Part of the game, you have to be given out. Similar to going down with a broken leg in football at the slightest touch. You use the rules to your best advantage.
Yeah, it's not like that at all. Shite analogy. Ever heard the expression 'it's just not cricket'. It's been said for a reason, and that reason is honesty and integrity by the players.
Koli walked for India and he didn't even hit it, he just thought he did, which is a perfect example of how the game should be played. For me, Kane let himself down here, but they won, so all good then.
Sorry the analogy is not up to your "Kohli and I would have walked" standards. Here's a few more examples, when batsmen are run out they usually know they're short. No need for the 3rd umpire then eh, most should be walking of their own admission, yet that's the exception. Then there's the no ball check when people get out. Why do batsmen wait on the field for the TV no ball check. Not in the spirit of the game for sure.
No, that's another dud example. After a run out, a batsman who knows they're short will typically keep going to the changing room. Unless it's a genuine 50/50, an umpire will often refer, just to be sure. A quite valid reason for the third umpire's involvement. Batsmen or women, will wait if the umpire decides to check a no ball, though this isn't a team review, and batters have been called back from the sheds before to resume an innings.
Definitely nothing like a footballer faking a broken leg to con a ref.
We're possibly watching different games… Hardly any international batsmen keep going to the changing room unless it's obvious and they're more than a metre short. Most wait on the pitch for the 3rd umpire replay to be shown that they're out, and most runouts are sent to the 3rd umpire because the onfield umpires are terrified of making the wrong decision. The game relies on the 3rd umpire so much now and that backs up the idea that players are not proactive in giving themselves out. Like I said when running in cricket you usually know when you're short of ground even if it's a close one.
Your first point "Hardly any international batsmen keep going to the changing room unless it's obvious " backs up what I wrote "a batsman who knows they're short will typically keep going to the changing room".
Your second point "most runouts are sent to the 3rd umpire because the onfield umpires are terrified of making the wrong decision" is almost exactly the same as my "Unless it's a genuine 50/50, an umpire will often refer, just to be sure", you just use impart a different reason for why.
Not really, the ball was not intentionally edged, didn't make the keeper and umpire ignore it, is commonplace for batsmen to not react to feint edges even when keepers do appeal, which in this case the keeper didn't.
Which gets to the hub of it, it is not the batsman's place to do the job of the other team’s wicketkeeper and bowler communicating with each other, nothing un cricket about that at all.
Further more, if a keeper takes a ground level catch, does the batsman then automatically walk, or wait to see the umpires decision if the ball hit the ground?
Look, he hit it, or ball hit bat, it doesn't matter. I believe he would have known and should have walked. As it was, he hit it and should have been out. The point is whether he knew.
Any player I've ever played with and against has known when they've got an edge, I always have. Never once have I ever been given out thinking I didn't hit it.
When there are complex situations in complex environments with complex politics and agendas at play, I always say, "Believe Taliban commanders even if their stories don't match."
Yeah, there were two of them. When they saw the helicopters they escaped without firing a shot. I gather one of them wasn't in the specific village (there are a cluster of small villages and they are referred to together as 'a village') but he was nearby and saw the action taking place.
It makes no difference to the basic claim of the book "Hit and Run" which I have read from cover to cover:
The NZ contingent – together with the American helicopters overhead – killed and injured villagers including a small child and failed to acknowledge their mistake. They see it as acceptable collateral damage I suppose.
In times of hostilities most people understand mistakes can be made. The problem is, when the perpetrators don't believe they have to admit to them. Imo they are wrong. At no time is it acceptable not to own one's mistakes and then make it worse by indulging in cover-ups which is what the NZDF (and the Americans involved if the truth were known) tried to do.
I must keep from breaking into the story by force
for if I do I will find myself with a war club in my hand
and the smoke of grief staggering toward the sun,
your nation dead beside you.
I keep walking away though it has been an eternity
and from each drop of blood
springs up sons and daughters, trees,
a mountain of sorrows, of songs.
I tell you this from the dusk of a small city in the north
not far from the birthplace of cars and industry.
Geese are returning to mate and crocuses have
broken through the frozen earth.
Soon they will come for me and I will make my stand
before the jury of destiny. Yes, I will answer in the clatter
of the new world, I have broken my addiction to war
and desire. Yes, I will reply, I have buried the dead
NZ history. What are we! Review on Radionz of Jock Phillips historian and gives me a feeling of having had the journey to understand NZ history, it's the journey that many of us have done, and are still traipsing along in his steps.
Jock Phillips: Making History
Photo: Victoria University of WellingtonNew Zealand.
Historian Jock Phillips has made his career bringing history to life and convincing New Zealanders that our past has real value. He is former editor of the Online Encyclopedia Te Ara, served as government Chief Historian, was the founding director of the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies, and was the conceptual leader for the history exhibitions at Te Papa, as well as publishing 15 books.
Now he has turned his deep historical skills on himself in his memoir called "Making History". He tells Kathryn the awakening of New Zealanders to their history has been one of the great revolutions of our time.
Note how Victoria Uni has decided to name itself now it has been talked down from calling itself 'Wellington'.
Audio later. A good idea while writing on here to follow up on our history through Jock's writing. What are we trying to protect, maintain, advance, treasure, prioritise?
Jock said for the purpose of learning history is to help interpret the world around you. Also lots of other interesting things to hear in this interview.
Agree. Same day enrolment is also a big plus. Both these changes will help lift the vote of low income people and disenfranchised people which will help the socially conscious left.
National and its follows will be furious about this. I'm surprised they didn't try to block it.
Only if they put up, then inact on left wing policy. Otherwise low income people and disenfranchised people will vote for populist demagogues like boris or trump.
One hundred million people, including those in the large cities of Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad, will soon be living in zero groundwater cities, according to the Niti Aayog report. This number will likely continue increasing, as the United Nations recently estimated that India's population will surge by almost 300 million by 2050, and it will become the world's most populous country.
Complicating the issue are the devastating effects of climate change. Monsoon rains have been more erratic and droughts more common, threatening farmer's harvests. This could cripple livelihoods across the predominantly agricultural country, where 80% of water is used to irrigate thirsty crops such as sugar cane and rice.
"Unless we adapt our water storage to suit the change in rain intensity, we're going to suffer really badly," said Sharma. "All parts of India — rural, urban, everybody."
Actually Marty, Chennai has been in a water crisis for years. My daughter's husband is from there and his parents and sister are there also. They have been living with Climate change for some time now. They rely on water tanks for water and what is trucked in. Farmers have been making a killing in suppling water to the city – indeed this is their main source of income now because they can earn more from selling the water rather than using it for farming. It really is no joke just how desperate they are for water. And then, when it does come, it can come in the form of a flood the like of which we can only imagine, and the majority of it just races away to the ocean.
They need to switch out those staples for things that aren't water hungry. Potatoes, cassava, sweet potato – all require much less water. I got massive kumara yields out front with very little watering through the drought.
The thing with sugar though, it gives one hell of a yield. There are sustainable sugar farmers appearing in the regions in India – I learn from them (painstakingly, it is in Indian) but without water… green credentials won't amount to a hill of beans (or sugar).
Oh, and beans, well, pigeon peas to be precise if you want low water for high protein.
Do we have pigeon peas in NZ – Robert? I love the idea of some nitrogen fixing shrubs with a decent yield to them. They could easily replace lupins in some sandy landscapes…
how about they just stop companies from draining the groundwater for bottling and coca cola.
And i honestly believe that we might just not be so fast as to tell the Indians what they can and can not grow in India, considering that the country is very large, with quite different climates, and people who have been vegans long before it became fashionable for a bunch of hipsters to fret about food..
This is not about a low water crisis, this is about a no water crisis, as in no ground water, all damns depleted, and i am not sure switching a country with a billion plus people over to kumara is gonna fix it.
The study of agricultural systems is my bread and butter.
Sugar needs 1500 – 2500 mm rain per year.
Cassava can produce heavily with 400 mm.
Kumara in high production can take 100 mm a month but will do well on half that. 4-5 months to maturation and the greens are edible too so production can kick off very early and last all season. THE highest yielding (nutrition) crop in this regard.
Average rainfall in India 300 – 650 but widely varied and unreliable to bank on. The monsoon seasons are becoming broken, more severe or piss weak, timing becoming more varied.
When the water's gone the food supply will follow. They could import or desalinate but the expense will leave not a drop for agriculture.
Agriculture then, has to take a long hard look at itself, as weather patterns will cease to be predictable. And the water required to grow sugar for the west… not really tenable at present. The future?
India has been producing for the western world on a large scale, and getting rorted in the process. Sabine makes a great point about Coca Cola (but is she too fast to say so lol), and the myriad other corporations over there gouging profits and trashing ecosystems.
The tragedy is we forget a drought as soon as it's passed. Again, the weather patterns will no longer be predictable, but they will get considerably worse. The writing has been on the wall and many of their politicians have done little but fill their coffers.
They really do need some changes, famine follows drought.
Seems the whole damn state is behind the eight ball.
The demand for water in Tamil Nadu is increasing at a fast rate both due to increasing population and also due to larger per capita needs triggered by economic growth. The per capita availability of water resources however, is just 900 cubic meters when compared to the national average of 2,200 cubic meters. Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the State using 75 per cent of the State’s water resources
"The current level of utilisation expressed as net ground water draft of 13.558 MCM is about 60 per cent of the available recharge, while 8875 MCM (40 per cent) is the balance available for use. Over the last five years, the percentage of safe blocks has declined from 35.6 per cent to 25.2 per cent while the semi-critical blocks have gone up by a similar percentage. Over-exploitation has already occurred in more than a third of the blocks (35.8 per cent) while eight blocks (2 per cent) have turned saline. "
You are concerned about the matter Sabine and McFlock and then chastise WtB for making suggestions. If India has run out of water they have to do things differently so it's not helpful to deride WtB's suggestions. NZ might hate change but when times force change we and India have to do so. So don't go shooting people in the foot when they don't want to just sit in a sob circle and say 'Isn't it terrible, and what will they do. And it just goes to show', or something like 'is an interesting question, but people are really hurting.'
You can't solve a problem if you make an incorrect assumption about the cause.
Chennai is using its groundwater at almost twice the replenishment rate. If that sustainability gap is due substantially to inapproriate crop selection, fair call. But if the bulk of it is due to water-intensive industries, a much better option would be to regulate those industries. If it's due simply to having to supply water to 4million people (and increasing), they need more water plants and storage. Maybe it's a mix of those things, and more.
There are lots of stories about inappropriate "aid" and "advice" being given to people in need because the donors didn't look past their assumptions.
Many farmers are not actually producing anything because they can get more money by selling their water directly. Food is mainly brought in from outside the region.
Exactly. It is pretty basic – doesn't need as much ego imo in some of the comments – this is a GROUNDWATER issue not a cropping issue. One is immediate the other is long term but obviously both on the same spectrum.
I've actually experienced a few weeks of no water in the pipes. There was a factory fire upstream on the banks of the Waihou river a silo of milk powder got in the river and everything died.
Milk tankers of water turned up and we in line with buckets and billy cans.
We had the only hot bath in the village, having borrowed a contraption to heat about 50 litres at a pop off our farming cuzzies.
When you're the only hot bath in town, you become very popular.
Round here, don't be coming up with smart ideas. Commiserate! Those poor smelly bastards with no bath…
This is an interesting read. Too many details to summarise.
An answer to 'What crops grow in Tamilnadu?' from Jan 2017. They were in deep shit then (The area Chennai is part of).
"In a desperate attempt to draw the government’s attention to their plight, farmers in the city of Tiruchi stood with dead rats in their mouths in front of the collector’s office last week, demanding loan wavers and relief measures."
"farmers in the city of Tiruchi stood with dead rats in their mouths"
Whoaaaa! Could this happen in New Zealand? Could our farmers, if driven to desperation by the banks (hello, Mr Key) stomach that sort of protest action?
I am not really concerned. Put me in the basket of those blasee at the knowledge that the train is derailed and we are now buckled in for the right. And then when we reach the end of our life we die. So don't consider me concerned.
I posted this link to more as an information about things to come here. We have been in a bit of drought lately. Having two days of drizzle per month since December last year does not look good, and rain patterns are pretty sketchy elsewhere too. Our water quality is fucked up generally, without waders i would not wade in, our selling of water for it to be bottled and sold elsewhere, our irrigation madness so that we can grow cows in the plains somewhere and so forth is what we need to rethink, not the planting of kumara in india – which is something they already do. I would assume that the Indians in India know what to grow in their areas with their soils and such. I would even assume them to save their seeds, compost, grow soil and do all that schnick schnack that makes us feel so super duper good about ourselfs.
and yes, i chastised (what a lovely word innit – to censure, castigate 🙂 ) WTB who looks at this problem that is of such a magnitude that it is hard to bend ones mind around – no water not just for one mega city in India but several; No Water for several 10s of millions of people – with the suggestion that maybe if they switch over to low water vegetables something would happen and the reservoirs and aquifiers would replenish and magic!!
So yeah, i am with McFlock there, it ain't the vegetable farmers that depleted the Water all by themselves and it might even be an arrogant assumption as to what people there do or not do, as non of us really would know. As for the farmers now selling the water at an inflated price to towners should tell us something about town planning and water rights and even be a lesson for us here in NZ where we too are selling the farm to the highest bidder with out any consideration about tomorrow or our young ones. And we are selling our water extra cheap and we don't think about the fact that once pumped and loaded it is gone pretty much forever. So yeah, its ok lets plant more kumaras, i love the purple ones baked until caramalised and crisp.
3/4 of the regions water goes to Ag. The crops they grow are for the most part water demanding. My advice is not simply 'grow kumara' so stop being misleading that that's all it was.
Their industry has fed the western machine and increasing western ways of their own society. We've done them no favors.
You talk about our drought and yet have at me for knowing a thing or two about what might be done. Half the rain requires crops that only need… guess how much?
"So yeah, i am with McFlock there, it ain't the vegetable farmers that depleted the Water all by themselves and it might even be an arrogant assumption as to what people there do or not do, as non of us really would know"
Well actually, I was right. So go suck a…. kumara.
it actually does not matter what you know, how much you know, or not. You are an arrogant little pisser like all of us are without any consequences in the larger realm of things. Firstly. Secondly, you are an angry little pisser, when some don't agree with you or immediatly bows to your snakr and wisdom and might even find you a little small minded and single focused or blinded by thy own grandness (take your pick) and you have shown that on more then one occasion, so really, go eat a snickers or some kale chips, cause you seem petty and angry when hungry.
Thirdly, yes your idea of switching to low water foods and the likes is recommendable and i am sure that the Indians will be more then happy to entertain your idea should they get to listen to you, cause clearly the Indians would not know how to grow low water use vegetables to save their million people mega cities from running out of water.
Fourth, as has been pointed out below by McFlock we are talking about Cities. You know those places with few farms but lots of peoples and businesses and cars an such. but i am sure if all these people living in the cities without water will suck a kumara then all will be well and you get to feel all grand and super duper about yourself and your kumara.
A bit tropical for pigeon peas, for the moment, I expect, but someone somewhere in NZ will be growing them in anticipation (no one is Southland…yet).
WTB's thinking is sound and the search for suitable crops is paramount. Some will already be here: it'll just be a case of adjusting the management to new conditions, as well as eco-sensitivity (go organic, or something better).
India, WTB? Your view on its place in the destruction of the natural environment; just an off-shoot of the Occidental war against nature?
Agricultural land use is often a big factor, yes. But there are other issues at play in a city of 4 million. Industrial water use, grey water (non) use, leaking reticulation systems, failure to plan infrastructure for increasing populations, and so on are all worthy of examination.
Good points. Especially where they can reuse, and minimise current waste.
Infrastructure, dare I poke my head up and think about it?
These mental exercises could help our Aussie neighbors, and drought prone regions here too.
Earthworks, swales, ground storage. Passive solar desalination. I'd make them with clay sealed depressions, and glass tops. Get a glass factory and some clay quarried and go large. Top quality drinking water once you add a bit of the salts back. And salt…
Briefly touched on it (thoughts on Indian Ag) above.
So many amazing innovators and farmers, some impressive permaculture and initiatives that spring up – and these get talked about a lot. The people are absolutely into the sustainable farming alternatives where presented. Whole villages turn up for the earthworks, there is hope there.
But the government reticence to change BAU, is BAU.
I agree that there's "fertile ground" there, for innovation, but I'm thinking that despite the "foreignness" the "Indians" seem to be just a chapter in our own story; Agriculture is King, rather than a completely different line, such as the Amazonians might represent. Peter Procter spent half his time in India working with biodynamic farmers (One cow, one planet) and the other here in NZ. I do think the continent is an example of ruination through agriculture culture.
Some of the locals blame excessive industry, farmers, soda bottlers, government and corporate collusion, various ticket clipping agencies…
Sounds mighty familiar.
"The major crops sown in Tamilnadu are rice, jowar, ragi, bajra, maize, and pulses. Few other crops that are highly cultivated in the regions of Tamilnadu are cotton, sugarcane, tea, coffee, and coconut. Tamilnadu has also gained a commendable status is the horticultural sector in its agricultural department. The horticultural products of Tamilnadu include cash crops and oil seed crops. Bananas and mangoes are cash crops while groundnuts, sesame, and sunflower are oil seed crops. Paddy is the most leading crop in Tamilnadu and is found in 3 kinds namely Kuruvai, Thaladi, and Samba that varies from season to season."
They've commended themselves for their efforts. Yet now people are wondering if it's worth even trying to grow food there, only two years on. These systems crash hard.
Time to ditch the Ag advisers and bring in the permies.
The idea began in 2000, when Mr Statham senior left the wool industry for wine grapes and, in place of investors for the vineyard, his son came up with the idea of a strata title model of organic farming.
Now, the 140-hectare multiple-occupancy farm at Canowindra, New South Wales, is home to 22 people on a dozen plots united by an organic covenant and a commitment to developing their own agribusinesses.
Rivers Road Organic Farms was set up as a "hybrid" between farming community lifestyle blocks and a standard strata title scheme, sharing skills and resources — without a formal business structure.
That's a great idea. Mate of mine does the books for a number of wealthy individuals near Christchurch. They own lifestyle blocks of one kind or another, but find the effort of doing anything with them excessive. The market is structurally rejecting the kind of young folk who could make something of them.
The idea is, if you can't manage the land you have, you are actually land poor. You spend all your time battling uphill and have no life. A slave to, rather than steward of, your lot.
But with a small plot you can get really high production.
And all kinds of in between.
With a reasonable sized plot and a few helping hands – Eden is there for the making*
"Time to ditch the Ag advisers and bring in the permies."
Convert those Ag advisors to permaculture, or something better, and we'll be on the way; It's a Big Ask, but it's a Big Challenge, so let's pull on our Big Pants.
“India can’t afford to ignore its water crisis. Neither can South Asia or the world. Water scarcity is a clear and present danger, not a distant threat, and global warming heightens this threat. This month, international researchers from the U.S. and South and Central Asia released new research on major river basins at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. Their findings reveal that snowmelt accounts for nearly three-quarters of the water in two of India’s key basins — the Brahmaputra and Indus — and nearly half of the water in the Ganga, the country’s largest river basin.”
Miuse/allocation obviously an issue but it appears that it will be exacerbated by reducing future availability…..those dismissing societal collapse within 30 years may wish to consider how organised society functions without sufficient water
In a corner stone report released, by the ‘Government’s Principal transport advisory agency’ the Ministry of Transport entitled ‘Emission Factors for Contaminants Released by Motor Vehicles in New Zealand’ it clearly shows graphs and tables confirming our worst fears that surfaces of rough surface roads will increase the tyre to road ‘friction’ that will greatly increase the tyre wear and tyre dust ‘emissions’ from all tyres if the roads are made from a chip seal or worse from metal or gravel road surface.
The tables and literature shows that as the weight of the freight carried on trucks increases the tyre dust emissions increases dramatically.
We have located documents that show that scientists have now found traces of tyre dust being carried on sea tidal currents to the polar ice and are now speeding up the melting of the ice caps, due to the black tyre dust attracting the suns heat. Ministry of Transport. – ‘Emission Factors for Contaminant s Released by Motor Vehicles in New Zealand’ is a serious wake up call to our regional Governments who are now beginning to write changes and intent to their future planning to reduce the climate emissions after signing the ‘Climate change emergency declaration.’ Our HB Regional Council are also signing onto this climate change emergency declaration;
Rail is the answer as “steel wheels on a steel track” has no friction or tyre dust emissions and therefore is the ‘environmental gold standard’ for our future economic growth of our regions increased business development to avoid any increase harm to our environment or climate.
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Open access notablesA Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future:Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
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Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
“The Bill does not provide environmental protection, good quality decision making, certainty, public participation or speed. It should be withdrawn.” ...
RNZ News Television New Zealand has breached its collective agreement with the E tū union when deciding on discontinuing programmes, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled. It was announced in March that 68 staff members who work for news programmes Midday and Tonight, consumer justice programme Fair Go, current affairs ...
Asia Pacific Report Barangay New Zealand’s Rene Molina has interviewed the country’s first Filipino Green MP Francisco Hernandez who was sworn into Parliament yesterday as the party’s latest member. This is the first interview with Hernandez who replaces former Green Party co-leader James Shaw after his retirement from politics to ...
An Australian Strategic Policy Institute report says Pillar Two could raise the industry to state of the art capability - or "crush" it "under the weight of the globe's biggest player". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marlene Longbottom, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education & Research Centre, James Cook University ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to ...
“Instead of following along countries that are investing in death and better ways of killing people faster, we need to invest in life and in making Aotearoa a fair, just and equitable place where everyone has what they need for a dignified life.” ...
MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI, TPM MP FOR TAI TOKERAU This Government will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori. CHRISTOPHER LUXON Oh well look you know I don’t think that hard-working Kiwis want to hear language like that. It’s just really unhelpful rhetoric. My Government is genuinely committed to advancing outcomes ...
The body positivity movement started with women confronting the unrealistic expectations and unrepresentative portrayals of them in media and advertising. Men weren’t part of it … their bodies hadn’t been sexualised to the same extremes and they didn’t really need it. But now that’s changed. And in a warped sort ...
The New Zealand comedy legend takes us through her life in television, including the time she hugged Elton John and the unshakeable legacy of a girl named Lyn. In 1981, Ginette McDonald stood on the stage of Auckland’s St James Theatre and directly addressed Queen Elizabeth II. It was a ...
An essay by Lily Duval from the just-released anthology Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child adjacent.I was 22 when my friend Alice gave birth in the living room of our pokey Addington flat. She laboured in the blow-up pool for hours. Garish fish swam along the inflated ...
Ella Borrie on the best books about motherhood she’s come across so far. Over the past few years I’ve been drawn to books about motherhood. I’m fascinated by the joys and horrors of becoming a parent. The question of children also feels more pressing than it used to. It’s like ...
Out of gift ideas for mum? You can’t go wrong with a bottle of toilet cleaner and a new squeegee. Emily Writes is the writer and editor of Emily Writes Weekly. This week marks five years since I published a post on The Spinoff about Mother’s Day marketing titled ‘A ...
My husband is posted overseas for 12 months and I’m armed with an expensive, newfangled vibrator. Will I miss him? The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.A few days after my husband leaves, a new sex toy arrives at the front door. Nestled ...
Jaimie Baird’s new book Here Today Gone Tomorrow is a record of four decades of graffiti and street art in Wellington, told through more than 1,200 photographs. He spoke with Joel MacManus about what inspired the book. How did you first get interested in photographing street art? I remember ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at a busy week where food of all political leanings dominated. Sometimes you’re just going about your week thinking you’ve got a good handle on what might be coming as far as news topics and then someone (usually a politician) says something so ridiculous that ...
In a week of cold rain and frost, the climate in courtroom four upstairs at the Invercargill courthouse was simmering with restrained indignation. At times it felt like the famous Mexican standoff scene from Reservoir Dogs, or, as someone watching the proceedings described it, there was so much throwing of ...
A banner notification alerts me to the fact that I’ve received an Instagram message from @felicity.loves. She always comments on my posts. I shouldn’t have opened the message, but clicked on the notification before rationalising this. OMG! Are you in Wellys? X I debate not replying, but Instagram will inform ...
In Melbourne’s hardscrabble western suburbs where AFL – Aussie rules football – is a state religion, Callum Donaldson has been quietly grafting away, four months into an odyssey that he hopes will take him to another promised land: the NRL. It was a solid 2023 for the softly spoken 20-year-old ...
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...
The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...
Exhausted by the general election campaign, horrified by the twilight zone of coalition negotiations, distracted by the silly season and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, Raw Politics has been in hibernation since October. From today, we’re back. Our weekly political video show and podcast returns for ...
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Another great job by the Black Caps at the cricket world cup international stage for NZ
Cricket was the winner (again)
Black Caps were the the winners on the day (again)
Win Win the NZ way!
Impressive eh
Pretty much guaranteeing finals place, while simultaneously taking out the Saffers.
Shame he didn't walk when he bottom edged Tahir. It could well have changed the outcome of the match.
A bit of a fraud to laud winning “the NZ way” when the skipper cheated.
Probably thought it was a creak in the handle of his bat.
I think anyone who has ever batted before knows when you nick one, and sure as eggs, he would have done here.
https://twitter.com/PaulAdams39/status/1141423388453494784/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1141423388453494784&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fsport%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D4%26objectid%3D12242107
Fair enough, he got away with it, but lets keep all the win the NZ way for the fantasy leagues.
Rub of the green, dude.
https://twitter.com/CzanB/status/1141430308442501121
Like I wrote, he got away with one.
Part of the game, you have to be given out. Similar to going down with a broken leg in football at the slightest touch. You use the rules to your best advantage.
Yeah, it's not like that at all. Shite analogy. Ever heard the expression 'it's just not cricket'. It's been said for a reason, and that reason is honesty and integrity by the players.
Koli walked for India and he didn't even hit it, he just thought he did, which is a perfect example of how the game should be played. For me, Kane let himself down here, but they won, so all good then.
There was no appeal and I don't think it's entirely true that you know you've nicked one.
What is true is that neither bowler nor keeper appealed so they was both sure it wasn't out.
Not sure Williamson could do much else in that situation.
The bowler Tahir appealed. "Only Tahir appealed against the bottom edge by Williamson who was given not out"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/cricket-world-cup/113631599/why-didnt-black-caps-hero-kane-williamson-walk
I'm sure he knew he hit it, as he watched it onto the bat, but even though he didn't admit it, it would have been given out if reviewed.
I would have walked.
I'm sure he will take your concern on board.
I'm sure you can suck a hard one
Sorry the analogy is not up to your "Kohli and I would have walked" standards. Here's a few more examples, when batsmen are run out they usually know they're short. No need for the 3rd umpire then eh, most should be walking of their own admission, yet that's the exception. Then there's the no ball check when people get out. Why do batsmen wait on the field for the TV no ball check. Not in the spirit of the game for sure.
No, that's another dud example. After a run out, a batsman who knows they're short will typically keep going to the changing room. Unless it's a genuine 50/50, an umpire will often refer, just to be sure. A quite valid reason for the third umpire's involvement. Batsmen or women, will wait if the umpire decides to check a no ball, though this isn't a team review, and batters have been called back from the sheds before to resume an innings.
Definitely nothing like a footballer faking a broken leg to con a ref.
We're possibly watching different games… Hardly any international batsmen keep going to the changing room unless it's obvious and they're more than a metre short. Most wait on the pitch for the 3rd umpire replay to be shown that they're out, and most runouts are sent to the 3rd umpire because the onfield umpires are terrified of making the wrong decision. The game relies on the 3rd umpire so much now and that backs up the idea that players are not proactive in giving themselves out. Like I said when running in cricket you usually know when you're short of ground even if it's a close one.
Your first point "Hardly any international batsmen keep going to the changing room unless it's obvious " backs up what I wrote "a batsman who knows they're short will typically keep going to the changing room".
Your second point "most runouts are sent to the 3rd umpire because the onfield umpires are terrified of making the wrong decision" is almost exactly the same as my "Unless it's a genuine 50/50, an umpire will often refer, just to be sure", you just use impart a different reason for why.
A bit of a fraud to laud winning “the NZ way” when the skipper cheated.
So how did New Zealand "win" the Rugby World Cup in 2011? Was there a cheating skipper involved in that shambles, or did our eyes deceive us?
Not really, the ball was not intentionally edged, didn't make the keeper and umpire ignore it, is commonplace for batsmen to not react to feint edges even when keepers do appeal, which in this case the keeper didn't.
Which gets to the hub of it, it is not the batsman's place to do the job of the other team’s wicketkeeper and bowler communicating with each other, nothing un cricket about that at all.
Further more, if a keeper takes a ground level catch, does the batsman then automatically walk, or wait to see the umpires decision if the ball hit the ground?
Look, he hit it, or ball hit bat, it doesn't matter. I believe he would have known and should have walked. As it was, he hit it and should have been out. The point is whether he knew.
Any player I've ever played with and against has known when they've got an edge, I always have. Never once have I ever been given out thinking I didn't hit it.
Fresh timeline of NZ women singers who cracked the Top 10 of the NZ singles & album charts from 1975-2005 is a window on our broader social history.
https://www.audioculture.co.nz/scenes/new-zealand-women-in-the-nz-top-10
Who would of thought. The villagers where full of shit..https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/113621206/insurgent-leaders-admit-they-were-in-afghanistan-village-raided-during-nz-sass-operation-burnham
When there are complex situations in complex environments with complex politics and agendas at play, I always say, "Believe Taliban commanders even if their stories don't match."
Absolutely, what would Taliban Commanders have to gain from sowing discord. They sound like real swell folk.
The basic claim that at least 6 unarmed civilians were killed still stands. Try reading the whole article Buster.
Given Buster12's apparent inability to construct even a basic English sentence, I think you're asking way too much there.
Yeah, there were two of them. When they saw the helicopters they escaped without firing a shot. I gather one of them wasn't in the specific village (there are a cluster of small villages and they are referred to together as 'a village') but he was nearby and saw the action taking place.
It makes no difference to the basic claim of the book "Hit and Run" which I have read from cover to cover:
The NZ contingent – together with the American helicopters overhead – killed and injured villagers including a small child and failed to acknowledge their mistake. They see it as acceptable collateral damage I suppose.
In times of hostilities most people understand mistakes can be made. The problem is, when the perpetrators don't believe they have to admit to them. Imo they are wrong. At no time is it acceptable not to own one's mistakes and then make it worse by indulging in cover-ups which is what the NZDF (and the Americans involved if the truth were known) tried to do.
I find that highly believable Bluster.
????
Someone contact the insane asylum. There's a sub-moron loose.
Joy Harjo – 1st Native American Poet Laureate:
I must keep from breaking into the story by force
for if I do I will find myself with a war club in my hand
and the smoke of grief staggering toward the sun,
your nation dead beside you.
I keep walking away though it has been an eternity
and from each drop of blood
springs up sons and daughters, trees,
a mountain of sorrows, of songs.
I tell you this from the dusk of a small city in the north
not far from the birthplace of cars and industry.
Geese are returning to mate and crocuses have
broken through the frozen earth.
Soon they will come for me and I will make my stand
before the jury of destiny. Yes, I will answer in the clatter
of the new world, I have broken my addiction to war
and desire. Yes, I will reply, I have buried the dead
and made songs of the blood, the marrow.
NZ history. What are we! Review on Radionz of Jock Phillips historian and gives me a feeling of having had the journey to understand NZ history, it's the journey that many of us have done, and are still traipsing along in his steps.
Jock Phillips: Making History
Photo: Victoria University of WellingtonNew Zealand.
Historian Jock Phillips has made his career bringing history to life and convincing New Zealanders that our past has real value. He is former editor of the Online Encyclopedia Te Ara, served as government Chief Historian, was the founding director of the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies, and was the conceptual leader for the history exhibitions at Te Papa, as well as publishing 15 books.
Now he has turned his deep historical skills on himself in his memoir called "Making History". He tells Kathryn the awakening of New Zealanders to their history has been one of the great revolutions of our time.
Note how Victoria Uni has decided to name itself now it has been talked down from calling itself 'Wellington'.
Audio later. A good idea while writing on here to follow up on our history through Jock's writing. What are we trying to protect, maintain, advance, treasure, prioritise?
Jock said for the purpose of learning history is to help interpret the world around you. Also lots of other interesting things to hear in this interview.
Audio – Jock Phillips https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018700527/jock-phillips-making-history
Phillips was, and remains, something of a twit.
Stand by for Borisovian Britain, something like medieval Rus.
Good move by Minister Little to enable polling booths for voting in malls and supermarkets.
Hopefully greater access gets us to 80%+ voting turnout.
Good for our democracy.
Agree. Same day enrolment is also a big plus. Both these changes will help lift the vote of low income people and disenfranchised people which will help the socially conscious left.
National and its follows will be furious about this. I'm surprised they didn't try to block it.
Only if they put up, then inact on left wing policy. Otherwise low income people and disenfranchised people will vote for populist demagogues like boris or trump.
But you knew that already 🙂
water, who really needs it, right?
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/19/india/chennai-water-crisis-intl-hnk/index.html
+1 yep – I saw this yesterday
Actually Marty, Chennai has been in a water crisis for years. My daughter's husband is from there and his parents and sister are there also. They have been living with Climate change for some time now. They rely on water tanks for water and what is trucked in. Farmers have been making a killing in suppling water to the city – indeed this is their main source of income now because they can earn more from selling the water rather than using it for farming. It really is no joke just how desperate they are for water. And then, when it does come, it can come in the form of a flood the like of which we can only imagine, and the majority of it just races away to the ocean.
They need to switch out those staples for things that aren't water hungry. Potatoes, cassava, sweet potato – all require much less water. I got massive kumara yields out front with very little watering through the drought.
The thing with sugar though, it gives one hell of a yield. There are sustainable sugar farmers appearing in the regions in India – I learn from them (painstakingly, it is in Indian) but without water… green credentials won't amount to a hill of beans (or sugar).
Oh, and beans, well, pigeon peas to be precise if you want low water for high protein.
Do we have pigeon peas in NZ – Robert? I love the idea of some nitrogen fixing shrubs with a decent yield to them. They could easily replace lupins in some sandy landscapes…
how about they just stop companies from draining the groundwater for bottling and coca cola.
And i honestly believe that we might just not be so fast as to tell the Indians what they can and can not grow in India, considering that the country is very large, with quite different climates, and people who have been vegans long before it became fashionable for a bunch of hipsters to fret about food..
This is not about a low water crisis, this is about a no water crisis, as in no ground water, all damns depleted, and i am not sure switching a country with a billion plus people over to kumara is gonna fix it.
pretty much.
Whether it's more to do with population density, climate change, or urban planning is an interesting question, but people are really hurting.
The study of agricultural systems is my bread and butter.
Sugar needs 1500 – 2500 mm rain per year.
Cassava can produce heavily with 400 mm.
Kumara in high production can take 100 mm a month but will do well on half that. 4-5 months to maturation and the greens are edible too so production can kick off very early and last all season. THE highest yielding (nutrition) crop in this regard.
Average rainfall in India 300 – 650 but widely varied and unreliable to bank on. The monsoon seasons are becoming broken, more severe or piss weak, timing becoming more varied.
I'll comment if I want WTF would you know.
Ever hear the saying that to a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail?
Ever hear the saying: McFlock off?
When the water's gone the food supply will follow. They could import or desalinate but the expense will leave not a drop for agriculture.
Agriculture then, has to take a long hard look at itself, as weather patterns will cease to be predictable. And the water required to grow sugar for the west… not really tenable at present. The future?
India has been producing for the western world on a large scale, and getting rorted in the process. Sabine makes a great point about Coca Cola (but is she too fast to say so lol), and the myriad other corporations over there gouging profits and trashing ecosystems.
The tragedy is we forget a drought as soon as it's passed. Again, the weather patterns will no longer be predictable, but they will get considerably worse. The writing has been on the wall and many of their politicians have done little but fill their coffers.
They really do need some changes, famine follows drought.
Yes dear. Kumara will save them. They don't need to do anything else. 🙄
Geez I try but you're a whinging twat. I mentioned a bunch of crops and you've contributed McFlock all, again.
OK, how much of Chennai's groundwater take is due to agriculture?
How about you go away and learn, then come back and tell us all about it.
Contribute or fuck off.
You can start here
https://chennaimetrowater.tn.gov.in/watersupplysystem.html
That link doesn't actually answer the question, does it.
edit: this overview suggests that over half the water use is residential, with another chunk being industrial (probably includes your cane fields). And another lot “unknown”. But agriculture won’t fix it.
Seems the whole damn state is behind the eight ball.
The demand for water in Tamil Nadu is increasing at a fast rate both due to increasing population and also due to larger per capita needs triggered by economic growth. The per capita availability of water resources however, is just 900 cubic meters when compared to the national average of 2,200 cubic meters. Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the State using 75 per cent of the State’s water resources
http://tnenvis.nic.in/Database/TN-ENVIS_791.aspx
McFlock – it was a damn good link to start with. Gives a clear picture of the history and methods of water capture employed.
I didn't say 'here's your answer' did I…
But joe90 found it. Thanks.
Interesting. Things are bad and getting worse.
"The current level of utilisation expressed as net ground water draft of 13.558 MCM is about 60 per cent of the available recharge, while 8875 MCM (40 per cent) is the balance available for use. Over the last five years, the percentage of safe blocks has declined from 35.6 per cent to 25.2 per cent while the semi-critical blocks have gone up by a similar percentage. Over-exploitation has already occurred in more than a third of the blocks (35.8 per cent) while eight blocks (2 per cent) have turned saline. "
You are concerned about the matter Sabine and McFlock and then chastise WtB for making suggestions. If India has run out of water they have to do things differently so it's not helpful to deride WtB's suggestions. NZ might hate change but when times force change we and India have to do so. So don't go shooting people in the foot when they don't want to just sit in a sob circle and say 'Isn't it terrible, and what will they do. And it just goes to show', or something like 'is an interesting question, but people are really hurting.'
You can't solve a problem if you make an incorrect assumption about the cause.
Chennai is using its groundwater at almost twice the replenishment rate. If that sustainability gap is due substantially to inapproriate crop selection, fair call. But if the bulk of it is due to water-intensive industries, a much better option would be to regulate those industries. If it's due simply to having to supply water to 4million people (and increasing), they need more water plants and storage. Maybe it's a mix of those things, and more.
There are lots of stories about inappropriate "aid" and "advice" being given to people in need because the donors didn't look past their assumptions.
Many farmers are not actually producing anything because they can get more money by selling their water directly. Food is mainly brought in from outside the region.
Exactly. It is pretty basic – doesn't need as much ego imo in some of the comments – this is a GROUNDWATER issue not a cropping issue. One is immediate the other is long term but obviously both on the same spectrum.
What used all the groundwater?
I've actually experienced a few weeks of no water in the pipes. There was a factory fire upstream on the banks of the Waihou river a silo of milk powder got in the river and everything died.
Milk tankers of water turned up and we in line with buckets and billy cans.
We had the only hot bath in the village, having borrowed a contraption to heat about 50 litres at a pop off our farming cuzzies.
When you're the only hot bath in town, you become very popular.
Round here, don't be coming up with smart ideas. Commiserate! Those poor smelly bastards with no bath…
This is an interesting read. Too many details to summarise.
An answer to 'What crops grow in Tamilnadu?' from Jan 2017. They were in deep shit then (The area Chennai is part of).
"In a desperate attempt to draw the government’s attention to their plight, farmers in the city of Tiruchi stood with dead rats in their mouths in front of the collector’s office last week, demanding loan wavers and relief measures."
https://www.quora.com/Which-are-the-crops-cultivated-in-Tamil-Nadu-How-many-crops-do-TN-farmers-cultivate-in-a-year-What-is-the-plight-of-2016-crops
"farmers in the city of Tiruchi stood with dead rats in their mouths"
Whoaaaa! Could this happen in New Zealand? Could our farmers, if driven to desperation by the banks (hello, Mr Key) stomach that sort of protest action?
I am not really concerned. Put me in the basket of those blasee at the knowledge that the train is derailed and we are now buckled in for the right. And then when we reach the end of our life we die. So don't consider me concerned.
I posted this link to more as an information about things to come here. We have been in a bit of drought lately. Having two days of drizzle per month since December last year does not look good, and rain patterns are pretty sketchy elsewhere too. Our water quality is fucked up generally, without waders i would not wade in, our selling of water for it to be bottled and sold elsewhere, our irrigation madness so that we can grow cows in the plains somewhere and so forth is what we need to rethink, not the planting of kumara in india – which is something they already do. I would assume that the Indians in India know what to grow in their areas with their soils and such. I would even assume them to save their seeds, compost, grow soil and do all that schnick schnack that makes us feel so super duper good about ourselfs.
and yes, i chastised (what a lovely word innit – to censure, castigate 🙂 ) WTB who looks at this problem that is of such a magnitude that it is hard to bend ones mind around – no water not just for one mega city in India but several; No Water for several 10s of millions of people – with the suggestion that maybe if they switch over to low water vegetables something would happen and the reservoirs and aquifiers would replenish and magic!!
So yeah, i am with McFlock there, it ain't the vegetable farmers that depleted the Water all by themselves and it might even be an arrogant assumption as to what people there do or not do, as non of us really would know. As for the farmers now selling the water at an inflated price to towners should tell us something about town planning and water rights and even be a lesson for us here in NZ where we too are selling the farm to the highest bidder with out any consideration about tomorrow or our young ones. And we are selling our water extra cheap and we don't think about the fact that once pumped and loaded it is gone pretty much forever. So yeah, its ok lets plant more kumaras, i love the purple ones baked until caramalised and crisp.
Does the Kumara might be from India. https://www.ndtv.com/food/sweet-potato-is-native-to-india-not-america-says-new-research-top-4-health-benefits-of-the-tuber-1856317
3/4 of the regions water goes to Ag. The crops they grow are for the most part water demanding. My advice is not simply 'grow kumara' so stop being misleading that that's all it was.
Their industry has fed the western machine and increasing western ways of their own society. We've done them no favors.
You talk about our drought and yet have at me for knowing a thing or two about what might be done. Half the rain requires crops that only need… guess how much?
"So yeah, i am with McFlock there, it ain't the vegetable farmers that depleted the Water all by themselves and it might even be an arrogant assumption as to what people there do or not do, as non of us really would know"
Well actually, I was right. So go suck a…. kumara.
3/4 of the state's water goes to agriculture.
the state is bigger than Chennai itself.
The state is depleting its water resources, but still has reserves. Chennai has run out. Most of Chennai's water use was residential a few years ago.
wow.
suck the kumara
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Presumably because both a corpse and kumara (“sweet potato”) are buried.
Verb[edit]
suck the kumara
Synonyms[edit]
it actually does not matter what you know, how much you know, or not. You are an arrogant little pisser like all of us are without any consequences in the larger realm of things. Firstly. Secondly, you are an angry little pisser, when some don't agree with you or immediatly bows to your snakr and wisdom and might even find you a little small minded and single focused or blinded by thy own grandness (take your pick) and you have shown that on more then one occasion, so really, go eat a snickers or some kale chips, cause you seem petty and angry when hungry.
Thirdly, yes your idea of switching to low water foods and the likes is recommendable and i am sure that the Indians will be more then happy to entertain your idea should they get to listen to you, cause clearly the Indians would not know how to grow low water use vegetables to save their million people mega cities from running out of water.
Fourth, as has been pointed out below by McFlock we are talking about Cities. You know those places with few farms but lots of peoples and businesses and cars an such. but i am sure if all these people living in the cities without water will suck a kumara then all will be well and you get to feel all grand and super duper about yourself and your kumara.
bye now.
They grew temperate crops in an arid region. Ecocide. The big global trading system that cares not for nature but bends her to their will.
That's where the majority of the water goes/went.
For someone who doesn't care you come across as a hysterical twat looking for any old shit to be outraged about.
And what’s with the narrow focused obsession with kumara and Chennai, get with the big picture or STFU.
Yes the situation sucks. Wringing your hands wont help.
+ 1 yep pretty basic stuff I would have thought but there you go.
A bit tropical for pigeon peas, for the moment, I expect, but someone somewhere in NZ will be growing them in anticipation (no one is Southland…yet).
WTB's thinking is sound and the search for suitable crops is paramount. Some will already be here: it'll just be a case of adjusting the management to new conditions, as well as eco-sensitivity (go organic, or something better).
India, WTB? Your view on its place in the destruction of the natural environment; just an off-shoot of the Occidental war against nature?
Agricultural land use is often a big factor, yes. But there are other issues at play in a city of 4 million. Industrial water use, grey water (non) use, leaking reticulation systems, failure to plan infrastructure for increasing populations, and so on are all worthy of examination.
Good points. Especially where they can reuse, and minimise current waste.
Infrastructure, dare I poke my head up and think about it?
These mental exercises could help our Aussie neighbors, and drought prone regions here too.
Earthworks, swales, ground storage. Passive solar desalination. I'd make them with clay sealed depressions, and glass tops. Get a glass factory and some clay quarried and go large. Top quality drinking water once you add a bit of the salts back. And salt…
Is that too salty?
Briefly touched on it (thoughts on Indian Ag) above.
So many amazing innovators and farmers, some impressive permaculture and initiatives that spring up – and these get talked about a lot. The people are absolutely into the sustainable farming alternatives where presented. Whole villages turn up for the earthworks, there is hope there.
But the government reticence to change BAU, is BAU.
I agree that there's "fertile ground" there, for innovation, but I'm thinking that despite the "foreignness" the "Indians" seem to be just a chapter in our own story; Agriculture is King, rather than a completely different line, such as the Amazonians might represent. Peter Procter spent half his time in India working with biodynamic farmers (One cow, one planet) and the other here in NZ. I do think the continent is an example of ruination through agriculture culture.
Yep. But you can't go saying things like that.
Some of the locals blame excessive industry, farmers, soda bottlers, government and corporate collusion, various ticket clipping agencies…
Sounds mighty familiar.
"The major crops sown in Tamilnadu are rice, jowar, ragi, bajra, maize, and pulses. Few other crops that are highly cultivated in the regions of Tamilnadu are cotton, sugarcane, tea, coffee, and coconut. Tamilnadu has also gained a commendable status is the horticultural sector in its agricultural department. The horticultural products of Tamilnadu include cash crops and oil seed crops. Bananas and mangoes are cash crops while groundnuts, sesame, and sunflower are oil seed crops. Paddy is the most leading crop in Tamilnadu and is found in 3 kinds namely Kuruvai, Thaladi, and Samba that varies from season to season."
They've commended themselves for their efforts. Yet now people are wondering if it's worth even trying to grow food there, only two years on. These systems crash hard.
Time to ditch the Ag advisers and bring in the permies.
You'll like this WTB:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-06-18/organic-farmer-village-helps-shoulder-the-burden-together/11215732
That's a great idea. Mate of mine does the books for a number of wealthy individuals near Christchurch. They own lifestyle blocks of one kind or another, but find the effort of doing anything with them excessive. The market is structurally rejecting the kind of young folk who could make something of them.
Have you heard the saying 'Land Poor' Stuart?
The idea is, if you can't manage the land you have, you are actually land poor. You spend all your time battling uphill and have no life. A slave to, rather than steward of, your lot.
But with a small plot you can get really high production.
And all kinds of in between.
With a reasonable sized plot and a few helping hands – Eden is there for the making*
*For a limited time only.
Nice find. That's a good model where they've not become enmeshed in each others business but share skills, company and gear. Smart.
"Time to ditch the Ag advisers and bring in the permies."
Convert those Ag advisors to permaculture, or something better, and we'll be on the way; It's a Big Ask, but it's a Big Challenge, so let's pull on our Big Pants.
That's a bloody good point. Will the Nuns of NPK convert.
Brothers and Sisters, we need a miracle!
A decade or two and they'll be lucky if they can grow anything.
https://twitter.com/NASAEarth/status/1139699078873452544
Bangladesh may have it harder – a 50cm sealevel rise is estimated to cost them 11% of their land – Greenland will do more than that.
Meanwhile, back in Noddy Town
North Island coastal property values are surging by as much as 66 percent, new research by OneRoof shows…
“India can’t afford to ignore its water crisis. Neither can South Asia or the world. Water scarcity is a clear and present danger, not a distant threat, and global warming heightens this threat. This month, international researchers from the U.S. and South and Central Asia released new research on major river basins at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. Their findings reveal that snowmelt accounts for nearly three-quarters of the water in two of India’s key basins — the Brahmaputra and Indus — and nearly half of the water in the Ganga, the country’s largest river basin.”
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/water-woes/article25814399.ece
Miuse/allocation obviously an issue but it appears that it will be exacerbated by reducing future availability…..those dismissing societal collapse within 30 years may wish to consider how organised society functions without sufficient water
In a Ministry of Transport official documented study released shows that tyre wear from a truck is at least 100 times more than an average car.
https://transport.govt.nz/assets/Import/Documents/9fa2b3a10b/stormwater-emission-factors.pdf •
In a corner stone report released, by the ‘Government’s Principal transport advisory agency’ the Ministry of Transport entitled ‘Emission Factors for Contaminants Released by Motor Vehicles in New Zealand’ it clearly shows graphs and tables confirming our worst fears that surfaces of rough surface roads will increase the tyre to road ‘friction’ that will greatly increase the tyre wear and tyre dust ‘emissions’ from all tyres if the roads are made from a chip seal or worse from metal or gravel road surface.
The tables and literature shows that as the weight of the freight carried on trucks increases the tyre dust emissions increases dramatically.
We have located documents that show that scientists have now found traces of tyre dust being carried on sea tidal currents to the polar ice and are now speeding up the melting of the ice caps, due to the black tyre dust attracting the suns heat. Ministry of Transport. – ‘Emission Factors for Contaminant s Released by Motor Vehicles in New Zealand’ is a serious wake up call to our regional Governments who are now beginning to write changes and intent to their future planning to reduce the climate emissions after signing the ‘Climate change emergency declaration.’ Our HB Regional Council are also signing onto this climate change emergency declaration;
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1906/S00449/hawkes-bay-support-for-climate-emergency-declaration.htm
Rail is the answer as “steel wheels on a steel track” has no friction or tyre dust emissions and therefore is the ‘environmental gold standard’ for our future economic growth of our regions increased business development to avoid any increase harm to our environment or climate.
Keep up the good work man. And onya HB Council.
Trains!