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
@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.
Here is the speech that Maya Forstater gave at the Woman’s Place UK Women’s Liberation 2020 conference at UCL on February 1st In a recent newsletter she wrote: it was an amazing day (and brilliant to meet so many people in real life). I talked about what makes people and ...
NZ First portrays itself as an anti-establishment party, standing up for "the little guy" (always a guy) against Big Auckland Money and its tool-parties. But it turns out that its secret slush fund is funded by the very people it claims to oppose:Stuff can reveal a longer list of donors ...
Peter TalleyI really don’t envy Jacinda Ardern’s position as Prime Minister of New Zealand. She’s probably got the hardest job in the country. Not only does she have to ensure her own MPs are behaving properly, she has to negotiate with Winston Peters and other NZ First MPs who seem ...
Will She, Or Won't She? Jacinda’s white vestments may look impressive on the cover of the international edition of TIME magazine, but every day Labour’s relationship with Winston Peters and NZ First continues, her ability to go on wearing them back home in New Zealand – without exciting derision – diminishes.IT WAS ...
BAMS survey of 2018 extreme weather The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society has published a collection of articles examining unusually extreme weather events of 2018 and connections of those to climate change. These investigations are listed separately below but thanks to the generosity of AMS appear free for ...
Less than two months after China told the WHO there was a problem, a lot has happened. Sadly, deaths, confirmed cases and countries affected are increasing every day. However, on a scientific and medical level, what is going on to contain, cure and prevent this new disease is truly inspirational. ...
From 2015 to 2019 the NSA ran a program of mass surveillance of Americans' domestic communications. It was intrusive, totalitarian, and a collosal waste of money:A National Security Agency system that analyzed logs of Americans’ domestic phone calls and text messages cost $100 million from 2015 to 2019, but yielded ...
I must say that it’s at loggerheads with the inclusive and free society we want to create in New Zealand that one of our largest media outlets, MediaWorks, would allow Hannah Tamaki to perform on their show, Dancing With The Stars.Hannah Tamaki and her husband Brian are after all well-known ...
The media is reporting that an Auckland man has been charged with terrorism. Unfortunately, that's all we know, because all details have been suppressed. Who are they? What are they alleged to have done? Its all secret. There may be good reason for some of this (e.g. protection of the ...
Dr David ChagnéNew Zealand is involved in a US$12.8 million USDA grant to improve the quality of blueberry and cranberry. The four-year project, led by North Carolina State University, is part of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative, which funds multi-year, multi-institutional collaborative ...
The Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change book is now available! The book uses cartoons, humor, and critical thinking to expose how and why some people reject climate science. It's now available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book outlets. If you're near the DC area, you're very welcome to ...
by the Council of Disobedient Women When Moana Maniapoto recently lamented that Rachel Stewart was no longer writing for the Herald, political commentator Morgan Godfery was quick to brag on Twitter, like a schoolyard bully, how proud he was of “driving Rachel Stewart from the Herald”. What a contrast Morgan ...
You’re probably aware that the Achievement Standards used to assess senior school students’ learning are being reviewed. Science is one of the ‘pilot’ subjects in this process, where a ‘Subject Expert Group’ has developed 4 draft Science standards¹ (a significant step away from the current 30+, and a response to ...
John MacCormickTo succeed in an unpredictable and changing world, adaptability is the key. Let’s be chameleons. Technology continues to change people’s jobs and work environments. But change so far is not as fast and extensive as some pundits claim. Nor is it as fast and extensive as it needs ...
It seems we can’t even get through a week these days without the National Party's leader, Simon Bridges, making some sort of silly announcement about a policy that doesn’t actually exist.Usually concerning Bridges’ gut instinct and the undoing of whatever the Government has recently announced, National’s reactionary opinions and uncosted ...
Oh look! NZ First's secret slush fund was laundering donations from Talley's:One of the country's biggest fishing companies, Talley's, and its managing director donated nearly $27,000 to the New Zealand First Foundation, which has been bankrolling the New Zealand First Party. The foundation received $26,950 from seafood giant Talley's and ...
Janet Hoek, Richard Edwards, Andrew Waa, Nick Wilson, George ThomsonMinister Jenny Salesa announced the Government’s long-awaited Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill on Sunday 23 February. The Bill contains some important provisions as it works to strike a balance between ensuring regulated products are available to ...
Surprisingly enough, one could argue (as I often do) that the day inserted into a leap year is not that we label 29th February, but actually the 24th of February. Here I explain why, briefly. Almost everyone assumes that the day added into February in a leap year is the ...
If you haven’t watched Newsroom’s video showing Oranga Tamariki staff attempting to uplift a newborn baby yet you should do so. Although it's not the worst case as far as interventions go, it’s certainly not a good look for the Government. Because of this controversy there’s been a plethora of ...
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Transport is our second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Any credible effort to reduce emissions to net-zero has to target it. So what is the government doing? Subsidising some of the dirtiest, most inefficient vehicles on the roads:New Zealand's favourite cars - double cab utes - are largely exempt ...
You’ve really got to wonder what the NZ First Party was thinking and drinking last Friday? Not only did they hamstring the Greens by halting one of their main environmental policies, the electric vehicle fee-bate scheme, a policy that the public was led to believe was a done deal…but they ...
High Risk Call: Insensitive though it may seem to even pose the question: how will the electorate respond to what the Prime Minister’s opponents will undoubtedly characterise as an attack on New Zealanders’ freedom of speech? At more than twelve month’s remove from the terrible events of 15 March 2019, ...
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Last week the Wall Street Journal published an article ‘The Dangerous Denial of Sex by two scientists Colin Wright and Emma Hilton. Write is an evolutionary biologist at Penn State and Hilton is a developmental biologist at the University of Manchester. It is well worth reading the article in full. Here ...
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Last Monday SpaceX launched another clutch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, bringing up to 300 the number of these units intended to bring 5G internet to the whole globe. In this post I present a movie showing how all 300 such satellites will be zipping around our planet over ...
The recent floods in Southland have highlighted the issue of Rio Tinto's illegal toxic waste dump in Mataura. But according to Newsroom, there's an even worse mess in Ruakaka near Whangarei:A Northland property stockpiled one million litres of flammable and toxic chemicals. Almost two years since the situation came to ...
It’s amazing just how many attack ads $100,000 buys you these days. The National Party has really been going to town lately, with their latest Twitter campaign making a number of questionable and blatantly false assertions, one being that poverty has worsened under the Labour led Government.The National Party's claim ...
OMV's exploratory drilling in the Great South Basin has failed to find oil. Good. Firstly, because we can't afford to burn the oil and gas we've already found, so there's just no point looking for more. And secondly, because offshore, deep-water drilling poses a risk of an environmental catastrophe, which ...
The government has announced it will strengthen whistleblower protections. The major change is "allowing people to report serious wrongdoing direct to an external authority if they wish", which fixes one of the big flaws in the Act. At present, whistleblowers must generally make their disclosure direct to the body they ...
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The Democracy Virus: China’s authoritarian political system enables a level of social surveillance and control that liberal democratic societies cannot match. The Chinese Government makes full use of the latest digital technology to both punish – and reward – its citizens. The plans it formulates cannot be challenged, or hindered. Where ...
Another day, another IPCA report on criminal conduct by policy. This time they kicked a child in the head when he was handcuffed:Police chased him and yelled out for him to stop. When he turned to face the police, he threatened them with a hammer. That's when the officers tasered ...
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While the south of New Zealand has been struggling with too much rain in recent days, here in the north we are so very short of it (though Saturday’s forecast looks promising). Basically, we have had almost none since Christmas.As someone who relies on rain to wash the car, ...
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After cross-examination Jones knew he would lose the defamation case he took against film maker Renae Maihi. That’s why he threw in the towel. The weight of evidence was clearly against the old tycoon with the defense presenting fifty articles to confirm Jones’ racist views.Being unable to harass somebody into ...
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Hon. Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development Up to $2 million will be allocated from the Provincial Growth Fund to set up temporary water supplies in Kaikohe and Kaitaia where drought is biting hard, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. Drought conditions in Northland have led to ...
Darroch Ball, Spokesperson for Law and Order New Zealand First welcomes the deployment of an Eagle Police helicopter in Christchurch in what is a step towards fulfilling its long-standing goal to increase the use of police helicopters for the front line, particularly in addressing the scourge of fleeing drivers. Christchurch leads ...
It may have been the first sitting week of 2020, but our Government is already in full-swing - managing a strong economy, investing in infrastructure, and working to break the cycle of homelessness. Read below for all that, and more... ...
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Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister, Kris Faafoi, and the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, have welcomed a new cyber security qualification as a step towards countering cyber threats and keeping New Zealanders safe. Attending the launch of the new Level 6 Diploma of Cyber Security at Auckland’s Unitec Institute ...
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E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e ngā rau rangatira ma. Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Ni sa bula vinaka. Namaste Thank you Shamima, Hon. Minister Vuniwaqa, community leaders and Women’s Crisis Centre staff for your warm welcome. It’s an honour and privilege to officially ...
The Government has released a comprehensive response to ensuring New Zealanders get a fairer deal at the petrol pump. This follows the Commerce Commission fuel market study which found motorists were paying more than they should for petrol and includes: Fuel Market Bill drafting, to pass mid-year Industry consultation in ...
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e ngā rau rangatira ma Tēnā koutou katoa Ni sa bula vinaka As-salaam alaikum It is a privilege to be here today. Thank you for welcoming us to your house of prayer. Thank you for your warmth. Thank you for greeting ...
Taupō Airport is to be upgraded and expanded through a $5.9 million Government funding boost, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. “Taupō Airport is the gateway to the Central North Island. It is essential for both keeping local people and businesses connected, but also to bring more people ...
The Minister of Housing Megan Woods has confirmed the Government is working with Rotorua Lakes District Council and Te Arawa for the second place-based assessment to better understand the housing and urban issues affecting the city. “Every New Zealander has a right to a warm, safe and secure place to ...
19 new community homes (in addition to 14 opened in December) delivered in Takanini, Auckland 500 people housed by CORT Housing Trust by end of March 2,290 new public housing homes delivered in Auckland (November 2017 – December 2019). Another nineteen new public housing homes are being delivered in Auckland, ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker met today with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss ways to strengthen ties between New Zealand and India. “India is a priority relationship for New Zealand. We share common democratic traditions, growing two-way trade, extensive people-to-people links, ...
Speech to the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) Delhi, India Wednesday 26 February 2020 [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] The Indo-Pacific: from principles to partnerships Distinguished guests, good afternoon and thank you for your invitation. It is good to be here at a time where New Zealand needs less of an introduction than ...
Tihei mauri ora Te Whare e tu nei Te Papa e takoto Tēnā korua No reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa Ni sa bula Vinaka It is a real pleasure to be here today, and to have the honour of addressing you all. If you’ll indulge me I’m ...
Improved air quality to support better health and environmental wellbeing is the focus of proposed amendments to air quality regulations, says the Associate Minister for the Environment, Hon Nanaia Mahuta. “Although our air quality is good in most places, during winter certain places have spikes in air pollution, mainly from ...
The remote eastern Bay of Plenty community of Raukokere will receive a Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment of $10.6 million for a water storage facility, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. “This is great news for the rural community. The landowner, Te Whānau a Maruhaeremuri Hapū Trust, will use ...
The Lake Ōkaro lakebed has transferred to Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Kelvin Davis announced today. Kelvin Davis joined Te Arawa at Te Papaiōuru Marae in Rotorua to celebrate the reinstatement of Te Arawa Lakes Trust as a key decision maker over the bed ...
New legislation is being proposed which aims to reduce the stress and financial hardship caused by late payments to small businesses. The Minister for Small Business Stuart Nash is considering stricter rules around payment practices between businesses. “Late payments from large organisations to smaller suppliers can be crippling for these ...
A new partnership programme between the New Zealand Police and Fiji Police will focus on combatting transnational organised crime and enhancing investigative skills, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on the first day of her visit to Fiji. The programme will see: · New Zealand Institute of Environmental Science and Research ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama met today in Suva, and renewed their commitment to continue to strengthen Fiji-New Zealand relations on a foundation of shared values and equal partnership. The Prime Ministers acknowledged the kinship between Fijians and New Zealanders, one that has endured over ...
A $19.9 million investment from the Provincial Growth Fund will help develop essential infrastructure for an industrial hub in the Bay of Plenty town of Kawerau, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. “The funding will go to three projects to further develop the Putauaki Trust Industrial Hub, an industrial ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing $8.3 million on a roading package for Mahia that will lead to greater and wider economic benefits for the region and beyond, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced at an event in Mahia today. The $8.3 million announced consists of: $7 ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed new reporting showing the Coalition Government is on track to meet its child poverty targets, with 18,400 children lifted out of poverty as a result of the Families Package. Stats NZ has released the first set of comprehensive child poverty statistics since the Government ...
Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter today announced that Bikes in Schools facilities have been rolled out to 20,000 more kiwi kids under this Government. She made the announcement at the opening of a new bike track at Henderson North School in Auckland. “Bikes in Schools facilities give kids ...
Benefit settings rise in line with wages as of 1 April Main benefits will increase by over 3 percent, instead of 1.66 percent, on 1 April with the Government’s decision to annually adjust benefit rates to increases in the average wage. The Minister for Social Development, Carmel Sepuloni, said ...
Strengthening New Zealand’s political and business ties with India will be the focus of Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters’ and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker’s visit to India this week. The Ministers are co-leading a high level business delegation to India to support increased people and economic engagement ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio continues to champion for greater Pacific participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers with the announcement of the Toloa Awards, with 8 recipients of the Toloa Community Fund and 13 Toloa Tertiary Scholarships. “The Toloa Programme encourages more Pacific peoples ...
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has extended the date for people to have their say on proposed changes to improve management of whitebait across New Zealand. Submissions were due to close on 2 March 2020 but will now remain open until 9am on Monday 16 March 2020. “I have ...
The endangered toroa/Antipodean albatross has new international protection for its 100,000km annual migration, thanks to collaborative efforts led by New Zealand, Australia and Chile. Today, 130 countries agreed to strictly protect Antipodean albatross at the Conference of Parties on the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild ...
No sales to under-18-year-olds No advertising and sponsorship of vaping products and e-cigarettes No vaping or smokeless tobacco in smokefree areas Regulates vaping product safety comprehensively, - including devices, flavours and ingredients Ensure vaping products are available for those who want to quit smoking Vaping regulation that balances ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little will travel to Berlin tomorrow to represent New Zealand at a high-level summit on nuclear disarmament. This year, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) celebrates 50 years since it entered into force. “New Zealand’s proud record and leadership on nuclear disarmament is unwavering, so it’s important we are present ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will visit two of New Zealand’s most important Pacific partners, Fiji and Australia, next week. The visit to Fiji will be the first by a New Zealand Prime Minister in four years and comes during the 50th anniversary of Fijian independence and diplomatic relations between our ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little and New Zealand First MP Darroch Ball, have today announced the appointment of the Chief Commissioner of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the location, and the membership of the Establishment Advisory Group. Colin Carruthers QC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of the CCRC for an ...
Māori Development Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Agriculture Minister Hon Damien O’Connor co-announced the first horticultural finalists for the Ahuwhenua Trophy celebrating excellence in the Māori agricultural sector. The three finalists are Ngai Tukairangi Trust from Mt Maunganui, Otama Marere Trust from Tauranga, and Hineora Orchard Te Kaha 15B Ahuwhenua ...
A new kete of resources to strengthen support for students with dyslexia will provide extra tools for the new Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) as they start in schools, Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin announced today. The Minister launched the kete in Wellington this morning, at the first of three induction ...
The Government continues to make progress on a fairer and more secure rental market for renters and landlords with the First Reading of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and its referral to the Social Services and Community Select Committee. “Now is the opportunity for landlords, tenants and others who want ...
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Hon James Marape will visit New Zealand from 21-25 February, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “New Zealand and Papua New Guinea have a warm and friendly relationship. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Marape here and strengthening the relationship between our two countries,” ...
Thousands of children have begun receiving a free lunch on every day of the school week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. The Government’s free and healthy school lunch programme is under way for 7,000 students at 31 schools in Hawke’s Bay / Tairāwhiti and Bay of Plenty / Waiariki, extending ...
The Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni today announced a new approach that continues to broaden the Government’s social sector focus from a narrow, investment approach to one centred on people and wellbeing. Minister Sepuloni said redefining the previous approach to social investment by combining science, data and lived experience ...
The Government is strengthening the Protected Disclosures Act to provide better protection for whistle blowers, Minister of State Services Chris Hipkins said today. “The Protected Disclosures Act is meant to encourage people to speak up about serious wrongdoing in the workplace and protect them from losing their jobs or being ...
Nǐn hǎo (Hello in Mandarin). Xīn Nián Kuài Lè (Happy New Year in Mandarin) Néi Hóu (Hello in Cantonese). Sun Nin Fai Lok (Happy New Year in Cantonese) Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you for your invitation to attend this celebration today. I would like to acknowledge ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government would be looking for the private sector to put in four or five times as much as it invests in research and development of particular technologies to reduce emissions, Energy Minister Angus Taylor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Two issues are currently presenting the Morrison government with fast-moving targets. One is the fallout from the coronavirus, where the picture has been altering on a near-daily basis. The other is very different – the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The federal government has activated its emergency response plan to deal with a spread of the coronavirus locally, in anticipation of it becoming a “pandemic”. It is also considering limited assistance for those hardest hit ...
In an apparent change of tune, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expects to raise the topic of climate change with Australian counterpart Scott Morrison tomorrow. ...
The Government says it wants to protect small businesses from getting shafted by big companies who don’t or won’t pay their bills on time. The move can’t come too soon. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Muecke, Clinical senior lecturer in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Adelaide Humans are physiologically hardwired to love and seek out sweet things. It’s an ancient survival mechanism that evolved to prepare our bodies for periods of fasting when food supplies ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marilyn McMahon, Deputy Dean, School of Law, Deakin University The NSW government has just introduced a bill that will, among other significant reforms, make it easier for a jury to be informed about the prior convictions of a person on trial for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marilyn McMahon, Deputy Dean, School of Law, Deakin University The NSW government has just introduced a bill that will, among other significant reforms, make it easier for a jury to be informed about the prior convictions of a person on trial for ...
By RNZ Pacific Jacinda Ardern has paid tribute to the three Fijians who died in last year’s Christchurch mosque shootings. Ardern spoke today at Lautoka Mosque as part of her trip to Fiji to remember Imam Hafiz Musa Patel, Ashraf Ali Razak and Ashraf Ali, who died almost a ...
The Real Pod reassembles to dissect the cultured fourth week of The Bachelorette NZ with special thanks to Nando’s.This week on The Bachelorette NZ, a burrito bust-up ends in anaphylaxis, Steve chows down on some one-ply, and the Buenos Aires hostel goes full Lord of the Flies. It’s become abundantly ...
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic Bishops' agency for justice, peace and development, is concerned that the latestchild poverty numbers show that there has been anincrease in material hardship,with 4100 more children living in ...
Dr Bryce Edwards.Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni described this year’s annual benefit increases of 3 per cent as “significant”, and “a way of sharing the wealth”. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also heralded them as the biggest increase to benefits in nine years, if National’s 2015 one-off adjustments are excluded. ...
Is it the kind of headline that will win votes at the general election? “Rock-star reception in Fijian village” followed by a sub-head “Rapturous greeting for Ardern during visit to launch $3m sanitation project”. The reporter (veteran Barry Soper, Newstalk ZB’s political editor) poses the rhetorical question: “Is there any ...
The New Zealand First Foundation received $100,000 in just one week from two rich-listers, whose donations remained secret because the individual payments fell below the disclosure threshold. ...
BusinessNZ says legislation requiring more transparent petrol pricing will probably be well-received, but there are concerns about the market study that prompted it. The Government has announced it is drafting a Fuel Market Bill to introduce requirements ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Andrea Watson, Sparrows CEO and founder, and Simon Yarrow, who leads Callaghan Innovation’s ...
LGNZ say a new report from the Deep South National Science Challenge is a reminder for central government policy makers to step up the pace on progressing a national strategy on climate change adaption. LGNZ is the peak body representing New Zealand’s ...
Art schools are seen by many as beacons of liberalism. But is this the reality? Former Māori student Anna McAllister recounts her fraught journey through an Auckland art school.In high school, the only subjects I was remotely good at were the practical arts. I stayed in the art block during ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeline Taylor, Academic Fellow, University of Sydney This week’s decision by Norwegian company Equinor to abandon a A$200 million plan to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight surprised both its critics and backers. Equinor says it abandoned the project off ...
Finance Minister sees serious, short-term impact on economy from Covid-19. He says the Government is able to deliver more general fiscal stimulus and sector-specific help if the economic hit is longer and harder. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has given his first comprehensive update on the economic effects expected from the ...
In response to reports that 30,000 New Zealanders earning over $100,000 are taking superannuation, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Casey Russell says: “It’s clear that many wealthy New Zealanders are collecting superannuation they don’t ...
Fancy a quick trip to Europe without leaving the comfort of your own couch? Tara Ward rounds up the best European drama for your viewing pleasure. Anyone who reckons travel is the only way to expand your mind has never had the pleasure of lying on a couch for three days ...
Child protection social work involves risk. It always will. The right decisions cannot always be made and sometimes it can be a question of choosing between the least damaging alternatives. We have had a long list of child abuse tragedies for over 30 years now – in Aotearoa New Zealand and ...
SFO scrutiny of National and NZ First donations sparked debate about party funding and electoral laws. Now, Transparency International has a warning. ...
Not paying NZ Super out to those on incomes of $100,000 or more would save taxpayers around $608 million. Is it time we shake up who gets paid and what? RNZ‘s Nita Blake-Persen reports.The number of New Zealand retirees getting their superannuation while earning more than $100,000 has topped 30,000, ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s contentCoronavirus John Gibb (ODT): Otago academic fears ‘massive’ impact Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Nothing Xenophobic Or Racist About The Chinese ...
Dr Bryce Edwards.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won power in 2017 on the basis of statements such as “My goal is to eradicate child poverty in New Zealand”. The Government’s progress on child poverty will be under scrutiny at this year’s general election, but progress is slow, and many are claiming ...
New Zealand King Salmon has had a better-than-expected first half, driven by record prices for its fish products. The Marlborough-based salmon farmer's net profit rose nearly 38 percent to $20.8 million in the six months to December, with the average sale price up 6.6 percent. However, revenue of $84.2m was ...
Reform of superannuation is overdue, with new figures showing more than 30,000 superannuitants are earning more than $100,000 per year. This number is growing fast as more people keep working past 65. More than 126,000 superannuitants (17% of the total) are earning ...
Funding to give nature a helping hand and support community conservation projects opens this week, with $5.6m available for community-led projects. “The Department of Conservation (DOC) Community Fund enables us to go further and faster in our conservation ...
Police acknowledge the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) in relation to decision-making in a sexual assault investigation in Palmerston North. The IPCA found that the decision-making was sound, and there was no conflict of interest ...
Thursday, February 27: Greenpeace has published an open letter calling on the organisers of music festival WOMAD to dump oil industry sponsorship. Todd Energy and Austrian oil giant OMV are on the bill again this year, despite persistent criticism from ...
The clash between urban cyclists and car drivers has been brewing for several years now. But pedestrians have been advocating for their rights for far longer, writesNot so long ago, the journalist Bernard Hickey predicted that cyclists vs motorists will become one of the political issues of our age. “We ...
A2 Milk has delivered a strong financial result, with increased sales in its infant nutrition business and with better than expected profit margins. The specialty milk company's net profit rose 21 percent in the six months to December to $184.9m, with an underlying sales margin of 32.6 percent. Sales rose ...
Air New Zealand's half year profit has taken a larger hit than expected, falling 33 percent amid slowing demand for air travel and increased costs. Its net profit was $101 million in the six months ended December, compared with $150m the year before. Costs rose due to price hikes for ...
You might be trying to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life, but what about in death? Alex Casey talks to Becs Bartells, founder of Outside the Box about creating the perfect cardboard casket. Becs Bartells often forgets she has an empty coffin sitting in the back of her station wagon, ...
As government services shut their doors in communities and drive people to interact online, the wellbeing of New Zealand's most vulnerable people is being diminished, says the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). CAB has released the report 'Face to Face ...
New research from justice advocacy group JustSpeak released today shows that structural bias in policing continues to disproportionately harm Māori and demonstrates the urgent need for transformative change across our justice system. Using the Statistics ...
A Spinoff article last year rightly raised concerns that citizens’ assemblies could be yet another imposition of Western ideas on Māori. But assemblies and tino rangatiratanga-based visions in fact share a critique of our current democratic system – and could together transform politics, write Emily Beausoleil and Max Rashbrooke.Nadine Anne ...
More new coronavirus cases have for the first time been reported outside China than inside, World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said. ...
Simon Bridges wouldn't deport mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant if found guilty despite calling for reciprocal policy; and Why climate change should be on the agenda for Jacinda meet Morrison. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David A. Savage, Associate Professor of Behavioural Economics , Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Recent days have brought reports of shoppers clearing out supermarket shelves from Wuhan and Hong Kong to Singapore and Milan in response to the spread of coronavirus. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato The Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15 last year have prompted a significant rise in tip-offs about people expressing extremist views, according to a report by New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS). During the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Beirman, Senior Lecturer, Tourism, University of Technology Sydney The coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) has now reached more than 80,000 recorded cases, largely concentrated in China, with a death toll over 2,700 and rising. There are few signs the epidemic is abating. In ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tessa Copp, PhD candidate, University of Sydney Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition. When using the definition supported by the international guidelines, it affects just under one in six young Australian women. To meet the diagnostic criteria of PCOS, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul McGorrery, PhD Candidate in Criminal Law, Deakin University The recent killing of Hannah Clarke and her three children by her estranged husband has raised national attention to the types of behaviour that might lead to such a horrific crime, and how ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominique Hes, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, University of Melbourne Despite a wealth of evidence to the contrary, some still propagate the myth that the world will need Australian coal for decades to come. Last weekend Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese joined in, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mehmet Ulubasoglu, Professor of Economics, Head of the Department of Economics and Director of the Centre for Energy, the Environment and Natural Disasters, Deakin University My team and I have analysed the incomes of people affected by some of Australia’s worst bushfires, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tiffani J. Howell, Research Fellow, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University Australians are slightly obsessed with our dogs. But are we obsessed enough to watch a reality doggy makeover show? The reality makeover concept has a long history, from ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Saving water becomes crucial amid drought, means testing Super back in the news, and a hard look at a Special Purpose Vehicle.Aucklanders need to get serious about saving water or restrictions will come in. Newshub reports that’s the message from Watercare, who ...
From February 28, Kiwibank will be cheque-free. Mark Jennings looks at how it has been preparing its customers for the big change. It’s raining heavily in Nelson, something it hasn’t done for a while. Local MP and former cabinet minister Nick Smith hurriedly climbs into an old bus parked outside the city’s library. ...
Experts in far-right extremism see a number of similarities between the Christchurch terror attack and last week's mass shooting in Hanau, Germany. Marc Daalder reports. On the evening of February 19, a man shot up two shisha bars frequented by Muslims in Hanau, Germany. It later emerged that he had released ...
ReadingRoom has devoted all week to the biggest-selling book in New Zealand right now, In The Clearing, a brilliant thriller by Ngāpuhi author JP Pomare, based on creepy Australian cult The Family. We conclude the series with a review by Bill Ralston.JP Pomare's second novel In ...
Up-and-coming teenage freeskiier Ruby Andrews has shown she has the boldness and the bravery to become one of the world's top women in not one, but three, different events. There’s no questioning Ruby Andrews’ grit and determination. While most 15-year-olds are spending this summer hanging with friends on the beach, Andrews ...
An anonymous international student at the University of Auckland grapples with when and how she might return to NZ amid the coronavirus outbreak, and what challenges she will face if she makes it back. I am a Chinese international student at the University of Auckland. Having completed my language course and ...
When will there be a vaccine? What can we do and how do we stay up to date? Helen Petousis-Harris gives an update on the COVID-19 global health emergency Less than two months after China told the World Health Organisation there was a problem, a lot has happened. Sadly, deaths, confirmed ...
New Zealand’s travel ban on China has been extended another week. The president of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations argues for a student exemption.The loss of lives and poor health caused by coronavirus is devastating. We must acknowledge the families, across the globe, who have lost loved ones ...
The first issue of the Otago student magazine for 2020 had barely hit campus before it was making headlines in the wider media. The cover was censored by Facebook, and a furious editorial denounced party politics, promising to give them a miss. Josie Adams speaks to editor Sinead Gill about ...
The global health emergency that is the Coronavirus - or Covid-19 - has become a game-changer for scientists around the world in terms of the speed of the response. But at the same time it's been termed a 'misinfodemic' Covid-19 – or coronavirus – is a game changer for scientists around the ...
President Rodrigo Duterte administers the oath of office to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) officials in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace on February 26, 2020. Video: RapplerBy Felipe F. Salvosa II in Manila Reporters have finally got the chance to ...
Andy Ayamiseba died a few days ago. While the West Papuan was loved, admired and supported in Vanuatu, he fought tirelessly to win a home he could return to. He died before the dream was achieved.Originally published by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PIPP), this 2013 profile ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Merryn McKinnon, Senior lecturer, Australian National University Public representation of science in the media still struggles to reflect the true diversity of those who work in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). According to the Women in Leadership Australia’s 2019 Women for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Mathews, Professor of Strategic Management, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University Australia is the world’s third largest fossil fuels exporter – a fact that generates intense debate as climate change intensifies. While the economy is heavily reliant on coal and ...
The Otago Regional Council (ORC) voted today to request that Minister for the Environment Hon. David Parker exercise his authority to ‘call in’ upcoming proposed plan changes to the Regional Plan for Otago: Water and Regional Plan for Otago: Waste ...
This week’s plummeting international stock markets are a sign the ‘best case scenario’ economic outcomes of the coronavirus are increasingly unlikely. And that’s a worry for NZ’s manufacturers. ...
Open Mike 19/06/2017 
Here is the speech that Maya Forstater gave at the Woman’s Place UK Women’s Liberation 2020 conference at UCL on February 1st In a recent newsletter she wrote: it was an amazing day (and brilliant to meet so many people in real life). I talked about what makes people and ...7 hours ago
A New Hope from the National Party leader ...15 hours ago
NZ First portrays itself as an anti-establishment party, standing up for "the little guy" (always a guy) against Big Auckland Money and its tool-parties. But it turns out that its secret slush fund is funded by the very people it claims to oppose:Stuff can reveal a longer list of donors ...16 hours ago
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Will She, Or Won't She? Jacinda’s white vestments may look impressive on the cover of the international edition of TIME magazine, but every day Labour’s relationship with Winston Peters and NZ First continues, her ability to go on wearing them back home in New Zealand – without exciting derision – diminishes.IT WAS ...17 hours ago
BAMS survey of 2018 extreme weather The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society has published a collection of articles examining unusually extreme weather events of 2018 and connections of those to climate change. These investigations are listed separately below but thanks to the generosity of AMS appear free for ...23 hours ago
Fans are outraged at the prospect of Destiny Church pastor Hannah Tamaki joining the Black Caps ...1 day ago
Less than two months after China told the WHO there was a problem, a lot has happened. Sadly, deaths, confirmed cases and countries affected are increasing every day. However, on a scientific and medical level, what is going on to contain, cure and prevent this new disease is truly inspirational. ...1 day ago
I am about to mail my overseas ballot to Florida so that it can be counted in the Democratic primary on March 17. In Florida you have closed as opposed to open primaries, which means that one must declare a party preference in order to vote in a party primary. ...5 days ago
In mid-December the Israeli secret police, the Shin Beit, revealed it had arrested dozens of Palestinian left-wing activists, including members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in the previous few months. Among those arrested was one of the central leaders of the PFLP, Khalida Jarrar. As ...1 week ago
I am among the most pro-free speech people I know. I don’t doubt there are others more strident than me, but I’m certainly up there. And my support for freedom of expression isn’t limited to opposition to government-imposed restrictions. It extends to a belief that employers should have limited powers ...2 weeks ago
Fletcher Tabuteau MP, New Zealand First Deputy Leader A total delivery of 2,000 new Police Officers has been achieved. New Zealand First Deputy Leader, Fletcher Tabuteau attended the latest police graduation of Recruit Wing 335 in Porirua today. Mr Tabuteau said, “Increasing police numbers and boosting their resources was one of ...13 hours ago
One of our most immediate priorities upon forming Government was to get people out of sleeping in cars, garages, or on the street and into safe and warm housing. Since then, we've made major progress towards breaking the cycle of homelessness, including expanding Housing First, building more state houses, and ...2 days ago
A milestone has been reached with the graduation of more than 2,000 new Police officers since the Coalition Government took office in October 2017. Police Minister Stuart Nash says the graduation today of Wing 335 marks a surge of 2,023 new officers, and coincides with some significant breakthroughs against organised ...12 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government would be looking for the private sector to put in four or five times as much as it invests in research and development of particular technologies to reduce emissions, Energy Minister Angus Taylor ...2 hours ago
In an apparent change of tune, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expects to raise the topic of climate change with Australian counterpart Scott Morrison tomorrow. ...7 hours ago
The Government says it wants to protect small businesses from getting shafted by big companies who don’t or won’t pay their bills on time. The move can’t come too soon. ...9 hours ago
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic Bishops' agency for justice, peace and development, is concerned that the latestchild poverty numbers show that there has been anincrease in material hardship,with 4100 more children living in ...12 hours ago
Is it the kind of headline that will win votes at the general election? “Rock-star reception in Fijian village” followed by a sub-head “Rapturous greeting for Ardern during visit to launch $3m sanitation project”. The reporter (veteran Barry Soper, Newstalk ZB’s political editor) poses the rhetorical question: “Is there any ...12 hours ago
Art schools are seen by many as beacons of liberalism. But is this the reality? Former Māori student Anna McAllister recounts her fraught journey through an Auckland art school.In high school, the only subjects I was remotely good at were the practical arts. I stayed in the art block during ...14 hours ago
Jacinda Ardern has paid tribute to the three Fijians who died in last year's Christchurch mosque shootings. ...14 hours ago
Finance Minister sees serious, short-term impact on economy from Covid-19. He says the Government is able to deliver more general fiscal stimulus and sector-specific help if the economic hit is longer and harder. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has given his first comprehensive update on the economic effects expected from the ...15 hours ago
Child protection social work involves risk. It always will. The right decisions cannot always be made and sometimes it can be a question of choosing between the least damaging alternatives. We have had a long list of child abuse tragedies for over 30 years now – in Aotearoa New Zealand and ...15 hours ago
New Zealand King Salmon has had a better-than-expected first half, driven by record prices for its fish products. The Marlborough-based salmon farmer's net profit rose nearly 38 percent to $20.8 million in the six months to December, with the average sale price up 6.6 percent. However, revenue of $84.2m was ...17 hours ago
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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
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:
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.
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.