulations because precautionary principle. People who want it banned outright (more accurately, restricted to being carried out in Third World or authoritarian countries) need to show such a clear and present danger from it that banning would be justified.
In short: if there’s no plausible case for harm to arise, you’re asking people to prove a negative. We can’t go banning every invention anyone comes up with on the basis that they can’t prove it won’t cause some unspecifed harm at some unspecified future point.
At Psycho Milt 19 June 2017 at 2:03 pm:
There’s another reason why certain experiments are only conducted in “Third World or authoritarian countries” and that is because of ethical considerations. More often than not these outweigh risks of presumed and possible harm.
Well, yes. That’s yet another reason why I think we’d be nuts to banish genetic engineering to Third World countries and authoritarian dictatorships. Ask the Green Party why they think that’s a good idea, not me.
MCflock
it;s a lot closer to that comparison than you think when you consider the method that that neanderthal and your great^1000-grandmother +1 used to splice their DNA together.
yeah I couldn’t find the clip of how the SP kids did it lol
I’m actually pretty ambivalent about the entire issue – my main objection to GM food is more along the lines of how corporates use it than any Pandora’s Box scenario.
GM just becomes a way to lock in monoculture to one brand, terminator seeds enforce reliance on that supplier, and it’s just another way for capitalists to fuck the workers (farmers being the next rung of workers up the ladder). Farmers fuck the farm workers, corporations fuck the farmers, and the system continues to eat itself.
Go for a drive through the cropping parts of Manawatu or Canterbury and you will see a range of corporate seeds in the fields. Go to a nursery and see the same in the rose garden. Or go to an export fruit warehouse and see the braeburns, pacific roses and galas, along with the zespri golds boxed up.
What you are ignoring is that other smart people are equally capable of coming up with alternative breeds, and no farmer is forced to use any of them.
yeah, that’s been the historic refrain of every corporation back to Standard Oil. /sarc
…I like my food fully tested over time before it’s said to be safe…
It’s a good thing your distant ancestors who domesticated all the food we eat today were a little more adventurous, isn’t it? Also, no food ever has been subjected to the testing regimes inflicted on directly-genetically-modified food, so you should probably stick with the GE food to be really safe.
…I’m concerned about declining bee populations and effects to the environment…
Aren’t we fuckin’ all…
…by this type of experiment…
I presume by “experiment” you mean use of directly-modified foods in production, which isn’t actually an experiment. There is no evidence whatsoever that the practice of GE has or might in future cause a decline in bee populations, and evidence thus far suggests it’s actually better for the environment than conventional cropping.
…companies like Monsanto that use their patent rights to create a monopoly of the food supply which has resulted in economic losses by small farmers.
Well, yeah. But that has nothing to do with GE. Companies were patenting seed varieties long before GE was invented.
Also concerned about the conflicts of interests between regulatory agencies, corporations and governmental channels.
I am too. A hell of organic-food activists and vegetarians seem to be influencing those bodies. But as long as society is run by humans, that’s going to be a problem.
Milt, I wonder, do you have a view of what farmers whose economic well-being relies upon customers that require guaranteed GMO-free produce and how their future’s would be affected by a neighbour planting GMO crops, which could cross the boundaries between their properties. It’s not science, but politics, I guess. There is, after all, more to the issue than just the science.
We’ve had that conversation before. I don’t believe farmers have the right to veto other farmers’ choice of crop, especially if the basis for the veto is the desire to serve a niche market with peculiar ideas about food. It is about politics rather than science, as you say.
And the politics, or “ground-reality” of the issue can’t be ignored. Your argument ” I don’t believe farmers have the right to veto other farmers’ choice of crop” works both ways: farmers using GMO crops in the same space as farmers who cannot afford to have their own crops contaminated by GMOs “veto”their neighbours potential activities; something I guess you are equally unhappy about. I haven’t seen an argument from you that settles the issue.
There is no issue. There would be an issue if there was some actual harm that could come from GMO seeds drifting onto non-GMO neighbouring properties, but there is no actual harm – no more than there is from non-GMO seeds drifting onto GMO properties. The “harm” being claimed here is an ideological one, and the solution to it is in the hands of the bodies with authority over the ideology – ie, pressure the relevant organic certification bodies to stop being unreasonable, rather than pressuring local councils to trample on people’s civil rights.
Hi, Psycho Milt. I’m trying to understand in a non-combative way. I can’t understand how the organic certification bodies are unreasonable; they promote and support GMO-free production. The customers of those products rely upon an authority to guarantee the authenticity; ie.GMO-free, of the food they wish to purchase. How could those agencies: Demeter etc. abandon their customers by changing their stance? You may be able to help me grasp this.
Edit: the “actul harm” comes to the livelihoods of the GMO-free farmers. That’s real, tangible and devastating, where their earning is destroyed by the actions of their neighbours.
I have to call bullshit on the claim there is no harm to farmers from their gmo farming neighbours.
Monsanto Canada Inc vs Schneider 2004.
From Wikipedia: “That case concerned Percy Schmeiser, who claimed to have discovered that some canola growing on his farm in 1997 was Roundup resistant. Schmeiser harvested the seed from the Roundup resistant plants, and planted the seed in 1998. Monsanto sued Schmeiser for patent infringement for the 1998 planting. Schmeiser claimed that because the 1997 plants grew from seed that was pollinated with pollen blown into his field from neighboring fields, he owned the harvest and was entitled to do with it whatever he wished, including saving the seeds from the 1997 harvest and planting them in 1998.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto_legal_cases
I’m sorry for the combative tone – I find the enthusiasm for GMO-free as irrational as enthusiasm for religions and that tends to come through in my comments.
Organic certification bodies are being unreasonable by pretending that GMO food is inorganic. It can be grown organically the same as any other food, because, well, it is any other food, isn’t it. It’s all just food. Only someone with a genetic testing kit could tell whether an organically-grown plant was directly modified or not (in fact with the current trend for using CRISPR on the original genome it may soon be impossible to tell in some cases), and that distinction is itself entirely academic. There’s no practical, real-world basis for distinguishing between them at all.
What this is really about is pandering to the superstitions of people with more money than sense. There’s good money in that, to be sure, but let’s not pretend it’s actually about food safety or what constitutes organic farming. It isn’t the government’s job to protect a superstition-based market, especially if it has to unreasonably restrain citizens to achieve that protection.
Monsanto Canada Inc vs Schneider 2004.
Disputes over patented seeds are irrelevant to genetic engineering. Patenting seeds has been going on for a long time, much longer than genetic engineering has been around.
What is wrong with genetic modification?
Oh I dunno, manipulating the genetic structure of crops that you eat so that they’re the only thing that survives being sprayed by Roundup, an industrial pipe cleaner sounds like common sense to you??
According to Science it does. Or are you anti-Science?
Is that the science that said we should go nuclear too? How has science made nuclear safe exactly?
How many people have died as a result of nuclear energy over the past few decades versus other forms of energy?
Here’s a link to help
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/06/10/energys-deathprint-a-price-always-paid/#6805b57e709b
You have to measure how many people die from nuclear energy over the lifetime of the energy production. That’s measures in thousands of years, good luck with that.
I don’t have to do anything and I don’t see you producing any counter figures.
Your arguments a fallacious fictions ,and well covered by strong counter arguments.
http://www.fooledbyrandomness.com/FictionAndFacts3.pdf
http://www.fooledbyrandomness.com/pp2
I just did produce a counter argument. If you want to compare the death toll from different forms of energy, at least be honest about it.
Did I state counter argument or counter figures?
We’re not here to do your homework for you. You cherry-picked “the last few decades” in order to establish the “safety” of nuclear energy. That restricted timeframe, even if the numbers were accurate, is irrelevant to the issue of whether nuclear energy is safe. If someone has been driving drunk for decades without an accident, does that make them “safe”, or just “lucky”?
We have had 29 die recently at Pike river taking out coal. Maybe time to look at renewable ways to make energy. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster – not just the loss of life immediately but the lasting effects of the radiation…
Gosman is now going to champion global climate change, and stomp on anyone who goes against the science.
I won’t hold my breath
I’ve never denied the scientific consensus around climate change. The question is do you support the scientific consensus around GMO’s?
You agree that mankind’s activities have caused the climate to change, Gosman?
That’s progress.
There is no “scientific consensus around GMOs” – there is instead, a range of scientific findings on aspects of GMOs that you might like to present here, if you are serious about the discussion. By all means do that, rather than pushing the nonsensical position you’ve tried out here today.
I’m yet to see the consensus on GMO’s, I’ve seen a consensus forming around mono crops, like the ones you put up, with their over use and other problems. So when there is a consensus I will support it.
I will continue to support scientist who have used genetic engineering to fix up problems with selective breeding and hybridisation. And have been a supporter of that all the way through, but like many I feel when we don’t fully understand how things work, it’s not a time to play god.
To be fair, this consensus is about profit and controlling the world’s food supply.
Yep – saveNZ – right now the Australian NZ food authority is calling for submissions – deadlines soon – on whether canola seed and potato seed should be genetically modified. Pandora is being let out of the box !
Page 8 of the AustralianNZFood Standards development Work Plan 16 June 2017 has the details.
Pandora is being let out of the box !
Pandora was let out of the box the first time ancient humans noticed a genetic mutation that was useful to humans in a plant and stopped nature from breeding it out of existence. The rest (human civilisation) is history…
Pandora wasn’t in the box – it was she who did the letting out 🙂
I quoted it and didn’t notice! At this rate I’ll have to hand in my Pedant card…
Team New Sealand smoked Oracle this morning- a pleasure to watch.
its going to be amazing if they can bring the cup back to NZ.
Those boats are incredible feats of engineering, amazing to watch. Was living in Devonport when the Americas cup was raced in Auckland, it was a wonderful time, the city so alive, loved every minute of it.
Would be exciting if we won and were able to hold the event here again, sadly I don’t think we have the accommodation in Auckland to house all the teams and supporters, but maybe with a change of government we will be ready in time.
Sure labour is going to build hotels.
The increased economic activity that always accompanies Labour governments will take care of that. Oh, and there’ll be more motel beds available because they’ll increase state housing stock too.
“Sure labour is going to build hotels.”
It would help cater to the demand and stimulate training and employment, while widening and growing the Governments revenue stream going forward.
Whereas, National are paying exorbitant amounts filling them with the homeless.
Wayne Mapp’s
slap downcomment from yesterday is worth reposting here:“James,
Your comment about the Americas Cup is a deliberate wind up. You know perfectly well that this site is not really a forum for sport and was bound to generate negative comment.”
Wayne recognises a troll when he sees one.
Professional spectacles like the America’s Cup or Super Rugby etc isn’t sport, it’s entertainment industry product and as such has more in common with the likes of WWE than it does with sport.
Sport is about ordinary people going out and getting active because it’s fun. This professional crap is about a subset of 1 percenters figuring out how to get even wealthier by selling eyeballs to advertisers.
QFT
Funnily enough that is what the old farts running Rugby Union in the UK used to think. A more privileged and stuck up bunch you would have trouble finding.
The UK had it aristocracy to copy.
We’ve mostly managed not to do that although National seems to be trying very hard to replicate it here – with them as the aristocrats of course.
+1
My father in law at the age of 65 was playing rugby as a Golden Oldie because he loved participating in the sport. The oldest chap that I last saw in that match was 90 years old. And the Saturday kids are playing sport for fun too.
Not so sure about the Elite though.
Nah. Professional sportspeople are sportspeople who are utilized by the entertainment industry. There is a big big difference. Do you personally know any proffessional sportsperson in person?
Your description mocks the hard hard work professionals put in to be elite. I dont want to be like them and I can appreciate their effort.
After leaving high school I put three years into getting good at my chosen sport, reaching as high as representing NZ internationally. Where I was racing against professionals, albeit just at the start of professionalism in that particular sport so they were just barely scraping by covering their expenses. And I learned I didn’t have what it takes to get right to the top.
Since then I’ve spent a substantial part of my career in various parts of sporting industries. Which frequently involved working with professional sportspeople at the top of their sport. Most of them were fairly clear-eyed about the fact that their high incomes depended on their ability to produce a saleable entertainment spectacle.
Not professional sportspeople but entertainers based on your first comment. Good we are on the same page now ☺ because I don’t disagree with your point just the way you made it.
It’s open Mike. I like talking sport (and playing).
I regularly comment on the All Blacks as well.
But handwringers seem to moan about that as well.
Sport is wonderful.
I was in Rotorua in the weekend for the Lions v Maori match. The town was alive with New Zealand culture and thousands of British and Irish tourists, mixing with each other and having a fantastic time.
It Is events like these that create culture
RG. Does that mean that Wayne says james is a sporting troll? —Now I’m all mixed up like james.
Wayne is being a troll. “Lefties hate sport” is yet another nasty party attack line.
Wayne’s a troll now.. gosh it’s hard to keep up with who is and isn’t a troll, can someone make a list ?
English comprehension 101.
“Wayne is being a troll” ≠ “Wayne is a troll.”
For further assistance, seek out your nearest adult community education service.
nearest adult community education service, didn’t that service get cut under ex bene, bennett
that’s a bit subtle OAB.
Top job..
Massively supportive of Labours plan of a ‘warrant of fitness’ for boarding houses, personally I’d like to see every rental have a warrant of fitness.
Have heard that living in a damp and moldy house is worse for a persons health than living in a house contaminated by the P.
Bloody criminal what we saw in the weekend, the exploitation and the lack of government regulation.
Personally, I’m thinking it’s probably a good idea to extend such a WOF to all living quarters. Some people will complain as some people always will but they’ll end up being better off a long with the rest of us.
If it stops people becoming sick or dying I’m all for it, because at the moment that’s what seems to be happening, unhealthy homes are slowly killing people.
Would you support it if it increases homelessness?
Done properly, it won’t.
It will get rid of the bludging capitalists though.
We all know your solution to the problems of the World Draco. They are straight out of Pyongyang.
No you don’t because even I don’t.
No, that’s where National/ACT/Republicans and RWNJs in general get their ideas from.
I actually prefer democracy. Even the elected dictatorship that National’s been taking away here and there is better than the absolute dictatorship that they and other RWNJs obviously prefer.
“Massively supportive of Labours plan of a ‘warrant of fitness’ for boarding houses…”
Got a link to that?
The concern is the cost burden will be passed on to tenants, further driving up rents. Moreover, if put into practice before cheap alternative premises are provided, more will end up homeless.
Phil Twyford was talking about it on the wireless this morning at about 7.20am on radio live. Will try find the link, nothing showing up at present.
Cool, thanks Cinny.
Out of interest, do you share the concern? And did Labour’s proposal address it?
The link is now up here it is TC 😀
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/06/slum-boarding-houses-have-got-to-stop-labour.html
Yes I do share the concern, even as a landlord, and from what I’ve heard Labour has been addressing it which is awesome, I really rate Phil Twyford, he is doing great work and is truly passionate about his portfolio.
My friend moved the other week, her son has always suffered from bad asthma, she thought she had found a great house, it is a great house, but not for her son. He has started to feel unwell again, but we found the problem when the venetian blinds were let down in his room, they are riddled with mould, as are the curtain linings, mold spores are so toxic for that kid.
The landlord may not have realised there was so much mold happening behind the curtains etc, landlord is away at present, will be interesting to see how long they take to fix it. In the meantime we’ve scrubbed and I’m making some new curtains to hang up, but it still won’t address the damp in that room, a rental warrant of fitness could provide a check list, eliminating the problem before the house was rented out. Her situation may not be a big deal for some and is very mild compared with what was on the telly, but it is a huge issue for the health of her son. As well, addressing the problem means for the landlord not having an even bigger more expensive problem later as the house ages.
With that in mind a rental WOF would benefit all and benefit our already over stretched health system.
For a landlord a WOF could be factored into their rental equation along with rates, insurance, repairs etc. And if rents were capped it would make an even greater difference especially in our largest city.
This year I’m voting to save lives, I’m voting to change the government.
Rather concerned with Labour’s approach. They have it the wrong way around. They need to have alternative premises prepared and ready to go before they apply a housing WoF.
Depends on whether more newly-homeless people will die than the 1600 a year shitty homes kill
Are you suggesting tenants would be better off living on the streets, thus lets shut the boarding houses down now?
I heard (on the news the other day) a tenant of one of these dives say it was better than living on the streets.
Additionally, I see you blame “shitty homes” but overlook the high cost of heating, which also tends to play a factor in these deaths.
No, I was suggesting that 1600 people a year are currently killed by their homes and that’s the flipside of your eviction concern. If 1500 people lost their homes and died because they couldn’t afford homes that don’t kill people, that’s still 100 fewer deaths than if we kept the shitty homes until more people could afford to live in non-murdering homes.
The cost of heating is related to the shittiness of the home, by the way. Draughtier or more damp homes require bigger heating bills.
While non-insulated homes cost more to heat, the cost of heating a well insulated home is still expensive, thus a struggle for some, hence played a role in a number of those deaths.
“No, I was suggesting that 1600 people a year are currently killed by their homes and that’s the flipside of your eviction concern. If 1500 people lost their homes and died because they couldn’t afford homes that don’t kill people, that’s still 100 fewer deaths than if we kept the shitty homes “
Are you suggesting Labour should take that gamble?
At least we know how many people are killed by shitty homes. we don’t know that anyone will be made homeless by a decent WoF being implemented alongside the improvements to housingNZ and the kiwibuild program (which will get more people out of the rental market, thus keeping prices down for the decent quality homes).
All you’re doing is pretending that your way around isn’t the flipside of that exact same gamble, even though your conclusion is based on zero actual numbers.
“At least we know how many people are killed by shitty homes…”
So can we take that as a yes, you want Labour to take that gamble?
One can’t provide exact numbers to a proposal that has yet to take place. But one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that places will close and rents will increase, thus leaving a number with nowhere to go.
Seeing as Labour seem happy to take the gamble shouldn’t they have an estimate on how many people will be put out when they apply a housing WoF?
Deferring a WoF will allow more time for HNZ to catch those that fall through the gaps, regardless the numbers.
Funnily enough, rocket scientists frequently deal with multivariable situations, rather than simply assuming that the entire thing might blow up so it’s a bad idea.
If one were to follow a simply supply/demand curve, you might be right, or at have a reasonable concern. But with multiple policies going on (and even the chance that a Labgrn victory will automatically pop the speculative housing bubble and free up spaces in the rental market as actual resident NZers move into currently speculatively vacant houses) the idea that work on improving housing standards must wait until work on the homeless is complete is, frankly, bloody stupid. At the very least, development of the housing standards will take time during which work on state housing will also be proceeding.
But like I say, thanks for your concern 🙄
Evidently, you failed to see I’ve taken variables into account and there still remains a potential risk.
Popping the housing bubble may impact the wider economy. Thus, impact on peoples ability to borrow, while putting pressure on those that are already leveraged up, hence may result in more looking to rent as they go belly up.
The worry for Labour will be how many others will be concerned? And will that concern put them off voting Labour?
Moreover, if Labour do make a hash of it, it will kill their credibility and mostly likely keep them out of power for decades.
I’m not sure Labour will worry about how many people will share your assumption-based concerns. You’re not very good at spreading them.
Which is good, because we know that 1600 people a year are dying, and you don’t want to do anything about it until your theoretical concerns have been allayed.
With the way Labour have been polling, they should be. They need every vote they can get.
and again, I’m sure Labour will be grateful for your concern.
“Which is good, because we know that 1600 people a year are dying, and you don’t want to do anything about it until your theoretical concerns have been allayed.”
No. I want to see it done in a way that is less likely to exacerbate the problem.
Just had a look at your link. “1600 deaths attributed to cold houses each winter in New Zealand”. Told you heating is a factor.
less likely in your highly speculative and apparently biased opinion.
And you might want to read the bit about damp, too.
The core problem with mould is humidity. Temperature much less so. Just insulating, raising the temperature without increasing the air change rate and getting the humidity under control will likely make matters worse.
If you have condensation running down your windows in winter, you likely have a mould problem.
This is an issue the NZ building industry has struggled to get to grips with. But in general we find some form of ventilation system is always the most effective cure.
Little’s Bill here.
Awesome, cheers for that link McFlock.
The costs are always past on to tenants. Getting others to pay for them is how the rich get rich.
Which is the concern. Costs being passed on will further drive up rents, ultimately pricing tenants out.
Yes. Every landlord has a different cash flow situation, but overall with returns well under 4 % in many larger centres, there often isn’t much margin to re-invest back into the property.
Especially when most improvements make very little difference to the rent, even though they are of real benefit to the tenant. The signals are all wrong, made worse in the context of a broken building industry.
What would help is a package of incentives, assistance and regulation, plus the return of a revitalised HNZ into the market to put a social floor under the market.
The state could offer low interest, long-term financial packages available to landlords tied to substantial upgrades, and meeting strongly graded WoF standards. Big emphasis on healthy safe environments, lower energy costs, and ongoing R&D to provide the tools to progressively improve NZ’s generally crappy housing stock. Look around the world for best practice ideas, materials and methods. Find ways to use local resources and manufacturing to slash material costs.
Big regulatory sticks for landlords that fall short.
Get the state back into heavily training and re-directing the energies of the building industry into creating sustainable living systems for families and communities. Encourage local councils and iwi back into land development and social housing. Look for smarter more human centred housing configurations.
There are many, many highly talented, visionary people out there with skills and experience who given the leadership opportunities could transform our nations homes. All it takes is a political party with some vision and balls.
“The state could offer low interest, long-term financial packages available to landlords tied to substantial upgrades, and meeting strongly graded WoF standards.”
Yes, this would reduce the sum being passed on. However, until housing supply outstrips demand, there will be scope for rents to increase.
Increasing the housing stock and that of HNZ will take time. Therefore, if we want to avoid costs being passed on (thus avert the risk of forcing more people out and onto the streets) applying a housing WoF should be deferred until the housing shortage is addressed. By which time we may find the increase in quality and supply, thus the corresponding market competition created, ceases the need.
Can you point to anywhere where an unregulated market has managed to address social concerns?
“Can you point to anywhere where an unregulated market has managed to address social concerns?”
That’s why the Government needs to partake in the market. Improving quality and supply with the competition created applying market pressure.
In other words, if the Government provided better alternatives, tenants would seek them, pressuring private landlords to up their game or miss out.
what, like moving midrange renters out of the market by increasing housing availability and affordability?
Increasing supply and quality will help meet demand, stabilize prices, thus provide tenants with far more choice.
lucky Labour policy seems to dovetail a bit, then, eh.
Unfortunately, Labour have it the wrong way around. They need to have alternative premises prepared and ready to go before they apply a housing WoF.
Adding more costs in an overheated market can potentially do more harm than good.
but then doing it your way could also do more harm than good, leaving more people in dangerous homes than they get off the streets.
It all comes back to whether you believe they are better off remaining in these dives or out on the streets?
Labour are talking quick temporary housing, however they need to put that in place first.
No, it comes down to actual numbers. Your problem with the policy is that you believe it will cause more homelessness, but that’s based purely on speculation even before we take into account a number of parallel policies that Labour have, from emergency temp housing to the effects of kiwibuild on the rental market. you have no idea whether the problem will exist at all, let alone its extent if it does.
On the flipside, we have actual numbers of a clear problem right now, a problem that you think should take a back seat to your hypothetical worry.
Thanks for your concern, I guess.
It’s based on a logical assumption considering the variables.
Apart from temporary housing (which will still take some time) Labour’s other two parallel policies will take even longer, leaving a void for people to fall through. Therefore, while we do have a problem now, one shouldn’t overlook the potential harm Labour’s proposal could do.
I get the feeling Labour are looking for any excuse to push this WoF through, as with their CGT. And if people fall through the gaps, so be it.
I don’t think the problem should take a back seat, providing alternative homes should be a priority. I just don’t want to see it exacerbated by racing into an overheated market with a WoF first.
I get the feeling that yet again you’re letting your “logical assumptions” get in the way of addressing issues we know exist.
And if 1600 people a year die until your innumerable concerns have been addressed, in triplicate, well then so be it.
Not at all. It’s another way to address the problem, without resulting in putting people out of homes they are currently residing in.
Adding cost to an overheated market will have wider implications. As rents increase, cut backs will be made (food, power, doctors visits, etc) hence consumer spending will slow down, negatively impacting retailers and no doubt tenants health.
And when we have the additional homes, you’ll still be saying the same damned thing: “if there are wofs, people will be put out of their homes”.
So people will still die, because some landlords will always rent out cold, damp homes.
“And when we have the additional homes, you’ll still be saying the same damned thing”
Not at all. However, as I pointed out before, the increase in quality and supply, thus the corresponding market competition created may cease the need.
Although, the cost of heating will still be problematic
Just as your concerns “may” be completely baseless in the real world.
Ha, very unlikely.
that’s your assumption.
“The state could offer low interest, long-term financial packages available to landlords tied to substantial upgrades, and meeting strongly graded WoF standards.”
My problem with that is it’s essentially the government indirectly subsidising banks and property speculators. Helping good landlords makes sense, but I have to wonder if the returns are so low that landlord’s can’t upkeep the property then perhaps they should be earning a living a different way.
“Get the state back into heavily training and re-directing the energies of the building industry into creating sustainable living systems for families and communities. Encourage local councils and iwi back into land development and social housing. Look for smarter more human centred housing configurations.”
Would love to see more done on the intersection of state/social housing and intentional communities. Huge potential there that would help with not just housing but a whole range of issues affecting the actual humans that live in our economy. This is why I don’t buy the traditional left wing idea that the govt should do everything.
You want good landlords but you want to beat up on them at the same time. That should help.
This is why I don’t buy the traditional left wing idea that the govt should do everything.
Nor do I .. which is why I do keep banging on about community as an essential component of a healthy society.
where did I beat up good landlords??
I’m pretty sure that’s not a traditional left-wing idea. Hell, even I don’t hold that position although I think that the state should provide all housing.
I was short handing. In certain sectors e.g. housing, health, welfare, some people believe that the govt should do it all and there should be no NGO involvement.
“My problem with that is it’s essentially the government indirectly subsidising banks and property speculators.”
It would be cost neutral in the long-term. Landlords would repay it.
how so?
The Government outlay would be repaid, thus overtime there would be no direct fiscal cost. There would however be an opportunity cost, as in the money could be spent elsewhere.
…if the returns are so low that landlord’s can’t upkeep the property then perhaps they should be earning a living a different way.
What’s being talked about isn’t “upkeep,” it’s substantial improvements. I have a rental built in 1910 – it’s well-maintained, but it’s still a hundred-year-old house. Making it behave like a modern house would involve hugely expensive improvements (not maintenance) that bring little return because you’re still asking tenants to rent a hundred-year-old house in a dodgy neighbourhood.
Landlords aren’t going to make those improvements without a fat subsidy. The government could force them to make the improvements, which would have two outcomes:
1. Increased rents.\
2. Forced exodus from the property market of middle-class people who have to sell cheap because they can’t afford to make the improvements. And woe betide the government that wrecks the retirement savings of NZ’s middle class…
I’m pretty sure a 100 year old house is about 60+ years past it’s use by date and simply won’t get a rental WOF. I would never want to live in one.
So, why do you demand that the government protect your worthless business?
How is the government not acting to destroy someone’s investment “protecting” it? That’s like saying you “protect” your kids by not punching them in the face.
Also: “I would never want to live in one.” Well, no-one’s going to make you, so your point’s irrelevant. Fact is there are people who do want to live in them, because they’re cheap. Providing only expensive housing doesn’t meet everyone’s requirements (and by that, I mean “doesn’t meet everyone’s requirements in the real, actually-existing world, not their requirements in Draco’s post-revolutionary utopia”).
Because instead of acting in the best interests of the population as a whole as they should do they’re acting in a way that allows you to not lose money.
In other words, they’d be punching everyone else in the face for your personal benefit. I think that you should just wear the risk that you took when you bought an investment property.
Do they really want to live in them or is it because it’s all they can afford?
I don’t want to live in one because the chances are that it’s a damp, mouldy death-trap that’s cold throughout the year.
Government provided housing would be the best available but everyone would be able to afford it and there’d be a home for everyone.
The easy answer to the building WOF is to cap rents on unWOFed buildings. If it’s a dump then the tenant needs their financial resources to mitigate the risks – and if you don’t like the rent cap, WOF your building. This would apply pressure to the worst landlords without punishing the tenants.
well if it drives up rental costs we (taxpayers) will at least be financing healthy and dry homes with the Accommodation Supplement rather then moldy, cold and deadly ice boxes as we do currently.
Secondly, if the rental gets an upgrade, that would be considered a business expense and should be tax deductible.
Thirdly, if someone has a rental and can’t afford to keep it to a minimum standard, and that is what the WOF would do – then they should not be in the business of renting.
A number of people staying in such dives already receive accommodation benefits. So unless that is also going to further increase, an increase in rental cost will result in forcing some people out.
Substantial improvements of a rental is not tax deductible. And it would be fair to say a number of these dives require substantial improvements.
Affording to keep a rental to a minimum standard will result in a number requiring to increase their rent, thus risk forcing some people out. And round we go again.
National just announced an increase in the Accomodation Supplement should they be again selected to run this country.
And all of that without a WOF.
but hey, lets just do nothing. Cause that is what you are arguing for.
ACtually, lets get rid of all regulations of anything. Cause hey it might be inconvenient to some. Fuck the rest.
Don’t be silly. I’m not arguing we do nothing.
My argument is if we want to avoid costs being passed on (thus avert the risk of forcing more people out and onto the streets) applying a housing WoF should be deferred until the housing shortage is addressed.
Therefore, the first thing to do is to focus on how we can quickly build more homes in a cost effective way.
“National just announced an increase in the Accomodation Supplement should they be again selected to run this country.”
Yes. And in an overheated market, rents are expected to increase. And that’s without a housing WoF.
Which is fine but then acknowledge there will be even less stock available to rent.
If anyone cleans up the current fake overseas student degrees rout, and the working visas rout, more accommodation might become available
BTW – I’m not against overseas students coming here, in fact think it’s a great idea as when you look at how hard it is for students in China for example with all the competition there, and of course anyone now who speaks great English and Chinese is almost guaranteed a job in China. So win win.
At present it’s not win win, as some educational places are not giving real course in exchange for this but instead a lottery of residency with the fake course. Not happy with that! Also people going into debt to send their kids here with money lenders and the like. Not on.
And they should be operating in places that need the students not Auckland!!! And local students should not be effected. Local lecturers should not be forced to dumb down courses. There should be specific overseas student courses that teach english while they study. And no working visas or residency to go with it.
The whole tertiary situation seems screwed with too much emphasis of bums on seats at universities and not enough about the actual results against other universities.
We have an excellent tertiary education reputation in NZ, which I fear is sadly being diminished for short term gains that will turn us into the ‘Trump University’ of the Pacific if it’s allowed to continue.
Foreign students study at schools and tertiary institutions all over NZ, not just in Auckland. Every university and polytech has foreign students, not just the Auckland-based ones. Student visas to study English is big business everywhere in NZ.
I agree the rorts need work, but the Labour policies will address them well.
Is Trump trying for a New World Order of petrostates vs greenie renewables states? An interesting idea, especially for the conspiracy-minded.
http://www.salon.com/2017/06/18/is-trump-launching-a-new-world-order_partner/
Personally I reckon the Chump doesn’t have the nous or the discipline for any kind of grand plan like that. The emotionally undeveloped wealthy brat who’s never had to learn impulse control or humility remains the much better explanation.
That Salon article is well worth the read. An interesting model regardless of how you calculate Trump’s role in it.
The world is lucky Trump isn’t very bright.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/16/donald-trump-is-proving-too-stupid-to-be-president/
Queen’s speech 2018 cancelled to give Tories more time to find their arse with a map
🙂
Enjoyed that. Thanks Macro. So, May’s Britain has gone the same way as Trump’s America. At least both have enough local wits to keep us from going completely bonkers with despair.
Jonathon Pie’s latest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cft52h89roU
Not much to laugh at this time though.
Is right on point though.
TOP environmental policy wants to capitalise on our clean green image. The environment is a capitalist investment.
https://twitter.com/garethmorgannz/status/876585233298186240
Money is the only way they can relate to the environment.
Apparently so.
Or you could read their Environmental Policy
http://www.top.org.nz/top3
What is so hard about keeping two complementary ideas in your head at the one time? What is so wrong about having a deep emotional connection to the land, AND understanding the economic value of a healthy environment at the same time?
Or is just sour grapes because Morgan threatens to nibble on the Green’s lunch a bit?
I think both The Green Party and TOP are working to solve environmental issues within a capitalist model, though they’ve got different methods to go about it. I don’t have a problem with that in fact it’s probably good to have another party – TOP in there proposing how we might go about it. Probably TOP have a better chance than the Greens stealing votes off National too as I think they will get votes from all over the political spectrum. That can’t be a bad thing, reducing Nationals vote. Not as good as a National voter switching to Green which is a 2 vote swing, but a 1 vote swing can’t be sneezed at either.
Don’t want to be termed a criminal because you smack your child?
Perhaps a reasoned discussion on this strawman argument relating to prevention of violence would be helpful.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/06/18/qa-review-disgusting-nz-first-want-legal-right-to-bash-children/
Perhaps go to TDB and see what Bradbury’s reasoning is about it:
More than ten pedestrians were hit by a van which veered onto a pavement near a renowned north London mosque late last night, according to reports.
Several people were reportedly hurt after the van ploughed into a crowd outside Finsbury Park Mosque, where hate cleric Abu Hamza once preached, as they finished Ramadan evening prayers called taraweeh.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing bystanders wrestle the suspect to the floor and pin him down until officers arrived.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4616452/Man-arrested-van-ploughs-people-outside-mosque.html#ixzz4kPEVOHvp
terrible news – kia kaha to everyone affected by people wanting to cause terror.
This is what I do fear … an unravelling. Events seem to be moving quite fast now.
Odd.
Funny though the news seem to be reporting it as a ‘serious incident’ not a terror attack. Apparently terrorising UK muslims does not come under that moniker for news agencies.
I have been looking at info on Crystal Palace, London which at its final location was wrecked by fire in 1936, and the remaining water tower in 1941. It used to be an ancient oak forest before development spread. The space has been used for car racing, concerts etc. It seems that here there is room for extensive housing, of various types and heights with a barrier of 10 stories could well be established and STILL there would be park land and the well-loved amenities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Palace_Park
Wikipedia says this:
Proposed developments
A number of proposals to redevelop the Crystal Palace Park have been put forward since the 1980s. The park was handed to the London Borough of Bromley after the abolition of the Greater London Council in 1986, and a long-fought-over local issue is whether to build on the open space which was the location of the original Crystal Palace building or to leave it as parkland as the Greater London Council had done. In 1989 Bromley proposed the development of the site for hotel and leisure purposes, it culminated in the passing by the House of Commons of the Bromley London Borough Council (Crystal Palace) Act 1990, which limits development on the site.[22][23]
The Italian Terraces.
In 1997, a planning proposal was submitted which involved 53,000 square metres of leisure floor space, including a 20-screen multiplex. The proposal was opposed by a local campaign group, the Crystal Palace Campaign, set up a month later.[24]
In 2003, plan for a modern building in glass was submitted to the Bromley council.[25]
In 2007, a £67 million master plan was drawn up by London Development Agency which includes the building of a new sports centre, the creation of a tree canopy to mimic the outline of the palace, the restoration of the Paxton Axis walkway through the park, but it also included a controversial proposal for housing on two parts of the park.[26] It won government backing in 2010, and the plans were upheld by the High Court in 2012 after a challenge by a local group, the Crystal Palace Community Association.[27][28]
In January 2011 the owners of Crystal Palace F.C. announced plans to relocate the club back to the site of the NSC from their current Selhurst Park home, redeveloping it into a 25,000-seater, purpose-built football stadium.[29] However Tottenham Hotspur F.C. also released plans to redevelop the NSC into a 25,000-seater stadium, maintaining it as an athletics stadium, as part of their plans to redevelop the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.[30]
In 2013, a plan to build a replica of the destroyed Crystal Palace was proposed by a Chinese developer.[31][32][33] Bromley Council however cancelled the exclusivity agreement with the developer in 2015.[34]
(
It’s enormous over 200 acres, has a Sydenham address, is south of the South Circular Road and if looking at Vauxhall and the Imperial War Museum near the Thames it can be found by moving directly down.
So what about it you constipated British politicians?)
I also looked at the Barbican estate built on bombed areas.
This article is on the difference between a social housing estate and a private one.
https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/jan/13/brutalist-housing-estates-private-barbican-social-london
also
on looking closely at the Barbican:
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/sep/02/blitz-london-bomb-sites-redevelopment
It would be good if housing could be built within known and normal fire service capabilities, say no higher than 10 stories, with internal staircases and quality lifts. And with fire in mind, with double controls, sprinklers, and as well, fire retardant applications outside. Then once built the building should be managed to provide continual affordable housing based on historic cost plus maintenance valuations not some market frenzied shark attack valuations.
That would keep them affordable for low-middle income people, and kept up to standard, handled by Council or a non-profit social housing entity. The Barbican redevelopment seems to be likely to be priced for the middle class.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbican_Estate
LMFAO !!!
Outgoing Minister Nick Smith presented with ‘poo’ cupcakes at the Nelson Market on Saturday lololololz
A+ for creative effort 😀
+1
Has anyone heard of new regulations allowing employers to be notified whenever there are any changes on their employees’ driving licences ? Even when they don’t have a work car or use their personal vehicle for work related purposes.