"Boris Johnson won the ITV debate in the eyes of just 51% of the viewers, compared with Jeremy Corbyn’s 49%, according to an immediate poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of Sky News."
"while Labour may not have won, the fact that Corbyn was very competitive will be a boost to the opposition party’s morale. A pre-match YouGov poll suggested that people believed Johnson would perform better by 37% to Corbyn’s 23%."
"there were no shortages of decent moments for Corbyn, from warnings about NHS selloffs, to a quip about nine chaotic Conservative years. On Prince Andrew, it was his show of sympathy for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein that struck the right note.
And if there was laughter for Corbyn on Brexit, Johnson was derided by the audience over trust, an attack line that Labour MPs say is proving effective on the doorstep with voters mindful of the prime minister’s complex private life."
Melbourne’s RMIT University and Bond University in Queensland have now formally ended their association.
Another, the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, said it would be reviewing their relationship. The fourth “host partner”, Murdoch University in Western Australia, has been contacted for comment.
He does make a difference. I might even watch a little more regularly if it didn't have to be so ad-laden – trying to sell me the most useless shite imaginable
During one severe relapse, I was too ill to fill in a complex set of forms for seven weeks, so I lost around $85 per week. Then Work and Income took another eight weeks to process my forms.
The stress of 15 weeks with this major income shortfall crashed my immune system and left me bed-bound. If I could deal with endless paperwork like this I'd be working in an office.
"Deputy Chief Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson said the alleged victim’s complaint was credible. However, she added: ‘My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment.’"
As the NYT observes, this clears the way for the US extradition case.
Thats the end of my commenting for the day, people to see, life to be lived ,wish Assange had the same freedom
Of course, there was still enough evidence to charge him for rape alongside the lesser sexual assault offences that he ran the clock out on.
There's a certain poetry that his desire to avoid those charges put him in a worse situation than if he'd been found guilty. Bit of a Greek tragedy, there.
Well i guess it goes to serve as a warning to others.
Don't consent to a thing you don't intend to do. Poeple might take offense. Or even better, don't fuck without a condom when you agreed to only fuck with a condom in a country that has 'consent' laws.
For a supposedly intelligent man he has shown absolute fucking poor decision making when it comes to sex and sex partners.
Question: would he be were he is now had he not decided that he can just fuck any which way he wants to and his partners pleasure, comfort, and consent be damned.
in fact this reminds me of the lamentations of my neighbourgh who got a ticket for a parking in a non parking spot. Who is at fault? She for parking were she ought not too – ‘her parking’ as she calls it – even tho there is plenty of legal parking about. Or the ticket man who does what is his job to do and hands her a ticket – after he gives her a warning and asks her to move the car – which she refused to do on account of ‘her parking’.
this guy would have had a completely different life had he decided to keep his willy in the trousers or maybe he could have shoved an aspirin between his knees. I think some call this personal responsibility.
Especially if you know that someone is out to get him.
So Sabine you think this " ‘My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment.’"
Should say " ‘My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment but someone in a little country at the bottom of the globe says he's guilty of rape under Swedish law. Similarities to a parking infringement is given as proof’"
Thanks for that update Francesca,that is good news I guess, however I get a little depressed whenever I hear news about Assange, it just reminds me how easily led and manipulated so many good people on the Left have become, and you can be sure that the same gullible ones who turned on Assange with such vitriol are the same ones who buy lock stock and barrel into the CIA/FBI fueled Russiagate rubbish.
I must be old. Jacinda brought a tear to my eye. She comes across as so nice. Every word seems to be sincere and so warm. Thanks Sanctuary. (Excuse me for a moment while I find a tissue.)
Solar breakthrough. Industrial heating processes once too hot for solar now an option. This is very good news. I've heard people argue if Tiwai was off the grid we'd have capacity for an electric fleet. Well it looks like we might (in future) have our cake and eat it too.
Great to see at least one politician taking a moral stand on the right wing Bolivian coup'…seems our own lot are more interested in perceived optics than taking any boring old moral and/or ethical stand on international affairs…
who would have thought that people might not want to pay a ransom note just because the shitty one in the shitty house feels the need to feel bigly. Or something.
Oh well, I guess we will all in due time learn to appreciate our new over lords, same as the other overlords but with better food.
Usual gerrymandering from last maps. Taranaki is divided into 3 . Whanganui like Timaru is cut off from its traditional hinterland
Central North Island electorates wander off to unnconnected areas
Queenstown is cut off from rest of central Otago and remains mostly with Southland.
New Flatbush includes Conifer Peninsula and Up to Mission Hieghts , yet Botany has part of Flatbush near Motorway and part of Howick on coast ,but excludes Whitford
North Shore , I havent looked closely but Bennetts old electorate wanders from Back of Henderson across the Upper Harbour to Rosedale by the motorway…just weird.
These two links are part of 4 part series host by the ABC's Alan Kohler who does the nightly finance report on the 7o'clock weekday news. It's quite interesting watch at what is happening here in Oz atm, with NZ's economy is very similar to Oz right now, you could drop the word Australia and insert New Zealand to get the same result.
Atm the Australian economy isn't all beers and skittles and I won't be advising anyone to make the move over here right now unless you have a big bag full of money to fall back on if and when we do go under.
On the request of Drowsy M. Kram here is a discussion about the term "indigenous" and why it is Eurocentric.
Here was the request:
"My question ["Indigenous people" a ridiculous concept? How so?] preceded yours. You responded to my question with several questions of your own.
Your response or (if you prefer) ‘answer’ seems to be that you think "indigenous people" is a ridiculous concept because it is "Eurocentric".
Could you please lead me (briefly) through your line of reasoning (maybe on Open Mike), because I’m genuinely not following it.
As Incognito points out (and I agree), not all eurocentric concepts are ridiculous, so what is it about this one (the origins of which can be traced to classical Greek culture a few centuries B.C.) that irks you so?"
The answer to your question about how is the term both ridiculous and Eurocentic was in the questions I asked you (Which were "Who are the indigenous people of England, France, and Germany?").
The fact is there is no pure indigenous people really in Europe and neither can there be. There have been too many people intermingling with each other and sharing both their cultures and their DNA with each other. The English are no more "Indigenous" to England than the Germans are to Germany. Even the Celtic people are not “indigenous” in the modern sense of the word to the places they live in now.
That then leads on to how the term came to be used given it's irrelevance in the continent from which spawned the concept. The background to this is basically a people became Indigenous to an area at the moment the Europeans "discovered" them living in an area. Hence Black African Tribes are deemed indigenous to Southern Africa despite only migrating to the area around 1000 or so years ago (in many places less time than Anglo-Saxons have lived in England). This is why the term "Indigenous" is Eurocentric. It only makes sense through a European World view.
Gosman, thanks for taking this to OM and for setting out your reasoning so expansively. Personally I find the "Indigenous peoples" concept easy to understand and so quite useful, and wonder if you would find synonymous terms [First peoples, Aboriginal peoples or Native peoples] equally ridiculous.
If I'm understanding your reasoning, you consider "indigenous people" to be a ridiculous concept because it is not relevant to "the continent from which spawned the concept."
IMHO that's not good reason to label a concept 'ridiculous', so we’ll have to agree to disagree.
[My humble apologies! I was meant to reply but instead overwrote your comment. In my defense, it was a ridiculous comment but that doesn’t make it right – Incognito]
Your definition of 'ridiculous term/concept‘ appears to be one that "is not universal and has different applications depending on what part of the World you are in."
We clearly have different world views; what seems 'ridiculous' to you just seems normal (in common use all over the world) and sensible to me. Still happy to agree to disagree.
I would suggest that Gosman has a nit-picking point, but is probably well aware of the below, and indulging in his usual diversionary, tergiversatory and provocative behaviour.
Basically (explaining what I think Gosman already knows bloody well) the term 'indigenous' is now used to apply to populations afflicted by European colonialism over the last 600 years or so, when with superior technology, Europeans took over and colonised just about every country in the world.
At school, I learned that the French word for 'Native' (the word normally used until late 1960s) was 'Indigène', so at first I saw 'indigenous' as simply a synonym. But no – I have since understood that it is used for any people conquered by European colonialists. ('Native' is now so tainted that it is almost gone from our vocabulary, and we instead use 'indigenous' for plants and animals, where 'native' used to be a perfectly good, non-pejorative term.)
Gosman, silly nit-picking is not a big achievement.
And what pray tell me is wrong with the word "mankind"? It is usually used when the topic under discussion refers to a specific species called mankind. Are you suggesting we use humankind? Too much of a mouthful thank-you.
What is wrong with 'mankind' is exactly the same thing that is wrong with 'native'. They were used in a time when people of colour were considered inferior to white people and women were considered inferior to men. As social relations change language changes as a reflection.
You must have a very small mouth to be overcome by two more letters.
Personally, I prefer 'personkind' – a warmer term than that clinical 'human' one. In fact, 'human' should be changed to 'huperson', leading us to the beautifully multisyllabic 'hupersonkind'.
Its quite funny how we all have different reactions to nomenclature.
I have never thought of ‘mankind’ in the same way as solkta. It was used in an historical or scientific sense in my day. Our teachers and superiors talked of mankind… learning to make tools for hunting and receptacles for storing food etc. It was never seen as an expression of gender inequality so I will continue to use it when it is the appropriate term.
What's wrong with ‘womankind’ ? If you wish to avoid gender ‘human’ does the job nicely.
[You are using too many different aliases and e-mail addresses. This raises suspicions with Moderators on this site. Please explain yourself – Incognito]
Thanks In Vino, that makes sense. Would "First peoples" be a 'safer' term, i.e. less/not pejorative and typically less disputable given recent advances in molecular anthropology?
First from when, as Gosman would ask? Maybe 'Previous people' or, if that sounds like zombies, 'Prior people' adds an aura of importance… but I doubt if any term will be safe for long in our very woke era.
Actually, I'm beginning to think that maybe Gossies' approach is itself "Eurocentric". Looking at some of the historically-disputed areas around China, we see the same relationaships between the invading and occupying culture, and the pre-existing culture of that area.
Despite the earnest wishes of the EDL, Europe isn't under threat of being occupied any time soon. So to use a term in the vein of "indiginous" is farcical, because the term is a distinction between two or more ethnic populations in the same land, and the extant one that was there earliest is usually the one with least power in that land.
'First' as in the first people to arrive/settle in a given region/island, including any descendants through to present day. Could be a can of worms, but worthwhile at least trying to develop acceptable terms (for each region/island) IMHO.
Why is it worth while? It is only worthwhile if you think there is some benefity to tie a particular group to a geographic area and bestow upon them special rights based on that link.
In North America especially the generally preferred expression seems to be "first nations". Really rubs in the "we had developed societies you guys tried to obliterate" factor.
Could Gossie's 'reasoning' be: Once assimilation is complete, concepts such as indigenous peoples, first peoples/nations, aboriginal peoples or native peoples (and any 'special' rights/privileges deriving from distinctive cultural practices/beliefs) will be irrelevant? Oh, what a 'perfect' world.
You keep avoiding my question about who are the indigenous people in Europe. There is an argument to be made that there are some in the far north (The Sámi) however even in this case the DNA evidence suggests that there may well have been a pre-existing culture and people that mixed with later peoples. Certainly the Celtic, Germanic and Slavic people of Northern, Western, Central, and Eastern Europe were not "indigenous" to the areas that they now call home. Maybe the Greeks have a claim to be indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean. It is a push though given there is evidence that the Greeks today are not the same as the Greeks of the Minoan era.
Gosman, I don't know enough about the topic of indigenous people in Europe to answer your question (so can only cut and paste), but the accounts you're providing suggest that it's difficult to tell.
"In Europe, present-day indigenous populations as recognized by the UN are relatively few, mainly confined to its north and far east. Notable minority indigenous populations in Europe include the Basque people of northern Spain and southern France, the Sami people of northern Fennoscandia, the Nenets, Samoyedic and Komi peoples of northern Russia, and the Circassians of southern Russia and the North Caucasus." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Indigenous_peoples_of_Europe
You and I live in NZ – do you think that the concept of people that are indigenous to NZ (or Australia) is "ridiculous"?
To reiterate, I don’t find the concept of ‘indigenous people‘ ridiculous – rather I find it useful. No doubt there are other concepts that you consider ridiculous and I consider useful – there may even be a few concepts that you consider useful and I consider ridiculous.
Thank you for making the point. The term "indigenous" doesn't mean what many people think it means (which is the original people of a particular area). It means instead people who were occupying a particular area when they Europeans first came in to contact with them.
This is the technology we need to grow to turn our plastic waste into a valuable commodity. This system gives us the opportunity to keep plastics in a closed loop system. Use recycled we need closed loop system for everything we use.
Australian recycling technology aims to handle all plastics
Australian scientists have developed a technology they say could make all plastic recyclable, as the country grapples with how to deal with its waste crisis.
The patented technology was created by Dr Len Humphreys and Sydney University Professor Thomas Maschmeyer, who say it could process plastics that cannot currently be recycled.
Australians throw out 3.5 million tonnes of plastic each year, but currently only about 10 percent of it is recycled.
The rest is either burned, buried or shipped overseas
Dr Humphreys said the Cat-HTR technology he and his co-founder patented was different from existing plastic-to-oil technologies like pyrolysis, which is a process that involves heating materials at a very high temperature.
Unlike traditional physical recycling, it does not require plastics to be separated according to type and colour, and can recycle anything from milk cartons to wetsuits and even wood by-products.
It also means plastic products can be recycled again and again
Sugar should be banned to our fuel tanks our tamariki consume way to much of the stuff.
Later on in their lives once their bodys system have been wrecked by sugar the real problems start diabetes heart problems that's the reality of high sugar consumption.
Sweet spot: Norwegians cut sugar intake to lowest level in 44 years
Norway has had a sugar tax since 1922 and more recently has created separate taxes for confectionary and sugary drinks
The directorate’s annual report on the Norwegian diet said that average annual consumption of sugar had plummeted from 43kg to 24kg per person between 2000 and 2018 – including a 27% reduction in the past decade – to a level lower than that recorded in 1975.
Norway has had a generalised added sugar tax – introduced at the time as a means of raising revenue for the state, rather than reducing the consumption of what critics call the “pure, white and deadly” substance – since as early as 1922
What should be banned is selling sugary drinks cheaper then milk or water.
And what should be done is getting parents to understand that if they make the children, and if they birth the children then they have to actually raise them, feed them, clothes them.
Non of that is the fault of sugar.
If we continue to demand stuff be banned because grown ass adults don't give a shit aobut their children we will have no more food/drink etc left and the world be littered with starving children.
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Now that the initial wave has passed, and we are (hopefully) safe in our national bubble, the government is thinking about how to keep the economy ticking over, and how to salvage the bits (like tourism) that are now useless. And for that particular industry, she has mentioned a great ...
There’s been a lot of conjecture concerning the reasons behind the National Party’s fall to 30% in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll. Some commentators have correctly ascertained that the current leader, Simon Bridges, has been consistently getting his tone wrong! Others believe that the shift in support is all about ...
It probably was too good to last. The blessed peace on the roads that I wrote about here began eroding even before we left Level 4 of the Covid-19 restrictions – and on day one of Level 3, with the tradies rushing to catch upon their work, the double-cab utes ...
Missing From The Electoral Action: The radical Left's last forlorn hope, the "Missing Million", is generally despised by mainstream New Zealand and mistrusted by the respectable members of their own communities. They have moved well beyond the reach of conventional electoral politics.TO SAY the Left’s reaction to Grant Robertson’s “Recovery ...
by Don Franks As we face new unknowns against Covid 19, there’s something reassuring about level 2’s basic rules. “Physical distancing- keep your distance when out and about. Two metres in public and in retail stores, like supermarkets. One metre in most other environments like workplaces, cafes, restaurants, and gyms.” ...
Richard Shaw, Massey UniversityOnce upon a very different time, British cabinet minister Michael Gove sneered that “people have had enough of experts from organisations with acronyms saying that they know what is best and getting it consistently wrong.” But that was then and this is now. One or two ...
From its name, you would think the Environmental protection Authority was there to protect the environment. But we've had another reminder that nothing could be further from the truth, with its decision to allow a toxic, burned-out Korean fishing boat to be dumped at sea: The ship's owner, Dong Won ...
Story of the Week... El Niño/La Niña Update... Toon of the Week... Graphic of the Week... Climate Feedback Article Review... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... The Largest Arctic Science Expedition in History Finds Itself on Increasingly ...
It was just a month ago that the chief executive of Rotorua Lakes Council, Geoff Williams, described suggestions his executive team should consider taking pay cuts as “immoral”. Williams told the NZ Herald: “I am very fortunate to have around me an extremely committed, dedicated and hardworking executive team who ...
“Every day, we see the powers that promulgate laws that oblige one to take certain routes and [those] that do not follow these indications or do not want them to be part of their legislation, are accused and politely persecuted” – Pope Francis What does the Government’s decision to limit ...
In a previous post I noted that futures thinking usually tries to identify what people think will change and what they think needs to change. As lockdown constraints ease, we are seeing a lot of opinions about both. There is no shortage of shovel ready points of view ...
The Green Party says major freshwater reforms announced today provide the strongest ever protections of our waterways, to help ensure the next generation can swim in the rivers of Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party has begun the process for a Select Committee inquiry into student accommodation, which has been exposed during COVID-19 as an under-regulated sector that straddles students with unfair debt. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Megan Woods, Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Hon Dr David Clark, Minister of Health Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods, and Health Minister David Clark today announced a COVID-19 vaccine strategy, ...
Budget 2020 is about rebuilding together, supporting jobs, getting business moving and the books back into the black. It’s an integral part of our COVID-19 economic response, and our plan to grow our economy and get New Zealand moving again.Here’s a quick look at the five top things you ...
The Coalition Government has approved $206 million in essential upgrades at Ōhakea Air Base. Defence Minister Ron Mark said the money would be spent on improving old infrastructure. He said safety issues would be addressed, as well as upgrades to taxiways, accommodation and fresh, storm and waste water systems. "This ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First “I am not persisting with this case just for myself, but for all people who have had their privacy breached. Privacy of information is a cornerstone of our country’s democracy. Without it our society truly faces a bleak future. We now ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones has introduced a Bill to Parliament that he says will "force more transparency, integrity and respect" for the domestic wood-processing sector through the registration of log traders and practice standards. The Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill had its first reading in ...
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman is joining over 300 lawmakers from around the world in calling on the big banks and the IMF to forgive the debt of developing countries, in the wake of the COVID crisis. ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones says concerns that carbon foresters are planting pine trees that will never be harvested are the result of "misinformation". "The billion tree strategy is an excellent idea, unfortunately from time to time it's tainted by misinformation spread by the National Party or their grandees, hiding in scattered ...
The Green Party welcomes funding in the budget to reunite more refugees with their families, ensuring they have the best chance at a new life in Aotearoa New Zealand. ...
This year’s Budget is about rebuilding New Zealand together in the face of COVID-19. Jobs are central to how we’re going to do that.There’s a lot of targeted investment for employment in this year’s Budget, with announcements on creating new jobs, training people for the jobs we have, and supporting ...
Speaking to Stuff's Coronavirus NZ podcast, Foreign Minister Winston Peters revealed China tried to dissuade New Zealand from going into lockdown.“Without speaking out of turn, they wanted a discussion as to why we were doing it, because they thought it was an overreaction,” Mr Peters told Stuff’s Coronavirus NZ podcast.He also ...
The Coalition Government is making changes to the Overseas Investment Act to ensure New Zealand assets don't fall into the hands of foreign ownership in the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Associate Minister of Finance David Parker announced the Act will be amended to bring forward a national interest ...
A quick start to a trans-Tasman bubble could see the tourism industry make a swift recovery, according to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. "I believe tourism will turn around dramatically faster than people think," Mr Peters told reporters after Thursday's Budget. "Why? Because I think the Tasman bubble is [going ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First Please check against deliveryhttps://vimeo.com/418303651 Budget 2020: Jobs, Business and Balance Introduction Acknowledgements to all Cabinet colleagues, and party ministers Tracey Martin, Shane Jones and Ron Mark, Under-Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau and to caucus colleagues. Thank you for your support, your ...
The 2020 Budget includes significant support to stabilise New Zealand’s family violence services, whose work has been shown to be so essential throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. ...
The Green Party says huge new investment in public and transitional housing will get thousands more families into the warm, safe homes they deserve. ...
The Green Party says the $1.1 billion environmental investment in this year’s budget to create thousands of green jobs will help jump start a sustainable recovery from the COVID crisis. ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said today the Coalition Government told foreigners at the start of the Covid-19 crisis that if their circumstances had changed dramatically, they should go home. "And 50,000 did," Mr Peters said. Official advice to Cabinet revealed there is potentially 380,000 foreigners and migrant workers in ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First welcomes the decision today to go to Alert Level 2 from midnight Wednesday, says Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters. Alert Level 2 will mean a return to work for the vast majority of New Zealand’s businesses. A return ...
Nurses now look set to get more protection from violence at work, under a proposed new law.This after NZ First MP Darroch Ball's "Protection for First Responders Bill", which introduces a six-month minimum sentence for assaults on first responders, will now also cover emergency department healthcare workers. The ...
Darroch Ball MP, New Zealand First Law and Order Spokesperson An amendment to the ‘Protection of First Responders Bill’ is being tabled which will see emergency department healthcare workers included in the legislation. “During this COVID-19 crisis we have seen reports of violence and specifically increased incidents of spitting towards ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones is breathing new life into the proposal to move Auckland's port to Whangārei to help in the economic recovery post Covid-19 pandemic.If New ZealandFirst was returned in the September general election, Minister Jones said a priority would be development of an "economic haven" at Northport, ...
The law setting out New Zealanders’ basic civil and human rights is today one step towards being strengthened following the first reading of a Bill that requires Parliament to take action if a court says a statute undermines those rights. At present, a senior court can issue a ‘declaration of ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today reiterated the deep concern of the New Zealand Government following confirmation by China’s National People’s Congress of national security legislation relating to Hong Kong. “New Zealand shares the international community’s significant and long-standing stake in Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability,” Mr Peters said. “New Zealand ...
Thousands of artists and creatives at hundreds of cultural and heritage organisations have been given much-needed support to recover from the impact of COVID-19, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern announced today. “The cultural sector was amongst the worst hit by the global pandemic,” Jacinda ...
Key New Zealand assets will be better protected from being sold to overseas owners in a way contrary to the national interest, with the passage of the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Bill. The Bill, which passed its third reading in Parliament today, also cuts unnecessary red tape to help attract ...
Setting higher health standards at swimming spots Requiring urban waterways to be cleaned up and new protections for urban streams Putting controls on higher-risk farm practices such as winter grazing and feed lots Setting stricter controls on nitrogen pollution and new bottom lines on other measures of waterway health Ensuring ...
The Government is on the verge of reaching its target of state sector boards and committees made up of at least 50 percent women, says Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter and Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa. For the first time, the Government stocktake measures the number of Māori, ...
The Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister and Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister, Kris Faafoi, has today announced the appointment of Tristan Gilbertson as the new Telecommunications Commissioner and member of the Commerce Commission. “Mr Gilbertson has considerable experience in the telecommunications industry and a strong reputation amongst his peers,” ...
The Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Riu Roa have agreed to settle the pay equity claim for teacher aides, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This will see more than 22,000 teacher aides, mostly women, being valued and paid fairly for the work they do. “Teacher aides are frontline ...
Subcontractors will have greater certainty, more cashflow support and job security with new changes to retention payments under the Construction Contracts Act says Minister for Building and Construction, Jenny Salesa. A recent review of the retentions money regime showed that most of the building and construction sector is complying with ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have marked the first anniversary of the New Zealand-Singapore Enhanced Partnership with a virtual Leaders’ Meeting today. The Enhanced Partnership, signed on 17 May 2019, provides the framework for cooperation across the four main areas of trade, defence and ...
On 17 May 2019, New Zealand and Singapore established an Enhanced Partnership to elevate our relations. The Enhanced Partnership – based on the four pillars of trade and economics, security and defence, science, technology and innovation, and people-to-people links – has seen the long-standing relationship between our countries strengthen over the ...
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters has welcomed KiwiRail’s announcement that it is seeking a preferred shipyard to build two new rail-enabled ferries for the Cook Strait crossing. “This Government is committed to restoring rail to its rightful place in New Zealand. Bigger, better ships, with new technology are yet another ...
Better protection for seabirds is being put in place with a new National Plan of Action to reduce fishing-related captures, Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. The National Plan of Action for Seabirds 2020 outlines our commitment to reduce fishing-related captures and associated seabird ...
Almost $1 billion in interest-free loans for small businesses More than 55,000 businesses have applied; 95% approved Average loan approx. $17,300 90% of applications from firms with ten or fewer staff A wide cross-section of businesses have applied, the most common are the construction industry, accommodation providers, professional firms, and ...
Thousands of children will have healthier lungs after the Government’s ban on smoking in cars with kids becomes law, says Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa. This comes after the third reading of Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill earlier today. “This law makes it ...
The special Epidemic Response Committee (ERC) has successfully concluded its role, Leader of the House Chris Hipkins said today. The committee was set up on 25 March by the agreement of Parliament to scrutinise the Government and its actions while keeping people safe during levels 4 and 3 of lockdown. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced four diplomatic appointments: New Zealand’s Ambassador to Belgium, High Commissioners to Nauru and Niue, and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. “As the world seeks to manage and then recover from COVID-19, our diplomatic and trade networks are more important than ever,” Mr Peters said. “The ...
New Zealanders will be better protected from online harm through a Bill introduced to Parliament today, says Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin. “The internet brings many benefits to society but can also be used as a weapon to spread harmful and illegal content and that is what this legislation targets,” ...
New Zealand’s world-first plan to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is on track the latest technical data shows, says Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two years ago the Government, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand and industry partners made a bold decision to go hard and commit ...
Further support for New Zealanders affected by 1-in-100 year global economic shock 12-week payment will support people searching for new work or retraining Work programme on employment insurance to support workers and businesses The Government today announced a new temporary payment to support New Zealanders who lose their jobs due ...
The Provincial Growth Fund will play a vital role in New Zealand’s post-COVID-19 recovery by creating jobs in shorter timeframes through at least $600 million being refocused on projects with more immediate economic benefits, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The funding is comprised of repurposed Provincial Growth ...
Government exempts some home improvements from costly consents Homeowners, builders and DIYers will soon have an easier time making basic home improvements as the Government scraps the need for consents for low-risk building work such as sleep-outs, sheds and carports – allowing the construction sector to fire back up quicker ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the New Zealand Government has reacted with concern at the introduction of legislation in China’s National People’s Congress relating to national security in Hong Kong. “We have a strong interest in seeing confidence maintained in the ‘one country, two systems’ principle under which Hong ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, says the theme for the 2020 Samoa Language Week is a perfect fit for helping our Pacific communities cope with the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, and to prepare now for the journey ahead as New Zealand focuses on recovery plans and rebuilding New ...
A nearly 40-year programme to protect one of New Zealand’s most critically endangered birds is paying off, with a record number of adult kakī/black stilt recently recorded living in the wild, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. “Thanks to the team effort involved in the Department of Conservation’s ...
The story of the Waikato-Tainui Treaty process and its enduring impact on the community is being told with a five-part web story launched today on the 25th anniversary of settlement, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “I am grateful to Waikato-Tainui for allowing us to help capture ...
Taita College in the Hutt Valley will be redeveloped to upgrade its ageing classrooms and leaky roofs, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “The work is long overdue and will make a lasting difference to the school for generations to come,” Chris Hipkins said. “Too many of our schools are ...
The Government is allocating $36.72 million to projects in regions hard hit economically by COVID-19 to keep people working, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. Projects in Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Rotorua and Queenstown will be funded from the Government’s $100 million worker ...
A $35m boost to financial capability service providers funded by MSD will help New Zealanders manage their money better both day to day and through periods of financial difficulty, announced Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “It’s always been our position to increase support to key groups experiencing or at risk ...
Dunedin barrister Melinda Broek has been appointed as a District Court Judge with Family Court jurisdiction to be based in Rotorua, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Ms Broek has iwi affiliations to Ngai Tai. She commenced her employment in 1996 with Scholefield Cockroft Lloyd in Invercargill specialising in family and ...
The Coalition Government has approved a business case for $206 million in upgrades to critical infrastructure at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea, with the first phase starting later this year, Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. The investment will be made in three phases over five years, and ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today released the Ministry of Transport’s review of the organisational culture at the Civil Aviation Authority. Phil Twyford says all employees are entitled to a safe work environment. “I commissioned this independent review due to the concerns I had about the culture within the CAA, and ...
Ensuring that Stats NZ’s direction and strategy best supports government policy decisions will be a key focus for a new Governance Advisory Board announced today by the Minister for Statistics, James Shaw. The new Governance Advisory Board will provide strategic advice to Stats NZ to ensure it is meeting New ...
Environment Judge David Kirkpatrick of Auckland has been appointed as the Principal Environment Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Judge Kirkpatrick was appointed an Environment Judge in February 2014. From December 2013 to July 2016 he was Chair of the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel. Prior to appointment he ...
A programme to connect marae around the country to the internet has received $1.4 million to expand to include urban marae in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The funding for the Marae Connectivity Programme ...
The Government will provide $500,000 to the Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Drought Relief Fund to help farmers facing one of the worst droughts in living memory, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from Hawke's Bay's five local Government leaders asking me to contribute to the Fund. ...
Budget 2020 provides a major investment in New Zealand’s documentary heritage sector, with a commitment to leasing a new Archives Wellington facility and an increase in funding for Archives and National Library work. “Last year I released plans for a new Archives Wellington building – a purpose-built facility physically connected ...
Government Ministers are asking significant private enterprises to adopt prompt payment practices in line with the state sector, as a way to improve cashflow for small businesses. The Ministers of Finance, Small Business, Commerce and Consumer Affairs have written to more than 40 significant enterprises and banking industry representatives to ...
Maori Arts and Crafts will continue to underpin the heart of the tourism sector says Minister for Maori Development Nanaia Mahuta. “That’s why we are making a core investment of $7.6 million to Te Puia New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, over two years, as part of the Government’s ...
The Government is funding more pathways to jobs through training and education programmes in regional New Zealand to support the provinces’ recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson have announced. “New Zealand’s economic recovery will be largely driven by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It was Greg Combet, one-time ACTU secretary and former Labor minister, who got Christian Porter and Sally McManus together in the early days of the pandemic. Recalling what happened, Porter told the Australian Financial Review ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristy Hess, Associate Professor (Communication), Deakin University With swift and savage force, the COVID-19 pandemic has inadvertently attacked Australia’s local news media ecology, which was already battling a weakened immune system. As a researcher working on Australia’s largest academic study into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael (Mike) Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand’s government has been praised for listening to health experts in its pandemic response, but when it comes to dealing with pollution ...
Rod Oram spoke to the leaders of 16 Kiwi businesses over seven weeks, during which they and their businesses rose to meet unprecedented demands. Here's what he learned. ...
Tenants in the commercial property market continue to wait for Covid-19 relief while government coalition partners Labour and New Zealand First hammer out a deal. ...
They call themselves the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, but they’re not a church, and the treatment they sell is called Miracle Mineral Supplement – but it’s chlorine dioxide, commonly known as bleach. Susan Strongman reports for RNZ.A New Zealand website is advising people with symptoms of coronavirus ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. On Project Syndicate – and in other places in recent months – orthodox US economist Kenneth Rogoff has presented the case for deeply negative interest rates. Another financial sacred cow falls; yes, interest rates can be negative, even substantially negative. It can take ...
The Government is cracking down on nitrogen fertiliser use and asking councils to speed up their planning processes in order to clean up the country's waterways, Marc Daalder reports One in five farmers will have to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertiliser they are using under a new rule announced ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to New Zealand investor and business advisor David Bell. As a university professor ...
The calls for public health specialists for more taxpayer funding could be taken more seriously if they stopped wasting money on pointless public relations campaigns under the guise of public health, says the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union . Union Executive ...
The New Zealand College of Midwives is calling on the Government to release details of the funding allocated to maternity services in this year’s budget, and is supporting their GP colleagues in asking the Minister of Health to immediately release Heather ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Esterman, Professor of Biostatistics, University of South Australia Australia’s chief medical officer Brendan Murphy told a senate inquiry earlier this week our COVID-19 public health response had avoided about 14,000 deaths. This is in contrast to his deputy Paul Kelly, who ...
By Sri Krishnamurthi, contributing editor Pacific Media Watch Homegrown Australian television shows to the tune of $17.1 million will be broadcast in the Pacific in a bid believed intended to stymie China’s diplomatic and media rise in the region. Shows such as The Voice, Border Security, Neighbours and are to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nik Thompson, Senior Lecturer, Curtin University Data is the new oil, and online platforms will siphon it off at any opportunity. Platforms increasingly demand our personal information in exchange for a service. Avoiding online services altogether can limit your participation in society, ...
By RNZ News New Zealand has reported no new cases of covid-19 coronavirus today, but the death toll has risen to 22 to include a woman who died after recovering from the disease. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said there were only eight active cases in the country and ...
Fisheries New Zealand is seeking public feedback on a draft Pāua Fisheries Plan and a proposed subdivision of the pāua fishery along the Kaikōura and Canterbury coasts, known as the PAU3 quota management area. “Splitting the quota management ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jarrod Haar, Professor of Human Resource Management, Auckland University of Technology When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said recently, “I’ve heard lots of people suggesting we should have a four-day week”, she inevitably ignited debate. Ardern was not, as some critics ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Bricknell, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Health, CQUniversity Australia Now we have fewer cases of COVID-19, and restrictions are lifting, many of us are thinking of rejuvenating our social lives by heading to our local cafe or favourite restaurant. What can we ...
Former Race Relations Commissioner, Gregory Fortuin says he agrees with Judith Collins that no one should be superficially judge on skin colour and ethnicity . Fortuin was responding to Collins’ reported outburst about "sick of being demonised" ...
The government says it allowed the Avatar film crew back into New Zealand in spite of the current border closures because the making of the film offers “significant economic value” to our country. But this criterion is being applied unevenly. What ...
New Zealand Defence Force bases in Auckland are attacking their water use as the region battles one of the worst droughts in recent history. The taps are being turned off at Devonport Naval Base, RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai, Papakura Military ...
The Kahui Wai Maori Advisory group welcomed the announcement made by the Hon David Parker, Minister for the Environment today of the new rules designed to clean up our waterways. At the heart of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management ...
Water New Zealand says the Government’s Action for Healthy Waterways package provides a sensible and realistic way forward and will result in much-needed improvements in freshwater quality. Acting CEO John Mackie says it’s vital that there is no ...
When Claire Freeman became a wheelchair user at age 17, the questions she had about how she might enjoy sex were dismissed and she was made to feel like that part of her life was over. Here she flips the script with some advice on how to find pleasure on ...
As companies in New Zealand’s property development and building sectors digest opportunities presented by the Budget, what they need most urgently to move forwards is Resource Management Act and policy reform in order to rebuild together, says the ...
“We are pleased to see that the Government’s freshwater reforms announced today respond to some of the issues raised, and recommendations made, by the irrigation sector,” says Elizabeth Soal, Chief Executive of IrrigationNZ. “But there is ...
The government is imposing tough rules on water quality despite over 17,000 submissions, many of them complaining the move would impose a huge financial burden. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Dickinson, Professor, Public Service Research, UNSW COVID-19 has had a significant impact on all Australians, but there are very good reasons why the impact might be more keenly felt by people with disability and their carers. Our new research on behalf ...
Freshwater campaigners are frustrated the Government has delayed a crucial decision on nitrogen pollution for a further 12 months until after the election. “We have urged the Government many times to put in place clear and unequivocal limits for ...
The government has just announced a whole lot of new rules and policies for freshwater with the aim of urgently stopping degradation and cleaning up rivers over the long term.What’s all this then? A massive package of work on freshwater quality has just been announced in an attempt to halt further ...
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has welcomed the announcement by Ministers David Parker, Damien O’Connor and James Shaw this morning of the much-awaited freshwater reforms. “This package of changes to the present regulatory settings largely delivers ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a set of targeted tools to improve the quality of freshwater. LGNZ is the peak body representing New Zealand’s 78 local councils, providing a unified voice for ...
Many families facing newfound financial hardship due to COVID-19 may not be seeking help – believing they should be able to manage on their own or unaware they qualify for support, according to Good Shepherd NZ. The charitable organisation provides ...
Changes to central government Essential Freshwater regulations reflect farmer feedback, Federated Farmers says. "While we’re still working through the detail, the high level policy decisions indicate the government has heeded some of the rural ...
The Council of Trade Unions is congratulating teacher aides in achieving an historic pay equity offer from the government to settle their long standing concerns. "What this offer from the government does is acknowledge the historic under valuation of ...
Freshwater reforms a significant step forward The Government's policy announced today is a significant step forward in reducing pollution in our rural and our urban waterways caused by intensive farming and through council's neglect. However, there ...
Thursday, 28th May: Greenpeace is today welcoming the Government’s move to place a cap on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, but says more controls are needed to protect freshwater. The fertiliser cap was announced today as part of the Government’s ...
Following today’s announcements on the government’s response to the future of freshwater, it appears that despite the chorus of calls for a change in how the post-COVID future of Aotearoa is shaped - and following many months of engagement, consultation ...
Horticulture New Zealand says the Government’s decisions around freshwater recognise the importance of growing fresh fruit and vegetables in this country. ‘We applaud the Government for the pragmatic approach it is taking to meeting the long-term freshwater ...
NZ’s primary exports held up well in April, again proving the country’s farming industries are sustaining the economy despite many sectors being stricken by the Covid-19 pandemic. Almost coincidentally, a UMR probe of public opinion about farming revealed a sharp swing in perception. Instead of the negativity that had been ...
In a world where players have unfettered access to fans through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, it raises the question of whether traditional media still has a role to play. But as Scotty Stevenson explains, a player-driven model powered by social media can only go so far. Among the many weird and ...
Two statements from the Beehive yesterday were enlightening for taxpayers trying to keep tabs on the burgeoning billions being spent on facilitating the economic recovery. One statement told us how much is being handed out to small businesses. Correction. One statement told us how much is being loaned to small ...
Emily Writes celebrates wholesome shows and the rise of cosy television.The world is frightening right now. From Covid-19 to climate change, just watching the news can be overwhelming let alone going outside. This horror is the perfect environment for what I call Soft TV to flourish. Wholesome reality TV isn’t ...
While many areas of the workforce have been shaken by the effects of Covid-19, a Ngāi Tahu futures lab has been working to give rangatahi Māori the opportunity to decide their own futures.Futurists have thought up myriad strategies for how the world should look post-Covid. For all its hurt, the ...
Pacific Media Centre The dramatic daily increase of covid-19 coronavirus cases in West Papua poses a “great threat” to Papua New Guinea, says the country’s deputy emergency chief. State of Emergency Deputy Controller and Acting Secretary for Health Dr Paison Dakulala said the Indonesian-ruled Papua region had seen an increase ...
Recent public opinion polls are revealing some very interesting, if somewhat contradictory, insights into New Zealanders’ current thinking about the Covid19 crisis and the national response. The most recent 1News Colmar Brunton poll reported that 92% of ...
Trucking companies have missed out on the Government’s Covid-19 money lolly scramble and this will mean increased costs across the already damaged economy, Road Transport Forum (RTF) chief executive Nick Leggett says. "Despite working through the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Since last summer’s bushfire crisis, there’s been a quantum shift in public awareness of Aboriginal fire management. It’s now more widely understood that Aboriginal people used landscape burning to sustain biodiversity ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, University of Adelaide A return to face to face teaching at universities and technical colleges “where possible” is one of the goals of the Morrison government’s three step framework for a COVIDsafe Australia. A look at ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hazel Easthope, Scientia Associate Professor, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW We’re building a lot of apartments in Australia. High-density precincts are being developed across our major cities. But these buildings and neighbourhoods are often not designed and managed in ways that meet ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Kaine, Associate Professor UTS Centre for Business and Social Innovation, University of Technology Sydney Workers everywhere are feeling the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions necessitated by COVID-19. In Australia, retail and hospitality workers have been particularly hard hit. In other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Forsyth, Professor of Workplace Law, RMIT University Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week proposed a new deal in industrial relations, bringing together the government, employers and unions to agree on reforms to create jobs and lift the economy in the post-CIVD-19 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ray Markey, Emeritus Professor, Macquarie University In a bid to repair the economy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced an industrial relations overhaul. Business groups and unions will be brought together to try to change a system that Morrison says is “not ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathon Hutchinson, Senior Lecturer Online Communication and Media, University of Sydney The constraints of coronavirus isolation have closed down most recreational activities, but some creative industries are responding in innovative ways. I have been researching “digital first personalities” – content producers who ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level two – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this ...
Mainfreight's revenues have risen since April 1 despite Covid-19 as it reports higher annual profit and stable dividend, and repays $10.6m wage subsidy. NZX 50 back to March 9 level ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Lamb, Associate Professor in Geophysics, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Back in the 1970s, scientists came up with a revolutionary idea about how Earth’s deep interior works. They proposed it is slowly churning like a lava lamp, with ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Kiwibuild buyers left facing years of delays, calls for relaxation of alert levels and travel, and new details emerge in NZ First Foundation saga.Despite a reset of the policy last year, Kiwibuild is still proving to be problematic. A disastrous new ...
Dr Emily Henderson Last night, the Labour Party named Whangarei Family Court lawyer, Dr Emily Henderson, as its candidate to contest the Whangarei seat in the September general election. Emily has lived in Whangarei since she was seven years old, attending ...
Lockdown shut down an overseas couple's bid to walk the length of the country. When freed again, they returned from Auckland to the deep south to complete the task. Dressed in handmade ninja turtle costumes, hikers Becca Rolon and Diarmuid McInerney finally reached Bluff - finishing a 3000km walk the length ...
We can't decouple growth from its adverse effects and it's becoming clear that the same economic thinking that got us here won't get us out. A cultural shift to ‘enoughness’ and non-consumptive means of happiness could be the way forward after Covid-19, argues Lucie Greenwood. Talk of economic transition in a post-Covid-19 world ...
The return of intra-coalition dissent, on the speed of New Zealand’s move out of lockdown and freshwater policy measures, is a useful reminder that National is not the only party with political headaches, Sam Sachdeva writes For a politician who often trumpets the importance of due process when he wants ...
With the Black Ferns Sevens back in camp after lockdown, long-time star Kelly Brazier returns as a new mum, with a new rugby plan. Kelly Brazier is used to having crowds cheer her on in stadiums around the world. But with countries shutting down, sport being cancelled and ...
An essay by Martin Edmond in response to the monumental second volume by Peter Simpson on artist Colin McCahon.I. Bro Aspect I first met Peter Simpson at Sally and Alan’s place in Coromandel Street, Newtown, Wellington, 1988. Alan Brunton and Sally Rodwell, the founders of Red Mole. They ...
As we emerge from the last of lockdown and begin to look beyond our borders again, let’s not forget the vital role language skills play in strengthening our economic, political and cultural connections to the rest of the world, writes Sally Hill. This week is Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa ...
Open mike 20/11/2019 
Below is the list of gender-critical material which appeared on Redline from July 31, 2019 to September 30, 2019. Sports categories must be by sex, not gender identity Queer theory glossary Woke misogyny and homophobia: a gay critique of trans ideology Another unfortunate experiment? New Zealand’s transgender health policy and ...2 hours ago
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The government released its Action for Healthy Waterways package today, ostensibly with the goal of cleaning up our rivers and making them swimmable within a generation. Doing that, of course, requires confronting the cow in the room: the dairy industry which causes most of the pollution. But while they've imposed ...12 hours ago
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz I would like to know if New Zealand’s carbon emissions ...12 hours ago
Don Franks Now Covid-19 restrictions allow gatherings of a hundred, an urgent hui needs calling. A special conference of the Council of Trade Unions. Today, workers face the greatest attack on employment, pay and conditions since the depression, we need a strong united union voice. As it stands now, organised ...18 hours ago
Questioning the number of district health boards in New Zealand has got to the extent that “too many DHBs” has become a perceived truth requiring no further elaboration. It is rarely challenged by policy advisers, academics, and journalists. But when one drills down further it becomes clear that the number ...1 day ago
The emergence of a new National party leader, seemingly out of nowhere, has – not surprisingly – raised a number of questions as to who Todd Mulller actually is and what makes him tick. He has been an MP for some time but seems to have hidden his light under ...1 day ago
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Anyone who keeps an eye on evidence around cannabis and public health will be familiar with the Christchurch Health and Development Study. It's one of two local longitudinal studies frequently cited with respect to cannabis and youth development. But in a new article in the New Zealand Medical Journal, it is ...3 days ago
In the age of covid we are Jacinda’s team of five million, except for some. There has rarely been a more blatant case of discrimination against beneficiaries than Grant Robertson’s announcement yesterday that people who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus will receive weekly payments of $490 per week for 12 weeks and $250 per week for part time ...3 days ago
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Children used in this study were from Lintingkou town (a normal-fluoride/control area) and Dakoutun town (a high-fluoride area) in Baodi district of Tianjin, China. The towns are 25 km apart. Anti-fluoridation activists on ... 1 week ago
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The Green Party says major freshwater reforms announced today provide the strongest ever protections of our waterways, to help ensure the next generation can swim in the rivers of Aotearoa. ...13 hours ago
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The law setting out New Zealanders’ basic civil and human rights is today one step towards being strengthened following the first reading of a Bill that requires Parliament to take action if a court says a statute undermines those rights. At present, a senior court can issue a ‘declaration of ...4 hours ago
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The Government is cracking down on nitrogen fertiliser use and asking councils to speed up their planning processes in order to clean up the country's waterways, Marc Daalder reports One in five farmers will have to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertiliser they are using under a new rule announced ...9 hours ago
NZ’s primary exports held up well in April, again proving the country’s farming industries are sustaining the economy despite many sectors being stricken by the Covid-19 pandemic. Almost coincidentally, a UMR probe of public opinion about farming revealed a sharp swing in perception. Instead of the negativity that had been ...15 hours ago
Two statements from the Beehive yesterday were enlightening for taxpayers trying to keep tabs on the burgeoning billions being spent on facilitating the economic recovery. One statement told us how much is being handed out to small businesses. Correction. One statement told us how much is being loaned to small ...15 hours ago
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Immigration 'mayhem' is building as migrants travel to and from Coronavirus-afflicted countries to bring their partners home. ...20 hours ago
Lockdown shut down an overseas couple's bid to walk the length of the country. When freed again, they returned from Auckland to the deep south to complete the task. Dressed in handmade ninja turtle costumes, hikers Becca Rolon and Diarmuid McInerney finally reached Bluff - finishing a 3000km walk the length ...20 hours ago
We can't decouple growth from its adverse effects and it's becoming clear that the same economic thinking that got us here won't get us out. A cultural shift to ‘enoughness’ and non-consumptive means of happiness could be the way forward after Covid-19, argues Lucie Greenwood. Talk of economic transition in a post-Covid-19 world ...21 hours ago
The return of intra-coalition dissent, on the speed of New Zealand’s move out of lockdown and freshwater policy measures, is a useful reminder that National is not the only party with political headaches, Sam Sachdeva writes For a politician who often trumpets the importance of due process when he wants ...21 hours ago
With the Black Ferns Sevens back in camp after lockdown, long-time star Kelly Brazier returns as a new mum, with a new rugby plan. Kelly Brazier is used to having crowds cheer her on in stadiums around the world. But with countries shutting down, sport being cancelled and ...21 hours ago
An essay by Martin Edmond in response to the monumental second volume by Peter Simpson on artist Colin McCahon. I. Bro Aspect I first met Peter Simpson at Sally and Alan’s place in Coromandel Street, Newtown, Wellington, 1988. Alan Brunton and Sally Rodwell, the founders of Red Mole. They ...21 hours ago
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First debate of the U.K election campaign 8pm ( 9am our time )
Only Johnson and Corbyn too take part.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/election-debate-itv-live-stream-watch-tonight-johnson-corbyn-when-time-a9208656.html
Thanks for that Mosa.
"Boris Johnson won the ITV debate in the eyes of just 51% of the viewers, compared with Jeremy Corbyn’s 49%, according to an immediate poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of Sky News."
"while Labour may not have won, the fact that Corbyn was very competitive will be a boost to the opposition party’s morale. A pre-match YouGov poll suggested that people believed Johnson would perform better by 37% to Corbyn’s 23%."
"there were no shortages of decent moments for Corbyn, from warnings about NHS selloffs, to a quip about nine chaotic Conservative years. On Prince Andrew, it was his show of sympathy for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein that struck the right note.
And if there was laughter for Corbyn on Brexit, Johnson was derided by the audience over trust, an attack line that Labour MPs say is proving effective on the doorstep with voters mindful of the prime minister’s complex private life."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/19/corbyn-outperforms-expectations-in-head-to-head-with-johnson
Stunned silence at
https://www.conservativehome.com
Two Australian universities have severed ties with a business mentoring charity founded by Prince Andrew after the royal’s train-wreck interview about his links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Melbourne’s RMIT University and Bond University in Queensland have now formally ended their association.
Another, the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, said it would be reviewing their relationship. The fourth “host partner”, Murdoch University in Western Australia, has been contacted for comment.
Over the past few days, multiple corporate partners have also deserted the charity – including Standard Chartered, Aon and KPMG.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/20/two-australian-universities-sever-ties-with-charity-founded-by-prince-andrew
What a difference John Campbell makes on TVNZ Mornings.
A huge upgrade.Had Carmel Sepuloni on this morning and asked the right questions.
Carmel's not too dusty …either.
He does make a difference. I might even watch a little more regularly if it didn't have to be so ad-laden – trying to sell me the most useless shite imaginable
Thanks…will (hopefully) find segment online.
In the meantime…here is a story from a long term beneficiary about life on a benefit and prospects for the future
I still find him too wimpy after that interview with Meteria Tuerei when he was almost in tears.
Not a real man's man like that Hosking fella.
Hoskings talks over people too much I'm not keen on him either. On radio I always thought Larry Williams was the best but unfortunately he retired.
The Swedish rape case dropped for the third time .
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/19/world/europe/sweden-julian-assange.html
:‘My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment.’
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/19/julian-assange-rape-case-dropped-swedish-prosecutors-11181739/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
A fuller quote
"Deputy Chief Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson said the alleged victim’s complaint was credible. However, she added: ‘My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment.’"
As the NYT observes, this clears the way for the US extradition case.
Thats the end of my commenting for the day, people to see, life to be lived ,wish Assange had the same freedom
So just now they realise the 'evidence' was not strong enough.
How convenient.
Not enough for an indictment for rape, alone.
Of course, there was still enough evidence to charge him for rape alongside the lesser sexual assault offences that he ran the clock out on.
There's a certain poetry that his desire to avoid those charges put him in a worse situation than if he'd been found guilty. Bit of a Greek tragedy, there.
Well i guess it goes to serve as a warning to others.
Don't consent to a thing you don't intend to do. Poeple might take offense. Or even better, don't fuck without a condom when you agreed to only fuck with a condom in a country that has 'consent' laws.
For a supposedly intelligent man he has shown absolute fucking poor decision making when it comes to sex and sex partners.
Question: would he be were he is now had he not decided that he can just fuck any which way he wants to and his partners pleasure, comfort, and consent be damned.
in fact this reminds me of the lamentations of my neighbourgh who got a ticket for a parking in a non parking spot. Who is at fault? She for parking were she ought not too – ‘her parking’ as she calls it – even tho there is plenty of legal parking about. Or the ticket man who does what is his job to do and hands her a ticket – after he gives her a warning and asks her to move the car – which she refused to do on account of ‘her parking’.
this guy would have had a completely different life had he decided to keep his willy in the trousers or maybe he could have shoved an aspirin between his knees. I think some call this personal responsibility.
Especially if you know that someone is out to get him.
So Sabine you think this " ‘My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment.’"
Should say " ‘My assessment is that all investigative measures that can be taken have been taken. But… the evidence is not strong enough to file an indictment but someone in a little country at the bottom of the globe says he's guilty of rape under Swedish law. Similarities to a parking infringement is given as proof’"
Have you advised the Swedish authorities?
Nah,
My assesment is simple that had he engaged his brain rather then his penis he might not be in the predicament he is today.
Thanks for that update Francesca,that is good news I guess, however I get a little depressed whenever I hear news about Assange, it just reminds me how easily led and manipulated so many good people on the Left have become, and you can be sure that the same gullible ones who turned on Assange with such vitriol are the same ones who buy lock stock and barrel into the CIA/FBI fueled Russiagate rubbish.
Interesting details about Swedish police investigations and trial process.
Similar but differentto us as they have a judge and 2 lay jurors- who are selected from experienced panel not random like we do.
Dont know what relevance it would have here, but anyway
https://www.reddit.com/r/MakingaMurderer/comments/4apult/the_swedish_criminal_justice_system/
Worth watching. Promotional gold for NZ.
Love that relationship they have built.
Yuk.
I must be old. Jacinda brought a tear to my eye. She comes across as so nice. Every word seems to be sincere and so warm. Thanks Sanctuary. (Excuse me for a moment while I find a tissue.)
Kia Ora !
Welcome to Aotearoa, Steven.
Great for tourism
Solar breakthrough. Industrial heating processes once too hot for solar now an option. This is very good news. I've heard people argue if Tiwai was off the grid we'd have capacity for an electric fleet. Well it looks like we might (in future) have our cake and eat it too.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/19/business/heliogen-solar-energy-bill-gates/index.html
Researchers bring gaming to autonomous vehicles
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191118072551.htm
There's enough gaming on the road as it is ..
Great to see at least one politician taking a moral stand on the right wing Bolivian coup'…seems our own lot are more interested in perceived optics than taking any boring old moral and/or ethical stand on international affairs…
Bernie Sanders' Stance on Bolivia Matters
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/bernie-sanders-stance-on-bolivia-matters/
who would have thought that people might not want to pay a ransom note just because the shitty one in the shitty house feels the need to feel bigly. Or something.
Oh well, I guess we will all in due time learn to appreciate our new over lords, same as the other overlords but with better food.
https://news.yahoo.com/china-signs-defense-agreement-south-005403276.html
Leonardo da Vinci’s personal vineyard has been re-created
https://www.economist.com/node/21774512?fsrc=rss%7Ceur
New draft electoral boundaries published
https://vote.nz/map/index.html?id=6&modified=20191115033549
New electorate in South Auckland – Flat Bush . But some others keep their name or similar and have big changes
Usual gerrymandering from last maps. Taranaki is divided into 3 . Whanganui like Timaru is cut off from its traditional hinterland
Central North Island electorates wander off to unnconnected areas
Queenstown is cut off from rest of central Otago and remains mostly with Southland.
New Flatbush includes Conifer Peninsula and Up to Mission Hieghts , yet Botany has part of Flatbush near Motorway and part of Howick on coast ,but excludes Whitford
North Shore , I havent looked closely but Bennetts old electorate wanders from Back of Henderson across the Upper Harbour to Rosedale by the motorway…just weird.
Nature. Who really needs it, right?
https://www.npr.org/2018/06/21/622128554/firm-prepares-to-mine-land-previously-protected-as-a-national-monument
Gerry Brownlee got up as a cunning stunt when Jacinda Ardern attempted to answer a question. He succeeded.
All those dead rats and other animals on the West Coast? Tests for 1080 came back negative.
So no idea on the cause. Next best theory is maybe casualties of floods and stormy weather.
They were nuked by a test in N-Korea.
or another poison.
These two links are part of 4 part series host by the ABC's Alan Kohler who does the nightly finance report on the 7o'clock weekday news. It's quite interesting watch at what is happening here in Oz atm, with NZ's economy is very similar to Oz right now, you could drop the word Australia and insert New Zealand to get the same result.
Atm the Australian economy isn't all beers and skittles and I won't be advising anyone to make the move over here right now unless you have a big bag full of money to fall back on if and when we do go under.
Part 1: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-18/what-is-happening-with-the-australian-economy/11715748
Part 2: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-19/how-australia-became-the-world-record-holder-for/11719624?section=business
On the request of Drowsy M. Kram here is a discussion about the term "indigenous" and why it is Eurocentric.
Here was the request:
The answer to your question about how is the term both ridiculous and Eurocentic was in the questions I asked you (Which were "Who are the indigenous people of England, France, and Germany?").
The fact is there is no pure indigenous people really in Europe and neither can there be. There have been too many people intermingling with each other and sharing both their cultures and their DNA with each other. The English are no more "Indigenous" to England than the Germans are to Germany. Even the Celtic people are not “indigenous” in the modern sense of the word to the places they live in now.
That then leads on to how the term came to be used given it's irrelevance in the continent from which spawned the concept. The background to this is basically a people became Indigenous to an area at the moment the Europeans "discovered" them living in an area. Hence Black African Tribes are deemed indigenous to Southern Africa despite only migrating to the area around 1000 or so years ago (in many places less time than Anglo-Saxons have lived in England). This is why the term "Indigenous" is Eurocentric. It only makes sense through a European World view.
Gosman, thanks for taking this to OM and for setting out your reasoning so expansively. Personally I find the "Indigenous peoples" concept easy to understand and so quite useful, and wonder if you would find synonymous terms [First peoples, Aboriginal peoples or Native peoples] equally ridiculous.
If I'm understanding your reasoning, you consider "indigenous people" to be a ridiculous concept because it is not relevant to "the continent from which spawned the concept."
IMHO that's not good reason to label a concept 'ridiculous', so we’ll have to agree to disagree.
[My humble apologies! I was meant to reply but instead overwrote your comment. In my defense, it was a ridiculous comment but that doesn’t make it right – Incognito]
Your definition of 'ridiculous term/concept‘ appears to be one that "is not universal and has different applications depending on what part of the World you are in."
We clearly have different world views; what seems 'ridiculous' to you just seems normal (in common use all over the world) and sensible to me. Still happy to agree to disagree.
I would suggest that Gosman has a nit-picking point, but is probably well aware of the below, and indulging in his usual diversionary, tergiversatory and provocative behaviour.
Basically (explaining what I think Gosman already knows bloody well) the term 'indigenous' is now used to apply to populations afflicted by European colonialism over the last 600 years or so, when with superior technology, Europeans took over and colonised just about every country in the world.
At school, I learned that the French word for 'Native' (the word normally used until late 1960s) was 'Indigène', so at first I saw 'indigenous' as simply a synonym. But no – I have since understood that it is used for any people conquered by European colonialists. ('Native' is now so tainted that it is almost gone from our vocabulary, and we instead use 'indigenous' for plants and animals, where 'native' used to be a perfectly good, non-pejorative term.)
Gosman, silly nit-picking is not a big achievement.
Yes, 'native' is one of those words like 'mankind', only used by the old and ignorant.
Thank God I am old!
And what pray tell me is wrong with the word "mankind"? It is usually used when the topic under discussion refers to a specific species called mankind. Are you suggesting we use humankind? Too much of a mouthful thank-you.
And yeah… I'm old too. 🙂
What is wrong with 'mankind' is exactly the same thing that is wrong with 'native'. They were used in a time when people of colour were considered inferior to white people and women were considered inferior to men. As social relations change language changes as a reflection.
You must have a very small mouth to be overcome by two more letters.
Personally, I prefer 'personkind' – a warmer term than that clinical 'human' one. In fact, 'human' should be changed to 'huperson', leading us to the beautifully multisyllabic 'hupersonkind'.
How blessedly correct we would then be!
Its quite funny how we all have different reactions to nomenclature.
I have never thought of ‘mankind’ in the same way as solkta. It was used in an historical or scientific sense in my day. Our teachers and superiors talked of mankind… learning to make tools for hunting and receptacles for storing food etc. It was never seen as an expression of gender inequality so I will continue to use it when it is the appropriate term.
What's wrong with ‘womankind’ ? If you wish to avoid gender ‘human’ does the job nicely.
[You are using too many different aliases and e-mail addresses. This raises suspicions with Moderators on this site. Please explain yourself – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 8:57 PM.
Yes the "kind" thing is redundant and archaic.
Thanks In Vino, that makes sense. Would "First peoples" be a 'safer' term, i.e. less/not pejorative and typically less disputable given recent advances in molecular anthropology?
First from when, as Gosman would ask? Maybe 'Previous people' or, if that sounds like zombies, 'Prior people' adds an aura of importance… but I doubt if any term will be safe for long in our very woke era.
Actually, I'm beginning to think that maybe Gossies' approach is itself "Eurocentric". Looking at some of the historically-disputed areas around China, we see the same relationaships between the invading and occupying culture, and the pre-existing culture of that area.
Despite the earnest wishes of the EDL, Europe isn't under threat of being occupied any time soon. So to use a term in the vein of "indiginous" is farcical, because the term is a distinction between two or more ethnic populations in the same land, and the extant one that was there earliest is usually the one with least power in that land.
'First' as in the first people to arrive/settle in a given region/island, including any descendants through to present day. Could be a can of worms, but worthwhile at least trying to develop acceptable terms (for each region/island) IMHO.
https://bccampus.ca/2019/10/11/first-nations/
I (still) don't consider "indigenous people" to be a ridiculous concept – 'difficult/complex' possibly; 'ridiculous' no.
Why is it worth while? It is only worthwhile if you think there is some benefity to tie a particular group to a geographic area and bestow upon them special rights based on that link.
In North America especially the generally preferred expression seems to be "first nations". Really rubs in the "we had developed societies you guys tried to obliterate" factor.
Could Gossie's 'reasoning' be: Once assimilation is complete, concepts such as indigenous peoples, first peoples/nations, aboriginal peoples or native peoples (and any 'special' rights/privileges deriving from distinctive cultural practices/beliefs) will be irrelevant? Oh, what a 'perfect' world.
You keep avoiding my question about who are the indigenous people in Europe. There is an argument to be made that there are some in the far north (The Sámi) however even in this case the DNA evidence suggests that there may well have been a pre-existing culture and people that mixed with later peoples. Certainly the Celtic, Germanic and Slavic people of Northern, Western, Central, and Eastern Europe were not "indigenous" to the areas that they now call home. Maybe the Greeks have a claim to be indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean. It is a push though given there is evidence that the Greeks today are not the same as the Greeks of the Minoan era.
Gosman, I don't know enough about the topic of indigenous people in Europe to answer your question (so can only cut and paste), but the accounts you're providing suggest that it's difficult to tell.
You and I live in NZ – do you think that the concept of people that are indigenous to NZ (or Australia) is "ridiculous"?
To reiterate, I don’t find the concept of ‘indigenous people‘ ridiculous – rather I find it useful. No doubt there are other concepts that you consider ridiculous and I consider useful – there may even be a few concepts that you consider useful and I consider ridiculous.
This is a facinating discussion. I would like to continue it on today's OM.
Thank you for making the point. The term "indigenous" doesn't mean what many people think it means (which is the original people of a particular area). It means instead people who were occupying a particular area when they Europeans first came in to contact with them.
… if Europeans are the invading culture.
Kia Ora Breakfast.
Birds are fascinating creatures they play a big positive role in our environment.
Its great to see the Koala being treated with care and kindness.
Ka kite Ano
This is the technology we need to grow to turn our plastic waste into a valuable commodity. This system gives us the opportunity to keep plastics in a closed loop system. Use recycled we need closed loop system for everything we use.
Australian recycling technology aims to handle all plastics
Australian scientists have developed a technology they say could make all plastic recyclable, as the country grapples with how to deal with its waste crisis.
The patented technology was created by Dr Len Humphreys and Sydney University Professor Thomas Maschmeyer, who say it could process plastics that cannot currently be recycled.
Australians throw out 3.5 million tonnes of plastic each year, but currently only about 10 percent of it is recycled.
The rest is either burned, buried or shipped overseas
Dr Humphreys said the Cat-HTR technology he and his co-founder patented was different from existing plastic-to-oil technologies like pyrolysis, which is a process that involves heating materials at a very high temperature.
Unlike traditional physical recycling, it does not require plastics to be separated according to type and colour, and can recycle anything from milk cartons to wetsuits and even wood by-products.
It also means plastic products can be recycled again and again
Ka kite Ano link below.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/403699/australian-recycling-technology-aims-to-handle-all-plastics
Sugar should be banned to our fuel tanks our tamariki consume way to much of the stuff.
Later on in their lives once their bodys system have been wrecked by sugar the real problems start diabetes heart problems that's the reality of high sugar consumption.
Sweet spot: Norwegians cut sugar intake to lowest level in 44 years
Norway has had a sugar tax since 1922 and more recently has created separate taxes for confectionary and sugary drinks
The directorate’s annual report on the Norwegian diet said that average annual consumption of sugar had plummeted from 43kg to 24kg per person between 2000 and 2018 – including a 27% reduction in the past decade – to a level lower than that recorded in 1975.
Norway has had a generalised added sugar tax – introduced at the time as a means of raising revenue for the state, rather than reducing the consumption of what critics call the “pure, white and deadly” substance – since as early as 1922
Ka kite Ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/20/norwegians-cut-sugar-intake-to-lowest-level-in-44-years
nah, mate, sugar is doing nothing wrong.
What should be banned is selling sugary drinks cheaper then milk or water.
And what should be done is getting parents to understand that if they make the children, and if they birth the children then they have to actually raise them, feed them, clothes them.
Non of that is the fault of sugar.
If we continue to demand stuff be banned because grown ass adults don't give a shit aobut their children we will have no more food/drink etc left and the world be littered with starving children.
Kia Ora 1 News.
I think that's a great idea compulsorily reduncy income insurance some.
Yes report it to the police if you get scammed so they know the scam and worn others about it.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Gambling is a big problem for some tangata whenua I have seen the effects of people putting all their money in those machines.
Awsome that Whakatane Iwi is getting there Taonga back from Auckland University. I believe in the Maori version of old taonga wairua.
There are some great programs on Maori TV they give me a sore face.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Breakfast.
Our economy is based on housing the old saying As Safe As Whare.
We have stopped the single use of plastic bags that should be just the start on our journey to a closed loop system.
Its good to see A huge multi nation company held accountable for their Actions.
Ka kite Ano
Some Eco Maori Music For The Minute.
Kia Ora 1 News.
I was told about the mass mice problems.
Orange dust storm in Australia.
Im not surprised about the amount of CCT cameras I have seen them going up all over the place.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Its great to see 20 indigenous tangata meeting in Aotearoa.
Ka kite Ano
Some Eco Maori Music For The Minute.
Kia Ora 1 News.
Its was a good day in Kaikoura.
We must pay respect to our Tipuna.
It looks like Steven vist to Aotearoa is a good thing.
Luck there was not more causalitys with that train crash I'm very careful on the roads now days
Those old costumes bring back the past lol.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Condolences to Michael Wi whanau for their loss.
That's awesome a Wai testing kit that is only $50.
Ka kite Ano